The Youngest Daughter of the Villainous Duke

No way! That’s never gonna happen.

 

I almost shouted that way, but I put up with it with my miraculous patience.

 

“Uh… How? You said you were a fairy!”

 

Then Kian said with a bright face, sighing.

 

“Innocent and cute Rossette, I really like that about you.”

 

Sir, who are you teasing?

 

When he saw me shaking with my fist clenched, the liar who had deceived me threw a question, “Are you angry?”

 

Of course, I’m angry!

 

Isn’t there too much that you haven’t explained?

 

The monster under the bed, or a magic that suddenly changes the place. His presence that used to appear out of the blue, and even him turning into a butterfly.

 

Besides, he really, really didn’t seem like a person earlier.

 

And you’re saying it’s all a mistake? That’s absurd. 

 

Rather, just say that it’s a monster covered in the crown prince’s skin!

 

“Stop talking and come out quickly.”

 

Carlyx looked at both of us as if he were annoyed, and first stepped out of the greenhouse.

 

Inevitably, I went out side by side with Kian and questioned him.

 

“Tell me quickly what happened.”

 

When I asked while staring, Kian smiled and shrugged his shoulders and answered in a tone that seemed like reading a script.

 

“What if the devil Duke of Wensgrey took the crown prince as a hostage and prepared something to shake the crown prince position… In return, he was teaching magic to the crown prince.”

 

“…. The butterfly, the sudden appearance and disappearance, and the mimicry of the monster under the bed, are all magic?”

 

“Oh, Rossette. You’re asking a basic

 question now. Don’t you know more about your father than I do?”

 

T, that’s true.

 

I was caught in a confused mood.

 

“But my dad said there was no one named Kian in the castle.”

 

“As I said, ‘Kian’ is not my real name. It was only for you to know. And who cares about the nickname of the crown prince who is nothing but a pawn?”

 

I felt like I was being persuaded little by little.

 

“Anyway, Rossette. Try to think in a good way. Anything would be fine if you could be any less afraid of me.”

 

He finished his speech in a rather vague manner.

 

So, is Kian just a human after all?

 

But I still felt like I was being deceived.

 

‘Then why did the ghosts warn me that Kian was dangerous?’

 

Didn’t the ghost Annebella definitely called him the “evil beast” at dawn? The question remained unsolved on that point.

 

Maybe I’m missing something very important.

 

When I thought about it more deeply, I felt like my head was getting sick, so I decided to let it go for now.

 

As soon as I entered the castle, I ran into my two brothers, so I had to explain why I was coming with Kian.

 

As I told them before, the two faces immediately crumpled when I announced that the boy whom my brothers mistook for a polite “imaginary friend” was Kian.

 

Carlyx had already left, leaving with a nasty expression that reminds me that he is a brother to those two.

 

Avelle and Camillean both look at Kian with their cold, nervous faces.

 

“I was wondering who your friend was… and you met the Crown Prince.”

 

“So, you’ve been friends with Lotty all this time.”

 

At least Avelle was smiling, while Camillean seemed openly wary of him. Camillean even pulled me to his side.

 

Kian didn’t reply or react much, but he just smiled as if he was very familiar with the situation.

 

The current emperor is said to have received numerous threats before he ascended to the throne.

 

His son, Prince Kian, was also threatened to be killed several times at a young age.

 

In the first place, the current imperial power was maintained by Henriette.

 

Henriette is tryinv to secure the throne of the Crown Prince in order to establish the next emperor as a puppet for himself and his forces in the name of protecting the imperial house.

 

Of course, Henriette has taken the Crown Prince to his castle at every opportunity to prevent the imperial family from being independent of the Duke of Wensgrey.

 

‘I understand that you don’t like my family. Is that why you’re messing with me sometimes?’

 

But wasn’t Kian generally kind and friendly to me?

 

As the questions grew, it was seen from afar that Henriette was approaching us.

 

Avelle and Camillean now stood almost hugging me, staring at Kian, and Kian looked back at them.

 

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, were you here? Did you have a peaceful day?”

 

“Yes, thanks to you.”

 

The two did not have a long conversation.

 

Henriette glanced at me in the middle of them and said as he approached closer.

 

“I’ll take you back to the palace tomorrow.”

 

“Oh, is it time to go back? That’s too bad.”

 

Kian looked back at me with a smile on his face.

 

“I haven’t been friends with Rossette for a long time.”

 

“Who are you talking about?”

 

Camillean immediately snapped back with a scary stiff face.

 

“To be friends with my sister, I will never allow it!”

 

Kian’s eyes narrowed when he saw Camillean hugging me as he reacted sensitively. He wasn’t smiling anymore.

 

Even Avelle is staring at Kean with an expressionless face.

 

I thought this was going to be a fight, but Henriette divided the mood between them in a proper calm manner.

 

“I’ll talk to you about the schedule from now on. Avelle said he was heading to the palace tomorrow, so he’ll take you with him, Prince.”

 

Avelle’s gaze briefly turned to Henriette and fell.

 

“And again, the Crown Prince will return to the palace immediately tomorrow.”

 

Henriette once again looked at Kian this time and said, emphasizing.

 

His eyes felt sharp. Kian seemed to be disappointed but accepted it.

 

“Camillean, I invited a tutor, so get back to school from tomorrow.”

 

“Uh, yes.”

 

Camillean looked unhappy, but he didn’t dare disobey Henriette.

 

Finally, Henriette’s eyes turned towards me.

 

“Rossette…”

 

When he looked at the Crown Prince and his two sons, his eyes, which had been strangely sharp, suddenly softened when they reached me. 

 

He reached out and took me from Camillean’s arms.

 

“It’s refreshment time, so let’s go together.”

 

“Wow! Yes!”

 

Oh, I was hungry, that’s great!

 

I was a little nervous because of the atmosphere, but I immediately showed a bright face.

 

I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but the air that was sinking seems to have gotten a little lighter.

 

It seemed that Henriette was about to take me straight to the dining room.

 

I was excited to follow him, too, and I looked back at Kian and my two brothers waving slightly from behind.

 

Wouldn’t Avelle and Camillean bother Kian if I left them alone?

 

Although he has deceived me and there are still many suspicions, the situation in which he is in itself felt a bit pitiful.

 

I just had a good idea.

 

“Well, Dad.”

 

Henriette stopped walking and looked down at me when I called.

 

I held his hand tightly with both hands and asked for it.

 

“C, can’t we eat with A, Millie, Kian… and the smallest brother, too?”

 

***

 

Munch munch. Gulp.

 

“…”

 

Munch munch munch…

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Munch…

 

I stopped the fork while scooping the dessert in front of me.

 

The dessert was delicious today, but the atmosphere is not good enough for me to keep eating alone.

 

Even if one person is an outsider, is it this awkward to have a family gathering?

 

‘T, they weren’t saying a word in the conversation.’

 

It used to be quiet at mealtime, but now the air seems to be sinking heavily.

 

Usually, only me and Henriette would spend time alone in our usual refreshments.

 

But maybe because he was with a lot of people today, Henriette looked somewhat uncomfortable.

 

“If you’re uncomfortable, you can go now.”

 

He was sneaking a hint at his sons and Kian.

 

No, he’s really…

 

“Uh, Lotty want to eat with you all…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Avelle’s chair rattled as if he were trying to get up from his seat, and then he sat down again.

 

Camillean grabbed the fork that had slipped down and now began to scoop up the dessert mechanically.

 

Then he winked at me. “What do you think? I eat well, right?”

 

Kian is eating dessert alone in the most peaceful manner. Now that I see it, he seems to be very calm.

 

The biggest problem was Carlyx.

 

He didn’t leave, but he looked unhappy ever since he heard that I invited him.

 

He’s not touching the dessert.

 

In fact, I have a separate real purpose for this position.

 

“T, the smallest brother.”

 

When I said a little bit, Carlyx glared at me.

 

“This bean-sized thing, who keeps looking at who and who is small….”

 

Carlyx and my distance happened to be very close, so I cut the whipped cream cherry cake off my plate with a fork.

 

Then I got up and put a fork in front of Carlyx’s mouth.

 

“Then not-a-small-brother, ah.”

 

Carlyx’s frowning face hardened.

 

In fact, it was for this purpose that I brought all my family together.

 

I thought if I had a happy time with my family at least once, the atmosphere between my family would be a little softer after that.

 

Since we’ve become a family, I want to be close to Carlyx.

 

“What is this ….”

 

“It’s good. You’ll be very happy if you eat it. It’s real!”

 

Clattering!

 

There was a noise next to him, and when I turned around, Camillean dropped the fork he was holding in his hand.

 

While Avelle was looking at me with a look of bewilderment for some reason, Henriette’s eyes grew bigger, his chin resting on his hand. 

 

Kian watching the situation with excitement, Carlyx frowned.

 

“If you’re kidding me, do it somewhere else. Now in front of everyone….”

 

“Eat.”

 

Then Henriette brought it up.

 

“Hurry up.”

 

Somehow he looked even more grimly stiff than usual.

 

Carlyx didn’t burst into tears as he had heard before, but he glared at me.

 

Well, you know, people around me are on my side anyway. I’m not scared at all.

 

As I pushed in more of the fork with a bright smile on my face, Carlyx eventually reluctantly ate my cherry cake.

 

His frowning face brightened up for a moment.

 

“Oh, delicious ….”

 

But it was really short.

 

He flinched and stared at me with a stiff look again.

 

He was like a small animal trying not to be caught.

 

It looked a little cute, so I smiled broadly.

 

“Delicious?”

 

Carlyx did not answer, either. He just glared at me with a more irritated face.

 

But this time, Camillean stretched his head towards me.

 

“Lotty, Millie, too! Aren’t you going to feed Millie?”

 

“Yeah, I’ll give it to you!”

 

I was wondering why you were still. I cut some more cherry cake and put it in his mouth. 

 

Camillean’s expression was enchanting at once.

 

Then this time, Avelle, who was looking at him enviously from the opposite side, stood out.

 

I cut a piece of cake and stuck it out to him, too.

 

“A, you too!”

 

“I’m fine. Lotty, you should eat.”

 

“I have a lot to eat! Come on, brother, ah!

 

“……ah.”

 

Putting a bite of cake in Avelle’s mouth, he looked visibly excited.

 

He smiled.

 

“Delicious.”

 

“Right!”

 

In the meantime, the back of my head has been badly stinging.

 

It was because Henriette was staring at us like crazy.

 

Of course I haven’t forgotten Henriette either. 

 

I busily cut another cherry cake but dropped the fork, when a piece of raspberry pie popped out in front of my face.

 

“Oh.”

 

Henriette spoke with his chin up, and pushed the fork closer to my face.

 

The surroundings were all caught up in silence.

 

I naturally ate it up.

 

“Keep your share of what you need to eat.”

 

While saying that, Henriette cut another piece of raspberry pie that lay on his own plate and put it in my mouth.

 

Raspberry pie was so sweet and crispy.

 

Well, this familiar taste. Henriette must have made it again.

 

“Dad, too!”

 

Since I had two bites, I cut the cake a little bigger to fit Henriette’s mouth and put it in. Only then did I catch him looking satisfied. 

 

Kian was then pushing a fork from my side.

 

I looked at him suspiciously and put the piece of cheesecake in my mouth.

 

Then, in return, I cut a piece of cake and stuck it out to him.

 

“Come on, eat Kian.”

 

As soon as Kian took a piece of cake I gave him with a smile, I could see the eyes around him poking and glaring at him all at once.

 

Even Henriette was looking at Kian with a stiff look, but Kian didn’t even care about them.

 

“Lotty, you should eat, too.”

 

Then Avelle picked up the fork and put a bite of dessert in my mouth.

 

When the cream got on my lips, Avelle leaned a little forward and carefully wiped the edges of my mouth with his fingertips.

 

“Is it good?”

 

“Yeah!”

 

“Then one more bite ·····.”

 

“Ah, brother, it’s my turn!”

 

Camillean quickly pushed back Avelle’s attempt to reach me forks again.

 

Ignoring Avelle’s scowl, Camillean stuck a fork out at me.

 

“Lotty, ah!”

 

“Ah!”

 

Peach mousse cake is delicious, too. I think it’s a chef’s skill. 

 

Then Avelle pushed a fork at me again.

 

Camillean then tried to feed me dessert, and even Henriette was standing behind with a fork.

 

I had to eat it all because my two brothers and dad are competitively trying to feed me dessert.

 

“What happened to all of you?…”

 

I could hear Carlyx sighing and muttering.

 

In the meantime, I could feel him glancing at my plate. 

 

The cherry cake we had earlier must have been really good.

 

After I got Henriette’s dessert, I cut my cake in half and put it on his plate.

 

A distinctive sharp look was directed at me. I whispered before he said anything.

 

“I’ve already had a lot of it. Eat it. It’s good to eat together, right?”

 

This time, even Kian slipped through the brothers’ fork fight and fed me dessert, so I had to move my eyes back on the table.

 

Carlyx looked at me as if he were dumbfounded for a moment, and while he was frowning, he eventually began to eat the cherry cake I had given him.

 

After some twists and turns, after dessert time, I was away with Kian for a while. 

 

There’s still something left to talk about.

 

Henriette seemed reluctant to let us both be together, but eventually gave his permission when I looked up earnestly and asked.

 

I took Kian to a corner of the garden.

 

“How do you feel, now you know I’m not an imaginary friend?”

 

As soon as he settled in the corner of the western garden, where there was an unused fountain, Kian said.

 

I nodded and asked him just to double check.

 

“Kian, are you really a human being?”

 

“Well, aren’t I? I’m a person. Was there anything that looked different from the ones you were sitting with at the table during the refreshment session?”

 

“That’s not true, but ····.”

 

As I looked suspiciously at him, Kian smiled brightly and stretched out his palms. 

 

His voluminous, short hair wobbled along the wind.

 

Suddenly, it was a path that looked as if the original long hair had been cut randomly.

 

“As you can see,… I have bones, I have flesh, I have a name, I have breath, I have a voice, I have a sight. Don’t I have everything? Except a man, what else would I be called?”

 

That’s a strange answer.

 

I frowned with a face that still couldn’t shake off the questionable mood.

 

When Kian saw me, he took his hands back and said in a sigh-like voice.

 

“If you really don’t believe what I’ve done is done by the power of man, well, would it be explained if it was due to protection from the Guardian’s star?”

 

“…What kind of protection did Kian get?”

 

I asked slightly, but Kian shut up this time. 

 

On the other hand, I thought I shouldn’t have asked something. The stars doesn’t always have good things.

 

There were many different types of protection that the guardian of the stars gave to humans.

 

Even though it works like a guardian, some of the body parts of the person who is protected may be modified during the awakening ceremony.

 

In that case, it was treated like a curse.

 

So there are people who don’t want to talk about their protection.

 

‘Oh, by any chance?’

 

Wouldn’t it be because of the blessings that Kian was called the “evil beast” by the ghosts?

 

Actually, he’s a human being, but something went wrong with his protection.

 

Maybe all of that the other day and those strange-colored eyes that Annebella told me to remember are related to his protection.

 

“So, are those eyes for protection?”

 

Kian’s eyes got bigger when he heard my question.

 

Watching him tilt his head obliquely, I continued to ask.

 

“Kian’s eyes, they’re black, but when they’re under the light, they sparkle red. Is that because of the protection you got from the star?”

 

But somehow Kian’s reaction is strange.

 

Seeing that the laughter soon wore off of his face, I just sensed that the question was wrong.