Chapter 41

Chapter 41

“Come back in an hour.”

The Grand Duke shouted out in an annoyed voice.

It was because his routine was to go to his office after putting me to sleep anyway.

“I’m sorry, but it’s really urgent.”

It was tactless of Cahill to interrupt our time together.

If it’s Cahill, then maybe it’s an important matter….

“Appa, there must be something wrong. Please listen to him.”

I waved and urged the Grand Duke.

Then I saw Grand Duke’s forehead frown, then he got up from his seat with a sigh.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be right back.”

He turned the book he was reading over against the bed still open to the page we left off on. The appearance of his back while walking to the door was cold and frustrated.

‘If the news from Cahill isn’t so important, will he be in big trouble……?’

I glanced at the Grand Duke and came down from the bed. I couldn’t even read the book by myself, so I was thinking of going to spy on their conversation first.

As I snuggled up, hugging the fluffy rabbit doll Tutu, I saw Cahill with a serious face through the gap of the open door.

“Viscount Voldewon and Baron Elgar are visiting now. They said that there is a problem with the territory.”

“Is this a serious problem?”

“He said he has been helpless because of his illness. He wants Vaillot to help somehow.”

“Did the doctor figure out the cause?”

“Not yet.”

The expressions of the Grand Duke and Cahill were dumbfounded. I couldn’t understand the content of the conversation and opened my eyes wide.

‘You said they visited late at night to get help from my dad about his illness? Even if Dad doesn’t know anything about the illness?’

Looks like this situation is a bit weird.

According to the manners I have studied, nobles never visit other people’s homes late at night without prior notice.

That meant that a very difficult situation arose, enough to risk behaving disrespectfully.

Even the Grand Duke seemed to think it was definitely something that serious.

“Where did you lead them?”

“I guided them to the first reception room. The Grand Duke is waiting there.”

(T/N: The ‘Grand Duke’ Cahill is referring to here is not the Grand Duke Vaillot. The author used the term 대공자님 which means ‘decided heir of a family’ while the Grand Duke Vaillot is 대공님. In conclusion, it is another person of another manor/noble family.)

Upon hearing Cahill’s answer, the Grand Duke turned his head and looked at me, while holding his breath and hesitating to give me an answer.

“I’m sorry, I can’t read more today.”

“Are people here? Can I go too?”

I opened my eyes widely, asking the Grand Duke.

However, even if I stared at him with glistening eyes, or held his sleeve and shook it, he wouldn’t let me.

“It’s too late. You have to go to bed.”

Instead, the Grand Duke lifted me up and put me on the bed. It’s as if putting me to sleep at this time is his main mission.

“I understand. Good night.”

The Grand Duke moved the book on the bed out of my reach, patted my chest over the blanket, turned off the magic lamp, and went outside.

‘Um, I can’t sleep.’

While lying down, I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep, but my eyes kept opening.

He stopped reading me the book I am curious about, then something strange happened, but I couldn’t find what it was about.

I can’t do it! I jumped up from my seat and approached the window.

The entrance to the mansion can be seen from the large window of my room. I couldn’t stand my curiosity because I couldn’t open my curtains, and I can only hear a subtle noise.

‘Did a lot of people come?’

I stepped on the sofa under the window, leaned against it, and looked down.

Several wagons lined up at the entrance to the mansion, and some people wandered nearby with anxious faces.

‘I guess it was really a serious illness.’

I looked down and figured out why.

“Shushu!”

It was then that Deleign’s whispers were heard.

Deleign in pajamas was peeping in and standing in front of the door.

Then there was Sir Hilohan.

‘What are the two of you doing at this time?’

Deleign beckoned to me with an invincible, happy expression.

It seemed that he didn’t mind sir Hilohan watching with an unpleasant face from behind.

“Oraboni! What’s going on?”

As I called him and asked, Deleign whispered to me with a mischievous face.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I’m not sleepy.”

“Good. There are a lot of people down here now! Let’s sneak a look! Brother is the only one able to greet them.”

“I think I’m going to get scolded….”

“Until you get in trouble, I’ll also get in trouble!”

Well, it’s time for a child to sleep. Deleign also had to go to bed like me, but it seemed that he couldn’t sleep because he was curious about downstairs.

Usually, I would never agree with him about mischief, but now I’m also curious!

“No.”

“Why! Ah, we’ll just be hanging out in the hallway….”

When Deleign came to my room, he said that he met Sir Hilohan in the hallway, and cried that he had come here for nothing playful.

I wondered for a moment as I watched Lord Hiloran turn his head upright.

“Come on, let’s go!”

However, without any time for me to worry, Deleign jumped and lifted me up. It was very effortless as if he didn’t feel my weight at all.

“If Wyndy oraboni sees… .”

“I did a thousand diagonal cuts today! Now I can hug you and walk around!”

Deleign cried out with an elated face, as if he was very proud.

I was wondering if he had always wanted me to carry like this, but it’s no big deal that he liked me so much.

I just silently wrapped my hands around Deleign’s neck and shook my legs. An unspoken word to say let’s go together.

“… I’ll hold you.”

Sir Hilohan sighed for a long time, then reached out his hand.

“Oho, I’m officially Shushu’s carriage now.”

However, Deleign turned away with joy. It was a desperate gesture that he would never let me be taken away.

Deleign kept whining about something all the way to the parlor.

Things like complaining about being excluded whenever there is an important job because he is still young.

“… So I mean, only my brother gets to take it and it’s really annoying… !”

“Shh, they can hear your voice!”

From my point of view, Deleign, who is only seven years old, seems to be young enough to not understand.

Still, I understood and wanted to hear enough from his annoyed heart to soothe him, but I couldn’t ask about any of it because I heard a voice inside the parlor.

“… The progress of the illness is ridiculously fast. Until this morning, I only complained of high fever and vomiting… .”

“The doctor says the cause is unknown, but I don’t know what to do about this.”

“Well.”

“Two villages have already been destroyed. Three days after I was sick, blood spewed out of my body!”

“I still have a place to go, but the whole village has vanished… It’s a problem while collecting taxes. If it goes on, I’ll be going bankrupt!”

Unfamiliar voices rang out like cannons.

I felt angry, embarrassed, upset, and sad.

“Help me, Your Grace. Besides, as it is, it will soon spread to the surrounding provinces.”

“How the hell did this happen……. It’s a big deal if it’s a pandemic among the commoners.”

“First of all, finding the cause of the disease is an urgent priority.”

The Grand Duke’s voice was calm, but he looked extremely unhappy.

‘It’s an infectious disease.’

It seemed to be an infectious disease that was very contagious and had a high mortality rate. If it’s severe enough that you die after three days of infection, it seems like a very dangerous disease…….

‘How is my Dad going to cure a disease he doesn’t even know the cause of?’

A disease that is dangerous enough to devastate three villages.

If it’s widespread among commoners, is the orphanage okay? Not long ago, the orphanage changed so much, I was smiling widely, saying I was delighted because it became better.

I bit my lips as I thought of the children’s faces.

“Someone must be really ill!”

Deleign hiccuped. I hurriedly told him ‘shh!’ telling him to close his mouth, but the active voices I was hearing inside the parlor stopped.

“Your Grace?”

“Just a moment.”

Then I heard the sound of striking steps, and immediately the door opened wide.

“Del, Shushu.”

Indeed, we got caught!

I opened my eyes and looked up at the Grand Duke’s face.

As his back faced the light, it was hard to see what expression he was making.

“I didn’t appoint an escort for this.”

The Grand Duke first looked at Sir Hilohan sharply and he muttered.

“I apologize, Your Grace.”

Sir Hilohan quietly bowed his head without making excuses. Actually, I’m in a group!

I shook Deleign to let me down to the floor.

“No, Dad! I couldn’t sleep because it was noisy outside, so I begged to go down….”

When I said I was wrong, the brow of the Grand Duke narrowed slightly.

“If you’re going to scold me, scold me! Actually, I kidnapped Shushu to go down!”

Deleign said, blocking me in front. Then the Grand Duke reached out, grabbing me, and hugged me.

“Will you be quiet next to me?”

“Yes. Sir, I won’t get caught next time.”

I think it’s wonderful to be able to honestly confess that they protect each other!

Instead of scolding, the Grand Duke took us inside.

On the sofa in the living room, four strangers and Wyndert were sitting. I greeted Wyndert and slowly looked at the other people. As I looked around, they looked at me closely.

The nobles in the surrounding provinces were unaware of the news that a stepdaughter has been adopted into the Grand Duke’s mansion. They must have been very curious about me, who was revealed for the first time.

“Shushu, this is Viscount Valdewon and Baron Elgar. They are the lords of the East provinces of the Grand Duke’s territory. This cute child is my daughter.”

“Ah, the one from the rumors……! My name is Ernest Valdewon, young lady. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I am Rivera Elgar.”

So, these people are the vassals of the Grand Duke. So it seemed that they came to the Grand Duke and complained.

Viscount Valdewon looked at me with a somehow subtle gaze.

How did rumors concerning me come about? I looked up slightly and smiled kindly.

“I’m Shuelina de Vaillot. Nice to meet you.”

Now, as I learned from Teacher Rima, let’s behave like a gentle and kind child.

Even in the state of being held by the Grand Duke, I grabbed the hem of my dress greeting them.

The Grand Duke stroked my cheek once, then sat on the couch with me on his lap.

“You can continue talking. I will stay here quietly.”

When I talked calmly in the arms of the Grand Duke, everyone looked at me with acknowledgement.

‘Uhm alright. I recovered the points I had lost when I didn’t sleep at my bedtime.’

I laughed satisfactorily, letting Wyndert caress my hand like I am pleased.