Following the Duke, whom I had successfully managed to score plenty of favor points with, my temporary maid tagged along behind me.
“I shall assist you with directions. Is there anywhere you would like to visit in particular?”
“The former Duke of Papiope… No, where is Grandfather?”
“If you mean Declan-nim, he should be at the Duke’s villa. To my knowledge, he has no other schedule today.”
“Then, please guide me to the villa where Grandfather is.”
I had trouble calling the Duke ‘Father,’ but strangely, the title ‘Grandfather’ felt fine.
It was only the word ‘Mother’ that felt particularly alien and awkward.
Then, the temporary maid asked me cautiously, looking somewhat worried.
“Judging by what the servants at the villa have said, it seems Declan-nim is not in a good mood today. Will you be alright?”
“It’s fine. Besides, as his granddaughter, it’s better if I go and pay my respects.”
“That is a good idea. Declan-nim really likes children who are well-mannered, so if you tell him the reason for your visit just as it is, he might soften his heart a little.”
“Really?”
She answered my questions readily and even added her own personal insight—she was sensible.
…This maid isn’t bad at all.
Only then did I properly look at the face of the maid, who had been nothing more than a passing shadow until now.
She was a woman with warm wheat-colored hair and green eyes, giving off a sharp and capable impression.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard your introduction yet. Could you tell me your name?”
“I am Lena. It is an honor to serve you, Young Lady, even if it is for a short time!”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Tania.”
“Young Lady, I am grateful that you told me your name directly, but you must make it a habit to state your surname as well from now on.”
Lena smiled kindly and pointed out exactly what I needed to correct.
“Right. That was a good point, Lena. I am Tania Papiope.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Lady Papiope.”
With an elegant movement, she caught the edge of her dress and bowed politely.
I felt like I finally understood why the Duke had assigned Lena to me as a temporary maid.
…Wait, I might not even need to find a new maid at this rate.
I just needed to treat Lena well enough so that she wouldn’t want to leave my service.
I was in the middle of contemplating how to win Lena over when—
“Is this your house now? What are you doing standing there, blocking the hallway and getting in the way of traffic?”
I turned toward the voice filled with complaint, and the sight of my older brother, Lucian, looking at me with annoyance came into view.
“What are you looking at? Aren’t you going to move right now?”
I sighed quietly at his fully exposed personality.
Wow, the Duke really failed at raising this one, didn’t he…?
I suppose farming children isn’t going very well nationwide these days.
Instead of pressing my body against the wall to let him pass, I raised my hand in greeting.
“Hi.”
At that, Lucian’s face crumpled completely, and his red eyes flashed fiercely.
“You, do you think I’m a joke? How dare you use informal language with an older brother who is four whole years older than you?”
Sigh…
If we’re talking about age, you shouldn’t be using informal language with me either.
I suppressed the thoughts rising in my head and replied nonchalantly.
“But informal language is more intimate and better than formal, isn’t it?”
“Why do you only do that when it’s just the two of us? Using formal language with me yesterday was just you pretending to be well-behaved in front of Mother, wasn’t it!”
“It wasn’t pretending; you looked so much like a noble young lord that formal language just slipped out.”
“Wh-what?”
“I’ve lived as a commoner, so it was a reflexive action, I suppose?”
But thinking about it later, I’m a noble now too…
I figured that using formal language between siblings was too stiff, so I had been waiting to naturally switch to informal language the next time I saw him.
I just didn’t expect to be caught trying to do so naturally this soon.
“Don’t try to get out of this with such pathetic flattery!”
Lucian stomped his feet as he approached me.
Lena, who had been standing quietly behind me, tried to stop him, but at my gesture, she silently returned to her place.
Lucian stood right in front of me, then seemed taken aback by my smaller-than-expected stature; he looked down at the top of my head and muttered.
“…You’re small.”
Then, perhaps offended by the fact that I was a rival, he let out a deep sigh and spat out as if I were ridiculous.
“Someone like you is fighting me for the successor position? A skinny twig that looks like it would break if I poked it. Hmph! How absurd.”
His attitude was so cold it was hard to believe he was talking to his own sister.
“Is it true that you broke all the records at the entrance exam for the Talent Academy?”
In Lucian’s expression, the doubt and hostility of ‘You, of all people?’ were clearly visible.
“I wonder if the quality of the people at the Talent Academy has dropped these days…”
I broke the all-time records, which means I did better than you.
I heard Lucian had been adopted into the Papiope Ducal household three years ago.
I understood him being on guard since we had to compete for the successor position.
However, on the other hand, we were supposed to be a new family, so his intense hostility felt a bit hurtful.
Still, I’m the adult here, so I should be the one to understand.
I placed my hands on my hips and said clearly and firmly.
“Let me be clear. I have absolutely no intention of becoming the Duchess, with all the heavy responsibilities and mountains of work to deal with.”
“Wh-what?”
“So you’d better not waste your time being on guard against me, thinking it’s some successor competition or whatever.”
“Don’t lie! Then why did you fight like your life depended on it to win the adoption competition?”
…I never fought like my life depended on it.
I was just playing around, and the people I had done favors for ended up handing me the trophy on their own.
“Well, everyone dreams of becoming a noble, don’t they?”
I gave a reasonable excuse and then stood on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear as if it were a secret.
“Besides… I’ve lived as an orphan, so I just love having a handsome older brother.”
Isn’t there a joy in taming a prickly cat?
The thrill of when he finally opens his heart to me—how exhilarating would that be?
As I lowered my heels and stepped back from him, I could see his face already flushed red.
It looked like it might burst if I poked it.
It seems he quite liked being called a handsome older brother.
“So, Brother, let’s stop fighting and get along from now on.”
I laughed foolishly and held out my hand.
But perhaps I had underestimated a boy of this age.
He, who had been huffing alone, shouted at me.
“Why would I ever get along with someone like you?!”
*Slap!*
“Young Lady!”
A startled Lena hurried to pull him away from me.
The back of my hand, viciously struck by his hand, throbbed with pain.
He had hit it so hard I nearly stumbled and fell.
Lena caught me quickly so I didn’t fall, but the back of my hand, having taken the hit directly, was already swelling up red.
Goodness. He’s quite the cruel one.
It seemed I still had a long way to go before I could get close to him.
I pressed my pained hand with my other hand and looked at Lucian.
But he, perhaps not having intended to hit me that hard, had eyes that were trembling fiercely.
If I were truly a seven-year-old child, I would have burst into tears with 100 percent certainty.
Consider yourself lucky, kid.
I was about to say—with a magnanimous adult heart—that it was alright and he shouldn’t worry, when—
“You insolent fool, Lucian Papiope!”
Behind me, someone’s thunderous shout rang through the hallway.
I instinctively realized that something big had happened.
Calling someone by their full name meant they were truly, deeply furious.
When I glanced behind me, an old man with grizzled hair came into view.
The old man with an imposing presence was furrowing his deeply lined forehead, his face twisted in anger.
Sparks seemed to fly from his sharp eyes.
It was the former Duke, Declan Papiope, who I had heard was at the villa.