chapter 10
At a glance, the mansion was filled with things that looked extremely expensive—paintings that seemed priceless, and sculptures like golden pears held in people’s hands, scattered everywhere.
Through the window, the vast ducal garden stretched out in full view. Servants were busily moving about, preparing as if a wedding would be held there.
“So in the Imperial Household this time…”
A murmuring conversation could be heard. When she turned her head, Hestia saw Icarus and Derek talking.
So that’s why we came early.
Well, they probably had a reason for staying at the ducal estate from the beginning. Hestia, who had been quietly watching them, slowly curled up the corners of her lips.
I should pretend I don’t know anything and eavesdrop.
She quietly slipped closer to Derek’s side.
“The viscount really pulled off something remarkable. If not for you, this would have turned into a huge disaster. His Majesty said he would reward your contribution once everything is settled.”
“I only did what anyone should do. Besides, wasn’t it thanks to the duke quickly developing the antidote that everything was resolved?”
“Well, that too happened because you informed us about the pineapple fruit. You’re far too modest.”
Icarus lightly scolded Derek, but there was a broad smile on his face.
A month ago, after discovering that the pineapple fruit had detoxifying properties against a certain cosmetic, Derek immediately sent a letter to the ducal house.
As a result, the Winston Ducal House successfully developed an antidote using the pineapple fruit.
At that time, the cosmetic was still being used in regions outside the south, and since no restrictions had been placed yet, the number of people suffering side effects had skyrocketed.
The side effects did not discriminate by status.
Nobles and commoners alike were desperately searching for a cure, and at just the right timing, the Winston Ducal House released the antidote.
“Thanks to that, not only was the situation resolved quickly, but we also made a massive profit. Thank you.”
“We also benefited, so it was mutually advantageous.”
Alongside the antidote, news spread that pineapple fruit soap was also effective against early symptoms, and people began seeking it out one by one.
For now, people were only focused on the soap, but soon they would likely become interested in other products as well.
“How is it that a viscount always manages to obtain such timely information? Do you have some special method?”
“Haha, it’s all just coincidence.”
“Coincidence, or rather fate, wouldn’t you say? Be honest with me.”
“Hmm…”
As Derek looked troubled, his eyes shifted—and he noticed Hestia standing nearby, quietly holding a fruit like a pear and staring blankly at him.
A smile spread across his face as he placed a hand on her head.
“It must all be thanks to my daughter.”
“Hm?”
Before the confused Hestia could even respond, Derek began enthusiastically bragging about her like a doting father.
“…Hah. Even if it’s coincidence, isn’t this a bit too much?”
“It’s all true. Everything really happened. So how could I not be proud of my daughter?”
Icarus chuckled a few times before looking at Hestia with intrigued eyes.
I should’ve just gone with Mom instead.
She regretted tagging along just to eavesdrop on business talk.
Fortunately, Derek didn’t seem suspicious like Jerome, but Icarus was harder to read.
It would have been better if he had just laughed it off like Derek.
“You said she’s eight?”
Finally, Icarus spoke. Hestia nodded nervously.
“A real blessing indeed for the viscount. And unusually mature for her age as well.”
“T-Thank you…”
“Yes, exactly that.”
Huh… was that too advanced vocabulary for children?
Because she had been spending too much time around Jerome, she might have unconsciously stopped acting like a child.
“Hahaha! My daughter is indeed quite mature!”
Derek laughed proudly, and only then did Icarus relax into a faint smile.
“I simply found the child adorable. There’s no need to be so tense.”
A long finger gently poked her cheek, and Hestia’s nervousness gradually eased.
…What? So it was nothing?
It had felt similar to when Jerome saw through her intentions.
“Do you like cookies?”
As if the earlier meaningful gaze had been an illusion, Icarus smiled warmly and offered her a cookie.
After hesitating briefly, Hestia accepted it.
“Thank you.”
As she clung to Derek and munched on the cookie like a rabbit, Icarus’s shoulders trembled slightly.
“Hahaha! She really is adorable. I wish I had a daughter like that someday.”
Hestia was momentarily dazed by his hearty laughter.
When she touched her cheek to check if something was on her face, his laughter only deepened.
Maybe he just really likes children.
For a duke, he seemed surprisingly informal, and her unnecessary caution melted away.
“Ahem. A child like Tia is one of a kind in this world.”
“Dad, don’t brag about me so casually.”
Hestia pinched Derek’s side.
Derek wriggled but kept grinning foolishly.
Ever since she started calling him “Dad,” he had gradually turned into a full-blown daughter-obsessed father.
It felt a little awkward since they had been distant in her previous life, but deep down, she was happy.
“It’s already dinner time, so why don’t we eat together?”
“I apologize. Tomorrow is the wedding, and I’ve kept you here so long…”
“It’s fine. I’m always busy anyway. The wedding preparations are already complete. I’ll introduce my fiancée over dinner.”
“It would be my honor.”
Hestia held Derek’s hand and followed Icarus to the dining hall.
—
“Unni! Where were you?! I’ve been looking for you!”
As soon as the dining hall door opened, Elvin spotted Hestia and charged at her.
“Ugh! What if you fall?”
“Hehe, I knew unni would catch me.”
“Seriously… what did you get all over your mouth?”
“Uwoop.”
Hestia sighed and wiped Elvin’s messy mouth with a napkin around his neck.
But the atmosphere around them was strangely quiet. When she looked up belatedly, she froze.
“Why does he look like a responsible eldest child at times like this?”
Icarus seemed to be desperately holding back laughter.
Not only him, but Anna in the distance and a beautiful woman she had never seen before were smiling warmly.
“As you said, he really is an adorable child.”
A graceful voice rang out as the beautiful woman stood and approached, lifting the hem of her dress slightly.
“Nice to meet you. I am Flora Loison.”
“I am Derek Frost. Lady Loison, congratulations on your marriage.”
So this is the future duchess…
Even standing next to Icarus, who was already extremely handsome, she did not lose in appearance at all.
Moreover, her gentle aura made it easy to relax around her.
“What is the little lady’s name?”
“Oh! I’m Hestia Frost, Lady Loison…”
It was rude of her to introduce herself after being asked, but before she could worry, a soft laugh rang out.
“How adorable. You look about the same age as Luciard, don’t you?”
“Eight years old. Two years younger than Luciard.”
Luciard was Icarus’s younger brother.
But no boy her age was visible in the dining room.
“Is Luciard not here?”
“…We went to look for him, but he wouldn’t even open the door.”
At Flora’s weak smile, Icarus frowned slightly.
The atmosphere immediately grew heavy, and the others looked cautious. Icarus quickly smiled to smooth things over.
“My brother doesn’t seem to be feeling well, so let’s just eat among ourselves for now.”
“Very well, Duke.”
As everyone pretended nothing was wrong and moved toward the dining table, Hestia narrowed her eyes briefly.
“Unni, let’s go too.”
“Alright.”
For now, she just needed to eat something and think afterward.
Hestia sat down at the massive dining table with Elvin, following the adults.
—
“Good heavens, so that’s how you found out?”
“She doesn’t seem like a troublemaker… but she must have caused her parents quite a headache.”
“Is she alright now?”
“…Yes, she is fine.”
Hestia’s face turned red as her hand holding the fork trembled.
The situation was that during dinner, the topic had shifted to how Derek discovered that flour contained poison.
Naturally, Derek had explained it as Hestia accidentally discovering it while being a mischievous child.
That’s not how it was at all…!
It had all been for the sake of the Frost family, yet Derek casually retelling it made her annoyed.
Flora looked at her with concern, while Icarus stared at her with a teasing expression that irritated her even more.
As expected, Icarus soon began lecturing them to listen more to their parents.
“Still, my daughter isn’t really a troublemaker. If anything, Elvin is the real troublemaker.”
“Dad, it’s a bit late for that now.”
“Elvin is good! Not a trou… trou-mish cat!”
Elvin, mid-dessert, protested after realizing he was being talked about.
But the word “troublemaker” seemed too difficult for him.
“Hahaha! What a fun family. I’m jealous of how warm you are.”
Icarus’s laughter echoed through the dining hall.
He had seemed like a dignified duke at first—but now he just felt like a friendly older neighbor.
“…It would be nice if Luciard were like you.”
Though he was smiling, his eyes were filled with loneliness, regret, affection, and guilt.
“Time will solve it, Duke. Please don’t worry too much.”
Derek spoke cautiously when everyone else was silent.
“…Will it?”
“Your Grace, as you know, I am not Hestia’s biological father.”
Hestia looked up at Derek as his warm hand rested on her head.
“I used to wonder if she disliked me… but fortunately, she said she was just embarrassed before. Now she listens to me even more than Anna does.”
Hestia hadn’t realized he had thought that way.
She felt a little guilty remembering how she couldn’t properly show him affection in her previous life.
Icarus said nothing for a moment. He took a sip of wine.
“His parents passed away about half a year ago.”
Last winter, the previous duke couple died in an accident. Because of that, Icarus inherited the title at just 22.
“In the middle of suddenly becoming duke… do you know why I rushed my marriage?”
He held Flora’s hand tightly.
“It’s partly because I want a stable family with someone I love—but also because I hope someone can take care of Luciard while I’m busy.”
“…Ah.”
Derek let out a sympathetic sigh. Icarus gave a bitter smile.
“Do you think I’m strange?”
“No, not at all.”
Derek denied it, but Icarus didn’t really listen.
“When my parents died, Luciard was finally freed from hell.”
Luciard Winston.
He was the illegitimate son of the previous duke and a maid.
Icarus’s half-brother.
The maid died during childbirth, and with his striking red hair inherited from her, Luciard was reluctantly taken into the ducal household.
Unfortunately, he was despised by the late duchess.
The duke, unable to oppose her, ignored Luciard completely.
As a result, the duchess’s abuse toward Luciard only worsened, continuing until the accident that killed the ducal couple.