I Am the 5-Year-Old Spy Who Kidnapped the Villain - Chapter 27

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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 27】

Callipus carried Aisha out of the infirmary. Then he asked with a cold expression.

“Is what Nox and Mai said true?”

At his question, her large blue eyes blinked for a moment. Aisha seemed to ponder as if searching for words to say, then nodded her head.

“Yes.”

“But why didn’t you tell me?”

“You weren’t at the castle.”

The child answered clearly.

“No. You wouldn’t have told me even if I hadn’t gone to subjugate the monsters.”

“…Huh.”

But at the second pressing question, she seemed to lose her words as her mouth turned into a triangle shape.

Roll. Roll.

Again, those large eyes rolled around and there was a sound of her head rolling along with them.

Eventually, what came out of the child’s mouth was.

“You’re smart, mister.”

Thumbs up.

“…”

‘Is she pretending to be innocent, or is she just genuinely innocent?’

Either way, it was enough to crumble Callipus’s heart.

Actually, when Nox had knelt down and apologized, he had many things he wanted to say but held back.

Nox had actually been wary of Aisha whether he was there or not. Also, since Aisha was a spy, it was understandable that he would be so cautious.

But the moment Mai confessed the story he didn’t know.

“…”

He felt something somewhere in his body crumbling down.

‘He took pity on you and adopted you, but he probably doesn’t trust you. Since you were the one who lied first, miss.’

I took pity on you and adopted you? Me?

But since I couldn’t find the princess, I didn’t trust you?

…Me?

“Did you believe what Aunt Mai said?”

A rough voice he couldn’t hold back burst out.

Then again, as if pondering what answer to give, the child’s small lips pressed tightly shut.

So that means she had been believing that all along.

“Ha, really.”

Where should I start and how should I explain this?

Callipus let out a low bitter laugh, feeling overwhelmed.

Come to think of it, on the day he left for monster subjugation.

He remembered how the usually lively little one had smiled awkwardly and forced herself into his embrace.

‘Could it have been from that time?’

“Little one. No, Aisha.”

Callipus carefully set the child down on the floor.

When the tiny child who didn’t even reach his waist opened her eyes wide, he continued speaking, hoping his voice would clearly reach the child’s ears.

“Aisha. I trust you.”

“Yes?”

No. If I say it like this, my sincerity won’t come through properly.

Callipus, who had been racking his brain to find the right words, furrowed his brow.

“Aisha. If you hadn’t been there, I would have,”

“Yes?”

“…I would have.”

How do I say this? That I was supposed to die?

That on the day I met you, I was planning to end my own life?

Is that something to say to a child?

All kinds of thoughts poured down like rain.

Facing a 5-year-old child, Callipus felt an enormous sense of helplessness as if standing on the edge of a cliff.

How should I say it so you can understand?

How should I say it so you won’t get hurt?

That’s when it happened.

“Mister.”

At the playful call, Callipus opened his eyes.

A tiny thumb like a toy gently poked his cheek.

“I can hear the sound of your brain working all the way here too, mister.”

“…?”

Only then did Callipus begin to see through his blurry vision the child lifting the corners of her small mouth and giggling.

“Now do you understand how I feel?”

“…What?”

And.

“When I rack my brain, it’s because I’m worried. You’re also worrying about me and that’s why you’re troubled, right mister?”

This little one was always ahead of him.

In terms of honesty, and perhaps even in terms of maturity.

“…Yeah.”

Callipus, who had hesitated for a moment, quietly agreed.

Aisha almost mistook herself for having grown 10cm taller for a moment.

Such an unfamiliar feeling bloomed in her heart.

“Yeah, it’s because I’m worried. And I care about you a lot.”

Hehe. The child laughed at his honest answer.

Her smile like small flower petals made his heart tickle.

Callipus emphasized even more to respond to that smile.

“I care about you a lot.”

“Hehe.”

“So come here for a hug, little one.”

“Waa!”

When he stretched out both arms, the child jumped up with her usual frog tactics and snuggled into his embrace.

Callipus finally burst into laughter too.

“Mister. Then can I go to Sir Nox and Aunt Mai now?”

“What are you going to do? Give them some punishment.”

“There’s no punishment.”

Squirm squirm. The mischievous face that popped out of Callipus’s embrace made a determined expression.

“Actually, I felt really, really good.”

* * *

“Actually, I felt really, really good.”

At my words, mister made a surprised face, but I was sincere.

It wasn’t a joke, and it wasn’t empty words either.

When Nox and Mai sincerely apologized, I actually felt so good it was overwhelming.

“…What are you talking about?”

Mister quickly returned to his usual sulky appearance.

When he sighed and opened the door, Nox and Mai, who were still kneeling, turned their heads to look.

“…I will gladly accept any punishment.”

Nox had even taken off his monocle, as if he was ready to take a beating if necessary.

What’s with these people always talking about accepting punishment?

“Hehe.”

I stood in front of Nox and Mai with a bright smile.

The two of them were clearly kneeling respectfully, and since their eye level was similar to mine standing up, I was newly reminded of how small I really was.

“Lord Nox. Lady Mai.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“…So does this mean I’m acknowledged now?”

At my question, both their expressions became puzzled.

To be honest, I had been quite hurt by Nox and Mai.

So I had resolved to somehow gain their acknowledgment, and I thought that when a day like this came, I’d get back at them both and feel satisfied.

Rather than satisfied though…

I was happy.

“I’m asking if you acknowledge me!”

Being acknowledged as a member of the Croste Ducal Family. It really felt like I had taken the first step toward escaping from being a spy.

That fact made me so happy, and at the same time I was grateful to them for accepting me.

“…Hehe. Hurry up and answer!”

As my body twisted around contrary to my reason, the Duke who had been standing quietly straightened me up.

Even at my reaction, Nox still responded seriously.

“It’s natural for Your Highness the Princess to be acknowledged as the Princess. Actually, since His Grace decided on the adoption, I shouldn’t have suspected Your Highness so carelessly…”

“I thought it was good that you suspected me though?”

“…Pardon?”

Nox’s eyes slowly widened. The same was true for Callipus and me.

“The Duke must have really good judgment about people. Having Lord Nox as his closest aide. The same goes for Lady Mai.”

I tried adding an explanation, but Nox still looked like he didn’t understand.

Hmm.

I touched my round chin with little taps as I continued speaking.

“It couldn’t have been easy to go against your master, but you did it out of concern.”

“…”

“I’m only 5 years old, but I’ve seen so many people in my life who abandon their own people to keep their positions.”

At the Pose Family, and during spy training too.

Even in the now-faded memories of my previous life.

I always had to compete and reach the top.

I could understand it.

In such an environment, how many would sacrifice themselves for others?

“…But Lord Nox and Lady Mai didn’t do that.”

Because there are so few such people.

“That’s why being acknowledged by you two feels especially good.”

Hehe.

‘So now you have to be nice to me, right?’

Ah, what a good feeling.

When I made this expression, even the spy instructors would smile foolishly.

“Hehe. Heh.”

To change the mood as well, I showered them with winks from eyes that seemed to sparkle.

“…”

But Nox and Mai were still staring at me stiffly as if they had turned to stone.

Ugh, tsk. What boring people, really.

“Well then, I’ll… be going now…”

Feeling awkward for no reason, I passed by the two of them with clumsy crab-like steps-

“…I, I have to go eat cake with Lucas!”

And just like that, I hurriedly escaped from the corridor.

* * *

At the moment when Aisha, who had been twisting her body around, ran away.

“Smile.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said smile. That brat just gave you a wink she’s never given me.”

“…”

Nox and Mai, who were already having trouble speaking, lost their words as if they’d been hit on the back of the head.

A moment of silence passed.

“Your Highness.”

“What, you bastard.”

“What does the Princess like?”

Nox, who seemed to have decided something, demanded with intense eyes.

“What?”

It was when Callipus asked back, not understanding.

“Ah, the scarf. The scarf! The Princess’s scarf!”

Mai shouted as if something had occurred to her.

Then, saying “Oh my,” she got up from her knees and ran off somewhere.

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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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