Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Lotte
(Night)
"Thank you so much."
I received sincere gratitude from the baron.
The commotion caused by the loudly screaming black-haired loli naturally alerted the mansion's residents.
After explaining the situation, I was led to the parlor to receive their thanks.
Baron Vittok von Krodahl's ability to treat a child so seriously and extend his gratitude was truly impressive. Those good rumors about him seem to be true after all.
"This child is my distant relative. She'll be staying at my house for a while. I never expected her to be so mischievous. Thanks to you, she didn't get hurt..."
Saying this, the baron couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"A distant relative?"
"Lotte comes from the Kingdom of Green."
"The Kingdom of Green?" I was slightly surprised. "The country currently at war?"
There was news on TV about a year ago that the Kingdom of Green suffered a joint invasion from three nations and was finally declared captured a month ago.
However, the war didn't stop, and it's said that there are still many resistance forces within the country.
"Yes, this child's parents died in the war, which is why they came all the way to seek refuge with me," said Baron with a touch of sadness.
At this moment, the black-haired loli also spoke up, "Night, can you be Lotte's knight?"
Lotte's sudden words caused a momentary awkwardness in the atmosphere.
How should one transition their thoughts to suddenly say something like that?
"No."
What does it matter what she's thinking? Just refuse.
"You should be Lotte's knight." Lotte stubbornly repeated herself.
"I refuse."
"From now on, you are Lotte's knight."
"Lord Vittok, please excuse me."
My ignoring her made Lotte look crestfallen, tears welling up in her eyes.
I continue to ignore it.
I'm not interested in playing knight games with this little girl.
"......uh, Night, I'd like to ask a favor of you too."
I stared at the baron with widened eyes. Are you serious?!
"This child needs a playmate now. I hope you can take on this task. If you're willing, no matter what you ask for, I will do my best to fulfill it."
She actually said even this kind of thing. Could she be some distant relative? Or perhaps your illegitimate daughter?
No, even for your own daughter, you wouldn't say something like that, right? She can't be your real daughter, can she?
But even if she really is your daughter, do you think I would be so easily tempted by you?
"As long as you become Lotte's knight, I'll pay you a salary. I'll follow the standard knight rate and give you 30,000 Cradles per month."
"Alright, I agree."
It's not that I didn't want to refuse, but he's offering quite a lot.
To play knight with a little girl and earn 30,000 Cradles as pocket money every month, that's even more than my mom makes working at the adventurer's guild counter. What reason do I have to refuse?
Although I'll definitely be fired once Lotte gets tired of playing, precisely because of that, isn't it reasonable to earn some money while I can?
"That's great! Night is a knight! A knight! Lotte's knight! Lotte has a knight now! She has a knight now! She has a knight now!"
Lotte instantly came bounding over with excitement, throwing herself into my arms.
Her rough gesture seemed a waste on the exquisitely adorned light blue dress she wore.
Almost unintentionally, I (Night) found myself criticizing her from Yue's perspective.
However, her demeanor reminded me of Xue'er.
And so, my resistance waned for a moment.
I embraced her, as if dealing with Xue'er, gently petting her hair with my right hand, just as one would stroke a cat's fur.
But then, Lotte suddenly burst into tears.
She buried her face against my chest, starting with quiet sobs that soon escalated into loud crying, eventually turning into wailing sobs.
She held onto me tightly, crying uncontrollably.
Watching this scene and hearing Lotte's cries, Lord Vittok displayed a contented smile on his face.
In response, I let out a faint sigh.
Her parents are all killed, her nation is destroyed, and she is far from home; even if she's a child, she isn't completely oblivious with her situation.
Her heart must be harboring a lot of pain.
Yet, she endures it.
This girl is truly strong.
Thinking about it, perhaps the reason she insisted on me becoming her so-called knight was because, in that instant, she unexpectedly found a sense of security with me.
With that in mind, I could only resign myself to my fate.
I had just bid farewell to Laphae and now, here came Lotte. It seems I'm truly destined to be a babysitter!
...Alright, Laphae hadn't left; I was still taking care of her (Yue) as well.
Add Xue'er to the mix, and I've become a nanny for three children!
Life.
That's life.
Unbeknownst to me, as I sighed in such a manner, life was only just beginning.
From the moment I encountered Lotte, my ordinary life as Night was irreversibly changed.
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