I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 70

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 70
Perhaps that was why.
Even as he sulked like that, she found herself oddly free from anger.
In fact, he looked almost endearing.
Luciana pushed down the embarrassment rising in her chest.
‘…Of course, I want to do that too.’
The truth was, she’d been delighted that Edward had come along.
While they were out walking together, she’d thought it would be nice to try what the books called a Market Date—the kind you read about so often.
Buying street food together, snacking as they walked. Disciplining a few ruffians who got out of line.
The kind of ordinary date where you’d end up buying each other small trinkets and gifts.
‘I never thought I’d have a life this free, even for the rest of my days.’
That was why she’d buried herself so deeply in books back at the Shelter.
Even knowing that the battery would drain and be hard to recharge, she’d read and reread every novel she could find—the source material and everything else.
Eventually she stopped caring about genre; as long as it had words on the page, anything would do.
‘Because I could forget that way.’
The fear that she’d be trapped forever, that she’d eventually die as nothing but a shield for others.
And the stories of people who’d gone places she could never reach….
She could find solace reading about people moving freely through the world.
The original Luciana, before she inhabited this body, had spent her whole life confined too—she must have suffered the same way.
‘…But now.’
Now she herself was experiencing freedom.
Even though she’d never see her sisters again, she was eating, enjoying herself, wandering around.
She’d even done all sorts of things with the most beautiful man in the world and gotten married.
So she wanted to do and enjoy as much as she possibly could.
‘But I have things I need to do, and besides… it’s hard to set the mood in a marketplace when there’s no festival atmosphere.’
Unfortunately, this place was crowded and loud.
Other people gave them strange looks too, treating them less like an adorable couple and more like an odd one.
‘Right. Let’s just finish gathering the materials.’
It was just as a slightly crestfallen Luciana turned her head.
“Flowers! Buy some flowers!”
A child came running from somewhere and thrust a handful of wildflowers—picked carelessly—at her.
‘…If I took these, it might actually feel more like a date?’
That thought crossed her mind, but….
What really caught her attention was the child’s grimy appearance.
From the looks of it, an orphan living on the streets with shoes worn clean through, and Luciana decided on the spot to spend some real money for the first time today.
“All right, how much?”
“One bunch for 1 Silver….”
“Expensive.”
The one who cut in with those words was Edward.
Whoosh.
He immediately pushed Luciana behind him and wedged himself between her and the child.
The move was so decisive that even Luciana found herself taken aback.
“Just a moment, sir?”
‘Surely he’s not getting jealous… of a child?’
It was the moment that thought flashed through Luciana’s head.
A quick whisper reached her ear.
“What if it’s an assassin? You’d just let her into your arms like that?”
“…Ha, I wasn’t planning to hold them.”
“Or what if it’s a child sent by the Temple?”
She hadn’t thought that far ahead….
Luciana’s face flushed red again as she belatedly realized Edward had been trying to protect her.
Meanwhile, the child, who seemed to have caught only the word “Temple” from their whispered exchange, puffed out her cheeks.
“I’m not! I was from the Temple, but not anymore!”
Edward narrowed his eyes as he responded.
“If you’re from there, you’re from there.”
“Our Care Facility is independent from the Temple now! The priests are just too stingy!”
“…You came from a facility?”
It was Luciana who asked the follow-up question.
Given that she’d helped look after children back at the Shelter, and because the body she inhabited had come from an orphanage herself.
Hearing that the child had come from such a place made her feel an unexpected warmth toward her.
The young-looking child nodded firmly.
“That’s right. Since we don’t have sponsors anymore, we work to support ourselves, but we take pride in earning our own way through our own abilities.”
“…that’s not something a child should be saying, is it?”
“Don’t underestimate us. I just do some selling, but that kid over there performs talent shows!”
Snap!
At the tip of the pointed finger stood a small, shy-looking child.
The child was singing with hands clasped together.
“The Duke and the Duchess were dancing, oh so merrily….”
“It’s a hit song these days!”
“I, I see.”
“They sing it so well. Would you like to hear more?”
The song’s content was somewhat suggestive, but the child certainly sang beautifully.
“That one’s the best singer at our facility, but the other kids sing well too!”
“Hmm….”
“If we get sponsors, we’re planning to do a chorus performance too!”
The child who’d been chattering enthusiastically while waving the flowers promptly extended a hand as soon as the singing child finished the verse.
“So… now that you’ve heard it all, that’ll be 2 Silver!”
“That’s expensive.”
“Then 1.5 Silver!”
“I said it’s expensive. Just take your leave.”
“…fine then, let’s call it 1 Silver!”
“Done.”
And learning from Luciana’s haggling in the meantime, as it were.
Edward extracted concession after concession from the children with the finality of a seasoned merchant, his shoulders rising as if to say, well, how’s that?
Luciana smiled warmly at Edward and replied.
“You’re not a market trader—why are you haggling with children from a care facility? You’re a terrible adult.”
“On the contrary. This cultivates the children’s haggling skills.”
“What good does that do those little ones?”
“The world doesn’t go easy on anyone, child or not.”
“I do agree with that, but in a situation like this….”
“Sometimes there are children who can only survive by honing their abilities.”
At the end of his words, Luciana felt a subtle emotion and flinched.
“Those children may have refined their skills precisely with such determination in mind.”
……
“Treating them as mere tricks and pitying them, handing out coins—isn’t that the real condescension?”
Having said this, Edward drew out exactly 1 Silver and held it out.
And as if to give it directly….
“This is payment for the song’s originality.”
“T, thank you?”
“And this is payment because I think you should revise the lyrics.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t hedge with vague words like ‘oh so merrily’—change it to a clearer expression of affection.”
……
“And this is for the flowers.”
With that, he added several more coins and handed them all to the child.
“Your eye for choosing someone likely to buy isn’t bad, but next time, avoid ladies who have a large adult man attached to them like this.”
……
“You could get hurt otherwise.”
Watching Edward hand over the coins matter-of-factly, Luciana was gripped by a strange reflection.
‘Why does he speak as if he understands such a life so well?’
Surely someone who’d grown up only as a minor noble….
An image from the care facility in the West Annex that she’d forgotten came flickering back to mind.
“Thank you so much!”
“P, please take this too!”
The children hastily pressed crumpled paper into her hands and hurried away.
It appeared to be a promotional flyer seeking sponsors for the facility.
“Here.”
Edward then held out to her the wildflowers he’d received from the child.
A man so large he seemed to take up half the space, holding out a bouquet no bigger than his own palm….
“What?”
“…No, that’s not it.”
“You thought I was being cute?”
At his words, Luciana gave Edward’s chest a light tap with her small fist.
“I’ve noticed for a while now. Haven’t you gotten a bit smoother with your words?”
“You said you liked it.”
“…I never said that.”
At Luciana’s wide-eyed protest, Edward tilted his head with a stubborn expression.
“And you’re one to talk.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t tell if you want me to be your master, or if you want to be mine.”
“What?!”
“You’re always doing things on your own terms, after all.”
At his words delivered with open amusement, Luciana’s ears burned crimson.
“Oh, how could I ever, to you, my lord, I mean, sir…”
“Yet you’re still touching my chest instead of letting go.”
How did he notice?
Luciana, who had been pretending to strike Edward’s chest while subtly caressing it, received the bouquet from his hands, her fingertips tingling.
She breathed in the fragrance of the flowers and fell into a strange reverie.
They weren’t expensive flowers—merely wildflowers—but that made them all the better.
Edward, watching her, felt his own spirits lift.
For the first time, he truly felt he was savoring the moments spent with her.
“…Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t just say it—show me with your actions.”
“Even as you say that, I think—”
The words that followed nearly made her mind melt entirely.
“I think you’d make a wonderful father.”
……
“Even though you fret and grumble, you’ve always shown respect for the children, taught them the proper way to earn their keep, and even told them to take care of themselves…”
“That last part.”
“Yes?”
Edward ran his tongue absently across his slightly parched lips before speaking.
“Does that mean you want me to give you children?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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