The Saintess Became the Northern Grand Duke’s Daughter - Chapter 39

The Duke looked at Liriette intently, then placed a hand on her round head.

 

“Good night.”

 

“Yes. Then see you tomorrow.”

 

Liriette smiled brightly and left the room.

 

“…”

 

Silence lingered in the room where the little child had disappeared. Olivia opened her mouth first.

 

“Laurencio. It seems that Liriette is having a hard time with you.”

 

“…”

 

“Her greeting just now also shows that. Shee gave me hugs and kisses, yet she bowed to you, didn’t her. Just like everyone else.”

 

“Isn’t that because Mother demanded Liriette to greet you like that?”

 

“Demand. If others hear it, they will think that I gave Liriette an order. I was just saying that it would be better if we greeted each other without a facade. Liriette agreed and thought so too.”

 

In other words, it was Liriette’s choice to say such a sweet greeting.

 

She raised the corners of her lips with an expression that she had won.

 

“Definitely, I’m ‘Grandma’, and you’re ‘the Duke’. It is clear that Liriette feels more comfortable with me than with you.”

 

The Duke was expressionless. Still, his biological mother, Olivia, knew.

 

The fact that his blue eyes shook violently.

 

***

 

Faced with the Duke to practice dancing today, Liriette lowered her eyebrows.

 

‘Am I misunderstanding this? The Duke doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.’

 

At first glance, it was no different from the usual duke.

 

His chiseled features and blue eyes that shone like sapphires were chillingly expressionless.

 

‘But there’s a very fine frown between the eyebrows. No one else knows, but I know!’

 

Liriette, who had keenly seen the Duke’s change, carefully brought out her words.

 

“Duke, shall we take a break from dance practice today?”

 

The gap between the duke’s eyebrows deepened. (Of course, so minutely that only Liriette could notice.)

 

“Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”

 

“I don’t think the Duke is in a condition to practice dancing. I hope you don’t overdo it because of me.”

 

She was so deeply caring that he couldn’t even think of her as a child.

 

However, the Duke felt a different emotion than admiration or gratitude for Liriette’s consideration.

 

‘Right. She’s always like this.’

 

It’s already been half a year since Liriette came to the castle. Until now, she had never asked him for anything other than, “Let me stay in the castle.”

No, there were a few more.

 

[Please let me leave the Windsor-Ice Castle whenever I want]

 

[If the Duke allows it, I want Madam Olivia to teach me.]

 

All of them were far from the request of a young child.

 

Let’s play, buy me toys, I want chocolate cake, Liriette never said such childish things.

 

Not even once.

 

The Duke muttered in a low voice.

 

“Is she uncomfortable as Mother said, I wonder.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Liriette looked at the Duke, as if she was asking him about what he just said, yet he kept his mouth shut.

 

As if he was talking nonsense to a child.

 

“No. Let’s start practicing dancing.”

 

Liriette, who would normally have answered yes, shook her head.

 

“I want to hear more about what you just said. Did you say that I’m uncomfortable with the Duke?”

 

“I made a mistake, so don’t worry about it.”

 

“But it’s about me.”

 

“…”

 

“I don’t know why you thought that, but I’m not uncomfortable with the Duke at all. Rather, I genuinely respect, appreciate, and like you.”

 

And, of course, she thought the Duke would know.

 

Although Liriette was shy, she always expressed her feelings honestly.

 

After a while, the Duke opened his mouth.

 

With a face as if he were spewing out a naive inner thought he never wanted to be found out.

 

“Then why don’t you call me father?”

 

“…!”

 

Of course, the Duke knew that changing his title wouldn’t be easy. Especially the special title of father.

 

That’s why he didn’t mind at all when Liriette called him the Duke.

 

But…

 

“You called Mother grandma right away. Seeing that, it’s not that you’re having a hard time changing the title, and I wondered if there might be a problem with me.”

 

Liriette widened her eyes in surprise.

 

She never imagined that the Duke would care about such a thing.

 

Uncharacteristically, the Duke added.

 

“Well, I’m not the kind of person a child can readily call father…”

 

On the contrary, usually children just make eye contact with the Duke and burst into tears, go, huwaaaa!

 

Some timid children fainted. It was because of the cold air that emanated from his huge body.

 

The statue-like face that thrilled women didn’t work for children at all.

 

Rather, it only aggravated the fear.

 

‘Should I at least practice smiling at Simon?’

 

Liriette shouted at the Duke who was seriously thinking.

 

“It’s not like that. How handsome the Duke is!”

 

“…”

 

“The Duke is as tall as a bear, and handsome like a prince in a fairy tale. You eat as much food as a giant, and are strong enough to defeat hundreds of hideous monsters.”

 

Is that really something a child would like? The Duke narrowed his eyes at the doubtful words.

 

However, his eyes widened at the words that followed.

 

“More than anything, being with the Duke makes me feel very safe. It feels like being hugged in the warmest, largest, and strongest blanket in the world.”

 

This man will protect me.

 

He won’t be mad at me.

 

He will love me.

 

Liriette was accepting the Duke’s affection without question.

 

“The only reason I couldn’t call the Duke father…”

 

Liriette said with a face as red as an apple on an autumn day.

 

“Because I’m embarrassed. Trust me.”

 

The child’s candid confession made the Duke feel his ears heat up.

 

Very unlike him.

 

After a while, the Duke laid his hand on Liriette’s round head.

 

“Thanks for being honest.”

 

The Duke made eye contact with Liriette and continued.

 

“I used to think that things like titles weren’t that important. However, it seems that there’s a desire to be called father in a corner of my heart.”

 

Childish and petty.

 

“I know your feelings, so it’s okay. Please feel free to call me as before.”

 

Any title is fine.

 

“It doesn’t matter if you call me an ice monster or monster slayer.”

 

“No, I don’t want to!”

 

Looking at Liriette’s serious expression, the Duke slightly raised the corner of his lips.

 

“If you don’t like that, Laurencio is fine too.”

 

Liriette’s face turned red.

 

“It’s just as difficult. How can I call the Duke’s name?”

 

“Then, as before, the Duke would be the best.”

 

The Duke smiled softly and stroked her round head.

 

However, under that big hand, Liriette smiled vaguely.

 

***

 

That night, Liriette lay in bed and thought.

 

‘The Duke said it’s okay to call him ‘Duke’ too from now on.’

 

However, Liriette knew that it would be difficult if she continued to do so.

 

‘I’m Liriette von Windsor-Ice now.’

 

She officially became his real daughter on the family register.

 

And at the banquet in the next few days, they will announce it to the whole world.

 

‘But people will think it’s strange if I call him the Duke even at a meeting like that.’

 

Words will spread everywhere.

 

‘Why doesn’t the Young Princess call His Grace the Duke father?’

 

‘Because she was an illegitimate child born outside, His Grace must not have allowed her to call him father.’

 

‘Maybe His Grace the Duke doesn’t feel like a father. He’s someone who exudes a very vicious aura.’

 

‘Could it be that, as the High Priest in the capital said, she’s not the real daughter of His Grace the Duke?’

 

It’s clear that nothing good will come of it.

 

‘More than anything else, the Duke wants to hear it.’

 

Liriette’s face turned red as she remembered the moment the Duke spoke as if he was confessing.

 

Liriette clenched her little fist with a determined face, and she began to mutter.

 

“Father, father, father. Father…”

 

 

The next day, Liriette rushed to the Duke. And she brought out her words that she had practiced all night.

 

“Good morning, F…”

 

However, the moment she met the blue eyes of the Duke staring down at her, she was speechless.

 

‘No, I can do it!’

 

Liriette mustered up the courage to continue.

 

“What’s the breakfast menu?”