Taming a Munchkin

“Oh my God, the Rikasha became Young Lady’s bodyguard?”

“Yeah! So what happened was…”

According to the rumours circulating around the Grand Duke castle, the heroic tale of Kynemeia, who picked up a Rikasha, was as follows⁠—

Kynemeia Lyonne⁠—the Grand Duke’s daughter, aged 11 years—who possessed a halo effect behind her, found out one day that the monstrous culprit who trespassed on her territory was a boy her age.

‘He might be an atrocious offender, but we need to show mercy to a child!’

In the story, just like a saint, the big-hearted Kynemeia headed to the underground prison in person to release the prisoner. Following a fierce admonishing and gentle consolation, the boy’s heart melted… And so, Eian released himself from the shackles, stood up, and said, ‘O Maiden, I am touched by your generosity. To show my respect for your benevolence, I shall help you out of danger.’

‘Very well, O Rikasha. I shall welcome your aid.’

Ultimately, accompanied by the fact that Kynemeia had accepted a Rikasha as her bodyguard… a heavily exaggerated rumour also started to make rounds.

“I knew she was meant for great things. When she was born, her cries sounded so rich!”

“Me too! I knew our Young Lady was like that since she was in her mother’s womb.”

“Right! Just look at how firm and imposing she is even with the malicious rumours going around. Her willpower is something else.”

Nobody knew who blew up those rumours in the first place, but… Kynemeia felt her cheeks burn as the looks of reverence towards her started stinging.

‘… Though, it’s not that terrible.’

And the second thing she realized after keeping him by her side was that no matter how much he craftily acted like a big dog, Eian Krosch owned a very bad personality. Like now. Kynemeia stared at Eian who was dumping some cookies into the trash bin.

“What are those?”

“The maids gave them to me.”

Eian answered dispassionately. The reason was his face… No, it was difficult to accept the fact but since he also held the title of Rikasha, Eian had been rising steadily as the most popular person among the young maids; that was why. The maids went as far as to prepare cookies for him.

“But why did you throw them away? Aren’t you going to eat them?”

As Kynemeia looked at the discarded cookies with pity, Eian inclined his head.

“Why do I have to eat them?”

“…?!”

It was an answer that caught her off guard.

“That’s… Because they made it while thinking of you…”

However, Eian asked with a face that intimated he had never tried to be considerate of other people’s sincerity nor feelings.

“So what?”

When someone said something was a sincere present for them, what are the chances the words ‘So what?’ would be the reply? As Kynemeia recalled the fact that he had the characteristics of a sociopath and antisocial personality disorder, she dictated that everyone in the Grand Duke castle should not give the boy anything ever again.

Consequently, she added a note under Eian’s name in the Munchkin Notes.

[Eian]

Resentment level: ?/10☆

Danger level: 10/10☆

Note: Antisocial personality disorder

‘As expected, it’s so dangerous.’

* * *

In the conference room in the Grand Duke’s castle⁠—

The person who first broke the silence of the retainers gathered in that room was Count Brinne.

“Isn’t it high time for us to prepare?”

“What do you mean?”

Count Dennis, who always clashed with Count Brinne, retorted sharply. The latter scowled at that.

“Agh, I’m talking about the title! Even though the seat of the Grand Duke has been empty so far, just how much longer must the Young Lady stay as a mere Lady of the Grand Duke? The Emperor is just…!”

“Hey, be mindful of your words. Don’t prattle away and get the Lady in trouble.”

“But His Majesty the Emperor has been delaying the approval for the succession of the title, so I was considering that we should seize this chance to go forward and do something about it.”

“… All of a sudden?”

Baron Romeo, who was just listening in silence, cut in.

“It’s not all of a sudden. Didn’t you hear about it too, Baron Romeo? About how big-hearted our Lady is.”

“Ah…”

Baron Romeo remembered the rumours and gave a nod. Seeing that, Count Brinne brandished a proud smile.

“That small child has grown into such an outstanding adult, so shouldn’t we as the real adults be of help to her?”

“Is that help concerning the title succession?”

“She has to have an appropriate position to accomplish greater things. You realise that too, don’t you, Count Dennis?”

“Well… That is true, but… If the Lady receives the title, then her responsibilities will increase accordingly. Since she’s going to hold the position of the Empire’s Lyonne and…”

Count Dennis cut his speech short. He also thought dearly of Kynemeia and loved her just like the other retainers, but that was the reason why he hoped all the more for the Lady to live like a princess in the Grand Duke’s castle surrounded by good things only. The current Lyonne was not like the Lyonne of the past. The bad rumours about the Lady had been circulating the high society as if they were proven facts, and she might have to grow up within the walls of the Grand Duke’s castle as if she were dead while receiving the protection of the retainers.

Count Brinne who had a tendency to launch into fierce arguments turned speechless when he recognised Count Dennis’s intention. At that moment, Baron Romeo turned his gaze onto Marquess Eli who was smiling broadly.

“What do you think, Sir Eli?”

“Do you mean me?”

Marquess Eli said warmly as he looked back at them with a smile.

“I think the Lady is capable of overcoming any kind of situation.”

“Is that how it is?”

“Sir Eli is especially soft on the Lady.”

“That’s true.”

“Wasn’t the Great Emperor Kyte only nine years old when he severed the neck of the enemy commander in Salut? The Lady has been confirmed to be as brilliant as a child who can retain everything they’ve seen and heard only once. And since she’s currently 11 years old, it’s no longer the time for us to dismiss her simply because she’s young. Well… I just want to let the Lady do whatever she wants.”

As the retainers lapsed into a collective silence, immersed in their own reasons after hearing Marquess Eli’s words, a servant opened the antechamber to the conference room.

“The Lady will be entering now.”

The retainers shut their mouths as if they hadn’t been bickering, stood up and fixated their gazes at one spot. From that spot, a lovely girl with light golden hair came into view in the conference room. The child walked with short, brisk steps, and as she ran her round, pretty eyes over the retainers, the corners of their lips relaxed.

She was the Lady of the Grand Duchy that the retainers from the four houses deeply cherished just as if she was their own daughter and raised by them. There was no one in this room that didn’t love Kynemeia. However, the atmosphere that eased for a moment with Kynemeia’s entrance reverted to a frigid one when they noticed a black-haired boy on her heels.

‘So this is the rumoured Rikasha.’

‘He looks younger in person. What a peculiar atmosphere…’

‘To think he would show us such bored eyes. As expected, even though he’s young, he’s still a Rikasha. He’s really something.’

The retainers had a silent exchange as they admired him.

“I see Vanessa isn’t joining us today.”

At Baron Romeo’s words, Count Dennis’s pupils trembled. Whenever there was a meeting, Kynemeia’s nanny, Vanessa, would be the one who usually accompanied her.

‘Could it be that by bringing that boy instead of Vanessa in front of the retainers, she means to display her achievement…’

To think that she would express her growth like that. In his surprise, Count Dennis clenched his fist. At that moment, Kynemeia opened her mouth.

“It seems that everyone has gathered.”

It was a dignified manner of speech. The usual Kynemeia would’ve presented a pretty smile and said ‘So everyone’s here.’ Noticing the change in her demeanour, the retainers expressed their admiration soundlessly. For the nobles with heavy responsibilities resting on their shoulders, they were familiar with how one’s self-awareness of their position would eventually surface. That’s why they were able to understand the sudden change.

Meanwhile, Kynemeia made her way behind the table which was as tall as her and headed to the seat of honour. There was a thick cushion placed on the chair that she was going to sit on. However—

“…!”

She gulped when she got in front of the chair.

‘What is this, the Everest?’

The last person who originally used this chair was her father, Troy Lyonne. Troy’s physical proportions were as striking as his pretty face, so his legs were also on the long side. The moment he had inherited the title, he’d specially ordered a chair that accommodated his legs. A chair for the long-legged. It was even painted in gold.

Ugh, Kynemeia tilted her neck to glance upwards. The chair gilded in gold was too tall for a child to sit on. The truth of it was that so far Nanny Vanessa had been hoisting her up to the chair, but… Kynemeia peeped at the retainers’ gazes. They were all watching her.

‘I need to do this by myself.’

Kynemeia had her own reasons for not bringing along Nanny Vanessa. Only four retainers remained after the ordeals from the past. That showed just how much loyalty and love they held for Kynemeia, but…

‘It needs to change from now on.’

Until now, she had left the final say in the hands of the retainers. But from now on, Kynemeia would have to retain the final say herself. There was a huge chance of the adults meddling in everything she would do, simply because she’s an eleven-year-old.

‘I can’t let that be.’

For her to be able to easily get through work, she needed the image of a ‘dignified master’. She needed to lay down the groundwork. And so, she resolved to take advantage of the rumours. Now that it has come to this, she needed to show that she wasn’t the eleven-year-old who shut herself trembling inside the Grand Duke’s castle, but a reliable and wise master that befitted the title of the Grand Duke. But if she whined to get help sitting on the chair without even trying once? Rather than a master, she would definitely be reduced to a mere pretty little girl living in the Grand Duke’s castle.

‘Okay. I’m climbing…!’ Kynemeia, who made a firm resolution, planted both her hands on the chair. ‘It’s only this much!’

She was thinking of placing her knee on top of the chair as leverage and push herself up on her hands.

Only

It was perfect in her mind’s eye. She just had this feeling in her heart that she would soar like a butterfly and perch like a bee. However…

“…!”

The moment she raised her knee onto the chair, it slipped down because of the soft covering of the cushion.

“Ah!”

She was going to clutch onto anything and hold out, but as she flailed about and slipped, Kynemeia ended up tumbling down onto the ground.

“Ah…”

“That’s…”

Regrettable sighs sounded among the retainers.