Chapter 20
Standing still in the same posture for a long time is far too difficult for an eight-year-old child.
Thanks to that, my favorability toward Charlotte—who had left me here and disappeared—was gradually decreasing.
And the favorability of the mansion’s maids, who were whispering in front of me, was plummeting even faster!
“Come to think of it, they didn’t even help me change into my dress earlier.”
“Hey, you lot! Come help with this! What are you just standing there for?”
I suddenly remembered Charlotte snapping at the maids.
At the time, I had wondered why she was being so irritable toward them.
But now I get it—she wasn’t just being petty!
Charlotte, the head maid, was dressing me herself, and the other maids weren’t helping, which understandably annoyed her.
“Ugh…”
I hugged X a little tighter and pressed my cheek firmly against the scabbard.
[What’s the matter, kid? Tell them straight not to whisper in front of you. That’s your specialty, isn’t it?]
“But still…”
This was the Ferdinand Duke’s mansion.
Just two hours ago, I was an ordinary eight-year-old country girl with no connection to such a grand ducal estate.
I had only learned that I was the granddaughter of Duke Ferdinand a mere two hours ago.
So how was I supposed to act now?
Even I felt awkward about being called the duke’s granddaughter!
[If you won’t do it, I’ll scold those rude maids myself!]
“It’s fine. I’m going home soon anyway.”
[Going home? Aren’t you supposed to live here now?]
“Huh? Why would I live here?”
X replied as if it was utterly absurd.
[You said you’re the Guardian’s granddaughter. Then of course you should be living here!]
After thinking for a moment, I answered him in my heart.
“But I’ve been doing fine living with Dad until now.”
And that was true.
We didn’t have much money, but nothing else was lacking, and Dad raised me wonderfully even without a mom.
I was a child who never felt deprived of anything.
So when I heard that the grand Duke of this massive mansion was my grandfather…
“It was just overwhelming.”
It was shocking that the grandfather I thought didn’t exist suddenly appeared, and even more surprising to learn he was a noble.
That was all.
Why did Mom run away from her title as a noble?
Why did Mom and Dad hide the fact that I had a grandfather?
And why didn’t Grandfather ever come looking for me?
Those were the only questions in my mind. I didn’t feel anything else.
Of course, I was a little happy to know I had a grandfather.
Until now, Dad was the only family I had, so it was nice to gain another family member…
But I swear I didn’t feel excited at the idea of living in a grand noble’s house.
“A place like this just doesn’t suit me.”
And besides…
I remembered the moment I first met Duke Ferdinand—Grandfather.
Dad had looked a bit troubled.
“Like someone who’d been caught hiding something they didn’t want exposed…”
That’s why I had absolutely no intention of living in this mansion.
Especially after seeing with my own eyes how the maids looked down on me.
“Grandfather hasn’t even said I’ll be living here yet, but X…”
I pressed my cheek firmly against the cool scabbard and muttered quietly.
“I won’t live in a place where people look down on me.”
I’ll live where people are kind to me and Dad.
In that regard, this place is already disqualified!
“I-I’m sorry I’m late, Lady Eve! I told another maid to escort you, but I think she forgot!”
A bob-cut maid with light beige hair came rushing over, flustered.
She must’ve run from far away—her forehead was dotted with sweat.
“She must’ve been really rushing.”
Did she panic after hearing no one came to get me?
Seeing her repeatedly apologize with genuine remorse made the irritation in my heart melt away.
I jumped up from my seat and shook my head.
“It’s okay. I didn’t have to wait that long.”
[You didn’t wait long!?]
“So you don’t have to feel so bad.”
I ignored X’s complaint and continued speaking calmly.
X kept grumbling inside my arms, clearly unhappy with the situation.
But still—
“I don’t want to be mad at this person.”
She was someone who ran here until sweat beaded on her forehead—for my sake.
If there’s someone to be mad at, it’s not her. It’s the maids who were whispering about me earlier over there—wait, huh?
[They’re gone.]
“What?! Again?!”
Seriously, what is it with people in this mansion suddenly vanishing?
The maids who were whispering and peeking at me earlier had vanished completely without a trace.
As I stared blankly out the window in disbelief, the maid who came for me tilted her head and asked,
“Lady Eve, are you looking for something?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”
They really disappeared.
I stared at the spot where those maids had been just moments ago, feeling lost.
I had planned to quietly tell whoever came to get me that those maids were gossiping about me…
“But now I can’t, because they’re all gone…”
[The people in this mansion are really strange.]
I know, right?
I recalled the knightess I met in the reception room—the one who stuttered.
Was she also spying on me like those maids, trying to mock me?
A small seed of suspicion bloomed in my mind.
“Oh, n-no, Lady Eve! It wasn’t under the duke’s orders or anything…”
But that doubt quickly faded when I remembered the knightess blushing and tearing up.
“She didn’t seem like that kind of person.”
If she had been watching me out of malice, she wouldn’t have made that kind of face when I caught her.
Yes, I shouldn’t think badly of people from the start.
Just as I was reassuring myself, an uninvited voice barged into my head.
[You innocent little thing! If someone offered you candy, you’d probably follow them right away!]
“I’m not that naive!”
[Oh, yes, you are!]
X kept grumbling and vibrating angrily in my arms.
The maid, noticing the sword trembling in my arms, looked at it curiously, then gently held out her hand.
“Let me take you to the Duke now. Would you like to take my hand, Lady Eve?”
“Yes, thank you!”
I carefully took her hand.
She walked at a pace that matched mine and chatted about how impressive and wonderful the Ferdinand estate was.
Thanks to her, I wasn’t bored during the walk to the Duke’s office—she shared plenty of stories.
The one that caught my attention most, of course, was about Mom.
The Ferdinand family, famed for producing generations of powerful sword masters known as “Guardians.”
And Mom, apparently, had been the most outstanding swordswoman among them all.
Hearing that naturally sparked a question in my mind:
Why did Mom leave and go to the countryside, abandoning her status and fame?
Why did she choose Dad—a somewhat lacking blacksmith—over all of that?
“Daughter!”
At that moment, a painfully familiar voice called out from afar.
I was staring blankly out the window as I walked, but that voice instantly made me raise my head.
That slightly goofy tone.
That warm, gentle cadence.
It was unmistakable—
“Eve! My little princess!”
“Daddy!”
As soon as I saw his face, I beamed and jumped on the spot.
It really was Dad!
Even though I saw him every day, seeing him here—inside this mansion—made me feel incredibly happy!
