âNothing has been confirmed about Harris yet.â
The archduke, who was deliberately talking down, looked at Harris, who had a pale, shocked expression.
I was surprised by the unexpected words. I thought it was too much. Not that it wasnât, but Harrisâs face heated up red.
However, he only looked at Harris without changing his expression, before looking at the vassals.
âIsnât that wrong?â
As expected, it was Lexit who didnât miss this moment and opened his mouth.
The child hurriedly shouted with Harris in his arms.
âFather! How can you say that? Harris is obviously your daughter!â
âMany look-alikes come to me as my children, regardless of whether itâs a daughter or a son.â
âBut there was evidence!â
âYeah. That evidence is good. But why canât Harris use her powers? The bloodline of the Grand House has been strong for generations.â
The atmosphere grew more and more tense.
It wasnât wrong, so everyone shut up.
But I definitely saw Harrisâs face, whose lips momentarily tilted upwards.
It was a change in facial expression that adults looking down at people from above would never have seen.
As if waiting for this moment, Harris slowly raised her head.
âDad, I can actually use my powers.â
Suddenly, the atmosphere of the political meeting became dark.
âYou can use your powers?â
âYes. Itâs so weak that I didnât use it because I was afraid Iâd be disappointed that nothing was going to happenâŠâ
âI see. Thatâs very good.â
Unlike Harris, who looked at the Grand Duke as if she had expected something, he gave a small smile.
Like it didnât matter if she could use her powers or not.
âI donât know how strong it is, but prove it. Harris, I wonât say anything about your birth when itâs confirmed that you can use the power of the Grand Duke.â
âHarris can do it, Dad!â
Unlike Harris, who smiled and clenched her fist, the Grand Duke looked at me once and made eye contact with the vassals.
âRecently, the number of trees in the forest has increased. Itâs a perfect place to prove your power.â
âWait, are you going to take Lady Harris?â
âHarris is young, dad!â
As expected, Lexit screamed.
âYou said sheâd prove it, so you have to take her.â
ââŠItâs not just Lady Herace who can prove it. Shouldnât the person whoâs here for no reason prove something?â
Count Bertram did not give up and stared at me. His eyes contained obvious hostility. It reminded me of the emperor.
âThatâs right. Bebe will go, too. In the Grand Duchy, my bloodline must prove their value, whether they are vassals. And it shows enough value to stay here. Even if itâs an enemyâs child, I can make it a child of my own.â
âThatâs the family motto that has been passed down from generation to generation in the Grand Duchy. Do you have any complaints?
No one could say anything about it.
At that time, I met Harrisâs eyes for a moment. Harris looked so confident as if she had something to believe in.
âWhy is she so confident?â
I felt an indescribable emotion. I couldnât figure out why she was looking at me like that.
After talking to the vassals, the Grand Duke slightly twisted the chair I was sitting on and reached out to me.
âFrom now on, follow those who will go to the forest. However, the Grand Duke does not protect the powerless even if they are a vassal. Strength proves that you can stay here.â
The vassals repeatedly pulled their necks in and out, as if they were turtles being shown a book.
In the meantime, we took a step. It was really bright to step outside.
âNow I can become a useful human being. Those people⊠They wonât be able to look at me like that anymore.â
If I showed them that I had a strong power, at least they wouldnât treat me the way they do now, even if I didnât like it.
In fact, I didnât have to like it.
I just wanted people to not look at me in a scary way.
âI still canât get used to it.â
I just hope that the way someone looked at me was not hostile.
Contrary to the expectation that he would say anything while going to the room, he only walked silently. Instead, the Grand Duke made eye contact with Allen, who followed him, not with me.