Chapter 56

Before, he hadn’t paid attention to the child’s hair color.

“The same color as mine.”

He gently stroked the hair, careful not to wake the child. His lips relaxed into a smile with satisfaction he wasn’t even aware of.

The twitching cheeks of the child sleeping without wariness, and the flower scent of this familiar space—he enjoyed it all.

Everything was so perfect that it felt like being immersed in a dream.

“Perhaps you might be a child sent by fairies.”

His ears turned hot and red at the words he had unconsciously uttered. This was all because of the little one’s fairy talk!

“Actually, the Grand Duke is a fairy. I read in a book that fairies visit lonely children.”

The reason he could snort at the little one’s nonsensical fairy tale was that he, too, had wished for something impossible.

Tristan had long wanted something of his own.

‘An unchanging ally, something that belongs to me.’

Once, he thought it would be his brother by his side. They were family bound by blood, after all.

“Brother, today I saw something interesting in town…”

“Tristan. I don’t have time for your trivial stories.”

From a certain day onward, a different emotion settled in his brother’s eyes when looking at him. It was an emotion terribly familiar to him.

‘I’m annoying to him.’

At first, he was angry at his brother for pushing him away, and then he became desperate. There was even a time when he pretended to be a good brother, which didn’t suit him.

On the day he damaged Lucas’s cherished sword in anger, Lucas didn’t get angry with him. He simply drew a line with cold eyes.

“You don’t understand me.”

How could he be so sure?

He resented his own weakness for longing for affection that was taken away without even a chance to reclaim it.

That day, he used magic against his brother, and he instinctively knew they could never return to their previous relationship.

The little one seemed to want him to reconcile with his brother, but…

“Little one. Even if I understand my brother, we can’t go back to how things were.”

“…”

“We’ve already done irreversible things to each other several times.”

My brother disappointed me, and I disappointed him.

Even if their relationship recovered, it would probably take a very long time. For some reason, that fact didn’t feel distant at all.

Tristan carefully leaned forward and embraced the little one.

“So stay by my side.”

If this child remained beside him while rebuilding a relationship from scratch, he might find the courage. What he had been about to give up on as unreachable had flown to him and touched his fingers.

He knew that one couldn’t possess people like objects.

“There are no fairies. Tristan, you’re so innocent.”

“You! After you were the one who said it! ”

“I just wished fairies existed. Because it’s lonely to think you’re alone.”

Even knowing this, he couldn’t let go of what he held onto. The days he had to pursue like a fool had shattered.

What remained was himself, who had given up on trusting anyone. He thought he would live alone like that forever, unable to trust anyone.

But for the first time, he felt excited about tomorrow.

‘A new sibling.’

When his father mentioned it, he didn’t like it, but if it became the thread binding this little one and himself together, it might not be so bad.

“Well, I have thought it would be nice to have a sibling.”

Tristan, thinking thoughts that would horrify Liat if she heard them, snapped his fingers when he sensed someone approaching. A faint magic rose from his fingers and formed a barrier around the child.

It was magic to block the surrounding sounds so they couldn’t be heard.

“I didn’t expect you to come personally.”

Tristan’s eyes narrowed as he saw the figure walking leisurely toward them. Instead of sending someone to find them, he had come in person.

The Grand Duke, who revealed himself, looked at him with cold eyes.

“Was the prison too confining?”

“You’re the one who said I could leave anytime, Father. I’m just following what you said.”

“Are you claiming you escaped on your own?”

“I’m a genius. Of course.”

He suspected there was some accomplice who helped the child find the prison where he was confined. This matter needed to be handled as his own independent action.

He didn’t think the child had come without knowing the danger.

‘Such a fool.’

The child probably intended to take all the blame if things went badly. During his time as a doll, he had come to know the child well.

“I don’t have time for bickering. Give me the child.”

“No.”

Tristan gathered the child in his arms. The child was deeply asleep, so she probably wouldn’t wake even with some movement.

“Why?”

“I escaped to meet this child, so I can’t just hand her over.”

Even to his own awareness, it sounded like a third-rate villain’s line.

“I thought you were reflecting on your actions. Hand over the child and return to your room.”

It was essentially a roundabout offer to cover up this incident. After thinking briefly, Tristan met the Grand Duke’s eyes and smiled.

“No.”

A barrage of fire bullets showered toward where the Grand Duke stood. Tristan didn’t hesitate to use magic against his father, who wasn’t even his brother.

‘He’ll block it all anyway.’

The Grand Duke drew his sword at an invisible speed and easily dispelled the incoming magic.

“The little one is mine.”

Having already held the child in his arms, he was reluctant to just hand her over. Tristan gave in to a decidedly impulsive decision.

Thanks to his magic, Liat slept soundly despite the noise.

***

Tristan’s prison break was resolved quietly without much fuss. This was certain because Sen told me directly.

‘That’s one thing, but…’

I glanced at Tristan, who was kneeling in a corner of the room with both arms raised. For some reason, he had been in that state ever since I woke up.

The Grand Duke, noticing that I was looking at him, spoke to me.

“Ignore that deficient fellow and pay him no mind.”

“But Grand Duke, isn’t this a bit too harsh?”

“What is?”

Before the Grand Duke and me was a table full of delicacies. The Grand Duke was elegantly cutting a steak right in front of Tristan, who was being punished.

It was incredibly cruel.

I didn’t know what wrong Tristan had committed after I fell into a deep sleep, but to this extent? It was a terrible personality that even a demon would admire.

“Grand Duke, Tristan said he hasn’t eaten well lately.”

“Are you worried about that child?”

At the Grand Duke’s words, Tristan’s eyes sparkled. With Tristan staring at me so persistently, the fish I was eating felt like it might get stuck in my throat.

Forced to respond to the two gazes fixed on my face, I answered:

“I’m… worried.”

Tristan’s face brightened, emitting a sunlight-like radiance. What is he so happy about now?

The Grand Duke, who had been watching me in my awkwardness, put down his knife. The corners of his mouth formed a subtle curve.

“Shall I forgive him?”

“Please do.”

“I can’t forgive him without any conditions.”

I clutched my chest at the Grand Duke’s uncharacteristically defiant attitude. What wrong had Tristan committed to make the Grand Duke act like this?

“What’s the condition?”

“Tristan, go to the Imperial Palace ball with Lucas.”

“Mmph mmph mmph!”

At the Grand Duke’s words, Tristan repeatedly made some sounds. Thanks to the thorough Grand Duke who had gagged Tristan, no sound actually escaped.

When Tristan tried to break his posture, the Grand Duke issued a warning.

“Stay quiet if you don’t want to be confined until the day before the ball.”

“….”

The now-quiet Tristan emanated something similar to killing intent. Judging by Tristan’s intense gaze, there seemed to be something I didn’t know.

Was the Imperial ball more dangerous than I thought?

Actually, what I was curious about was why the Grand Duke was making this proposal to me.

“Why make it a condition when you could just order him to go?”

“Because I want to hear you say directly that you’ll go.”

“Is the ball very dangerous?”

“The physical danger isn’t great, but it’s not a safe place. You’ll probably attract unfavorable attention.”

The new Grand Princess of common birth.

I knew what would happen without hearing more. Above all, what would happen if all members of the Grand Duke’s family attended the event where I would be introduced?

‘The commotion would double.’

Everyone would probably try to figure out what my position was in the Grand Duke’s family.

From that perspective, I could also guess why the Grand Duke wanted to bring “everyone.” The Grand Duke wanted to show them that I was a “beloved Grand Princess.”

At the same time, he would try to cover the curiosity toward me with gossip.

“I understand. I’ll go.”

I’ve dealt with animal-eared vassals, so nobles of the capital should be manageable.

“I’ll assign a teacher to instruct you in etiquette and dancing before the ball.”

“Please make it a normal person.”

None of the education I had received in the Grand Duke’s household had been normal.

Having finished his business, the Grand Duke concentrated on his meal again. With Tristan’s gaze growing even more intense, I asked the. Grand Duke during his meal:

“Grand Duke, since I’ve agreed to the condition, shouldn’t we release Tristan?”

“That gag has a function to suppress magical power.”

“Huh?”

“Have you eaten enough?”

“Yes. I’m full.”

The Grand Duke picked up one of the neatly arranged utensils in front of him and quickly threw it toward Tristan. The magic-infused utensil cut the strap of Tristan’s gag and embedded itself in the wall.

I soon realized why the Grand Duke had asked if I had eaten.

“You damned father!”

As soon as Tristan was freed and began to raise his magic, a large flame engulfed the table.

Crash! Clang!

The appetizing food was scattered across the floor.

“I should have advised you to learn how to control your emotions.”

“Imperial Palace ball? Are you crazy?! He’s still…!”

“If you’re so worried, you can protect her yourself.”

In response to the Grand Duke’s composed answer, magic rose from Tristan’s hands. The Grand Duke caught Tristan by the nape of his neck as he charged forward surrounded by fireballs.

“Let go!”

Large and small explosions erupted around Tristan.

Even in the midst of this, he seemed to have been considerate enough to leave my spot untouched. I placed the only cake plate I had managed to save on my lap.

‘If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.’

I watched the confrontation between the two while munching on the cake with my fork. Tristan was quite lively despite having just been released from prison.