The Two Babies Changing the Original Story – Chapter 26

Author: Asternkm

Asking the Duke of Berndt, “Are you going to join the Royal Guard?”

It was a question that could be taken as insultingly as asking a cat, “Are you a dog?”

“I….”

The Duke of Berndt—Cleus—opened his mouth to answer.

All the adults swallowed hard.

“Wherever I may stand, I will protect Your Highness.”

Lilcia’s lips fell open.

Marquis Simon and Madam Laval also inhaled sharply.

It could have been the childish bravado of a young boy.

But at the same time, it was also the Duke of Berndt’s oath of loyalty.

Even if he was still young, he was the duke. His words could never be taken lightly—no matter that it wasn’t a formal vow, no matter that it was spoken casually at the dinner table.

“Thank you!”

But Ellie—who had no idea how heavy those words were—could answer with a bright, delighted smile.

Cleus, whether he knew the weight of his own words or not, smiled just as brightly back at Ellie.

****

“Next time I come to visit, I’ll definitely, really send word in advance!”

Before climbing into the carriage, Ellie repeated the promise several times.

Cleus only nodded silently—until Ellie poked her head out the carriage window. Then he suddenly spoke.

“If it’s urgent… you may come without notice.”

“Huh?”

“Like today… when you happened to be passing by and suddenly thought of it… or so.”

“Uh…?”

Ellie’s face, which had been dimming with the sadness of parting, lit up twice as brightly.

He had been so welcoming, but she had still been nervous—what if he never wanted her to come again?

“There may be times when you cannot send word in advance…. So please don’t pass by. Come comfortably, anytime.”

“Okay!”

Ellie reached her arm out of the carriage and wrapped it tight around Cleus’s neck.

“Oh my, Your Highness!”

“Y-Your Highness!”

The adults hurried forward, afraid she might fall out of the carriage—but seeing Cleus holding Ellie securely in his arms, they stepped back again.

He was still just a small child, but…

He’s a boy.

He really is a boy.

Surprisingly so.

*****

After sending Ellie off, Cleus watched the carriage grow distant and let out a small sigh.

The butler and Dulsen approached and stood beside him.

“She has gone, sir.”

“Good work handling an unexpected guest, Butler.”

At Cleus’s praise, the butler bowed deeply.

“And from tomorrow on, we will train together every morning.”

“…….”

Cleus would never simply overlook the incident the butler had caused earlier.

He never forgot anything he deemed worth remembering.

Which was why the butler was secretly surprised.

For the young master to so easily accept the child of the one connected to his parents’ deaths? There was no way someone like him would forget such a grudge lightly.

But—

What he had seen today was not the attitude of someone facing the child of an enemy.

Even to the butler’s eyes, Princess Ellia was bright and beautiful.

She was the kind of person who melted one’s heart just by being near. Even the butler himself couldn’t help treating her kindly.

If he felt that way, how could the young master be any different?

Human hearts are truly…

Both fate and affection flow in directions no one can predict.

“You see, I told you several times we should run together in the mornings.”

Dulsen chimed in at Cleus’s remark.

Cleus’s words the butler could accept, but he had no intention of taking the same from this hulking, rough-edged captain of knights.

“At least wipe the dirt off your boots before entering the front hall!”

“If you get dusty with us, it won’t bother you anymore. Besides, from today on I may come back with even more dirt, so you should just give up.”

“…What did you say? Why?”

“…Rilkea… she taunted me first… I can’t live after losing like this. My intensive training begins today!”

“…Ah.”

The butler knew well the depth of their relationship.

Dust mattered less than pride… of course…

He gave up on the entrance hall and let his gaze drift toward the distant slope.

While they were talking, the princess’s carriage had vanished completely from view.

“Shall we begin the evening training then.”

“Mm.”

“Butler, you should come too.”

“I—I need to help with the dishes…”

“Oh, come now.”

There could be no weaklings in House Berndt.

Dulsen’s eyes gleamed as he seized the butler’s arm.

The frail butler struggled desperately to escape. He needed an excuse—any excuse!

Just then, he saw a carriage approaching.

“Huh? A carriage is coming. We don’t have any expected visitors today…”

Dulsen released the butler and looked as well.

The carriage was driving straight toward House Berndt.

They waited for it to draw near so they could see the crest on the door, but there was none. No crest at all.

“…Too openly approaching for an ambush,” Dulsen muttered, eyes turning sharp as he studied the carriage.

Meanwhile, the carriage rolled right up to the main gate of the duke’s estate and came to a calm stop before the gatekeepers.

The gatekeepers signaled.

‘What should we do?’

Cleus inhaled deeply and glared toward the carriage.

At times like this, the decision was entirely his to make.

The shoulders lightened by Ellie’s smile now felt heavy again.

The princess must face things far worse than this.

If carrying the weight of one house was this difficult, how burdensome must an entire nation be?

Thinking of Ellie, Cleus steeled himself.

He needed to stand straight—so that he could someday protect her.

“Summon the knights.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dulsen immediately sent the signal.

The knights who had been training gathered in full battle readiness in moments.

“Butler, go inside and evacuate the non-combatants.”

“Yes, sir.”

The butler quickly followed his order.

“Let them in.”

Cleus spoke only after verifying the butler had fully entered the house.

In the capital, in the very center of the Berndt duchy, there wasn’t much a carriage-sized force could accomplish. With this level of preparedness, they could handle whatever danger might arise.

Dulsen looked down at Cleus’s round little head and smiled faintly.

Growing well, I see.

He was young—but wise.

His judgment was better than that of many adults.

If he continued gaining experience like this, he could become the greatest head of House Berndt in its history.

While Dulsen was having those warm thoughts, the carriage came to a halt before the entrance.

Up close, although it bore no crest, it was made of high-quality wood. The coachman’s attire was likewise impeccable.

Only a handful of nobles could afford a carriage like this.

The door opened, and the passengers stepped out.

“Well, well. Quite the unexpected welcome, isn’t it?”

A flamboyantly dressed man in his mid to late thirties, and an older gentleman. Two men.

Cleus, who had just begun memorizing the faces of the nobility, recognized them immediately.

“…Duke Wheaton. Duke Notman.”

“You recognize us at once? I had heard of the Berndt young lord’s brilliance. Hahaha.”

The one who stepped forward with exaggerated cheer was Duke Wheaton.

The carriage—painted black with no crest—was meant to be inconspicuous, but his attire was anything but.

He greeted Cleus with almost comical flamboyance.

“We passed by briefly during the recent royal funeral, and I saw you as well at your predecessor’s funeral. It’s our first time exchanging greetings, however.”

“…Yes.”

“I’m not sure if you know, but I was quite close with the late Duke. Why, I even carried you on my back when you were very young. You probably don’t remember, but while you were—”

“What business brings you here.”

Cleus cut in sharply.

Duke Wheaton’s eyebrows arched as he fell silent.

He smiled, but his eyes were far from pleasant.

Cleus met his gaze without backing down.

“…Well, if we came this far, it must be because we have something urgent and discreet to discuss, yes?”

“How urgent is this matter.”

Cleus stood firm, implying he could listen right here.

He had no intention of inviting them inside to offer tea.

Unexpected visitors were the same—but for Ellie, he would gladly offer tea, food, even his bed.

But this Duke Wheaton? He wanted to send him away the moment he saw him.

Still, as the head of a ducal house, he had to at least hear their business. It could, after all, concern something important.