☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
The next day, I went outside the castle gate and waited for my parents to arrive.
As I idly passed the time by tapping the stones on the ground with my toes, a servant shouted.
“The Grand Duke is coming!”
I lifted my head and looked ahead. In the distance, I could see the carriage and the horses. As the blurry figures drew closer, they gradually became clearer, and my heart began to race a little.
When I spotted my father riding at the front, strangely, my heart swelled with emotion.
Why am I feeling this way? Why am I so happy and excited about this?
I soon realized that this feeling was longing. It had only been a week since we had parted, but it seemed I had missed him greatly.
Just a little while ago, we had barely known each other—no, he had even pointed a sword at my neck.
“Dad…”
The moment I called him softly, my little heart filled with overwhelming emotion.
I took a step forward and moved towards him. For some reason, I found myself running with vigor.
Seeing me run, he hurriedly dismounted from his horse. Then, as I suddenly rushed towards him, he opened his arms wide.
“Dad!”
I leaped into his broad chest, maintaining the same speed I had while running. Karim Iskas, who had always been cold to everyone except my mother, laughed heartily and embraced me tightly.
“Ar, have you been having fun?”
In his gentle voice, I hugged his neck and rubbed my face against his cheek.
“I missed you.”
I had thought I could live just fine without him, but now that wasn’t the case. I no longer had the confidence to live well in a world without my father and mother.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
The three of us entered the Grand Duke’s residence together. Until then, my father had been holding me in one arm.
Suddenly, I noticed the strange expressions of the employees watching us. They all had faces that seemed unable to believe what they were seeing, alternating their gazes between my father and me.
Well, I suppose it makes sense. My dad is quite far from this affectionate demeanor. He has always been a cold man from the North.
“Ar, did you get along well with your grandmother?”
At my mother’s following question, I smiled brightly. Her concern was evident in the question, wondering if I had been mistreated here.
“Yes, Mom. Grandmother has been really good to me.”
Only then did my mother smile as if she had finally relaxed. No parent enjoys the thought of their child being neglected somewhere.
I didn’t want to upset my mother unnecessarily. Besides, even if that were the case, Countess Portman would soon be leaving this place.
“Karim.”
And then the problematic Countess Portman came to greet us. She glanced at my mother next to my father, slightly furrowing her brow before hardening her expression again as she looked at me nestled in my father’s arms.
Since I had sent everyone away from the drawing room yesterday and educated the children, she had been giving me that look whenever she saw me. It was a mixture of disapproval and a hint of bewilderment.
It was probably her question about me, a child.
She must have realized something was off. She thought I was a well-behaved child like my mother, but suddenly, I had subdued all the boys my age.
“We have returned.”
At my father’s greeting, she quickly put on a smooth smile.
“Good, did you enjoy your trip?”
“Yes.”
As he spoke, my father wrapped his other arm around my mother’s shoulder. The three of us stood together, as if we were one body, facing Countess Portman.
“As I explained in the letter, I am about to marry Libby.”
My mother took a small breath before turning to Countess Portman with a composed smile.
“It’s been a long time, Countess Portman.”
I noticed Countess Portman’s lips quivering slightly. Until the moment she left, my mother had referred to her as ‘Madam,’ but now she suddenly appeared as a Grand Duchess. It was understandable that she would feel uncomfortable.
Moreover, Countess Portman truly dislikes my mother, so this situation must have been quite displeasing for her. She might have secretly wanted a Grand Duchess from among the Northern nobility or one of the prominent families in the capital.
“Yes… it really has been a long time. Has it been seven years?”
However, true to her noble nature, she quickly adopted a gentle demeanor.
“You must have had a long journey. Let’s all go inside and talk.”
We sat around the table together and drank tea. As I sipped warm milk, I pondered when I should reveal the secret ledger.
Suddenly showing the ledger to my dad would be a bit strange, right? No matter how smart I am, it’s unrealistic for a six-year-old to know what such a ledger is. It would also seem odd that I found it just a week after arriving here.
Then perhaps it would be best to act surprised, saying, “Oh my, what’s this? How did this end up here?” as if I had stumbled upon it by chance in front of my dad.
“You must have had a hard time raising a child on your own.”
Meanwhile, the conversation continued beside me. At Countess Portman’s words, my mother smiled softly.
“No, not at all. Ar is so mature that it hasn’t been difficult at all. Embarrassingly, I’ve relied on Ar quite a bit as a mother.”
Feeling my mother’s warm gaze, I felt a bit proud. It wasn’t wrong, as I had been trying to help her in any way since I possessed this body.
As Countess Portman took a sip of her tea, she silently set her cup down and looked at my father, Karim.
“Karim, as always, I respect your decision. As for your marriage… well, if that’s what you want, there’s nothing to be done about it. But I think we should be more cautious about the matter of the heir.”
My father, who had been silently drinking tea until then, slightly raised his eyebrows and looked at Countess Portman.
“This land is a special place. It is not like the safe city of Rosen, which is free of any dangers. We are constantly tormented by the threats of monsters and the Ram Empire, and the people here are quick-tempered and fierce. A woman cannot bear such a significant position. The Northern nobles will also be reluctant to follow the orders of someone they perceive as weaker than themselves.”
“You’ve seen Ar yourself, so you know what kind of child she is.”
That comment sounded as if she were questioning how could he say such a thing after witnessing it firsthand.
I scratched my cheek a bit.
“Dad, the thing is, this person doesn’t really know my true self because I’ve been pretending all this time. It was only yesterday that she realized something was off.”
“…It’s not something you can conclude just because she’s a bit clever as a child. You’re still young, and you could have a son.”
“My only child is Ar.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I want it that way, and Ar is enough for me.”
“Still, it’s not too late to decide on an heir later. There’s no need to rush.”
“Grandmother seems to have grown quite old. It’s evident from her dimming insight.”
My father smiled as he gazed at the stiff-faced Countess Portman.
“All of my knights who have watched Ar closely say that she resembles me to a frightening degree. Since the knights have already acknowledged Ar, it’s unfortunate that you cannot do the same, Grandmother.”
Hearing that, I fell into deep contemplation.
My father was notorious for his bad temper in the original story. The fact that I resemble him to such an extent means my personality must be just as bad—should I be happy about this or sad?
I admit that my personality isn’t particularly good, but isn’t it a bit extreme to say it’s that bad?
In any case, Countess Portman seemed at a loss for words upon hearing that the knights had recognized me first. It was only natural. It would look ridiculous for her to oppose what the elite knights, who would serve me as their lord, had already acknowledged.
“…But isn’t the child’s will the most important thing?”
She looked at me as if I were her last hope.
“Child, what do you think?”
And I shattered that hope in an instant.
“Grandmother, I promised my friends yesterday. I said I would become a grand duke and protect everyone. I really want to keep that promise.”
While Countess Portman’s expression twisted, my mother beamed with delight.
“Ar, you’ve already made friends here?”
I nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! We decided to play together when it snows next!”
My mother patted my head as if she were proud of me.
“Good job. You must always get along well with your friends.”
My peace-loving mother seemed genuinely happy that I hadn’t punched anyone in the nose.
I prayed that the rumor about me trying to smash their heads with a rock wouldn’t reach her ears.
At this point, Countess Portman should have given up, but seeing her tightly clenched fists, it seemed she had no intention of doing so.
Well, whatever. Just as I was trying to ignore her, she spoke.
“…I didn’t want to say this, but it seems I have no choice. Karim, are you sure this child is really your daughter?”
At those words, I slowly lifted my head to look at her.
What on earth is that old woman saying?
What a horrid old lady!