Chapter – 02
The Magic of the Hated Duke
It had been a hectic morning from the very start.
After Mother let me drink my fill of milk and changed my diaper, she dressed me in clothes unlike my usual ones.
Normally, I wore luxurious baby dresses made from soft, glossy fabrics. But today, she added another extravagant pink dress over it.
On top of that, she placed a rose-adorned headpiece on my head.
Even though I couldn’t walk, she even put adorable little shoes on my feet.
So…
It didn’t take long for me to realize we were going somewhere.
“Well then, we’ve arrived. Lirietta, this is the Royal Palace.”
The Royal Palace?
That wasn’t where I’d expected we’d be going.
“…Awu?”
The tiny sound I made immediately melted both my parents’ expressions.
“She’s so adorable.”
“She truly is.”
Their words warmed my heart.
It was always like this.
No matter what I did, they would praise me for being cute, and every single time, a pleasant warmth spread through my chest.
(Well… I’m a baby. Of course people think everything I do is cute.)
I’d once read that babies’ faces are naturally designed to trigger human instincts of affection.
Their cuteness exists so they can win their mothers’ love.
(I feel a little guilty that there’s actually a woman in her late twenties inside…)
The guilt lingered in my heart, but of course my parents couldn’t know that.
Father lifted me into his arms, and with happy smiles on their faces, we stepped out of the carriage.
But the moment we entered the palace…
The atmosphere around my parents froze.
Their expressions became icy.
Father, in particular, radiated an aura so sharp it almost felt murderous.
People throughout the palace watched us from afar.
“That’s Duke Rosenford…”
“Eek… H-he’s terrifying…”
“Don’t make eye contact! He’ll freeze you!”
“Why has he come to the palace?”
“To present his newborn daughter, perhaps?”
“They didn’t have to come when so many people are here…”
“Shh! What if he hears you?!”
They thought they were whispering quietly.
They weren’t.
Whispers actually carried surprisingly well.
Father and Mother surely heard every word.
Yet neither of them even glanced in the crowd’s direction.
Without changing expression, they simply continued deeper into the palace.
(They’re such kind people… Why is everyone so afraid of them?)
After walking for some time, we arrived in an enormous audience chamber.
Its ceiling stretched impossibly high overhead.
A deep crimson carpet covered the floor, with a long golden carpet running down the center.
Without hesitation, my parents walked along it.
At the far end stood two magnificent thrones.
Upon the left sat a man wearing a splendid crown.
Upon the right sat a woman holding an ornate royal staff.
The King.
And the Queen.
The instant they saw my parents, both frowned.
“What have you come here for?”
The King’s voice was openly hostile.
I couldn’t help trembling.
Father gently stroked my back.
“As custom dictates, Your Majesty, I have come to present my daughter before the King.”
Father answered with the same stern expression as always.
The King’s frown deepened.
“I told you there was no need.”
“Tradition is tradition.”
After saying that, Father briefly turned me toward the King.
Only for an instant.
“Our duty is fulfilled.”
Mother’s voice was colder than ice.
“We shall take our leave, as befits those whom everyone despises.”
The King was Mother’s own elder brother.
Yet she addressed him with complete emotional detachment.
(Their family conflict runs much deeper than I thought…)
Without waiting for any response, my parents turned around and began walking away.
Through Father’s arm, I caught one last glimpse of the King’s face.
For just a moment…
He looked strangely lonely.
Perhaps it was only my imagination.
The incident occurred on our way out.
“Duke Rosenford!”
A young man stepped directly into our path.
“I challenge you to a duel!”
He had copper-colored hair and blazing crimson eyes.
Those burning eyes glared straight at Father.
The palace corridor instantly erupted into commotion.
(No way! Just because Father is disliked, someone would openly challenge him here?)
Father was a Duke.
I didn’t fully understand this world’s noble hierarchy, but a duke was practically royalty in his own right.
Someone of that rank being openly challenged in broad daylight…
It was unbelievable.
Yet Father showed neither surprise nor panic.
“Lirietta.”
He spoke softly.
“Wait here for a little while.”
He gently handed me over to Mother.
By then, palace knights had rushed onto the scene.
“Your Grace! We shall arrest this insolent man immediately!”
The knights hurried to place themselves between Father and the challenger.
“Stay out of this.”
Father’s booming command froze every one of them in place.
The spectators also fell silent.
Even I stiffened.
Mother, however, calmly stepped forward.
She gracefully raised one hand.
Then declaredā
“Begin.”
The instant she gave the signal…
Something invisible erupted from both Father and the young man.
It couldn’t be seen.
Yet it shook the air with overwhelming pressure.
“That is your father’s mana, Lirietta.”
Mana.
So that invisible force was what powered magic.
The mana pouring from Father’s body surged upward until it nearly reached the ceiling.
Then, in an instant…
It compressed into the palm of his hand.
Crack!
Crackle!
A spear of pure lightning appeared in his grasp.
The young man immediately reshaped his own mana.
From the movement, I realized he was trying to create a shield.
Butā
Father was faster.
The lightning had only just been born.
Thenā
Faster than a blink…
It pierced straight through the young man’s shoulder.
“Ghh…!”
It was over in an instant.
Bleeding heavily, the challenger collapsed onto the floor.
Father calmly turned around.
He returned to Mother and me as though nothing had happened.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Let’s go home.”
“Yes.”
Without another glance at the defeated young man…
We simply walked away.
(So that’s… magic…)
My heart pounded wildly.
My cheeks burned with excitement.
(It’s real…! Not animation… not special effects… Actual magic!)
It was beautiful.
Divine.
Terrifying.
And utterly exhilarating.
Never in my life had I experienced something so breathtaking.
Yet the spectators reacted very differently.
Including the defeated young man…
Every single person wore a deathly pale face, trembling with fear.
(I see… So that’s why Father is hated.)
Power that surpassed understanding inspired fear.
And fear often became hatred.
Apparently…
My father was simply too powerful.
“Lirietta seems to have taken quite a liking to your father’s Raitei.”
Mother smiled warmly.
Father’s stern face softened.
“I see.”
“One day…”
“You’ll be able to use it as well.”
(Really?!)
I’ll be able to use that beautiful magic too?!
“Auuuu!”
The excited cry escaped before I could stop it.
My parents smiled even more brightly.
“She’s adorable.”
“She truly is.”
Once again…
Their praise filled my heart with warmth.
Sleepiness slowly washed over me.
(I hope I can use magic soon…)
Thinking that…
I drifted peacefully to sleep in my parents’ loving embrace.
When we returned to the mansion that evening, someone unfamiliar was waiting for us.
“My name is Millicent Vanhorn.”
She was a woman in her thirties, wearing plain clothing and glasses.
The most striking thing about her…
Was the artificial smile permanently plastered across her face.
“Good.”
Father spoke solemnly.
“I’m counting on you.”
For just an instant, Millicent’s smile stiffened.
Nevertheless, she bowed flawlessly.
Then…
Her eyes briefly met mine.
Her lips curled once more.
A grin.
For some reason…
A chill ran down my spine.
“Lirietta.”
Father looked at me with the most solemn expression I’d ever seen.
“This woman will be your nanny.”
I looked up at him.
His face was far more serious than during the duel.
“You… are also a noble lady now.”
“So… it’s t-time…”
“…to… t-to…”
“…l-learn…”
“…to become… i-independent… from your parents…”
By the end of the sentence…
Father’s face had scrunched up like a bulldog.
Huge tears streamed from his eyes.
