I Became the illegitimate son of a duke

3 – Enrollment

[It’s delicious…]

[Eat a lot, don’t spill.]

The rice was the most delicious thing I ate in the world. I guess I’m not a duke for nothing.

Chloe forgot where she was at all and even ate in a hurry, blinking her eyes?

“What if you add up everything from 1 to 10?”

“55.”

“…Okay, next question is—”

‘…What is this doing?’

But what is this?

As soon as I finished eating, the attendants came into the room like ghosts, took the tableware, and returned exactly 30 minutes later. With a pen, paper, and other tools.

Is this the question the Duke was talking about earlier? I don’t know about anything else, but math is at the level of an elementary school student—- Ah, I’m 13 years old, so I’m an elementary school student.

“Can you briefly explain the history of the Duchy of Burgon?”

“No, I have no idea.”

“The Carolingian Kingdom or the Holy Empire?”

“Same thing.”

“Um… Yes…”

Obviously you said you were asking a few questions.

After arithmetic, they are asking about all sorts of things, such as asking philosophical questions, asking about history, asking people to draw faces, etc.

“I know everything… I have good arithmetic skills… I have excellent artistic skills… I’m mentally mature… But I can’t get a professional education because of the low scores in subjects that require memorization. I received…”

‘…’

She seems to have a habit of talking to herself while writing.

Couldn’t you cover it up a bit? She

She’s openly saying that she’s not educated right in front of her eyes. She says it hurts the listener.

‘Chloe… Um.’

“13 Times 7?”

“It’s 91!”

Chloe is also being questioned by her maid over there, just like me.

Unlike before, when she hesitated because she was not used to it, now, when a lady-in-waiting asks a question, she shows her will to answer the question perfectly.

It is worthwhile to teach you a lot at home. Seeing Chloe quickly answering the lady-in-waiting’s questions with mental arithmetic makes me very proud. To Chloe, that level is nothing.

Is this why everyone becomes an idiot?

“…Sigh.”

‘…?’

Chloe, who was excited as she kept guessing the questions, looked at the paper her lady-in-waiting gave her and she suddenly shook her body. Regain the stability of

I wonder what kind of paper she is, but… I don’t think it’s that important since she settles down right away. She may have simply been surprised by the act of being handed a piece of paper.

“Hmm… All questions are over. Please wait.”

“…Yes.”

As expected, something more remains.

Hmm … She had a vague idea that it wouldn’t end like this at the time she asked the question, but it’s a little uncomfortable to hear that she wants to remain in this informal manner.

‘Where’s Chloe… Huh?’

“…”

It’s very calm, but it doesn’t seem uncomfortable. Chloe, her face slightly reddened, sits blankly in her seat as it is, and is fiddling with her left hand with her right hand.

As soon as the attendants packed their tools and left, I immediately approached Chloe.

I need to find out why he’s doing this.

“Chloe.”

“Hyat!?”

“What? What’s wrong?”

The reaction is too dramatic??

I never thought I would hear the cry of a dolphin again after decades of hearing it.

“Ah, ahahahaha… Nothing…”

“…? Yes, okay.”

There was something about breathing a little rough, but I decided to just keep quiet. It was because I was saying with my body that I didn’t want to talk more about related topics.

I guess I’m already at the age where I shouldn’t invade my privacy… Hmm, I knew this day would come someday, but it’s sad to see it happen.

…………

“It must have been a passing grade.”

Until she left this place, there was a note in her maid’s hand, but now it’s gone.

That means that in the eyes of a lady-in-waiting, a girl named Chloe is very smart, and Claude is worth keeping in her family.

Even if Claude went outside, I was going to give him all kinds of support… But still, it feels pretty good to see my son recognized in the eyes of those strict ladies-in-waiting.

“Yes, this—”

“Hmm…”

Because it is much faster to show the paperwork than to explain it in words, the two maids bow their heads and hand over the report, and the duke takes it and begins to read it slowly.

The atmosphere in the room, where there was only the sound of fiddling with paper and breathing, gradually became heavy, and soon it became difficult for anyone to say anything hastily.

A long silence fell in the room.

The duke contemplates for a long time with a slight silence, and the ladies-in-waiting stay quiet so as not to disturb the owner.

“If what is written here is true…These are geniuses to be caught.”

“…”

The duke’s words ended the silence.

The ladies-in-waiting are still silently bowing their heads, realizing that the duke did not say this because he wanted an answer.

‘There is no shortage in any of them.’

The more I read the report, the more I can only say that it is absurd.

The personnel who watched Marie also said that she had never called a teacher or anything like that, but what the hell are all these things?

A cursory glance reveals very well that the dishes are different from those of other children to whom teachers cling every day.

Everything that requires knowledge to be passed on from someone, such as history, received low marks, which makes the reports of personnel more reliable.

If you have a brain like that, you will memorize those things after reading the book a few times, so it’s not even a deduction.

The arithmetic problems I asked can literally be done by any adult… But they are said to be on the difficult side for children from ordinary villages, and both answered immediately.

Of course, Marie may have taught me a little, but the Marie I remember doesn’t have the ability to teach others so quickly that the answer comes out.

In a word, these children have very high basic talents.

This kind of thing is often called genius.

‘If… If you give those kids a teacher…’

That would be great.

If you try to think of other words, the only thing that comes to mind is the best.

Claude, you are my blood. Even so, to think that even an adopted child with no foundation, Chloe, could be this smart… It’s amazing.

Those two will grow into giants on their own, even without any special support.

And if you’re self-made like that… You don’t owe anything, so you won’t notice us.

Not like that.

The best thing to do is to put him inside the fence of Burgon Street and have him help the eldest son by his side… No matter how badly he does, he has to force himself into debt.

“Are those two waiting in the drawing room?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going too.”

It seems that the Chloe side is already over… All that remains is Claude.

And the plan to change Claude’s mind was already in place.

You can tell enough from Claude’s eyes when he talks about those eyes, Marie. That it is truly effective.

And regardless of the era, the best trading material for a filial son is… His parents.

…………

“Eh…?”

“So… I wonder if it’ll be okay…”

‘What is he talking about?’

Chloe’s attitude suddenly changed.

This is something completely unimaginable for Chloe, who had been against it until just now.

“If you become a noble, of course it’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Ummm…But didn’t you die yesterday saying you wouldn’t be free?”

“That’s true, but… Judging from the duke’s personality today, I don’t think he’ll trap you.”

Hmm… You seem to have a good personality, don’t you? I didn’t get the feeling that the duke was forced to wear a mask.

If you act in order not to reveal your true feelings to the kids, is that a monster or a human?

“But Chloe—”

Smart –

“…Come in.”

The sound of the door cuts off my words again. It used to be the sound of a door opening, but now it’s a different knocking sound.

I just opened the door a little while ago, but now I see a knock… I guess there’s something there.

“Did the rice taste good?”

“…Yes.”

As expected, the duke came directly.

Although the Duke came when I first came, the Duke then and the Duke now are very different. From the outfit, the decorations are piled up.

“That makes me happy too. Hmm… I don’t know where to start…”

“…?”

Why do you spend so much time dealing with a child?

It’s like checking my nerves-

“I will recognize you as my child.”

“…”

I was speechless at the sudden words that came out of the duke’s mouth.

…Hah.

This is how it comes out?

What do you mean when you acknowledge me as a child?

Should I cry out thank you? It’s a long way from looking at people

“Marie.”

“…?”

“Instead, we will restore all the honor Marie lost during her lifetime, and Marie’s body will be placed in her family’s grave.”

…Huh.

The duke is now using her mother as a bargaining chip?

As material for negotiations to hire me?

If I had said it unconditionally from the beginning, I would have drawn it…

This feels very bad.

But… Restoring my mother’s honor definitely attracts me.

Since the ducal family is involved in the matter of restoring my honor, I succeed later and no matter how hard I try, it seems close to impossible.

“Also, you can literally do whatever you want, except for training time. You’ll have to go with an attendant… But you can roam around as much as you like. Oh, and Chloe can live with you here too.”

“…”

Why are you even doing this?

Why are you so obsessed with me?

At that time, I met the eyes of the Duke looking down at me.

Those eyes… Are full of confusion and sadness.

It is literally the eyes of regret looking at a child who did not treat well.

“…Thank you, Father.”

“Yes, well thought out. Please take good care of me in the future, son.”

Is it simply that the standard of thinking was different, and that he was thinking of his children? This is why nobility.

I didn’t have to make it complicated and use her mother as an ingredient for negotiations… Oh, right.

There is no need to curse at parents who promise to be good to their children. Yes, I will be your child.

Because I don’t have to break up with Chloe… There’s nothing wrong with that.

“But… Chloe will not be recognized as my child. This is natural.”

“That means…”

“So you two are officially dating.”

…This can’t be helped.

But it doesn’t really matter if they’re officially gay, right? After all, the two of us would consider each other family.

By the way, Chloe doesn’t know what to think–

“…Good.”

“… Huh?”

Chloe nodded her head slowly with a slightly flushed face, immediately affirming the words of the duke.

A little… Shocking?

“Close, Chloe…”

“Don’t worry, Young master. Even if we’re not siblings, we’re family, right? We don’t have to worry about other people’s eyes in the first place.”

“…That’s right.”

To my surprise, Chloe’s way of thinking was the same as mine. They say families look alike.

Whew… Thank God. I was a little scared because he answered so meekly. There will be nothing to notice now.

On that day, I was recognized as a son by the duke and entered into the Burgon family.

And, of course, no one likes to have an illegitimate child enrolled in the family except for the illegitimate child and her parents.