Enemies Meet at the Engagement Ceremony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The imposing presence of Emblem Duke, who confidently strode into the room, was truly remarkable.

 

Without realizing it, I found myself gaping and staring.

 

‘Wow…’

 

Despite being in middle age, Emblem Duke maintained an unyielding demeanor.

 

His short hair was a familiar trait, similar to my mother’s and mine.

 

Through the open shirt, threatening scars crisscrossed due to chest muscles that seemed ready to burst.

 

Indeed, he embodied the reputation of being the most passionate among the past leaders of the Emblem Knights.

 

‘Is that the grandfather they say hates me so much…’

 

Unconsciously, I swallowed hard.

 

He displayed such stubbornness that he hadn’t come to see me even once in the year since I was born.

 

To receive the hatred of such a terrifying person for the crime of being born.

 

It was the first crisis I faced since being born here.

 

“Allow me to introduce for the first time, Your Grace. This is Lady Cherrya Emblem.”

 

The face of Emblem Duke contorted slightly upon hearing my name.

 

A tremendous force emanated from him as he looked at the butler who introduced me.

 

“Did you give the Emblem name to that child without my permission?”

 

“I, ah…! I apologize, Your Grace. Please forgive…”

 

The butler, with eyes ablaze, teetered and spat blood with a gulp.

 

Trembling, he knelt with reddened eyes and begged for forgiveness.

 

‘Oh, madness. Making someone vomit blood without even touching them…’

 

Startled, I stared at Emblem Duke, unable to catch my breath.

 

Rumor had it that Emblem Duke had transcended the realm of swordsmanship, becoming more than human.

 

At that level, causing someone to vomit blood without laying a hand on them seemed effortless.

 

“Hmph.”

 

Emblem Duke turned his gaze away from the butler and approached me.

 

The butler, with a relieved expression, staggered to his feet and straightened his posture.

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

Clutching the doll the maids had given me, I looked up at him.

 

Emblem Duke’s intense gaze scanned my entire body.

 

‘Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy.’

 

Feeling my body tense with anxiety, I blinked silently.

 

My peaceful and serene future depended on him now.

 

It was fortunate that I was still an infant, unable to speak properly at times like this.

 

‘Even a suspect with a knife would be less frightening than this person.’

 

Except for my mother and father, he was the first blood relative I had ever seen since birth. I never imagined it would be this terrifying.

 

The gaze directed at me felt indifferent and chilling, like assessing an object.

 

Emblem Duke, not hiding his discomfort, asked.

 

“Is that fellow being starved right now?”

 

“Th-that couldn’t be, Your Grace. Miss always behaves well during meals and eats everything without fuss.”

 

“Hmmm.”

 

A deep sigh escaped Emblem Duke’s lips.

 

With each exhale, those in the room flinched.

 

“Tsk, where did Melsia pick up such a brat?”

 

He clicked his tongue disapprovingly and turned away dismissively.

 

Then, he spoke to the butler following him.

 

“Convey this to Melsia. I commend her for bringing me this far, but she shouldn’t expect more.”

 

“I-I will convey the message.”

 

“That’s enough of a send-off.”

 

Without a word to the stiffened butler, he left the room.

 

“…… Phew.”

 

As the tension eased, I let out a deep breath of relief.

 

The first meeting with my grandfather ended in such an icy atmosphere.

 

‘Looks like the first impression didn’t go well?’

 

Judging by that reaction, it seemed like he would dislike me for at least the next ten years.

 

While my mother was the leader of the Emblem Knights, the head of the family was Duke Seffield Emblem.

 

Growing up in the shadow of my grandfather’s disapproval, I had a premonition that my life wouldn’t be smooth.

 

‘Should I try some aegyo (cuteness) or something…’

 

No matter how steel-hearted a person is, they say even the toughest warriors melt in the face of a child’s cuteness.

 

I might have to resort to that to survive.

 

“Uh, yeah…”

 

I tried to make the cutest sound possible but quickly shut my mouth.

 

‘Wow, I can’t do this. It’s not easy.’

 

I decided to contemplate how I would survive from now on.

 

Maybe then I could earn some money to feed myself.

 

Before seriously contemplating the future, I reached out to the butler who had just spat blood.

 

“Ah! Aaaaah! (Come here, butler. Are you okay?)”

 

“Yes, Miss. I’m fine.”

 

The butler remarkably understood my gesture and swiftly lifted me into his arms.

 

As if it were routine for him, he used his free hand to retrieve a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away the blood.

 

“Those who work in the shadow of Emblem should be able to endure the Master’s aura a few times.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“On days like this, it’s good to have a blood pouch in your mouth in advance, so you can chew and spit it out to gain sympathy.”

 

Watching the butler smile at me, I realized.

 

This person has found an incredible way to survive!

 

In the quest to find my path, it was a glimmer of hope.

 

As the butler and I started chatting, the maids, who had been watching from a distance, approached.

 

“How can you look at the master with such cute, puppy-like eyes?”

 

“Indeed, it’s the bloodline of Emblem; already courageous.”

 

Opinions I couldn’t agree with poured out from the maids.

 

I thought I was scared to madness, but what nonsense.

 

Honestly, the people in this mansion tended to see things the way they wanted.

 

As I resolved to ignore the maids’ words, my mother burst into the room with force.

 

“Cherrya! Dad!”

 

Her mere presence seemed to fill the room with vibrant red hues.

 

Even though it was evident she had run from a distance, she showed no signs of exhaustion, not even a heavy breath.

 

“Where’s Dad?!”

 

Her eyes, scanning the room, frantically searched for the now-absent grandfather.

 

“He left just a moment ago.”

 

“Ha! He probably ran away, afraid I’d charm our Cherry in front of him!”

 

My mother laughed heartily with a triumphant smile.

 

She rested both hands on her hips, leaning forward until her hands touched her waist as she spoke.

 

“I won!”

 

At my mother’s words, both the butler and the maids, and even I, tilted our heads.

 

‘Clearly, she lost miserably.’

 

At this point, I briefly worried that my mother might be escaping from reality.

 

“Ah!”

 

“As expected, our daughter! Soon, you’ll officially become a member of the Emblem family!”

 

My mother put her hands under my armpits and lifted me high, twirling around.

 

My vision spun dizzyingly.

 

Whether it was thanks to the Emblem bloodline or my peculiar constitution, I didn’t feel dizzy.

 

However, the maids seemed concerned and asked my mother.

 

“What are you saying, ma’am? Your Grace didn’t even look back.”

 

“Curious?”

 

“Of course! Please tell us.”

 

With a voice exuding subtle confidence, my mother’s words made the maids shuffle nervously.

 

I subtly encouraged the maids’ urgency and nodded in agreement.

 

“Uh-huh, yeah!”

 

I tried my best to enthusiastically respond, even though my tongue struggled to pronounce properly.

 

“Looks like our Cherry is curious too.”

 

“Ah!”

 

I clapped my hands as if to affirm. It was my maximum expression and a positive sign.

 

My mother kissed my cheek and said, “It’s nothing much. I sent Dad a portrait of Cherry every day.”

 

“A portrait?”

 

“Yes. Even if Dad hate dukes from Gray so much, Dad should know how his only granddaughter is growing up, right?”

 

My mother shrugged and laid me on the bed.

 

A bittersweet smile crossed her face as she mentioned duke Gray.

 

Patting my head in silence, my mother, with her usual bright laughter, spoke again.

 

“I stopped sending the portraits he received every day just yesterday, and he couldn’t bear it, so he came here.”

 

“……”

 

Everyone fell silent at my mother’s words.

 

So, now it was Duke Seffield Emblem.

 

The Emblem Duke, who so strongly opposed the engagement with Gray.

 

The same man who had earlier compared me to a tiny fish!

 

He had come all the way here just because he hadn’t received a single portrait and wanted to see my face in person.

 

“Honestly, he must have been surprised because the real thing is prettier. That’s why he took it out on the butler. Anyway, he has a bad temper.”

 

On such a topic? Tiny fish?

 

“Aaaah! (Is that the attitude of someone admired by their granddaughter!)”

 

“Yeah, yeah, Cherry likes it too, right? Grandpa has been loving you so much since even before you were born.”

 

“Aaaah! (Calling me a tiny fish, that person!)”

 

Seeing me frustrated, my mother thought she was pleased.

 

An incessant nodding head and a gaze that looked at me lovingly were suffocating, and I thumped my chest in frustration.

 

“Yeah, yeah. Mom will comfort you.”

 

Perhaps misunderstanding her intentions, my mother began to pat my chest gently, singing a lullaby.

 

“……Aaaah! (This isn’t working, it’s not.)”

 

Honestly, the people in this mansion tended to see me the way they wanted.

 

I sincerely wished to grow up quickly today.

 

Truly, desperately.

 

 

 

 

 

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