Special Side Story, Chapter 3

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At that moment, Dahlia spun around with a radiant smile lighting up her face.

A cascade of elegant red hair.

Eyes as vibrant and fresh as summer greenery.

A stunning beauty, like a fully bloomed rose, stood there smiling warmly at Dahlia.

With a powerful push off the ground, Dahlia dashed forward.

“Aunt Roseeeeee!”

Thud!

Dahlia sprinted toward her and leapt straight into Eloise’s arms.

Eloise skillfully caught her, gently scolding her in a kind tone.

“You shouldn’t run like that. What if you fall? It’d be terrible.”

“Yes!”

Dahlia quickly nodded her head.

If Diamide, who was so often ignored by his daughter, had seen this, he might have wept tears of blood in sheer despair.

Still, Dahlia was a polite child who generally listened to adults.

Except for Diamide.

“My sweet Dahlia.”

Eloise softly ran her hand through Dahlia’s silvery hair.

Looking at the shimmering strands, like spun silver, she was reminded of a young Charlize.

Back then, her little Charlize had been the most adorable child in the world.

Well, she still is, of course…

How is it possible for Charlize to still be so cute even as a mother?

While she was lost in these nostalgic thoughts, Eloise suddenly felt a sharp, hostile gaze prickling her cheek.

What… What is this?

Eloise stiffened slightly and raised her head cautiously.

And at that moment, she saw it.

Eloise’s charming—well, more like excessively cunning, thanks to taking after her father—nephew

“……”

was staring at her with a cold, unflinching gaze.

The intensity of that stare was so sharp that even Eloise, a grown woman, felt a chill run down her spine.

Sigh.

Eloise let out a long, inward sigh.

There he goes again.

That’s right.

Joshua was the type who acted sweet and innocent only in front of Dahlia.

In truth, he was an arrogant and insufferable little brat!

With a hazy look in her eyes, Eloise recalled the day she first discovered her nephew’s true nature.

It had been when both Joshua and Dahlia were seven years old.

The first time they interacted with other children.

Until then, thanks to their parents’ close friendship, Dahlia and Joshua had always played together alone.

But Charlize and Lisa decided it was time for their children to start mingling with others their age.

At that gathering, Dahlia was quite the popular child.

“Princess Dahlia, hello!”

“It’s so nice to get to talk to you, Your Highness!”

And of course, that was no surprise.

Her personality was cheerful and kind, she was the only princess of the current royal family, and she was as beautiful as a doll.

Before long, Dahlia was surrounded by a crowd of young girls who had gathered around her like clouds.

Joshua, meanwhile, stood to the side, his eyes twitching as he watched.

Even then, he had managed to hold it together.

He could tolerate Dahlia mingling with other girls—for the most part.

But the real trouble started after that.

“Princess Dahlia!”

A young boy attempted to approach Dahlia.

At that moment, Joshua firmly grabbed the boy by the shoulder.

Then, with a soft, disarming smile, he narrowed his eyes.

“Where are you going?”

“Uh, I just… wanted to… say hi to the princess…”

“You? Why?”

“…Sir Joshua?”

Joshua’s smile deepened.

At the same time, the boy felt an icy shiver run down his spine.

“And what exactly do you need to say to Her Highness?”

“Well, uh… nothing really, just…”

His overly sweet voice was unnerving.

The boy instinctively hunched his shoulders, glancing at Joshua for any sign of what to do.

After all, what specific reason could a child have for wanting to be friends with someone?

But Joshua seemed to have a very different idea.

“…You’re drawn to her looks, aren’t you?”

Joshua muttered coldly.

For a moment, the boy doubted his ears.

“What?”

Joshua von Rochester was practically the gold standard of “that perfect child,” wasn’t he?

From his noble status to his striking appearance, he had everything.

Mature, upright, intelligent—he was a model young man.

Joshua’s reputation was so impeccable that noblewomen often scolded their children with,

“Why can’t you be more like Lord Joshua?!”

But now, this icy tone and cutting remark?

“The princess is like a fairy, isn’t she? Yeah, I know.”

Shrugging, Joshua continued as if it were nothing.

“But, you know, I’m feeling a bit thirsty.”

He then gestured subtly toward the table where drinks were laid out.

“Could you bring me a drink?”

Why couldn’t the young duke get it himself?

…Of course, protesting such a thing was out of the question given Joshua’s lofty status.

In the end, the boy, now stiff with nerves, went to fetch the drink.

As he left, Joshua cast a cold glance at his retreating back and then trotted over to Dahlia.

“Princess!”

“Joshua?”

Dahlia, who had been chatting with the other girls, turned around, her eyes wide with surprise.

Joshua held out a box of cookies he had carefully prepared.

It was a box of cookies he had harassed the head chef to bake that very morning.

“I brought these cookies for you, Princess. You said you liked them last time, didn’t you?”

“Oh? Uh, yeah.”

Standing close to Dahlia, Joshua chirped brightly as he handed her the box.

Dahlia, a little puzzled, accepted it and asked with a suspicious look,

“Thanks. But why aren’t you playing with the other kids?”

At that moment, Joshua displayed an acting ability far beyond his seven years.

“Well, I guess the other kids just don’t seem to like me very much.”

He even managed to make his eyes glisten with tears, lying flawlessly without batting an eye!

“What am I even witnessing right now?”

Eloise stared, her jaw dropping at the sight.

In her memory,

“Hello, Lord Rochester!”
“It’s an honor to meet you!”

Several kids had eagerly approached Joshua earlier.

And Joshua had…

“Don’t bother me. You’re annoying.”

With narrowed eyes, he had mercilessly shooed them away!

Dahlia studied her childhood friend with a curious expression before saying,

“Then come here. Play with me.”

She patted the spot beside her, inviting Joshua to sit.

“Yes!”

Joshua beamed, claiming the seat right next to her.

After that, he glanced back, locking eyes with Eloise, who was still staring blankly at him.

He smiled slyly, his lips curving upward as he brought a finger to them in a shushing gesture.

“Unbelievable.”

Eloise was at a complete loss for words.

At the same time, Dahlia glanced sideways at Joshua.

“Joshua?”

“Yes, Princess!”

…And so, from that day forward, Joshua continued to wear his mask of innocence in front of Dahlia.

And Dahlia? She fell for it completely.

To be fair, Joshua’s pretense was highly effective.

He followed Dahlia around everywhere, and though she sometimes found him a little annoying, she still took care of him in her own way.

As for Eloise, who saw through his act, she could only shake her head in disbelief.

“He’s exactly like his father.”

Eloise sighed inwardly.

“If only he took after Lisa, he wouldn’t be so cunning.”

And with that thought,

“Well, let’s head inside now.”

Eloise gathered the children and led them into the parlor.