Chapter 254
TL: Zimmings
When I met Adrian’s eyes, I quickly covered my eyes with both hands and lok through the gap in my fingers.
“That’s not a cover.”
I could hear Jin laughing. I was embarassed and pouted my lips, and Adrian looked back at Jin and asked,
“Why is there a kid at school?”
“I brought her because I was curious about that too.”
“What?”
“She was with Juliet. I’ve also seen some young assistant, but what’s interesting is…….”
Jin, who had a strange smile, put his arm on Adrian’s shoulder and said,
“Isaac asked Juliet to take care of her.”
“Isaac?”
“Yes. A guy who wouldn’t blink even if a bunch of people died in front of him brought a kid and asked Juliet to take care of her.”
“There is no way that the brothers would do something like that unless it’s for their sister.”
“You thought that can’t be true, right? But it’s actually like that. Also, she appeared after his sister disappeared.”
“…….”
“So I think that child-”
He dropped his hand from Adrian’s shoulder and looked at me with sharp eyes. In an instant, cold sweat dripped down my back.
Jin, who came closer to me, emphasized every word carefully.
“Are you the illegitimate daughter of the Duke Dubblede?”
What?
Jin, who crossed his arms, raised the corners of his mouth.
“Right? The illegitimate child of the Duke Dubblede. You must be. Is it because of you that Leblaine left? She must be uncomfortable with you, the duke’s real daughter.”
“…….”
“Or the brother’s illegitimate son. If an illegitimate child popped out of nowhere, and if their father finds out, they will be in trouble. So they may have you hidden here. Leblaine must have left because he hated seeing such a brother.”
“…….”
Is he crazy?
Jin smiled and asked me again,
“Which one is your father?”
I can’t really say I’m the real Leblaine, so I
answered him.
“Henwy.”
“Oh, so you’re Henry’s daughter.”
… I’m sorry, Henry.
***
Having finished four sandwiches that Jin gave me as a snack, I grabbed my stomach.
Then, when I quietly turned my head, I saw Adrian who was looking at me with a blank face. Jin, who sat next to me, smiled.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep it a secret. You will too right, Adrian?
…… Thank you for that.
I shook my head inside, and Adrian sighed.
At that time, the communication device on the table blinked.
Judging from the academy symbol on its body, it seemed to be a special communication device for Elysiano Class.
Jin grabbed the communication device and soon heard a voice.
[It’s an attack from the rest of Kuhelm. They wanted to save the chief. They’ve passed the second gate]
Jin jumped up to his feet.
“No way! I can’t believe the rest of the forces succeeded in breaking through the barrier!”
[They came together with those monster from the other day.]
As far as I know, the gate guards were the Jin, East and West.
[Shall we let East and West know?]
“Leave them. They haven’t decided their course of action yet, so I’ll go first. Prepare for the battle.”
[Yes.]
As soon as the communication was cut off, Jin picked up the jacket he had hung on the sofa.
“Take care of her please.”
Adrian nodded, and Jin ran out of the room. I looked at him anxiously.
‘Did Isaac and Henry go too? Since it’s not the mountain, it’s not going to be hard to get rid of the monsters.….’
I was worried about that.
At that time, warm hands touched my cold wrist.
“Don’t worry. Odis was thoroughly prepared because of what happened in the last battle.”
“But…”
Adrian hugged me. I was surprised and blinked as he smiled slightly.
“What do you want to play?”
Adrian, who I hadn’t had a conversation with in a long time, felt a little different from before.
Perhaps because I got smaller, he felt a little taller, his hands also seemed bigger, and his voice sounded gentler and sweet.
“You know my heart.”
In an instant, his gaze that was looking at me eagerly came to mind. I was kind of shy.
As I pressed my small fist against my chest, fearing that he would hear the thumping sound of my heart, a soft laughter escaped Adrian’s mouth.
“You’re really small.”
“… I’m nwot small. (… I’m not small.)”
“Alright, so what do you want to do to play?”
Being the 17 years old me, I wanted to say, ‘Do we have time for this now?’ but as a child, I could only say,
“The… hmm, that.”
When I pointed to the card on the sofa table,
Adrian asked, “Poker?” and I nodded my head.
Adrian called someone through his communication device. I wondered who he was calling, but after a while, the students came to the room.
“Did you call me?”
One of them was Hayton. Adrian, who saw him, said coldly.
“I didn’t call you”.
“Most of Elysiano Class went with Jin, so we’re the only ones left.”
“…….”
“Who is that kid?”
It was well known that Hayton and Adrian didn’t get along well.
I grabbed Adrian’s sleeve anxiously.
‘Don’t fight.’
When people heard that Adrian and Hayton fought, they would also tell others about how a child was also there.
After that they would have asked,
“Why is a child there?”
Adrian, who glanced at me, settled on the sofa. And after putting me on his lap, he told the students.
“Sit down.”
“What are you…….”
When other students asked, Adrian said,
“Poker.”
“What?”
“The child wants to play poker.”
They were surprised but Adrian merely looked at them as if nothing was wrong. The student burst into laughter.
“Playing poker with a child?”
The female student also smiled and glanced at me, putting her hair behind one ear.
“Does this child know the rules?”
The two crossed their arms, while Hayton looked at me with puzzled expression.
“Playing cards is fun when we have the skills…”
“It’s Adrian’s request, so I’ll do it.”
“…….”
The boy coughed and glanced at Adrian.
“Well, more than that… you know my sister that I mentioned last time right? She will pick me up later. She’s very curious about you. Haha, in my hometown, you’re famous for your outstanding accomplishments and appearance.
“So?”
“It’ll be fun to play cards only if we benefit from it, right? If I win, will you meet my sister?”
I know that man. He is the eldest son of a count. Even though his family was far behind those in the imperial family, he said his request to Adrian.
Those words were nothing more than looking down on Adrian, who is called the abandoned prince.
“You’re going to meet her? Yes?
‘Look at that.’
I skillfully hid my cold gaze and grabbed the card with a bright look.
“Then swould we stawt?”
“Should we?”
The male student sat down and laughed, along with the female student and Hayton.
***
“Stwaight fwush! (Straight flush!)”
The students and Hayton opened their mouths and looked at me.
“I won. Gwive me money.”
I smiled wickedly and stretched out both hands.
“Please.”
“She, uh… she’s really good at playing cards…?”
The female student smiled awkwardly, and the male student turned pale. That male student has already been robbed of a considerable amount of money. He handed over the money with trembling hands, and we came to the next round.
The male student took the lead in this round.
He smiled and said, “I’m sorry about this, but what can I do?”
“Four cards. I won this game-”
I grabbed his wrist on the table.
“Uncwel.” (Uncle)
“…… What?”
“Awe you kidding me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Youw sleeves.”
He snorted immediately.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Uncle, you have another cawd on your sleeve.”
As I glared at him, he got up and trembled.
“What are you saying! That’s ridiculous.”
It was when I said that. A card fell off his sleeve.
“Bwing the hammew!” (Bring the hammer!)
“Y-you……!”
“I-it’s just a game!”
If Zachary had heard it, he would have cut off his wrist and ankle.
I got up to the sofa to grab him by the collar, but Adrian didn’t let me do it.
“Let’s let it slide this time.”
“No, twis can’t happen!”
“Leblaine.”
Huh…?
“How…!”
I looked at him in surprise as he merely smiled. Then, something gently moved over Adrian’s shoulder.
‘Amand!’
That’s right. Adrian had a special power to track a person using manq even after the person disappeared.
‘He recognized me from the beginning.’
***
At that time, in the Dubblede’s mansion,
Nos rushed into Johann’s office.
“Master Henry sent a letter, so the lady…!”
Hearing him, Johann narrowed his brow.
What happened to Leblaine?
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