Chapter 25
I had never been out of an orphanage properly.
I don’t know how big is the capital of the grand duchy.
When I arrived at the grand duchy’s orphanage after being picked up by a carriage from another local orphanage, I remembered it took a long time before we arrived.
It was still hard for me to think that I was born as the princess of the Abnisian Empire since I was very hardworking.
However, when I wore the coronet, I felt that I could become a princess of this land.
But the platinum coronet on my head was too heavy.
“If you like it, you can start wearing it. I’ll have another one made for you because the coronet you’re wearing right now is heavy.”
The grand duke watched me struggle for a while with the coronet on my head.
Then, I lowered the coronet and returned it to its case. I turned my gaze to the dusty items in the room.
Like what the grand duke said, a little more informal and expensive jewelry was left behind.
There was also a cotton-like necklace made of pure essence and transparent gems.
Jewelry sets that were close to art craft and emit all kinds of light were also stored here.
The most fascinating thing was the toys on one side.
I picked up a transparent, bar-like toy that sparkled.
“What is this?”
“Well, that…”
The grand duke shook the rod while thinking for a moment.
Then there was a unique sound when he shook it. The light that flashed inside the rod whenever it moved was a bonus, making it look pretty and bright.
“It’s a rattle toy. You just have to shake and play it like an instrument.”
My age to play with a rattle had long passed.
Nevertheless, I liked this ridiculously luxurious rattle.
‘Isn’t it too pretty..?’
Shuelina has never played with rattles when she was a baby, so maybe it’s okay to try it late.
The grand duke didn’t notice my thoughts. I waved the rattle a bit before we moved to another room.
The next room was similar to the previous room earlier.
Dresses and all kinds of luxurious items were stored.
Each of them looked like a national treasure.
“Why are there so many?”
I asked, pointing to the bowls full of gems.
“Well, maybe…”
The grand duke grabbed a gem bowl and crushed the gems with the metal mortar next to it. He took some of the crushed gems and sprinkled them over my head.
“I read it in a book once. You spray it over your hair or clothes like this.”
He took me in front of the mirror in the corner of the room.
Glittering gem powder sprinkled over my head and clothes.
It was then that I realized that the grand duke had crushed the gems to decorate me.
They were all sparkling and more expensive than the gems that the director had.
I wondered what face to make, so I looked up at the grand duke and asked.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Isn‘t it fun? I thought children would like this.”
“It’s really fun. You even sprayed gems on me… Why are you doing this?”
The grand duke raised his chin and cleared his throat.
He seemed to be thinking about how to explain it in a way that I can understand.
“The room in front, this room, and the three rooms next to it are all rooms for the female children of this family.”
The grand duke explained how precious girls were to the Vaillot family.
Vaillot thought that girls in the family were special.
Because of that, he said that they always poured their money and affection without hesitation.
‘Indeed, only they can get close to each other. There must have been an overflowing family love.’
I nodded at the thought of a curse passed only to the grand duke’s lineage.
“So?”
“I hope you accept this.”
“What did you just say? Are you joking?“
The grand duke said he would hand all this to me.
I was very flustered.
“What nonsense are you saying?”
“Why do you think it’s nonsense? I’ve already asked you to become my daughter.”
“Is…that so?“
“Then it only makes sense to show my daughter what she can have and let her choose.”
So, the grand duke wanted to let me know in advance what kind of luxury I could enjoy if I stayed.
The things that are presented now are the things that the grand duke’s daughter can have.
“Of course I’m not forcing you. Even if you don’t become my daughter, I won’t take them back.”
“What do you mean? You told me to go! No way. What about the girls who will be born later if this place is empty?”
I urged the grand duke to reconsider while shaking the hem of his clothes. Every time I did, a shiny jewel fell off my body and flew away.
“Descendants are none of my business.”
“Eh?”
“I‘m doing my best to tell you that I want you to be my daughter.”
The grand duke smiled.
I looked around at the extravagant things that filled the room and tried to find a way to hide.
Honestly, I was very happy with the delicious snacks and pretty clothes they’ve given me.
However, I was not happy that these national treasures would all be given to me.
‘If you overdo it, you’ll become unhappy…’
It was rather scary.
It was because it was outside the capacity of my thinking.
Moreover, the grand duke, who likes me this much, was also an object of fear.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to return the things the grand duke had given me.
‘Is there any reason to do this for me? I’m not worth it…’
Most of all, I felt so scared that I liked that love.
“Grand Duke…what if I get all of these and refuse to be adopted?”
I whispered. Then the grand duke made eye contact with me and said.
“If you’re worried about that, then you can just become my real daughter.”
I felt like a demon was trying to drop me into my house.
He seemed to be more interested in seeing me sweating from sugary flowers as he got older.
Let’s say that all this conversation right now is a generous remedy to ask me to become his daughter to help me out.
The grand duke embraced me and handed me a bunch of keys.
“One is the key to the entrance on the third floor. To lock and open the small ones I showed you.”
I reflexively tried to pull my hand out.
But before I could do that, the grand duke had already placed the bundle of keys on my palm.
‘What should I do?’
I was overwhelmed to receive the treasure keys.
Can this person protect me?
Can I also protect this person?
‘Can I really trust him?’
I bit my lip and stared at the grand duke.
I don’t resemble the cold and strong-looking grand duke at all.
Besides, there had never been an aristocrat who adopted commoner orphans.
In the first place, it was nonsense for nobles to adopt children from an orphanage in the slums.
It was said that infertile aristocrats usually adopt relative children because it was unthinkable to enlist commoner blood into their noble lineage.
Therefore, most of them were sold off as servants when they left their orphanage.
Sometimes, they are sold to worse places.
And now, the grand duke wants to adopt me, a commoner.
‘I don’t have to mind their reputation now. I can also live with them as a way of repaying them. But…what will the empress do?’
I lowered my head and stared at the keys in my hand.
Their lives cannot be exchanged for anything.
I swallowed and gave back the bundle of keys to the grand duke.
“Grand Duke, it‘s because you don’t know my situation.”
All threats may be prevented with the power of the grand duke.
However, I have a deep affection for the grand duke, who had given me so much in the short time we’ve known each other.
If the grand duke and the two cute brothers get hurt…
Just imagining it was terrible. I felt my tears threatening to spill out.
I want to live with my spiritual power and live with the grand duke.
The grand duke will be my dad while I become his daughter and live with him.
However, I cannot decide hastily because I didn’t know how strong my ability was.
There’s no guarantee that I can defend the grand duke.
“About my adoption…”
Until my life is clearly explained, I must not be adopted.
That didn’t mean that I was going to take everything.
I wished that the grand duke knew of the danger that followed me.
It was my dream to meet a good family who would love and protect me.
Even though I wasn’t sure if I could protect this family instead of becoming the cause of their downfall.
‘If you don’t choose me…then I can’t help it. Whatever your decision will be, I’ll accept it!‘
But if you choose me despite knowing everything, if you choose to stand beside me…
“It…it could be dangerous if you adopt me.“
“Are you talking about the empress?”
There was no way she tried to kidnap me without motives. She even went as far as using a precious wizard.
As long as I am a princess, it was natural for the empress to bother the grand duke.
“Azuela has no spiritual power. She’s fooling everyone.”
“…That’s why they tried to take my spiritual power instead.”
“They will keep trying to take it from now on. The grand duke will be in danger!”
I eagerly explained to the grand duke. He seemed a little angry when he recalled that I was about to get kidnapped.
“Danger?”
“The empress might think of you as an enemy because of me…”
“I don‘t think I’m powerless enough to be unable to protect one daughter.”
It isn’t like that. The empress has more power than the grand duke thinks.
The original story said that the cause of numerous incidents that happened in the empire was the Salvation of New Day, the secret group that served the empress.
Therefore, the grand duke had to be more alert and think seriously.
I have to explain enough instead of just settling down with them selfishly.
“What if the empress is stronger than expected? What if there are still a lot of things that are yet to be revealed?”
I couldn’t even tell him about the empress’s plans nor her deeds.
It’s something a six-year-old girl who grew up in an orphanage won’t know.
“You’re very young. How did you know that the empress was aiming for you?”
“I heard it when they were taking my spiritual power.”
The grand duke seemed to be wondering how I knew the enemy.
I read it in the novel, but I can’t say that.
I already knew that the empress was aiming for my powers.
“Then she’s the same with us, the Vaillots. We hide our true capabilities.”
“It can be dangerous and bothersome… Now that you know that, do you still want to adopt me?”
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My heart was pounding inside me.
The grand duke’s lips parted slowly.
“If there are still more difficult and dangerous people after you, then…”
“Then you won’t adopt…”
“Let me be your father and protect you.”