The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend

hurt because of you, right!

There was a firmness behind the meek smile of the Grand Duke.

A cute child like me acting cute should’ve easily convinced the Grand Duke to listen to me, but I couldn’t see any cracks in his expression.
How terrible!

“My father doesn’t look out for himself, so I do it in his stead.”

When I looked at the Grand Duke, my expression telling that I was looking out for my family in place of my naive father, he pressed his palm on my head.
And…was he stroking it too now?

Of course, this is my head — the one that everyone seems to love.

“Yes, I understand how you feel.
But didn’t your father already refuse?”

So I don’t have to give you anything, do I? He seemed to be asking.

It turns out the Grand Duke is now trying to fight a seven-year-old, and that he is a shameless man.
I thought he was righteous since he tried to persuade my father, who kept on refusing, but I’m speechless now.

In my heart, I was screaming at him whether he considered the price of life so cheap.
I thought you were different from Kirsec, but this is rich! Here is another vicious devil.

My emotions were surging, but I held back.
There is a difference between just accepting an offered reward, and asking to be offered one.
The Grand Duke had no intention of providing one.
But if I asked for it, that would be extortion.

But I couldn’t just step down.
As soon as I’d asked to be rewarded on behalf of my father, I had started a deal with my life on the line.

“I do think I have a right to receive something from the Grand Duke.
Apart from the compensation to my father for protecting the life of His Grace the Grand Duke, this is compensatory damages to be given to me!”

(T/N: “Compensatory damages are money awarded to a plaintiff to compensate for damages, injury, or another incurred loss.”)

I agonized over the words for a while, since they were not exactly childish, before boldly demanding this of the Grand Duke.
In the end, I spoke frankly because I thought it would not adequately reflect my will if I tried to translate into a child’s speech.

I’d already proven to be a precocious child, so he’ll understand.