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GMNB Chapter 23

GMNB 23

 

 

 

 

I honestly wanted to just ignore it and run away. After a big cry and all that tension, I was utterly exhausted, like I could die from it.

 

But I couldn’t.

 

My dad stared down at me and asked slowly,

 

“Why should I?”

 

The look in his eyes as he gazed at me wasn’t that of a dad looking at his child. It was more akin to a predator eyeing its prey.

 

Even so, he seemed to hold back from intervening, recognizing that I was his child—a mere baby.

 

‘He really goes to any lengths when it’s about Mom.’

 

I didn’t make an emotional plea. Not because I felt any sympathy for the butler—there wasn’t even a speck of that in me—but because I knew it wouldn’t work anyway.

 

“The butler is bad. Before he dies, he should suffer a lot.”

 

“What?”

 

“A lot. Pain.”

 

I carefully selected my words, speaking clearly to persuade my dad. He covered his face with one hand.

 

This was the man who insulted our family repeatedly after my mom’s death.

 

On top of that, there was a high likelihood that someone was pulling the strings behind him.

 

Regardless of my trauma with death, I couldn’t let him die so easily.

 

My dad removed his hand from his face.

 

Then, he started laughing, shaking his shoulders as if he couldn’t contain it.

 

“You really are…”

 

As if he wanted to pat my head, he extended his hand but paused mid-air and withdrew it.

 

Startled by reflex, I released his other hand and took a step back.

 

“You’re so much like Lucy.”

 

My dad’s face, as he said that, wore a painful smile.

 

It was clearly a mischievous grin, yet his face seemed sad.

 

I stared blankly at his expression for a moment before he turned away first.

 

“Take those two to the punishment chamber and interrogate them. Keep them alive.”

 

I couldn’t agree more! Let them both rot in the punishment chamber and get beaten to their heart’s content!

 

“… Ah, no.”

 

Dad gave a slight nod toward his adjutant, Walter, then slowly trailed off, his words hanging in the air.

 

“I’ll do it myself. I’ll make sure they feel a lot of pain.”

 

Though his tone sounded playful, his crooked grin suggested that neither the butler nor Yasmin would be leaving unscathed.

 

As long as they weren’t killed, I didn’t care beyond that.

 

The butler, whose left arm was grotesquely twisted, was dragged away like a ragdoll, glaring at me with bloodshot eyes.

 

But I pulled down my lower eyelid and stuck out my tongue.

 

‘Didn’t I tell you I’d make you pay?’

 

Once my dad’s back, this will all be nothing, so keep messing around if you dare!

 

***

 

I don’t really remember how I made it back to my room.

 

All I recall is that I was drenched in cold sweat, so much that my clothes were soaked, but I didn’t even care. I collapsed and fell asleep like I had passed out.

 

When I woke up, it was almost lunchtime.

 

“You’re finally awake?”

 

My nanny, who had been wiping my forehead with a damp cloth while I slept, asked with deep concern.

 

“Mhm…”

 

Instead of getting up right away, I rolled around in bed, thrashing about.

 

‘Why is life so hard?’

 

There’s not a single peaceful day, is there?

 

Is it even okay for the life of a three-year-old baby to be this hardcore?

 

I just want to live comfortably, doing nothing but exercising!

 

“The water has gone completely cold. Let me go get some fresh water.”

 

“No.”

 

What mattered wasn’t the washcloth right now, so I stopped the nanny, who was about to leave the room with the basin.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“What happened to the butler?”

 

“He’s currently reflecting in the punishment chamber.”

 

I hope he’s doing a lot of reflecting with a lot of pain.

 

“And dad?”

 

“He’s reviewing all the household affairs that the butler handled. If there’s any mistake, he plans to use that as a pretext to send him back to the main house.”

 

That’s right!

 

It seems like my dad is a rational person when it’s not about Mom.

 

If he sends the butler back under the excuse of poor work performance, even Grandfather’s side won’t have much to argue about.

 

‘It might be slightly unpleasant, but what can they do?’

 

If you came to work and didn’t do your job properly, of course, you’d get fired.

 

“Hey, nanny. Actually, the butler and Yasmin have been… they treated me like a bad child. They also grabbed my shoulders really hard like this, and it hurt a lot.”

 

I seized the opportunity to tell the nanny in detail about all the wrongdoings the butler and Yasmin had inflicted on me.

 

I want it! A lot of pain!

 

When I even tattled about how the employees from the main estate had been monitoring both me and Dietrich, the nanny’s face turned red.

 

“How could they…!”

 

The nanny, who seemed about to utter harsh words, pursed her lips tightly upon looking at me.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me about this? You should’ve told me earlier.”

 

“What if they kicked you out too? I don’t want a life without you, nanny. It’s scary.”

 

“Oh, my poor, sweet lady!”

 

I’m sorry, but could you hold me a bit less tightly?

 

I’m not great at holding my breath for a long time.

 

The nanny hugged me so tightly that it felt suffocating, but I stayed still in her arms, understanding her feelings.

 

How frustrated I had been all this time.

 

Now that dad is back, I’m going to settle it all!

 

“I’ll be sure to report this to the Master later.”

 

“Mhm.”

 

“You must have been so scared and upset. But now that the Master has returned, don’t worry anymore. He’ll protect you.”

 

The nanny patted my back several times.

 

It felt a bit strange.

 

In my past life, no matter how unfair the situation, it was always up to me to handle it or just forget it.

 

‘Now I have the option of telling dad.’

 

The nanny, who slowly released me from her embrace, patted my head as I wallowed in this ticklishly warm feeling.

 

“Shall we get up now? You need to eat.”

 

Can’t I just eat in bed?

 

I was so tense yesterday that I don’t even want to move today.

 

“The Master has requested to have a meal with the young master and young miss to celebrate his return.”

 

At those words, I practically sprang up as if I’d been jolted.

 

A meal with dad.

 

Just the thought of it feels like it’s going to upset my stomach, but I don’t think I have a choice, do I?

 

Should I at least try to suggest it?

 

“Can I just eat in my room today…?”

 

“Of course. Shall I inform the Master that you’re not feeling well and ask him to check on you later instead of joining you for the meal?”

 

“No! I’m fine!”

 

The mere thought of sitting face-to-face with my already uncomfortable dad in my room was unbearable. It would be a hundred times better to just have a quick meal in the dining hall and part ways.

 

In that case, the best course of action would be to get ready quickly and head there.

 

Recalling my dad’s intimidating expression from yesterday, I shuddered involuntarily and bolted to the bathroom.

 

***

 

“………”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

When we arrived in front of the dining hall, I hesitated instead of stepping inside. The nanny, still holding my hand, leaned toward me.

 

I really didn’t want to go in.

 

“Don’t want to go in?”

 

The question, as if reading my mind, caught me off guard, and I instinctively nodded.

 

“Yes… Eek!”

 

“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you that much.”

 

I nearly jumped out of my skin!

 

Clutching my pounding heart, I peeked out from behind the nanny, looking up at my dad.

 

The dad I saw today, smiling playfully, felt like a completely different person from the stern and menacing figure I encountered yesterday. It hit me anew how much he resembled Dietrich.

 

‘Their smiling faces look exactly alike.’

 

If Dietrich aged twenty more years, he would probably have a face just like this.

 

“Anna, you can leave now. I’ll take Mariela inside.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Don’t leave me, nanny!

 

Ignoring my desperate gaze, the nanny laughed softly, gave me a little fighting gesture, and disappeared.

 

‘What exactly am I supposed to do well?’

 

With drooping shoulders, I trudged after my dad into the dining hall.

 

Dietrich, who had arrived early and was already seated, jumped up and ran to our dad.

 

“Father!”

 

“Did you sleep well, Dietrich?”

 

“Yes! Did you sleep well too, father?”

 

Dietrich’s physical attacks, which no one else in the house could withstand, were received effortlessly by our dad.

 

Only after being thoroughly patted on the head while nestled in dad’s arms did Dietrich, now wearing a satisfied expression, turn to me.

 

“Baby Ella, did you sleep well too?”

 

“Mhm. Did you sleep well, Dietrich?”

 

“Of course. My ankle is fully healed now. The doctor said I’m free to move around starting today.”

 

So that’s why Dietrich was nowhere to be seen during yesterday’s commotion.

 

Once inside the dining hall, I glanced at the seating arrangement.

 

As expected, the seat of honor belonged to our dad.

 

The seats on either side of him were likely for Dietrich and me.

 

‘You wants me to sit next to that scary dad?’

 

No way…!

 

 

 

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