I was Adopted by the Devil Ducal Family
'This feels nice.'
It was the first time for a child who grew up on the street to take a bath in such warm water.
Most of the year is winter in the north.
It was only in the summer that he could occasionally bathe in the lake in the forest, but for most of the season, he didn't even dare to wash up.
'I was very flustered earlier.'
The child's face turned red.
Pernia, who guided the child to the bathtub, said with a smile.
[Alright, arms up!]
The child raised his arms without realizing it. In the meantime, Pernia naturally took off the child's top.
The child curled up with a bewildered face and shouted.
[W-What are you doing?]
Pernia blinked and spoke nonchalantly.
[What do you mean? I'm going to bathe you.]
[What?]
[Let's take off your pants now.]
The child shook his head violently at the shocking remark.
[I-It's okay!]
He couldn't even remember the last time someone washed me. Let alone, showing his naked body to a noble lady he's never met before.
Even if he was only an 8-year-old child, this was unacceptable.
But Pernia did not back down and said.
[It's okay. Children struggle to wash themselves.]
[B-But I'm a boy!]
The child was often mistaken for a girl because of his long hair and pretty face.
So maybe that's why Pernia thought she could do this(?).
However, Pernia responded without being the least bit surprised by those words.
[I know. Does that matter?]
What was even more shocking was that she said it didn't matter if he was a boy.
The child couldn't say anything and muttered with a bright red face.
Fortunately, Pernia didn't push any further. She just pouted with a disappointed look on her face.
[Okay, then call me if you need me.]
And added.
[I'm going to check if you washed your hair with shampoo and if you brushed your teeth properly. So you have to wash it thoroughly before coming out.]
Her voice was firm like a teacher's voice.
He thought to himself as he half-immersed his face in the water.
'The madam is a very unique person.'
The child quickly left the bathroom.
He wanted to stay longer, but he noticed that he was the only one using the large, luxurious bathroom.
As soon as the child came out of the bathroom, a pitch-black cat meowed and came to the child's side.
Pernia, who was waiting, closed the book she was reading and approached the child.
"Let's see."
As she said earlier, she began to scrutinize the child.
If there are any soap bubbles left on his hair. If his earlobe is cleaned.
"Ah~"
Only after looking inside the child's wide open mouth did she smile with satisfaction.
"You washed yourself very well."
Then she sat the child down in front of her and started drying his hair with a towel.
The child closed his eyes tightly as he felt Pernea's body heat behind him.
'What, what? Why is madam drying the hair of a boy like me?'
But Pernia, unaware of the child's feelings, ran her hand through his flowing silver hair and smiled.
"How can it shine so brightly? It's like a spider web covered in morning dew."
It was the first time he heard that.
He's heard many times that his hair color is dull and not like a child's.
The child somehow felt flustered and lowered his head. His little face was as red as an apple.
The Duchess' shocking actions did not stop there.
"Do you want to stay here?"
The child blinked in disbelief.
Pernia nodded.
"The doctor said that your body is very sick from living outside for so long. You are malnourished, and you need to rest for a few days and eat well."
"......."
"Most of all, there's a big blizzard outside right now. You'll be in trouble if you go out in this weather. So just relax here until the blizzard stops."
But he couldn't believe she was telling a child who she doesn't even know the name of to stay in her castle.
The child couldn't understand why the Duchess was so kind to him.
'Is it because she feels sorry for me?'
'Or is it the passing whims of the Duchess?'
Any of those reasons was harsh for a child, but the child was okay with any reason.
The room with the wood fire was so warm, the clothes he wore smelled good, and most of all...
"You look prettier after washing up."
He liked the Duchess who stroked my hair and smiled at him.
It's been a long time since someone welcomed him so purely and warmly.
So the child wanted to stay with her a little longer, even if it was only a few days.
The child put his hands together neatly and bowed his head.
"T-thank you, ma'am."
The child bowed his head so deeply that it seemed as if his small head would touch the floor.
Pernia lowered her eyebrows as she looked at the child.
She raised the child and spoke softly.
"You are not a servant working in the castle. To put it bluntly, you are a guest I brought. So why don't you call me by name rather than madam?"
"Your name?"
"Yes, it's Pernia."
No way.
He was uneducated, but he knew this.
That a person of low class such as himself should never dare to call the duchess by her name.
But Pernia's green eyes were sincere. It was neither a joke nor a prank.
Eventually, the child opened his mouth in a trembling voice.
"T- then I'll do that, Miss Pernia."
Pernia smiled contentedly and brightly.
Then asked with a soft face.
"Come to think of it, I don't know your name yet. What's your name?"
"......"
The child hesitated, unable to answer immediately, as if he were agonizing over something.
After a while the child replied shyly.
"...it's Rose."
Rose's cheeks were red like roses.
***
That night, Rose couldn't sleep well.
The soft blanket, nice scent, and full stomach would have been enough to make him fall asleep right away, but he couldn't.
He can't believe all this.
'Is it a dream?'
But when he pinch his cheeks and stretched them out, he could tell it wasn't a dream.
"It hurts."
A black cat approached Rose, who was gripping his tingling cheeks, pressed Rose with its rounded paw.
'Stop being silly.'
The black cat took its place next to Rose and curled up.
Rose muttered as he looked at the cat who yawned and closed its eyes.
"Blinky. Could it be that you did some magic for me?"
He remembered the first day he met the cat.
That day, Rose had a piece of bread in his hand. It was bread that he barely managed to buy with the money he got from begging all day.
As he put the round bread in his mouth.
[Nya~]
A black cat that appeared from somewhere was looking at itself. Rose bit her lips the moment she met the cat's yellow eyes.
It's my first meal, too.
This bread is too small for one person.
However, the moment the cat cried again, Rose had no choice but to squat down and give the cat a piece of bread.
Since then, the black cat and Rose have often encountered each other on the street, and each time Rose would give anything away to the cat if he had anything in his hand.
Cats are magical creatures that are loved by witches. Then, isn't today's miracle a gift from this cat?
Rose murmured.
"It is true that Blinky brought madam, or. Miss Pernia after I collapsed."
Rose recalled some facts about Pernia.
Rose, a street kid, knew about the rumors.
Duchess Kardien.
A wife dearly loved by the Duke, who has the power of the devil.
It was a famous story that the fearsome duke, who even the emperor was afraid of, could not move in front of his wife.
So among the villagers, the duchess was as feared as much as they feared the duke.
She is a woman who commands those with demonic powers, so she must have a fearsome personality.
But she doesn't.
"She was as warm as the sun on a spring day."
Most of all, Pernia looked at Rose's red eyes and said nothing of it.
She was not surprised, contemptful, or afraid.
He was so glad about that.
Rose murmured, grabbing the black cat by the foot.
"Blinky, what do I do? I hope the blizzard doesn't stop for a long time."
That way, I'll be able to stay with her a little more.
***
The morning dawned. Rose ran and looked at the window first thing.
Looking out the window, there was still a blizzard.
At least today, Rose will not be driven out of the castle. Rose sighed.
'That's a relief.'
Rose, relieved, thought.
'But what do I do now?'
Rolling around alone in the room all day was not enough for an 8-year-old child.
It would have been nice if Blinky was there, but he couldn't see the cat anywhere.
'I'm bored, and I'm a little hungry.'
Then there was a knock. Rose shouted, his eyes wide open.
"Yes, come on in!"
Rose expected Pernia to come in.
But that was not it.
It was two girls in bright dresses who came in with a bang, opening the door.
She was about 12 years old. The girl with blue-purple hair tied in pigtails said in a loud voice.
"Are you the one our mom picked up? I came to see what kind of kid you are!"
At that, the girl next to her frowned. With long blue hair, she looked much more mature than a young girl.
She was about 14 years old, and it was obvious that she had just entered puberty.
She said, lowering her eyes.
"Luna. Didn't I tell you it was rude to say that?"
"Why is it rude? I'm telling the truth."
"You have no dignity at all."
Rose stared blankly at the girls who were quarreling.
It wasn't just because the girls had remarkably beautiful appearances.
The girls had blue-purple hair and red eyes. Rose could easily guess the identity of the two as soon as he saw the clear red eyes.
'No way...'
The two girls said to Rose.
"Nice to meet you. I am Yuliana Kardien, the eldest daughter of Duke Kardien."
"Luna Kardien. The second daughter of Duke Kardien."
No way! I was right!
The two girls were the two daughters of Duke and Duchess Kardien.
Because of that, they had a different atmosphere than girls of their age.
They had an intimidating air which was usual for someone at such a young age.
So Rose lowered his head with a very nervous look on his face. Rose said with his face towards the floor.
"M-my name is Rose."
"Rose?"
Luna burst out laughing.
"Luna!"
Yuliana scolded her younger sibling, but Luna continued unbothered.
"It's funny that a boy's name is Rose."
Rose's face turned slightly red at Luna's smiling face. Rose thought about whether he could say this, and then bravely said.
"M-my eyes are red so..."
"...what?"
"I was named after the prettiest red thing we could find. So please don't tease me too much."