The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend - Chapter 29

But it must have been more surprising than I anticipated. There was stark astonishment written all over the Grand Duke’s face.

“Compensatory damages?”

“Yes, I was very surprised to hear about my father’s accident. I thought my father was dead and my heart almost stopped beating. Moreover, yesterday, I was so shocked that I burst into tears for the first time in my life. And I think it will leave a long and significant effect on my future life. I want compensation for the mental damage.” (T/N: In case you forgot, she is supposed to be seven! lololol)

And after my clear-as-glass, eloquent speech came to an end, how did my father react? He was looking at me as if his soul had fled the body. The Grand Duke wasn’t any better, his face full of bewilderment. He seemed to be doubting his ears and confused whether it was really a child he was talking to.

“You don’t look so shocked to me.”

Again, it was the Grand Duke who came to his senses before my father. I knew it would come to this.

I put my hands out in front of the Grand Duke. All the fingers of one hand, and just two of the other stretched out — to signify the number ‘seven’.

“I am seven years old. It is a big shock to such a small child.”

I shamelessly emphasized that I was only seven, all the while talking like someone who was definitely not. Since I was young, I could get away with this. In the eyes of others, I was really only seven years old. Considering my appearance, suspecting that I was not seven would be much stranger.

The Grand Duke was looking at me blankly, as if he had been slapped on the cheek for no reason while walking down the street. My father looked as if he’d never seen his daughter before, and was completely mesmerized by my face. Even if they’d known I was smart, they could never have expected this much.

I was a little worried about how to explain it to my father later, but the reward was more important right now.

Come on, pay for the damages!

As I was staring at him like this, the Grand Duke turned to my father with a half- laugh, half-sigh.

“You…have an amazing daughter.”

“… Yes, it seems so.”

My father’s slow reply seemed to contain more helplessness rather than pride. Their eyes met, and again, there seemed to be some sort of understanding between the two men.

“I’m very embarrassed. I’m in a situation where I’m asked for mental damage compensation…”

“I’m sorry.”

My cheeks puffed up at my father’s reflexive apology.

I’m not sorry at all! There’s a daring kid like me right here!

Do you not want to reward me that much? Is your life worth so little, Grand Duke?

It’s even more hateful to act like you’re going to give it, and then pull out at the slightest chance. In addition, I was upset that he didn’t seem to appreciate my father’s hard work.

As I was building up resentment against the Grand Duke, the Grand Duke tapped my head and smiled lightly.

“It’s compensation for the mental damage of such a smart child. Of course I should listen. So, what is it that you want?”

Aha! At last! My eyes shining at the permission granted, I cried out passionately.

“Give me a promise of immunity.”

“Right, immunity- wait, what?”

The Grand Duke, who was nodding generously and about to say no to whatever it was I was going to ask, paused and asked back in surprise.

It wasn’t that he didn’t hear my words. However, he was so shocked at my request that he couldn’t seem to believe his ears.

The Grand Duke shook his head in bewilderment. My father seemed to have passed away for good– his soul showed no signs of returning.

“Yes, immunity. When I commit a crime, please forgive me once.”

I repeated clearly on purpose. The Grand Duke, who was trying to reward a child’s wish in the same manner, quickly responded with seriousness to my not-s0-childish demand.

“Who are you going to kill?”

The Grand Duke’s face was solemn because immunity was an extreme right that could not be given recklessly. The Grand Duke’s spirit turned fierce, as if he had changed his mind about how to treat a child like me.

For a moment, suffocating pressure pressed on me. Then my father came to his senses and hid me behind his back.

“I’m sorry.”

“Step aside.”

The Grand Duke growled menacingly. Being the loyal subordinate he was, I was sure my father would obey the order, but he refused.

“I can’t do that.”

“It is not your place to meddle.”

“No. It’s my daughter’s business. So, as the guardian, it is right for me to step forward.”

All at once, I was filled with emotion at my father’s words. A sense of security enveloped me. Even so, I tapped my father gently on the back, knowing that the Grand Duke wasn’t trying to threaten me, but to test me.

“It’s right that it is me who should answer it.”

My father’s face was filled with frustration, recalling that it’s a problem even if the child is too smart.

I held my father’s hand tightly, quietly willing him to not worry. Then I stepped away from behind my father to stand directly before the Grand Duke and replied.

“I’m not going to do that.”

The Grand Duke paused, confused, and then continued shooting questions at me.

“Then are you going to hand over information to our enemy?”

“No way!”

“Or are you going to commit a crime against the capital?”

“Absolutely not!”

No matter how much of an unusual child I was, weren’t these questions a bit too much? When I vehemently denied his accusations, the Grand Duke’s expression started to settle.

“Then why do you need immunity?”

“Well, it’s hard to know a person’s mind.”

I smiled innocently, hoping to convey that I really wasn’t up to anything seriously bad.

I’m just a harmless seven-year-old kid.

Far from falling for my cuteness, something different passed by the Grand Duke’s eyes.

“How come it sounds like something is going to happen?”

That’s right. It’s going to be troublesome.

“You worry too much.”

I was starting to worry that I’ve been speaking maturely a bit too much now. I felt the need to sort things out quickly.

So, are you giving it to me or not?

*****