Chapter 50

Grandpa cleared his throat and said, "The Huang Dao Academy isn't bad, but just because it's recommended by an acquaintance doesn't mean you have to go."

"Hmm... I actually like the education for the bloodline," I said with a smile.

"Lord Debusi always seeks good ways to let children grow independently," I added, employing the passionate flattery technique that had once left the vice-minister speechless.

The nobles burst into laughter simultaneously, "Lord Debusi? Since he has no children, I didn't know he was such an excellent educator."

Lord Debusi smiled brightly. He usually laughs a lot, but today his lips were curled up about 15 degrees higher.

'Good. I've won Lord Debusi's favor.'

I turned my head and looked at Grandpa, "Even the best academy can't teach me anything better than what I can learn from you."

The nobles nodded in agreement, "When will my grandson say such things?"

"Your grace, I've always known you are blessed, but why are you even blessed with kin?"

What great audience members!

* * *

I came out with Grandpa and sat by the lake.

'Oh.'

After rubbing my fiery palms, fatigue and a sense of disappointment washed over me.

I patted my shoulders when the communication stone (a stone for communication) flashed.

I connected the communication.

[What happened!]

[Miss!]

"The pillar doesn't need to be fixed, and Lord Jangtil's matter has been handled by Lord Debusi."

[Whoo-hoo─!!]

[Yeah-hoo─!!]

The sound of papers being thrown around came from the communication stone.

Poor uncles.

[Are you coming back now?]

"I'm having dinner with Grandpa."

[Yes. I'll instruct the staff to prepare for your rest when you arrive.]

The communication ended.

I carefully put the communication stone into a soft cloth bag.

It's incredibly expensive.

More expensive than a carriage filled with communication stones.

"Hey, Arlett is communicating! (Hey, Arlett is communicating!)"

My four-year-old cousin brother waddled over to the lakeside.

"Hi, Armand."

"I'm communicating! I'm not lying, I'm not lying!"

Armand's nanny quickly came over and told the child, "Miss Arlett received permission to communicate while going to the advanced education room. She has switched to commuting education."

That's right.

I went to the advanced education room.

And with that, several benefits came my way.

1. Communication permission

2. Commuting education instead of boarding

3. Mandatory commuting four times a month. Other times can be substituted with assignments.

'People say that everything improves with promotion.'

I tapped Armand's cheek.

"Do you want to communicate?"

"Y-Yes! Mommy..."

"Just a moment?"

"Wow─!"

Armand was thrilled, and Armand's nanny thanked me.

I connected the communication to the city under Uncle Gustav's jurisdiction.

"Don't hold it so tightly, young master."

"Daddy! Daddy!"

[Oh, Armand!]

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew during the communication, and Armand's hat flew away.

Armand's nanny, trying to prevent the communication stone from being broken, struggled to hold Armand's excited hands.

"I'll go get it. Stay here and watch Armand."

This communication stone is very expensive.

Armand, when excited, is not a child I can handle.

The hat flew quite far.

I ran over to the back of a tree to retrieve it.

Just as I was about to pick it up...

"Hey."

A boy sitting in the shade of the tree looked at me.

He had curly brown hair and a skinny frame with lots of acne on his cheeks.

'Who is he?'

He's not a direct relative, nor a distant one.

Probably around 13-15 years old?

What would a child be doing in the castle?

"I'm Forsloni Caldera. Who are you?"

'An idiot.'

Who else could a child in the duke's castle be?

But the way he spoke so casually really made him seem like an idiot.

I picked up Armand's hat and stood up.

"Arlett Astra."

"Astra? ...Astra?!"

I left the wide-eyed boy and walked away, then returned Armand's hat to him. His nanny bowed several times.

"Here."

"Yes, Miss."

"There's a boy my age over there. He said his name is Caldera."

"Oh... You mean the young master of the Caldera family. His father wants to transfer a fief to Astra, so they came together."

"Grandpa was in a meeting with the nobles, right?"

If that's the case, he should be talking to the baron.

"It's just a fief, a small piece of land in the countryside... Baron Caldera seems to only live in his own fief and doesn't understand the current trends."

I nodded.

Meanwhile, Armand's communication ended.

I put the communication stone back in my pocket and returned to the main castle.

It was just in time for dinner.

* * *

Dinner was with Grandpa, a few nobles, and Uncle Grimi.

"It's been a while, Arlett."

"Yes, Uncle. How have you been?"

"I'm fine."

We chatted with smiles, but my mind was racing.

'Why is Uncle Grimi here?'

He usually stays in the capital and rarely comes to the manor.

He only shows up for family events.

Just then, Lord Debusi asked, "What brings you here?"

"His Majesty has a request, but it's a difficult matter, so I came to seek Father's wisdom."

"A difficult matter?"

"Prince Asalon has come to the empire for trade."

"Asalon, the country with several iron mines, right?"

"Yes. His Majesty needs iron ore for a project he's been working on, but they won't provide the amount he wants."

Grandpa looked at Uncle Grimi.

"Go on."

"Prince Asalon wants to meet Daemon."

Our dad?

I pretended to focus on my meal but perked up my ears.

"Why does he want to meet Daemon?"

"About the country Daemon conquered seven years ago, Tigor."

Tigor is where melons come from.

Thanks to Dad conquering Tigor, we ate melons until we were sick of them.

"Asalon lost their queen in a war with Tigor twenty years ago. They want to meet Daemon to thank him for avenging their mother."

The nobles were shocked and showed their disapproval.

Dad wouldn't go to such an event.

He's softened since aiming for the dukedom, but he still has a steel-like side.

"Don't worry. Lord Daemon is right here."

Lord Debusi looked at me subtly.

The nobles' expressions brightened.

Uncle Grimi also looked at me.

'What should I do?'

I don't want to make Dad do something he doesn't want to, but...

'This might be my only chance to go to the capital.'

I've built up my fief well and it's time to expand my influence externally.

'Besides, I need to scratch a lottery ticket.'

I whispered to Uncle, "Shall I tell him?"

"Would you?"

Uncle Grimi was delighted.

* * *

A few days later,

Dad stood in front of the carriage with a grim face.

Grandpa and Uncle Grimi came out to see us off.

"Here you are, Daemon. Thank you for coming, Arlett."

Uncle Grimi invited me to the capital as well.

Probably to use me as a leash on Dad.

'Not that I mind.'

I have a reason to go to the capital.

Uncle Grimi got into his carriage and left, while we decided to go with Grandpa.

Grandpa frowned at a large box in the luggage compartment.

"What's that?"

"It's a painting I like."

"A painting?"

"Yes. I want to buy more paintings by the same artist, so I'm showing it to an art dealer in the capital."

Everything except the part about the painting is a lie.

I have no interest in art.

But why did I bring a painting...?

'This is a joker for the Empress Dowager.'

A painting by her mother.

I plan to use this hidden card this time.

Grandpa, Dad, and I got into the same carriage.

It was a very quiet space.

I said to Dad, "Is this your first time going to the capital with Grandpa?"

"A few times before."

"Every time, there was a commotion."

Grandpa said with a very displeased look, "If you hadn't pushed so hard to marry me off, there wouldn't have been any trouble. ...Father."

Dad stared out the window.

Dad now calls Grandpa 'Father.'

It happened a few years ago.

One day, people laughed when Dad called Grandpa 'Dad' twenty times a day.

"Do you like the word 'Dad' so much?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because once Dad becomes a duke, I can't call him that anymore. I need to call him as much as I can."

At that, Dad asked with a look of the world ending, "Why─! Why can't I call you Dad?"

"Because Dad is a duke now."

At the time, it seemed trivial, but a few days later, Dad started glaring at Grandpa.

"Why is there a commotion this time?"

"..."

"Daemon."

"It's nothing. A... A..."

"What?"

"Fa... ther."

The look on Grandpa's face at that moment is still vivid.

'If the two of them get along, that's good.'

We arrived at the capital after a full day in a super-fast carriage.

The mansion managed by Uncle Grimi was very impressive.

Although it's on a small piece of land, it's much smaller than the duke's castle or the fief.

But with a forest behind it and an artificial river flowing alongside it, it was well-decorated and didn't lose its grandeur.

The staff were very friendly, and the VIP room they gave me was beautifully decorated in a different style from the duke's castle or the fief.

"Wow, it's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it. There are many children in the capital, so you can call them to play. I'll contact people with children around me—"

"No, thank you! I'm fine."

"But we'll be here for at least a week. Won't you be bored?"

"No, I have friends to meet."

"You have friends in the capital?"

"I've been corresponding with Lady Gonallong, who came to teach etiquette a few years ago. Can I meet her tomorrow after resting today?"

"Of course."

I thanked Uncle Grimi and went to my room.

Han Jihyuk followed me.

"How do you lie so professionally?"

He has grown from a teenager into a full adult.

This makes him perfect for various tasks.

His angry tone is still the same, though.

'But there's a way to make him shut up.'

"I should have brought Mosco."

Even at his age, Mosco, a giant of three meters, is intimidating.

Han Jihyuk flinched and whispered, "You know Mosco and I are opposites."

"Mosco doesn't think so. He says he'll bathe with you next time."

"Will I be skinned alive?"

I giggled.

Before entering the room, I gave him an order.

"Contact Lady Gonallong."

"What?"

"Today is the day to fulfill the request I made earlier. Make sure the painting is well-prepared."

Han Jihyuk said, "Okay," but when another servant passed by, he bowed deeply.

"Have a good night, Miss."

I entered the room after receiving his bow.

Dad was busy talking with Grandpa and Uncle, so I had some free time.

Sitting on the bed, I looked at my shadow on the floor.

"Are you scared of being in an unfamiliar place?"

The shadow wavered, and black smoke emerged.

"Sorry. We'll be back in a week, so please bear with it for a little while."

As I played a tune on the white birch flute, the smoke slowly returned to the shadow.

This is 'Ombre,' the monster I've been raising with great care recently.

Although he's timid, he's not too fussy, so it's not hard to soothe him.

'With Ombre, that's enough.'

Next, it was time for the blessing.

I activated the blessing.

A bright hologram appeared before my eyes.

I looked at the novel with a proud expression.

<Father is the World's Greatest Beauty>

Daimond Astra, who has lived an unfortunate life, changes due to an unexpected daughter?!

His relationship with his adopted children also gradually improves...

A super dad who can do anything to protect his beloved daughter.

Become a duke to safeguard your child's future!

#DaughterLove #NoSonInMyDictionary #FruitMapMaking