Chapter 33 - Please Treat Me Like an Adult

The newly established Imperial Inspection Corps, the hidden machinations behind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠its creation. And the fact that the Lagrange family would lead it.

All of this, lumped together—Sion knew nothing about any of it. How could she?

She revered her father deeply and loved him dearly, but he had never once consulted her on the family's grand strategies. Not even a single time. Purely, not even once.

'Sion, don't worry about it for now.'
'Your father will handle it, so just stay put quietly.'
'Everything will work out. You've been through so much.'

The hero she admired, the man who drew the emperor's suspicion and faced constant plots against him. He had no idea how much she idolized him. Every time something happened, he'd say those same words to her.

Of course, Sion knew full well it wasn't like the other capital nobles, dismissing her as someone who didn't need to bother with politics. Her father, the hero, was perhaps the warmest-hearted man in the world. He was always worried about her. This exclusion? It was just that concern taking tangible form.

That much was clear, even without considering her bloodline as the promising heir to a ducal house. As his daughter who worried about him, she knew it all too well.

So she'd endured it. But naturally, that didn't mean she liked it.

'I have to carry on Father's legacy. He elevated Lagrange to a duchy... so it's my duty to solidify that position.'

That single line summed up her purpose. Consider how much effort Sion had poured into every moment of every life with that mindset in mind. A body and spirit strong enough not to be dismissed by the other young ladies. Political instincts that could shine at any moment. Razor-sharp insight and the drive to act on it. She'd lived every instant cultivating all of it.

So it was only natural that she couldn't stomach being sidelined against her will, time and again.

Thus, this Imperial Inspection Corps business felt like yet another deprivation to her.

The reply to the letter she'd sent last night was, predictably enough...

—Still just the same old platitudes.

"—Argh, Father! Seriously!"

Upon receiving this letter, Sion's anger finally erupted.

"Why do you do this to me?! You probably didn't mean it, but this is overprotective! Overprotective!!!"

Riiip, rip, rip—!!!

She tore up the letter she'd never even dreamed of destroying before, stomping her feet in her dorm room.

As such, when Sion went to class the next day, the chatter from her classmates—packed into the room for the first time in ages—hit her a little differently.

'—Anyway, no matter how you look at it, the reason the Lagrange Duke was picked to lead the new Imperial Inspection Corps...'

Valentina. The redheaded girl who'd been glued to Uncle from the moment she laid eyes on him, even during the last duel. The clueless one who didn't know her place.

'Our professor, Mr. Joseph, who took a day off yesterday—it's gotta be his influence, right?'

But her inference was sharp enough to match the level of reasoning. Sion's innate political instincts screamed out.

'That makes sense. Uncle might have orchestrated this.'

And so, viewing him through her lens as the Duchess of Lagrange—from the decayed hero of yesteryear, perhaps even endearingly cool—the fact that he could resolve her frustrations became something she could gradually internalize.

She'd always thought Uncle Joseph was the only one in the school who fully understood the constant slights she faced. But now, he was evolving into someone she needed on a deeper level. Someone she craved.

Father had been summoned to the palace and wouldn't return until dawn. That was surely to discuss the details of the new Inspection Corps.

But if so, this was her chance. A chance to ask Uncle everything and uncover the truth.

'I didn't say it to save face, but I helped you last time. So now it's your turn to help me, Uncle.'

And with Father away, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she could boldly show her interest today.

With that in mind, Sion took a black carriage and went to "abduct" Uncle like a kidnapper. She'd dolled up her makeup, ready to wag her tail ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so obviously he couldn't miss her feelings.

"Alright. Sion Lagrange. Let's do this."

She steeled her resolve.

"Father entered the palace today."

"I see."

Me, Joseph, as the main player? I figured Duke Raval would be at that dinner too, and I'd get grilled from all sides with questions until I was torn limb from limb.

But Sion's words from the carriage were a bit different.

Duke Raval had gone to the palace?

'So unlike what I thought, this dinner is just Sion inviting me alone.'

But even this situation left me uneasy. I had no doubt Duke Raval hadn't told Sion a thing. But based on my experience reading the original story and living this life, I knew she wasn't the type to sit idly by.

Plus, with the student chatter I'd overheard today, she'd grill me no matter what. She'd want to grasp the full picture.

And sure enough, inside the carriage, she wasn't looking out the window like usual. She was locking eyes with me, one-on-one.

"Uncle."

"...Yes, miss?"

"Just to check, but surely you too...?"

She didn't even unfold her usual fan, just kept it on her lap as she mumbled.

"You still see me as a child, don't you?"

But I couldn't quite grasp the intent behind that question.

I've never thought that. What brought this on all of a sudden?

"No way. Don't you remember what I said when I first returned to the capital?"

But at my words, Sion paused briefly, as if lost in thought, then spoke.

"...Pretty?"

Oof. Yeah, that was it. Right.

"Heh, you still remember that offhand compliment from back then."

"Wait, was it just empty words?"

But credit where it's due. I really did say it in awe.

In my past life, I'd never seen someone flawless in appearance, but the closest was right in front of me—this girl, Sion Lagrange.

"No, how could it be empty?"

"......"

"You're truly beautiful, miss. Maybe even the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Calling it empty would hurt. It was sincere ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠admiration."

"...A-Argh! Fine! I get it. Enough of that. What were you going to say? What did you actually say back then?"

"—'You've grown into such a fine young lady. You...'

"Ah."

"Remember now?"

"Hehe, hee hee hee..."

Then Sion couldn't hold back her laughter. Leaning sideways, her words were oddly stimulating.

"Sorry, Uncle. I guess I couldn't remember that part."

"No need to apologize. It was just a passing comment; it's natural."

"No, that's not it."

"Pardon?"

"Back then, hearing you call me pretty was such a shock. And maybe it felt so good... that it was all I remembered."

"...Pardon?"

What’s with her? ...What does that even mean?

As I pondered that, Sion flicked a sharp glance out the window, then spoke with a fleeting air, like the trees passing by.

"...Uncle. Riding backward in the carriage must make you motion sick."

"—Eh, no. Not really. I don't get carsick."

"...I meant you could sit next to me."

"Pardon? Me...?"

"Yes. You, Uncle. No other man could, but isn't the seat next to you—the one who's protected me since childhood—naturally allowed?"

"...Uh. What? You want me to sit next to you?"

Crunch—.

"Yes. Sit side by side with me."

"Well, if you insist that much..."

She insisted so firmly that I let the momentum carry me, shifting my bulky frame to sit beside her.

Then, memories overlapped from before—when she'd straightened my collar. But now, the distance felt much closer.

Sion didn't look at my face. She fidgeted as if debating whether to speak, then burst out like a dam breaking.

"—Like I said, Uncle. This isn't something I do for just any man!"

Guhk. Got it.

"Even if it seems arrogant in front of you, sitting beside the Duchess of Lagrange is an honor of honors no one else can have. Got it...?!"

"Yes. I understand."

"Since you answered 'yes' to treating me like an adult... that's why."

"...Yes, I get it."

Finally, she slid right up next to me and whispered.

"......Do you really get it?"

Huh?