Chapter 18

Ena wore a proud expression at my energetic answer.

But that was short-lived.

“Ah, but a novel might be a bit difficult for the Young Lady to read. Shall I pick out some thinner fairy tale books instead?”

Worry followed belatedly.

‘Ah, can a normal four-year-old not read this?’

After pondering for a moment, I came up with a good excuse.

“Mewony wead hawder books in daddy’s study, you know? Wike ow .”

“Oh my goodness!”

“I guess Melony is a genius because she takes after her daddy.”

I deliberately emphasized the word ‘takes after’.

‘This way, I can also emphasize that I’m of the Duke’s bloodline!’

Isn’t this truly killing two birds with one stone?

“…That’s right. Our Miss weally—I mean, weally resembles the Duke a lot. Truly… *sniff*.”

See! It’s working.

‘But why is she talking while tearing up like that?’

I don’t know. Ena must have dry eye syndrome.

* * *

From that day on, I began to read the three books thoroughly.

It took quite a while to read because a four-year-old’s brain couldn’t take in that much information at once.

‘It’s fun…!’

Fortunately, all the books were interesting, making them enjoyable to read.

Especially since the parts I was looking for were depicted very well.

‘The process of becoming a father and daughter!’

The books all had the same theme of a female lead who lived a difficult life suddenly becoming a duke’s daughter, an imperial princess, or a princess of the demon realm, so there was a lot I could relate to.

Isn’t this literally me?

I decided to follow the examples of the three female protagonists.

And so, in the present.

“…What is that reverent expression for, Marshmallow.”

“A vewy twustwowthy expwession.”

“What on earth are you planning to do.”

At the Duke’s muttering, I puffed out my chest.

It was a confident posture that meant ‘just trust me’.

Hudson, who was working at the desk next to the Duke, looked over with a rather intrigued expression.

‘Good. There are people watching too.’

I’ll show them the results of my studying.

I scurried over to the Duke, who was sitting at his office desk.

And then, with a grunt, I started climbing up his leg.

“What kind of novel act is this.”

“On youw wap, n-ngh, I’m going to sit…!”

“You want to sit on my lap?”

“Yes!”

The Duke looked perplexed but grabbed me and hoisted me up.

Startled.

As the Duke hesitated, my short limbs dangled in the air.

“Incredibly light today as well. If a breeze blew, you’d fly away.”

“…No way.”

“Who knows. But just in case, stay in your room on windy days. Got it?”

“Neh.”

“Such a sulky answer.”

He let out a light laugh and seated me on his lap.

Oh, a whole new perspective.

“Are you satisfied now, Marshmallow?”

“Yes. I’m vewy satisfied.”

“So why did you want to sit on my lap?”

My eyes lit up at the Duke’s question.

‘Why I wanted to sit on your lap?’

If you ask, it’s only right that I answer!

Glancing around the room, I beckoned the Duke to come closer.

Soon, that ridiculously handsome face leaned in with a look of curiosity.

“What is it.”

“Shh. It’s wike this-.”

I lowered my voice as much as possible so Hudson wouldn’t hear and whispered.

“I heawd that a daughtew is supposed to sit on hew daddy’s wap. Didn’t you know?”

“Oh.”

He let out a short sound of admiration and nodded slowly.

“I never even dreamed of that.”

As expected, I knew you wouldn’t know!

I only found out after reading the book, after all.

In the novels, they always climbed up and sat on their father’s laps.

Feeling proud, I kicked my feet and rested my chin on the desk with a giggle.

Then, I opened the book I had brought.

“…?”

“Yes. Because Mewony has to study.”

“Aha. So you studied that, and this was the conclusion you came to?”

Nod.

“Yeah. Angewa is my wowe modew these days!”

“I suppose Angela is the main character of that book?”

“Yes. She’s a weally cool pwotagonist.”

Angela was a truly amazing protagonist.

At a young age, she becomes a ‘contract imperial princess’ in a situation similar to being a hostage-.

At first, she is treated as an ‘outsider’, but later, she slowly melts the hearts of the people of the Ice Empire.

The cold and ruthless people of the Ice Empire lose their minds and fuss over Angela the moment they see her.

‘She’s weally amazing.’

She is, without a doubt, my absolute best role model right now.

“So did Angela teach you to sit on laps as well? Besides sitting on laps, is there anything else?”

“Thewe is!”

“Hmm. What is it?”

“Gweeting in the mowning, shawing snacks, dwawing pictuwes in the sketchbook…”

“Being carried around whenever you go somewhere, is there anything like that?”

At the Duke’s casual remark, I widened my eyes and looked up at him.

“…How did you know?”

I had forgotten about that for a moment.

Is this the difference between geniuses and normal people?

“It’s a much more useful reference book than I thought. Keep up the diligent learning.”

“Yes. Mewony will wowk hawd at studying!”

“Then, shall I give a prize to the child who tries so hard as a token of my support?”

A prize?

At that single short word, my heart began to pound softly.

Having lived my whole life far away from such things, my heart naturally reacted to the word ‘prize’.

‘I wonder what kind of prize it is.’

Could it be a contract?

It’s already been a week since I entered the ducal estate, so I figured it was about time he wrote it…

* * *

“Waaaaah!”

“Your jaw will fall off, Marshmallow.”

“Waaah-ulp.”

My jaw must not fall off.

I hurriedly closed my wide-open mouth.

“Come to think of it, this must be your first time going out. You were locked up in Bramchois the whole time, after all.”

“Ah, um, yes! It’s my fiwst time going out!”

Actually, that’s a lie.

There was a time when the streets were my home, after all.

‘But hey, it’s my first time in the duchy!’

Hanging off the carriage window, I looked outside.

The rapidly changing scenery rattled past, feeling new and fascinating.

So this is what the duchy looks like…

The place I lived was a run-down area on the outskirts of the capital.

Full of alleys, with all the buildings dilapidated.

But the Panteyebe duchy was different.

‘The roads are sparkling! The buildings are sparkling too!’

The roads were neatly paved, and many large carriages came and went.

The buildings, free of rough edges, were colorful. Like a scene straight out of a painting.

And most fascinating of all.

‘There seem to be so many rich people…!’

It was the attire of the people traveling through the territory.

Their neat and splendid clothes showed just how well-off the territory’s residents were.

‘If I had begged in a place like this, I probably wouldn’t have starved.’

Smack.

Briefly recalling my begging days, I shook my head vigorously.

No. I’m the Young Lady now!

Let’s not think about my beggar days.

I looked outside again with sparkling eyes.

‘At first, I was sulky because he said going out was the prize.’

But now that I’m actually outside the mansion, my heart is pounding and my chest is fluttering.

Maybe this kind of prize isn’t so bad…?!

* * *

“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage stopped in front of a massive building painted entirely in pink.

“Wow, it wooks wike a dollhouse.”

“Do you like it? Want me to buy it for you?”

Buy it?

What?

“The dollhouse?”

“No, this.”

The Duke gestured toward the building with his chin.

I couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

‘Surely ‘this’ isn’t what I think it is?’

Like a building, a building, or something like a building.

‘…I heard buildings in a nice territory like this are incredibly expensive.’

Gulp.

Swallowing hard, I slowly shook my head.

“I-I don’t need it.”

“Why? You said you liked it.”

“Mewony wikes the mansion with you in it bettew. I don’t need anything ewse!”

“…Really? Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”

The Duke answered with a soft smile.

Seeing his face look quite satisfied, I felt I had made the right choice.

‘Kuhup. Honestly, I was a little tempted.’

What’s important right now isn’t money, it’s my life.

‘What if I show a greedy side for no reason and get kicked out for being cheeky?’

That would be very, very troublesome.

If I get kicked out now, I’m guaranteed to be kidnapped and locked up.

It was a moment when I felt both bitter and relieved at the same time.

“Oh my, welcome!”

The door to the pink building swung open, and a woman popped out.

She was a woman with curly hair and a pair of unique glasses.