Chapter 188: Chapter 188
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’Oho~ is this a challenge, rough paprika?’
Entertained by his tough act I stared at his finger pointing the... Surprisingly high pile of papers, and felt the rush of finding a worthy opponent for some reason.
"Gustav, could you tone it down? I remind you she’s my child."
"And? She seems to like it. Don’t you, flashy youngling?"
’Pff... D*mn~ you got me there, old man. Sorry, Mister. He’s right.’ — I thought as I nodded to the Duke, sorry that I wasn’t minding it as I was supposed to.
"Sigh... I guess she does."
"You’re just too uptight of an ar**hole, ashy youngster. The kiddo knows her stuff, get out if you’re gonna be annoying.
Now come here, flashy kid. Show me that thing you’re using the... What’s its name again? You have to name things kid. If not this sh*t happens."
The old man went to sit back at the seat where we found him, inviting me to seat with him as he whined.
I went immediately and sat on one of the trunks.
"Hey, if you’re gonna stay bring the ink and the quill over there, ashy. Be useful since you gave me so much work."
"... If not because my child is present..."
"You sayin’ what? Talk louder, d*mn ashy. Hurry the f*** up."
"Alright! Just tone it down! You’ll corrupt my child’s ears!!"
"Yeah, yeah, hurry up pipsqueak. I don’t have all day."
’Pffhah! Mister, what the hell~? This man doesn’t even care about your title, does he? This is so fun~!’
Seeing he fits the bad-mouthed type, I feel more entertained watching him.
The duke did as he was told, obviously pissed since the man was indeed a bit much for the reserved Mister to handle, and in the meantime, the old man turned to look at me and said in an intended whisper that was too loud to pass unheard.
"He’s always been a boring a**... Don’t be like him kiddo, ya gotta make a mess of things to enjoy life. Have you ever burned some things down? It’s great. If you’re interested we can visit the blacksmith, he always melts things. His oven is the best I’ve seen."
’Hwaha! That’s what I’m saying, old man! I’ve recently wanted to cut someone’s hair but I could go for fire if they tick me off enough, HAHA!’
"Hey! Don’t tell my child stupid ideas!" — The Duke said as he came back placing the ink and quill on the "table". — " If you’re gonna whisper don’t just make your voice rusty. Lower the volume too..... Hahh... Why did I think introducing you to my daughter was a good idea?"
’It was though.’
"Mind your own business... You only have good ears. And it was a good idea, d*mn brat. She should know men like me exist besides the delicate noblemen she’s condemned to meet. Ain’t I more fun kiddo?"
Giving me a nice smile — which I think was supposed to be a flirtatious one — with some lost teeth and a wink of the eye, I followed his lead without a problem.
’Sure, old man. If we mix the pretty faces of nobles with your personality, then you got me~’
"Hwahwahwa! The kid is clever! Learn some, ashy!"
Giving up, Marianne’s Father sat down next to the crafter in silence, and then, we went right into business.
Drawing the quill and ink closer to me, Gustav told me.
"A’ight, show me something interesting kid. A small sheet should do."
’Sure~ Since you asked so nicely I’ll give you the honour~’
I went right for it, knowing what it was that I should quickly draw.
It took me about five minutes since I wanted it to look nice for him to keep. And once I finished, I wrote a message at the back to finally say something to the old man.
[ It’s a quick one, but here you go, old man. Thanks for the object, I call it a portable canvas. You did a great job. ]
’If he’s that rude, I can do so too right?... I already wrote it so, no going back now, heh.’
Bringing the sheet to him, sliding it on the straight-cut wood, I watched the two men leaning to read it.
"HwaHWAH! Old man! Oi, your kid has the guts you lost Orland, HwaHwAaaha!"
"... When I called you that, I got one of your tools stuck on my crane... Old man."
Whack!
"And you’ll get another one if you call me that again, ashy f**ker. The kid is not as annoying as you were."
’Dude! Anne! Your Father got whacked just now! HahaAHAhaA!’
The both of us were aghast yet amused. A sight like this... I would have never imagined it. And much less, lovely and naive Marianne.
As the Duke silently rubbed his nape in pain, the old man turned the sheet to look at the drawing.
"..." — He remained silent as he watched it and didn’t touch the yet-to-dry ink, although his big fingers wanted to. — "Kiddo... Not gonna lie. You couldn’t have chosen a better thing to draw for me."
"... Right... Your apprentice seat, huh? Marianne was watching it before we entered."
"Yeah... She has the eye a’ight... Wanna elope kiddo? Life as a noble can’t be that fun."
’PFF!!!’
"Gustav... PLEASE."
"Can’t ya take a joke? Tight a**. A’ight I’m taking this for myself kid. I’ll charge you half since this will gain value now that you are that d*mn wolf’s protegee."
The old man said as he stood, folding it to save it inside his leather apron.
"... So you heard."
"How can I not? It’s all over the Empire: ’Duke Sylfinnier’s daughter, the Ninth Calla’s confidant.’ I had a good laugh thinking about your face once you learned it. A pipsqueak as crazy for his children like you must have fainted, heh."
"I didn’t."
Clatter...
"Then you cried."
Rattle... Clatter.
"... I didn’t."
"That doesn’t mean you didn’t want to... Aaaand here it is."
"What?"
"You asked for this to be made, didn’t you? I forgot to send word to old Thomas that I had finished it and the clueless maid kept bragging about the kiddo, so I forgot to tell her too."
’Uh? That’s... No way.’
"So she made a drawing for you, huh? A whole page of those... I should make one of these for mine too, hwah."
From the long frame Gustav was holding... I went to stare at the Duke who was holding his head in disbelief.
’... I understand, mister... I did joke about you framing it back then so I actually saw this coming...’
Although I had the hope he wouldn’t... The President of the fan club has to act like one.
Peeking at me, maybe feeling my stare, he lifted one side of his lips as he still covered a part of his face, and dropping it to talk to me, he smiled resigned to his fate, maybe knowing what I was thinking about this.
"... I couldn’t help myself, sweetie..... I wanted to hang it somewhere I could always see it. Does that make me a fool?"
"It does, ashy." — The old man said, chewing on some jerky he took out of who knows where.
’Haha... Nah~ That just... Confirms how much you liked it, Mister. And how much you love this girl right here.’ — I answered as I shook my head, wanting Marianne to hear it too.
However...
"Kid, don’t be so nice. You shouldn’t lie to him. He’s gotta learn he’s too much of a fool, somehow. It will do him some good if you say it."
"..." — ’... Old man, don’t ruin the moment. We are bonding here.’
"Alright, that’s it. We are off." — The Duke suddenly stood, certainly annoyed at the old man’s intrusion for how strongly his hands were clenching.
"Sounds good. Kid, come back next time without this one. He’s no fun."
"She won’t be doing that." — He said, taking the frame away from the old man’s hands.
’Aww... But I wanted to...’ — I inwardly whined.
Guess we are doing it in secret, hehe.
"... Thanks, Gustav." — The Duke suddenly said, once he appreciated the frame’s material.
"Heh... Sissy."
An outright glare sparked from the Duke and nonchalant to it, the old man protruded his lips, making fun of him as if sending a kiss.
Following the Duke, as he turned exasperated, the coachman entered as we left to get the pile of papers as I inwardly laughed at the interesting character I had just met.
’Sir~ don’t pout~ wait for me~ hahaha!’
Entertained, Marianne and I went as fast as we could behind him.
We weren’t running, but we weren’t walking at snail’s speed either.
He had handed the frame to Paige and was about to jump into the carriage on his own. But I guess he remembered us and halted at the first step to board it.
Jumping back, he turned to look at us, apparently flustered.
"I’m..... I am sorry. Please, go in first, dear."
’Hahaha!’
We took his hand to board, and once we were ready, he took me to a pastry shop to eat a dessert there before returning to the Palace for lunch.
Although most of our outing was made of travelling from place to place, every time we went out was more enjoyable than the other.
What’s more, now we can draw again.
And that is what makes me the happiest right now.