The employee’s face turned pale at Leciel’s words.

“P-Please, just one more chance…!”

Fearing he might actually go to prison, the employee desperately clung to Leciel.

He was even more earnest and desperate than when he had pleaded earlier, saying his family might die if he went to prison.

And for good reason—going to prison wasn’t the only problem.

If he ended up there, he would face horrific torture for daring to steal from and lie to a noble family’s member.

However, Leciel had no intention of letting the employee off the hook.

Although the situation had escalated more than anticipated, it was only right that she be punished for her wrongdoing.

If she didn’t want to face the consequences, she shouldn’t have committed the crime in the first place.

“As our little one said, hand him over to the guards.”

Kael said, looking at the bewildered shop owner.

Originally, he intended to deal with it personally, but since Leciel wished otherwise, handing the employee to the guards was the only option.

The guards would handle it appropriately once he conveyed his intention.

“… yes, understood.”

Even though the employee had become somewhat familiar to her, the shop owner had no intention of siding with a troublemaker.

“P-Please… just one more chance…! Urk.”

The employee tried to cling to Leciel again but fainted before she could finish her plea.

Carren, who hated loud noises more than anyone, had kicked her unconscious, unwilling to hear her cries any longer.

“Send the clothes we bought today to the Grand Duke Heithrian’s residence.”

Kael said, looking down at the unconscious employee with a cold expression.

Only then did the shop owner realize Kael’s identity, her face turning ashen.

Of all people, they had crossed the infamous Grand Duke…

It was a relief the situation hadn’t escalated further.

“And… although we will end today’s matter by sending the one who dared steal from my precious child to prison, I hope you will manage your employees properly in the future.”

It seemed the store owner wasn’t aware of the employee’s nature, so he wouldn’t hold it against her. However, not having an eye for such things was a fault in itself.

“Yes, yes. Thank you!”

Ignoring the shopkeeper’s gratitude, Kael left the shop with Leciel. In his other hand, he carried the unconscious employee.

He intended to deliver her to the guards himself.

The guard post wasn’t far, and he could quickly return.

He then looked at Leciel with a satisfied expression, pulling her into an embrace.

“I can walk by myself, you know?”

“It’s a reward for our little one.”

“A reward is supposed to make the recipient happy, but I’m not particularly pleased.”

Leciel replied with a pout.

“As long as I’m happy, that’s what matters.”

‘Whoa, so shameless.’

Leciel looked at him with a somewhat incredulous expression.

“So, what’s this reward for?”

Even though she didn’t want it, Leciel was curious about the reason for the reward.

“I’m proud of my clever and smart little one.”

“If someone hears this, they might actually think I’m your daughter.”

Being clever and smart is one thing, but why must it be attributed to resembling him?

Though having Kael as a father might not be bad, facts had to be clarified.

“You don’t have to be my daughter to resemble me, right?”

“That’s true.”

Leciel nodded half-heartedly.

“By the way, how did you figure it out?”

Kael asked, patting Leciel’s head in praise.

Her actions in the shop had been surprising.

From detecting the theft to noticing the employee’s lies.

It seemed the employee had stolen jewels several times before, but Leciel had keenly noticed it.

Despite being a child, she must have observed carefully, catching even the subtle movements.

“It was just visible to me.”

“Was it?”

“Yes. When she was pretending to help organize the dress, the jewels kept disappearing wherever her hand touched. I found it suspicious and paid closer attention, then I noticed her holding something and slipping it into her pocket.”

That was all there was to it.

“Most people wouldn’t have noticed.”

Unless someone remembered the exact positions of the jewels, as Leciel had mentioned when exposing the theft.

Moreover, the employee had managed to get away with it until now, implying her skills were meticulous and careful.

It seemed the child he brought had exceptionally sharp eyesight and overall keen senses.

“Well, I just have good survival skills.”

Leciel replied nonchalantly, finding Kael’s praise somewhat burdensome.

“… that makes sense.”

To survive in a place filled with monsters, one must have sharper senses than ordinary people.

Kael nodded, somewhat understanding.

However, Leciel’s notion of survival was different from what Kael imagined.

“Of course. She stole jewels, after all! Jewels I could sell for money to use in my later years! Money is essential for survival.”

“… you’re not wrong, but I doubt money was necessary for survival in the place you stayed.”

Who would’ve thought she meant survival in that sense. Kael looked a bit dumbfounded.

Considering the place Leciel had lived, the monster forest, she wouldn’t have needed money before meeting him.

“… now that I think about it, you’re right.”

Money became essential only after she followed Kael out of the forest.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have thought of collecting it. She wouldn’t have been so sensitive about money.

In a forest filled with monsters, what use was money?

Lost in thought, Leciel glanced at Carren.

‘… he’s like a rabbit.’

Carren walked beside Kael with a nonchalant expression, yet his eyebrows twitched, showing interest in their conversation.

If one looked closely, his ears seemed to perk up slightly.

‘Mimi used to do that too.’

During her brief time with Kael in the forest, Mimi would lie on the floor pretending not to care, while perking up her ears to listen in on their activities.

Carren’s current behavior was just like Mimi’s back then.

‘If he’s curious, he should just ask.’

Why was he so intent on hiding it?

Showing interest wouldn’t cause any harm or trouble.

Well, it was his personality, so what could she do?

There were all kinds of people in the world; some were straightforward, while others were not.

‘More importantly… he seems curious about where I lived.’

He showed no interest in other topics, but his eyebrows twitched when that was mentioned. Now he seemed to be paying close attention, waiting for the conversation to continue.

Unfortunately for Carren, Leciel had no intention of easily revealing the answers to his curiosity.

That way, Carren would continue to be interested in her.

Leciel saw herself as an onion; she’d reveal one layer at a time.

Eventually, once enough layers were peeled away, she’d tie Carren up with those layers so he couldn’t leave after losing interest in her.

“So, Carren, what do you think?”

While Leciel was lost in thought, Kael asked Carren with a playful expression.

“About what?”

“About the kid’s cleverness.”

“… is my opinion important?”

Why was he asking him such a thing?

Carren found the question slightly irritating.

He was more curious about the place where Leciel lived.

Why did that place require survival skills, and why wasn’t money necessary?

After waiting patiently, all he got was his father’s doting words about the child he had brought home.

“It’s good to share nice things with more people.”

Especially about his clever little one.

Kael’s words were filled with pride, but Carren looked uninterested.

Still, he answered him.

“For a child, she’s quite clever.”

He said indifferently, but his words were sincere.

Even though his interest was piqued by something else, today’s events impressed Carren.

Particularly, Leciel’s ability to detect the employee’s lie.

Not missing the small details and recognizing a lie—it was quite impressive for a ten-year-old.

The employee’s lie was meant to evoke sympathy from a child.

Generally, the younger the person, the more emotional and easily swayed they were. But Leciel showed none of that.

Her firm stance when the employee pleaded again was commendable.

With such a personality, she wouldn’t cause unnecessary trouble by intervening in things out of pity.

Because of that, Carren’s view of Leciel had shifted from a bothersome child to a somewhat useful one.

“The little one is not just clever for her age.”

Kael corrected Carren’s statement firmly.

It wasn’t because he was doting on her; it was an objective fact.

As a Grand Duke, he had met many people, some of whom were less capable than a ten-year-old.

Incompetent and foolish individuals.

Compared to them, Leciel was a prodigy.

“You seem to adore her so much, why not just adopt her?”

Even his biological child wasn’t cherished this much.

What was it about this child that made his father so smitten?

Seeing this new side of his father because of Leciel, Carren couldn’t understand it.

‘Well, it’s not entirely incomprehensible…’

He, too, felt a bit intrigued by Leciel.

Leciel had an unexplainable charm that others didn’t, sparking Carren’s interest.

“I’ve said before, I’m still considering it.”

“From the way you act, it looks like you’ve already decided.”

He already seemed head over heels, so what more was there to think about?

Calling her his family and all, it was practically decided.

Carren shook her head, still puzzled by his father’s hesitation.

Just then, Leciel, who had been quietly held by Kael, raised her hand, signaling she had something to say.