Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Here you go.”

Wyndert walked through the long corridor and dropped me off in front of the heavy doors.

It was a placid voice, having no idea of the complex thoughts I had.

‘It’s like a lion would pop out of these doors.’

My mouth fell open at the sight of the delicately carved doors. A heavy sound was produced even though Wyndert knocked lightly.

“It’s Wyndert, I’ve finished showing her around the mansion.”

“Come in.”

I chased Wyndert’s back.

When I walked in, I could see the heavy and dark interior of the large office.

“Oh, where’s the kid you brought?”

I heard a child’s voice in front of me.

I poked my head out and saw the grand duke and Deleign sitting on the sofa.

‘This must be the second son, Deleign.’

Wow, the grand duke’s blood must be really strong. The grand duke, Wyndert, and Deleign, look exactly the same.

Except for the slight difference in their eyes’ shape, their eye color and impression are similar.

The difference is that Deleign’s eyes are drooping and look relatively friendly.

As I stared at the three wealthy people in front of me, I realized that I haven’t greeted them formally yet.

I was so distracted earlier that I went straight to the grand duke. I must’ve looked like a very rude kid!

‘I can’t believe I made such a mistake……! I have to greet them first.’

I have to show them how mature I am. I want to stay in this luxurious house for a long time.

I bowed to the fullest.

“Wet me give you a fowma intwoduction. Hello! I’m Shueliya. I am six yeas owd, thwank you fow having me hewe! I’m vewy happy.”

(Let me give you a formal introduction. Hello! I’m Shuelina. I am six years old, thank you for having me here! I’m very happy.)

As I said hello, I bowed so much that my body was almost folded in a half.

I greeted them with my head almost on the floor to show them that I’m very respectful.

Wyndert froze in beside me.

“I think you’re going to break your back.”

I heard him mutter quietly.

I don’t care.

To appear obedient, I shouldn’t raise my body until the grand duke allows it.

“The floor is cold.”

While I was politely staring at the floor, I suddenly felt like I was flying.

At the same time, I heard the grand duke’s cold voice, my body was suddenly lifted.

“Kya!”

Surprised, I screamed and reflexively hugged whatever is in front of me.

Then, startled, I immediately took my arms back.

‘Did I just hug the grand duke’s face?’

The grand duke’s face in front of me was clear. Unlike me, who was taken by surprise, his face was blank.

The grand duke must think I’m some kind of doll with how he easily lifted me up.

“I hope we get along well for the next month, Shueli.”

“It’s not Shueli, it’s Shueliya! That’s what I heawd in the owphanage.”

(T/N: Shuelina introduces herself as Shueli-aeyo which might sound like the normal introduction in Korea ‘I’m Shueli’ because the ‘ae’ is like a part of Shueli and ‘yo’ is what they say at the end of their name when introducing, but she is actually unable to correctly pronounce the ‘na’ in her name, so it sounds like ‘yae’. It’s also the case for the previous chaps like when she said “Shueli didn’t do anything.” but now I’m gonna stick with Shueliya to avoid confusion.)

“I thought you were asking me to call you Shueli.”

What a stupid tongue!

Perfect pronunciations come to my mind, but my tongue never listens.

Unlike me, who was offended by mispronunciation, the grand duke’s face was very calm.

‘I’m not a baby anymore!’

Contrary to my heart’s shout, only a small, murmuring voice came out. I want to say my name properly.

I frowned a little and pouted.

“Why do you keep calling me Shueli and not Shueliya? They’re both the same.”

“It’s Shuelina.”

Deleign, who was listening, tilted his head to the side as if he’s wondering what my real name is.

Wyndert said the name I wanted to say. I think he remembered my name when he heard it in the orphanage.

“It’s a name you can’t say yourself, so it’s hard! What’s your nickname?”

“Del, you have to say your name first.”

Deleign was asking hastily while stomping his feet, so Wyndert pointed out the proper etiquette.

Hmm, that’s right. He’s as naïve as a thunderbolt. I think I can clearly see what kind of personality he has.

“I’m Deleign.”

“Wow, youw name is pwetty!”

I deliberately grabbed Deleign’s sleeve with a grin.

Judging from the subtle flush on Deleign’s face, I can tell that my compliment pierced through him.

‘What, why are these people so easy to deal with?’

It’s totally disarming……

Maybe it’s because I’m unaffected by their curse.

No one ever approached them like this before.

“Uhmm, you can also call me Del. My father and brother are the only ones who can call me that, but I’ll give you special permission!”

“Weally? I’m so happwy!”

(Really? I’m so happy!)

Since I’m supposed to like it, I clapped my hands as if I received good grace.

I wonder if I really have to act like this… but I can’t help it if I want to make ends meet.

“So what’s your nickname?”

“Nicknwame……? Shueliya doesn’t have a nicknwame, but babies at the owphanage caw me Shu.”

(Nickname……? Shuelina doesn’t have a nickname, but babies at the orphanage call me Shu.)

The three of them frowned at what I said about not having a nickname.

Having no nickname means that no one treated me with affection.

It was like a confession that I’ve never been loved by anyone before.

The grand duke looked at my appearance. At my shabby clothes, my hollow cheeks, and my skinny body.

“I don’t like the nickname they use at the orphanage. It’s pathetic. You should forget it and have fun.”

Deleign said grumpily. He sounded like a little rascal, but the content of his words was sweet.

‘Is he worried about me?’

I can’t believe he’s such a good-natured character. I scratched my cheek and came up with a simple solution.

“Thwen, make one fow me!”

(Then, make one for me!)

The three of them turned serious at my words. ‘Hmm’, I heard someone let out a long sigh.

Deleign’s head was turned to the side that it looked like it was being twisted from his body.

Why are they so serious when they’re just making a nickname?

I felt embarrassed and started to play with my fingers that are neatly placed on my knees.

“Shushu.”

It was the grand duke who came up with a nickname first.

Shushu. It’s simple, but the pronunciation is quite cute.

I was trying to combine the syllables from the name to Shuel, Elina, Eli, and El.

‘Shushu, Shushu? Shushu. What a…… cute nickname.’

The grand duke thinks I’m cute.

My face brightened up unconsciously.

“You look like a cream puff. If you gain weight and become fat, it’s likely that you’ll turn into a soft bread like a cream puff, so let’s go with Shushu.”

(T/N: Cream puff is ‘Shu’ cream in Korea.)

Bread? A bread?

For a moment, I was in an internal fit of rage.

I thought they got that nickname by deriving it from my name, but it’s actually because I look like bread!

‘It’s my first nickname!’

I felt betrayed because the grand duke looked indifferent all this time.

When the indifferent grand duke gave me a nickname, I thought he was so great.

But it seemed like he said it without thinking.

He nicknamed me from a loaf of bread and it didn’t even seem to impress him!

“Uhm…… What is a cweam puff?”

What’s more, the fact that I have no idea what a cream puff is, is also disturbing.

In my defense, I’ve never eaten anything fancy before. I also lost most of my previous life’s memories.

I felt suspicious when they kept saying ‘puff and fat’ or something.

“Oh, seriously. Your cheeks look like white cream puffs!”

Deleign nodded his head enthusiastically. Wyndert also smiled after a long time.

They’re enjoying themselves by making fun of me!

I pouted my lips, then Wyndert laughed lightly.

“Are you upset? Your mouth looks like a duck’s. You’ll like it when you eat it later. Father still has a lot of work to do, so shall we go out now?”

Wyndert pointed at my protruding lips.

He copied my lips with his hand, his thumb was sticking out like a duck’s.

‘Is he telling me to stop it because he doesn’t want to see it?’

Well, it’s not the right time to express my feelings like this yet. To do so, I still have to build more trust.

I rushed my lips back and sprang up from my seat with the grand duke’s permission.

Wyndert carried me again.

‘I have a bad feeling that I can’t walk around on my own while I’m here.’

Well, Wyndert seems to like me so I don’t feel bad. Besides, it’s comfortable so I like it……

‘But it’s embarrassing!’

As soon as we left the grand duke’s office, I was bothered by the pairs of eyes that stared at me.

I really have an ominous feeling that I would never walk around this estate with my own two feet.

A girl who moves in the air, and it is one of the young masters who’s carrying that child.

Everyone who saw it looked dumbfounded.

Even Wyndert looked very strange to me.

‘I don’t want this!’

I don’t know if Wyndert wants to do it or not, his expression was vague.

“Brother, why are you carrying her like a sack?”

(T/N: It wasn’t specified in the novel, but in the promo manhwa, Wyndert carries her like a sack on his side with one arm, not on his shoulder, in case that’s what you’re thinking XD.)

Deleign asked, looking up at Wyndert.

I thought I was a princess, but I unexpectedly became a sack.

“Sack?”

Wyndert mumbled with a frown.

I glanced up at him.

“Look at her legs. How does it look?”

“Wow, it’s amazing how she can walk around with these legs!”

Deleign poked my thin legs and exclaimed.

“If Shushu walks around, wouldn’t her legs break?”

“Gasp!”

Deleign’s eyes widened at Wyndert’s words.

‘That was cute……’

Human legs don’t break that easily, sweetie.

I can’t believe Wyndert cheated on Deleign. I looked at him with distrust.

“Then, I’ll carry you instead of Brother!”

Deleign declared with a determined look.

When I saw his resolute look, I had a feeling that it would be satisfying to be carried by him.

“You still don’t have the strength to carry her. I’ll allow you once you’ve swung the sword a thousand times in a row.”

“What? You’re so stingy!”

Is he out of his mind?

‘But this is Wyndert we’re talking about here.’

Wyndert, who will later become a distinguished knight in the entire empire.

Deleign clenched his fists with a firm look, whether he believed Wyndert or not.