I Am the 5-Year-Old Spy Who Kidnapped the Villain - Chapter 38

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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 38】

“…Were you awake?”

Callipus hurriedly sat back down in embarrassment.

He had only wanted to say what he needed to say whether Lucas was asleep or awake, but before he could even apologize, he felt like he had only said overly serious things, making him clear his throat awkwardly.

“Ahem. I thought you were sleeping.”

“I woke up in the middle.”

“Since when?”

“Since Dad opened the door and came in.”

“….”

So he had heard pretty much everything.

Callipus sighed and muttered.

“You’re quite a light sleeper.”

“I have to be to protect myself.”

But Lucas’s response, as if it was nothing special, made his heart sink again.

“Mm.”

One eyebrow raised involuntarily.

It seemed like he needed to say it now.

Callipus hesitated for a moment, then looked into his son’s eyes and spoke.

“About the Marquis of Frisia.”

“….”

“If you had told me beforehand, I would have beaten that marquis’s head in first, forget about any successor trial. You should have told Dad.”

“Dad said 5,000 gold was too expensive and that you wouldn’t come get me.”

“What?”

“The marquis. That bastard said that.”

Just as he was about to ask if he believed that, Lucas narrowed his eyes and muttered.

“I was three years old then.”

Ah. Right. He couldn’t blame him for believing such nonsense and resenting him.

How difficult it must have been for a mere three-year-old child. The thought made his heart ache.

‘I’ll have to kill him slowly over five years.’

Callipus, who had been cursing the Marquis of Frisia inwardly, bowed his head. The overwhelming self-loathing was still gradually overflowing.

The more heartbreaking truth was that Lucas, who had endured such hardships, seemed more composed than he was.

“But I’m fine now. Actually, I understood it all. I’m a Croste prince, after all.”

“…You don’t need to force yourself to understand. You can hate Dad plenty. I’ll accept it all.”

“At the dinner table, I was just scared and acted impulsively. Even though I’m a Croste prince, there are still things that scare me, right?”

Squirm squirm.

Lucas, who had raised his upper body while lying down, raised his eyebrows.

“Dad. So, about that. How could you say such a thing?”

At the sudden question, Callipus, who had been looking down, raised his gaze.

“What do you mean.”

“That you don’t care what happens to the world? Really, is that something a duke should say?”

“I got too involved in worldly affairs and lost all of you. I’m saying I won’t do that anymore.”

“You’re the Croste Duke?”

He meant that from now on he would focus on raising his children. But his son seemed dissatisfied with something and kept questioning him persistently.

“The Croste Duke is also human.”

“But…”

“Dad has no reason to live except for you and Aisha.”

At those words, Lucas frowned deeply and said.

“But I endured for five years thinking only of the Croste family.”

Sleeping Aisha flopped over and opened her mouth wide.

Lucas’s eyes filled with frustration as he kept his voice as low as possible to avoid waking Aisha.

“I’m a Croste, so I can survive. The Croste direct line doesn’t give in to things like this—I endured in that cage for five years thinking that way…”

Callipus was at a loss for words.

“If the head of the family says that Croste isn’t much, then what does that make me for enduring like this?”

“Lucas.”

“So protect both.”

And one small fist raised in the air.

“Get stronger, and use our abilities to protect people and protect us too.”

His fist had turned white from how much force he was using, and his pinky finger popped out awkwardly.

As Callipus, who didn’t know what to do, narrowed his eyes—

“Geez. Really.”

His son, unable to bear the frustration, struggled to get up and forcibly grabbed his pinky finger to make a promise.

“Aisha and I will get stronger too.”

“….”

“We’ll gradually get stronger in Dad’s embrace. Then we’ll protect people too. It’s not like we’re telling Dad to protect everyone alone.”

“….”

“Keep your promise.”

At the resolute words telling him to keep his promise, Callipus finally began to see his son properly.

Lucas wasn’t just a young child.

Even after being hurt and exploited by people, he was someone who knew the Croste mission of caring for those weaker than himself in such situations.

Someone qualified to have the ability called a small god chosen by God.

“….”

Callipus couldn’t take his eyes off his son for a long time.

It was a request from his son who had returned after enduring countless hardships.

“I promise on my life.”

There was no reason for him to refuse.

* * *

“Hmm nya-.”

The bed was unusually warm.

The Croste Ducal Palace always tries to keep the interior warm to prepare for the cold winds.

But today, how should I put it, it felt like even my heart was warming up.

Snore-

As I opened my eyes to Lucas’s gentle snoring, someone was holding my clenched fist like a baby caterpillar curled up.

‘He didn’t let go even once while sleeping.’

Such a tsundere.

Last night he had said, “Don’t think I’m doing this because I like it! Even though he’s locked up, the Marquis of Frisia is still near us! I’m worried so I can’t let you go!” and angrily forced me to sleep.

“…Anyone would think I’m Lucas oppa’s daughter.”

Yawn-

I paused as I muttered while yawning leisurely.

Besides his hand, there was another huge arm.

A long, lean arm surrounded by lean muscle.

A large palm incomparable to mine.

The thick, long fingers had calluses here and there like someone who had gripped sword hilts often.

…Who else is here besides Lucas and me? Could it really be the Marquis of Frisia?

That’s ridiculous, but having an adult man’s arm on this bed is even more ridiculous, right?

Roll-

I tried to turn around to see who it was, but sleeping Lucas frowned and gripped my hand tightly.

‘Oh no.’

I’ll have to wait until the maid comes before moving.

Feeling disappointed, I wanted to at least stick my face out, so I raised my head.

“Huh?”

Above the crown of Lucas, who was curled up like a cat, I could see the sleeping face of the Duke.

“…Did the three of us sleep in one bed?”

Why?

When did this man join us…?

Anyway, I think I knew why it was unusually warm on this cold morning.

‘Waking up in the arms of dad and big brother is incredibly warm.’

“Mm.”

Hmm hmm-

After checking on the two of them, I found myself humming for no reason.

It felt like being a baby bat protected inside a cave within a safe cave.

‘…Is that the right analogy?’

My heart felt ticklish.

But rather than feeling excited, it was more like the tickling sensation of a cat purring.

It was the first emotion I’d ever felt, so it was awkward to express in words.

‘How should I explain this situation?’

As I was lost in thought while being held by the two men-

Knock knock.

The maid who entered through the door saw us and her eyes widened.

“What a harmonious family, no, the masters are still sleeping. I’ll serve your meal later.”

I was able to find the answer quickly from an unexpected place.

Right.

It was family.

* * *

At that time. The Queen’s Palace of the Frozen Kingdom.

“Didn’t Nox come?”

At Empress Grace’s question, the man shook his head.

“The entire North is in chaos right now, so he probably can’t come. They say the Marquis of Frisia kidnapped the direct heir of Croste.”

“What?”

Empress Grace, who had been looking down at paper with intricately drawn magical beasts, widened her eyes.

“Who kidnapped whom? How is this story unfolding?”

The latest news she had heard ended with Prince Lucas being recovered.

“It means the House of Marquis of Frisia is now ruined. They even say he sold the kidnapped prince as a slave. And pretended he had gone missing.”

“…Good heavens. Could it be to make his own son the heir? The Marquis has gone mad.”

“That’s right.”

“A guy like that would be perfect as food for the Fallen Raptors.”

The Empress made a tsk sound and plopped down in her seat.

Fallen Raptors were four-legged beast-type magical creatures that lived in the North in massive herds.

“Perfect as Raptor food.”

Then the woman next to the man added fuel to the fire.

“By the way, that’s not the only reason Lord Nox can’t come, is it?”

“What else? How dare he not attend the Empress’s gathering.”

“He’s busy fulfilling Lady Aisha’s bucket list!”

“Aisha?”

That name…

Empress Grace blinked her light green eyes and recalled Nox’s words from the last gathering.

‘A child who makes peeping sounds when walking, seems to have arrowheads stuck in both sides of her head, and has eyes so big they cover half her face.’

Nox had been serious at that time.

He was so serious that during his explanation, his raised monocle emitted light bright enough to paralyze the eyes of the gathering members.

“…At that level, wouldn’t she be a fairy rather than a person?”

Empress Grace murmured as if dreaming.

In her mind, a winged fairy shaped like an arrowhead was already flying around in all directions.

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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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