The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend

“Aren’t you going to ask why I hit him?”

“Why did you hit him?”

He asked, but I could see that my answer wouldn’t matter. Though there was no anger in his voice, I sensed that the Grand Duke had no intention of letting this go.

Guess I have no choice, then.

I slipped my hand inside my blouse. No matter how small I was, my sudden action seemed to surprise everyone, but I ignored them and took out the envelope I always carried around.

Still warm and a bit crumpled, I held it out to the Grand Duke.

The moment he saw the envelope, he should understand what it was.

He gave it to me himself, so he would understand.

“Then I’ll use this.”

I smiled brightly as I saw the Grand Duke frowning at the envelope.

“Are you using it now?”

“Yes. You know what it is, right?”

The others, who didn’t know the significance of the envelope, looked bewildered by my sure, confident attitude.

Even those people who were busily reading documents on the other side of the room looked over at us with interest.

The Grand Duke, who had been silent for a while, spoke again.

“Was this the reason you asked for it in the first place?”

“Of course not. I told you it was for unexpected situations.”

“Somehow, I can’t get rid of the feeling that this was all planned.”

“You worry too much.”

At this point, the conversation has done away with all my attempts to imitate a child.

But the Grand Duke didn’t seem too surprised, having already dealt with this once. Though the same can’t be said about the others’ reaction. ‘Just how old is this kid exactly,’ seems to be their primary concern at the moment.

I smiled innocently at each person who made eye contact with me, though that just seemed to baffle them more.

“All right. But, are you sure you want to use that? Isn’t it a waste?”

I returned my eyes to the Grand Duke at his question. His eyes seemed to ask me if I was unaware of the true value of the envelope.

“I do know how valuable it is. I know that it’s precious enough to make it impossible to obtain again. That is why I’m going to use it now.”

“I don’t intend to punish you too harshly. Do you still want to use it now?”

Should I change my mind now, he seemed willing to accept it. And since he had said it out loud, my punishment must truly be very light. It is also true that it is a waste to throw away such a valuable object for a trivial situation like this.

Should I save it for later? I battled with my own mind for a moment. But if I change my mind, this hard-earned situation will be lost.

And there was no guarantee that such an opportunity would come again. I should not forget the big picture. So I continued gambling, though with no small amount of regret.

“Yes, I really want to use it. Please let me use it.”

The Grand Duke gazed at me without speaking. I kept my face blank and held his eyes, pretending indifference.

In truth, the only reason I could be so calm is because I could not sense any fierce anger from the Grand Duke. He was looking at the situation with cold rationality.

At first, I thought he would unconditionally side with his child. But the more I observed, the more nonchalant he seemed about Kirsec.

He wasn’t retaliating in anger against the person who hit his son, but trying to appropriately punish the one who hurt the Grand Duke’s heir.

‘Who dares to hit my child? Show yourself!’ Such thoughts of fatherly affection didn’t seem to occur to him. Rather, he seemed more indifferent when looking at Kirsec than when looking at me. That must be why Kirsec was looking so nervous that he couldn’t even gaze at his father properly. He gets zero points as a father!

Of course, up until a few days ago, mine wasn’t an ordinary, harmonious family either, so I shouldn’t be one to talk.

Still, I had felt awkward with my father, but never afraid. But look at that grumpy kid, he was absolutely frightened. I could understand if it was fear with respect, but it wasn’t that either.

“You have one last chance. Are you certain about using it?”

Talking about last chances, you are weakening my resolve.

“Yes, I will use it.”

Suppressing the greed that rose its head, I answered firmly. Hearing my answer, the Grand Duke looked strangely disappointed. ‘Wasting such a valuable thing like this, you seem like an adult but you truly are only a child.’ This seemed to be thought running through his mind.

As I thought, he was testing me. But seriously, what is with this guy? I’m only seven years old! Just what did he expect from me?!

“All right, I won’t hold you responsible for hitting Kirsec. This matter is finished with this.”

“Father!”

“Your Grace, this decision would encourage insolence!”

Kirsec and the butler screamed almost simultaneously the moment the Grand Duke announced his verdict. Kirsec seemed overcome with resentment and betrayal, while the butler looked incredulous and was whining that it was an unfair decision.