Chapter 7

Chirp.

Awoken by the sound of birds, I sat up groggily.

It seems the sun has already risen; the air smells of morning.

As my drowsy mind began to clear, I was startled.

This wasn't my bedroom.

I hastily looked around.

The familiar desk.

The familiar wallpaper.

And the tapestry with the four-winged crow symbolizing Astra.

‘This is Grandfather’s study…!’

Why am I here?

As I thought about it, yesterday's events came back to me.

I had fallen asleep from crying until I was exhausted.

…In Grandfather’s arms, no less.

‘Grandfather must have brought me here.’

I looked around the room in a daze.

I was the only one in the study.

It seems Grandfather had gone somewhere.

At least that’s a relief.

As I tried to get up from the sofa, I noticed a round saliva mark where I had been lying.

It seems I had drooled while lying down.

I frantically rubbed the mark to erase it.

Just then, I heard the door open.

“Are you awake?”

“Conrad!”

“Was your bed uncomfortable?”

It was fine while I was sleeping. The problem is now.

I said with a gloomy face.

“I like my bed.”

So if I cry and fall asleep from exhaustion again, please take me to my room next time…

“I was going to take you to your room, but you seemed uncomfortable even with the slightest touch.”

It seems I whined whenever he tried to move me.

‘Damn, damn!’

I tried not to be a bother, but I ended up being the biggest nuisance.

I asked Conrad with a frightened look.

“Where’s Grandfather?”

“He’s in the dining room. He told me to wake you up and bring you there.”

“Really?”

“Haven’t you eaten dinner? You must be very hungry.”

That’s a relief.

If Grandfather found me annoying, he wouldn’t have called me to the dining room.

Given the fortunate situation, my expression brightened.

I took Conrad’s hand and headed to the dining room.

Grandfather was dining with Lord Debussey.

“Good morning. (Good morning.)”

“…Yes.”

“Good morning, Miss.”

“Yeah!”

I smiled brightly and sat next to Grandfather.

The servants flinched. Lord Debussey’s eyes widened.

Then I realized that no grandchild ever sat next to Grandfather.

When Grandfather sat at the head of the table, everyone else sat at the far end.

Worried that he might be uncomfortable, I glanced at him.

Grandfather said nothing.

‘Then it’s fine.’

As I sat down, the food was served.

Today’s breakfast was French toast, cut into small pieces for easy eating.

I picked up my fork excitedly.

Just as I was about to eat…

‘Huh?’

I noticed that the food on Grandfather’s plate had barely decreased.

His menu was a large steak.

The surface glistened, and the cut side was full of juice, looking very delicious.

Is he not hungry?

But the salad with garnishes was completely empty.

‘Ah, it must be difficult for him to eat.’

Perhaps his teeth or jaw are hurting.

I remember seeing Grandfather massage his jaw when Conrad was running around.

‘He’s suffering without showing any signs of pain.’

Especially in a complicated situation, showing any sign of pain would make the hyenas’ eyes light up.

Now that the Duke is weakening, it’s time to plan for the future.

I thought for a moment.

Then I poked the toast with my fork and offered it to Grandfather.

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

I heard gasps from all around.

The servants’ eyes were wide as saucers, and Conrad and Lord Debussey looked surprised.

Grandfather paused and looked at me.

“What is it?”

“Delicious. (It’s delicious.)”

“….”

I need Grandfather to be healthy to avoid danger.

Judging from his appearance, it seems he’s been eating only grass for days.

Given his meticulous nature, he wouldn’t have changed his menu to something easier to eat.

The room became as quiet as thin ice.

Everyone held their breath, and Lord Debussey cleared his throat.

“It’s the Miss’s sincerity, isn’t it?”

“….”

“Shall I eat it? Would you like to give it to me, Miss?”

“No.”

Grandfather took the toast I offered.

Judging by his chewing, it seems the soft French toast wasn’t difficult for him to eat at all.

I offered him more toast.

“Again.”

“….”

“Yum.”

“….”

Grandfather took another piece.

Lord Debussey laughed maniacally, just like yesterday.

* * *

‘It’s a bit mushy because I was nervous while eating it.’

Grandfather ate the toast I offered well.

He must have eaten at least two pieces.

Lord Debussey laughed throughout the meal and eventually got hit by Grandfather.

I held Conrad’s hand and left the kitchen with a snap.

Conrad asked affectionately.

“What will you do today?”

“I’m going to the library. (I’m going to the library.)”

“There are no picture books there. How about the greenhouse?”

“I like the library. (I like the library.)”

I have something to do.

I smiled mischievously to myself.

‘It’s almost Grandfather’s birthday, after all.’

Next month’s full moon is Grandfather’s birthday.

A grand banquet will be held, and it’s a very important event for the direct descendants.

It’s an opportunity to win Grandfather’s favor with a gift.

Of course, I don’t have the ability to offer relics or legendary treasures like the other direct descendants.

After all, I’m a three-year-old with no money.

‘But I have the information I saw in <Ice.Black.Hand>.’

I let go of Conrad’s hand and said.

“Bye!”

“Yes, Miss. Have a good day.”

I waved goodbye to Conrad and headed straight for the library.

The library was far from the dining room.

I had to pass through the second gate, which was guarded by a monster, so I froze.

It was a beast-type monster with fur as hard and sharp as needles.

It was so big that one swipe of its front paw could send me straight to the afterlife.

I stuck to the wall and tiptoed.

Just as I was about to pass through the gate.

“Grrr.”

I froze in shock.

I’m most afraid of this one.

In <Ice.Black.Hand>, the protagonist Dalia almost died because of this monster.

Eryllot released it to block Dalia’s path.

If Dalia’s loving cousins hadn’t rushed to her aid, she might have died.

‘In the end, it bit off a chunk of her shoulder.’

The description was incredibly brutal.

“Grrr…”

“Wait, I just need to pass through… (Wait, I just need to pass through…)”

“Woof─!!”

“…!”

I quickly turned back the way I came.

That damn dog.

‘I need to go to the library.’

To make the ‘Physical Regeneration Elixir’ for Grandfather’s gift, I need to gather information.

Physical Regeneration Elixir.

It’s a dream drug for the elderly, worthy of its name.

Especially effective for aching teeth.

‘There are no dentures in this world, so the elderly suffer a lot with their teeth.’

So an elderly person would be overjoyed.

Of course, Grandfather would like it too.

Just a while ago, Grandfather couldn’t eat properly because of his aching teeth.

‘The main ingredient for the Physical Regeneration Elixir is green lavender.’

It’s a difficult plant to obtain.

But I know it grows around here.

Because Dalia found it by chance within the castle.

Thanks to the protagonist’s buffs, it’s a good thing for me.

‘I was planning to go to the library to find the growing conditions…’

If I find a place within the castle that meets the conditions, there should be green lavender.

I groaned and looked at the monster.

Should I close my eyes and run?

Or should I go with an adult because I’m scared?

Conrad or the maids would go with me.

Just as I was thinking about it,

“What is it?”

A grumpy voice came from behind.

A girl with her arms crossed and a woman who looked like a senior servant were walking together.

The woman had a large pendant around her neck.

‘It’s the mark of a nurse (nanny for a noble child).’

The girl frowned and asked.

“Who are you, and why are you loitering at the second gate, which only direct descendants can enter?”

I immediately knew who the girl was.

She was exactly as described in the novel.

Curly blonde hair.

Green eyes.

Freckles on her cheeks.

‘Lianthe.’

My cousin.

Lianthe frowned.

“Didn’t you hear me?”

“Miss, it seems you can enter the second gate.”

“What?”

Lianthe’s frown deepened at her nanny’s words.

Her lips curled up.

“Oh.”

Lianthe, who had come with her arms crossed, lifted her chin arrogantly.

“Dirty blood. Right?”

“I’m not dirty.”

“You’re just trying to get a little food by flattering people. Like a beggar.”

“….”

“That’s what’s dirty.”

“….”

“Don’t lower the dignity of the family. You should act according to your status─”

The girl, who was giving a big lecture, paused.

Because she heard footsteps from behind a corner.

“Oh, Misses.”

It was Lord Debussey.

Lianthe’s expression changed instantly.

“Lord Debussey~”

She called him affectionately and smiled sweetly.

It was completely different from how she treated me.

Lord Debussey is Grandfather’s closest confidant.

The most trusted vassal, who sometimes has more authority than the direct descendants.

So even as a direct descendant, Lianthe would want to make a good impression on Lord Debussey.

She would also want good things to be said to Grandfather.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes. How have you been?”

“No, the training has been too difficult…”

Lianthe pouted.

“By the way, what’s happening in the castle? You were resting after external training, weren’t you?”

“It’s almost Grandfather’s birthday. I’m preparing a gift.”

“I see.”

Lord Debussey nodded and looked at me.

“You left it behind.”

Then he gave me a pretty stone.

The stone I had picked up in the garden yesterday.

“Thank you.”

As I said, Lord Debussey smiled gently.

“You’re welcome. What are you doing here, Miss?”

“I’m going to the library. (I’m going to the library.)”

“Oh, is that so~ Shall we go together?”

It was Lianthe speaking.

Her face, which had just been mocking me as dirty blood, now looked like an angel.

Lianthe looked at Lord Debussey.

“Eryllot has been in the twelfth tower for a long time. She probably doesn’t know the castle well, so I’ll help her.”

“It’s good to see cousins getting along. However, Miss Eryllot has something to do, so she should go now.”

“…Does that child have something to do?”

“It’s time for her to read ancient language.”

Come to think of it, I didn’t mention that I was greeting the collateral relatives yesterday, and today I missed the reading time while checking on Grandfather during the meal.

I said, “Yeah,” and went to Lord Debussey.

“Would you like to carry me?”

“I can walk by myself.”

“You’re brave.”

Lord Debussey smiled, and Lianthe said,

“Can I go with you? I want to see Grandfather.”

“Sure.”

Lianthe said, “Yay,” and stuck to Lord Debussey’s side.

* * *

“The monster Toverzashen from the west has started a suppression operation. (The monster Toverzashen from the west has started a suppression operation.)”

“Yes, Miss. That’s enough for today.”

“Yeah.”

I put down the history book I was reading.

“Oh!”

Lianthe picked up the history book with a shocked expression, examined it, and then put it down very gently.

“Eryllot, this ancient history book is an original.”

“….”

“It’s a book of immense historical value, so handle it carefully.”

I didn’t put it down that hard.

It was a normal level.

Lianthe continued to chatter.

“In fact, such artifacts should belong to the royal palace. So just having this history book shows the power of Astra.”

“You already know that?”

Lord Debussey laughed, and Lianthe said excitedly,

“This book was given to Grandfather by the great-grandfather, right?”

‘Oh no.’

As soon as she said that, I hurriedly looked at Grandfather.

He was expressionless as usual, but his eyes were dark.

The book was indeed given to Grandfather by the previous Duke.

To be precise, it was the only thing given among all the wealth.

The history book was an artifact with only a name, as no one could decipher a single line at the time.

What this means is,

‘A worthless person who only has the name Astra.’

In other words, giving the book was as good as telling him to always remember his lowly status.

Everyone mocked Grandfather because of this.

Until he slaughtered all his siblings and ascended to the position of Duke.

Since then, no one has ever mentioned this in front of Grandfather.

Lord Debussey also noticed Grandfather’s mood.

However, Lianthe continued to chatter without noticing.

“Judging by the fact that he received such a thing, Grandfather must have been great even when he was young…”

“Bee!”

I quickly changed the subject.

I jumped off the chair and went to catch a butterfly that had flown in through the window.

I tiptoed and quickly cupped my hands toward the butterfly.

‘Got it.’

Playing alone in the twelfth tower every day, I had become almost an expert at catching winged creatures.

I went to Grandfather and said,

“Here.”

“….”

Lord Debussey, glad that the topic had changed, added,

“Butterflies have various meanings. A white-winged butterfly means ‘peace,’ a blue-winged butterfly means ‘miracle’….”

“….”

“A yellow-winged butterfly means ‘gained glory.’”

I released the butterfly toward Grandfather’s hand.

The butterfly, which had brushed against Grandfather’s fingertips, flew up.

It had yellow wings.

“So, you finally gained it.”

“Yeah!”

I answered brightly, and Grandfather smiled.

Lianthe glared at me, biting her lip.

After a while, she spoke up.

“Um, Grandfather.”

“Yes.”

“I’m preparing a birthday gift.”

Lord Debussey, who didn’t get a response from Grandfather, replied.

“That’s commendable. Others are also preparing birthday gifts enthusiastically.”

“….”

“Why don’t you reward the person who gives the best gift? It would be a good entertainment for the banquet.”

Grandfather was silent for a moment, then glanced at me.

Then he nodded.

“Not a bad idea.”

Lianthe looked very happy.

“Yay! I’ll work hard!”

She said she would go to prepare the gift, bowed to Grandfather, and left the room.

I also left the room with Lord Debussey.

‘I need to prepare a gift too…’

It’s too scary to go to the second gate where the library is.

I whispered to the viscount.

“I like books.”

“Shall I bring you picture books?”

Lord Debussey, grateful that I had changed the subject, was very kind.

“I want to see the plant guide.”

“The plant guide? Isn’t it too difficult for you?”

“It has pretty pictures.”

“Yes, I’ll have someone find it for you.”

I’m so excited!

I was wondering how to go with the scary monster.

‘How did Eryllot in <Ice.Black.Hand> tame that scary monster?’

To tame it, you have to get close.

And there’s no guarantee it won’t attack after being tamed.

‘Anyway, I need to focus on green lavender.’

The servant sent by Lord Debussey brought a lot of books.

I piled the books in my room and locked myself in for days.

But it was strange.

‘What’s going on?’

I searched through the plant guide and books that recorded legendary plants.

But there was no mention of green lavender anywhere.

It was as if it didn’t exist.