Raising the Grand Duke of the North as a Farmer Behind Dad’s Back - Chapter 6

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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 6
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“Gasp!”
My eyes snapped open.
‘Where… where am I?’
All I could see was an unfamiliar ceiling.
‘I was sure Paul and I made it to the Northern Border Gate!’
Made it there… didn’t I? What happened?
Think, think……
“Nooooo!”
I’d lost Paul!
“Oh heavens! Haniel! Haniel!! That mad bird took my child! It kidnapped her!”
“Wh… what?”
That was it.
Coming north with Paul and forging camaraderie along the way had been wonderful, but then……
A massive bird appeared in front of the Northern Border Gate and plucked me clean through the carriage window, carrying me off in its talons.
“Save me! Please save me!”
After thrashing about for a while, I remembered the golden rule—Monster equals Magical Energy equals weakness to Holy Power—and fished out a Holy Power Sticker.
The moment the bird perched on a tree branch, I slapped the sticker onto my body……
“Screeeeeech!”
The wretched creature spat me out like a projectile.
‘Thank goodness I’m not badly hurt….’
Tree branches snapped and crackled beneath me, but they cushioned my fall.
‘Ugh, I wasted precious Holy Power. Anyway… where on earth am I?’
I looked around. I’d woken up in a small cottage.
Who had saved me?
That’s when it happened.
“Quite the racket you made waking up.”
A voice came from somewhere. I sat bolt upright.
“Now, now. Don’t jump up so suddenly. Are you hurt anywhere?”
An elderly woman with white hair hurried toward me.
“W-who…?”
“Let me see. Hmm, you’ve still got a fever, but… doesn’t look like you have any serious injuries. Though I have to ask—why on earth did you wander into the Fog District alone? Did you get lost?”
“Did… did you save me, ma’am?”
The old woman made a puzzled expression.
“What? The Grand Duke—”
“Grandma, I need salt.”
‘Oh! You startled me!’
A man’s voice, sudden as thunder!
Only then did I realize there was a third person in this room besides the old woman and me.
Peeking around, I spotted a man sitting by the far window.
He reclined against the back of his chair, spooning stew into his mouth.
‘Is he her son?’
But why was he wrapped in a black robe in broad daylight?
‘Wait… could it be…?’
I’d figured out his type instantly.
The world had plenty of young men who barricaded themselves in their rooms, severing ties with society and themselves, and who—despite being grown—relied entirely on their parents for every penny of their income.
‘Everyone’s got their reasons, I suppose. Though it’s not quite my style.’
I was an independent child, through and through.
My situation was different from his.
Without a word, the old woman produced a salt shaker from somewhere and set it on her son’s table.
The young man sprinkled it on and returned to his soup.
‘Couldn’t he fetch the salt himself?’
Had he outsourced not just his finances but his entire self-care?
I was resolving to keep our conversation as shallow as possible when the old woman came back to me.
“Now, where were we? Were you asking if I saved you?”
“Y-yes……”
“No, dear. It was His Grace, the Grand Duke, who brought you here. He ventured into the Fog District and caught some kind of strange creature……”
“Wh… whaaaaat?”
Just as I’d thought!
I opened my eyes wide.
That blurry figure I’d glimpsed at the end—could it have been the Grand Duke himself?
“Then, then!”
I whipped my head around.
“Surely this isn’t near the Grand Duke’s Castle……!”
“Here. Get me a water cup.”
My words cut short again.
“Sand mixed in with the salt. Ugh, those Southern dogs…….”
I glared at the reclusive young man once more.
Barely…… pitiful! And he looks sturdy enough too!
‘This will surely have a bad influence on my values, so I must, absolutely must, avoid any deep conversation with him!’
Camilla brought the water cup to the young man and answered.
“Is this near the Grand Duke’s Castle? Well, yes. This is Bedel Village.”
My eyes widened.
‘Thank goodness! This is the village where the Grand Duke’s Castle stands!’
Safe arrival at the heart of the North!
“What’s this. Did you actually come looking for this place on purpose?”
“Yes!”
I sprang to my feet, clenched my fists, and spoke with all the strength I could muster.
“Actually, I came here to meet the Grand Duke!”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yes! So, um, couldn’t you just take me to the Grand Duke’s Castle? Or at least tell me the way? I’ll polish your shoes in return! Sparkling clean!”
“Oh, little one…….”
Just then—clack! The useless son set down his spoon with a sharp sound.
“Ugh, why does this soup taste so awful? Still no improvement. Camilla…….”
“Yes, sir!”
“……Sir?”
I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Why don’t you ask me instead!! Why do you keep bothering grandmother?!”
I could get my backside smacked for being an impudent little thing…… but I had to speak my mind.
Because every time that man opened his mouth, I watched Camilla wait on him as if branded by invisible chains—it was unbearable to witness!
“Grandmother isn’t even your subordinate!”
At that moment, the man turned toward me.
Only now did I notice how large his frame was. Just by turning his body, he gave off an overwhelming sense of pressure. What incredible physicality for a shut-in hermit!
“She’s my subordinate, though.”
A low, leisurely voice flowed out.
“……Pardon?”
“If she’s the housekeeper of my residence…… isn’t that being my subordinate?”
Housekeeper……?
“What do you think, Camilla.”
“Try not to drop crumbs everywhere. It’s a bother to clean up later.”
Camilla answered without concern.
‘Huh?’
The man slowly removed his robe’s hood.
Beneath it, hair black as pitch.
Sharp, strong features carved in clear and distinct lines.
My eyes blinked slowly.
It was a face I’d glimpsed beyond a window a few times in my past life. Though…… he looks younger now.
The man rose to his feet.
“All the salt imported from the Southern Region will need to be sent back.”
And he approached me. His height was so imposing that even standing upright on the bed, I had to crane my neck far back to meet his gaze.
“Listen here, starfish.”
“I’m, I’m not a starfish though……”
I’m terrified! Or, I’m not terrified!
“My name is Haniel……”
“Looks like you’ve got nowhere else to go, so you ended up here.”
How did he know that?
“A little thing like you will die here in about…… a day or two.”
The Grand Duke poked my forehead with his finger.
“So go home. Sorry, but there’s no one here to look after a little one like you. Camilla, later take her to a nearby….”
“Territory Residents wanted! Location! Northern Bertus Grand Duchy!”
I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted with all my might.
“Basic benefits! Housing provided, land provided, one hundred percent tax exemption for the first year after immigration! Qualifications required! Anyone!”
“……?”
“An-y-one!”
“……?”
“Hello, I’m Anyone!”
I thrust both hands high into the air. Clutched in my grip was the Northern Territory Immigration Promotional Materials, worn thin from being read over and over.
The Grand Duke’s expression flickered with bewilderment for a moment. Then he turned to the elderly housekeeper he’d called Camilla.
“Didn’t you throw all those materials away?”
“It seems one copy was left behind. If Lord Brad found out, he’d shudder. I recall him doing jail time in place of a fine for violating advertising standards regulations just the other day…….”
Regardless, I gathered the breath I was lacking and launched forward again.
“My name is Haniel! I’m six years old! My hobby is eating bread, and my specialty is also eating bread! My dream for the future is to own a bakery! The reason I’m applying to become a Territory Resident here is because I want a house and land! By the way, my goal is to eat about three breads a day!”
“Is this a bread introduction or a self-introduction?”
“Anyway, I really want to live here! It’s my dream!!”
Basiliy stared at me for a long moment, then turned away. He picked up a sword that had been set nearby and made a light gesture with his hand.
“Yeah. Dreams are called dreams precisely because they don’t come true.”
“…….”
“So then, have a bowl of stew and be on your way.”
His figure receded into the distance.
No! I can’t fail here!
“Your Grace!”
I grabbed hold of his trouser leg and held on.
“What are you doing? Let go and scram.”
“Your Grace-ee!”
“At the very least, call me Lord! Grandmother, why are you opening your eyes like that? I didn’t ask you to do this!”
“Lord! Please!”
But you said you’d give me a house and land!
“I can live on my own! I came here because I want to eat well and live well all by myself!”
“That’s hardly what I’d call…… explaining yourself.”
I clung properly to his thigh now. It was hard as stone, making it difficult, but I decided to simply drape myself across his foot—thirteen kilograms of added ankle weight.
“Where does a little thing like you get this kind of strength? Ugh, ugh…… what was your name again. I can only remember bread. Was it Hama? Bread-eating Hama? Hey, Hama. Won’t you move?”
“It’s not Hama! It’s Haniel…… please!”
“I don’t accept six-year-olds as Territory Residents.”
“No discrimination against children……! The qualifications clearly say ‘anyone’!”
“No, they don’t. I’m adding an age limit starting now.”
“That’s not how it works! The version I have doesn’t have an age limit! You’re responsible for this notice! If you keep doing this, it puts me in a difficult position!”
“Grandmother, pry this one off me! I’m being bitten by Hama!”
“Why would I? The floor cleaning is going splendidly. That’s right, you’re both doing wonderfully.”
The elderly housekeeper laughed softly and tidied the surroundings.
Emboldened by her encouragement, I sat on the Grand Duke’s foot and scrubbed the floor enthusiastically with my backside.
‘Is it even appropriate for me to cling to the Northern Grand Duke like this?’
This isn’t… causing a scene…… more like I’m barely here…?
Something seems far off from the plan.
Ah, forget it!
Squeak.
“Please accept me!”
“I won’t! I’m passing you on to the Territory Resident below!”
But the Northern Grand Duke’s stubbornness was equally formidable.
So in the end, I had no choice but to pull out what I’d been holding in reserve.
“I can teach you how to farm in the North!”
Still.
The Grand Duke’s movements stopped. His red eyes dulled in an instant.
Seeing that, I finally understood—he’d been restraining his power for my sake all along.
My body trembled. Fear crept in.
But I shut my eyes tight and screamed.
“Farming!!”
“…….”
“You need it, don’t you?”

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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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