He felt suffocated for some reason. That’s when Clements walked into the office with a drained face.

As Kyleius silently looked at Clements, he spoke first.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I should have watched Diane better.”

The words brought back thoughts of what had happened earlier.

All those emotions he had felt when he heard that Diane was missing.

Regret for bringing the child here, anger towards those who couldn’t protect her—no, perhaps that anger was actually aimed at himself.

Following that were feelings of despair and helplessness, all of which confused his thoughts.

Finally, when the child safely reappeared in his sight, those boiling emotions settled down.

Only after losing her did he realize how much attention he had been paying to her every word, every action.

Initially, she was just a child he brought out of necessity, planning to send her away later.

He gave a cynical laugh. He knew he could never do that.

Clements still had his mouth tightly shut. Kyleius spoke again calmly.

“It’s not your fault. If anyone failed to protect her, it would have been my fault.”

After revisiting all those emotions, he faintly understood the cause of this suffocation.

Then came a frantic knock.

“The baby is awake!”

It was the most welcome news for both.

I blinked awake. As soon as I opened my eyes, Sophia, who had been guarding by my side, left the room and called for the Duke and Clements.

“Why are those two…”

“How do you feel?”

“Is there anywhere else that hurts?”

Both the Duke and Clements anxiously inquired. Seeing them, I began to fidget with the blanket and asked,

“Were you worried about me?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“I was really worried.”

The Duke’s brow furrowed, and Clements sighed deeply.

Listening to their words, I pulled the blanket up to my nose.

“Why. Is something bothering you? Should I call the physician again…”

“No, no!”

I quickly shook my head. I kept wanting to hide under the blanket.

“They were worried about me?”

I shouldn’t believe them, I shouldn’t give them my heart.
“It’s only for a short time.”

Rebecca thought the same at first. She told me to call her Mom.

“I later screamed that I didn’t want to hear it.”

I know. People change their minds easily and readily abandon useless children.

So I won’t believe, nor will I expect anything.

“It seems you have a fever…”

The Duke’s hand gently rose to my forehead. His face was full of concern as he looked at me.

“I’ll have warm water brought.”

Even as I watched Clements leave the room to instruct a maid and return, I was skeptical.

‘Shouldn’t I dislike Clements?’

Ever since the first day I met him, I thought he wouldn’t like me.

I couldn’t do anything. I was just a child brought along to satisfy the Duke’s whims, or for him to use.

But upon reflection, the one who was on guard first was me.

‘Clements has never done anything bad to me.’

He tried to give me cookies as if he really thought of me as a sister, fed me, and even taught me how to write.

I bit my lip tightly.

‘Why are you being nice to me?’

Don’t be nice, don’t worry about me.

“Why do you look like that?”

I rubbed my eyes. I rubbed until the stinging turned to tears and my vision cleared.

“Stop it.”

“It will hurt.”

The Duke grabbed my hand. Clements took out a soft handkerchief and wiped my tears for me.

Observing them, I suddenly spoke.

“Why do you care about me?”

“What did you say?”

“I’m not even your biological daughter.”

I regretted asking as soon as the words left my mouth. I knew what sort of response would come.

‘He’ll say I’m asking useless questions.’

I’ve cried four times in front of the Duke already. Crying children aren’t loved.

He’ll find me annoying for always whining.

“Who told you that?”

“Child, why do you think that? Who told you?”

“I just know. I’ve known from the beginning. I was brought here because the Duke needed me.”

A heavy silence filled the room. The Duke was the first to speak.

“Yes, you’re not my biological daughter.”

“……Yes.”

“You’re right. I initially introduced you as my daughter because I needed the existence of a daughter.”

My assumption was correct. It was good not to expect anything. It was good not to have any futile hopes from the beginning.

‘Yes, this is for the best.’

“But what if I said that reason has changed now, would you believe me?”

At the Duke’s words, I slowly blinked my eyes. The falling tears were gently wiped by Clements.

“You’ve been skeptical from day one.”

Clements said kindly.

“I thought you’d changed a bit because you started talking to me, but it seems you’re still the same.”

“……I’m not your sister, Clements.”

“Then whose tears am I wiping right now?”

Contrary to my curt words, a light smile spread across Clements’ face. That smile made me feel terribly wronged.

“I’m not your sister. Why do you keep saying that I am?”

Both of you should stop caring about me, stop paying attention to me. Whether I get hurt or not, it doesn’t matter to either of you…,

“Don’t be nice to me.”

In a fit of anger, the words burst out. After saying it, I didn’t have the courage to look at their faces, so I quickly turned away.

“Diane, look here.”

“I don’t want to.”

I’m scared of what he’s going to say. He’s probably angry and will leave the room. Maybe he’ll even tell me to pack my things.

Then, a large hand softly stroked my head.

“It seems I’ve never told you this.”

“……”

“You are my daughter. No matter what the initial reason was for bringing you here.”

“……Huh.”

Tears flooded my eyes. Before I knew it, I was sobbing uncontrollably in the Duke’s arms.

Suddenly, a question I wanted to ask popped into my mind.

No, it was a question I’d wanted to ask from the very beginning.

“…Can I call you Dad, then?”

At my words, the corners of the Duke’s mouth drew a gentle line.

“I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”