I Am the 5-Year-Old Spy Who Kidnapped the Villain - Chapter 131
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 131】
Rowan Briarwood, Marquis.
Currently 19 years old.
Though he ascended to the position of family head at a young age due to his parents’ sudden death, the family maintained a good reputation through their generations-old excellent military strength and training methods.
In high society, he carried the image of a reliable young man from the new country, and with his handsome face, he was the top choice as a prospective groom among young ladies.
Previously, he had rejected all marriage proposals citing being too busy, but now he seemed to have grown accustomed to life as a family head.
Judging by the fact that he sent me a marriage proposal.
Tap tap.
I tapped my chin with my finger as I began calculating.
The Briarwood family not only guarded the border region with Doctia, but also protected the mountain range that crossed through the southern region.
That place had once been in chaos with bandits and outsiders, but thanks to Marquis Rowan, it regained peace, so the noble houses of the southern region were always favorable toward the Briarwood family.
“If I marry Marquis Rowan and join hands with the Briarwood family?”
The families with estates in the southern region would naturally come to support us.
“In the original novel, he was also depicted as an upright young man. Not a mastermind either.”
Not bad?
More than not bad, wouldn’t he be the best marriage partner as an ally?
“Marquis Rowan is also coming to the monster training facility completion ceremony this time… I should try having a conversation with him.”
I tore open the envelope of the marriage proposal to check its contents.
On the luxurious paper was neat handwriting written directly by Count Rowan.
But.
[I miss you.]
“Aaaah!”
Kail’s sentence appeared overlapping the neat handwriting, making me suddenly scream.
I was so startled that I unconsciously dropped the paper and stepped backward.
‘…Are you going to leave me behind and go off on your own, Aisha?’
My delusions about Kail were just beginning.
A young boy with purple eyes was staring at me with a sullen gaze.
Kail never said such things though?
As I thought about it, the young boy puffed up his cheeks like rising bread and put his hands on his hips.
‘My home is Aisha. If Aisha leaves, where will I live?’
At that sight that made me want to coddle him just by looking, I unconsciously became serious.
“…That’s right. Where would our Kail live?”
When he occasionally came to the ducal palace because he missed human scent, who would take care of him if I wasn’t there?
‘Aisha, liar.’
The young Kail who had been glaring at me suddenly began to sniffle.
Oh my goodness.
“No, Kail. Even if I get married and live in another estate, if you come to play at the ducal palace, I’ll immediately go to see you… Huh?”
My heart ached along with him as I sincerely apologized, then shook my head.
“What is this? Why is Kail suddenly appearing here?”
While I was noisily making a fuss by myself like that.
“Lord Nox has arrived!”
“What, Lord Nox has arrived?”
“Yes! They say he just came out of Duke Callipus’s study!”
I could hear the servants having a noisy conversation in the corridor before hurriedly running off somewhere.
“…Nox? Nox came?”
I needed a change of thoughts anyway, so thinking this was perfect, I left my room.
‘I heard he would return, but he came quite earlier than expected?’
He said he’d come the day before the monster completion ceremony, so Mai and the maid sisters were preparing for the party to match that timing…
‘Why did he come so early?’
Anyway, Nox arriving at the ducal palace meant Kail was also here.
“…Since it’s come to this, I should see Kail directly and get rid of these strange delusions.”
Come to think of it, they said Kail had grown taller than Nox now.
Since Kail was like a friend and younger brother to me, maybe seeing him all grown up would be disgusting enough to make me lose the urge to coddle him?
“Alice. Where is Nox?”
“He went that way!”
“Thanks!”
Suppressing my excited nostrils as I searched for him everywhere, I was able to find Nox near the not-too-distant monster training facility.
Long hair tied back tightly. Monocle.
His features were the same as before, but his physique had completely changed from 10 years ago.
How much had he been through in the snowy plains for 10 years?
The old Nox had definitely been the typical researcher build who seemed to have nothing to do with exercise.
But his shoulders and chest frame had become thick and large like Father’s.
“Nox, Nox!”
“Lady? It’s been a long time.”
“What, is this a surprise? You definitely said you’d come the day before the monster training facility completion ceremony?”
When I hugged him as if jumping from joy, he didn’t refuse and briefly hugged me back before politely stepping away.
“Yes. It’s a surprise. By the way, you’re speaking casually to me now.”
“Well, I’ve lived longer as Princess Croste now.”
When I spoke somewhat boldly, he nodded with a faint smile.
“Yes. You’ve become a perfect Lady. You’ve grown much taller too.”
“…Did I grow a lot taller?”
My shoulders and corners of my mouth rose.
Actually, I wanted to hear this… but I can’t show it since I must maintain the dignity of a princess.
“By the way, how was the monster research you did for 10 years?”
“I was just about to talk about it, knowing that Lady Aisha would be interested in monster research. The story is long, so instead of standing here, let’s go to the research lab together and discuss the achievements we’ve made…”
“I like that Nox hasn’t changed.”
I wondered if his personality had changed since his physique had changed.
But Nox was just Nox.
Since I didn’t really want to hear such boring talk, I quickly cut off the conversation and stood on my tiptoes to pat his shoulder.
But whether I had pressed some button of his, his monocle that he pushed up with his index finger suddenly flashed white.
“I like this side of me too. Shall we go to the research lab then?”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“No. No. I won’t go. Tell me about that later when we go to the Masamo gathering together. Everyone will like it.”
“That’s true. Even when I left this place 10 years ago, the members were so envious of me…”
I don’t know. I thought I was quite interested in monsters.
Maybe I’m actually just a muggle who only likes Kail.
“By the way, where is Kail?”
After cutting off the words that didn’t spark my curiosity, I remembered my original purpose.
But-
“Ah. I’m not sure about Kail either.”
“Huh?”
“He left earlier than me, so I came in a hurry too, but it seems he hasn’t arrived yet.”
Nox’s answer was completely different from my expectations.
“Kail?”
It was a bit strange.
Given Kail’s personality, he would have wanted to come to the ducal palace faster than Nox, but he was arriving late instead?
I wondered if something dangerous had happened to him, but that seemed unlikely.
In the snowy plains, Kail’s position was like that of a king.
“…Nox. Did something happen with Kail before you came?”
“Ah,”
“?”
“No. There wasn’t. Ah, come to think of it, he mentioned before leaving that he would eliminate a newly discovered ogre colony, so I think he might be late because of that.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Then. Get some good rest for now, and let’s have something delicious together with Father and Brother this evening!”
“Understood.”
Something felt unsettling, but since Nox said so, I concluded the conversation for now.
But I definitely saw it.
In that split second when he answered no.
Nox’s eyes blinked rapidly a couple of times, and his lips trembled awkwardly as he spoke.
That was typical behavior of people telling lies.
‘Did something happen between those two?’
It felt unsettling, but Nox needed to rest for now.
Even if he had lied, it wouldn’t have been with bad intentions.
‘Anyway, I hope Kail comes back soon. I’m curious how much he’s grown.’
Hoo-
When I exhaled deeply, white breath rose like snow.
Now the Monster Training Facility completion ceremony really wasn’t far away.
* * *
The day of the Croste Ducal Family’s Monster Training Facility completion ceremony.
Carriages continuously gathered at the entrance of the ducal palace where only blizzards had been raging.
As nobles armed with fur coats and scarves stepped down from their carriages, the guards standing watch at the castle gate whispered among themselves.
“That young marquis, the jewel attached to his belt. It’s so big and sparkly it could be used as a mirror.”
“Did you see the young marquis from the marquis family earlier? He came wearing a feathered fur hat, I thought a peacock had transformed into a human.”
The Monster Training Facility completion ceremony looked somewhat like a fashion show for noble young masters at first glance.
Since the Princess hadn’t given a clear answer about the marriage proposals, aristocratic ladies who couldn’t miss this opportunity had appeared with their sons dressed up splendidly.
“Here’s the invitation.”
“Yes, please go through.”
Young masters sparkling more than young ladies passed through the castle gate with tense faces.
When the gatekeeper chuckled at the sight, his colleague standing beside him whispered.
“Don’t laugh and memorize each guest’s face. His Highness said to report immediately if you see anyone suspicious.”
“…Of course.”
At his colleague’s words, the playful gatekeeper’s expression instantly turned cold.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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