Chapter 80: Apologize Properly to Dia
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 80: Apologize Properly to Dia
“I asked if you’re really the Ducal Lady’s daughter!”
“...”
Nicholas continued to press me, his attitude as arrogant as ever.
He certainly shared the same blood as Dantalion; while they weren’t identical, there was a definite resemblance. Of course, given his bratty image, he couldn't even begin to compare to the elegant and magnificent Dantalion.
[How dare that punk speak to my master like that!]
[Eek! I won't forgive him!]
Desmond and Bibi shouted in a rage. I waved off Sophia’s worried hands and brushed off my dress myself.
“How dare you ignore me!”
“Who are you?”
“What?”
“Who are you to be talking to me?”
I asked him back, my posture bold.
Even if my status was technically lower than Nicholas—who was a member of the imperial bloodline and a Grand Ducal Prince—I wasn't in a position to be intimidated. Veronica was already being treated as the Empress here, and as her daughter, I was being treated essentially as an Imperial Princess.
If Dantalion found out about this, it was obvious whose side he would take. I let the corners of my mouth curl up confidently.
“You insolent little...!”
“O-Oh, you mustn't, Your Highness!”
“Let go of me!”
Nicholas flared up at the maid who tried to restrain him.
Honestly, when the superiors act like this, it’s the innocent subordinates who suffer. I clicked my tongue openly.
‘I see why the Empress Dowager is so desperate to kill Dantalion.’
The Imperial Family was short on heirs to carry on the lineage. The most prominent candidates left were the Grand Duke and the boy standing before me, Nicholas.
In the novel, Nicholas’s father, Grand Duke Agrabain, was described as a man with a very weak disposition. If Dantalion were to die and the Grand Duke became Emperor, the Empress Dowager would likely turn him into a puppet emperor and rule from the pinnacle of power. Nicholas, the Grand Duke’s son, looked like a fool at first glance, so his future was easy to predict.
“You’re nothing but a cuckoo’s child! I am the Grand Ducal Prince of the Empire! You’re just a fake princess!”
“Ho-oh.”
A cuckoo’s child? He certainly picked up some choice words from somewhere.
However, in my case, I wasn't a child switched in secret; I was a child of another house brought in with everyone’s agreement. So, technically, I wasn't a cuckoo.
“Y-Your Highness! What on earth are you saying?!”
Nicholas’s maid turned deathly pale. Unlike the stupid, young Grand Ducal Prince, she knew how much Dantalion doted on me. She looked like she wanted to faint right then and there.
I let out a smirk and crossed my arms.
“That’s not how you use the term ‘cuckoo’s child.’ You really need to study more.”
“What? You...!”
“Hmph!”
Nicholas was just a child, after all. He couldn't even shake off his own maid’s grip.
Besides, I had Sophia by my side, along with Demia and Nathaniel, who had just arrived as my guard knights. Not to mention Desmond, who was currently growling inside the body of a direwolf.
Nicholas, who had been glaring at me in a fit of pique, began to shrink back as he noticed the threatening atmosphere around him.
“Y-You...!”
Still unable to swallow his anger, he pointed a finger at me. Not that it did any damage.
“You... you toothless brat...!”
“...”
I take back what I said before. That actually stung a little.
My smiling face froze as I glared at Nicholas.
[A child can be missing a front tooth! It happens!]
[Exactly! A child with a missing tooth is adorable!]
‘...Both of you, shut up.’
How dare he poke at my complex like that? I was already self-conscious about how hard it was to pronounce things because of my missing front tooth.
“Whew.”
I was smiling thinly, wondering how I should punish him so that word would get around, when—
“What is all this commotion?”
“Mom!”
Veronica entered my room, looking puzzled. As soon as I saw her, I scurried over.
“Mom, he called me a cuckoo’s child!”
“What?”
“And he made fun of me for not having my front tooth!”
“...”
Veronica fell silent, her gaze turning sharp. Holding me close, she whipped her head around to stare at Nicholas.
“I believed you when you said you would be a friend to my daughter, but I am disappointed, Grand Ducal Prince.”
“Ugh.”
Nicholas’s face turned white. It seemed he hadn't expected Veronica to show up and witness his disgraceful behavior.
I stuck my tongue out at him. Seeing that, Nicholas’s face contorted.
“Y-You...!”
“What is going on, Nicky?”
“Hick! F-Father.”
A blonde man rushed into the room. His eyes widened when he saw Nicholas.
Was that man the Grand Duke, Lawrence Agrabain?
He had a very frail impression, just as described in the novel. He looked sickly, his complexion so pale he seemed ill.
“What in the... Oh, heavens.”
“Father, that is...!”
No matter how much of a troublemaker he was, Nicholas seemed to fear his father. He tried to stammer out an excuse.
But the situation was too obvious. Veronica patted my back as she spoke to Lawrence.
“It seems the Grand Ducal Prince needs to be more careful with his words around my daughter. I heard he insulted her by calling her a cuckoo’s child.”
“Nicky said that...? O-Oh, dear...”
“Your Grace!”
When Lawrence swayed from a bout of dizziness, his attendants rushed to support him in alarm.
He really was quite weak. It seemed he hadn't even realized his son had such a nasty personality. It was no wonder people worried about the future of the Empire if a man like this were to inherit the throne.
“I have no excuse, Ducal Lady. I intended to meet quietly before the wedding to avoid trouble, but it seems we have caused a disturbance instead.”
“Your Grace is not at fault. In fact, you were being quite considerate of me today.”
I wondered why someone as high-ranking as a Grand Duke had come without notice; it must have been for Veronica’s sake.
Come to think of it, Lawrence used to come to the Imperial Palace often when they were young; he was a childhood friend to both Dantalion and Veronica.
He had come for a quiet greeting to avoid the eyes of the Empress Dowager’s faction, but his ill-mannered son had caused a scene for no reason.
Veronica’s sharp gaze shifted back to Nicholas.
“The apology should come from the Grand Ducal Prince to my daughter.”
“Ugh.”
“Don’t you agree?”
Nicholas was completely cowed by Veronica’s icy tone. However, he still looked indignant, his eyes burning with resentment. Unable to watch any longer, Lawrence stepped forward.
“What are you doing, Nicky? Apologize to the Little Lady at once.”
“But, Father!”
“Now!”
“Urgh.”
Naturally, there was no one here to take Nicholas’s side. Even the maid who had been restraining him was now standing with her head bowed.
“S-Sorry...”
“Huh? What was that?”
“I said I’m sorry!”
“Hmm.”
Nicholas shouted his apology and looked away.
What should I do? Normally, I wouldn't accept such a half-hearted apology, but considering the dignity of the Grand Ducal House, it seemed best to forgive him here.
Lawrence might be weak-willed, but it was better to keep the Grand Ducal House on the side of the Imperial Family to deal with the Empress Dowager.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to signal that I would accept the apology, someone stepped in front of me.
“Apologize properly.”
“What?”
“I said, apologize to Dia properly.”
It was Nathaniel. I stared at the back of his white head, my eyes wide.
“You... who do you think you are...!”
“Nicholas Agrabain!”
“Eek.”
At the Grand Duke’s thunderous shout, Nicholas flinched.
Finally, completely defeated, he bowed his head deeply toward me.
“I am sorry, Little Lady. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“Fine.”
I nodded with a satisfied expression. This was enough to save face for both me and Veronica without causing a major rift with the Grand Ducal House.
“I apologize once more, Ducal Lady.”
“It is quite alright, Your Grace.”
Veronica’s heart seemed to have softened as well, as she gave Lawrence a gentle smile.
After apologizing repeatedly, Lawrence led the dejected Nicholas out of the room.
“Whew. I was hoping Dia might make a new friend.”
“I don’t need friends.”
“Is that so? Well, I suppose a girl your age might be better.”
“...”
I was honestly fine. I already had Abel and Nathaniel. And as for girls my age... there was only Marianne...
‘Ugh.’
The image of Marianne looking at me with sparkling eyes flashed through my mind, and I quickly shook my head.
No matter what, it would be difficult to be close to Marianne now that she had officially become the Saintess. I tried to push the memory of Marianne’s smiling face—the one that had promised we’d meet again—out of my head.
“Sir Demia, thank you for protecting Dia so well.”
“O-Oh, no. I was simply doing my duty.”
Veronica spoke to Demia with a warm expression. At that, Demia’s usually stoic face flushed bright red.
‘Huh?’
What was this now? I looked back and forth between Demia and Veronica.