After a short while, the little child clenched their fist tightly and ran back to Matthias.

“Dad!”

“Yes, Sien?”

“That man is pitiful… Sweet potatoes are originally 1 silver for 10… He’s a total sucker.”

The subordinate flinched.

As far as Matthias remembered, just the watch that man was wearing would be an expensive item worth a thousand gold. Of course, he had no intention of revealing that fact to Sien.

“…So he’s not even making a profit, that’s why he’s kneeling and begging to buy a lot. He’s just so kind-hearted… As expected of Dad’s friend.”

“I suppose so.”

“Mmm… Sigh.”

Sien nodded and glanced at the subordinate.

Just from that look, Matthias could tell. Sien was looking at that man with pity, thinking, He’s in the same situation as our dad.

“Well then, let’s buy 10 sweet potatoes. For 1 silver. But Dad!”

“Hmm?”

“Why do you need sweet potatoes?”

He was at a loss for words at the innocent question.

Until now, Matthias had never been outdone by anyone when it came to speaking.

But when he saw those sparkling, bright eyes of Sien… He found himself momentarily speechless.

Because he wanted to protect his adorable daughter’s innocent appearance for a long, long time. As he kept choosing and choosing his words.

While Matthias was constantly choosing his next words, Sien seemed to have made some kind of determination in her mind.

His tiny daughter shouted loudly without hesitation.

“Is Dad also building muscles? The maid unnies were eating sweet potatoes and chicken breast!”

‘…Those maids are helpful at times like this.’

Things were going smoothly.

Recalling the maids with muscular bodies, Matthias nodded and picked up Sien.

“Yes, it’s for Dad to become healthy. Because Dad is too weak.”

“Cou-cough. Ahem.”

The subordinate coughed as if choking on something at Matthias’s brazen words.

But Sien was different. She made a serious expression and said,

“That’s right! What if Dad dies young because he’s too weak? You have to live until a hundred! Eat lots of sweet potatoes!”

Not stopping there, Sien examined Matthias’s body here and there. He couldn’t help but smile at her lovable and innocent words.

The subordinate seemed to be hiccupping while glancing at Matthias’s vicious smile, but…

Matthias was already beyond caring.

He gently pinched Sien’s cheek and said,

“Okay. I got it. Now, shall we change your wet clothes and eat something delicious with Dad?”

“Yes! I want to eat something delicious with Dad!”

Matthias chuckled and gently brushed Sien’s hair.

‘It’s been truly peaceful for a long time.’

His expression turned relaxed.

The quick-witted subordinate went outside, and Matthias pulled the cord next to the desk to call for a servant.

The sharp and skillful servants quickly brought a tray with tea sets. Meanwhile, Sien had changed out of her wet clothes and was sitting nimbly on Matthias’s lap, staring at the documents he was looking at.

She was concentrating so hard that it felt like you could hear the sound of Sien’s eyeballs rolling.

“Dad, what’s this?”

Sien asked, stretching out the end of her words and smiling brightly.

Matthias looked down at the document Sien was holding.

It was a document related to Delphia Mirmode.

Of course, it was encrypted so Sien couldn’t read it, but…

Matthias smiled kindly and said,

“It’s a document for renovating the mansion. This mansion is a very nice place, you know.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. So Dad is trying to do some renovations. Changing the wallpaper and such. I’ll make it like our old countryside house. Won’t that be nice?”

He thought she would be overjoyed, but Sien let out a big sigh and slumped her shoulders.

“Are, are you not doing scary things?”

“…Huh?”

“Threatening others! Bullying them!”

Of course, that’s Matthias’s specialty.

But Sien shouldn’t know that he’s a terrifying existence to numerous people. He decided to deny it excessively.

“I absolutely don’t do such things. Dad will only spend good times with nice people.”

After smoothly uttering a sentence that would make his close associates faint if they heard it, he stroked Sien’s hair.

Sien made a cute expressionless face, but strangely, her body was stiff.

Somehow feeling sorry for the small, tensed shoulders, Matthias gently embraced Sien’s shoulders.

“Ah, Sien.”

“Hmm?”

“If a woman named Delphia comes looking for you…”

“Hmm?”

Sien opened her eyes wide.

“…Don’t meet that person, Sien. You should run away as soon as you hear that name.”

“Why? Why do I have to run away?”

Sien’s innocent eyes looked up at Matthias.

“Because she’s a dangerous person.”

“Yes!”

Sien clenched her fist and nodded vigorously.

“I’ll kill her!”

“…What?”

“I misspoke! Sien will avoid her! Like kind Dad!”

Matthias chuckled and patted Sien’s small head. If there were any dangerous people for Sien, he would grind them up first, so there was no need for this tiny child to be busy moving around.

For a few minutes, a peaceful yet special time flowed by.

But it was then, when Matthias was feeling deeply healed. A loud noise started to be heard from outside the window that was left open for ventilation.

“You… What… Dangerous…”

“No…!”

“Get… Away…”

It was the youthful voices of boys.

For a moment, Matthias’s brow furrowed, disturbed from his rest.

But it was in front of Sien. He needed to give sensible home education.

He whispered kindly to Sien.

“…It seems there are some nasty ruffians outside. Shall we close the window?”

However, Sien’s reaction was unexpected.

Unlike Matthias who was trying to close the window and ignore it, Sien perked up her ears.

“Oh no! No!”

“Huh?”

And then…

Sien landed on the floor with a plop like a tiny sparrow. Then she scurried to the window and peeked down below.

The warmth on his lap suddenly disappeared, leaving him feeling empty.

Sien looked out the window and…

“Gasp, oh no!”

She dangled her legs with a worried expression.

“What’s wrong, Sien?”

“We have to go quickly!”

“Huh?”

“I’ll play with Dad next time! Wait!”

After letting out a cry like a death wail, Sien opened the door and left in a flash.

Matthias was left behind.

…Quite miserably.

The warmth on his lap hadn’t even completely faded yet…

He gritted his teeth.

He was trying to enjoy a peaceful tea time with Sien after a long time. Who on earth was interfering?

Matthias looked down below the window.

In his view, he saw the two friends Sien had made since returning to the duke’s mansion.

Their names were… Acid and Leonhart, if he remembered correctly.

***

I ran panting towards the walkway where Acid and Leonhart were.

As I passed through the corridors, I heard voices saying, “Young miss! You’ll get hurt!”, “My goodness, how can she run with those tiny legs!”, but…!

The concerns of the maids weren’t important in this situation.

The most important thing was that Acid and Leonhart were fighting!

And the next most important thing was…

As I ran hard, flailing my arms, I recalled the hurt expression on my silly dad’s face.

My dad valued his time with me very much. He said watching me wriggle around was the most exciting thing.

But today, the happy time with dad unfortunately came to a quick end.

‘Silly dad, he might get upset!’

Being such a timid and naive dad, he might sulk for a long time.

But it couldn’t be helped. I’ll comfort dad’s pure heart later! For now, I had to check what exactly happened between Leonhart and Acid.

‘Leonhart and Acid, they’re both kids I can’t afford to lose if I want to survive.’

I moved my feet quickly.

Finally, I could see the walkway where they were raising their voices at each other.

Fortunately, it seemed I wasn’t too late yet.

Running hard with feet as small as an adult’s palm, I approached the walkway where they were confronting each other, gasping for breath.

“Huff, what on earth, gasp, is going on!”

Acid and Leonhart were glaring at each other. However, my voice seemed to break the atmosphere. As soon as I arrived, Acid quickly hid behind my back.

“L-Lady Sien.”

“Baby!”

I firmly held Acid’s baby-like hand. Acid’s already flushed cheeks turned even redder.

Leonhart, who was watching that scene with a mischievous smirk, called out to me.

“Chestnut!”

“Yes!”

Leonhart pointed at Acid and said,

“What’s ‘that’?”

Leonhart was the adopted son of a villain. The only kind of speech he would have learned was rough.

But Acid didn’t know that fact yet. So, Acid hid behind my back and tightly gripped my clothes.

Well, the only person tiny Acid could rely on here was me.

Leonhart even wore a mask, so he looked scary at first glance.

‘It would be nice if they could become friends.’

I pondered while rolling my eyes around, then clapped my hands.

“Yes, Leonhart! This is my friend Acid, no, Baby! He lives with us!”

Leonhart’s expression suddenly distorted. Even the mask that completely covered the boy’s face seemed to tremble.

“Is that runt your genius friend, Chestnut?”

“Yes!”

‘Why does he seem angry?’

I was extremely tense, wondering what Leonhart would say.

After all, being a little villain and destined to become the greatest villain when he grows up, I didn’t know which way he would go.

‘Leonhart, what on earth are you going to say?’

And, as if recognizing my tense state, he also had a serious expression. The corners of his mouth were turned up coldly.

‘Is he going to tell us to get lost because we’re a ragtag bunch?’

I looked at Leonhart while trying to calm my pounding heart.

Staring intently into my eyes, Leonhart asked quietly.

“Then…”

Gulp.

As my saliva went down my throat.

“…What am I… to you?”

…Huh?

“…Huh?”

I asked back with my eyes wide open. When I didn’t answer right away, surprisingly, Leonhart fell silent. Instead of him going quiet, Acid tightly grabbed my sleeve. Leonhart’s sharp gaze fell on Acid.

There seemed to be a strange tension between the two…

“Of course Leonhart is my friend too!”

I smiled brightly as I looked at both of them. Leonhart and Acid didn’t smile. Leonhart, who glanced at Acid still holding my sleeve, declared to me,

“Chestnut.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll try to become your most precious friend.”

“Umm…?”

Leonhart said with a strangely deepened voice.

“I mean, I’ll become a better existence to you than that… kid behind you who lives with you.”

A faint possessiveness could be felt in the boy’s eyes.

It was a bit concerning, but in any case, it’s very good for me that a future villain is declaring to become my friend.

I nodded vigorously.

“Okay. Work hard!”

Leonhart smiled with a satisfied expression at my answer.

“I will.”

Behind me, Acid whispered while gripping my collar tightly.

“Me too…”

“Hmm? Baby, what’s wrong?”

Acid whispered very softly so that only I could hear.

“I’ll work hard too!”

My friends are starting to appear! I smiled brightly and spoke kindly to them.

“Then, shall we go eat something delicious together?”

Since I liked this tiny kid and Leonhart more now.

I smiled cheerfully and stroked Acid’s hair.

Acid said in a small voice,

“Yes. Friend… nim.”

Leonhart didn’t answer and tilted his head crookedly, but.

I thought their conflict seemed to have been resolved to some extent.

So I was about to quickly hold both their hands and smile, but…

There was something I hadn’t noticed because I was smiling so brightly.

Dad was standing behind me.

Dad picked up my dangling body with one hand and grinned.

“Sien.”