# 81
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“Sorry!”
Aiden hesitated, looking at Diana's gaze. “I'm sorry, Princess Elad,” he said.
He added again.
The way she belatedly recognized Diana's identity, treated her with respect, and pretended to be an adult, was the same as what I usually hear from the Duchess of Beronde, so it was very nice.
“Oh! Young Master, I’m sorry.”
When I saw her cute appearance, I unconsciously stroked her head like I used to do with Diana, but then I withdrew my hand in surprise.
Aiden then looked at my hand regretfully.
“I...you can pat my head more...”
"Sorry ?"
"no !"
“Huh...”
Aiden, who had been secretly trying to hold my hand, was startled by Diana's threats and started crying again.
Then Diana, who was even more embarrassed than me, screamed and didn't know what to do.
"Don't cry! Heck! I'm not crying, you're not going to cry, are you?"
“Huh...”
“Oh my God! Then I will do it for you!”
Diana awkwardly raised her hand and began to pet Aiden's head.
I ended up laughing at the scene of Aiden looking at Diana with teary eyes and Diana watching him.
* * *
The faint scent of ancient trees tickled my nose as the wind blew through the window.
Only then did I massage my sore neck and stretch a little.
Maybe it was because I read for a long time all day, every day, but my eyes hurt and my head felt dizzy.
I'm not naturally an active person, but I sat a lot and my body felt a little tired.
It seemed more so because in my previous life, I had to move my body a lot for training or tasks.
It was fun though.
I was so absorbed in reading it.
For a while, I mainly read books written by Lucio, especially magic books and medical books, including the basic tutorial written by Lucio, but today I tried a new book.
In fact, it still bothered me that when I met the priest in the duchy, the holy power didn't work.
Moreover, after hearing from Tailin, he said that it was very rare for a person not to receive the power of the Sacred in his body due to his high magical power.
‘So, I tried to verify by looking at basic theological books and books read by trainee priests….’
Unexpectedly, after belatedly encountering a legend that even children know, she falls in love with her.
The legend was about the Holy Demon War that happened 5,000 years ago, long before the empire was founded.
The story of the demon who instilled lust among people, causing endless division and war, and the saint who accepted the will of fate to fight that demon, was more exciting and enjoyable than most novels.
“But is this really true?”
Although it may be hard to believe that it is a legend, it is a story that spread widely not only in the empire but also on the continent, and there have been many detailed descriptions, except for a few scattered parts.
However, the happy ending that ends with the success of the Devil Seal seemed like the kind of heroic story that was so common that I wondered if it was a story that the temples had made up for a long time.
"to lie !"
“It's real!”
At that time, Diana and Aiden, who were sitting side by side on the sunny floor in front of the library window and reading a random book, began to grumble.
After visiting Aiden a few days ago, the two children, who had friends their own age for the first time, quickly became closer.
Even Aiden, who had seemed a bit shy, now gets along so well that he comes to play in the carriage alone even without the Duchess of Peronde… .
"Aiden, you're a crybaby! How can I believe you?"
“I'm not a crybaby!”
I smiled bitterly as I looked at Diana, who raised her voice, and at Aiden, who was angry.
'. …They're really good friends, aren't they?'
“Miss.”
When I called out to Diana to stop her, she and Aiden came running over.
“Noona, is the desert really as wide as the ocean?”
Is he right? When Diana looked at Aiden, I smiled as I looked at the book the two kids were reading.
“You were reading a book about the Dampa Kingdom.”
“Ha, everyone here has the same skin color as me.”
Aiden replied sheepishly, crossing his fingers, but many of the shadows that appeared on the day we first met had disappeared.
“I saw it in a book too, and they all said I had healthy-looking bronze skin and dark black hair.”
I took a map and pointed to the desert area at the southern tip of the continent and explained it to Diana.
“Ma’am, can you see it here? They say this is a desert completely covered with sand. I’ve never seen the sea, so I’m not sure, but it’s probably as wide as the sea.”
Diana's eyes widened in surprise at my words, and Aiden said: “I'm right!” He made a triumphant expression.
However, it seemed invisible to Diana, who was already expanding her imagination when she thought of the vast expanse of golden sand.
then.
“Hello, Leah...”
“Oh!”
As soon as Eden hesitated and spoke carefully to me, Diana immediately opened her eyes.
“...No, Nouna.”
“Young master, you can’t call me that.”
It was ridiculous for Aiden, a high-ranking noble, heir to a dukedom, and nephew of the Empress, to call me, a commoner, Nonna.
‘As an only child, the only person who can call his sister is at most his cousin, the princess, noona.’
Diana threatened Eden, saying she would fire him every time he called my name.
No matter how much I tried to stop her, she pretended not to hear me, and even Aiden ended up calling me his sister, so I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Diana's charisma.
“Young Master, please speak.”
She sighed softly and looked at Aiden, who was still looking at Diana with a blank expression on her face.
He looked at Diana and barely opened his mouth.
“Did you read the entire book?”
"Yes?"
“After you finish reading the book, let's play together.”
Since she knew that I was Diana's servant, she should have told me sooner, but it seemed that she waited until I finished reading the book.
There was every chance Diana would say something, but Aiden was so handsome and kind that I spoke quickly.
“Yes, let’s play together. Would you like to play your favorite house, young master?”
“Really? Good!”
Immediately, Aiden's face lit up and he looked like he didn't know what to do.
Unlike Diana, who loved hide and seek the most, Aiden loved playing house the most.
When I was in the palace, the maids and servants didn't play well with me, so I mainly played alone, so I was worried that I wouldn't be able to play at home, so I played more enthusiastically.
“Diana, can I be your father today?”
"What?"
“I always play the kid all the time.”
Aiden clenched his little fists and shouted earnestly, although he wasn't sure if he was afraid of Diana.
“I want to be a husband too!”
I jumped up high!
It was then.
Suddenly, Allen opened the library door and appeared speaking in a shocked voice.
"Hey, what did you just say? Husband? What?"
“Hyuk hyuk!”
*Hiccuping sound.*
“I already know the little man is beautiful! But how dare you cross the line? Diana, come here quickly!”
As soon as Allen finished speaking, Diana quickly ran to Allen and hugged him.
Then he looked at Aiden and shouted triumphantly.
"That's right! Noona's husband would never do that! I'll play the father!"
“...hmm?”
Allen, who had been staring at Aiden with a frown at Diana's words, tilted his head.
As I patted Aiden, who was very afraid of his brothers, I slowly raised my hand.
She spoke quietly to the little one, who could not speak.
“Master, the role of mother is mine, not his.”
* * *
After a moment of silence, Allen sat quietly, perhaps feeling embarrassed and sorry for raising his voice at Aiden.
He privately took on the role of father by offering to participate in house play.
After hearing that, I clapped my hands as if everything was going well and left the two children with Allen.
I have something to talk about with the Duke, but I've been so busy these days that I haven't had time to see him face to face, let alone eat.
Fortunately, the Duke was in his office now before leaving for the Imperial Palace.
I didn't think I'd be able to leave because Aiden was visiting, but I was glad I had some time thanks to Allen.
“But are you good at playing house?”
When I walked towards the Duke's office, I looked a little worried.
As soon as I left the kids in charge, Allen suddenly said he didn't want to be the father and took a step back, and Aiden raised his hand saying I would be the father this time.
“So Diana is the mother!” After seeing Allen with his eyes wide open and Aiden with his mouth closed as if he wouldn't break his stubbornness, she closed the door and left, wondering what was going to happen.
“Oh?”
At that moment I saw the Duke open the office door and go out.
I ran straight in front of him.
"Leia? What are you doing here? Diana."
“I am with Mr. Allen, but are you actually going to the Imperial Palace?”
“That's not true, now why did you come to see me?”
“Yes, I have something to tell you, but if you are busy...”
“Come in.”
Immediately after seeing the Duke open the office door and walk in, she quickly followed him inside.
If we postpone it any longer, the plan will be disrupted.
I was so anxious that I immediately got to the point as soon as the Duke sat down on the sofa.
Then the Duke made a strange expression.
“Do you want to go out?”
“Yes, this Saturday is my day off, and I want to go out after that. Please allow that.”
When I spoke slowly again, the Duke looked at me as if to ask why I had come to ask permission.
“Well, my wife asked me to take care of you when you ask for permission...”
When he hesitantly added those words, the Duke's expression became even more puzzled.