~Chapter 48~
“Miss Rubian?”
“Hello, Doctor Borvel.”
I gave a mechanical smile and bowed politely. Honestly, my mind was half out of it.
Borvel tilted his head and gently sat me in a chair.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, I’m extremely, incredibly, super healthy.”
I even ran three full laps around the mini training yard today.
But I’ve caught a strange illness—one where I can’t call the Duke by any title.
Is it incurable? Is this the end for me?
Borvel checked me carefully.
“Hmm, you look fine to me.”
Then Uncle chuckled dryly.
“No way. Look, just watch. Rubian, who am I?”
I stared at the man in front of me with a blurry gaze.
“Ah!”
“…”
“…”
My mouth just opened into a perfect O, and I froze.
I had no new excuse ready. Uncle rubbed his forehead in despair.
“See? I’ve lost everything. I’m just a sound now.”
“Ha ha.”
Apparently, among the staff, news of my upcoming adoption was a hot topic. Borvel seemed to understand the situation and gave a light chuckle.
“Well… maybe it’s just something that needs time…”
Will it really get better with time, Doctor?
I gave a weak smile, barely tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Just then, Butler Adolf came in, clearly anxious.
“Your Grace, it’s time to go. There’s a mountain of documents you must review today…”
“Sigh.”
The Duke let out a long sigh and slowly got up.
Feeling guilty for being the cause of his stress wrinkles, I waved at him weakly.
“Bye… Bring back lots of money…”
Uncle stared at my face and murmured like a ghost.
“Really… I wish I could turn back time.”
Clack. As soon as the door closed, the fake smile dropped from my face.
“Is it hard for you to say ‘Dad’?”
Borvel asked gently. I nodded slowly, drained.
“Yes…”
Why is that one little word so hard?
Honestly… in both my past and current life, I’d barely ever said “Mom” or “Dad.”
‘In my past life, I was disowned twice before I could even get used to calling anyone that…’
I had called the Demon King “Father,” but that was just an empty title.
“Ugh. I’m such an idiot!”
I buried my head on the table.
I was the one most frustrated by my own behavior. But what really hurt was the slightly disappointed look on Uncle’s face.
“Doctor… will I ever get better?”
I asked desperately. Borvel raised an eyebrow.
“Of course.”
“How…?”
“Let go of the idea that you must call him that.”
“Huh?”
“If you stop forcing it, it might come naturally.”
Is Borvel just… living life on easy mode?
I gave a weak laugh at his light advice, and he chuckled with me.
“Or maybe, it’s something in your heart that’s holding you back.”
“Something in my heart?”
“Perhaps… a worry or a secret you haven’t told anyone?”
Uh… a lot, actually.
I stayed quiet, and Borvel narrowed his eyes and smiled gently.
“You’re always welcome to share it with me.”
“Oh… no thanks.”
“…?”
Oops. That was supposed to stay inside.
I quickly backtracked.
“I mean—there’s nothing! No worries or secrets. Not a thing!”
“Aha. Well, that’s good.”
Borvel patted my head twice and handed me an energy jelly from his drawer. He glanced at the clock and stood up.
“Well then, shall we head to the study? It’s class time.”
“Yes, sir!”
That was music to my ears.
When your head is full, it’s better to focus on something else.
‘Yeah… maybe time is what I need.’
I quietly hoped my strange illness would go away soon.
Unfortunately, my illness didn’t go away so easily.
Spin, spin.
I was crouched in a corner of the mini training yard.
Today, I managed to run three and a half laps for the first time, and even got praised by the senior knights. But I wasn’t happy at all.
‘I want to tell Uncle…’
But to do that, I’d have to call him something.
Uncle or… Dad.
But the words just wouldn’t come out smoothly, like there was a giant lump stuck in my throat.
“Ugh! Why does one little title matter so much!”
You said you wanted to be a normal kid, Rubian!
Normal kids don’t find it weird to say “Dad!”
“What does ‘normal’ even mean?!”
I snapped at my own thoughts.
Spin, spin. I kept digging into the dirt with my index finger.
Then a large shadow fell over me.
“Oh, my little snot-nose is really good at drawing snails!”
I was suddenly lifted into the air. My view rose as Grandpa smiled mischievously at me.
He looked down at the trail I had drawn in the dirt and burst into hearty laughter.
“Oh wow, there’s over a hundred! It’s your first masterpiece—we must preserve this training yard forever!”
“Then where will I train…”
“We’ll build another one!”
Grandpa carried me easily, striding across the yard. It was kind of embarrassing to be held like that.
“Grandpa, I ran three and a half laps today.”
His wrinkled eyes widened like lanterns.
“It’s a festival!”
He looked ready to shout it to the world. I quickly clamped my hands over his mouth.
Even with his lips covered, Grandpa kept mumbling enthusiastically.
‘Now that I think about it, saying “Grandpa” is so easy…’
Strange, huh?
“I was going to say I can walk just fine now! No festivals! No celebrations! No letters to the palace!”
I yelled, and Grandpa laughed heartily.
“Of course, of course! You’re my little snot-nose!”
But he still didn’t put me down, so I had to cross the wide training yard cradled in his big arms.
Watching his steady steps, I asked,
“Grandpa, how’s your knee?”
“It hurts sometimes.”
“Oh no…”
It made me sad.
Too much time had passed since Grandpa’s injury to fully heal it. Thankfully, he started seeing Borvel again, so he was much better—but not completely.
I looked down, feeling gloomy.
“I’ll study harder and heal you completely…”
“Haha! It’s okay, kiddo! If you’re worried, just come visit more often and blow on it.”
Grandpa lifted me lightly again with a smile.
“But still, why do you look so down today?”
“Huh?”
“I heard that Leviathan’s eyes are all red because he wants to hear you say ‘Dad.’ Is that why?”
Oh… so you heard.
I blinked a few times. Grandpa’s strong face wrinkled a little.
“My little snot-nose doesn’t seem too eager, huh?”
“Grandpa… do I have to change what I call him?”
“Of course not. You should do whatever you want.”
Grandpa’s voice was unusually gentle, then he suddenly chuckled.
“But watching that fool squirm is kind of fun too!”
“You’re so mean…”
“But Ruby,”
He playfully pinched my nose.
“When you change what you call someone… it can change your whole relationship. It can bring you closer—or further apart.”
“Even if we’re always next to each other, we can grow apart?”
“Sure. Just being close doesn’t mean everything.”
“I came here just to stay by his side…”
I murmured softly. Grandpa somehow heard my small voice.
“Right, right. You did well. How did my smart little one manage to chase down that villain and find her angel of a Grandpa?”
“…Something feels different.”
“Just your imagination. Anyway, kiddo—don’t miss this chance.”
“What chance?”
I asked sincerely.
Grandpa winked mischievously.
“The chance to make Leviathan your umbrella for life.”
