Chapter 24
I’m so tired…
“Dad, when are we going back to the Imperial Palace? What if His Majesty is looking for us?”
“It’s probably okay for now. But if we stay the night here, I’ll have to send a letter to the palace…”
“…We’re staying here?”
“If—if we do, that is…”
Just then, the maids opened the door to the room where Dad and I were resting and came in with trays.
On top of the trays were mountains of various snacks.
Did Grandpa request these for us?
The maids beautifully arranged the desserts on the tea table and bowed as they spoke.
“If you need anything else, please call, Lady Eve. If you ring the bell, we’ll come right away.”
“Okay, thank you!”
The maid smiled kindly and left the room.
I quickly grabbed a cookie and popped it into my mouth.
‘Those maids smiled kindly at me.’
Charlotte did, and so did the beige-haired maid who came to get me.
I guess not all the maids here dislike me. I nodded as I stuffed both cheeks full of cookies.
Dad silently watched me eat the cookies.
“…”
“…Huh?”
After a moment of hesitation, I shyly offered the cookie in my hand to Dad.
It was a cookie with a chocolate chip in the center—one I had picked up to eat after finishing what was already in my mouth.
But now I wanted to give it to Dad.
Because I like him.
“If you wanted some, you should’ve just said so…”
“No, I wasn’t staring because I wanted to eat it…”
“Oh, you don’t have to lie in front of me. You just had the eyes of someone who wanted it. Here, take it. Quickly.”
Dad ended up taking the cookie I offered him.
I stared at him, clearly telling him to eat it.
Dad looked at the cookie I gave him for a moment, then slowly raised his head and cautiously spoke.
“Eve.”
“Hm?”
“Do you not like staying here?”
“Huh? Of course I don’t.”
“…You answered that instantly, huh?”
…Of course?
I looked at Dad in disbelief.
A brief silence fell between us.
I quickly chewed and swallowed the cookie before speaking up.
“I also like living with you, Dad.”
“But if you live with me, you won’t get to eat cookies like this every day.”
“Still, I prefer living with you.”
“If you live here, you can eat delicious, fancy food every day and wear pretty clothes like a princess…”
“Dad, I don’t need fancy food or pretty clothes like a princess.”
“…Why not?”
“Because those things aren’t that important. Dad, I’m more important to you than fancy food, right?”
“Of course!”
“Same here, I feel the same way.”
“But Eve, that and this are…”
“I prefer the soup you make over expensive food, and I’d rather wear the dresses you buy for me at the market than princess dresses.”
And most importantly, I hate it here because there are too many people who are unkind to Dad and me.
Like the maids who gossiped about me, and that nobleman who openly picked a fight with Dad earlier.
Even though we’ve only been here half a day, I’ve heard too many nasty things that I shouldn’t have had to hear.
Both Dad and I.
So I hate it.
The village where Dad and I lived wasn’t rich, but everyone was kind to us.
But this place isn’t like that.
‘I like kind places.’
When I firmly shook my head, Dad smiled helplessly and took a bite of the cookie.
I looked right at him and spoke.
“And we still have things to do in the capital. We have to go back.”
“You’re right, Eve. We have things to do. Gosh, how can my daughter be so clever?”
“Wah, Dad! You’re dropping cookie crumbs!”
It’s not that I hate Grandpa.
Even though I’m still a little shy around him, he’s still family.
My mom’s dad.
My grandpa.
Most people don’t understand how much family means to me.
So I like being with Grandpa. When I’m with him, my heart feels warm and my palms tingle.
But that doesn’t mean I want to stay here.
There’s no reason to live in a place full of people who aren’t kind to me, when I already have people who are.
‘At least that’s how I feel.’
That’s what it meant to me.
＊
“Eve, is it good?”
Grandpa asked as he placed a large, thick piece of meat onto my plate.
“Huh? Yes…”
I nodded as I looked at the huge fifth slice of meat being placed on my plate.
I hadn’t even finished two pieces yet, but Grandpa kept picking out the most delicious-looking ones and placing them for me.
I worked hard to stab each piece with my fork and push it into my mouth so as not to disappoint him.
‘It really is delicious.’
It was truly delicious!
Possibly the best meat I’ve ever eaten.
The only problem was… Grandpa wouldn’t stop piling it on my plate.
When I struggled to cut the meat, he even cut it for me.
All I had to do was stab the perfectly cut pieces and eat.
I kept eating until my belly became round.
In between, Grandpa asked me a lot about “life in the countryside.”
I tried to answer as best as I could.
But for some reason…
“So, you went to the market and helped sell things?”
“I didn’t do the selling myself, I just helped Aunt Hillary.”
Each time I answered, Dad flinched beside me.
“…”
“…Haha, eat a lot, honey.”
When I looked at Dad, he smiled awkwardly and put a piece of fish on my plate.
I stabbed the fish and a small lemon wedge with my fork and popped them into my mouth.
Even after that, Grandpa kept asking how I had been living.
I answered sincerely, though of course I left out the part where I ruined Dad’s business at the market.
I can never talk about that!
[Of course not. How could you talk about something so embarrassing? You made me—me, a legendary sword—rumored to be a useless potato peeler…]
‘I told you I had my reasons!’
[Sure you did.]
‘I’m seriously leaving you behind this time.’
[…]
X calmed down.
Thanks to that, I was able to quietly eat while chatting now and then with Grandpa.
Dad seemed uncomfortable the whole meal, smiling awkwardly like a doll.
He barely touched his food. It was obvious he found this meal with Grandpa very uncomfortable.
‘Good thing I gave him that cookie earlier.’
Without even that, he might’ve been starving after this meal…
Every time our eyes met, Dad tried to smile.
But I could tell. That he was really uncomfortable at this meal.
Then, just as the maids began moving to bring out tea and dessert…
“Eve.”
Grandpa called me in a more serious voice.
“Yes?”
I quickly turned to face him.
“I think it’s best if you stay here.”
“…Huh?”
…Huh?
Did I hear that right?
When I looked at him with wide eyes, Grandpa wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke again.
“The countryside isn’t good for you. You’re in the capital now, but you’ll have to return to the countryside soon. It’s not good for your education. There’s nothing there for you.”
Duke Theobald continued in a firm tone.
“No matter how hard Neil tried, how well could he possibly have raised you? He claims he never let you starve, but who knows.”
I stared at Grandpa in a daze.
…Why is he saying this?
What does Grandpa even know about me and Dad…?
I heard Dad awkwardly laugh. But Grandpa didn’t stop talking.
“It’s obvious—he probably didn’t feed you properly or even bathe you properly. I can’t stand the thought of my granddaughter living like that. It’s best if you stay here, Eve.”
