Chapter 49

'Well, who would have thought you'd follow me.'

I thought this as I pulled the blanket that had been pushed to one side.

However, with the duke's body lying on top of me, no matter how much I struggled, I couldn't get up.

"What are you doing?"

The duke rarely showed genuine curiosity.

"I have to cover myself with the blanket before sleeping."

"What?"

"The duke always walks around with his chest bare."

"……"

"It's warmer, so you'll sleep better. So I'll cover you with the blanket."

"Ha……"

The duke let out a hollow laugh and slightly lifted his waist.

"You must be suffocating."

The duke, wrapped in the blanket, frowned as he looked up at the ceiling.

However, he didn't kick the blanket off.

Kneeling on the floor, I hesitated to hold the duke's hand.

'...I don't want to die.'

I raised my hand again and patted the area where I assumed his stomach was.

"What's this...?"

The duke burst into hollow laughter.

"Next thing you know, you'll be singing a lullaby."

"Would you like me to?"

"I don't want to have a worse nightmare, so I'll pass."

He said indifferently. All the while, I continued to pat him, and the duke didn't push my hand away.

"You seem to be good at putting people to sleep."

"Orphanage children often have nightmares like the duke."

"……"

"Many children have trouble sleeping, so I always put them to sleep like this. They would stop fussing and sleep well."

Children who lost their parents in the war always had nightmares.

Even when they woke up in fear, they had to stifle their sobs so as not to disturb the other children.

"I wanted them to experience a peaceful world even in their dreams."

The duke's gaze, which had been floating in the air, met mine.

"You."

"Yes?"

"How were you?"

I couldn't immediately understand his question.

Meeting his calm, lake-like eyes, I slowly spoke.

"I slept well."

"……"

"Reality was more terrifying than a nightmare."

Muttering a thought I often had, I suddenly realized it was inappropriate.

It was an unchildlike statement. The perceptive duke might suspect me of being strange.

"I, I always ate tasteless food and did a lot of work."

I stammered, adding to my explanation. The duke stared at my eyes intently.

His deep, dark red eyes were incredibly calm.

As our conversation paused and a long silence fell, the duke spoke.

"Your mother."

"……"

"……Can I ask her name?"

The duke asked in a low voice.

I clenched my fists without realizing it.

Why was he suddenly asking about my mother? Whenever the topic of my mother came up, something bad always happened.

I couldn't help but feel tense.

However, there was no trace of disgust or blame on the duke's face.

"……Shannon."

How long had it been since I last said my mother's name?

It felt like I had just swallowed a mouthful of rough sand.

Everyone called her a thief, and they called me the daughter of a thief.

"Shannon."

The duke calmly repeated my mother's name.

"Yes."

So I could nod with a slightly lighter heart.

"Indeed, I had a futile thought."

The duke muttered sarcastically and chuckled.

"What thought?"

"You don't need to know."

He gave me a slightly playful look.

"Anyway, your lullaby skills are terrible. Didn't the children have fits while sleeping?"

"No, they didn't."

Flaring up in protest, the duke smiled, raising one corner of his mouth.

It was a playful expression.

I wondered if he was trying to cheer me up, even if it was just a delusion.

"Hey, go to sleep. It's time to sleep."

"That's not something a child should say to me."

"I'll eat a lot and grow tall."

"Grow tall and be bigger than me."

"If I grow taller than the duke, I'll be a giant."

"Seeing you as a giant would be interesting. It would be useful for monster hunting."

The duke didn't argue with me at all. Strangely, it didn't annoy me; it was oddly enjoyable.

How long did we continue our conversation? The duke's eyes slowly began to close.

"……Really. Your eyes are closing."

"Was I right?"

"It seems you decided it was better to sleep than to keep talking to me."

Indeed. I glared at the duke without malice.

"……Today."

Then, the duke mumbled in a sleepy voice.

"I'm sorry for showing you something terrible."

"……"

"And... for doubting you."

"……"

"I'm sorry for everything."

Before I could ask what he meant, the duke's eyes slowly closed.

Soon, his breathing became steady. He looked very peaceful.

The moonlight made his face look incredibly beautiful.

The oppressive aura that made my spine shiver was gone.

'But I definitely saw it.'

Those eyes were not human.

'This is because the communication with the temple has been cut off.'

I had seen it in the original work.

If only there was some holy water, it might help alleviate his madness.

I gazed at the duke's face.

'...But he really is handsome.'

I always thought he looked scary because of his stern expression.

I hesitated, then carefully reached out and gently pulled his eyebrows together.

His face immediately became grumpy. I suppressed a laugh and withdrew my hand.

I couldn't disturb his sleep.

"Good night."

I left the room, leaving a goodnight greeting.

* * *

A cold wind swept past Grace's silver hair.

Shivering from the cold, Grace huddled her neck.

Although she had grown up here, she never got used to the cold.

Still, Grace was a bit more excited than usual today.

It was the day the priests visited the orphanage.

The director woke the children early in the morning and ordered them to clean thoroughly.

'I don't like working, but when the priests come, we get to eat delicious food.'

If so, even my younger siblings could eat their fill today.

Thinking this, the yard cleaning didn't seem like a big deal.

Grace hummed a little tune.

Then, the bell rang. It was the signal for the gathering.

Grace quickly put the broom back in its place and entered the orphanage.

"Be neat and polite! No unnecessary talking!"

As always, the director forced the children to be silent.

Rude children might say something that would upset the priests.

Soon, the priests arrived.

They were from the northern temple.

"May the blessings of the sun and the world tree be upon you."

The priests gave the children the imperial blessing.

"The reason we are here today is to bring blessings and rest to everyone."

The priests smiled like angels.

"All of this is possible because of the Great Temple of Grapes and the blessings of the gods. We must not forget this."

The children nodded eagerly, their eyes shining.

The priests were always kind and brought plenty of delicious food.

It was natural to have faith.

Then, one of the priests caught Grace's eye.

A small girl in a deep white robe.

Their eyes met. Under the shadow, deep green eyes were visible.

'...Eli?'

Grace's eyes widened.

The little girl who gave her delicious bread and medicine.

Grace had never forgotten her. She had always thought that if they met again, she would thank her.

However, unlike Grace's excitement, the girl turned her gaze away indifferently.

'Did she not recognize me?'

Grace felt a bit disappointed.

"The speech is over. Now, let's distribute the supplies..."

The speech ended just in time. The area became chaotic as the supplies were distributed.

Grace quickly grabbed the girl as she moved with the other priests.

"Eli!"

The girl turned to look at Grace, and her robe slipped off.

Her brown hair, tinged with red, was revealed.

It wasn't Eli.

Moreover, her green eyes were much colder than Eli's bright and vivid eyes.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I mistook you for my friend..."

Grace quickly let go of her hand and bowed.

"Grace! What are you doing to the priestess?"

The director quickly pulled Grace aside.

"I'm fine. She must have mistaken me for her friend."

The priestess smiled gently.

"She must look a lot like her friend."

Her voice was soft and angelic as she asked.