The Little Demon King is Too Bothered by Her Brave Dads - Chapter 75

“M-me?”

It seems like Lord Norcourt was quite taken aback.

Until a moment ago, he was shouting, and now he was stuttering, which was quite amusing to see.

But I didn’t back down.

“I was also sad that I couldn’t meet you for very long last time.”

I deliberately drooped my shoulders in a sullen manner.

“I think it would be a shame to part with Grandpa like this. Mmh?”

“……Hmm.”

My grandfather sighed. 

Truth be told, it’s an awkward situation to return to the Ghiberti’s townhouse. Didn’t we all just have a confrontation with the Ghiberti family?

It was then that Siegfried turned to his father as though on cue.

“Father.”

“What?”

“With Tatiana talking like that, why don’t you stay at our townhouse?”

For a moment, Grandfather looked puzzled.

Siegfried was visibly embarrassed, but that didn’t stop him from saying these words.

And then.

“……I suppose I will, if you say so.”

Lord Norcourt answered as if it didn’t matter.

But I could tell he was pleased. The corners of his lips were twitching faintly.

‘It’s like he wants to smile right now, but he’s forcing himself to hold it back.’

“Really? I’m so excited!”

I giggled like I knew nothing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the countess glaring at her granddaughter with an almost demonically contorted face.

She’s probably dying of disappointment.

If Grandfather stays in the townhouse of Orleans like this, the countess would no longer be able to use him as an excuse to talk to Siegfried.

‘I wonder if the countess’s pride can survive if she goes back to the Ghiberti townhouse.’

It was a bit disappointing not to witness that scene firsthand.

* * *

We returned together to the Orleans townhouse.

And as a punishment for accidentally sneezing once, I was wrapped in a blanket all over my body.

‘Hmm, this situation… something feels off.’

I drank warm tea with a puzzled look on my face.

“Tati, your blanket is slipping off.”

A hand reached out of nowhere and pulled the blanket back over my shoulders.

It was Lakius.

“Ah, Laki. You’re here?” I greeted Lakius. “I really appreciated your help at the outing.”

Earlier, Lakius and I had heard the whole story from Lady Ilmaz.

We decided that if we wanted to completely turn the tables on the situation, Lady Ilmaz’s testimony alone would be rather weak.

“Laki, can you ask my second dad to get me some evidence?”

On my previous visit, I was told that the entirety of the tower was under the control of Kirios. So, I calculated that the surrounding areas of the tower would also fall within his influence.

‘I may not trust anyone else, but I can trust Kirios.’

My calculations were correct, and Kirios placed evidence in my hands that could turn the tide.

However, without Lakius’s help, I would not have been able to present the evidence at the right time.

Lakius looked down at me with a cheeky smile.

“Really? Then give me a compliment.”

“…….”

I couldn’t help but become a little flustered.

…… Lakius seemed very mature during the outing earlier, but now he was acting strangely childlike?

“Well done. Really.”

“Only with words?”

As he asked back, Lakius smiled, his red eyes forming crescents.

For a moment, I felt speechless.

Wow, that’s definitely the main character.

He’s not one of the three heroes, and yet, I’m at a loss for words because of his handsome looks.

‘More importantly, what else can I do for him?’

While pondering this question, I cautiously asked Lakius, “Um, do you need any financial compensation?”

“……Tati, how do you see me?”

Lakius looked at me with an amazed expression.

I shrugged a little.

Honestly, I didn’t expect this either…….

“Well?”

“…….”

Then Lakius tightly sealed his lips.

“What is it? Tell me.”

Frustrated, I scolded Lakius.

After hesitating for a while, Lakius peeked at my reaction and finally opened his mouth.

“Why is it that lately…?”

“Lately?”

Lakius hesitated several times before he finally spoke to me in a mosquito-like voice.

“……..Why do you never dry my hair for me these days?”

‘Is he serious?’

I stared blankly at him.

Then, in the blink of an eye, from his neck to his face, Lakius blushed. He tried to defend himself with an embarrassed expression, looking like a ripe cherry.

“In the past, you used to dry it often for me.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Lakius was training regularly in the townhouse of Orleans. Naturally, he washed off his sweat after training.

However, being a typical boy, Lakius sometimes wandered around with his wet hair, and I had only dried it for him a few times.

‘……Was he really hoping for that?’

Momentarily speechless, I reached out my hand towards Lakius.

“Well, it’s not that difficult.”

“Uh, really?”

As my hand approached him, Lakius seemed a bit uneasy.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I can’t dry hair that’s not wet, can I? Instead, I’ll just pat it for you.”

“…….”

Looking into his round, reddened eyes, I teased.

“What, you don’t want to?”

“No, not at all!”

Lakius quickly shook his head.

As my fingers ran through his abundant blond hair, the shining strands gently slipped between them.

‘This guy, he’s just whining uncharacteristically.’

With a bit of mischief, I pressed my hand firmly against his scalp.

Quickly adjusting to my touch, Lakius chuckled.

“Tati, it tickles.”

“Then should I stop?”

“No, don’t do that.”

As he laughed aloud, Lakius appeared like an ordinary boy his age, carefree and without a worry in the world.

I felt a little pleased.

‘He’s like a puppy.’

Unconsciously, I thought that and shook my head inwardly.

No, to be precise, Lakius resembles a little fox rather than a puppy. But would fox fur be this soft?

Well, I’m guessing the hair of a Lakius would be softer.

While I was thinking about that.

“What are you two doing?” A familiar voice asked.

Kirios strode into the room quickly.

Lakius narrowed his eyes and retorted at his master.

“I am receiving a reward for assisting Tati today.”

“……You’re acting like a weird docile lamb whenever you’re with that kid, aren’t you?” Kirios added playfully, “You should see the look on his face when he’s being taught a lesson by us.”

But Lakius didn’t bat an eye.

“Well, only the masters should see that.”

“…….”

Kirios expressed his frustration by crumpling his face into a harsh scowl.

“Anyway, you really surprised me this time, Miss Tati.”

Cesar, who had entered with Kirios, complimented me with a smile.

“You must have had a hard time during the outing. You handled it very cleverly.”

“Even Countess Ghiberti used to do the same. Anyway, we should be aware of the bad habits of the Ghiberti family,” Kirios said sarcastically, clearly intending to be heard.

And I noticed something strange in the current situation. The absence of Siegfried.

” Where’s my first dad?”

“He went to the study with the former duke,” Caesar replied. “They said they needed to talk about something in private.”

***

“So, why did you call for me?” The former duke asked pointedly, looking back at Siegfried. His wrinkled eyes narrowed. “If you’re going to babble nonsense at me again like before…”

“It’s not like that.”

Siegfried shook his head. His voice was uncharacteristically calm.

“It’s just that I’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time, that I may have misunderstood you.”

“Misunderstood?”

“Yes.”

The former duke stared at Siegfried with a strange look on his face.

It was the first time.

His son, who used to stand up to him on every little thing, spoke to him in such a gentle tone.

“The truth is, I always thought that Father disregarded my opinions throughout my life.”

“What? What are you talking about…!” The former duke exclaimed.

However, Siegfried’s words were not finished yet.

“But now… I think it wasn’t entirely like that.”

“…….”

The former Duke paused, just as he was about to get even angrier.

Siegfried continued calmly.

“You, Father, were against me going to war with the demons, and you didn’t hesitate to say that if I did, you would sever the ties between us.”

“No, that’s……!”

“Nevertheless, my father stood behind me, providing me with many supplies and troops.”

“…….”

The former duke closed his mouth tightly.

As if trying to prove his complicated feelings, deeper lines appeared around his mouth.