When Luciel arrived at the office, Louivid was reviewing the documents alone. He had even left the door open in advance. Like someone who knew that she was coming.
“The door is open.”
“I thought you would come.”
“……Oh, how did you know?”
As Luciel raised a bunch of question marks above her head, Louivid raised his lips and laughed silently.
“Because your slippers sounds unique.”
He nodded and pointed to Luciel’s rabbit slippers. She couldn’t help but tilt her head. The old slippers were said to be quite noisy, so they changed it to a soundless one.
‘I guess my father-in-law’s hearing is exceptional.’
In fact, he had already seen Luciel’s back in the hallway, waddling around with presents in Leoni’s room. So naturally, he opened the door and waited for his turn. Luciel, who had naively believed his words, rolled her bright crimson eyes, and Louivid stretched out her plump cheeks.
“Fwader-in-lew? (father-in-law)?”
“Our new daughter-in-law is so cute I can’t just leave you alone.”
“Oh, yt hwrts (it hurts).”
Louivid quickly released his hand when she said it hurt. He didn’t know it would hurt because he pulled it very slightly, but for a child as fragile as a rabbit, it seemed to have been quite strong.
“I’m sorry. I won’t pull your cheek from now on.”
Luciel looked at him with resentful eyes while smoothing both cheeks with her small hands.
“Wow, you must keep your promise.”
“I will. So give it to me too. Present.”
The Duke held out his hand to Luciel. I didn’t expect a grown-up to wait for a gift like that, but how did he know about the presents?
“Oh, I can’t keep a secret.”
“At least in this castle there is nothing I don’t know.”
“Wait a minute.”
Louivid held out his large palm. Luciel rummaged through her bag for a while before handing him a card and a white box. He opened the card first before the gift. After reading the card, the Duke’s lips drew a nice arc.
[The coolest and most handsome father-in-law in the world, I am always grateful and love you. When you told me to be your daughter, I really wanted to be a daughter of this house. But now, I am satisfied with it as it is now. Luciel is happy.]
After reading the card, the Duke quietly opened his arms to Luciel. She snuggled into his big, warm arms.
“Luciel, it doesn’t matter whether you are a daughter or a daughter-in-law. You are a child of Bellstein.”
Bellstein’s child.
Louivid’s words made Luciel’s heart flutter. Her emotions rose and choked her up until the top of her nose. He said that they would accept her for who she was even if she didn’t marry Kizef.
For a moment, Luciel bit her lip and struggled not to make jewels.
“Father-in-law…….”
The Duke patted Luciel’s small back and shifted his gaze to the white box.
“What did you buy?”
“……Oh, it’s nothing much.”
Even before Luciel could hand it out to him, the outstretched arm of the Duke picked up the white box. When he untied the cute ribbon at the top of the box, an unexpected object was waiting for him.
It was a white rose boutonnière*that was smaller than his fingernail.
“I think my father-in-law likes flowers, and I wanted to show my admiration.”
His gaze turned the boutonnière, and he looked at it for a long time.
“It’s the best Family Day gift I’ve ever received, Luciel.”
“Hehe.”
Luciel barely overcame her crisis and came out from the office sweating cold.
‘I almost got caught making jewels.’
No matter how you look at it, it was a cute accessory far from the Duke’s taste, but from that day on, a white rose was always seen on the Duke’s jacket.
For Ellington, who she met while leaving the Duke’s office, I gave a book of poetry that made one’s heart moist, and while giving out the card, I didn’t forget to say that women liked poems.
He looked surprised at how Luciel knew that he wanted to date.
“Father-in-law doesn’t even give him time to date.”
I gave a hand mirror to Eva, who doesn’t smile a lot but has a pretty smile.
“Eva should know how pretty her smile is. She has hair redder than the setting sun.”
After going on a gift tour for a while, it was time for dinner to come. Now, it was finally time to give the presents to Grandpa Gillard and Grandma Evelyn. She had received a lot from both.
“Grandpa, Grandma. It’s a Family Day’s gift.”
When Luciel handed out a gift and a card, Evelyn smiled broadly and hugged Luciel.
“You are our gift. But I’m thankful for your kind heart!”
“No honey, you said everything I wanted to say. Luciel, thank you so much. This grandfather didn’t prepare anything special for Family Day.”
Gillard smiled haphazardly as he looked at the gift he received, but Luciel shook her head.
“No. You always give me a lot. If it weren’t for my grandfather, I wouldn’t have learned magic.”
“Come to think of it, Luciel’s magic skills have improved a lot these days. How about taking a test in the next class?”
“A test?”
Luciel was surprised and had big rabbit-eyes. Gillard’s red eyes stared as he nodded his head.
“Now that you have a wand, it’s good to see how you use your skills.”
“Uh, what kind of test is it?”
“I think it would be fun to call in a 3rd circle wizard and have a practice match…what do you think?”
If it was a 3rd circle mage, it was two circles higher than Luciel. She heard that even 1 circle already made for a huge difference in skills. Besides, unlike Luciel who is a non-attribute, they must be a wizard who manifested some attribute.
For Luciel, it would be an opportunity to test herself.
“…Yes, I’ll try.”
“I’ll have to attend that day.”
Gillard replied playfully at Evelyn’s words.
“If Evelyn comes, I can’t conduct the class, my eyes will keep looking for you.”
“Oh my, stop it. What are you saying in front of the child?”
Evelyn poked Gillard in the side as if embarrassed.
“……No. It’s good to see you two like this.”
“Oh, come to think of it, let’s unwrap the present Luciel gave us.”
The long pink box contained an identical couple’s thread bracelet. It was a bracelet with a heart between the initials of the two people.
“Huh? What is this?”
“Rose says it’s fashionable these days for a couple to use identical things. I asked for the same bracelet for the two of you to share.”
“Well, it’s so cute for us old people to join in.”
Scratching his head in embarrassment, Gillard first put the bracelet on Evelyn’s wrist, wore his and put them side by side. The same smile appeared on both of their faces.
“It’s cute.”
“You two look good together.”
“Thank you.”
The two hugged Luciel tightly and kissed her on the forehead. Luciel held an empty bag and smiled, feeling like her heart was filled with emotions.
* * *
The next day was the day the Duke decided to leave for an inspection to the border area.
The Duke, who was reading all the notes that Luciel had sent him so far, chuckled involuntarily and burst into laughter.
The last one was given by Luciel yesterday. As he read the contents all the way, a smile appeared on his lips.
“Her writing skills are great.”
Apparently, the best writer in the empire was born. Louivid, who was repeatedly awed, seriously agonized. Everyone will be surprised if he frame’s these letters and announces them in Luciel’s name.
Louivid summoned his deputy who was busy preparing for reconnaissance.
“Ellington.”
“Yes?”
“The annoying meeting is to be held in two months.”
“Yes, sir. Ah, do you mean the summer night salon hosted by the Empress?”
“Yes. I have to go there to present Luciel’s work.”
“The Little Madam’s work? Where is…….”
“Don’t you think that Luciel has a talent for literature? Could she be a genius?”
Ellington, who had read the letters and notes written by Luciel, was speechless. It was well written, but the sentences were at a cute level.
‘She’s not a genius……’
However, Ellington kept his lips closed, fearing that it would be a disaster if he spoke his true feelings out.
“Can’t you hear me?”
“What? Oh yes. The Little Madam has very good handwriting. Haha.”
“Right?”
The Duke smiled happily and got up from his seat.
“Let’s get going. Are you ready?”
“Of course. The horse is waiting.”
“Good. Let’s go right away.”
As the Duke was about to leave the office, Luciel appeared holding Leoni’s hand.
“Father-in-Law, I heard from Eva that you are scouting to the northern edge. Take care and have a good trip! Leoni, say goodbye too.”
Luciel said to Leoni, who was still sleepy.
“Have a safe trip.”
“Okay. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. Listen to your grandfather and grandmother.”
“Yes.”
The children who came to say goodbye to him made him feel so proud Louivid turned around before going away.
“What do you want Dad to buy on his way home?”
“…….”
The two children stared blankly at him from afar. Did he say it too friendly? The embarrassed Duke was just about to turn around, but Leoni answered, clenching the hem of his clothes.
“It’s a snowman.”
“I will buy it for you.”
The Duke hesitated for a moment because it was difficult to buy something like that, but then he ruffled his son’s hair and laughed. Then he looked at Luciel and asked.
“What about Luciel?”
“Well……a paper to make origami.”
“Origami?”
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Luciel nodded shyly, saying yes.
“It’s a new hobby. Okay.”
The Duke left in a thick winter coat.
Grandpa Gillard, Grandma Evelyn, and the workers felt nothing changed, but when the Duke was absent, the spacious castle was strangely empty and there was no sense of stability. Luciel was somewhat lonely and seemed to be waiting for him to return as soon as possible.
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