“Seeing that they registered him, the adultery partner wasn’t a servant or such.”

“……It was his younger brother’s wife.”

Enoch frowned. It was a famous story that Grand Duke Bellington’s younger brother had died participating in the monster subjugation war over ten years ago. Even so, it wasn’t a forgivable relationship.

“Disgusting.”

The butler bowed his head as if he himself had committed a sin.

“Rania. Don’t associate with that thing again.”

“You mean Rian? Why? Is that kid dirty? Disgusting means the same as dirty, right?”

“That’s right. Having inherited the blood of a beast-like thing that forgot human ethics blinded by lust, he won’t amount to anything.”

“I hate that. I promised to meet him again. I even taught him my name.”

“You’re already thinking of disobeying your brother’s words.”

Even while sternly admonishing, each gesture of embracing Rania was affectionate and careful. For those who knew Enoch Artua’s cruel nature, it would be an unbelievable sight even if they saw it.

The affection and deep possessiveness shown only to ‘his people’. Rania made quite good use of it.

“Tch.”

Actually, even without Rania’s manipulation, Enoch quickly gave in to Rania’s small tantrum.

“Nia. If you want something else, your brother will do anything for you.”

But this time, even Enoch tried not to give in easily. Rania pouted.

“Then I want a puppy.”

“How fearless our Nia is. You almost got badly hurt when a dog bit you before.”

“Enoch saved me so I didn’t get hurt.”

Rania hugged Enoch’s neck and rubbed her plump baby-fat cheeks against him. At the affectionate child’s coquetry, Enoch’s smile deepened.

“Alright. I’ll speak to Mother and Father about it.”

“……”

When Enoch brought up their parents, it was as good as a refusal saying ‘no’. As soon as Rania arrived at the bedroom, she ran straight to her nanny. It meant she was sulking.

Even her tantrum-throwing appearance only looked cute to Enoch.

“Nia. I’ll see you at dinner. I’ll come get you.”

“I know, so go. See you later.”

Only after receiving a greeting from Rania, even if forced, did Enoch leave the bedroom. Behind him, Rania, who had already completely forgotten about her brother, began chattering to her nanny about what had happened today.

“Take out my doll! My most precious doll!”

“Oh my. You said you would absolutely never play with it, but have you changed your mind?”

“I’m not going to play with it. I have something to check!”

At the sound of her looking for the doll he had given her, Enoch smiled. However, as soon as the door closed, the affectionate brother’s face turned cold.

“Albert. Tell them to investigate House Bellington and report. Since it’s something I’ll share with His Highness the Grand Duke as well, make sure it’s thorough.”

“Yes. I’ll convey it immediately.”

“And what is Mother’s schedule like? I’d like to see her.”

“She’s in the reception room. Shall I contact her?”

“Mm. Tell her I’ll come right away.”

He planned to tell his mother that his sister had taken interest in something strange. He had been nagged a few days ago to refrain from excessive interference, but his sister was only eight years old.

He intended not to stop protecting her at least until she came of age.

But even Enoch, who was especially devoted to his sister, couldn’t guess at the time.

Just how far his eight-year-old sister could go to get what she wanted.

***

“Mrs. Bedlin. I’m bored. Reading books isn’t fun anymore!”

“Our Miss. Then what would you like to do?”

“Tell them to bring the kids who came before.”

“Mm. I’ll ask about it.”

A few days later. Rania unusually asked for children her age. No one thought ‘our Miss must have been lonely’ about such a Rania.

Where would the Artua blood go?

Enoch, one of those Artuas, frowned at what Rania’s nanny had conveyed.

“Your Highness. What shall we do?”

“Bring them for now. I’ll speak to Mother and Father.”

“Then shall we include Bellington too?”

At the question from a retainer who had been waiting to receive orders together, Enoch sighed. He tapped the office desk with his finger before reaching a conclusion.

“Make that one an exception. Rania must know that calling Bellington too would be unreasonable.”

To please Rania, the schedule was set for the earliest possible date.

“A second tea time! Seeing that you’ve called the children separately, the last tea time must have been very much to your liking!”

“Her Highness the Grand Duchess must be thinking of actively engaging in social activities again!”

“A favorable wind will blow in social circles. Oh my. This isn’t the time for this. I must call the tailor immediately. I’ll have to have all the children’s clothes newly made.”

Among the retainers invited to the tea time, those with children Rania’s age were excited about the unprecedented second invitation from the grand ducal house.

The expectation of being able to build a bridge of ‘friendship between children’ to power was clearly revealed in the appearance of the children who were invited together. The children, each dressed up gorgeously like peacocks, turned the gathering arranged for simple greetings before the tea time into a beauty contest.

All of it was so ridiculous that Rania let out a snicker. Of course, she didn’t forget to hide behind her mother’s dress hem to avoid being caught.

“Lady Rania. This is a gift from the Schulze house.”

“Thank you. Of course it must have been chosen by your parents, but I’ll accept it considering you gave it to me.”

Among all the piles of gifts, Rania faithfully played the role of a haughty princess. At the proud child’s behavior, the retainers busied themselves praising the Artua bloodline.

The children were the same. It was impossible not to have their hearts stolen by the girl with shimmering golden hair and sea-blue eyes. The children followed Rania around, who not only personally accepted gifts but also suggested they play ‘together’ in her playroom.

“Since the kids will play together, don’t worry about this place, butler or Mrs. Bedlin. Sir Ralph can stay.”

“Yes. Your Highness. I will follow your orders.”

“Wow……”

At the sight of naturally wielding power, the children looked at Rania with even more admiring eyes. Soon they competitively tried to gain Rania’s attention.

Rania generously accepted the children who clung to her.

“You know. I have something I’m curious about. Didn’t you guys play with a boy with brown hair who was really short before?”

The children who had been eager to answer first suddenly shut their mouths.

‘Hmm. They’re not complete idiots, are they?’

At the sight of them reading each other’s mood, Rania cleverly changed her tone. Such tactics weren’t difficult for a child.

“I happened to see that kid while passing by, and he seemed a bit strange. Right?”

When she started as if asking for agreement, the children began to chatter sneakily.

“That kid’s stupid. I saw him before and he kept stuttering.”

“He kept saying ‘I hate it, don’t do it.’ But we didn’t do anything.”

“He kept falling down by himself.”

The cunning children tried to hide that what they had done was wrong. But Rania had already found out everything the children had done through the knights.

‘These things dare look down on me. Do they think I won’t notice?’

Rania controlled her anger and coaxed the children.

“Really? It seems you guys had fun playing with that kid without me. Tell me what kind of games you played too. Because I also want to have fun games with you guys.”

Her blue eyes sparkled. The children nodded without knowing what it meant.

“Really? You promised. To play together.”

“Yes, yes!”

Even when Rania approached the escort knight guarding the door, they only watched with curious eyes.

They shouldn’t have nodded.

They should have not nodded then.

Without ever dreaming that they would spend their whole lives mulling over that moment and regretting it.

***

The tea time held among the parents ended very smoothly. The nobles were so busy passionately speaking about and praising the grand duchess’s dignity that they almost forgot they had brought their children.

“The tea times held at the grand ducal residence are perfect except for being too short.”

“It can’t be helped. Doesn’t the Grand Duke come running even if Her Highness the Grand Duchess’s official schedule gets just a little longer?”

“That’s right. Didn’t Count Fern cause a commotion the other day for exceeding his audience time by one minute? Since Her Highness the Grand Duchess still needs convalescence, His Highness’s worry is understandable, but….”

The retainers were chattering as they left the reception room. Someone heard the voices of small children.

“Did you just hear that? It sounded like children crying.”

“Crying? Would there be any reason for the children with Lady Rania to cry?”

“……Don’t you remember what Lord Enoch was like when he was young?”

“Ahem. Let’s go quickly.”

The parents who recalled the nature of the Artua grand ducal family hurried toward the direction of the sound. As expected, the closer they got, the more certain it became that several children were crying.