323 – Prosperous Western Territory – 3
The old town of the Xenos Reserve. As expected, a wagon escorted by knights arrived as he waited blankly for Hyungyeonggong in a very secluded space. Judging by the crest of the Duke of Salon embedded in the carriage, he was definitely a wise man.
As soon as he saw the sentence, he left behind Erich, who closed his eyes sadly, and approached the carriage. The carriage door opened by itself before the knights even touched it.
“Hiyaaa!”
Hyeongyeonggong, who opened the door with almost breaking momentum, ran out with a loud voice. In the meantime, the knights didn’t even change their expressions, so it seems they’ve gotten used to Hyeong-gong’s eccentricities.
It’s unfortunate. If a knight who closely escorts the duke’s family is recognized for his ability, character, and origin, is the duke wise? Rather than being proud of my work, I think the sense of liberation from wanting each day to pass safely is greater.
“It’s been a while, aunt.”
“Hee hee! It’s been a while, my nephew! Mr. Yeo Eok! It’s better to look directly than Tong Sung-gyu!”
“Yes, I think so too.”
I nodded in moderation and replied to Hyun Myung-gong, who repeatedly slapped my forearm as if he was happy. Because Hyungyeonggong’s eyes were already on my back. He’s going to drop off soon unless he gives an answer that’s going to be heartbreaking.
“Ahh, nephew!”
In fact, Hyungyeonggong immediately ran to the next prey. It is natural that a small nephew he sees in a few years is more welcome than a big nephew he saw a few months ago.
I’m glad. I’ve never been so happy to be a mandatory attendee at a New Year’s ceremony. Thank you so much, Imperial Law.
“Erich has grown up a lot since then. She has become a full-fledged adult.”
While watching Erich being kissed by Prince Hyeong-seon, he heard the laughing voice of her uncle.
It seems like he was simply saying it because he was glad to see him after a long time, but it seemed like he was making fun of him when he said that in a situation where his cheeks were being robbed. When Erich hears it, I think he’ll wail, saying, “Where are adults who are treated like this?”
“In my aunt’s eyes, I still think she’s a lover.”
“It can’t be helped. In the eyes of her parents, a child is always a child, and a nephew is no different.”
In other words, that excessive affection won’t change until one of Hyungyeonggong and Erich dies. It’s a fearful word.
‘Cheer up.’
Erich quickly passing a kiss and kicking the cheek, Sera at a loss because she couldn’t bear to push away her crush, her maternal aunt and duke, and Ma Jong-gong, who touched the forehead at the duke’s eccentricities. I withdrew my gaze because I thought my mentality would be damaged if I kept looking over there.
Hold on, Erich. I will live only if you keep holding on to the wise ball.
“Won, you are too. Why are you hiding after coming all the way here?”
“Yes?”
Then I looked at my uncle again at the unexpected words.
“Sue, I’m not hiding.”
I immediately lowered my head at the childish voice I heard from below.
It was only then that I saw a girl sticking her head out behind her uncle. Brown hair resembling her maternal uncle, golden eyes resembling wise balls. However, unlike Hyeongyeonggong, who showed only a dull drunkenness, her eyes were bright and shining.
…Ah.
‘Is this the little duke?’
It’s the first time I’ve seen it myself, so I’m afraid it’s long, but I think it fits. The little duke is the only child who has inherited the characteristics of his parents properly and can stick to his uncle.
‘I was still a child.’
I’m a little embarrassed. I thought he was a dull guy who was forced to become a hikikomori because he was busy with work, but he was just a kid who was about to grow up. I don’t even know how old my maternal cousin is, so I guess I’m not interested in real relatives.
As I looked down at the duke in such a daze, the duke, who had been trembling at the stranger’s gaze, boldly came out to greet his maternal uncle.
“I am Liliana Salon of the Duchess of Salon. It is an honor to see the renowned Inspector General.”
With that ordinary greeting, she felt that the future of the Duke of Salon was bright. The boldness of not looking away from my eyes by lifting one’s head up, the clear pronunciation compared to one’s age, the normal tone of voice with fairly polite manners, and, of course, the appearance of not being drunk unlike others.
Crucially, her heart warmed as she tried to act as calmly as possible while trembling intermittently, as if she was afraid of greeting unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar environment.
‘It’s a miracle.’
I couldn’t help but admire the fact that such a normal daughter came out of the wise man. Of course, Prince Hyeongyeong itself was a rare mutant within the Duke of Salon, mixed with her maternal uncle’s blood, but there were some people who worried that the mutation’s gene would be so strong that it would not be passed on to their children.
“Nice to meet you, Little Duke. I’m Karl Krasius of Count Krasius.”
Anyway, the little kid pretended to be working hard and politely asked for a handshake. I saw her flinch as I slightly bent her knees to get her level, but she tried to ignore it.
Looking at his tone, I could see that he was trying to show off his maturity. If you treat and care for a child here, it is obvious that you will have a pouting future.
“I’m glad your cousin is kind. Liri was worried because she was alone, but I’ll be strong in the future.”
However, disregarding my consideration, my maternal uncle stroked the duke’s head and spoke softly. The little duke started to tremble in a different way than before at the appearance of being treated like a child.
Still, it can’t be helped. It’s me, she says that she tunes in to the rhythm the child is playing for a while, but from the point of view of her maternal uncle, she’s a cute daughter who won’t hurt even if she puts it in her eyes. Perhaps this child will be a cute baby in her uncle’s eyes even when she is twenty or thirty.
‘The female version of Erich.’
Thinking of that made me sad. He even lives with wise gong. There will be no ball left.
‘Ah.’
He cries.
The child’s voice resounded sadly.
“Me, I… For the first time, heuh— Seeing the oppas… I want to look good, go, heuhuh— that’s what I did…”
At the Duke’s complaint, the maternal uncle smiled embarrassedly and patted the Duke on the back. It was difficult to understand due to the mixture of hissing voices, but roughly, ‘A confident and dignified debut as a small duke.’ It’s a sad look to have turned into.
Somehow, they insisted on calling me the director of the inspection department. At first, I wondered where he had picked up my position, but in terms of blood, it was because he wanted to look cool because he was the younger brother.
‘That’s right.’
She swallowed back the horse that soared to the top of her throat.
“Heeheee begging begging be…
Duke Hyeongyeong approached Duke Hyeongyeong, who was weeping in his uncle’s arms, but the Duke desperately avoided Hyeongyeonggong’s touch.
It’s strange. Obviously, it was the uncle who rang, but the one who avoided it was Myeong-myeong-gong. Does he even know that Hyungyeonggong is not normal…? It seems that the ball is being abused at home.
“Age doesn’t matter to a lady. It’s disrespectful even for a parent to treat a lady like that as a child.”
Anyway, Prince Majong, who was watching the commotion created by the little girl with warm eyes, opened his mouth. Advice that if a child imitates a lady, parents should adapt to it, but it is difficult to regard it as too cute.
“hahahaha, I was short-tempered. Thanks to your Excellency, I gained an important realization.”
At that advice, the maternal uncle also nodded her head. If the duke knew how to cry so sadly, his maternal uncle would have matched the rhythm.
But it feels strange to hear Ma Jong-gong talk about his age. Age doesn’t matter to a lady, even a child is a lady, but if you think the other way around, even if you’re over 100, you’re a lady—
“Ugh? Jagi! Why are you so respectful to Majonggong?”
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My thoughts were interrupted by Hyeonmyeonggong’s words.
‘What.’
I was overwhelmed with embarrassment. Isn’t it natural that the maternal uncle respects Ma Jong-gong? Rather, it’s not strange that Prince Majong speaks flatly to his maternal uncle, but he respects that he is the duke’s consort, so he goes with mutual respect…?
“Majonggong~ Now you are Uru’s nephew’s daughter-in-law! Where’s the respect for your nephew’s daughter-in-law!”
I doubted my ears for a moment. Seeing that his uncle’s eyes widened, he must have felt the same way.
No, if Ma Jong-gong is my lover, he is a niece and daughter-in-law from the perspective of Hyeong-myeong-gong and his maternal uncle.
‘…Isn’t it?’
Come to think of it, Jong-Gong Ma secretly wants Ga-Ju and her mother to talk comfortably. In such a situation, it seems that he would be rather happy if someone called him his niece and daughter-in-law.
‘No.’
And that thought came to an end as soon as I saw Jong-Gong Ma’s expression. Because Ma Jong-gong, who was suddenly shot, had a very complex and subtle expression.
Of course, it is encouraging news that the person who becomes the mother-in-law’s brother treats him comfortably from the perspective of Prince Ma. However, I couldn’t help but laugh when I thought that my brother’s wife was Mr.
If you allow your uncle to wear a short horse, you must also allow it to Hyungyeonggong. However, if we ban it altogether, we will forever be forced to respect our uncle. A striking balance that must be lost in order to gain something.
“hehehe. My nephew’s daughter-in-law~ You treat me comfortably with an Afro?”
“…….”
At those words, Prince Ma made the expression of a mathematician who witnessed a difficult problem of the era.
Through the mediation of his maternal uncle, the tragedy of Hyeon Hyeong-gong sucking Ma Jong-gong’s cheek was avoided. If there was no uncle, there is a high probability that he would have gone to that point, so the peace of the empire might be guarded by his uncle.
“It’s not polite to treat them comfortably when they’re not officially married yet.”
“Hey, Arseo…”
That mediation was just an arbitration to buy time, but anyway, it stopped a disaster from happening right away, so it’s okay.
“Ah Mata! Joka!”
So I was about to break up, but until the last moment, Hyungyeonggong opened his mouth.
“Where is this guy going?”
“Since I’m here, I’m going to look around the protected area.”
Fortunately, it’s an ordinary question, so it’s easy to answer─
“Then give me Uru Liri and Gachino!”
Having said that, Hyungyeonggong lifted up the small duke that was clinging to his maternal uncle and held it out to me.
…
“Yes?”
“Cute Lili~ She keeps reading books in her room… This aunt is worried!”
No, it’s a wholesome and good hobby, but why? Are you in a position to worry about others in the first place?
“That’s right, I’m relieved~ My nephew and my nephew’s daughter-in-law also have it! Let’s be safe and enjoy it!”
At those words, the little duke’s eyes began to tremble.
“The time has come for LiLi to experience the outside world, too.”
The duke’s trembling at the betrayal of his maternal uncle, who must have been the only one he trusted, turned into despair before he knew it.
Stop it, he will cry again.
It’s too much to throw a 10-year-old among strangers, even if it’s a cousin.