Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: A Faint Sense of Possession Was Felt
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A short while later, the little one clenched her tiny fist and came toddling back over to Matthias.
“Dad!”
“Yes, Sien?”
“That uncle is so pitiful…… Sweet potatoes are usually 10 for 1 silver…… He’s a total sucker.”
His subordinate flinched.
As far as Matthias could remember, the watch that guy was wearing alone was worth over a thousand gold. Of course, he had no intention of telling Sien that.
“……So he’s not even breaking even, which is why he got on his knees and begged you to buy a bunch. He’s got such a kind personality…… Just like Dad’s friend.”
“Looks that way.”
“Ung…… Phew.”
Sien nodded and glanced at the subordinate.
Just from that look in her eyes, Matthias could tell. She was thinking, *He’s in the same boat as my dad.* And gazing at him with pity.
“So, let’s buy 10 sweet potatoes. For 1 silver. But Dad!”
“Yes?”
“Why do you need sweet potatoes?”
Her innocent question left him speechless.
Matthias had never been at a loss for words with anyone when it came to eloquence.
But when he met Sien’s sparkling, wide-eyed gaze…… He just froze up.
He wanted to cherish his adorable daughter’s pure innocence forever. So he kept picking his words, and picking them again.
While Matthias was fumbling for the right words, Sien seemed to have made up her mind about something.
His little girl boldly shouted out.
“Does Dad wanna build muscle too? The maid sisters eat sweet potatoes and chicken breast!”
*……Looks like those maids are coming in handy for once.*
Things were going smoothly.
Thinking of the burly maids, Matthias nodded and scooped Sien up into his arms.
“Yeah, Dad wants to get healthy. Dad’s too weak right now.”
“Ku, ku, cough. Kek.”
At Matthias’s shameless words, the subordinate choked as if something had gone down wrong.
But Sien was different. She put on a serious face and said.
“That’s right! If Dad’s so weak he dies young, what then? You gotta live to a hundred! Eat lotsa sweet potatoes!”
Not stopping there, Sien inspected Matthias’s body up and down. Her sweet, innocent words brought a smile to his face.
The subordinate caught a glimpse of Matthias’s wicked grin and started hiccuping…….
But Matthias was already past caring.
He lightly pinched Sien’s cheek and said.
“Got it. Now let’s change out of these wet clothes and eat something yummy with Dad?”
“Ung! Wanna eat yummy stuff with Daddy!”
Matthias chuckled and gently brushed Sien’s hair back.
*Truly, peace after so long.*
His expression softened.
The quick-witted subordinate stepped outside, and Matthias tugged the cord by his desk to summon a servant.
The sharp and deft servants quickly brought in a tray of tea and snacks. In the meantime, Sien had changed out of her wet clothes and hopped right onto Matthias’s lap, staring intently at the documents he was reviewing.
She was so focused, it almost felt like you could hear her eyes rolling around.
“Daddyyy, what’s this?”
Sien drew out her words with a big grin.
Matthias looked down at the document in her hand.
It was paperwork related to Delphia Mirmod.
Of course, it was encrypted so Sien couldn’t read it……
Matthias smiled warmly and said.
“It’s renovation plans for the estate. This place is really nice.”
“……Really?”
“Yeah. So Dad’s gonna fix it up a bit. Wallpaper the walls and everything. Make it like the old countryside house. Cool, right?”
He expected her to jump for joy, but Sien let out a huge sigh and slumped her shoulders.
“W-Wait. No scary stuff?”
“……Huh?”
“Like threatening people! And bullying them!”
Of course, that was Matthias’s specialty.
But Sien mustn’t know he was a terrifying figure to so many. He denied it emphatically.
“I’d never do that. Dad’s only gonna spend time with good people.”
He stroked Sien’s hair after uttering words that would make his aides faint.
Sien put on a cute blank expression, but oddly, her little body was stiff as a board.
Her tense little shoulders looked so pitiful that Matthias gently wrapped his arms around them.
“Oh, Sien.”
“Ung?”
“If some woman named Delphia comes looking for you……”
“Uung?”
Sien’s eyes went wide.
“……Don’t meet her, Sien. Run away the moment you hear that name.”
“Why? Why run?”
Sien’s innocent eyes looked up at Matthias.
“‘Cause she’s dangerous.”
“Ung!”
Sien clenched her fist and nodded vigorously.
“I’ll crush her!”
“……What?”
“Oopsie, slipped out! I’ll avoid her! Like a good Dad!”
Matthias chuckled and patted her little head. If anyone dangerous came after Sien, he’d take care of them first, so this little one wouldn’t have to rush around.
A few minutes passed in serene, special bliss.
But just as Matthias was deeply immersed in the healing moment, a loud noise started up outside the open window for ventilation.
“You…… what…… dangerous……”
“No……!”
“Get…… out……”
It was the youthful voices of boys.
Matthias’s brows furrowed at the interruption of his rest.
But Sien was there. Time for proper family education.
He whispered gently to her.
“……Looks like some naughty ruffians outside. Should we close the window?”
But Sien’s reaction was unexpected.
Unlike Matthias, who wanted to shut it and ignore them, Sien perked up her ears.
“Eee! No way!”
“Huh?”
And……
Sien hopped down like a little chick with a *tok* and toddled to the window, peeking down below.
The warmth vanishing from his lap left him feeling empty for a moment.
Sien peered out the window and……
“Gasp, heok!”
She kicked her legs and looked worried.
“What’s wrong, Sien?”
“Gotta go quick!”
“Huh?”
“Play with Daddy later! Wait!”
With a shout like a final cry, Sien flung the door open and dashed off.
Matthias was left behind.
……Utterly pathetically.
The warmth still lingered on his lap……
He ground his teeth.
He’d finally gotten some peaceful tea time with Sien after so long. What the hell was interrupting them?
Matthias looked down from the window.
In his view were the two friends Sien had made since coming to the ducal estate.
Their names were…… Ashid and Leonhardt, right?
***
I panted as I ran to the walkway where Ashid and Leonhardt were.
Every time I passed a hallway, I heard cries like “Baby! You’ll get hurt!” and “Oh my god, how’s she running on those tiny legs?!”……!
But in this situation, the maids’ worries weren’t the priority.
The top priority was that Ashid and Leonhardt were fighting!
And the next priority……
As I flailed my legs hard to run, I recalled my dummy dad’s hurt expression.
Dad really valued his time with me. He loved watching me squirm around more than anything.
But sadly, our happy daddy time today had ended way too soon.
*Dummy Dad might get sulky!*
Being such a timid, pure soul, he might hold a grudge for a while.
But no choice. I’d soothe his pure heart later! For now, I had to check what was going on between Leonhardt and Ashid.
*Leonhardt and Ashid are both kids I can’t lose if I wanna survive.*
I hurried my steps.
Finally, I spotted the walkway where they were raising their voices at each other.
Luckily, I wasn’t too late.
After dashing hard on my tiny, adult-palm-sized feet, I gasped for breath as I approached where they faced off.
“Heok, what the, heuk, heck happened!”
Ashid and Leonhardt were glaring at each other. But my voice seemed to break the tension. The moment I arrived, Ashid hurriedly hid behind me.
“Si, Sien……”
“Baby!”
I grabbed babyish Ashid’s hand tight. His already flushed cheeks turned even redder.
Leonhardt watched with a sly curl of his lip, then called my name.
“Pom-pom!”
“Ung!”
Leonhardt pointed at Ashid.
“What’s *that*?”
Leonhardt was an adopted villain’s son. The speech he’d pick up would naturally be rough.
But Ashid didn’t know that yet. So he clutched the hem of my clothes tightly from behind me.
Well, in this place, I was the only one tiny Ashid could rely on.
Leonhardt was wearing a mask, so he looked scary at first glance.
*Wish these two would get along.*
I rolled my eyes thinking, then clapped my hands.
“Ung, Leonhardt! This is my friend Ashid, no, Baby! Come live at our house too!”
Leonhardt’s face twisted in an instant. Even the mask covering the boy’s face seemed to tremble.
“That’s your genius pom-pom friend?”
“Ung!”
*Why does he look mad?*
I tensed up, wondering what he’d say.
Being a little villain who’d grow into the ultimate bad guy, I had no idea where he’d go with it.
*What’s Leonhardt gonna say?*
And, as if sensing my tension, he looked serious too. His lip curled coldly.
*‘You’re all a ragtag bunch, so scram’?*
I calmed my pounding heart and looked at Leonhardt.
Staring straight into my eyes, Leonhardt quietly asked.
“Then……”
Gulp.
The moment my saliva slid down my throat.
“……What am I…… to you?”
……Huh?
“……Huh?”
I blinked wide-eyed and echoed him. When I didn’t answer right away, surprisingly, Leonhardt fell silent. In his place, Ashid tugged at my sleeve. Leonhardt’s sharp gaze landed on Ashid.
There was some weird tension between them……
“Leonhardt’s my friend too, duh!”
I giggled and looked at both. Leonhardt and Ashid didn’t smile. Leonhardt glanced at Ashid, who was still holding my sleeve, then declared to me.
“Pom-pom.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll work to become your most precious first friend.”
“Huh……?”
Leonhardt said in a strangely thick voice.
“To you, I’ll become a better one than that…… guy you live with behind you.”
A faint possessiveness flickered in the boy’s eyes.
It was a bit off-putting, but hey, the future villain declaring he’d be my friend was a huge win for me.
I nodded vigorously.
“Cool. Do your best!”
Leonhardt smiled, looking satisfied at my reply.
“Yeah.”
From behind, Ashid gripped my collar tighter and whispered.
“Me…… too……”
“Huh? Baby, what?”
Ashid whispered so softly only I could hear, right by my ear.
“I’ll do my best too!”
My friends are finally coming together! I beamed and spoke warmly to them.
“So, wanna go eat something yummy?”
Since I’d grown even fonder of these little kiddos and Leonhardt.
I grinned brightly and brushed Ashid’s hair back.
Ashid said in a tiny voice.
“Yes. Friend……”
Leonhardt tilted his head stubbornly without replying.
But it felt like their conflict had been mostly resolved.
Or so I thought, as I reached to grab both their hands with a smile……
I’d missed something in my sunny grinning.
Dad was standing right behind me.
Dad scooped up my dangling body in one hand and grinned.
“Sien.”