The Little Demon King is Too Bothered by Her Brave Dads - Chapter 74

Click.

I pressed the button again.

The conversation abruptly stopped.

The atmosphere had become silent, as if cold water had been poured over the crowd.

“This is the magic tower master’s realm, and this is my second dad’s…… no, the Tower Lord’s domain.”

Facing the astonished ladies, I calmly spoke up.

“Due to various safety concerns, it is a rule to record everything that happens in the magic tower and its surroundings.”

“By the way, currently, we only extracted the audio, but the video is also available,” Lakius added with a cheerful tone. “Also, Master Kirios asked me to tell you that he expresses his deepest regret that such an incident occurred in the realm of the Magic Tower.”

“…….”

“…….”

The ladies looked at Young Lady Ghiberti with scornful glares.

“So, it was true that Lady Ghiberti tried to frame the Princess as a thief.”

“I thought it was just a misunderstanding on the Lady’s part…….”

Cold voices resounded from all directions.

“As far as I know, hasn’t the matter of compensating for Lady Ilmaz’s dress already been settled?”

“Did you really try to wash that out of your mouth?”

Only when the atmosphere reached its worst did she speak up.

“This, this is all lies!” Lady Ghiberti shouted uncontrollably. “Everyone knows that the Magic Tower master cares about the princess, and he’s blatantly siding with her now……!”

However, Lady Ghiberti couldn’t finish her words.

It was because I interrupted in the middle.

“I can’t just let that statement slide, Young Lady Ghiberti.”

I glared coldly at her.

“Do you mean to tell me that the three heroes who saved humanity have lost their objectivity in favor of my side?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“He was merely providing us with evidence, and with that evidence, I cleared the accusation of being a thief.”

I glanced sideways at Lady Ilmaz.

“Moreover, it was revealed that Lady Ilmaz was also being harassed by young Lady Ghiberti.”

“P- Princess!”

“And yet you dare to speak in such a manner?” I snapped back. “Do you remember, Lady Ghiberti? You said I was an incredibly lucky person.”

“Yes? No, that was…”

“Though I lived a difficult life at the bottom, I was fortunate enough to meet the three compassionate heroes and be saved.”

I returned the words that Lady Ghiberti had said to me, and I smiled softly.

“After emphasizing the heroes’ compassion so many times, I thought Lady Ghiberti would also learn from their kind hearts. But this…”

I trailed off, casting a sidelong glance at her with a subtle gaze.

Her face flushed red.

‘When are you going to explode?’

I silently counted to three inside my mind.

‘1, 2, 3…’

And right after exactly three seconds, Lady Ghiberti exploded.

“I never said it like that, and now you’re twisting my words to insult me?!”

Truly, she seemed foolish.

Internally, I couldn’t help but smile quietly.

If it were me, I would also probably be flustered and deny ever saying such things in the first place.

Even if she lost her temper and her judgment was clouded, to admit saying something like that?

I guess she’s still quite young.

At the same time, Lakius turned to me.

“What does that mean, Princess Orleans?”

In his crimson eyes, there was a clear sign of anger.

“Did Young Lady Ghiberti really make derogatory remarks about you being from a humble background?”

…Wait, why does Lakius seem angrier than I am as the person directly involved?

I mean, I suppose even I wouldn’t be able to tolerate such words about my close friend.

And he wasn’t the only one to react.

“My goodness, how did the princess put up with that?”

“That’s amazing, I wouldn’t have put up with that…….”

The surrounding reactions instantly turned even chillier.

As if this wasn’t bad enough for Lady Ghiberti, there was a voice that drove the wedge deeper into the situation.

“What the hell do you mean by that?”

……What, this voice?

I turned around.

The former Duke of Orleans was looking at me with a shocked expression. Behind him, Siegfried, Kirios, and Caesar stood with grim expressions.

“Is it true, did Lisbeth call you a lowlife?” The former duke questioned me with a fierce tone.

“Ah, no! I never said such things!”

Belatedly regaining her composure, Young Lady Ghiberti tried to come up with excuses, but they were all in vain.

“Enough with this noise!” The former duke raised his voice. “Who taught you to discriminate against people like that? How could you behave so contemptibly?”

“Oh, Brother!” Countess Ghiberti tried to reassure the old duke.

But that was the worst response she could have had.

“How do you even teach your grandchildren?”

The sparks flew towards the countess.

“No, it’s…….”

“Lisbeth is fifteen already! Shouldn’t she at least know what not to say?!”

The former duke was like a raging tiger.

Young Lady Ghiberti couldn’t even defend herself and stammered helplessly.

Watching that scene, it seemed as if all the pent-up frustration toward the Ghiberti family had been released.

‘Ha, it feels so refreshing!’

I wish I could grab some popcorn and watch them secretly regretting all their choices.

The former duke looked back at me and opened his mouth heavily.

“…So, are you alright?”

The former duke had a genuinely apologetic expression.

“I will apologize on behalf of Lisbeth. She’s still young and…”

Ah, I see.

I blinked my eyes.

He’s trying to show consideration because I might have been hurt by young Lady Ghiberti.

Honestly, I never expected him to be this caring. He’s really becoming more and more like Siegfried.

Well, to be honest, it doesn’t hurt my feelings.

Actually, it feels quite satisfying to have given a piece of my mind to the Ghiberti family…..

“No, it’s fine.”

Since the former Duke misunderstood the situation, I decided to play along. I tilted my head pitifully, pretending to be deeply hurt.

“Of course, I wanted to be good friends with Young Lady Ghiberti, but I can’t force my heart on her.”

“…….”

“I’ve never had another young lady as a friend before, so …….I had some expectations.” I deliberately smiled with a hint of sadness. “But I’m alright.”

At my answer, the three dads, as well as the former duke, looked down at me with concerned expressions.

‘Good.’

Inside, I cheered myself on while maintaining an earnest smile on the outside.

“Actually, I’m grateful that you helped me, former Duke.”

Upon hearing that, the former duke took on a serious expression.

“Why do you call me ‘former Duke’?”

“Huh? Well, that’s…”

“Aren’t you Siegfried’s daughter? In that case…”

For a moment, his voice wavered, but he continued in a softer tone.

“….You should call me Grandfather.”

“…….”

For a brief moment, Siegfried looked at him with a surprised expression.

Oh, to be honest, I was surprised too.

Did the former duke, who used to be so strict, really say that to me?

‘But being surprised is being surprised.’

I clenched my fist inwardly.

‘I can’t miss this opportunity since the former duke has opened his heart to me.’

I looked at him with hopeful eyes, my eyes sparkling.

“Really… Is it okay if I call you Grandfather?”

“Of course.”

The former duke nodded his head vigorously.

I smiled brightly.

However, there was a problem. Suddenly, my nose started itching.

“Grandfather! … Aah-choo!”

So, instead of continuing the conversation, I ended up sneezing softly.

And then I saw it.

All three of my dads, Lakius, and the former duke were looking at me with wide eyes.

“Is something wrong, little kid?!”

“Are you okay, Miss Tati?”

“Come here first, have a warm cup of tea…!”

Aside from the reactions of my dads, who would wrap me in a duvet and carry me back into the townhouse at a moment’s notice–

“Are you cold, Princess Orleans? Should I at least take off my coat for you?!”

–I was quite used to Lakius’s excessive reaction by now.

But.

“Oh my, we should hurry back to the townhouse. I heard the child is weak.”

I didn’t expect even the former Duke, no, Grandfather to also worry so much.

I was momentarily taken aback.

…But perhaps, Grandfather’s reaction might be an opportunity?

“Then, Grandfather, are you going back to the townhouse with us, too?”

I pretended not to know anything and asked the former duke, no, my grandfather a question.