Chapter 37 — The Duke's Granddaughter
Chapter 37 — The Duke's Granddaughter
Translation: Godtl
When their eyes met, Duke Superion softly raised the corners of his lips and smiled.
Perhaps because he wasn't one to smile often, Duke Superion's cheeks had been sore these past few days.
Yet whenever he saw Lelia, he couldn't help but smile.
In truth, he felt like his expression would show pity instead, but he consciously crafted a smile.
Because he didn't want Lelia to look at him with fear.
"Umm... where are we going?"
Duke Superion stopped in front of a building without answering Lelia's question.
"...."
Lelia, who had been watching the knights following behind her, turned her head to look at the shop sign right in front of her.
This was a shop that sold children's clothing. And it looked very high-end at that.
Lelia gulped.
"I wanted to buy you some clothes before we arrive at the territory."
"...I'm fine though."
"Still, you can't go wearing a robe."
At those words, Lelia lowered her head to look at the robe she was wearing.
It was a very fine robe that Sir Teshis had bought for her.
'Come to think of it...'
When she arrives at the territory, she'll meet all the people of House Superion.
Perhaps even that person she saw at her mother's cottage.
"...."
Recalling that memory, her toes curled from nervousness and her throat went dry.
Duke Superion wouldn't reveal Lelia's identity from the start. After all, no one would easily believe it anyway.
'I'll have to tell him before we arrive at the territory.'
Lelia made that resolution and followed the Duke into the shop with timid steps.
A considerable amount of time passed after that.
Unlike when she had first walked in on her own two feet, Lelia came out of the shop carried on a knight's back.
She had tried on so many clothes that exhaustion overtook her and she fell fast asleep.
The knights who had followed Lelia came out with shopping bags filling both hands.
Though they had volunteered as shopping assistants—something far from their lot in life—the knights' faces were full of smiles.
It wasn't because of Duke Superion's influence; the knights genuinely liked Lelia.
"Is there nothing I can help with?"
"Is there anything I can run errands for?"
"Sir Knight. Shall I bring you some water?!"
When the little one came scurrying after them asking such things, smiles naturally formed on their faces.
Though there was nothing to assign, they had sometimes given her trivial tasks as errands just for the sake of Lelia, who looked so dejected.
Watching Lelia feel proud after completing her mission, the knights exchanged glances with each other.
'Cute.'
'Adorable.'
She was on a different level from the servants they had left behind at the territory. Perhaps because she wasn't a squire who dreamed of becoming a knight, to the knights, Lelia looked just like a paper doll.
Indeed. They had felt it when they first saw her—she was too small and thin. How surprised they had been to learn she was ten years old.
However, seeing her gain weight and her skin becoming glossy—so different from their first meeting when she was terribly thin and scruffy—made them feel proud.
It felt like transforming an abandoned dog into a beloved house pet.
"Isn't this too few clothes?"
Duke Superion stroked his chin and worried.
Since they had to leave the city and head to the territory tomorrow, all the clothes purchased for Lelia were ready-made.
Duke Superion planned to summon all the most famous seamstresses in the Superion territory once they arrived.
"It certainly isn't enough."
"Yes. Even I have more clothes than this."
"Still, they suited her well."
The knights answered Duke Superion's words and bantered among themselves.
Duke Superion let out a small sigh as he watched Lelia carried on the knight's back.
He was convinced the child was Elizabeth's daughter, who had died.
But the world is a strange thing.
Perhaps she might not be of Elizabeth's bloodline. However, that wasn't a major problem.
Regardless, it was true that the child resembled Elizabeth. The mere thought that this was a child Elizabeth had sent brought great comfort.
'Someday, she will open her mouth and tell me herself.'
The child hadn't even revealed her name yet, but Duke Superion had no intention of rushing her.
The child was clearly hiding some great secret.
Seeing her being chased in the Imperial Capital, there was definitely something. Though they no longer needed to worry about checkpoints, unease remained.
Every time they crossed the city's outer boundaries, checkpoints continued.
Duke Superion had outright declared the child as his granddaughter.
Duke Superion's children were known to the world, but how many grandchildren existed and their ages were facts most people didn't know.
Because of this, the soldiers conducting checkpoints at each territory passed the Duke through without much fuss.
They couldn't possibly doubt the grandfather of the Imperial Princes and the head of the great noble house of Superion.
'Why exactly is Emperor Perseus chasing this child?'
Duke Superion wanted to ask the child right this moment, but decided to wait patiently until the child opened her mouth on her own.
Fortunately, the wait was short.
It happened a few days later. The carriage, having resumed its journey, had just entered the outskirts of the Superion territory.
"...Um."
Lelia, seated across from the carriage, cautiously broke the silence.
Seeing this, Duke Superion felt the moment had come. In truth, he had already noticed her fidgeting anxiously with her fingers for a while.
After swallowing nervously, Lelia spoke.
"There is something I need to tell you."
At the very least, she had to tell Duke Superion the truth.
For the past several days, Lelia had been worrying about how to bring it up.
If he asked how she knew she was her mother's daughter, she would have nothing to say.
'I can't exactly say I know because I reincarnated into a novel.'
She had imagined all sorts of excuses, but none were suitable.
They were all far too absurd, and would likely raise suspicion instead. Still, Lelia decided to do her best.
'But perhaps...'
Perhaps, even without explaining the reason, he might believe her just as she was.
Throughout the journey, Duke Superion and the knights had treated Lelia kindly.
Those gentle adult attitudes were both comforting and frightening to Lelia.
If she confessed the truth only for Duke Superion to dismiss it as a lie... all the kindness she had seen would vanish.
Perhaps she would even be driven out.
'Of course, even if I am driven out, there will be ways.'
Aside from becoming a fugitive, it wouldn't be so bad. Besides, Lelia had her mother's necklace.
After hesitating for various reasons, Lelia finally made up her mind and opened her mouth.
"I am... officially, that is, Princess Iris's daughter. My name is Lelia."
"Princess Iris..."
Duke Superion frowned at Lelia's words. He would certainly know that Princess Iris had tormented Elizabeth.
"But... my real mother is former Crown Princess Elizabeth."
"..."