“I’m scared…”
I tried to avoid the situation, but Grandfather didn’t seem to believe me at all.
Eventually, he sat down next to me on the couch and started pressuring me to be honest.
“Wait, were you faking it when you cried yesterday?”
“I was really scared yesterday, so I cried…!”
“Yesterday?”
“And today too…!”
“You sure know how to use the proper particles.”
Grandfather’s hand rested on the crown of my head, just like it did earlier on the stairs. Although the patting didn’t hurt, it felt burdensome because I didn’t know his intentions.
‘Ugh, this is uncomfortable.’
My plan was to get to know Theon, not sit next to Grandfather like this.
“When does this kid start his lessons, Callet?”
“In two days.”
Uncle Callet answered Grandfather’s question.
The lessons referred to were the mandatory education for the young heirs of Travel.
Kane, the eldest son of my uncle, entered the academy this year.
The relatives who stayed behind at the mansion were my uncle’s daughter, Ciel; my aunt’s son, Calypso; and my other uncle’s twins, Harty and Marty.
Especially the twins and Calypso were mischievous troublemakers who got along very well.
Sigh. Just thinking about enduring their teasing for not having any special abilities already makes me anxious.
“In two days? That’s soon.”
That worry quickly disappeared when Grandfather spoke again. I needed to focus on getting through this crisis!
Should I say that I’m too scared to move because of Grandfather? Maybe he’d believe me if I started trembling?
Or perhaps I should make a pitiful face, like I did with Anne?
“Since you’re back home, I should give you a present. Tell me, is there anything in this room that you want?”
“Huh?”
I accidentally let my eyes sparkle.
Worse, I turned my head and locked eyes with Grandfather…!
“Oh-ho.”
One of the things the Count of Travel was known for was his talent for making deals.
He was skilled at figuring out how interested the other person was in his offer.
“So, you do want something, don’t you? That candy wasn’t enough, huh? What do you want?”
“Well… I, uh… what I want is…”
“Just pick anything.”
“What I want is…”
“Pick something quickly. Should I choose for you? How about that chocolate over there?”
“That! That’s the one!”
I instinctively raised my hand.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance—being told to choose anything I wanted from the head of the Travel family himself.
‘But not chocolate!’
There were many personal items in Grandfather’s room.
For example, a thick-framed dagger hanging on the wall. While it was too blunt for actual use, the ratio of the handle to the blade was beautiful, and it had high artistic value.
‘It’s probably worth around 50 million kona at auction?’
Hehe, I could sneak it out under my clothes. As long as my cousins didn’t find out, I should be able to get away with choosing something valuable.
Money is always useful. Even if I don’t need it now, I’ll need it someday.
“That’s off-limits. Pick something else.”
Was it too expensive? I was rejected immediately.
What about the fountain pen inside the walnut bookshelf? Estimated auction price: 35 million kona!
“Pick something else.”
How about the horse-shaped ornament on the table? Estimated auction price: 20 million kona!
“Hmm.”
Grandfather lightly nudged my finger as it pointed to the horse ornament, pushing it towards something else.
My fingertip drifted past the ornament and landed on a common cube toy on the floor near the shop entrance.
‘Estimated retail price…’
3,500 kona.
I blinked at Grandfather. He looked away, ignoring my gaze.
By the way, the allowance I used to receive from my dad in Bonwell Village was 10,000 kona a month.
“……”
Grandfather smirked mischievously while looking at the cube toy.
“Is that what you want?”
Unbelievable. The Count of Travel’s generosity was smaller than my allowance.
“Grandfather.”
“Yes?”
“I…”
I smiled brightly at Grandfather and moved my finger a little further in the direction I was previously pointing.
“I want that!”
A jewelry box with a music box function. Estimated auction price: around 15 million kona!
“What kind of seven-year-old has such expensive taste? You can’t have it!”
“Ugh.”
Behind Grandfather’s shocked reaction, Uncle Callet burst out laughing.
“I apologize.”
At Grandfather’s sharp look, Uncle Callet quickly wiped the smile off his face.
I pouted.
“You asked if there was something I wanted…”
“I asked, but I didn’t say I’d give it to you.”
“Hmph. Then you don’t have to give me anything.”
At first, I excitedly pointed to expensive things, but by the second time, I realized that was a mistake.
This was a shared space used by other relatives as well. If something valuable disappeared, someone would surely notice and question its whereabouts.
‘Phew, that was close.’
If word got out that the youngest granddaughter received a gift from the family head, I’d be guaranteed to face trouble during the lessons that start the day after tomorrow.
I aim for a peaceful and quiet study environment. I definitely want to avoid the smell of rotten eggs or the sight of dead rats on the first day of class.
“Well, well.”
Grandfather patted my head again and spoke in a bewildered tone.
“You already have the ‘Golden Eyes,’ don’t you? Every time you point at something, it’s worth at least ten million kona.”
“It’s just a coincidence…”
“Coincidence, my foot. What were you planning to do with those things?”
“…Decorate my room?”
Actually, I just thought Grandfather’s reaction was amusing.
“You’re trying to tease your old grandfather, aren’t you?”
My heart skipped a beat. No wonder he’s the head of the Travel family. It felt like he could see right through me.
I fidgeted with my fingers and looked away. After a brief silence, Grandfather pulled out a small pouch from his chest pocket.
“Here, take this.”
“My lord…! That’s…!”
Uncle Callet gasped. For him to be this surprised, it must be something extraordinary.
I nervously fiddled with the pouch. Inside, I felt something small and round.
“What is this?”
“Don’t like it? Then I’ll send a gift to your villa later. Something big and expensive that everyone can see.”
“I-I like this!”
I didn’t know what it was, but I definitely didn’t want a present sent to the villa! I’d rather have a gift that no one notices!
“If you lose it, you’ll be in big trouble.”
That’s unfair. It’s a gift.
“I’ll take care of it like it’s my own life.”
Grandfather pointed at the pouch I was holding and asked with a sly smile.
“You like it, don’t you? Because it’s small.”
“…What?”
Do I like it because it’s small?
The passing question struck my eardrums like an arrow.
I was about to lift my head when Grandfather gently shook it.
Then, with a ‘Tsk,’ he stood up.
“You act just like your father. The others are so desperate to show off.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Just take the candy and go. Let’s go, Callet.”
“Yes.”
Just as Uncle Callet matched his pace to open the door, Grandfather shouted thunderously on his way out.
“What are you crying for, as if you’ve done something good!”
Startled, I quickly slid down from the couch.
‘I wasn’t even crying!’
Uncle Callet raised a finger to his lips, signaling me to stay quiet. Even as Grandfather stepped into the hallway, he continued shouting.
“Stop crying and don’t come out until you’ve reflected on your actions! Why are you still here? Get back to your posts and start working!”
It seemed there were still guards standing in the hallway.
With a loud and unified response, their footsteps echoed as they hurried off.
Anyone hearing this would think Grandfather was truly furious at me.
Yes, anyone hearing it would definitely think that….
“Anyone… would think…? Huh?”
As I watched the door close, I blinked in confusion.
***
For some reason, Grandfather had helped me.
It seemed like he had continued playing along with the scolding, like I’d anticipated, as if to cover for me pretending to be in trouble over something related to Anne.
It seemed Grandfather had seen right through my plan.
‘The Count of Travel’s experience is terrifying.’
Tick. Tock.
I stared at the hands of the clock.
Now that he’s helped me, I should keep up the act.
“Stop crying and don’t come out until you’ve reflected on your actions!”
How long does it take for a scolded granddaughter to stop crying and reflect…?
I’ve never been scolded enough to cry, not even by Dad, so I wasn’t sure. Hmm, this is difficult.
“Fifteen minutes should be enough, right?”
That seemed reasonable.
If I stayed too long, someone might come looking for me.
“I’ll go out in fifteen minutes!”
Now that I’d decided on the timing, I climbed back onto the couch, curious about what was inside the pouch Grandfather had given me.
“What could have surprised Uncle Callet so much?”
Grandfather, who said no to a jewelry box worth 15 million kona, had given me something that made Uncle Callet panic.
It must be something extraordinary!
I untied the string of the pouch and took out the object inside. It was a stone, about the size of my thumb.
“Is this really a stone? It must be a gem, right?”
Since mining was one of Travel’s major businesses, I’d learned enough about gemstones to make an appraisal, just like any other noble.
Even with my current knowledge, I could figure this out!
As time passed, I could feel that the experiences from my memories were becoming more ingrained in my body.
Just last night at dinner, everyone was shocked at how proficiently I used the noble silverware.
I held up the stone and examined it with my naked eye.
“Let’s see. If it’s an opaque, sky-blue gemstone, it could be larimar, amazonite, or maybe…”
Many gemstones came to mind, but I couldn’t be certain it was one of those.
I closed my eyes and focused on the texture of the stone with my fingertips.
Smooth and flawless surfaces, shaped like a bean.
And then—
From somewhere, I heard the clear sound of flowing water.
“This is…!”
After finishing my appraisal, I opened my eyes wide, unable to contain my astonishment.
