The Adored Daughter of the Disliked Duke's House: My Magic Power Increases Every Time I'm Praised, So I've Been Perfecting Cuteness Since Infancy! - Episode 10

Falling into the fountain.

Just before that, I saw the lights turn on in the mansion.

──Splash!

“Lily!”

The sound of splashing water and Al’s scream overlapped.

I was immediately pulled by a small hand.

“Puah!”

When he emerged from the water, there was a boy with his eyebrows furrowed in an inverted V shape.

Just a moment ago, he had a brave expression as he faced the monster, but now he looks so pathetic that he seems like a completely different person.

“Sorry, that was scary, wasn’t it?”

It must be so.

Because it was the first time for both of us to be attacked by monsters. And on that first time, we had to fight without the help of adults.

However.

“Idiot!”

Al yelled at me, then splashed around and pulled me out of the fountain.

And then, he takes off the gown he was wearing and drapes it over my shoulders.

(Oh. As expected, just as I thought)

The son of the grand noble Forsten duke family.

It seems that not only the spirit of chivalry but also the concept of “ladies first” is deeply ingrained. They are well-educated.

“Are you not injured?”

“It’s okay. What about Al?”

“…a scratch.”

“Huh!?”

That’s a big deal.

Even though it was just a scratch, I ended up injuring the young master of the Forsten family.

“Sorry, are you okay!?”

“It’s okay, this much is fine.”

“But…”

What Al glanced at was his right elbow.

There is indeed a small scratch there. It must have stumbled while attacking the monster with lightning magic.

“I will atone for the rest of my life.”

When I solemnly declare, silence falls.

After a moment, Al burst out laughing.

“Idiot”

After saying that, Al ruffled my soaking wet hair.

“Seriously, you’re such an idiot.”

“W-What?!”

“That was obviously a joke. The thought of being stalked by you for life is even worse.”

What a thing to say.

I’m seriously worried about you!

Seeing me fuming with anger, Al smirked.

“Well, I’ll let it slide this time with tomorrow’s snack.”

“Is that really okay?”

“It’s fine.”

Again, Al patted my head.

This time, with gentle, caring hands.

His ultramarine eyes glimmered as they were illuminated by the light spilling from the mansion.

Seeing that scene, my heart involuntarily skipped a beat.

“That’s why, let’s be together tomorrow too…”

It was at that moment when Al was about to speak.

『Guuuuuu』

They heard a growl coming from behind them.

“!”

It’s Graulus.

The figure that I could finally perceive with my eyes closely resembled a human form.

However, its entire body is covered in something like a pitch-black rock, and it has wings on its back that resemble bat membranes.

Shaking its ominous body, Graulus, who had been crouching on the ground, lifted its face.

And then, looking up at the sky, trembling lips.

“Lord Noctifilis, why…!”

No one answers his call.

(Noctifilis judged that the outcome was decided and withdrew early, huh?)

That’s why the lights returned to the mansion.

The black rocks covering Graulus’ body rumbled and began to crumble.

That right arm fell to the ground with a thud.

(I’m about to pass out…)

Yeah, I thought so.

──ZAP!

Suddenly, a ball of white light flew into my field of vision.

The sphere quickly enveloped Graulus’ body.

After a while.

A white light crackled and burst with a snap.

There stood a fully intact Graulus.

“Why!?”

I can’t help but mutter.

Indeed, he had been struck by lightning and was mortally wounded.

Graulus’ pitch-black eyes captured the two of them.

“……!”

I instinctively pull Al’s arm.

At almost the same time, the fountain burst forth.

The broken stone hits my body, causing pain in my arms and legs.

“Ah, thank you very much. Thank you very much. …Sir/Madam!”

I heard Graulus muttering ecstatically as he rolled around on the ground.

I couldn’t make out whose name he murmured. But more than that.

(I’m going to be killed!)

Graulus’ magical power is on a completely different level than before. It has swollen to dozens of times its previous strength.
And that wickedness is on another level.

The dark magic that erupted from his body spread out, coiling around itself.

Al is completely consumed by fear, and his body has gone rigid.

I also started sweating from all my sweat glands, and my hands and feet began to tremble.

(……I can’t win)

I prepared myself for death.

It was the next moment.

──Boooooo!

A swirling crimson flame enveloped Graulus along with the dark magic.

At the same time, my body gently floats.

This warm magical power…

“Father!”

I instinctively clung to the body of the person who had lifted me up.

Warm, strong, and gentle.

It’s Father!

“Grave!”

My father roared like a lion.

At the end of that gaze, a gust of wind dances.

It’s Duke Forsten.

The whirlpool of flames that had been attacking Graulus until just now is now gathering around the duke’s sword.

The flames that had been swirling around the blade eventually subsided.

It transformed into a roaring, blazing sword.

A flash.
Graulus’ head flew off──.

The outcome of the incident remained shrouded in mystery.

The mastermind behind this attack is the monster Noctifilis, a user of the “Light-Stealing Magic.” The fact that this name appears in ancient texts confirms it.

Noctifilis stole the light from the Rosenford mansion, and Graulus, acting as the one to take direct action, invaded the mansion and tried to kill me and Al.

The fact that the two fathers were dispatched to the western forest to exterminate the monsters is probably not unrelated.

However, the process leading up to that point is shrouded in mystery.

How did these two monsters even manage to infiltrate the capital in the first place?

Where did Noctifilis escape to? How did they escape?

Moreover, they don’t know anything about the magic that put everyone except me and Al to sleep.

And the true nature of that white light as well.

The white light that revived the dying monster and granted it immense magical power. Was that magic, or some other force? I couldn’t even tell.

Also, why did they target me and Al, who are nothing but powerless children?

I never understood that either.

Al returned with Duke Forsten at dawn.

Tomorrow too, together.

I couldn’t fulfill that promise, but I’m sure our toxic relationship will continue from now on as well.

I waved goodbye through the window.

Just before getting on the carriage, I saw Al wearing his usual cheeky smile, and I couldn’t help but smile.

And in the early afternoon, my father and mother came to my room. It seems they had been waiting until I finished my treatment and could rest for a while.

“Lilietta! Why did you do something so reckless! If you had just waited in hiding, I would have rushed over immediately, and the mages of the royal castle were already on the move!”

My father scolded me while tears streamed down his face, and my mother, also in tears, held my hand tightly.

“Undo the restriction spell on your own!”

I feel sorry about that.

It’s only natural to be scolded for breaking the spell that was cast to protect my body and mind without permission.

However, at that time, there was no other way.

“But…”

I thought that I was the only one who could protect everyone.

Father and mother tightly pressed their lips together.

Because that’s also a fact.

If at that time, Al and I hadn’t confronted it.

The help might have been too late, and I could have died.

“……Yeah.”

After saying that, my father gently patted my head.

I’m sorry, Lilietta.

If I were to find myself in the same situation as you, I would probably do the same thing.

Surely, that’s the case.
Even if it’s a three-year-old child.

This person must have also stood up to protect someone important.

“Well done, Lilietta.”

My father’s voice trembled.

At the same time, the depths of my chest grew warm.

“You were admirable.”

Squeeze.

Embraced by my father’s strong arms.

I finally let out a sigh of relief.

This incident will mark the beginning of a complete change in the environment surrounding me.

I found out about it just three days after the incident.

I was summoned from the palace.

The summons from the king read as follows.

There are signs of the Demon King’s resurrection, it seems──.