I Sought the Villain But Ended Up with a Husband

Chapter 23

“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Seeing Carren stood there, staring intently instead of leaving, Leciel’s gaze followed his.

Then, somehow, Mimi, who was usually hidden in the bed, came into view.

‘Oh!’

Why was she out here!

Oh, come to think of it, this was her room.

It seemed like she quietly waited in the room and showed herself upon hearing a voice, happy to reveal herself sneakily.

But Leciel couldn’t reveal Mimi’s true identity like this, especially since she hadn’t received permission from Kael to have Mimi with her.

With that thought, Leciel quickly rushed over and held Mimi close.

Mimi seemed to enjoy being held by Leciel, as she nuzzled against her face with a soft cooing sound.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, my favorite doll...?”@@@@

Leciel was thinking about what could be a safe and not too strange reason to introduce Mimi in this situation, said awkwardly.

However, this remark only piqued Carren’s interest.

This was because Leciel’s demeanor seemed as if she was trying to hide something that shouldn’t be discovered.

“Your favorite doll?”

“Yes. I can’t sleep without her. As you know, I’m just a 10-year-old child.”

“... you don’t seem young enough to need to sleep with a favorite doll.”

“There’s no age limit for having a favorite doll.”

Despite saying this confidently, Leciel hadn’t actually hugged a favorite doll since kindergarten, but she was confident.

“I guess dolls these days even make sounds. I think I heard a strange noise earlier.”

As if in response to Carren’s words, Mimi peeked out from Leciel’s arms again and made another soft cooing sound.

“Well, my favorite doll is special, so it makes noise when I hold her or press her tightly.”

“I didn’t hear any noise from other dolls.”

“Well, not all dolls are the same, so how can they make the same sound?”

While it was uncertain if there were dolls that made sounds here, at least in the place where Leciel originally lived, there were many such dolls. The sounds they made varied.

“Okay, maybe it does make a sound, but it seems like the doll is moving right now?”

Carren’s gaze was fixed on Mimi, who seemed to be wriggling in Leciel’s arms.

“Oh, that’s me, I moved her!”

As she spoke, Leciel took Mimi’s front paws and playfully moved her like a doll.

“... hmm.”

Despite Leciel’s explanation, Carren still looked suspiciously at Mimi.

Though Leciel continued to insist it was a doll, it clearly wasn’t, it was a living creature.

Claiming it was a pet might have been less suspicious.

Moreover, there was something foreign about that creature that looked like a rabbit at first glance.

As if it was not an ordinary animal.

Thus, Carren briefly entertained the suspicion that it might be a monster, but the aura was too vague to tell if it was a monster or not.

And according to Carren’s knowledge, monsters like that didn’t exist.

A monster smaller than a baby rabbit.

‘What should I do?’

Although it didn’t seem particularly dangerous, it was a suspicious creature.

Leciel’s attitude of hiding its identity only deepened Carren’s doubts.

After a moment of thought, Carren decided to let it go.

After all, it was his father who brought Leciel here. Therefore, the decision about the creature Leciel brought was also his father’s responsibility.

He had no authority to say anything about it.

If she kept hiding the creature from his father, the situation would change later, but eventually, his father would find out despite Leciel’s efforts to hide its existence.

“Do as you wish. But you need to explain properly to my father.”

“Well, I was going to tell him anyway.”

“Then do so.”

“That’s amazing.”

It wasn’t just about the monster’s ability to change its size.

The monster’s aura also seemed as blurry as its size.

If not, he would have noticed the monster’s existence long ago.

If that was the case, she wouldn’t be able to follow them secretly.

‘I had a feeling before, but she really like that kid.’

He knew the monsters were friendly towards her, but it was especially so with Mimi.

Even so, he hadn’t expected to find her secretly following them to such an unfamiliar place.

Considering that she had come all this way without knowing where Leciel was going, simply to follow her, it indicated more than just a simple kindness or liking.

This only deepened her doubts about Leciel.

Why would the monsters, who were friendly to Leciel actively seek to keep her away from leaving the monster forest to the point of acting hostile?

And why was she abandoned in the monster forest in the first place?

Surely there must be a reason.

Even though Leciel herself didn’t know, it would be wise to investigate further, especially since he had decided to keep her under the protection of the family.

That way, they could be prepared for any unforeseen events.

Just in case it became a problem and caused difficulties.

And also, to ensure Leciel didn’t end up in danger.

“Anyway, that’s why... could this child also stay with us? She followed me all this way because she likes me, and I feel bad about driving her away...”

Leciel was exceedingly cautious when seeking Kael’s permission.

She knew it was not something Kael would easily agree to.

‘Hmm.’

Upon hearing Leciel’s request, Kael fell into deep thought.

The fact that the perceptive child was asking for permission to let Mimi stay with them implied that Mimi held a special place in her heart.

Although knowing that it was probably not a good idea, she couldn’t bring herself to drive her away, and maybe there was a glimmer of hope that he could grant her permission.

‘How should I do it?’

As Mimi was not just a simple pet but a monster, Kael found it difficult to make a hasty decision.

Mimi had a relatively mild temperament for a monster.

Unlike the other monsters Kael had encountered while with Leciel— that would constantly eye him with the desire to devour him—Mimi seemed indifferent unless someone bothered her.

However, a monster was still a monster.

If news got out that a monster was being kept at the Grand Duke’s estate, it would undoubtedly cause trouble.

Especially if Mimi were to attack someone, it would be an even bigger problem.

So, naturally, refusing was the right thing to do.

But seeing the hopeful, pleading gaze fixed upon him, he found it hard to be firm and turn her down.

‘... is this what a is like?’

At that moment, Kael sympathized with other fathers who couldn’t say no to their daughters no matter what they asked for.

“Fine, can you promise?”

“Yes! I promise Mimi won’t attack anyone or cause any trouble. And I’ll make sure no one finds out that Mimi is a monster.”

Leciel hastily replied, fearing she might miss this opportunity.

Looking at Leciel, Kael wore a conflicted expression.

Kael knew how meaningless and futile the word could be.

There was nothing in the world that would happen or had a chance of occurring.

But for some reason, he wanted to believe Leciel’s words.

Only then could he allow her to stay with Mimi as she wished.

In the end, there was no other choice.

Kael let out a small sigh.

“You must absolutely keep that promise.”

If that promise were broken, it wouldn’t just be a matter of being chased away; Mimi’s life would be at risk.

“Uncle...!”

Understanding Kael’s permission from his words, Leciel ran over joyfully and hugged his leg, sitting beside him.