Chapter 48
Chapter 5.
“I heard it clearly. They say Count Erzébet has a daughter!”
“What? Wasn’t Count Erzébet unmarried?”
“I thought so too, but apparently not. I heard she’s been recovering in the countryside due to poor health.”
Starting from a noble lady’s tea party, a strange rumor began to spread.
It was a rumor subtly spread by Arcian, who wanted to play house with Asil.
Young, handsome, an inquisitor affiliated with the Grand Temple, and possessing an unapproachable aura.
For various reasons, the fact that the Count, who was extremely popular among the noble ladies, turned out to be married was enough to drive a stake through their hearts.
Soon, the rumor spread quietly through noble society.
Among them were some utterly ridiculous rumors.
“They say the daughter is coming this time, pushing herself to find a betrothed.”
“…Surely she’s not aiming for the ducal families, is she? As an inquisitor, he must have a lot of connections.”
“It’s not entirely impossible. I heard that lately, Duke Monlepe has been visiting the Count’s estate quite frequently.”
“So, could it really be… aiming for the Duchess position?”
Thus, the sparks of this rumor flew in an unexpected direction that Arsian hadn’t anticipated.
* * *
“Even today, this many letters have arrived.”
“…”
Even though he had definitely burned all the ones that came until yesterday.
Edenber was at a loss for words, seeing the mountain of letters that had piled up in just one day.
From desperate pleas listing Arcian’s flaws, urging him not to fall for him, to absurd requests asking for a chance for their daughters.
Those who saw Edenber the head of the faltering ducal family, as an easy target for their daughters’ betrothal were sending jealous letters from all corners.
“Hah…”
Feeling a headache coming on from the daily pile of letters, Edenber was overwhelmed.
Now, just hearing the “A” in Arcian’s name made his stress levels spike.
Perhaps that was why? Lately, he had been having strange dreams.
‘A dream where I’m chased by an unknown black shadow and end up at a dead end.’
When he was cornered with nowhere left to escape, a girl with black eyes and pink pupils would always appear.
She would stand in front of the shadow as if protecting him, shouting loudly for it to stop.
Each time, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and deep affection for the girl.
Even though she was a child who didn’t exist in reality.
‘Why am I having these dreams?’
It must be because of the stress Arcian was causing him. That’s all he could assume.
Meanwhile, the baseless rumor spread quickly.
Even Elcai, who had never said a word about arranged marriages out of respect for Edenber, grew curious.
“Is the child you’re thinking of marrying that girl?”
“No.”
Edenber firmly drew the line, closing his eyes.
Since they had signed a contract, there was no reason he couldn’t reveal it now.
“It’s Asil.”
“What?”
Perhaps his ears were failing him in his old age. Doubting his hearing, Elcai asked again.
“Who did you say?”
“Asil.”
“You mean the one I know?”
“Yes.”
At the unwavering response, Elcai was at a loss for words.
He would’ve welcomed his grandson bringing home a street beggar with open arms.
But this…
Due to the strong bond between a lord and their divine beast, it wasn’t unheard of for someone to take a divine beast as a partner.
Even Edenber’s father, Ikart, had turned the family upside down by declaring he would marry a divine beast…
But taking a divine beast as a partner wasn’t a good choice.
There were many reasons, but the main one was that children born from such unions were treated as neither human nor animal.
‘They can’t even inherit the family name.’
Moreover, Asil couldn’t even take human form.
“…Pippi, pippiyapippi. Pippiya. Pippiyaa!” (…Y-Yeah. Outrageous. That kid’s totally outrageous!)
He recalled Asil, who had called them outrageous when he mentioned the contract.
He had felt something was off back then, and now it made sense.
Elcai stammered.
“Have you already discussed this with that kid?”
“Yes.”
“Then have you thought about what to do regarding an heir?”
“I plan to adopt.”
“What?!”
Adoption! A kid not even ten years old was already giving up on having heirs!
Elcai clutched the back of his neck at the word that came out of his grandson’s mouth.
“I promised Asil I wouldn’t share a bed with anyone else.”
“Oh, you fool!”
Knowing his grandson’s stubbornness all too well, Elvai clutched his neck again.
Sure, a young kid might say such things out of childish impulse.
But since it was the rigid Edenber, he was worried.
In his mind, he could already see an adult Edenber declaring, “A promise is meant to be kept,” and refusing to have heirs.
“Oh no…”
Honestly, he didn’t care about the family’s succession.
Elcai just wanted Edenber to marry a clever wife, have adorable children, and live happily.
Having failed with his own children, he hoped at least his grandson would succeed.
But to say he wouldn’t have children at all.
After much thought, Elcai went to Asil.
“Are you really planning to marry Edenber?”
“Pippi.” (Yup.)
Due to their young age, Asil, who thought of marriage as an extension of playing house, nodded confidently.
With a face mixed with worry and seriousness, Elcai deliberately spoke gruffly after a long pause.
“There’s a saying that caterpillars should eat pine needles.”
“Pippiyaa.” (Asil eats strawberries.)
“That’s not what I mean. You can’t take human form, can you? Humans should marry humans.”
“Pippi…”
No, I can take human form. Asil pouted, feeling sulky.
But remembering her dad’s warning that they mustn’t reveal they could take human form to return home, dhe held back.
“I know a fine male lizard. Shall I introduce you?”
“Pippiyaa.” (Asil doesn’t like lizards.)
“You’ve got high standards. Well, considering you chose my grandson, they wouldn’t be low…”
Elcai gave up on further persuasion and left.
Throughout his treatment, he kept sighing heavily, making Selena’s heart skip a beat.
‘What’s wrong with this grandpa now?’
It’s not about an engagement or something again, is it?
Not only had the villain Arcian appeared earlier than in the original story, but she had also heard news of a daughter suddenly appearing.
‘It’s not another transmigrator, is it?’
Just as she was about to subtly probe, Elcai spoke first.
“Are you interested in romance?”
“Huh?”
What’s that about?
“I’m not uninterested.”
“What made you interested in boys?”
“I think it’s because I often meet and talk with them. Since there are more male apprentice priests, I always end up paired with boys.”
‘I’m an adult in a child’s body, so of course I’m interested,’ she couldn’t say, so she gave a vague answer.
But Elcai, taking her words at face value, grew serious.
“Meeting and talking often, huh…”
“May I ask why you’re asking?”
“It seems Edenber isn’t interested in romance.”
“What?”
No way.
As the obsessive male lead of the original story, his obsession with Asil was already dripping from his eyes.
‘Well, since this grandpa doesn’t know Asil can take human form, it makes sense he’d misunderstand.
Selena understood why Elcai was worried.
If my child had no interest in humans and only adored a lizard, I’d be worried too.
‘Ugh, it’s a pointless worry.’
Don’t worry, Grandpa. The male lead will have a beautiful love story with the new female lead.
Then, something Asil had once said flashed through her mind.
“Pippiyaa.” (I’ll hand over my husband nicely.)
Oh, right. That kid’s preparing to run away, isn’t it?
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
