Chapter 73

He couldn't even gasp in shock.

Count Salome carelessly threw his daughter aside and panicked.

"Towel! Towel!"

As he shouted frantically, a scattered towel came into his view.

It was the towel that had been used to dry Ellie's feet, but he had no time to think about it now.

He used magic to bring the towel and wiped his face, which was burning with anger, making it hard for him to open his eyes.

"What are you doing?!"

"Your clothes."

Damian said with a cold expression.

"Are they soaked?"

"Excuse me?"

"Look with your own eyes. See how the clothes are stained."

Count Salome followed Damian's gaze and looked down.

The tea had flowed down from his shoulder, staining his pants, but the stain became fainter as it went down.

"What does this mean?"

"It would look like this if you poured it on your face."

"What are you saying...?"

"If you had thrown her into the lake, your whole body should have been soaked."

Damian said this while looking down at Wintia, who was still lying on the floor.

Wintia's clothes were exactly the same as Salome's.

The red stain became fainter as it went down and the hem was completely clean.

Wintia's face turned pale with fear.

"But, but..."

As Wintia stammered, Count Salome shouted in a hurry.

"It could be dry! It's different from a regular lake, so it's not strange that it dried quickly!"

"Then shall we try it again?"

At that moment, a clear voice echoed.

"We can check if the lake water stains disappear from the bottom of the clothes."

Ellie looked at them with a clear gaze.

Unlike Wintia, who was sulking, her gaze was so straightforward.

Heron, who had been watching the scene from among the crowd, had a dark look in his eyes.

Ellie said,

"I'm curious too, Count. I want to check if the lake water will fade."

"..."

"And I think I should also tell you what's around."

Ellie smiled and looked at Wintia.

"!"

Wintia's face turned ashen, like a flock of crows.

But soon, a surge of resentment welled up inside her.

'I didn't do anything wrong...'

Why do they keep looking at me like that?

Wintia started to sob.

"Huuu! Dad said it was mine! That spot was mine!"

"W-Wintia!"

"But Lord Damian ignored me. She must have lured him! She deserves punishment!"

"Wintia! Stop it!"

"Why does everyone only say something to me...! Huuu!"

Count Salome desperately tried to hold Wintia, but it was too late; the truth had already been revealed.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on one spot.

The Duke's aura had soared to its limit, surging uncontrollably.

* * *

The Duke's castle was in chaos.

Even if the Salome family was a branch of the Claiders, they couldn't go unpunished after the evidence of their attempt to harm the Duke's protected children came to light.

It was only natural that even the retainers who had forced Wintia to act would turn their backs on them coldly.

The retainers and branch family members who had tried to win over Damian had no choice but to retreat, hoping for a better opportunity.

'Even though things were resolved well...'

I glanced around.

Damian and the Duke were kneeling on one knee, looking at my swollen foot with serious expressions.

"You keep coming back injured every day."

"Th-that..."

"How much more do you need to scare me to feel satisfied?"

I shut my mouth at the Duke's words. The Duke doesn't speak lightly, even in jest.

'...He's genuinely worried.'

I fidgeted with my fingers and said,

"I-It doesn't really hurt much."

"Ellie."

Damian cut off my excuse with a firm expression.

"You broke your promise again."

"..."

"You promised me you wouldn't get hurt and that this wouldn't happen again."

Damian, who always smiled, now looked at me with a hardened face.

'...What should I do? He seems really angry.'

That's why this gentle boy must have poured tea on Count Salome.

But I felt a bit wronged this time. Wintia had attacked me first.

However, I had indeed worried the two of them.

"Sorry, Damian. I won't do it again. I was wrong, Duke."

"..."

"I'll be more careful."

But the Duke and Damian remained silent. My words didn't seem to reassure them.

"Really..."

I mumbled in a small voice and bowed my head deeply.

"!"

Then, something warm settled on my head. It was the Duke's hand.

"I'm not scolding you, so don't be disheartened."

"..."

"Just... I'm worried."

I slowly raised my head at the Duke's words.

"Such incidents will happen frequently. This is just the beginning. If... if it becomes known who your father is, it will be even harder for you."

The Duke's words were true.

I am the daughter of a thief who stole the Emperor's treasure.

If I were with Damian, the Emperor, who had targeted the Claiders, wouldn't just sit by.

'If I'm here, the Duke and Damian will have a hard time.'

My heart sank as I clutched the torn hem of my dress.

"I will protect you."

"!"

"That means I don't want you to do dangerous things to prove yourself."

I opened my eyes wide at his unexpected words.

The Duke smiled slightly at my expression.

"Did you think I brought you here without any thought?"

"But..."

"I'm just doing my job as an adult."

The Duke gently stroked my slightly scratched cheek.

"So, you two should do your jobs as children. Run around the vast land during the day and fall asleep at night with excitement for tomorrow."

"..."

"That's what children should do."

The roles of adults and children.

I stared blankly at the Duke and slowly nodded.

The Duke raised an eyebrow.

"Did you understand? Your expression doesn't seem very convincing."

"I, I understood! It means don't get hurt like today."

"You understood well."

The Duke chuckled and patted my head.

I pouted, knowing he was being deliberately mischievous.

'Is this what it feels like to have a dad?'

It felt like I had really become part of a family.

Family. I quietly rolled the word around in my mouth.

The Duke accepted me even though he knew what kind of child I was.

'And...'

I turned my head. Damian was still looking at me.

The boy who had never shown interest in anything and had learned resignation first had come to my rescue.

'...Then I will too.'

"Damian."

I reached out and stroked Damian's cheek.

"I'll be on your side."

"..."

"I'll be a strong shield to protect you from anyone who tries to hurt you."

I have the knowledge from the original story.

I can protect him until he safely meets the heroine.

'Even if it's just for a while.'

"Damian. Let's get married."

"Wh-what?"

Damian's eyes widened like a rabbit's.

"If we're married, it will be harder for anyone to touch you. It will also help you receive your title-"

"Wait, just a moment."

Damian's face, which had been dazed, turned bright red.

"M-married? S-suddenly...?"

"Do you not want to?"

For a proposal, it felt too bare-handed.

Should I have brought a flower or something? As I seriously considered this, Damian shook his head vigorously.

"I, I mean..."

Damian mumbled with his red lips.

"...Okay, I understand."

"Really?"

Damian nodded with his eyes tightly shut. His face was as red as if it would burst, and his long eyelashes trembled like a frightened rabbit.

"You said you understand. Now you can't back out. Got it?"

"Y-yes..."

It was a smooth acceptance.

Having reaffirmed it, I clasped Damian's hand and looked up at the Duke.

He usually knows how to joke, but now he looked strangely sulky. He seemed happy, but also displeased.

'Why is he like that?'

I tilted my head and showed him our clasped hands.

"You're clever."

Only then did the Duke say what he had expected.

But his gaze was directed at Damian, not me.