Chapter 64

Earlier, when the maid tried to sneak a kiss.

The rest, I didn’t bother to say out loud.

But Blizen understood my meaning and slowly nodded.

“Yeah.”

‘What? You knew the maid was going to kiss you and just pretended to be asleep?’

If that’s the case—

“Aha, you like her, don’t you? Sorry for interrupting.”

I had butted in between a couple in the early stages of a relationship.

I had acted so cluelessly.

The maid must have been embarrassed.

As I tried to pass by with a quick apology,

“No.”

Blizen’s denial held me back.

I slowly turned to look at Blizen.

“Yeah?”

“I don’t like her.”

You don’t like that maid?

“Then why did you let her try to sneak a kiss?”

“Hmm.”

Blizen lazily tilted his head.

Unlike the wild charm of my father, Balzac, Blizen had a lazy and fatal charm.

When Blizen narrowed his eyes, his ruby-like eyes were half-hidden.

“Was it because that maid told you that the rose had changed from brown velvet to Terezhika?”

“...”

His well-shaped lips, like his narrow eyes, drew a picture-perfect curve.

Now I understand why the maid was so captivated and sighed.

Even in this refreshing and clear forest, basking in the sunlight, Blizen exuded a lazy and dangerous aura.

But what mattered was not his appearance, but the content of his words.

I frowned deeply.

‘What is this teenager trying to say?’

“Physical contact for a price is not good. Absolutely.”

“...”

“Even if it’s just a kiss!”

Blizen’s narrowed eyes widened slightly, seemingly surprised by my words.

Not that he was trying to counter, so I explained a bit more.

“Once you get used to small things, you’ll eventually cross the line.”

“...”

“It’s too hard to turn back when you’ve gone too far.”

I sternly lectured Blizen.

“You can’t change the past, no matter how much you regret it later.”

Blizen stared at me for a moment, then chuckled.

“What?”

“You’re the youngest among the cousins, but sometimes you sound the most mature.”

Oops.

I rolled my eyes and added in a childish, ten-year-old voice.

“...That’s what Dad said.”

“Your uncle?”

Ah, did that not work?

“Yeah! My dad!”

Blizen, who had slightly widened his eyes, tilted his head and then nodded.

“Right. That’s true.”

Is he really convinced...?

‘Thank goodness.’

I tried to gauge his reaction, but I couldn’t read anything from Blizen’s face.

Joshua’s expressions aren’t very rich either, but Blizen’s are even harder to read.

“By the way.”

“Yeah?”

Blizen explained a bit more before I could make a big misunderstanding.

“That kid isn’t that brave. She gets excited by just getting close and then runs away.”

So that’s why you let her.

I frowned.

“Still—”

“Bad is bad.”

Blizen picked up on what I was about to say.

I added,

“Right! Because she tried to kiss you!”

I know.

Kissing doesn’t wear out your cheeks.

It doesn’t wear out your lips!

‘But a lip kiss is a baby kiss. Kissing should be done with someone you like.’

At least, that’s how Blizen should think at his age.

Getting that close just to look closely was too much.

Blizen found my heated reaction amusing and smiled as he stood up.

He picked up his jacket, shook off the grass, and wiped his hands on his pants.

Then he stroked my hair.

Unlike Balzac’s rough strokes, it was a gentle, tickling touch.

Before I could react to this sudden action, Blizen whispered softly,

“Thanks.”

“...”

Blizen left, leaving those words behind.

I was left alone, stroking my hair.

I could still feel the warmth of his touch.

‘...I really can’t figure him out.’

Among the cousins, the hardest to understand is Blizen.

Not in a bad way, but literally hard to understand.

I like his face, which resembles my father’s.

‘I just can’t figure out what he’s thinking.’

I removed my hand from my head and shook my head.

That’s not the important thing.

I need to go home and see Ragon.

* * *

After playing with Ragon to my heart’s content, I returned to the Diamond Province.

When I went to my father’s office, he was carefully examining a map.

Next to the map were documents listing the tangerine production of each country.

‘Could it be...?’

I don’t want to believe it, but it seems to be true.

Just like last time when I brought a lot of grapes because I liked them, this time he’s planning to bring a lot of tangerines.

‘...By conquering the country with the highest tangerine production.’

No, don’t!

But if I say it outright, my father will surely look disappointed.

I sat on the sofa where I could see the desk and opened a book.

Then I casually said,

“Dad, I think we can stop bringing fruit now.”

Father looked up at me.

“But you haven’t received the military award yet?”

Receiving the military award means being granted a title.

The title varies depending on the situation.

But since my father is the son of the Astra Duke, he can at least receive a baroncy, and with luck, a viscountcy.

‘Then he would be on par with Uncle Grime, who received a viscountcy last year.’

No more empty talk of being a great general!

But—

‘I don’t like the idea of him getting hurt just to achieve that.’

It’s sad.

My shining platinum medal can’t give my father a title.

Being the top-ranked among the three-year-olds is just a matter among three-year-olds.

Right now, my father is receiving a boost thanks to my protection.

Because I’m the protagonist in the story.

But how long will that last?

‘The protagonist’s boost won’t last forever. The story might enter a crisis phase.’

The protagonist doesn’t just have a boost.

They also face crises and hardships.

There are obstacles and events that deeply hurt their hearts.

There are always great trials that make even the reader’s heart tremble.

‘If such a crisis were to hit my father—’

There aren’t many crises that could hit my father, who isn’t very emotional.

It could be me, the twins, or a serious injury to himself.

‘Stop thinking about it!’

The thought is too terrifying, so I quickly cut it off.

“Tangerines are fine. We have white jade now. Duke Debussy said that your name is a hot topic in the capital these days.”

So at this stage, it might be better to leave a strong impression on the people in the capital rather than go on an expedition to another country.

To solidify the reputation of being great.

Father immediately understood what I meant.

“The capital...”

Father leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.

‘My father listens to and seriously considers even the words of his young daughter.’

He’s a great father.

Objectively, he is, and subjectively, he’s the best father.

Watching my father think seriously made my heart feel ticklish.

Father didn’t think for long before speaking.

“...It would be a shame to miss a good opportunity.”

Enough!

I subtly pushed the document listing tangerine production far away.

“So, how about going to the capital and meeting your friends?”

“...?”

Father looked at me with a questioning expression.

It was a very confident gaze, but—

‘He’s wondering if he has any friends, isn’t he?’

“...”

I was silent for a moment.

‘It’s okay, though. I don’t have any either.’

Living only at the Astra Manor, how could I make friends?

But my father is different!

“The uncles who graduated from the academy with you!”

Father had a terrible relationship with Grandfather and left early without receiving the bloodline education.

Even seven years ago, my father, with his abilities and martial arts, was governing the poorest province, partly because of this.

Instead of receiving bloodline education, my father went to the academy and met the uncles there.

All the uncles were central nobles.

Father might not consider them friends, but I know.

‘They consider my father a friend!’

One of the uncles even helped me in my first life.

I was so grateful for his help when I was left without a guardian after my father passed away.

“But how did you come up with that idea?”

I flinched at Father’s question.

“It was Conrad.”

“Conrad Martial... Well, he’s not wrong.”

Father fell into thought.

Since the uncles are all influential, it would be good to solidify these connections.

“I’ll think about it.”

That was as good as agreeing with me.

Father is too soft on me.

“Yes!”

I answered energetically and stood up.

I put the book I had only pretended to read back on the shelf.

I didn’t read a single page, which is really embarrassing.

Anyway, it was time to go to bed, so I was about to go upstairs.

But Father called me.

“Eryllot.”

“Yes.”

I spread my arms and ran to my father, who was approaching me from his chair.

Poof.

Father hugged me tightly.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, as I always do.

‘Father’s scent.’

After the goodnight hug, we faced each other.

“Have a good dream.”

“You too.”

After the affectionate goodnight, I went upstairs.

The communication stone was glowing and ringing.

‘How long has it been ringing?’

I was surprised and quickly answered.

“It’s Eryllot.”

[It’s Michelan.]

Wow!

‘This is the call I’ve been waiting for.’

I had given Michelan a task before.

To investigate the Count Talos.

To find out how he managed to enter the Central Tower, surpassing my Uncle Grime, the eldest son of Astra.

It was a vague order, but Michelan followed it without complaint.

I asked with anticipation.

“How did it go?”

[The information is tightly controlled, so it will take time to get the details. However...]

Michelan paused.

Did he come across information he was reluctant to share?

“Why?”

[There’s a rumor that Count Talos met with Noah Astra last month.]

Noah Astra?

‘Noah Astra... He’s Blizen’s father.’

Noah Astra was a son-in-law who came into the Astra family.

He continued to live as part of the Astra family even after my aunt passed away.

And I heard he continued the work my aunt had been responsible for in the Astra family.

“Count Talos and Noah Astra. For them to meet in this situation... It’s fishy.”

[Should I investigate Noah Astra as well?]

“Yeah.”

[Understood.]

I ended the communication and crossed my arms.

‘Hmm, I didn’t expect my uncle to come up in this context.’

Especially since I had a strange encounter with Blizen in the forest today, it felt odd.

Knock knock.

I was deep in thought when I heard a knock.

The door opened without waiting for an answer.

“Let’s have a snack!”

The twins energetically entered my room.

The tray they were carrying was filled with plump green grapes.

“Sure.”

We sat side by side on the sofa in the bedroom and chatted while eating grapes.

Balzac popped grapes into my mouth one by one.

The ripe green grape skin burst between my teeth, filling my mouth with a sweet and sour flesh.

‘So sweet!’

Cool and sweet. It’s really delicious.

As I savored the taste, Joshua popped another grape into my mouth.

This time, Balzac did it.

Then Joshua again.

Then Balzac.

Popping, and popping again.

And again.

‘Ugh!’

I narrowed my eyes and glared at the two of them.

“I can’t chew anymore.”

Balzac clenched his fists and trembled.

“I feel like breaking the wall when you look like a squirrel. Why?”

“...I don’t know.”

I don’t know, but please stop breaking the wall.

I looked at Balzac with tired eyes.

As I tried to chew my mouth, which felt like it would burst, Joshua muttered,

“Uncle Noah Astra...”

We were talking about Count Talos and Uncle Noah Astra while eating grapes.

Actually, I thought Balzac wouldn’t be much help, but Joshua might.

But Balzac can be unexpectedly helpful sometimes.

Like when he mentioned that the ship carrying Prince Velain and his party entered the port without a flag.

Of course, he didn’t realize it himself.

I focused on Joshua.

“What do you think?”

“Uncle Noah Astra has a good reputation. He’s friendly and easy-going. Since he’s a son-in-law, he’s not involved in the succession struggle, so he gets along well with other relatives.”

“He’s also a useful magician.”

Balzac added.

That’s true.

Noah Astra is a quite skilled magician.

Enough for Grandfather to give him a position in the research institute.

‘But he didn’t seem to be a problem in my previous life.’

I’ve only met Uncle Noah Astra a handful of times in this life.

Less than I know about Blizen.

I don’t know much about Uncle Noah Astra.

I only know that the Astra people like him.

‘But he’s colluding with Count Talos?’

Why?

Count Talos isn’t that good a connection.

‘Especially not one worth going against Grandfather’s wishes to make.’

Compared to even the second generation of Astra, it’s a poor connection.

‘Something’s fishy.’

When something smells fishy, you need to dig deeper.

You need to find out what’s hidden.

Or maybe the whole field is rotten and needs to be plowed over.

I needed more information.

‘Maybe I should dig into Blizen’s side.’