Calypse carried Aisha out of the infirmary. Then he asked with a cold expression.
“Is what Knox and Mai said true?”
At his question, large blue eyes blinked for a moment. Aisha seemed to contemplate what to say, then nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“You weren’t at the castle.”
The child answered clearly.
“No. You wouldn’t have told me even if I hadn’t gone to suppress the creatures.”
“…Hup.”
But at the second pressing question, she seemed at a loss for words, her mouth forming a triangle shape.
Whirr. Whirr.
Those large eyes rolled around along with the sound of gears turning in her head.
Finally, what came out of the child’s mouth was—
“Duke, you’re smart.”
Thumbs up.
“…”
‘Is she pretending to be innocent, or is she just genuinely innocent?’
Either way, it was enough to break down Calypse’s walls.
In truth, when Knox knelt to apologize, he had a lot he wanted to say but held back.
Knox had indeed been wary of Aisha whether he was there or not. And since Aisha had been a spy, such wariness was understandable.
But the moment Mai confessed a story he hadn’t known—
“…”
He felt as if something inside him was crumbling down.
‘He may have adopted you out of pity, but he won’t trust you. Because you lied to him first, miss.’
I adopted you out of pity? Me?
But because we couldn’t find the princess, I didn’t trust you?
…Me?
“Did you believe what Aunt Mai said?”
A rough voice he couldn’t quite suppress escaped.
Then, as if pondering what answer to give, the child’s small lips pressed tightly shut.
So that meant she had believed it.
“Ha, really.”
Where do I even start with this?
Calypse let out a low, hollow laugh, feeling at a loss.
Come to think of it, on the day he left to suppress the creatures—
He remembered the usually lively kid awkwardly smiling and forcing herself into his arms.
‘Was it from that time?’
“Kid. No, Aisha.”
Calypse carefully set the child down on the floor.
When the tiny child who didn’t even reach his waist opened her eyes wide, he continued, hoping his voice would reach her ears clearly.
“Aisha. I trust you.”
“Huh?”
No. If I say it like this, my sincerity won’t come through properly.
Calypse furrowed his brow, searching for the right words.
“Aisha. If you hadn’t been there, I would have—”
“Huh?”
“…I would have.”
How do I say this? That I was going to die?
That on the day I met you, I had planned to end my own life?
Is that something to say to a child?
All sorts of thoughts poured down like rain.
Calypse felt an enormous sense of helplessness, as if standing on the edge of a cliff, all because of one five-year-old child.
How can I say it so you’ll understand?
How can I say it so you won’t be hurt?
That’s when it happened.
“Duke.”
At the playful call, Calypse opened his eyes.
A toy-like tiny thumb poked his cheek.
“Duke, I can hear you thinking all the way over here too.”
“…?”
Only then did Calypse begin to see the child giggling with a small smile curling up through the hazy view.
“Do you understand my heart now?”
“…What?”
And then.
“When I rack my brain, it’s because I’m worried. You’re worrying about me too, right, Duke?”
This kid was always one step ahead of him.
In honesty, and perhaps in maturity too.
“…Yes.”
After hesitating briefly, Calypse quietly agreed.
For a moment, Aisha almost mistook herself for being 10cm taller.
That’s how unfamiliar the feeling blooming in his heart was.
“Yes, I’m worried. And I care about you very much.”
Hehe. The child laughed at his honest answer.
Her laughter like small flower petals made his heart tickle.
To respond to that laughter, Calypse emphasized even more.
“I care about you very much.”
“Hehe.”
“So come here, kid.”
“Wah!”
When he spread his arms, the child leaped up in her signature frog technique and nestled into his embrace.
Only then did Calypse laugh too.
“Duke. Can we go back to Knox and Aunt Mai now?”
“What are you going to do? Give them some punishment?”
“No punishment.”
Wriggle wriggle. A mischievous face popped out of Calypse’s embrace with a determined expression.
“Actually, I felt really, really good.”
________________________________________
“Actually, I felt really, really good.”
At my words, the Duke looked surprised, but I was sincere.
It wasn’t a joke, and it wasn’t empty words.
When Knox and Mai sincerely apologized, I actually felt so good my heart was overflowing.
“…What are you talking about?”
The Duke quickly returned to his usual crooked demeanor.
When he sighed and opened the door, Knox and Mai, still kneeling, turned their heads.
“…I will gladly accept punishment.”
Knox had even removed his monocle, ready to be struck if necessary.
Why do they keep insisting on punishment?
“Hehe.”
I stood before Knox and Mai with a beaming smile.
Both were kneeling respectfully, but because our eye levels were similar, I was newly reminded of how small I actually was.
“Knox. Mai.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“…So does this mean I’m accepted now?”
At my question, both their expressions became puzzled.
To be honest, I’d been very hurt by Knox and Mai.
So I’d resolved to earn their recognition somehow, and when a day like this came, I thought I’d get back at them and feel satisfied.
But rather than satisfaction…
I was happy.
“I’m accepted, right?!”
Being accepted as a member of House Krost. It really felt like I’d taken the first step away from being a spy.
That fact made me so happy, and I was grateful to them for accepting me.
“…Hehe. Hurry up and say it!”
As my body twisted involuntarily contrary to reason, the Duke, who had been standing quietly, straightened me up.
Despite my reaction, Knox responded with continued seriousness.
“It’s only natural that you be recognized as the princess, Princess. In fact, once His Grace decided on adoption, I shouldn’t have suspected you so carelessly…”
“But I’m glad you were suspicious?”
“…Pardon?”
Knox’s eyes slowly widened. So did Calypse’s and mine.
“The Duke must have excellent judgment in people. To keep Knox as his closest aide. Same with Mai.”
I tried to add an explanation, but Knox still seemed not to understand.
Hmm.
I tapped my round chin and continued.
“It couldn’t have been easy to go against your master, but you did it out of concern.”
“…”
“I may only be five years old, but I’ve seen so many people in my life who threw away their own people just to keep their position.”
At House Foss, during spy training.
Even in the now-fading memories of my past life.
I always had to compete and reach the top.
It made sense.
In such an environment, how many would sacrifice themselves for others?
“…But Knox and Mai didn’t do that.”
Because such people are so few.
“That’s why being accepted by you two feels especially good.”
Hee.
‘So you have to be good to me now, okay?’
Ah, I’m in a good mood.
When I made this expression, even the spy instructors would smile foolishly.
“Hehe. Heh.”
To change the mood too, I winked repeatedly with eyes that seemed to pour out sparkles.
“…”
But Knox and Mai were still staring at me as stiff as stones.
Ugh, tsk. Such boring people.
“Well then, I’ll… be going now…”
Feeling awkward for no reason, I passed by the two with an clumsy waddle—
“…Lu, I have to eat cake with Lucas oppa!”
And scurried right out of the corridor.
________________________________________
At that moment, as the twisting Aisha ran away.
“Smile.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said smile. That kid even winked at you, something she’s never done for me.”
“…”
Knox and Mai, who were already struggling to speak, lost their words as if struck on the back of the head.
A brief silence passed.
“Your Grace.”
“What.”
“What does the Princess like?”
Knox, who seemed to have decided something, demanded with intense eyes.
“What?”
Just as Calypse asked back, not understanding—
“Ah, the scarf. The scarf! The Princess’s scarf!”
Mai seemed to remember something and shouted.
Then she got up with an “Oof,” groaning as she stood on her knees, and ran off somewhere.
________________________________________
