I Picked Up The Evil Duke’s Child

“What’s your name?”

I asked. I thought I would know whose son he was if I knew his name.

But the child started crying again at my question.

I hastily added,

“No, no…! Of course… I know your name! But I wanted to hear you say it yourself…”

‘What am I saying…’ I didn’t understand anything that came out of my mouth.

I feel like I made such an absurd excuse because I was in a hurry.

Fortunately, the child answered quickly, although he looked sulky.

“Hmph, mom’s stupid! My name is Sertien! You always called me Seri, have you forgotten? Please say Seri, Seri–.”

As if meant to imitate him, Sertien opened his mouth wide and pronounced, “Seri.”

Thinking that if I don’t follow this, he might cry and throw a tantrum again, so I meekly followed Sertien.

“Okay, Seri, then what’s your last name? What’s your last name other than your first name?”

“…I don’t know.”

“…….”

What do you mean you don’t know?

I thought I could finally find out who his parents were, but I didn’t know there would be such an ambush.

Now, this is difficult.

I immediately had to go find Ered.

Though I was in a hurry, I couldn’t just leave such a young child alone.

I could leave it to someone, but I didn’t even have time for that.

‘I guess it can’t be helped…’

I didn’t think the child would want to leave me anyway, and so for one reason or another, I was forced to take him.

His parents may be looking for him, and I thought I could tell the palace officials that I had their child.

So I took Sertien straight to the carriage.

It looks like I’m abducting him with the way things are going.

There was a carriage waiting for me in front of the entrance to the palace.

I could see the coachman along with one of my subordinates waiting for me.

I quickly approached them.

“I’m sorry for being late.”

My subordinate bowed down as he saw me approaching, and said:

“We had the carriage ready as you told us… But that child… Don’t tell me… Commander.…!?”

My subordinate’s eyes shook violently when he saw Sertien standing next to me.

It was obvious what kind of misunderstanding he was having.

When I opened my mouth to straighten out the misunderstanding, Sertien’s words followed like a wedge.

“Are we going on a trip, mom?”

“As expected…!”

Well, it’s not what you think.

Even the coachman next to me was staring at me as if he would faint immediately.

“Commander… commander… when did you have a child…”

I answered quickly, waving my hands.

“No! We just bumped into each other at the palace.”

“But you two look alike..!”

“Really…? No, I don’t know about that, but apparently one of the palace officials brought him. Please let me know if anyone is looking for a child. I have him.”

Even after saying this, he still didn’t withdraw the look of doubt he had toward me.

I coughed on purpose and only then did my subordinate answer as if he knew.

“Un… derstood… But if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to leave it to someone else?”

“I don’t have time for that. And this child doesn’t want to get away from me…”

“I see.”

“Mom, when are we going to ride the carriage?”

Why don’t you stop saying things that others might misunderstand?

The misunderstanding was resolved, but I felt troubled every time I saw my subordinate and the coachman get startled whenever Sertien called me mom.

I opened the carriage and hurried up on board.

Somehow Sertien didn’t get on right away, so I asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Carry me…”

Sertien stretched out his arms at me, sulking and asking for a hug.

Now that I saw it, the wagon felt a little high for Sertien to climb, who is still small.

Sertien, with his small arms outstretched, was so lovely and cute.

I lifted Sertien and put him in the carriage, feeling a smile on my own.

I don’t know why you keep calling me mom.

But I naturally accepted Sertien, who kept coming to me, because I thought he was cute.

“The.. then we’re leaving.”

The coachman, who still looked at me strangely, said so and started the carriage.

And so I started heading to the harbor with a child whom I had never seen before.

* * *

Not long before Lithia left the Imperial Palace to find Prince Ered.

“Long time no see. Grand Duke, you’ve become more mature since the last time I saw you.”

In front of the palace, a carriage that seemed to be ridden by a noble stopped.

The residents of the capital where the Imperial Palace is located were all snooping in front of it out of curiosity.

Aside from the splendid carriage, it was natural to be curious as all the officials of the Imperial Palace were gathered outside to meet the nobleman inside it.

After a while, the door of the carriage opened and a young man appeared from inside.

All the people passing by admired the man’s appearance and were left wondering who he was.

Black hair, black eyes, pale skin, sculpture-like handsome but cold-looking face… It was like the rumored looks of the Northern Grand Duke, who was said to have come straight out of a fairytale.

However, he was actually the Grand Duke Lathrin Priscilla.

Lathrin had little change of expression, befitting the cold impression he gave off.

He only gave a simple answer to officials who greeted him.

“Long time no see.”

There was an awkwardness in the greeting.

Officials turned with Lathrin and entered the palace.

But at that moment, another person could be seen coming out of the carriage.

“Let’s go together!”

It was a little boy.

The child, who was not afraid at all even though there were many tall adults standing in front of him, ran towards Lathrin and clung to him.

Lathrin looked down at the child and smiled so affectionately that he could hardly be thought of as the same person from earlier.

An official next to him asked, seemingly embarrassed.

“A… A child..?”

“He’s my son. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to, but due to unavoidable circumstances, I was forced to bring him.”

“…….”

The officials could not say anything at Lathrin’s words and looked back at each other.

The Grand Duke Lathrin said so, and it didn’t seem like he was making excuses.
(t/n: 토를 달 can mean pointing out mistakes (nitpicking), making excuses (for wrong behaviours), talking back(?) but i’m not sure how i should use this in a sentence so i just stuck w this T___T)

In addition, the Emperor, Friedrich, was also very fond of Lathrin, so there was no doubt he could bring his child with him.

Lathrin, who followed the officials into the palace, was familiar with it and went somewhere.

When Lathrin suddenly headed elsewhere, an official asked, flustered.

“Grand Duke? Where are you going?”

“I’ll take him to my room for now. The room I used before must be empty.”

“Ah, yes, that’s right.”

It has been a while since Lathrin left the palace, and since he could return anytime, the office he had been using was left unoccupied.
Entering the room, Lathrin knelt down at the child next to him and said,

“Sertien, I’ll be right back, so wait patiently here, okay?”

“Okie!”

Sertien nodded vigorously.

Lathrin smiled and gave Sertien a pat on the head.

He was usually very obedient and would always have someone guarding him so Lathrin did not worry about Sertien disappearing.

“The child has grown a lot.”

On the way out of the room to meet Friedrich, an official next to him opened his mouth.

Lathrin looked back at the official with a cold face.

The official spoke again.

“Did you receive the letter I sent you in advance?”

“…yes, I did.”

“Then you know what I’m trying to say.”

Lathrin closed his eyes as if he didn’t want to hear, but the official didn’t stop talking.

“Of course, I know it’s hard to forget your previous wife who just passed away. But Grand Duke, you’re a very important figure in our country. You have to get married again and have a proper successor…”

“So you’re saying my son isn’t worthy enough as a successor.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

The official’s voice became quiet as if he was about to faint when Lathrin replied with a voice laced with murderous intent.
But nevertheless, this is the last of what he was about to say.

“Anyway, I hope you reconsider the engagement with the Knight Commander I mentioned in the letter!”

Lathrin ignored the official and without answering, he went into the audience room.

Re-marriage? How absurd.

‘Erias…’

Lathrin bitterly recalled a familiar woman.

A woman with luscious pink hair and blue eyes.

She was no longer in this world, and therefore can never be seen again.