Chapter: 323
The old town of the species protection zone was as quiet as expected. While I dazedly waited for the Wise Duke, a carriage accompanied by knights arrived. It was definitely the Wise Duke’s carriage, marked with the Salón family crest.
As soon as I spotted the emblem, I turned to see Erich, painfully closing his eyes in despair. Approaching the carriage, the door swung open on its own before the knights could even lay a hand on it.
“Yeehah! Joookaaaa!”
The Wise Duke flung the door open with reckless abandon, bursting out with a booming voice. The knights, apparently used to the Duke’s antics, wore expressions that didn’t shift an inch.
Ah, what a sad affair. Knights tasked with protecting the Duke’s family must have their skills and character acknowledged, but to have someone as peculiar as the Wise Duke in their midst? I imagine they relief more than pride, wishing just to get through each day without incident.
“It’s been a while, Auntie!”
“Hehe! It’s been ages, Joookaa! You should definitely visit in person rather than through transmission!”
“Yes, I think so too.”
I nodded as the Wise Duke jovially thudded my arm, already darting his gaze behind me. I knew he’d quickly lose interest unless I gave him a juicy response to pounce on.
“Jirkaaa!”
True to form, the Wise Duke immediately bolted toward his next target. Naturally, a little cousin he hadn’t seen in years would take precedence over a big nephew he’d seen just months ago.
Thank goodness. I’d never felt so grateful for the obligation of attending the New Year’s Ball. Truly, thank you, Empire Law.
“Wow, Erich has grown so much! You’re quite the young man now.”
I watched Erich endure a barrage of affectionate pecks from the Wise Duke, and then heard my uncle’s voice laced with laughter.
It sounded like a genuine expression of joy, but in the midst of Erich’s mortifying ordeal, it felt like mockery. If Erich were to hear such words, he’d surely weep for the dignity of a young man being so treated.
“To me, he still looks like a child.”
“Well, that can’t be helped. To parents, a child is always a child. Nephews are no different.”
In other words, the affection won’t change until one of them kicks the bucket, which is terrifying indeed.
‘Hang in there.’
As I observed Erich getting smothered further, with Sarah feeling torn between not wanting to shove away the love-struck Duke and struggling with her feelings towards her secret crush, Marcilio pinched his forehead at the scene. I looked away to save my sanity.
Stay strong, Erich. Your grip on the Wise Duke is my lifeline.
“Why are you hiding here, little one?”
“Pardon?”
I turned to my uncle as he spoke unexpectedly.
“I’m not hiding!”
I quickly lowered my head at the childish voice echoing from below.
Only then did I notice a girl peeking shyly behind my uncle. She had brown hair resembling her father’s and golden eyes like the Wise Duke. Unlike the tipsy Duke, her bright eyes sparkled with clarity.
…Ah.
‘Is she the Young Lady?’
It was my first encounter, and I was slightly uncertain, but it seemed accurate enough. She had clearly inherited her parents’ traits and being nestled behind her uncle could only mean she was the Young Lady.
‘Still a child, huh.’
How awkward. I was expecting a afraid little shut-in due to their busy parent, but here was just a child who should be playing. Not knowing my cousin’s age made me realize how little I paid attention to my relatives.
While lost in thought about the Young Lady, she mustered the courage to step forward and greet.
“I’m Liliana Salón of the Salón family. It’s an honor to meet the esteemed Executive Manager.”
From that ordinary introduction, I sensed a bright future for the Salón family. Her direct gaze that met mine, the clear pronunciation despite her age, and her polite manner all spoke volumes, especially considering she seemed relatively sober.
Most importantly, her slight tremble—not just from the foreign environment but her determination to keep calm—warmed my heart.
‘What a miracle.’
I couldn’t help but admire the fact that such a normal child had emerged from the Wise Duke. Of course, the Duke was a unique oddity within the Salón family itself, but there were worries that the mutant’s genes could carry over to their offspring too.
“Nice to meet you, Young Lady. I’m Carl Krasius of the Krasius family.”
I offered my hand for a polite handshake, and she flinched slightly when I bent down to match her height. I pretended not to notice, as it was clear she was vying hard to seem mature. If I treated her like a child here, I knew she’d huff away in indignation.
“You’re lucky to have a kind cousin, huh. I was worried if Riri was all alone, but now I feel reassured.”
But my good intentions went out the window as my uncle gently ruffled the Young Lady’s hair. With that affectionate gesture, she began to tremble for a different reason altogether.
Well, it was to be expected. Even if I was fine with indulging for just a moment, from my uncle’s point of view, this was his adorable daughter. I imagined that no matter how old she got, she’d still just be his cute little baby.
‘The girl version of Erich.’
Thinking that tugged at my heartstrings. In fact, poor kid lived with the Wise Duke. Her cheeks were likely being pinched mercilessly.
‘Ah.’
She was crying.
A soft, whimpering voice echoed sadly.
“I-I… I just wanted to impress my big brothers. Hic, but… it’s all gone wrong…”
At her lament, my uncle wore an awkward smile, gently patting her back. The mingling sounds of her hiccups were hard to understand, but it was clear she felt her noble debut was turning into a sob story.
It seemed she felt the need to address me as the Executive Manager. At first, I wondered where she picked up that title, but quite simply, as her younger sibling, she had wanted to show off.
‘Definitely a child.’
I swallowed the words sitting on the tip of my tongue.
“Hic… Riri! If you cry like this, I’ll be so sick of it too…”
Despite being in her uncle’s embrace, she desperately tried to evade him.
Strange. She should be crying for her uncle, but she was dodging the Wise Duke. Did she realize the Duke wasn’t exactly a normal character…? Poor kid was definitely suffering at home.
“Age isn’t crucial to a lady. Treating a lady like a child is rude, no matter how much you’re their parent.”
Amidst the softening chaos of the little one, Marcilio finally spoke up. If a young lady is attempting to act mature, parents have to help guide that behavior rather than simply showering too much affection.
“Heh, I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks to Your Grace, I’ve learned an important lesson.”
Even my uncle nodded at this advice. If he’d known the Young Lady would cry so heart-wrenchingly, he’d likely have adjusted his display of affection accordingly.
Still, when Marcilio brought up age, it felt a bit off. While a lady’s age might not matter, you could also consider someone a lady even if they were over a hundred…
“Huh? Why are you using honorifics with Marcilio?”
The Duke’s remark snapped me out of my thoughts.
‘What.’
I was overwhelmed by confusion. Isn’t it standard for my uncle to speak respectfully to Marcilio? It wouldn’t be odd for Marcilio to speak casually with my uncle, given the circumstances. Treating the Duchess’s partner with some respect only made sense, right?
“Marcilio’s already my cousin’s daughter-in-law! How is it that we’re not being casual about this?”
I could hardly believe my ears! I glanced at my uncle’s widened eyes, likely reflecting the shock I felt.
Well, sure, if Marcilio were my lover, then it’s only logical to think of her as a niece-in-law, but really—dropping honorifics here seems a bit excessive.
‘…Or maybe not?’
As I thought it over, Marcilio was indeed in a position where the heads of the family treated her with familiarity. It would only make her delighted if she were called “niece-in-law” instead.
‘Wait, no.’
I quickly reversed that thought as I caught Marcilio’s expression. She had such a complicated look on her face, as if she’d just received a pop quiz from a professor.
Of course, for her, it must’ve been encouraging to be treated casually without ambiguity by her husband’s uncle. But considering that uncle’s wife was the Wise Duke, it must be a mixed bag of emotions.
If my uncle was allowed to be casual, then the Wise Duke would surely expect permission too. But if we discouraged all casualness, it would mean my uncle would forever use honorifics. It’s a fine balance: to gain something necessitates losing something else.
“Hehe, niece, should I treat you comfortably then?”
“……”
At that, Marcilio wore an expression as if she had suffered a maths conundrum of epic proportions.
Thanks to my uncle’s mediation, we avoided the calamity of the Wise Duke kissing Marcilio on the cheek. Had it not been for my uncle, we likely would’ve been thrust deeper into chaos, making me think he is the true peacekeeper of the Empire.
“It isn’t proper to treat you casually as a couple hasn’t been formed yet.”
“Hic, I get it…”
Even though that mediation was only a momentary delay, it was enough to keep disaster from striking immediately.
“Ah, wait! Joookaa!”
Reluctantly, I tried to separate myself from the impending chaos, but at the last moment, the Wise Duke piped up.
“Where will you go?”
“Since I’ve come this far, I’m going to take a look around the protection zone.”
Fortunately, it was an ordinary question, and I answered without a hitch—
“Then take Riri with you!”
With that, the Wise Duke hoisted up the young lady, presenting her to me.
…
“Pardon?”
“Cute Riri~ Always cooped up inside… this auntie worries!”
Well, it’s a healthy hobby for a child, so why the concern? Besides, it’s hardly your place to be fretting about someone else!
“Plus, since we’re already here, Joookaa and Joookaa’s lady are also here! You can relax and savor the experience, right?”
As those words left his lips, the eyes of the Young Lady began to tremble.
“Riri should experience the outside world too…”
The once-trustworthy uncle’s betrayal quaked Riri’s resolve, driving her to a state of despair.
Stop it; she’s on the brink of bursting into tears again.
Even if she is my cousin, tossing a ten-year-old girl into a pool of strangers is a bit too much!
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