Chapter 13

* * *

I got into the carriage with Father and headed back to the castle.

Throughout the journey, Father kept looking at me.

‘It’s a bit uncomfortable when you look at me like this.’

I felt embarrassed and rubbed my face with my hand. Then Father urgently grabbed my hand.

Startled, my eyes widened, and Father said,

“It’s dirty.”

I had already applied medicine to the wound.

It seemed he didn’t want me to touch it with my dirty little hands.

“Neh!”

I quickly put my hand down and nodded vigorously.

“Does the wound itch?”

“Nope. (No.)”

“Does it hurt?”

“Not really.”

“...I see.”

Father nodded and let out a light sigh.

“Don’t do that again in the future.”

“But, Abammi... (But, Father...)”

“Even if you need to, don’t do it.”

“...”

I looked down, fidgeting with my fingers, and Father’s eyes narrowed.

“Why would a child like you do such a thing?”

“Hmm...”

I chose my words carefully.

I glanced outside, making sure no sound would escape, and whispered,

“I’m not Abammi’s baby.”

“...What?”

“Erirot, I’m not human. I’m made. So, I have to work hard to be with Abammi. (Erirot, I’m not human. I’m made. So, I have to work hard to be with Father.)”

If I really work hard, don’t throw me away, okay?

I pleaded with sparkling eyes, and Father’s expression hardened.

“Who told you that?”

“Saramduri... (The people...)”

Father gritted his teeth.

Seeing that he was angry, I flinched and hunched my shoulders.

Father sighed and said,

“I’m not angry at you.”

“...”

“I’m angry at them.”

‘Why?’

I looked puzzled, and Father slowly spoke.

“You are human.”

“Neh...?”

“You are my daughter.”

‘What?’

I was so surprised that my eyes widened.

‘Huh? Oh─?!”

I thought this body was almost certainly a homunculus.

Father didn’t seem to care much about me, as if I weren’t his blood—

I was a noble but had no protection—

And if I were a non-human creation, it would be easier for a soul to enter this world.

‘But if I’m human, if I’m Father’s daughter...’

Amazing!

My body was trembling.

Then I wouldn’t have to worry about being abandoned.

Father lightly grabbed my excited arm.

“If you get this excited, you’ll get hurt again.”

“Oh, g, oh...!”

But I couldn’t calm down easily.

Father took something out of his pocket.

It was a small magical device for lighting. When he turned it on, a pleasant smell filled the carriage.

‘Wow.’

It smelled like a baby and also like herbs grown in a field.

I couldn’t clearly describe the scent, but it was a very pleasant, warm smell.

It made my eyelids feel heavy.

“Get some rest now.”

I leaned against the seat and closed my eyes.

The last thing I remembered was Father carefully laying me down.

It was the first time he had touched me like that, and I felt so good that I remember rubbing my cheek against his large hand.

* * *

The carriage passed through the main gate of the Astra Duke’s castle.

After the wheels stopped, Enzo opened the door. Other knights peeked out, but Erirot was asleep.

“Oh.”

“She must have been tired.”

“The young lady was also very brave.”

Laughter echoed.

Daimond looked at them with a serious gaze. His eyes seemed to say, “Don’t wake the child,” and the soldiers closed their mouths.

“I’ll take her.”

“Alright.”

Daimond carried the child out of the carriage.

Enzo gave the order for the soldiers to return to the barracks and followed Daimond.

“The young lady worked very hard. No child could have done what she did today.”

“I know.”

“What could have made her do such a thing?”

“She said she wasn’t human, that she was made and had to work hard to be with me.”

“Huh?!”

Enzo’s voice grew louder, and Erirot mumbled, “Mmm...” and shifted.

He quickly covered his mouth and, after confirming that the child was still asleep, spoke carefully.

“Who told the young lady such things?”

“Probably the damn brothers. They’re obsessed with spreading rumors.”

Enzo sighed deeply.

I understand why they spread such rumors.

Daimond had been on a campaign two years before Erirot was born.

It was impossible for him to have a child in such a harsh battlefield, so they must have spread the rumor that she was “made.”

The rumors gained more traction because Daimond hadn’t sent a single letter to his daughter.

‘Bastards.’

Enzo frowned and looked at Daimond.

“Did the general explain why he didn’t send letters to the young lady?”

“...”

“You couldn’t contact her to protect her.”

Daimond was far away on the battlefield.

He couldn’t protect her if someone targeted her.

That’s why he couldn’t send a single letter.

If Daimond had shown any concern for Erirot, the brothers might have seen her as his weakness.

They could have used her to pressure Daimond.

So, he had to pretend he didn’t care, showing that even if they tried to harm her, it would be futile.

“Didn’t you return directly to Astra Castle to see the young lady?”

“...Shut up.”

Daimond took the child to her room.

He laid her on the bed and stared at her.

“Now, I’m not annoying, right...?”

Despite trembling, this child smiled.

To avoid being disliked.

Daimond reached out to the child’s messy hair.

But his scarred hand stopped before touching her fair face and pulled back.

“Mmm.”

Instead, he covered the shifting child with a blanket.

* * *

I slowly blinked as I woke up.

My drowsy mind gradually became clear.

‘Huh?’

As I became more alert, I realized I was in my room.

I remembered falling asleep in the carriage yesterday. Father must have brought me here.

Suddenly, the conversation from yesterday flashed in my mind.

“You are human.”

“Neh...?”

“You are my daughter.” (Past)

‘...!’

That’s right, that’s what happened!

I jumped out of bed.

Thinking about it again, I felt overwhelmed.

‘Goodbye to the days of living in fear of being a fake daughter or a fake human!’

Father wasn’t the type to lie.

So, I must be a real member of the Astra bloodline.

The days of worrying about being abandoned or facing terrible bullying if this was revealed seemed far away.

I quickly got out of bed.

The maids came in, sensing my movement.

“Good morning, young lady. ...Oh?”

They were surprised to see me running to the door and clinging to my skirt.

“Let me out!”

“Yes, I’ll tie your hair nicely.”

The maids helped me wash my face, change my clothes, and style my hair into a neat bun.

‘I need to read the ancient language and go to the barracks quickly.’

Even though I clearly heard it, my child’s mind was urging, “One more time, one more time!”

I hurried to Grandfather’s study.

As usual, Grandfather was working in the morning, and Conrad was there too.

When I said, “Good morning,” and entered, Conrad smiled.

“Good morning, young lady. I heard you were injured on the mountain yesterday. Are you feeling better now?”

“A little. Abammi helped.”

“That’s good. You should apply the medicine regularly.”

I nodded and sat opposite Grandfather.

“I’m going to read the old books.”

Conrad looked at Grandfather.

Grandfather nodded, and Conrad brought me the ancient history book stored in the protective box.

“Start from here.”

Conrad found the page, and I could start reading without hesitation.

There was nothing special today.

‘Almost done reading.’

This was the result of reading every day without fail.

After reading about three pages, I heard footsteps outside the door.

At the same time, a guard’s voice was heard.

“It’s Lord Daimond.”

Grandfather gave permission to enter.

Father strode in, bowed slightly to Grandfather, and handed over the documents he was carrying.

“The paperwork for the army is complete, and the purification stones were handed over to the management office last night.”

“I heard.”

“I’m about to leave for the territory.”

Already?

I thought he would stay in the castle until the end of the week, but he’s leaving so soon?

I looked dejected.

We just found out I’m his real child.

We haven’t even gotten to know each other well.

Grandfather briefly scanned the documents Father handed over and nodded.

“Alright.”

Then Father,

‘Huh?!’

—picked me up and tucked me under his arm.

“Alright.”

Why me?

My eyes widened. Conrad also looked at us with wide eyes.

Just as Father was about to reach the door,

“Why are you taking her?”

Grandfather shouted.

Father looked at Grandfather as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I have to leave for the territory.”

“What?”

I was startled and looked at Father.

‘Taking me with him?’

It’s the rest period now, and during the rest period, the third generation (the duke’s grandchildren) usually stay in their parents’ territory...

I didn’t expect Father to take me.

It seemed Grandfather and Conrad didn’t expect it either.

Conrad was flustered, and Grandfather frowned.

After staring at Father for a while, Grandfather said,

“Leave Erirot here.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Leave her here, I said!”

“Is that an order?”

I secretly looked at Grandfather.

I understand why Grandfather wants to keep me here.

As he said, I need to read the ancient language and find out about the body regression agent.

Moreover, if I’m Father’s real daughter, I would be a valuable hostage.

So, it would be better for me to stay in the castle rather than be sent away.

But he can’t give an order.

‘He can’t declare that he’s keeping me as a hostage.’

Given Astra’s special situation, taking a child from their parents is equivalent to taking a hostage.

If it became known that “the duke took his grandson to train his son,” the family would be in turmoil.

People would be afraid of their children being taken away.

And excessive fear could lead to a rift.

Grandfather knows this, so he didn’t firmly say it was an order.

After a moment of silence, Grandfather shouted,

“Erirot hasn’t finished reading the ancient history book—”

“It can be done after the rest period ends.”

“She’s been in the 12th Tower, so we need to teach her the castle’s rules—”

“I’ll teach her in the territory before the rest period ends.”

“I have questions. She brought a medicine I’ve never heard of, and I—”

“I’ll find out and send a letter.”

Grandfather’s face turned red and blue.

Seeing that he had no more arguments, Father turned to leave.

Just then, Viscount Debussy entered the study.

“Lord Daimond, where are you taking the young lady...”

Before he could finish, Grandfather said,

“Erirot said she prefers her grandfather over her father.”

Viscount Debussy slowly turned to Grandfather, looking confused.

Conrad and I had the same reaction.

‘...?’

Why did he say that now?

Would Father even care about that?

As I thought this, I felt a hot gaze on the top of my head.

“Is that true?”

“...Neh?”

“Is what the duke said true?”

I’ve never thought about it.

Before, I was in front of Grandfather, so I said I preferred him.

Grandfather laughed arrogantly.

“A child should grow up in the environment they want.”

Viscount Debussy muttered, “When did you start saying that...”

Grandfather and Father’s gazes sharply clashed in the air.

All eyes were on me.

Grandfather and Father each said,

“Erirot, tell me who is the best.”

“You don’t have to be afraid in front of the duke. Your father is here.”

I felt a cold sweat run down my spine.

This was a moment when my social skills told me I was in trouble.

It’s like being asked,

‘Do you like the section chief or the deputy section chief?’

—between the section chief and the deputy section chief!

I swallowed hard.

And I answered,

“...Mummy. (...Puppy)”

“What?”

“What?”

I jumped out of Father’s arms and raised my arms.

“Erirot, Mummy is the—best!”

In such situations, it’s better not to choose one person.

Finding a childlike answer, I sighed inwardly.

Viscount Debussy made a choking sound and turned his head. His shoulders were trembling.

Conrad was very flustered.

The vast owner of Astra.

The powerful knight, unmatched in the empire.

Between them, the choice was a mere puppy.

Grandfather was silent. He only muttered, “Puppy...” and gritted his teeth.

Father was silent for a moment.

Then he looked at me and slowly spoke.

“Now that I think about it, my nickname was dog sh*t.”

‘...?’

A breeze blew through the room.