The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 167

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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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Episode 167

* * *

Melissa Marquess used patchwork and a sewing machine to make a palm-sized dress.

Airi’s short, chubby cookie arms and cookie legs were wrapped in small, adorable pieces of fabric.

“Wow! It’s warm!”

Serafin made chattering sounds with his mouth and exclaimed in admiration as he watched Cookie—no, Airi—spinning around.

“You look pretty in it!”

Even though she’s a cookie, she has a dress!

The cookie dress that Grandmother made was full of flashy floral patterns.

Declan muttered the words he had been thinking all along.

“Why does a child have grandmother’s taste…”

Serafin swallowed nervously as he watched Airi diligently putting on her dress.

Right now, Airi was filled with anticipation.

“This time, the Pope might notice something’s up and not show up. Keep that in mind too.”

“Seraphine! I know that too!”

Airi nodded her cookie head, wrapped in a tiny bonnet, vigorously.

Things like the flow of time or what kind of crisis the test subjects were in meant nothing to that person.

He was someone who knew how to hold his breath and wait for a long time if necessary.

When she glimpsed the future in 『The Monster Clan of the Northern Snowy Plains』, the Pope was always looking for opportunities to become stronger.

‘He liked dangerous situations even more!’

He was someone who pursued only stimulation.

So…

“That bad person will definitely come.”

“Really?”

“Yes! He absolutely never reflects on himself. He thinks it’s a stage for himself.”

Because that’s what was written.

Airi clenched both her fists tightly.

Even if that bad person wrote letters of reflection and apology, she would never forgive him.

“That bad guy who uses poor soul friends… I’ll catch him all at once today.”

* * *

Meanwhile, that afternoon.

Young Boy Berry didn’t see Airi’s dressed-up appearance and instead had a private meeting with Jackvell Marquess.

Since Berry was still eleven years old, he needed Jackvell Marquess’s permission to attend the Imperial Ball.

“You want to participate in the Imperial Ball as Prince Jackvell? That’s fine.”

“Thank you.”

He was just about to bow his head and turn back.

Jackvell Marquess, who had been pondering the news that a ball was being held and that Declan would participate in it, said…

“I suppose Princess Airi Ortejo has returned alive.”

…that.

When Berry, who couldn’t lie, flinched, he smiled refreshingly.

“I know well because I’ve lost a son too. It’s agony that tears your flesh, and there’s no way you could attend a ball in the midst of that.”

“…”

“It seems our daughter-in-law has returned healthier than expected.”

Whether Berry’s cheeks turned red at the word “daughter-in-law” or not, Jackvell Marquess chuckled and ruffled his son’s hair.

“If Grand Princess Airi returns and participates in the ball, it would be like a debutante stage in a way.”

“Yes…”

“If Grand Princess Airi has her debutante, you must be her first dance partner… You should also embrace under the mistletoe. Couples who do that live well together.”

Berry’s cheeks flushed as he recalled his conversation with Jackvell Marquess.

Berry shook his head vigorously, trying to think of other things.

But they were still only eleven and nine years old.

‘I can’t do something like embracing…’

Besides, Airi was currently in cookie form. So he thought he’d have to give up on dancing the ‘first dance.’

After getting permission from Jackvell Marquess to attend the ball, he hurriedly returned to Melissa Marquess’ Domain.

The problem was…

“Berry! How do I look?”

…that Airi, transformed into a cookie, was also very cute.

“You’re wearing a dress.”

“Yes! It’s so sparkly! Hehe!”

“Ah…”

Berry’s earlobes turned as red as they possibly could. He said quietly.

“Then can we dance together at the ball?”

“Would that be possible? I have something very, very important to do.”

When Berry’s expression became a little disappointed, Airi suddenly said.

“Oh, I like dancing too… But I’m a cookie! How can a human and a cookie dance together?”

Berry’s cheeks flushed bright red.

“I thought of a way for that. If I put you on my hand like this and we take the same steps…”

“Wow! Smart! Then let’s dance!”

At those words, Berry’s face turned even redder.

But Berry never let go of the finger that was tightly holding Airi’s hand.

“Then…”

As they chatted softly, night had fallen before they knew it.

Moonlight flowed in from outside through the window.

Nine-year-old Airi, who had now become a ‘cookie,’ asked carefully.

“Oh right, but is it okay to dance the first dance with me when I’m a cookie? They said the first dance has a lot of meaning!”

Airi tilted her head this way and that.

“But you know.”

“Yes!”

“Before going to the ball, I… I want to try dancing with you, Airi. Even if you’re a cookie, it’s okay.”

Berry said this with great effort to muster courage.

Someone might think it was ridiculous.

But the two of them were very serious.

“Yes! Then let’s dance together!”

Dancing in a place without music, with only moonlight as a backdrop, Berry said carefully.

“…Th-thank you for returning safely, Airi.”

“I didn’t return safely! I became a cookie!”

Berry curved his eyes gently like a crescent moon and said.

“Because you’re healthy.”

“Yes, yes! My body is light so I’m good at kicking too!”

Dancing on Berry’s palm, Airi smiled brightly.

Watching that sight, for some reason, his face turned red like a persimmon, and he stepped enthusiastically until sweat formed on his forehead.

At that moment, Berry realized.

During the past 4 years without Airi, he had been someone waiting only for this moment.

This peaceful, warm moment when there was no one but Airi and himself.

It felt exactly like today was their ‘real’ debutante stage.

His heart felt cozy.

* * *

The next morning.

A ball was held in the largest hall of the Imperial Palace.

With the creepy possession phenomenon of unknown exact cause temporarily subsiding, the people attending the ball had a subtly excited atmosphere.

They gathered on one side of the wall, fanning themselves and having quiet conversations.

“Look over there! It’s Prince Berry and Prince Serafin!”

“They’ve really grown up well.”

“Especially Prince Serafin is….”

“…a martial artist, they say.”

The social circle had been without any particular favorites until now. Even the atmosphere had been bleak.

But even so, with the appearance of those who were both handsome and possessed high status, people’s hearts couldn’t help but flutter.

The gazes of the gathered people passed over Serafin and reached Berry.

Especially Berry, the son of Jackvell Marquess, was shrouded in mystery.

He has blue hair and blue eyes, they say.

He suffered because of rumors that demon blood was mixed in him, they say.

Countless gossip circulated, but no one knew exactly what kind of boy he was.

However, during the past time, despite his young age of eleven, he had shown himself stepping forward to cut down demons.

So naturally, public opinion couldn’t help but flow in a favorable direction.

“There’s no way Prince Berry could be a dangerous demon!”

“Besides, even if he’s a demon, if he’s handsome, that’s all that matters.”

For the somewhat naive young ladies, even his rumors became a cause for increased favorability.

At the whispering voices loud enough for everyone to hear, Berry moved his shoulders slightly as if feeling a bit embarrassed.

Watching him, Declan muttered.

“To participate in social balls, you need to get used to people openly gossiping in front of you.”

Serafin was the same. He cleared his throat and spoke to Berry.

“Endure it. The weight of the crown.”

But Berry seemed like he wouldn’t be able to endure it.

Because….

Airi, who had slightly poked her head up from Declan’s pocket, made a “wow” sound and whispered softly so only they could hear.

“Berry must be really, really cool! That’s right, Berry looks super, super cool to me too!”

“….”

Declan’s eyebrows instantly furrowed. He gently pushed Airi deep into his pocket.

“Hup! Spinning, spinning!”

A dizzy whirlpool appeared in Airi’s cookie eyes. Declan said in a low voice.

“Isn’t Father cool?”

“Father is… my eyes are spinning like a whirlwind so I can’t see!”

At this very moment.

Declan’s mood became extremely uncomfortable.

Airi chattered very quietly.

“But you know, I was thinking! Berry would look super, super cool if he wore the flower-patterned dress that our Grandmother made!”

“….”

“Father would look cool wearing it too!”

A flower-patterned dress.

Instantly, Declan’s expression became gentle.

“Right. Let’s definitely make him wear it later. I won’t wear it. Father isn’t as cool as Berry.”

Berry’s cheeks turned red like apples. He nodded seriously.

“I’ll definitely try it on.”

Declan felt like he was chewing on an unripe persimmon.

‘…Just how much does he like Airi?’

Perhaps because he saved her life, he was following Airi around like a baby bird.

Even if he himself disappeared from this world.

Thinking that Berry would protect Airi, that sight was quite satisfying.

“Flower-patterned dress…. Look forward to it.”

Even while his emotions were steadily fluctuating, and even while Declan, Airi, and Berry were having a secret conversation.

At the social ball held for the first time in a long while since the Pierre incident, while countless people were drinking non-alcoholic rum and conversing with each other.

Some people remained silent repeatedly, wearing awkward smiles as if trying to gauge the atmosphere.

Their appearance looked superficially like ‘normally thinking’ humans.

Airi poked her head out slightly and smoothly looked around at the suspicious people.

‘As expected!’

There was no way the Pope wouldn’t appear at such an obviously laid trap.

Declan casually scanned his surroundings.

The chandelier that had been sparkling pure white changed to a red light.

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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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