Chapter 35
Sigh…
A heavy, irritated breath left Caleo’s lips, as though the ground itself were about to crack beneath him.
“Daddy?”
Nivellia grabbed Caleo’s hand tightly. Aref, noticing the change in his mood, quietly held his other hand.
Caleo quickly smoothed his expression and gave them a soft smile.
“Sorry. It’s nothing. We were just about to—”
“Marquis Deiamor! Marquis!”
“…Hah.”
Caleo’s smiling mouth twitched as if in pain.
The voice calling his name grew louder and closer.
“Kids, would you mind waiting just a minute?”
“Okay.”
“Yes.”
Nivellia and Aref, still holding hands, stepped back behind Caleo.
He gently brushed their heads with his hand and gave them an apologetic glance—then turned, his face cold and sharp, to greet the man approaching.
“Viscount Petra.”
The man, addressed as Viscount Petra, had a large, imposing frame.
His thick mustache gleamed as if oiled, and he wore a gold-chained monocle over his right eye.
“Marquis Deiamor! If you were going to visit, you could’ve at least given some notice! I would’ve come out to greet you!”
Viscount Petra’s eyebrows drooped dramatically in a display of feigned disappointment.
He had a cheerful face that might’ve seemed friendly—but his overly polite bowing and hands rubbing together like a fly made him look more desperate than warm.
“I’m busy. There’s no need.”
Caleo’s voice was heavier than usual.
“I just came to take care of a few things quietly.”
“But since you’re here, at least let me offer you some tea…”
“No need. I came with the children, so I need to leave soon.”
“Children, you say?”
Viscount Petra finally lowered his gaze a little.
That’s when he noticed Nivellia and Aref standing behind Caleo.
“Oh.”
Disappointment flickered in his eyes for a moment, but he quickly smiled and bowed.
“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Sillec Petra.”
“….”
But Nivellia didn’t say her name in return.
Instead, she hid her face deeper against Caleo’s leg.
Caleo didn’t pressure her.
“She’s just shy with strangers. I ask for your understanding.”
“Oh, no problem. All kids are like that. Still, she’s very lovely. Looks just like the Saint.”
“….”
“And this boy—who is he?”
Viscount Petra’s gaze turned sharp as he looked at Aref.
His clothes are expensive, but…
Aref, nervous under the scrutiny, swallowed hard.
“Oh, this child is—”
“I’m Aref!”
Aref stepped forward before Caleo could answer.
“I live with the Deiamor family!”
“Ah, a servant then,” Petra replied brightly.
“A sort of play-servant for the young lady? Marquis, you’re truly something. Taking even one like him out in public—”
“Aref is a precious benefactor of House Deiamor.”
Caleo cut him off firmly.
“He’s someone I consider like a son. A remarkable young man.”
“E-Excuse me?”
“Well then, we’ll be off. I promised the children we’d explore the plaza. Perhaps we can talk properly some other time.”
Without waiting for a response, Caleo scooped Nivellia into his arms and took Aref’s hand, walking out of the bank.
“….”
Nivellia looked over Caleo’s shoulder.
Viscount Petra remained standing there.
But she couldn’t see what kind of expression he had on his face.
After leaving Petra Bank, Caleo kept his promise and took the children on a walk through the plaza.
They bought colorful street snacks and watched a puppet show made for children.
“Sorry about what happened at the bank earlier,” Caleo said once they were seated in a restaurant.
“Is he your friend?” Nivellia asked, chewing on a piece of bread.
“No.”
Caleo looked exhausted.
“He’s someone I only know because of work.”
“Is he a bad person?” Aref asked.
Caleo paused. He seemed unsure how to respond.
Just then, Nivellia spoke.
“He’s garbage, right?”
“Nivellia!”
Caleo nearly jumped out of his seat.
“W-Where did you learn such awful words?!”
“From before. Monitos said it.”
“The notary?”
“Yep.”
Monitos, now the royal legal advisor for House Lubeo, had once been a twin-sword-wielding berserker who hunted monsters 40 years ago.
Of course, Caleo didn’t know any of that. He could only shut his eyes in despair.
“That’s a very bad word, Nivellia. You must never say it again, okay?”
“Like a finger?”
“A finger?”
“This one.”
Nivellia boldly stuck up her middle finger.
Caleo’s heart nearly dropped as he immediately folded her hand down.
“Absolutely not. Don’t do that.”
“Hmph.”
“Anyway… Viscount Petra isn’t my friend. And I’m not even sure if he’s good or bad.”
Thankfully, the food arrived just in time to wrap up the conversation naturally.
“Alright, you must be hungry. Let’s eat and then head home.”
Caleo helped the children with their meals.
Once they finished and climbed into the carriage, Nivellia spoke up as soon as it started moving.
“Daddy, I want to go to the house next door.”
“Next door?”
“Al and Rubens’s.”
“You mean the De Gladius estate?”
“I want to show off my bankbook!”
Those two had always praised her for working and earning money, so she couldn’t wait to tell them how much she had saved.
“Then let’s send a letter and ask first.”
“Can’t we just go? They didn’t ask when they came to our house.”
“They always sent a letter first. And don’t call them ‘those guys’—they’re older than Soles.”
“They’re still my subordinates!”
Even so, Nivellia was a polite young lady.
She had earned 15 praise stickers in kindergarten for good behavior, so she followed Caleo’s advice and asked permission by letter.
“They’ve got no manners…”
Making their captain write this kind of thing…
“…Actually, I wrote the letter,” Deter said with a wry smile, having transcribed it exactly as Nivellia dictated.
The reply came quickly.
To everyone’s surprise, it was written directly by Duke Kallaroff De Gladius.
“The Duke says you’re welcome anytime.”
“Ooh, he’s sharp! I like him!”
“You must never say that in front of the Duke,” Deter warned.
Once ready, Nivellia and Aref headed straight for the neighboring De Gladius estate.
It was about a 3-minute ride by carriage, 15 minutes on foot.
The De Gladius household welcomed them warmly.
In fact, the Duke himself and his two sons came out to greet them.
“Nini! Aref!”
Rubens ran out, especially excited to see them.
“Come on in! I was just thinking it’d be fun to play with you guys today!”
“Rubens,” Duke Kallaroff said gently, reminding his excitable younger son.
“Greet our guests properly.”
“Oh—”
Rubens cleared his throat.
“Lady Nivellia of House Deiamor, and Master Aref. Welcome to the De Gladius estate.”
“Of course,” Nivellia replied with a regal nod.
“Pfft—!”
Al quickly turned away to hide his laughter.
Soft giggles rose from all around. Even the mighty Kallaroff couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle at her confident tone.
Rubens didn’t seem fazed at all.
“Nini, you’re still hilarious! Aref, did you bring your pay ledger? I worked so hard lately!”
“I brought it. And we even opened real bank accounts today.”
“Nini has a bankbook now! Jealous?”
They didn’t bring their actual bankbooks, as Caleo had warned them not to carry such things around carelessly—but they were both eager to brag about it.
“Say you’re jealous!”
Nivellia was practically bursting with pride.
“Why don’t we go inside?” Al said, gently peeling her off of Rubens’s sleeve.
“Our chef is baking chocolate cookies just for you, Nini. We’ll have them as a snack later.”
At that, Nivellia nodded excitedly.
“You’ve got good instincts. I like you!”
“Haha! Thanks!”
Duke Kallaroff followed behind the children as they headed inside.
“Nini, can you make it up the stairs on your own? Want me to carry you?”
“I can do it by myself!”
“My lady, would you like to hold my hand?”
“If I hold your hand, I go even faster! Watch this!”
“Whoa, you’re only four, and you’re already this good? Are you secretly a genius?”
The children cheered Nivellia on as she climbed the stairs one step at a time.
Even this is a game to them, Kallaroff thought fondly.
Kids really can turn anything into play.
Just then, someone approached him.
“Your Grace.”
It was Deter, who had accompanied the children. He handed Kallaroff a letter, sealed with wax.
“The Marquis asked me to deliver this personally.”
“So he didn’t send the kids here just for fun. You said they opened accounts? Was it Petra Bank?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then I assume they ran into Viscount Petra. I’ll send my reply back with them when they return.”
As he tucked the letter away, Kallaroff suddenly asked,
“Are Lady Muniel and Lord Ardores at the Deiamor estate?”
“They’ve been staying on-site at the construction grounds for several days. I’m not sure when they’ll return.”
“When they arrive, please ask the Marquis to contact me as soon as possible.”
“Understood.”
While the chocolate cookies finished baking, the children gathered in Rubens’s room and played with wooden blocks.
“Wow, so you turned all the money you earned into savings? That’s amazing!” Rubens said.
“Hey, Al — we should open bank accounts too someday! We can save everything we earn!”
“That’s a great idea. Let’s ask Father about it later.”
“People who work are so cool,” Nivellia added, carefully placing a stuffed bear on top of a tower of blocks.
Just like that, the bear had conquered their little wooden castle.
“But there was a weird man.”
Nivellia glanced at Aref for agreement.
He nodded.
“A man named Viscount Petra.”
“The one with weird nose hair!”
They told the story of their encounter at the bank, and Al gave a knowing nod, smiling slightly.
“Sounds like Viscount Petra was in quite a hurry.”
