Chapter 68: I Will Never Forgive You
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: I Will Never Forgive You
*
“Waaaaah, I don’t want to!”
A loud wail echoed through the mansion.
Who was it? Me, of course.
Today was the day my front tooth was finally coming out. It was wobbling so much that I couldn't even eat properly.
I had intended to just act like I didn't want to do it, but I ended up screaming for real. To be honest, I was feeling a little embarrassed.
“Dia, it’s okay. Sweetie? It’ll be over in a heartbeat.”
“Noooo, Mommy. I’m scaaared!”
I sobbed in front of the flustered doctor. Since I had started the act with such gusto, it felt quite convincing once I really got into it.
“Dia, I’ll give you a candy when we’re done. Okay?”
“Noooo!”
My nanny and Abel stepped in to help, but I shook my head violently. I planned to keep this fuss up for at least another ten minutes.
Phew, I think I’ll die of exhaustion before then.
I used to think children were just born to scream their heads off at any given moment, but I was wrong.
They were simply pouring every ounce of strength in their tiny bodies into those screams. If they didn't, they felt like no one would understand how they felt.
There’s a reason kids sleep so much.
I could barely maintain my stamina by taking frequent naps. Having realized this only after possessing a child’s body, I panted heavily, my breath coming in short gasps.
“Dia.”
“Huh?”
“….”
Just then, Nathaniel, who had been standing beside me, quietly called my name.
When I instinctively turned to look at him, something flashed before my eyes.
“…!”
“It doesn’t hurt, does it?”
“N-no.”
It was Nathaniel’s hand. His arm had moved faster than the eye could see to pluck out my front tooth.
A tiny baby tooth sat wobbling on Nathaniel’s palm. His skill was truly admirable.
“Now, Dia. Let’s keep this pressed tight.”
“Okay.”
The doctor quickly stuffed a cotton ball into the gap where the tooth had been. Veronica stroked my cheek with her hand.
“See? It didn't hurt, right?”
“Mhm.”
“My beautiful Dia.”
Veronica looked down at me with a satisfied smile. My first tooth extraction ended rather anticlimactically.
[M-m-m-master’s baby tooth!]
[Stay still, you pervert!]
Nathaniel was still holding the extracted tooth. Seeing this, Bibi shouted in an excited voice. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
“Bring that here at once!”
I thought that would be the end of it, but the Duke suddenly barked at a servant.
As I watched curiously, the servant brought something forward. It was a large chest.
“…?”
What was that?
The red chest was quite ornate. It was studded with jewels, giving off the impression that it contained some sort of precious treasure.
Creak.
As the servant carefully opened the chest, I saw rows of smaller boxes nestled inside.
Huh?
Looking closer, I saw that each of the finger-sized boxes was numbered. From 1 to 32.
A person usually gets that many permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth.
…No way.
Come to think of it, back when I lived in Korea, I think my mom collected my baby teeth too….
But still, this was a bit much for storing a child’s baby teeth.
However, the Duke took the tooth from Nathaniel as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“This is our Dia’s first tooth. A momentous occasion.”
“….”
With a satisfied smile, the Duke placed the tooth inside the box labeled ‘1.’ I stared at the scene, feeling slightly appalled.
“Thirty-one more to go.”
“The little tooth is so dainty and cute.”
Vincent and Henrietta chattered away as they looked at the tooth in the box.
It was just a kid’s tooth; what was the big deal? I snorted and turned my head away.
“Dia, have a candy.”
“Mhm.”
I popped the candy Abel gave me into my mouth and rolled it around. With one front tooth missing, talking felt strangely awkward.
“Dia, you have to tell us if another tooth starts wobbling. Understood?”
“Yeth.”
Veronica had noticed this one because it was a front tooth, but there was a high chance the others might go unnoticed.
I began to ponder this.
Should I hide it even if a tooth starts wobbling? A child might try to hide it because they’re scared of having it pulled.
Or, since I just got candy, would I be in a good mood and happily tell Veronica?
I was genuinely worried because I couldn't gauge how a real child would act. It was while I was lost in this serious internal debate that it happened.
“His Majesty has sent a gift.”
“Again?”
“….”
The Duke frowned at the servant’s announcement. I, too, was getting a bit tired of it.
Ever since Veronica received his proposal, Dantalion had been bombarding her with gifts at a terrifying rate.
He sent all sorts of things almost every day. Even Veronica, who had liked it at first, was now looking a bit weary.
I hope he didn't send this because he knew I got a tooth pulled.
Since he was the Emperor, he probably had spies everywhere, but surely he wouldn't make it that obvious.
The reasons he sent gifts were so varied that I couldn't help but be suspicious for a moment.
“He says he sent a gift for the Lady’s upcoming tea party.”
“Hmm, come to think of it, that is soon.”
The news of Dantalion and Veronica’s marriage had already spread throughout high society.
For this tea party, young ladies from families aligned with House Winston had been invited. They would likely select those who would become Veronica’s ladies-in-waiting.
In short, it was a gathering to solidify the unity and support of the Imperial Faction before the wedding.
As far as excuses for gifts went, it was a good one. If Veronica appeared at such an event adorned in the Emperor’s gifts, the reaction would surely be positive.
“Wow, Mommy! This dress is p-pwetty!”
I shouted, pointing at a magnificent dress displayed on a mannequin.
Gold was the symbol of the Imperial Family. Therefore, no matter how high-ranking a noble was, they couldn't have gold embroidery on their clothing.
However, the pale beige dress Dantalion had sent was embroidered with gold thread so large and lavish it was almost overwhelming.
“Yes, it really is beautiful.”
Realizing the significance, Veronica nodded with a shy smile. I could easily picture her wearing it. She would undoubtedly look more beautiful than anyone else.
“Try it on now, Berry.”
“Yes, go ahead and try it.”
“Oh, Father, Brother, really.”
The Duke and Vincent spoke up excitedly. Veronica acted as if they were being ridiculous, but she didn't refuse.
“Oh, there’s a dress for Dia too?”
“Huh?”
Behind Veronica’s mannequin stood a very small one. It was exactly my height.
The child-sized dress, which looked like a miniature version of Veronica’s, was clearly made for me.
“My, he even sent a dress for the Little Lady. His Majesty truly has wonderful taste.”
“Indeed.”
Henrietta and Brandon nodded with smiles. I was a bit surprised by this myself.
Alright, he passes!
Having met Dantalion several times, I felt that he genuinely cared for me, so seeing this dress made me feel good.
“Shall we try it on together, Dia?”
“Yeah!”
I grinned and took Veronica’s hand.
“Oh my, you both look so wonderful!”
Henrietta exclaimed, holding up a recording stone. Even to my eyes, the dress was a perfect fit and very pretty.
“Our Dia looks beautiful.”
“Mommy is even p-pwettier!”
Perhaps because I was missing a front tooth, my pronunciation was even worse than before.
I felt a bit upset. To think I’d have to host a tea party and attend a wedding with a missing front tooth.
Sigh.
[Want me to make your tooth grow back faster?]
Forget it. Do you want me to get caught making a contract with a demon?
[Hmm, I suppose….]
I could probably do anything using mana, but if my tooth grew back too quickly, people would get suspicious.
So, I had no choice but to smile broadly with a missing front tooth in front of a crowd of people.
I can’t exactly not smile, either. Seriously….
I let out a secret sigh.
And soon, the day of the tea party arrived.
*
“Aaaagh!”
Crash! The items scattered across the table were swept onto the floor.
The woman who had slammed her hand onto the table trembled all over.
Her lovely pink hair was a disheveled mess, and her fresh green eyes were filled with venom.
It was Rosette Chernoke. She found it impossible to maintain her sanity upon hearing the news of Dantalion and Veronica’s marriage.
“It can’t be! His Majesty, leaving me for her!”
At her spiteful scream, the maids passing through the hallway whispered and backed away. Once Rosette’s tantrums began, they didn't end easily.
“This can’t be happening, it can’t be….”
There was no life in Rosette’s eyes as she repeated the same words.
How much had she bragged about becoming the Empress? Now that the dream had crumbled, everything felt like a lie.
Of course, Dantalion had never given her any reason to hope, but Rosette had taken it for granted that she would be the Empress. After all, House Chernoke had been his greatest ally while he was at war.
“I will never forgive them….”
Ultimately, Rosette’s resentment turned toward someone else.
The one who had influenced Dantalion’s decision must have been the Ducal Lady of Winston. It had to be that villainess’s fault.
Rosette’s eyes burned with a fierce, predatory light.