We used to dine together every day, but since Rune’s arrival, we’ve only dined alone a handful of times.
Luckily, the Duke had suggested that we dine ‘alone’ today. I was a little nervous, but the timing was perfect.
As we sat down to dinner, I took advantage of a lull in the conversation to speak up.
“I was wondering if I could make a quick stop in the capital.”
The Duke, who had been displaying elegant table manners, stiffened at the offhand remark.
“…Why do you suddenly want to go to the capital?”
Of course, I needed to see my brother to analyze the artifact. But I hid that fact and gave the most passable excuse.
“I’ve been in the north for too long, and I’m getting a little bored.”
The Duke’s eyes grew somber. Instead, his next words were determined.
“Even if we go to the capital, I don’t think Astel will find much to do there.”
Not exactly the words you’d say to a ferocious beast of prey, but he was watching my every word like a cat whose territory had been invaded.
I cautiously spoke and added another word, “Actually, I’d like to try doing business.”
Then I pulled out a tiny bottle of a hair growth agent I’d kept in my pocket.
“Look at this!”
I waved it in front of him.
“Isn’t it cool…? I think I could sell it to the humans in the capital.”
I hesitated, feeling a little embarrassed that I’d just pulled it out to show it off, and he nodded seriously.
“That’s really cool, I’ll invest in it.”
I hadn’t even shown him how it worked yet…
…I shouldn’t have gotten an investor so easily, right?
My original plan was to sell the hair growth agent and say that I wanted to start a business, and then travel to the capital to find investors.
However, I quickly changed course when I realized that I was getting investors too quickly.
Of course, it’s not that I didn’t think about this scenario.
‘If this happens, I’ll have to find another way.’
I took a deep breath. Until a war broke out in earnest, the Duke would have to travel back and forth between the capital and the castle.
He would have to constantly coordinate with the imperial court.
Raising one hand, I struck a fierce, fighting pose.
“Okay, then I want the Duke to be my investor and come with me to the capital. You can show me around the palace and the capital!”
Then he turned to stare at me. I almost tensed under his piercing gaze, as if he were trying to read my mind, but his lips twitched slowly.
“I see you’re as interested in the capital as any human being, Astel, and though I’ve tried, I can’t bring all of it to the Duchy, so of course I’ll show you around, I promise.”
“Oh…”
It was as if he meant that everything in the capital could be brought to the duchy if I wanted it.
“That’s… right?”
I scratched my head awkwardly, and he chimed in sweetly, “If you’ll join me in the capital, I’ll show you everything.”
I never realized how easy it would be to come together.
Both life and revenge seemed to be going well.
Assuming the Duke wasn’t a shadowy figure.
The Duke, who was oblivious to my secret, continued with a suddenly dreamy tone.
“I have a residence in the capital as well. We can continue living there, together.”
‘Continue in the capital…’
The Duke seemed to think as if our imprint would never be broken.
Well, he had reason to think so. The imprint was constantly wavering in an unstable state.
Perhaps his recent emotional openness was a result of that.
If I hadn’t been a healer and hadn’t been researching imprinting magic in my spare time at the library, I might have gotten my hopes up for him now.
‘It’s just that the ancient imprinting magic controls the emotions, and once the imprinting ends, these feelings will melt away like snow.’
I stared into his moist blue eyes. Come to think of it, he’d never practiced imprinting in front of me before.
So I still didn’t know what kind of vicious, terrifying beast he was.
In fact, I’m so scared that I don’t even want to know…
‘I have to use these feelings…’
Maybe I should use him as a pawn in my revenge play. I glared at him, trying to get my mind under control.
“Yes, we’ll stay there together!”
And just like that, my journey to the capital was sealed.
Several days passed after my journey to the capital was finalized between, Duke Anais, and Astel.
Astel was busy preparing her luggage, and the maids were busy at her side, selecting the essentials.
Head Maid Rudel was in the process of selecting a novice to accompany her to the capital’s manor estate.
Curious about Astel, many of them asked to join her on the journey without warning.
This kept Rudel very busy.
And Duke Anais… was not at all busy.
He enjoyed his days at a great, leisurely pace.
Except, of course, he was plotting a scheme to bring Astel into his arms.
A small dessert café outside the Duke’s castle.
Rune and the Duke sat across from each other at one small table….
“Heehee, Daddy.”
…but Rune was squirming in the Duke’s arms.
“Daddy?”
Rune pressed down hard on the Duke’s thigh with his short, chubby paw, like a pair of Vienna sausages.
But his ‘daddy’ didn’t budge.
“Do you ……want a hug?”
“I don’t really want a hug.”
Rune’s eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open at the Duke’s cold words.
“’Huff.”
He clamped his ferny hand over his mouth.
All the while, Rune’s bottom remained firmly glued to the peacock’s lap, unwilling to budge.
Like a newborn bird, he clung to the Duke’s lap.
The duke wasn’t holding him, but he wasn’t pushing him away either.
Instead, he offered him a sweet, luscious, finger-licking dessert of baby-soft curd.
“Here, eat.”
It was a bribe of sorts, but surprisingly, Rune was not simple.
“No, Rune, not eat baby!” (No, don’t feed Rune like a Baby)
“You’re a baby.”
“…”
Rune blinked, “Baby? I’m big!”
The Duke sighed in amusement at the sight of the helpless baby, as if he could still understand him.
Then he got straight to the point, “I have something to tell you. We’re going to the capital.”
“Capital? Capital?”
Rune seemed to have no idea what the capital was.
The Duke simply instructed Rune, who had just begun to eat his dessert.
“Okay. Nod your head when I say we’re going to the capital.”
“Mmm!”
The Duke was pleased with how quickly Rune followed orders.
Now the preparations were complete. The Duke has a perfectly organized list of things to do in the capital.
He had even heard that Cassian Gray, who had been hanging around the duchy, had gone off somewhere. He has sent an aide to investigate Cassian Gray’s whereabouts and schedule in the capital.
To ensure that Cassian Gray and Astel’s paths never crossed.
Of course, he was a knight of the imperial court, so there were some limitations on how far back his schedule could go while he was a Knight.
Still, the aide was quite competent.
He smiled with satisfaction and wiped the corner of Rune’s drooling mouth with the handkerchief dangling from his chin.
“Make sure you cooperate with me properly.”
Rune’s eyes twinkled, “Mmm!”
“Speak more of me.”
“Yes! More, you’re Daddy!” (Yes, I will do it more, you’re my Daddy!)
Rune’s first impression of him had been terrible, but now that he was cooperating, he was growing on him.
Most of all, Astel likes this little guy for a lot of reasons.
The things she thought were cute and pretty were starting to look the same way to me.
“Tell me about broder!”
“Broder?”
I wonder if he means brother. No one else in Astel’s life had that nickname. Duke Anais asked, pulling the towel from the child’s chin slowly.
“Who is that?”
“Um! Aste like Berry!” (Yes, Bell brother like Astel)
“Berry?”
“A fox! Broder, older!” (A fox, my older brother)
Silver Fox Beast. Berry, you mean Bell. Come to think of it, there was a fox with that name in the castle.
“Silver Fox, you must be referring to Bell.”
Supporting Rune lightly with one hand, the Duke rang the chime of the tea house.
He looked through the glass window and saw his aide running toward him, panting.
He lifted his hand from the chime and ruffled Rune’s hair, whispering.
“The more, the merrier, so bring the Bell.”
“Merrier!”
…Rune didn’t seem to understand his words, but whatever.
A few dozen minutes passed after he called Bell through his aide.
The door to the tearoom opened and Bell entered, bewildered by the Duke’s sudden summons. Bell stared wide-eyed at the Duke of Anais.
As the heir to the Fourth House of Vassals, the Duke of Anais was an object of admiration.
“It’s been a long time, Your Grace.”
Bell greeted excitedly, bowing hesitantly. At that, Rune, who was beside him, exclaimed.
“Aster Duke together!”
He meant for Astel and the Duke to cooperate in their romance.
“What?”
Bell, soon seated at the Duke’s beckoning, leaned back in his seat, a baffled expression on his face.
“Tell me what Astel’s favorite thing is.”
“Ahhh… that’s what you called me to find out, Your Excellency!”
The bright Bell’s eyes twinkled, and he spoke with an air of conviction.
“Astel likes me!”
We used to dine together every day, but since Rune’s arrival, we’ve only dined alone a handful of times.
Luckily, the Duke had suggested that we dine ‘alone’ today. I was a little nervous, but the timing was perfect.
As we sat down to dinner, I took advantage of a lull in the conversation to speak up.
“I was wondering if I could make a quick stop in the capital.”
The Duke, who had been displaying elegant table manners, stiffened at the offhand remark.
“…Why do you suddenly want to go to the capital?”
Of course, I needed to see my brother to analyze the artifact. But I hid that fact and gave the most passable excuse.
“I’ve been in the north for too long, and I’m getting a little bored.”
The Duke’s eyes grew somber. Instead, his next words were determined.
“Even if we go to the capital, I don’t think Astel will find much to do there.”
Not exactly the words you’d say to a ferocious beast of prey, but he was watching my every word like a cat whose territory had been invaded.
I cautiously spoke and added another word, “Actually, I’d like to try doing business.”
Then I pulled out a tiny bottle of a hair growth agent I’d kept in my pocket.
“Look at this!”
I waved it in front of him.
“Isn’t it cool…? I think I could sell it to the humans in the capital.”
I hesitated, feeling a little embarrassed that I’d just pulled it out to show it off, and he nodded seriously.
“That’s really cool, I’ll invest in it.”
I hadn’t even shown him how it worked yet…
…I shouldn’t have gotten an investor so easily, right?
My original plan was to sell the hair growth agent and say that I wanted to start a business, and then travel to the capital to find investors.
However, I quickly changed course when I realized that I was getting investors too quickly.
Of course, it’s not that I didn’t think about this scenario.
‘If this happens, I’ll have to find another way.’
I took a deep breath. Until a war broke out in earnest, the Duke would have to travel back and forth between the capital and the castle.
He would have to constantly coordinate with the imperial court.
Raising one hand, I struck a fierce, fighting pose.
“Okay, then I want the Duke to be my investor and come with me to the capital. You can show me around the palace and the capital!”
Then he turned to stare at me. I almost tensed under his piercing gaze, as if he were trying to read my mind, but his lips twitched slowly.
“I see you’re as interested in the capital as any human being, Astel, and though I’ve tried, I can’t bring all of it to the Duchy, so of course I’ll show you around, I promise.”
“Oh…”
It was as if he meant that everything in the capital could be brought to the duchy if I wanted it.
“That’s… right?”
I scratched my head awkwardly, and he chimed in sweetly, “If you’ll join me in the capital, I’ll show you everything.”
I never realized how easy it would be to come together.
Both life and revenge seemed to be going well.
Assuming the Duke wasn’t a shadowy figure.
The Duke, who was oblivious to my secret, continued with a suddenly dreamy tone.
“I have a residence in the capital as well. We can continue living there, together.”
‘Continue in the capital…’
The Duke seemed to think as if our imprint would never be broken.
Well, he had reason to think so. The imprint was constantly wavering in an unstable state.
Perhaps his recent emotional openness was a result of that.
If I hadn’t been a healer and hadn’t been researching imprinting magic in my spare time at the library, I might have gotten my hopes up for him now.
‘It’s just that the ancient imprinting magic controls the emotions, and once the imprinting ends, these feelings will melt away like snow.’
I stared into his moist blue eyes. Come to think of it, he’d never practiced imprinting in front of me before.
So I still didn’t know what kind of vicious, terrifying beast he was.
In fact, I’m so scared that I don’t even want to know…
‘I have to use these feelings…’
Maybe I should use him as a pawn in my revenge play. I glared at him, trying to get my mind under control.
“Yes, we’ll stay there together!”
And just like that, my journey to the capital was sealed.
Several days passed after my journey to the capital was finalized between, Duke Anais, and Astel.
Astel was busy preparing her luggage, and the maids were busy at her side, selecting the essentials.
Head Maid Rudel was in the process of selecting a novice to accompany her to the capital’s manor estate.
Curious about Astel, many of them asked to join her on the journey without warning.
This kept Rudel very busy.
And Duke Anais… was not at all busy.
He enjoyed his days at a great, leisurely pace.
Except, of course, he was plotting a scheme to bring Astel into his arms.
A small dessert café outside the Duke’s castle.
Rune and the Duke sat across from each other at one small table….
“Heehee, Daddy.”
…but Rune was squirming in the Duke’s arms.
“Daddy?”
Rune pressed down hard on the Duke’s thigh with his short, chubby paw, like a pair of Vienna sausages.
But his ‘daddy’ didn’t budge.
“Do you ……want a hug?”
“I don’t really want a hug.”
Rune’s eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open at the Duke’s cold words.
“’Huff.”
He clamped his ferny hand over his mouth.
All the while, Rune’s bottom remained firmly glued to the peacock’s lap, unwilling to budge.
Like a newborn bird, he clung to the Duke’s lap.
The duke wasn’t holding him, but he wasn’t pushing him away either.
Instead, he offered him a sweet, luscious, finger-licking dessert of baby-soft curd.
“Here, eat.”
It was a bribe of sorts, but surprisingly, Rune was not simple.
“No, Rune, not eat baby!” (No, don’t feed Rune like a Baby)
“You’re a baby.”
“…”
Rune blinked, “Baby? I’m big!”
The Duke sighed in amusement at the sight of the helpless baby, as if he could still understand him.
Then he got straight to the point, “I have something to tell you. We’re going to the capital.”
“Capital? Capital?”
Rune seemed to have no idea what the capital was.
The Duke simply instructed Rune, who had just begun to eat his dessert.
“Okay. Nod your head when I say we’re going to the capital.”
“Mmm!”
The Duke was pleased with how quickly Rune followed orders.
Now the preparations were complete. The Duke has a perfectly organized list of things to do in the capital.
He had even heard that Cassian Gray, who had been hanging around the duchy, had gone off somewhere. He has sent an aide to investigate Cassian Gray’s whereabouts and schedule in the capital.
To ensure that Cassian Gray and Astel’s paths never crossed.
Of course, he was a knight of the imperial court, so there were some limitations on how far back his schedule could go while he was a Knight.
Still, the aide was quite competent.
He smiled with satisfaction and wiped the corner of Rune’s drooling mouth with the handkerchief dangling from his chin.
“Make sure you cooperate with me properly.”
Rune’s eyes twinkled, “Mmm!”
“Speak more of me.”
“Yes! More, you’re Daddy!” (Yes, I will do it more, you’re my Daddy!)
Rune’s first impression of him had been terrible, but now that he was cooperating, he was growing on him.
Most of all, Astel likes this little guy for a lot of reasons.
The things she thought were cute and pretty were starting to look the same way to me.
“Tell me about broder!”
“Broder?”
I wonder if he means brother. No one else in Astel’s life had that nickname. Duke Anais asked, pulling the towel from the child’s chin slowly.
“Who is that?”
“Um! Aste like Berry!” (Yes, Bell brother like Astel)
“Berry?”
“A fox! Broder, older!” (A fox, my older brother)
Silver Fox Beast. Berry, you mean Bell. Come to think of it, there was a fox with that name in the castle.
“Silver Fox, you must be referring to Bell.”
Supporting Rune lightly with one hand, the Duke rang the chime of the tea house.
He looked through the glass window and saw his aide running toward him, panting.
He lifted his hand from the chime and ruffled Rune’s hair, whispering.
“The more, the merrier, so bring the Bell.”
“Merrier!”
…Rune didn’t seem to understand his words, but whatever.
A few dozen minutes passed after he called Bell through his aide.
The door to the tearoom opened and Bell entered, bewildered by the Duke’s sudden summons. Bell stared wide-eyed at the Duke of Anais.
As the heir to the Fourth House of Vassals, the Duke of Anais was an object of admiration.
“It’s been a long time, Your Grace.”
Bell greeted excitedly, bowing hesitantly. At that, Rune, who was beside him, exclaimed.
“Aster Duke together!”
He meant for Astel and the Duke to cooperate in their romance.
“What?”
Bell, soon seated at the Duke’s beckoning, leaned back in his seat, a baffled expression on his face.
“Tell me what Astel’s favorite thing is.”
“Ahhh… that’s what you called me to find out, Your Excellency!”
The bright Bell’s eyes twinkled, and he spoke with an air of conviction.
“Astel likes me!”
