Chapter 20
The Pinch Marquis family.
Compared to the Akion Grand Duke family, it could be called an infinitely small household, but because it monopolizes more than half of the mines in the western continent, it is one of the wealthiest families among the capital’s nobility.
It has no history but has money, and the Pinch Marquis family is famous for holding parties at every opportunity, and this time, the protagonist of the party was none other than Daphne, the youngest daughter of Grand Duke Akion.
“Could that rogue really have repelled a band of thieves?”
The story that Daphne repelled the band of thieves and protected the merchant caravan had already spread throughout the capital.
The nobles, their eyes bloodshot from the first juicy gossip since the crown prince’s affair scandal, had been eyeing each other for a reason to see Daphne in person, and the winner of that battle of wits was the Marchioness Pinch.
Usually, when inviting a child, the purpose of interaction with one’s own child is prioritized, but more than half of the capital’s noble heirs and young ladies have a history of being beaten by Daphne. That’s why Marchioness Pinch gained the upper hand. Her own child hadn’t been beaten!
“Now, Brysa. You haven’t forgotten your mother’s words, have you? What did I tell you to do when Daphne Akion comes?”
The marchioness asked, holding the hands of her just-turned-eight-year-old daughter, Brysa. Brysa twirled her pink hair and replied.
“When Daphne Akion comes, greet her from afar, then wait for a moment when she’s in a good mood and give her dessert!”
“And if there’s no moment when she’s in a good mood?”
“Then stay as far away as possible! Don’t talk to her! It’s better not to get close if it means getting beaten for no reason!”
“Our daughter is so clever. Yes, that’s how you do it.”
It was a grave instruction, as if teaching how to deal with a beast trapped in a cage…… but there was no helping it. Because Daphne Akion was a child with a temper that couldn’t be left out of sight for even a moment.
‘The Grand Duke must have it tough too.’
She’d heard that even in the mansion, they couldn’t handle Daphne and had shoved her into an annex, but considering Daphne’s devilish temperament, it was a fitting measure.
In any case, after earnestly instructing her angelic daughter, who was the opposite of Daphne, the marchioness soon blended into the crowd enjoying the party.
“When is Lady Daphne expected to arrive?”
Someone asked the marchioness.
“Well, the distance is a bit far, so she’s running late, it seems. But she replied that she would attend, so she will come.”
“Actually, I had a prior engagement today, but I excused myself and canceled it. How could I miss a chance to see that Daphne Akion!”
“Hehe, me too. I’ve been waiting for this day!”
Several men joined in among the pleasantly chattering ladies.
“But surely not all the ladies gathered here believe that rumor, right?”
“A mere five-year-old child repelling those whom even the Onhol mercenary group struggled against? It must be the guild master exaggerating a bit.”
The ladies’ smiles slightly stiffened.
For such gossip, whether it’s true or not isn’t important. What’s more important is how much entertaining story you can draw out from the center of attention!
But why do men always have to come and ruin the mood? The ladies exchanged glances while fanning themselves lightly.
“Well, yes. I’ve also heard that Daphne Akion has a weak body.”
“That’s right. Incurable illness, wasn’t it?”
“So they tolerate her mischief because of that. They let the sick child do as she pleases.”
Daphne is only known to have some incurable illness, not the Black Butterfly disease. So people chattered about it casually.
“That’s why it makes even less sense. A child who’s on the verge of death suddenly swinging a wooden sword and beating down a band of thieves? It’s not possible by common sense.”
“I wonder if it’s something coming out from the Grand Duke family, which hasn’t received His Majesty’s summons recently.”
The men spoke in a conjectural tone, but they were actually convinced.
That the Grand Duke, who hadn’t received a direct order from the emperor since the dragon subjugation, was using his daughter for publicity.
Even the ladies, who had shot glares at the men’s initial words, were slightly shaken. If their guess was correct, they would be the ones played by fabricated gossip.
“But there’s no way to prove it, is there? So there’s no way to verify if that incident is true or not.”
“Of course, but her skills can be sufficiently verified, can’t they?”
“Yes? What do you……”
At that moment, the footman guarding the door ran up to the marchioness.
“Oh my!”
The marchioness announced to those around her that Daphne had arrived, and the chattering people shut their mouths one by one, fixing their eyes on the door that was about to open. To see the rumored Daphne!
Creak—
The door slowly opens.
A child walking leisurely through the open door gap. Sparkling golden hair and snow-white skin, eyes so large they take up half the face, and pupils twinkling like emerald jewels! Indeed, she could be said to be the cutest on the continent.
But as per the conversation just moments ago, Daphne really looked very ill.
No matter how cute a dress she wore or how pretty the hair ornaments, she couldn’t hide the sickly pallor spread across her face. Eyes hollow in a way unbefitting a child, sunken cheeks, skinny limbs. It was a sight that drew sighs from onlookers.
So people thought to themselves.
The guild master’s words were just bluster, after all.
But what does that matter? In any case, Daphne, at the center of the capital’s gossip, was right in front of them!
Whether the rumor was true or false, just exchanging words with Daphne once would give them material to boast about for days.
The people’s eyes burned with fervor.
***
‘Why are they all staring like that?’
Daphne furrowed her brows.
She was already drowsy from the long carriage ride draining her stamina, so her mood was foul.
Having dozens of human gazes fixed on her at once wasn’t exactly pleasant.
“Daphne Akion.”
But that didn’t mean she could skip the greeting. Daphne roughly nodded her head in greeting and looked around. Wondering if there was a place to sit.
Fortunately, there was a table and chair near the central staircase of the hall. Daphne headed there without a second thought and sat down. Naturally unaware that the seat was reserved for the Pinch Marquis family, the hosts of this ball.
“……”
No one approached Daphne, who sat as naturally as if it were her own seat from the beginning.
First, because of Daphne’s foul temperament; second, because the rumor had spread by word of mouth, making it awkward to ask outright; and third……
‘She looks so sick!’
Because she looked so fragile, as if she’d collapse with a groan if poked.
Just sitting there like that seemed impressive.
‘Can she even speak properly in that state?’
‘No, with a body like that, shouldn’t she not be going out?’
The nobles each gauged the mood, trying to read the atmosphere. The one who steps forward first here is the brave one. But I’m not going to.
Due to the settled atmosphere in the hall, the musicians’ performance faltered, and the notes went slightly off.
“Hmm.”
Daphne, completely oblivious to this peculiar atmosphere, rested her chin on her hand and looked around.
Truth be told, she hadn’t wanted to come to a ball like this. But she had agreed because she thought meeting children her age might yield some information. Absolutely not because of Anne and Anna’s pleading.
She planned to ask how the original Daphne had been and what would be best to do going forward.
But……
‘Why isn’t anyone coming over?’
Daphne narrowed her eyes at the children standing off in the distance. The children were clustered together, most of them with eyes cast down and shoulders hunched.
‘Those kids must have been dragged here unwillingly too.’
Unaware that it was because of her that they were like this, Daphne clicked her tongue and rose. Because she judged that since they had the common point of discomfort, attempting conversation wouldn’t hurt.
“Hey.”
Daphne approached the clustered children. And she spoke with what she thought was the most harmless smile.
“What are you all doing standing around?”
“Eek!”
“Hic!”
But there was something Daphne didn’t realize: the original Daphne had almost never smiled, so her smiling expression came out quite awkward.
Awkward to the point of being bizarrely strange.
And with the history of beating the children around before, it couldn’t help but feel even scarier.
The children gasped and shrank back.
“Hm?”
Daphne frowned.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Wondering if these children were sick too, Daphne’s lips slightly stiffened.
Parents who drag a sick child to a ball by force……! These humans haven’t changed a bit! Daphne ground her teeth.
“W-Wait a moment! Lady Daphne! P-Please don’t get angry!”
At that moment, one child at the front of the group waved her hands and shouted.
The child with pink hair tied in twin tails with ribbons had a slightly frightened face, yet she didn’t back down.
Why? Because she was Brysa Pinch, daughter of the marquis family hosting this ball!
As the host, she had to resolve any issues that arose. Even if her mother had earnestly told her to run away upon seeing the ill-tempered Daphne Akion!
“W-We were all just nervous! It’s natural to be tense and awkward when meeting Lady Daphne! So please forgive us for not answering right away!”
So Brysa grabbed the sleeves of some children and bowed deeply. The quick-witted children followed Brysa and bowed the same way.
“P-Please forgive us!”
“Please let it slide just this once!”
“……”
Daphne was momentarily flustered but quickly regained her composure.
“So, you’re saying I’m such a great being that you’re already terrified and prostrating yourselves?”
It sounded like nonsense, but Brysa and the children were quick on the uptake.
“……Yes!”
“Because Lady Daphne is so great!”
“Oh ho.”
Only then did Daphne lift the corner of her mouth in a grin.
“You’ve got some manners for kids. I like that.”
“H-Ha ha. Thank you.”
“Alright then. Don’t be scared anymore and talk with me……”
“U-Um, Lady Daphne! If you sit down, we’ll bring you drinks!”
“Y-Yes! You must be tired, so please sit! We’ll bring cookies!”
Just as Daphne tried to approach the group more, several children shot their hands up and shouted. It meant please don’t come over here and just sit, but Daphne, of course, didn’t catch on.
“Humans these days are pretty sharp. I really like it.”
It seemed Anne and Anna had worried for nothing. Weren’t these children being so kind right away? Now, if they had some refreshments and got to know each other, it would be perfect.
“I’ll have to brag when I get back. That everyone knows my greatness.”
Hm. And I should tell them I’ve got subordinates too. Daphne giggled.
From Daphne’s perspective, who wasn’t reading the atmosphere at all, this ball was quite peaceful.
So Daphne, somewhat relaxed, failed to notice the murderous gaze fixed on her.
“Daphne Akion!”
The owner of the murderous gaze, Mark Brown—the second son of the Brown Duke family, who hadn’t yet shed his boyish youth—shoved through the crowd and shouted loudly.
“It’s been a while! Since the day you broke my nose, I haven’t forgotten you for a single day! To get revenge on you! Come at me! This time, I’ll face you properly!”
It was awkward delivery without any highs or lows, like reading from a prepared script, but Daphne had no interest in such things.
Instead, she rose and slowly approached Mark.
Daphne at just five years old and Mark at nine. The difference in their builds was significant. Daphne naturally looked up at Mark.
“……”
Gulp.
All eyes converged, and tension gripped everyone’s chests.
But they didn’t think Daphne would do anything. First of all, because Daphne looked so terribly ill. As if she’d wander between life and death with a single poke.
Should I stop her? It was the moment the host, Marchioness Pinch, slightly leaned forward.
Thwack!
“Arghhh!”
Mark’s body, two heads taller than Daphne, flew straight back.
Literally soaring through the air and tumbling backward.
I-Is this possible?
People gaped, their eyes darting around.
“You.”
Daphne ground her teeth, emphasizing each word. Then she slightly tilted her gaze to the side. At the end of her gaze was Brysa, knocked down by Mark.
“You dare pushed my subordinate.”
Daphne’s tiny fist clenched tight.
“Grind your molars.”
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By Anna 💓
