“……I don’t want to make your mother suffer. For me, one child is enough.”
Indeed, having children can be tough on women. My mother was already frail, and after giving birth to me, she didn’t even get to rest properly and had to work hard, which made her joints ache all over.
So, I agree that having a second child would be a bit much.
“Then I can just marry and pass the title to my husband.”
I appreciate the offer of the title, but to be honest, I wasn’t exactly thrilled.
The Grand Duchy isn’t a land flowing with milk and honey; it’s a harsh environment where monsters roam everywhere. Plus, the Ram Empire would continue to provoke us.
To be handed such a troublesome place… I’d rather enjoy my newfound status by indulging in leisure. Lavish balls, charming tea parties, shopping, traveling, horseback riding—there are so many fun things for a carefree person to enjoy in this world!
So, I wanted to offload all the burdens onto my husband and just enjoy my life…
“Do you prefer a life of being ruled by others?”
I looked at my father with wide eyes, wondering why the conversation had suddenly taken that turn.
“Are you saying that if I don’t become a Grand Duke, I’ll have to live under someone else’s rule?”
“Those who don’t hold power have no choice but to kneel and beg to get what they want. That’s how the weak survive in this world.”
He paused for a moment, looking at my mother before continuing.
“Of course, if I marry Libby, there will be few who can treat you carelessly. But we can’t live longer than you. So, you need to have your own strength.”
I didn’t expect him to be thinking that far into the future. I knew his attitude toward me had changed since the incident at the wharf, but it seemed he cared for me even more than I thought.
“I don’t know how others raise their daughters. Perhaps this method is not the right one. Finding you a good husband like everyone else might be better for you. But I want to give you everything I have, if possible. This is my way.”
He was the type of person who, once he decided to give something, would give everything. Perhaps that’s why he had denied his feelings for so long; he knew he would end up giving it all.
“…But what if I can’t do it properly?”
The position of a Grand Duke was that of a leader responsible for many people. If someone without the ability were to sit in such a position, it would ultimately be the subordinates who suffer.
Rather than simply inheriting the role due to bloodline, it would be better for the people of the domain if a more suitable person were to become the Grand Duke.
“That’s impossible.”
He said it bluntly, as if it were unthinkable.
“With the kind of determination that jumps into the water to die, what can’t you do? I’ve never seen a stubborn child like you. I don’t know who you take after.”
At those words, I stared at him in disbelief. My mother had the same expression.
If my stubbornness resembled anyone, it would obviously be him. You don’t think I got it from my angelic mother, do you?
“…Don’t regret it later. The land that your father and grandfather built might all be ruined in my time.”
Despite my threats, he merely scoffed. I couldn’t understand what gave him such confidence.
Just like that, I became a princess overnight and was set to inherit the position of the next Grand Duke.
At the same time, I realized that in this life, I wouldn’t be able to relax and enjoy myself.
Damn it!
Part 3: What Happens When You Become the Grand Duke’s Daughter?
After defeating all the monsters that had plagued the Salle territory, most of the knights returned to the Grand Duchy. However, our family, along with a few knights, headed to the kingdom’s capital, Rosen.
Since it was my first carriage journey, I was completely absorbed in looking at the scenery.
“Mom, look over there. There are cows!”
Just a little further south, there were wide fields that hadn’t been seen in the north.
And there were cows leisurely wandering about. The cows were mooing and grazing on the grass without a care in the world.
“Are you fascinated by the cows, Ar?”
“Yeah!”
In truth, I wasn’t amazed by the cows. What’s so special about ordinary cows? But as I watched them, I suddenly felt hungry. When was the last time I had eaten beef?
When my mother and I lived together, we were so poor that we couldn’t even think of having beef. Meals at Salle Castle were quite good, but we had never had expensive beef.
What a stingy Lord!
“Then let’s stop for a moment and say hello to the cows…”
“Oh, that looks delicious.”
As I licked my lips at the sight of the cows, my mother fell silent. My father, who was sitting in front of me looking at documents, also raised his head and stared at me quietly.
His gaze seemed to say, “What’s going to become of this child?”
With that complicated mix of emotions in his eyes, I pouted. Ah, what? For sentimental girls, cows might be friends, but to me, they were just meat.
“Dad, let’s definitely have beef for lunch today.”
At my serious suggestion, he nodded silently.
Our peaceful journey to Rosen continued for the next ten days.
As we spent more time together, I grew a little closer to my dad.
It was when we had to camp out last time. As I quietly watched the crackling campfire, sleepiness washed over me.
While looking for a place to sleep, I crawled onto my dad’s lap in my drowsiness. I settled myself on his sturdy legs and closed my eyes.
“Looks like Ar is getting comfortable with you now.”
Mom smiled gently beside me while he remained rigid and didn’t move at all. Eventually, a somewhat awkward yet warm hand patted my head. It stayed there until I fell completely asleep.
It was something I could never have imagined before. At some point, these moments became natural. As if he had always been my dad.
It was truly strange. The Grand Duke Iskas, who was essentially a stranger, felt closer to me than my father from my past life.
Finally, a week later, we arrived in Rosen.
The wide road was bustling with countless people. When a carriage bearing the Grand Duke’s crest appeared, not only did the pedestrians step aside hastily, but other carriages did as well.
At that moment, I felt it once again. Power really does have its perks.
I gazed somewhat indifferently at the urban landscape visible from the window. In truth, there wasn’t much that different from what I had expected, so I felt no excitement.
However, unlike my indifference, my mother had been sparkling with excitement as she looked out at the scenery. Despite having lived in the capital for a long time, she looked like a 10-year-old girl, marveling at the sights outside the carriage.
I soon realized the reason.
After bringing my mother to the capital, my father had kept her confined within the Grand Duke’s residence. His obsession made him extremely reluctant to show her to others.
So, for my mother, who had hardly stepped outside the Grand Duke’s residence, the sights must have been fascinating.
I let out a quiet sigh.
Ah, really. What a troublesome person! If he brought her to the capital, he should have taken her around, treated her to delicious food, and shown her the sights.
At an age when she was already sensitive, coming to this place for the first time must have been overwhelming. She must have had so many things she wanted to see and do, but she couldn’t even say anything.
I looked at my dad.
“Are we going straight to the Grand Duke’s residence?”
He nodded.
“Right. I’ll drop the two of you off, and then I have to go out again.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have to meet His Majesty.”
His expression as he said this was completely sour. He seemed to really dislike the current king.
I understand. He wanted to kill him, but he couldn’t do that. He has to go meet him.
“Then can Mom and I look around for a bit before heading home?”
“Look around?”
“I’ll just take a quick stroll around here.”
I smiled brightly at my mom.
“This is my first time in the capital. I have so many questions.”
As I laid the groundwork, my mom genuinely smiled brightly.
“If Ar wants to, shall we take a quick look around?”
“Yes, that sounds great!”
While my mother and I quickly became of one mind, my father’s brow furrowed deeply. He looked quite displeased.
Given the situation, if he tried to oppose us, it would be the end, so my mom and I gazed at him with pleading eyes.
“We’ll just look around for exactly one hour. Okay?”
With not one but two pairs of pleading eyes on him, he sighed in resignation.
“…Then go with Jas.”
“Yes!”
Immediately, my mom and I began to think about how we could make the most of that one hour. Meanwhile, my father’s sighs grew even deeper beside us.
