“…Lily.”
I was surprised.
Looking at the vivid red eyes and freckles decorating all over his face, the boy in front of me was definitely Michael. But there was no power in his thin voice.
“Hey, how long has it been since you got out of the dungeon? Are you taking a walk?”
I patted him on the shoulder on purpose, speaking lightly.
Michael rubbed his face and asked back blankly.
“What was I doing?”
It was such a foolish remark, not like Michael at all.
“Are you an idiot?”
“…You’re noisy.”
Michael kept his mouth shut after that.
‘Oh, that’s a relief. It’s the usual Michael.’
“It’s frustrating. Why am I here? Seriously.”
Michael scratched his soaked hair and grumbled.
Just as I was about to respond with ‘How would I know that?’ Benny, who approached us, intervened.
“Isn’t it a side effect of brainwashing?”
“Side effects?”
Michael glared at Benny stiffly. Somehow, from the time I said I was engaged to Benny, his displeasure with him seemed to have grown stronger.
Benny nodded politely without caring about the blond boy’s pricky attitude.
“Brainwashing magic destroys the opponent’s memory. You can also use it to erase memories, not just brainwashing itself.”
“Benny, you sound like you’ve done brainwashing magic before…?”
“I’ve tried it.”
Benny admitted it casually.
I wanted to ask when he had done it, but I decided against it because I was afraid I would find out the truth.
‘To be fair, there must have been at least one person who wanted to turn their heads over while rolling on the battlefield for four years…’
At that time, Michael stopped shuffling his feet and clicked his tongue.
“Come to think of it, I remembered when the Crown Prince brainwashed me.”
“Then it must be it. Go wash up and sleep before you become more foolish.”
“What do you mean foolish? Why are you walking around like a drowned mouse? When I first saw you, I thought you were a beggar here to beg.”
“What? I’ve been worried about you!”
There was no concern over the shower while quarreling with Michael.
We raised our voices until the evening sunset, and were eventually exhausted and fell at the same time.
“…I came out to train my demonic power.”
I sat down at a random spot and looked up at the red sky. Benny came next to me and arranged my messy hair again.
“Training? Why are you doing that here?”
Michael opened his eyes round as if he had heard something nonsensical. That’s why I shuddered.
“Isn’t it dangerous to do it at a flower garden? It can be a nuisance to other people…”
“I mean, you can ask Father to set up a personal training ground.”
I blinked like a fool at the unimaginable suggestion.
“Michael, didn’t I tell you everything? I told the truth to the Duke…”
“You told me.”
Michael added very simply.
“But I heard Father say that he’ll listen to whatever you say.”
That’s right. Alan knew the truth and was doing all my requests.
“…Don’t say weird things. Let’s go in.”
I didn’t even think about asking Alan to give me a training ground.
His tolerance was too much for me.
“If I need it, I’ll find it on my own. There must be an abandoned vacant lot.”
I said it with confidence, but my resolution came to nothing a few days later.
***
“Father, do you have any plans to revive the carnival gladiator match? I heard the reconstruction of the collapsed stadium will be over soon.”
A peaceful morning.
Pedro, with his hands full of meat, asked with sparkling eyes.
Hugo, sitting across from me, raised his glasses; it seemed he was about to discourage it.
“Brother, did you forget why the gladiatorial game was stopped in the North?”
“This is because the barriers broke and the stadium collapsed. But that’s already four years ago.”
“It’s only four years ago. I know you’re a battle maniac, but…”
“It’s not just because I want to see it, Brother.”
Pedro shrugged and looked back at Alan.
“After the banning of gladiatorial games, it’s hard to resolve people’s complaints. In order for House Bauner to gain support from citizens in four years, wouldn’t it better to manage the public sentiment well from now on?”
The reason he gave was reasonable enough.
I nibbled on a creamy potato and helped out.
“That’s true… It would be hard to find a way to resolve complaints during the war.”
No matter what results the rebellion that would take place in four years later be, many people would be caught up in the aftermath of the war. It wasn’t just a matter for the knights.
“I learned it from my tutor. I heard that civilian support is the most important factor that determines the victory or defeat of a war.”
Alan glanced sideways at me and spoke softly.
“…Let’s visit the reconstructed circular stadium today.”
“Huh? Really?”
Checking the stadium meant that it was positive for the revival of the gladiatorial games.
When Pedro was happy, Alan added an unexpected remark.
“All the people of the ducal family, including you and Benimus, we will visit together.”
Tak!
Hugo, who was cutting asparagus in a perfect posture, dropped his knife. His jaw was slack as if he couldn’t believe it.
“…Even so, why does Benimus get to accompany us?”
“Little Brother, you still can’t recognize BeniBeni as your family? There will be a reception soon.”
“No!”
“It’s true.”
“No… No…!”
Hugo denied the definite reality. I left him alone and looked at Alan’s complexion.
After I revealed the truth, Alan did not appear at the dinner table. But he began to show up little by little from the day we plotted a rebellion in the Great Temple.
I couldn’t guess what changes occurred in Alan’s feelings. Fortunately, however, he ate at least a little food.
‘Although I don’t think he eats as much as he works…”
Alan focused on managing the ducal territory to the extent that his vassals were very worried about him recently.
He was still constantly checking the correspondence delivered by the servant. I didn’t know if he was taking care of his land for rebellion or if he had other wishes.
“Umm… Duke.”
I looked around the table and picked up a large, fragrant bread with meat and put it on his plate. And I whispered while looking away.
“Eat a lot…”
Alan, who was burning the letter at the beginning, momentarily hardened.
Flustered, I blew out the candle that was about to burn his fingertips.
“Are, are you okay?”
“…Yes.”
Alan held his cheek quietly, then picked up the bread I gave him and put it in his mouth little by little.
I was relieved to see him eat something. Then Pedro, who was next to me, hugged me.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been out of the Duke’s Castle. Let’s buy Sammy’s juice!”
Pedro tilted his chin up. I don’t know why, but it was as if he was very proud.
I wanted to ask Hugo why instead, but he was still unable to escape the shock of the engagement.
***
Pedro suggested walking to the circular stadium to win the favor of the young people.
I thought it was only a good suggestion until I actually stepped onto the street.
‘This… Rather, isn’t the people’s sentiment declining?’
It seemed that the princes and princess coming out to play on the street and the duke’s own visit were two different issues.
Whenever Alan took a step, the packed crowds split like the Red Sea. One child cried as soon as he saw Alan, and the child’s mother turned white and begged for her life.
‘Comparing it to Pedro, I don’t think it’s just a status issue…’
If I think about it carefully, I understand to some extent.
Alan was not just a duke, but a ‘Mad Duke.’ It was said that he became calm from four years ago, but until then, there was no day when a person’s head didn’t dry out on the drawbridge.
Even Alan just strode forward as if he didn’t even know what the problem was. There were no simple greetings, let alone speeches or words of blessing for the people.
‘If this continues, they might turn their backs on the duchy in four years.’
I couldn’t bear to imagine it, so I pulled Alan’s collar.
I was about to call him ‘Duke’, but as I spotted the people with the corner of my eyes, I corrected my words.
“D-Dad.”
Then Alan hardened again just like earlier at breakfast. I stuttered and whispered while standing on my tiptoes.
“I’m sorry. There are a lot of people.”
“…What’s going on?”
Alan lowered his head to listen to me.
Looking at this behavior, my heart somehow pounded because it was no different from before when I was treated as a real daughter.
“You see… Wouldn’t it be better to be a little friendly to get the support of the citizens?”
“Like Pedro?”
Alan blinked at Pedro, surrounded by people from afar.
Unlike our icy surroundings, where he was at was noisy as if a festival had been held.
“Martin! Are you going on an errand again today? Wait, what? Are you really giving this to me? Marianne is the best!”
Pedro smiled brightly and responded to everyone who greeted him. Looking at the natural gathering of people like the sun, I could see why he wanted to walk on the streets.
“…Not to that extent.”
If Alan wanted to follow Pedro’s behavior, he would have no choice but to be reborn.
‘But I can’t force him to do something that doesn’t suit his personality…’
When I imagined Alan smiling like Pedro, it was strangely chilling rather than heartwarming.
I pressed on my temples and said with a smile.
“Why don’t you say hello first? Something like ‘Good morning!’…”
As soon as I finished my words, Alan strode towards a nearby passing child. Alan looked down at the frozen child who seemed as though he was about to pee, and spat out a mid-to-low-pitched voice.
“Good morning.”
“Aaaahhhh!”
‘…I don’t think it’s right to gain familiarity in a normal way.’
