The Little Demon King is Too Bothered by Her Brave Dads - Chapter 76

“No one helped us. Even the imperial family, who should protect the imperial citizens, left everything to us. But…”

Clear golden eyes looked at the former duke. They were the characteristic eyes of the Duchy of Orleans, and they looked exactly like the former duke’s.

“The only person who has helped us is my father.”

“…….”

“If Father truly had no interest in me, he wouldn’t have provided such support.”

Siegfried closed his eyes tightly and opened them again.

“Honestly… I knew it. I just didn’t want to admit it. It’s also my pride, I suppose.”

“Siegfried.”

“However, when Tatiana became my daughter, I began to treasure that child….”

Tatiana.

The moment the name was on his lips.

For the first time, Siegfried’s expression, which had been subtly tense the entire time, softened.

“And I’m beginning to understand my father’s heart, too.”

” ……Understand, huh?”

“Truly, that little child is so lovely.”

A smile slowly spread across Siegfried’s face. It was a soft smile like a downy feather.

“Watching the child grow step by step, I felt joy for the first time.”

He meant it.

As a warrior who fought against all injustice and violence, not only for humanity but for all living beings, she was the only one he had embraced out of pure empathy.

But that child…

‘I never thought she would become so precious to me.’

Siegfried spoke with a voice mixed with laughter.

“I felt like I would give my life for that child. It was an emotion I never thought I would experience in my life.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So… Now, I think I can understand Father’s heart,” Siegfried said calmly. “Perhaps Father felt the same way, the same affection I have for Tatiana.”

“…….”

“And that’s probably why you wanted to discourage me from going into dangerous combat.”

The former duke blinked at Siegfried.

It was a gaze that couldn’t be described in words.

As Siegfried calmly met his father’s eyes, he slowly bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

The reticent son said no more than that.

However, the former duke fully understood his son’s sincerity.

He slowly raised his hand to cover his face. The wrinkled corners of his mouth turned upwards.

“…….”

As Siegfried looked at his father, he was filled with complex emotions.

His father, who always seemed so firm. His father, who had always felt beyond reach. He wondered when his father had grown so old…….

“I, too…”

A moment later, the former duke murmured with a voice as tender as a sigh. It was a voice filled with emotion and the damp hint of tears held back.

“I’m sorry.”

With just that small whisper, Siegfried felt all the resentment he had held until now melt away.

***

A few days later, on a bright sunny afternoon.

I was having tea with the other ladies.

“No matter how much Lady Ghiberti dislikes the princess, how could she accuse someone of being a thief?”

“And to Lady Ilmaz as well, it’s really unfair. She didn’t want to be labeled as a thief, yet she instructed Lady Ilmaz to hide the truth….”

It seemed that Lady Ghiberti’s reputation had completely plummeted among the ladies.

Just by listening to the complaints and grievances about Lady Ghiberti, one could tell. 

Lady Ilmaz seemed to be especially cautious about what happened to her.

‘Well, that’s understandable.’

After all, such harassment could happen to any of them at any time.

“In fact, we’ve been wanting to invite the Princess to join us for some time.”

“But Young Lady Ghiberti wasn’t too keen on the idea…….”

The ladies pouted with injustice on their faces.

“I see.”

I nodded in understanding while leisurely chewing on a pastry.

It was only because of Countess Ghiberti’s desire to reconcile with Siegfried.

I’m sure she wouldn’t like it.

If a lady of higher status than her became part of her social circle, Young Lady Ghiberti wouldn’t have been able to prance around and play king like she used to.

Just then, Lady Ilmaz thanked me cautiously.

“If you hadn’t seen through everything and revealed the truth… I would have been in real trouble.”

“Oh, well….”

I purposefully trailed off my words.

Who would just stand by when they are in a situation where they could be falsely accused of being a thief?

Moreover, the reason Lady Ilmaz got into trouble in the first place seemed to be because of me.

‘Still, it all worked out, right?’

I shrugged.

Seeing Lady Ilmaz shyly smile, it was a delightful sight.

Meanwhile, seeing me get along so well with the ladies, Lakius grew strangely cheerful.

“You must be happy to have so many friends, Tati.”

As I bid farewell to the ladies and turned around, I ran into Lakius who was coming inside after training.

“But I’m your best friend, right?” Lakius asked me with a serious expression.

…..Why is he suddenly like this?

I narrowed my eyes but nonchalantly replied.

“Of course. No matter who you bring here, no one can compare to you.”

I meant it.

No matter who you bring from this world, how could they compete with the male protagonist?

“…….”

Only then did Lakius’s expression relax a bit.

‘Why is everyone so childish, really…….’

While inwardly shaking my head, I suddenly became curious.

“By the way, where are my dads?”

Usually, after Lakius finishes his training, everyone gathers in the living room to chat and then disperses after dinner…..

“Ah, they are probably with Lord Norcourt. Lord Norcourt himself came to call on them earlier.”

“Grandfather?”

Surprised by the unexpected answer, I tilted my head.

Lakius replied in a hesitant voice.

“Yes. But I noticed that the former duke’s expression was a little grim…….”

What on earth could have happened?

I was filled with curiosity.

“For now, Lakius, you go wash up.”

With that, I shooed Lakius into the bathroom.

I swiftly turned my head.

Of course, eavesdropping is bad.

But…

‘Listening accidentally isn’t a bad thing, right?’

I giggled and headed for the kitchen.

It was to prepare snacks to give to the dads and grandfather.

***

“I have gathered you all here because I have something to tell you.”

Lord Norcourt opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“I feel that suspicious individuals have infiltrated the dukedom.”

“And by suspicious, you mean…….”

“My impression is that they are demons.”

“Demons?!”

Siegfried’s eyes widened in surprise. Kirios and Cesar’s reactions were no different.

Standing in front of the three shocked individuals, Lord Norcourt nodded heavily.

“No demons have actually been found. However, there have been times when I’ve felt a very slight trace of demonic energy in the air.”

The former duke narrowed his eyes.

“But what’s really strange is that every time I try to pinpoint its location, it disappears without a trace.”

“Disappear? Have you consulted the temple for advice?”

In response to Cesar’s question, Lord Norcourt concluded with a heavy voice, “Of course. However,… they said the energy was too weak to be certain it was demonic energy. But my instincts tell me it’s definitely it.”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

The three warriors fell silent side by side.

The former Duke of Orleans.

The former head of the Duchy of Orleans, long renowned as a swordsman, though not nearly as good as his son, Siegfried. The old duke was a powerful man, unrivaled among humans at least.

If such a formidable figure as Duke Orlean was so certain…

“The demons’ behavior is certainly suspicious.” Kirios spoke up, a doubtful look on his face. “They remained silent for almost six years.”

“That’s right. I never knew demons could live so quietly,” Cesar chimed in. “Of course, we defeated the five demon kings, so they may not be able to attack the human realm in a way as organized as before…”

“Well, wouldn’t there still be some incidents like raids or pillaging?” Kirios asked, and the former duke nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. I think we’ve all been so wrapped up in the peace that we’ve forgotten how dangerous demons can be.”

He clicked his tongue briefly.

“Anyway, I will investigate the demon invasion in the dukedom a bit further. However, they have erased traces so skillfully, I’m not sure how we can find them…”

“In that case, how about I go down and look for them myself?”

It was Siegfried who asked the question.

Duke Orlean and even Kirios and Cesar all looked at him with surprise.