It was a sight that was hard to believe even after seeing it.

All those countless blades were deflected in different directions by a single trajectory created by Lord Joseph.

“…Yes, I’m fine now. But how are you, Lord Joseph?”

His shimmering red eyes crinkled kindly as a smile spread across his face.

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

Indeed, Lord Joseph didn’t seem to be injured at all. His expression also had the same composure as usual gently melted into it.

Strange. Did I see wrong?

‘Surely when he appeared before me…’

He seemed somewhat uncomfortable.

“I’ll support you now, stepmother.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, there was one more person beside me. It was Kardiel, who had been even more shocked than me until just now.

“Thank you for saving my stepmother, Lord Joseph.”

“I only did what was natural.”

The role of supporting me was transferred from Lord Joseph to Kardiel. But Kardiel’s demeanor was a bit strange.

‘…His hands are shaking?’

It seems the scene from earlier was quite shocking.

Not only was the sound tremendous, but he had witnessed a life-or-death moment right before his eyes.

‘He’s still a child after all.’

Only then did I straighten up as if nothing had happened.

At times like this, I, as the guardian, should show a calm appearance so that the child can feel at ease.

“Stepmother, you can lean on me a bit more.”

“I was just startled by the loud noise for a moment. I’m fine now. See, I’m perfectly alright.”

“But still…”

“By the way, Kar, how did you come here? What about your siblings?”

Deliberately trying to change the subject, I asked a question, and the diligent Kardiel showed a reaction faithful to my intention.

“When we were together, Lord Joseph suddenly ran out. Since the direction was this way, I followed with an ominous feeling.”

“Huh?”

As I still looked puzzled, Kardiel’s explanation became more detailed.

So, not long after I had headed separately to the Silvernight Weapon Shop, Lord Joseph visited the pet shop.

He, who had been thinking of raising a bird, expressed his delight at the second chance encounter with the siblings.

They spent some time looking at the animals together, but then…

‘Suddenly his complexion worsened and he ran out?’

Kardiel said he heard him mutter something about the Silvernight Weapon Shop.

After that, Kardiel also felt a bit strange, so he left his siblings with the nanny and followed.

‘I don’t understand the situation even after hearing it.’

However, there was one thing for certain.

That the cause of my facing such a crisis moment was Leopold Hose.

I’m not a fool, and I know what caused the sound and impact that made the normally displayed items pour towards me.

My cold gaze turned to where he was.

“Ugh…!”

He, who had kicked the display stand and caused this mess, was now trying to stop the flowing blood.

Unfortunately, one of the swords that Lord Joseph had deflected had deeply grazed his right thigh.

“I’ve asked an employee to call for a doctor, so please bear with it for a moment, Lord Leopold. Ah, please don’t keep moving like that. The wound is too deep, and if it gets worse, you might have difficulty walking permanently.”

And beside him stood Lord Joseph. With a very worried expression.

…Hmm. It must be worry, right? Though there seems to be a hint of mockery in his tone.

“Ah, Count Alperon. How could you do such a cruel thing to the leg of a knight who handles swords?”

“My, what hurtful words. It was just an unfortunate accident just now, wasn’t it? Just like how the Duchess Daiern almost lost her life due to Lord Leopold’s outburst.”

“Ugh, d-doctor… quickly…!”

“I told you to bear with it a little. A doctor can’t teleport, can he?”

Yet, Lord Joseph’s expression contained genuine sympathy.

And hearing the conversation between the two, I realized that Lord Joseph also knew the full details of the incident.

But did Lord Joseph really do that on purpose? It’s already amazing that he deflected all the swords, but could he intentionally injure someone with one of them?

No way, it must be a coincidence.

Such a thing couldn’t be possible. Thinking so, I approached Leopold Hose, accompanied by Loretta and Kardiel.

Of course, only to a distance where blood wouldn’t stain my clothes.

“Du-Duchess. I just… because you ignored me…!”

As the distance between us narrowed, he looked up at me, swallowing the pain in his thigh.

His contorted face was already covered in tears and blood from the wound.

An expression waiting for me to say something.

However, not a single trace of regret for his actions could be found on that distorted face.

It was filled only with resentment at having suffered an unjust treatment.

“Duchess…!”

“We’d better leave now, Lord Joseph. If this disgusting smell of blood gets on us, the children might worry.”

“Ah, blood does tend to have a slightly fishy smell.”

“Kar, unfortunately, we’ll have to come back another time to buy the training weapons. At least when the store has been cleaned up.”

“That would be best.”

I deliberately turned my gaze away from him.

I also didn’t mention anything about him. No criticism, no rebuke, nothing at all.

Sensing my intention, neither Kardiel nor Lord Joseph paid any more attention to Leopold Hose.

“Duchess…!”

The second and youngest must be waiting.

After leaving the Silvernight Weapon Shop, I once again formally expressed my gratitude to Lord Joseph.

To be honest, I wanted to ask him one by one about how he came to find me and how he saved me, but I couldn’t.

Because Kardiel was beside me.

Moreover, Kardiel, who had just regained his composure, seemed to have many questions for Lord Joseph.

Well, he had seen the person he was with suddenly run out and save me.

‘It certainly wasn’t something that could be dismissed as mere coincidence.’

How should I explain this?

But Kardiel neither asked nor spoke about anything.

While not taking his intense gaze off Lord Joseph.

As a result, I was the one who became needlessly anxious.

“Mother! Brother Kar, over here!”

“Mama!”

Fortunately, the tense atmosphere didn’t last long.

As I entered the pet shop, the two children scurried over to me.

And they were holding a tiny, snow-white puppy.

“Mother, this puppy is so cute.”

Woof woof!

The little one in Chersion’s arms wagged its tail vigorously upon seeing me.

It was a clever pup that knew who the decision-maker was.

‘But we can’t have a dog…’

Although Chersion liked it, I regrettably had to persuade the child.

The problem was that I had already seen the puppy’s face.

‘Goodness, it has three black spots on its face!’

For a moment, I was almost enchanted by its cuteness and about to nod.

If Lord Joseph hadn’t made a ‘hmm’ sound next to me, I surely would have.

‘No, no. I said the first pet should be a goldfish or a guppy!’

Still, I can’t allow it…

Woof woof!

I can’t allow it…

Woof woof! Pant pant.

…

How should I say this?

I was confused. This creature with three black spots looked exactly like Chersion holding it.

But how could I say no? It’s using all its charms to beg to be taken home!

‘Our adorable Chelsy is looking at me with the same face as the puppy!’

Sometimes there are moments like this.

When reason is threatening that it can’t be done, but suddenly emotion jumps out and grabs reason by the collar, slamming it to the ground.

Like when you’ve decided to diet, but compromise with your inner instincts that just one meal would be fine, those moments when strong will negotiates with inner instinct.

‘I don’t know.’

I declared defeat in the face of cuteness.

I could endure everything else, but cuteness was simply unbearable.

As for the name, since it has three black spots, Jeom-sam-i would suit it!

“Alright, Chelsy. If I want, we can take that puppy…”

“One moment, young master.”

It was then that Lord Joseph intervened.

Bending down in front of Chersion, he carefully examined Jeom-sam-i. Then, in a slightly subdued voice, he spoke.

“This puppy is too young. It seems too early to separate it from its mother.”

“What?”

…?

Chersion’s amber eyes widened. So did mine.

“How about taking it when it’s at least about 3 months old? It should build up more immunity and sociability in its mother’s care. In about 3 weeks, it should be appropriate.”

“Hmmm…”

Chersion looked very disappointed. The child silently gazed at Jeom-sam-i in his arms for a long while.