‘Daughter’s Fool’ Was the Concept, Wasn’t It, Duke! - Chapter 5

What is he talking about?

 

“Which one manages the adoption, parents or older brother?”

 

“…That’s true, but still.”

 

“Well, it would be nice if there was a good person. Anyway, I’ll wait until the one I like comes.”

 

“Hm? Are you going to choose adoptive parents?”

 

“Of course. Our adoptive parents choose us too. Besides, we’ve been abandoned once, so we’ll have to be more picky next time!”

 

Even though I knew the reality, I shouted proudly. Bell, hearing those words, at first made a face as if the world had been turned upside down… Gradually, a smile spread across his face.

 

“Ha… Haha, ahaha! That’s right. If our parents abandoned us, the opposite would be possible.”

 

“Right? So, wash yourself thoroughly.”

 

“Uh, wait! What are you doing! My shirt!”

 

“I will wash you. You can’t raise your arm properly because the rash hasn’t subsided yet, though?”

 

Bell, who was resisting, soon accepted my hand. You have to make sure to clean behind the ears and wash your hair as well.

 

I really put my heart and soul into it. Lastly, I drained the water to his hair.

 

This is quite…

 

“You will be handsome when you grow up!”

 

“…When I grow up?”

 

“Ah, you’re still handsome! I didn’t tell you because I thought you knew.”

 

“T-That compliment is for—”

 

“Oh my, look who’s here already?”

 

Beyond the hallway. There was the sound of the Director making a fuss. It seems that the Count has already arrived. The assistant teacher who was passing by saw us and shouted.

 

“Hurry up and go in! You have to fill in for the number of children to fit!”

 

“Okay!”

 

In the end, I couldn’t even wash and grabbed Bell’s hand.

 

A room with dirty children. Soon, today’s special guest, the Count-of-Whatever, came in. The man, with his impressive goat’s beard, struggled to keep his tongue in as soon as he entered.

 

“Ehm, cough! Children of God. Thank you for being able to do me a favor today.”

 

“Hello…”

 

The children greeted with dying voices, just as they had been taught by the Director. The Count clicked his tongue.

 

“You all look hungry! Did you eat the fruit I sent you?”

 

The children responded at the same time.

 

“It was so delicious!”

 

“It melts in my mouth!”

 

The voices of the children who pretended to be dying are full of vitality. The Director rubbed his forehead, and the Count chuckled.

 

“I’m glad you liked it. I will send you delicious food from now on.”

 

“Thank you!”

 

“But today I came for a different reason.”

 

Gulp, the children swallowed their saliva. It was time to get down to the business. The Count solemnly said.

 

“I’m going to take the most pitiful child.”

 

The children started the sound of getting sick again. I looked at the Count’s expression from behind Bell’s back.

 

He pretended to be a nice person, but there was a strange irritation in his eyes when he saw the children. He doesn’t look like a good person…

 

At that time. The Count’s eyes turned to this side.

 

“Hoo. Little one, you’re so handsome.”

 

The children’s eyes naturally turned to the bell. Bell was perplexed.

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes. What’s your name?”

 

“…”

 

“You must be very shy! Get up.”

 

Bell didn’t wake up. The Count showed very little patience.

 

“Haha, is it because you’re embarrassed?”

 

“…Don’t mind me.”

 

“I don’t mind! I just picked the most pitiful child in this facility.”

 

Eh? How is he the most pitiful kid? I had washed him with all my heart and soul . Don’t exaggerate, he looks like a Grand Prince! Even the Director didn’t seem to understand.

 

The Count pointed to Bell’s neck.

 

“Look. Is your skin stained red? It must be a skin disease.”

 

“…!”

 

“It should be treated as soon as possible. Come on, get up.”

 

“It’s not a skin disease.”

 

Bell covered his neck. The melon allergic reaction remained, but it was a trace that would disappear after a few more days of rest. But the Count didn’t back down.

 

“Get up. I picked you.”

 

“…Count, look around. There are children who cough constantly, and there are children whose face is stained black due to organ failure. Rather than a stain—”

 

“Get up! How long are you going to keep me in this dirty place!”

 

The Count’s voice echoed through the narrowed space. A sharp voice like violence. Some children started crying, but he looked at them as if they were worms and said.

 

“Director, has anyone ever visited that little boy?”

 

“Ah, no one. That child is called ‘Bell,’ and he was abandoned by his parents.”

 

“Yeah, that’s great. Let’s go quickly. There’s a carriage outside.”

 

“Child, the Count is calling you. Come quickly!”

 

Bell still didn’t move, as if he was stuck.

 

A moment of irritation in the Count’s eyes. A servant took a step forward. His bumpy arms split children like the miracle of Moses.

 

Before the servant’s arm reached Bell’s shoulder. I stood in front of the servant and shouted.

 

“Uncle, are you going to take my brother?”

 

“Huh? What else is this kid doing?”

 

“Count! Don’t take Sol’s brother…”

 

I purposely clung to Bell with a tearful expression. Bell looked at me with a sullen expression.

 

“Sol?”

 

“Brother! You promised to stay with me the whole time, right? Don’t go!”

 

I hugged Bell tightly. I could feel his heartbeat soaring. He won’t collapse from high blood pressure at this age, right? My bullshit isn’t over yet!

 

“Don’t take Brother! I mean, Sol can’t even sleep without Brother!”

 

“K-Kid.”

 

The servant was visibly perplexed.

 

“Your brother is going to a better place. Hm?”

 

“Don’t touch me! I will bite you!”

 

The servant laughed and put his arms away. I took the opportunity to cling to Bell. Bell’s eyes that met mine for a moment seemed to say to me.

 

“Why are you helping me to this extent?”

 

…I know. Why am I trying to help this cheeky kid?

 

Well, I think I know why. I couldn’t pretend to be a grown-up, saying, “We can choose our parents,” and now, “You’re chosen. Goodbye!”

 

Because I’m a cool adult. Maybe I can protect this kid.

 

I kept hitting the servant’s arm. Annoyance slowly appeared on the servant’s face. The Director laughed awkwardly.

 

“Hoho, both of them are newly arrived, so I guess they just became close. They are stubborn, but if you look at the other children…”

 

But at that very moment.

 

“Eish, you can’t even clean up a single filthy thing!”

 

With the Count’s voice, I felt like a bomb exploded in my arms. The world was turning like a ball. My bottom touched the floor.

 

…The Count kicked me. This son of a…!

 

Bell exclaimed.

 

“Sol!”

 

Meanwhile, the servants surrounded Bell. The Count chuckled.

 

“Now, shall we go back?”

 

“Put me down! Hey, Director!”

 

Suddenly Bell called the Director. I didn’t hear it wrong. He really spoke informally!

 

The Director looked at Bell with an expression of, “Is he crazy?” while Bell’s voice continued.

 

“Director, save me now! I’ll pay you back later!”

 

“What? What are you talking about?”

 

“I’m not an orphan, I’m the third son of the Duke of Schlager! Listen to me!”

 

Schlager, Duke. Words I’ve heard somewhere, but in the orphanage.

 

While the Director and the assistant teacher were also bewildered. Only the Count wasn’t surprised. The corners of his lips drew a vile curve under the goat’s beard.

 

“Hahahaha! Yes, I know. Master Elber Schlager!”

 

Bell’s eyes widened.

 

“Y-You know me?”

 

“I know. Did you think I would believe in such a nonsensical pseudonym of ‘Bell’?”

 

“If you know, put it down!”

 

“Now you’re not the Grand Prince, but an orphan. I need to figure out the business first.”

 

“Ugh…!”

 

“Ha, how many dirty orphanages have I visited to find this Master? Now let me re-educate you about who you should be loyal to in our house!”

 

The Count’s eyes gleamed greedily as if he had found a treasure. That bastard, you’ve been aiming for the third son of the Duke from the beginning!

 

Knowing that Bell was allergic, he threw melons at each orphanage. To find a child whose skin turned red.

 

However, the Director and the assistant teacher turned their heads as if they didn’t want to intervene in the nobility fight. No one is going to help Bellㅡno, Elber.

 

…Only I moved.

 

To be honest, I don’t know what’s going on with you guys and those count or duke things. But what do I know? That child must live!

 

I hung on the Count’s ankles. That guy was pissed off

 

“Get those dirty hands away!”

 

The Count’s hand touched the sword on the waist. Ah, damn it. Did I say too much.

 

But if I had done nothing, I would have regretted it as I continued to remember Elber’s voice. No matter what I do, I don’t want to see children struggling.

 

I closed my eyes tightly.

 

…However, it wasn’t me who broke at that moment.

 

Whoosh… !

 

A sharp wind blew in like a wolf. The door to the orphanage was smashed.

 

As everyone turned their heads in the wind on their cheeks, a man in a gray coat, who had been walking in stride, stood in front of the Count.

 

He is a well-groomed handsome man with silver hair. He must have been around mid 30s.

 

The Count said the name of the uninvited in a trembling voice.

 

“D-Duke Schlager…”

 

The man called the ‘Duke’ answered with a voice full of age and dignity beyond his appearance.

 

“You should call me ‘Your Grace’ the Duke.”

 

“Ugh…”

 

“Put my son down.”

 

Duke Schlager’s gaze turned to the Count. Blue eyes. The iris fluttered like a wave. Just looking at it makes me mesmerized

 

However, the Count pointed his sword at Elber again.

 

“Do you think I’ll give him back to you? If you’re worried about your son’s well-being—”

 

“There’s no second chance.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Something flashed in the air.

 

Up until now, Duke Schlager was empty-handed. In an instant, something in his hand shone silver…

 

…The Count’s body slowly tilted to the side. There was a thump, a sound, and blood splattered on the floor, and I later realized what had taken the Count’s life.

 

In the hands of Duke Schlager, a sword made of ice was being held. Drops of blood glided over the transparent blade.

 

When me and the other children, as well as the Director and the assistant teacher, were hardened in a situation I couldn’t even imagine. Only Duke Schlager moved soberly.

 

“There’s a lot of garbage.”

 

One by one, even the Count’s servants were cut by the sword of ice and fell. Soon, the ice sword the Duke had created disappeared from the air.

 

After seeing the unrealistic scene, I remembered the name of ‘Elber’ and the identity of ‘Duke Schlager’.

 

Elber is the name of the male lead of [To Save You].

 

He originally had a friendly personality, yet his cold-blooded father ruined his character. After that, he was barely saved by the female lead, the Saintess.

 

And that cold-blooded man who ruined his son’s personality, Latigre Olt Schlager.

 

Elber, still an innocent boy, said in a trembling voice.

 

“Father… You didn’t abandon me?”

 

“Isn’t it fine if I come to collect it before someone else picks it up?”

 

Hey, male lead, I understand that you lost your temper. Even if you destroy the whole world, I will understand.

 

The Duke extended his blood and ice-drenched hands to his son.

 

“Let’s go back, Elber.”