How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

“You got up so early. Duke and his sister are not yet here.”

“I’m sorry. But I always get up early.”

A smile came to Zion’s lips.

“An aristocrat shouldn’t wear pajamas outside their rooms. Please return to the room, I’ll send some maids to you.”

“Yes!”

“Should I escort you back to your room?”

“No.”

I shook my head hastily. This struck me as a little odd.

I ran away and ran back to my room. Soon the maids entered. They dressed me and braided my hair.

Now I was wearing a brown dress with hearts and a brown ribbon all the way down. My hair was tied in two ponytails.

“Okay, that’s all. Now I ask you to go to breakfast.”

Collen was not at breakfast again today. Did he go to kill someone else?

I ate alone with Jade every morning.

‘Does Duke even live in this house?’

I haven’t seen Collen since the day I was adopted.

“Would you like some milk tea?”

“…Yes.”

“Add sugar like yesterday?” Asked Zion. I nodded. “Today’s tea came straight from the Rakhine Kingdom. If the young lady want…”

“Yes, thank you.”

He gracefully poured the tea.

 ‘Sweet, how sweet…’

Pancakes, ham and eggs for breakfast.

Within a few days my cheeks become plump.

Now it seemed that I could never return to life on the street.

“You must eat more.”

“Yes, yes.”

Jade watched me eat like watching an animal. I don’t understand his intentions, and I still feel that I’m the subject of an experiment.

“Duke… again didn’t come for breakfast.”

“Ah, my father is always busy like that. He owns land in the province, so it seems he went there to inspect it.”

At those words, my back stiffened. 

‘Property Inspection’ is an excuse that Collen often used when going out to work.

So what about Jade? If Jade is free…

I looked at him. Jade saw my confusion and flashed a smile.

“Sorry, I think I’ll have to leave you today. I have meeting. After that, I have to stop by the academy,” said Jade. I nodded.

I was already happy that I had a delicious meal in the morning. The start of the day was so beautiful.

“Is it so delicious?”

Jade reached out and wiped my lips. My cheeks turned red.

“It would be better to learn some etiquette.”

“…I will.”

I nodded slightly. I was going to learn everything that would be useful to me in the future.

Jade still seems weird, but we exchange a few lines every morning.

This is the only thing that has changed in the past few days.

Jade rang the bell. Soon a servant came.

“Now I have one last thing.”

“Uh…”

The servant was holding a balloon. My eyes widened. Wow, this is a balloon!

“Will you give it to me?”

“Yes, you can tie it in your room…”

“I can take it with me anywhere!”

This was the first time I received a gift. Beautiful golden balloon. My eyes twinkled involuntarily.

“Isn’t a balloon a gift for a special day…?”

In fact, if Jade weren’t around, I would have jumped in place by now. I was so excited.

In the kingdom, balloons were quite expensive. I once played with rich children on the day of the festival and I knew it.

What should I do when I’m grateful? What should I say?

“I didn’t expect you to like it this much. I just found a new, unused balloon that auntie Marianne gave me when I was little and inflated it with a pump.”

“I’m so happy. I’ve never received anything like this. But what if it bursts?”

“Then you can buy a new one.”

Lying in a hospital ward, I always had to wait for days for friends or parents. Sometimes my dad would bring me balloons when I couldn’t go outside. When I thought about it, my eyes started to water.

“Do you like the balloon so much that you’re ready to burst into tears?”

“Oh, uh. Yes.”

I couldn’t even speak of my past memories, I just nodded. Jade looked at me curiously.

“You are very strange. Why do you do such a thing?”

Still, the tone was friendly. I smiled a little.