Chapter 1•♤

I’m Aika de Valliot.

I have a mysterious power.

•••

I’ve been on a cushion of thorns for several days.

However, it was a cushion that I climbed on myself.

“Phew…”

A sigh filled with irritation made my shoulders unconsciously winced.

“To think that he told me to take care of this thing, that old man out of his mind.”

At the confused look which is glaring at me, I turned my head and looked out the window.

Even when I avoided his gaze, my cheeks stung.

I wish he could stop staring at me. If he’s going to keep looking at me, do it with pretty eyes!

I wanted to speak openly like a chimney, yet I only shouted inwardly.

Because Mom said this person was the scariest person she had ever known.

He was even said to be more fearsome than His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.

“Hey.”

“…”

Besides, I’m sitting on the carpet, I can’t believe he’s sitting alone on the soft sofa.

He called out to me in a bad manner and snapped his finger.

I glanced at him, then turned my head away and pretended not to see him.

It was the most timid defiance I could do.

Though it’s true,

What matters if his face is handsome? His personality is bad!

Huwa, Mommm…

No, this isn’t the time.

Don’t forget why you came here.

I showed a smile on my face to try to make the relationship good again, but it quickly collapsed.

“Hey, Peanut.”

“I’m not ‘Peanut’!”

In the end, I couldn’t stand it and shouted out.

“Then Three Heads Tall. Come here.”

“I’m also not ‘Three Heads Tall’!”

“Then.”

Phew, do I really have to say that by words?

I looked down at my body.

No matter how much one looks at it with hateful eyes, it wasn’t a three heads tall body.

Mom said I was the prettiest and coolest in the world!

“Four Heads… Tall?”

Am I not at least four heads tall? I can understand to this extent!

Sneer, and I heard a sound ridiculing me.

I huffed and turned around, sitting down against him.

“Won’t you come when I call you nicely? You’ll regret it if I go there, though?”

Wow, really.

It seemed that the threat he was making wasn’t just a threat.

I curled my lips, puffed out my cheeks, and stood up with a look of dissatisfaction.

Then I walked in front of him and glared at him with triangular eyes.

Even with my head up, I was barely below his waist, yet I didn’t feel intimidated in the slightest.

“I have to live with you from now on.”

“…”

“I have no interest in raising children. So live as if you’re dead, huh?”

“…”

Hmph, I don’t have any interest in raising adults either!

I hugged the doll and just pouted while looking at it in a sulky way.

“Answer.”

He’s 18 years older than me, and he’s so mean.

An adult who was 18 years older was threatening me, who was 18 years younger than him.

It’s fierce, how fierce.

Phew, but we can’t help but live together.

Even if I really want to reach Mom, I can’t do that anymore.

“…Okay.”

It was complicated with many thoughts running through my mind, but I calmly answered.

“If you know, go and ask for food. Stop fooling around in front of me.”

“I already ate earlier, though…”

“Eat more. Since you grew up and stopped somewhere.”

He jumped up from his seat and brushed his hair roughly.

Then he tucked his hands in his pockets carelessly and strode past me.

“Phew…”

I sat down again.

It was as if a storm had raged.

We wouldn’t have lived together if it wasn’t for my mother’s will, well.

Grandpa likes me much, much more.

Without me, he’s meant to be short-lived, yet he treated me like this.

He has to press his nose very flat afterwards!

I won’t forgive him even if he regrets belatedly and beg for his hands to become his feet.

It’s no use begging me to live with him then, hmph!

“Tch.”

So, who that idiot who neglects me is, the family I will share the joys and sorrows with in the future.

It was Kassel de Valliot.

Mm, I mean, my one and only uncle.

•••

The Mad Dog of the Valliot.

It was about Kassel de Valliot.

He sure is also, Kassel de Leguier.

The first time I met Uncle was at Mom’s funeral.

It was a sudden accident.

Mom was a very busy person.

She worked more days than rest, and even after giving birth to me, she continued to work in the Imperial Family.

There were many days when Mom had already gone to work the moment I woke up in the morning.

I never elaborated on what she did, but I knew Mom was the Prime Minister of the Empire.

[Prime Minister, here is the report.]

[Please lend us a hand, Prime Minister!]

I’ve heard Mom’s subordinates call her that quite often.

Still, I’ve never hated Mom. I wasn’t even upset.

Because Mom is the person who loves me the most in the world, and I love Mom the most in the world.

I don’t know who my dad is.

Mom didn’t tell me.

[Mom, what kind of person is Aika’s dad?]

When I asked about Dad one day, Mom just said that Dad is the one who has to do big things.

He hadn’t come to see me before, so at least he wouldn’t be a nice person.

After that, I didn’t ask Mom for fear of her being sad.

Anyway, Mom, who was so busy that she couldn’t open her eyes, left the island for a while as an extension of work one day and went down to the province.

I begged Mom to get into her carriage because she would come after 15 days.

Originally, I was fine with the maids without Mom and I played well alone, so it didn’t matter even if Mom was away from home for over a week.

However, that day, I strangely felt that I had to follow her unconditionally.

[Mom! I want to go too.]

[Does Aika want to go with Mom too?]

[Yeah. I will listen to Mom, I will be quiet, so can you take me?]

[Umm…]

[Only once! Mom, I wish only once!]

With Mom’s permission, I went on a trip with Mom for the first time.

On our way back home after Mom’s work is safely finished.

While Mom was reading a fairy tale book for me in the carriage, we were suddenly attacked and the carriage overturned.

[Aika!]

I wasn’t seriously hurt because Mom held me breathtakingly tight, but I hit my head and lost consciousness.

And when I opened my eyes again, Mom had already left me.

Grandpa told me that I was found in the woods nearby, not in the carriage that Mom and I were in.

But I can hardly remember right after Mom fed me jewelry.

The Imperial Palace said they were investigating the truth about the carriage accident, but there was nothing I could hear.

I only heard that the Emperor was very angry.

It was like hearing that he had lost his reason.

I could guess why His Imperial Majesty the Emperor was angry.

Because His Imperial Majesty said that Mom and him were old friends.

He was probably upset because he lost an old friend.

And Mom is so smart, she does a good job, so that must have been very sad.

Mom’s funeral was held with great grandeur.

I couldn’t see the people properly because I was crying, but later I heard from Grandpa that almost everyone who worked in the Imperial Palace had been there.

And also other nobles.

And there I met Uncle for the first time.

[Mom…?]

He has Mom’s red hair, golden eyes, a slightly more prominent chin, and thick lines overall, but his face is so identical with Mom that he can be mistaken for her twin.

I just thought Mom was back alive.

Instead of crying and mourning like many at her funeral, Uncle looked at Mom’s coffin and people with eyes that seemed like they would kill people.

[Mom…]

I stopped crying and hugged Uncle, who looked just like Mom, and stuck with him for days.

Although on the last day, while I was asleep exhausted, Uncle disappeared and wasn’t there.

After that first meeting with Uncle, I ended up staying with Grandpa for several months.

Chapter 2°♤

[Why is there an uncle who looks like Mom?]

[Aika, that guy is Kassel. He is your only uncle.]

[Uncle?]

[Yes. Your uncle.]

[Then… I want to see Uncle!]

I heard it later, but Uncle wasn’t called a mad dog for nothing.

In many ways, the whole track record was enormous and terrifyingly splendid.

Of course, his character and personality that seemed to be broken somewhere played a part.

I heard that there are cases where a family almost disappeared because of Uncle’s anger, and there are cases where a family actually disappeared altogether.

Even a man proposed to Mom and nobody had ever seen him since then, nor did they know what happened.

Ironically, despite having such a cruel and fiery disposition, he’s said to be among the three most popular men among noble ladies.

In addition, Grandpa said that Uncle played a part in increasing the family fortune by smelling money so wonderfully.

But the reason I ended up living with this crazy uncle…

There are several reasons.

The first is because this is Mom’s only sibling.

The second is that Grandpa sent me away on condition that Uncle be given the title of marquis.

Actually, Uncle said he wouldn’t accept the title of marquis, but Grandpa forcibly handed it over, so he handed me over too.

I learned this by eavesdropping on a conversation between Grandpa and Uncle.

[If you want to receive the title of marquis, take Aika with you.]

[Are you senile, old man? Give me a title or something.]

[You jerk! I’m saying this because this could be dangerous for Aika! Are there only one or two guys who are aiming for the family line?!]

[…]

[No matter how crazy you are to others, you will protect your niece well.]

That’s why I came to Uncle Kassel de Valliot, Mom’s brother and the only remaining child of the Duke of Valliot.

Although now he has been given the title of Marquis and has become Kassel de Leguier.

Well, as you can see, Uncle hates me.

He seems to hate me very ignorantly.

I didn’t really like such an uncle, either.

Even so, the last reason why I came to Uncle, even though I purposely begged to let him see my face, is the most important.

It’s to save Uncle.

Mom gifted me a special power during the carriage accident that day, before I lost consciousness.

Mom was bleeding from her head, yet she suddenly forced to feed me a red jewel the size of a pinky fingernail.

[Aika, my beloved daughter… I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you until the end.]

[Mom, I don’t like this. Hicc. Don’t dieee.]

[Aika will now have special eyes. Never be surprised no matter what you see and find out in the future. This will save your precious ones.]

[Special, hicc, eyes…?]

[You can’t tell anyone. It’s a secret that only Mom and Aika know, okay?]

I made a promise not to tell anyone and when I woke up, I found out Mom was gone.

Even after Mom’s funeral, I didn’t know what she meant.

However, from that day on, I began to have dreams that were more vivid than reality, and only when the scene I had seen in my dream appeared in front of me, I knew it.

That I have the ability to see the future.

It was the ability to detect the dangers of people related to me in advance.

It seemed that my power wasn’t limited to bloodlines, as I had also dreamed of the maid working at Grandpa’s house, with whom I’m close to.

In addition, later, it wasn’t a dream, but even when I was awake, I suddenly saw something like a fantasy in front of my eyes.

It’s very rare, but still.

Then, when I got used to the ability and was able to naturally prevent the accidents of the maids…

I had that dream.

[Uncle! No!]

A dream in which Uncle will face his death in an affair more dangerous than Mom’s.

The day I gained a special power.

Even as I was losing consciousness, I vaguely heard the conversations of strangers.

[Find the necklace first. Because the thing in it is important.]

[I found it, but it’s empty inside.]

[Tsk, she must have taken it somewhere. We avoid them before they come in. You guys should hide and search further.]

[Alright.]

I don’t know why I can’t remember anything else and only that part remains in my memory, but that voice is still vivid to this day.

[You must find it and return.]

The necklace Mom cut off and the jewel she urgently fed me.

Those people who were looking for something were obviously dangerous people.

[Aika, don’t let this special power get exposed. You have to be careful of…]

If I don’t find them and put them in jail, Uncle will be in danger too.

Even if I keep, keep blocking.

[Aika, someday I will show you, your uncle. He’s not a… mad dog, he’s like a puppy, but you’ll like it when you see him. Actually, he’s warmer than anyone else.]

Mom always said that.

Saying that she doesn’t see Uncle very often, but he’s her one and only precious little brother.

Even though I don’t know his face, all the toys I used to play with were bought by Uncle.

I can’t stand to watch the death of such an uncle.

‘I’ll protect Uncle, and myself too.’

Because I was Mom’s most precious treasure.

I will surely become a healthy and wonderful adult.

That’s why, even though I couldn’t protect Mom, I decided to protect Uncle.

Because he’s the only one who looks like Mom.

So I came in person with a hard time, yet Uncle stubbornly rejected me and treated me like a peanut.

Tch, he doesn’t even know my feelings.

If Uncle wasn’t Mom’s brother, he wouldn’t even look at me.

I wouldn’t like him if he didn’t look like Mom at all.

Except for his handsome face, his personality is completely eccentric and different from Mom.

“I can’t help it.”

I, a good seven-year-old, will put up with it.

I set the doll down, brushed off my skirt, and stood up.

I didn’t want the dress that the sister maids had nicely put on me in the morning to be ruined.

“Eh, it’s crumpled.”

I straightened out the wrinkled dress as much as I could.

Even if I’m treated like this, I should stop Uncle from going out today, even if I die.

Mom did.

One should never underestimate a little spark.

No matter how small the fire, if left alone, it would grow out of control and become a huge fire that would swallow everyone.

Mom said she could call herself a hero if she saw the embers that would be dangerous and extinguished it.

So I decided to be a little hero.

When I opened the door and went outside, a maid rushed to me.

“Miss, do you need anything?”

It was Zenda, who took care of me from the first day I came here.

She must have been waiting by the door for me to come out.

She said she has been working here for over three years and that what she does best is embroidery and sewing.

As if to prove her skills, Zenda embroidered a sunflower in full bloom on the left sleeve of my dress.

And she knew the character of Uncle very well.

Well, not only Zenda, but almost all of the servants here seem to know Uncle’s bad temper.

“What about Uncle? Where did he go?”

I asked, looking up at Zenda, who was kind, unlike Uncle.

“The Master? He has gone to get ready to go out. He must have gone to the dressing room.”

“Then I will go to Uncle.”

Then Zenda’s expression changed like a dark cloud.

She looked full of worry.

“Rather than that, it’s snack time, so how about having a snack in your room? I’ll make you a delicious cocoa. It’s presumptuous, but when the Master is busy, it’s better for you not to be around…”

Perhaps you will hear what I said to my uncle again.

I laughed bashfully and shook my head.

“It’s okay! I have to go quickly before it’s too late.”

“I understand. I will take you there.”

When I continued to say I’d go to Uncle, Zenda led me to Uncle’s dressing room with her almost-crying expression.

Fearing that Zenda would get scolded, I sent her away and knocked on the tightly closed door.

“Uncleeee!”

As expected, there’s no answer.

I know Uncle is here, though?

I put my hands together like a trumpet, brought my mouth to the door, and shouted again.

“Uncle! Uncle! Uncleeee!”

Then there was a rather harsh sound from inside, and the door burst open.

Meanwhile, the shirtless Uncle looked down at me with a terrifying expression.

“I told you not to stand out…”

I passed the grinding sound on my ear and smiled broadly at him.

“Uncle! Let’s play house!”

Uncle, I’m sorry, but you can never go out today.

Chapter 3°♤

Perhaps the most peaceful country on the current continent, the Warford Empire.

Warford was called the land of countless blood and bones as it fought countless wars, such as the Continental War and the Ancient Relic War, until the previous emperor settled down.

In the difficult-to-reach peace, the four dukes shared the most power after Celedor, the Sun of the Empire, and supported Warford like a pillar.

Valliot, Cardier, Deslin, Notium.

Among them, the Valliot, which is also my bloodline, was the youngest of the four families.

However, there were many honors and titles obtained compared to its short history.

This is because Grandpa was the creditor who put the previous emperor on the throne and allowed the current emperor to firmly take his place.

And it was also famous for the family that accumulated the most wealth in the shortest amount of time.

Excluding the family territories and the land owned by the Imperial Family, more than a third of the capital was owned by Valliot, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Also, there are two things that Valliot is famous for, one is Mom, who is the most talented one, and the other is Uncle.

…Mom is the best!

The story of Mom is precious, so I will do it a little later.

Uncle is the strongest swordsman in the Empire, and his swordsmanship skills are so good that he’s regarded as a weapon itself.

However, he’s evaluated as having more or less of his personality collapsed by pouring all his abilities into his appearance and swordsmanship.

He’s even more famous for rumors that even the current emperor is busy appeasing him because of his broken personality.

Perhaps it’s no exaggeration to say that the story of Uncle accounts for the largest share of all the Valliot’s rumors.

This is what Mom told me.

But if you ask me why I’m acting up in front of such an uncle…

•••

“Uncleeee! No!”

“Let go.”

Oops, I heard this grinding sound again.

“I said no! Don’t gooo!”

I clung to his long legs like a cicada and hugged him with my arms and legs.

If I do this, he won’t be able to walk because it’s heavy, right?

Maybe one of his legs will be crushed.

I’m sorry for Uncle, who was in pain, but that was better.

Going there now is like going to die, you stupid uncle!

“Huh, huh?”

However, this monster started to walk casually even after carrying me, as if it wasn’t too heavy.

I felt like I was about to fall from the reaction, so I bit Uncle’s pants with my mouth.

“Dewn’t gew, cem en!” (Don’t go, come on!)

Then Uncle stood tall.

Before long, a low sigh was heard from above the top of my head.

Flinch.

That low sigh had the power to settle even the surrounding air.

The power to freeze my whole body.

‘I have a lot to say too.’

However, secrets were something that had to be kept with care, even if one was frustrated.

It was Mom’s teaching that was deeply engraved in my heart.

And above all, it was a precious secret with Mom.

Mom is no longer on this earth, but I didn’t want to break my promise.

Because now I can’t make secrets with Mom anymore.

Because this is my last secret appointment with Mom.

“Hey, Peanut.”

At Uncle’s call, I let go of his pants and raised my head.

My arms were tingling and my mouth was moist from saliva.

“It’s not ‘Peanut’!”

First of all, let’s correct my name.

“Come down.”

“No. If I come down, you’re going to leave.”

Try rebelling a little.

Still hanging on, I quietly wiped the saliva from my mouth on Uncle’s pants.

How about it, your pants are dirty, so you can’t go out, can you?

Uncle glanced at the saliva on his pants and frowned.

“Come down if you know that.”

“…Are you going to throw me if I don’t?”

And make a pitiful face once.

“Phew, I’m going crazy. Why the hell are you picking a fight over everything? I told you to stay out of sight.”

What does he mean picking a fight? This is all about trying to save Uncle.

I wouldn’t even care if Uncle wasn’t from Mom’s blood!

It was unfair, but I swallowed it again inside beause I wasn’t a great person to believe that I would say that.

“…”

His face, which had been terribly crumpled, straightened as if he had half given up.

“You’re wickedly stubborn like your mom.”

“My mom isn’t stubborn.”

“You won’t lose a word.”

“Uncle.”

“Why.”

That’s a good answer, though.

The eyes that looked as if they were going to eat me at any moment were still the same.

“Uncleee, I’ll give you all my snacks, don’t go. Hmm?”

Then Uncle put on a puzzled expression.

“Wow, that’s crazy. Were you inspired by the old man?”

“Inspired? What is that?”

“Come down before I throw you.”

I shrank my body involuntarily at the sight of him chewing and speaking word by word.

However, I must not give up here.

I gave more strength and held on to Uncle’s legs.

My fingers were so painful that it felt like they were getting hot.

If Uncle keeps doing this, I have no choice but to use that method.

If I fail to stop Uncle today, he will be confronted by a member of the Handel family, one of the Valliot’s hostile families.

“…”

“I told you to come down.”

No, to put it a little closer, the heir of the Handel family will quarrel with Uncle.

After that, my uncle will be in a very bad mood and will beat the heir of the Handel family…

Then?

Things will get bigger and bigger, him turning the Handel family into a sea of blood.

“Uncle, just once. Just once! Aika’s wish!”

“Come. Down.”

“…Hng.”

The Handel family was the family that was most displeased with the Prime Minister coming from the Valliot family.

In addition, they had a history of arguing for reasons that didn’t work at every regular meeting, which was even more eye-catching for Uncle.

After that, many territories in Valliot would be burned down due to family wars.

Even now, Uncle was dealing with the people who weren’t on good terms with Valliot one by one.

This is because Grandpa, who knew that the carriage accident wasn’t an accident but a raid, asked him to find the mastermind behind it.

Although Uncle thinks I don’t know, I overheard all of his conversations with Grandpa at the funeral home when I was just about to fall asleep.

I wanted to step in and figure it out, yet I couldn’t help because I hit my head in the carriage accident and I don’t remember most of it.

Anyway, if we continue like this, Uncle will eventually die.

A fire that I can stop.

‘In my dream, the Handel family weren’t the ones who killed Mom.’

So I had to stop Uncle somehow.

“Uncle, I want to see Mommm…”

I couldn’t stand it any longer and let go of my hands as I hung on to his legs.

Then I fell down and hit the floor with my buttocks.

When the sound of Mom came out of my mouth, Uncle really became quiet as if it was all a lie.

At that moment.

“Eh?”

Suddenly, the back of my head was caught.

To be precise, my clothes were grabbed violently.

Caught like a doll by Uncle, I had to come face to face with his fearsome golden eyes.

“Go and look in the mirror then.”

I shook my head, looking at his slightly angry eyes.

“I don’t look very much like Mom. Uncle looks more like her! It’s the same as Mom’s!”

I laughed bashfully.

And I’m not even red-haired like Mom and Uncle!

My golden eyes were said to be exactly like Mom’s, as if they were molded, but my hair, unlike hers, was very black.

That’s why she always told me I was as pretty as the night sky that my hair couldn’t reach.

“Ugh!”

Uncle, who was staring at me, suddenly roughly brushed off his hair with the other hand.

Then he picked me up and headed somewhere.

I was afraid that if I said more, he might really throw me through the window of the hallway, so I kept my mouth shut and dangled quietly.

Fortunately, Uncle arrived at my room with me.

Uncle, who almost threw me to the bed, sat down and glared at me as if he was going to kill me.

Ugh, he’s not cold without his clothes on.

Afraid that Uncle would run away, I quickly crawled across the bed and grabbed his pants.

“Hey, Peanut.”