Ch. 24

I'm so tired..."Dad, when are we going back to the Imperial Palace? Won't His Highness be looking for us?"

"There's no problem so far, but we have to send him a message if we stay overnight here-"

"...We're staying here tonight?"

"...Just in case."

At that moment, the maids opened the door of our room and entered with a tray. There was an assortment of snacks piled up on top of it. 

Are they here at the duke's request?

After neatly placing the snack on the tea table, the maids bowed to us and said. 

"Please call us if you need something else, Miss Eve. We'll be at your service if you ring the bell."

"Alright, thank you."

The maids left the room with a cordial smile on their faces. 

I picked up some cookies and put them in my mouth.

'Those maids smiled sweetly when they looked at me.'

Same with Charlotte and the brown-haired maid who guided me to the duke's office. I guess there were also maids who didn't hate me. 

I nodded as I stuffed my cheeks with cookies. Meanwhile, my dad watched me scarfing down the cookies in silence. 

"....."

"...Hm?"

I pondered for a moment and handed the cookie in my hand to him. It was a cookie with a chocolate filling that I really wanted to eat in one bite. But I gave it to my dad because I loved him. 

"You should tell me if you want to eat..."

"No, I'm not staring at you because I wanted to eat..."

"Ahh, you don't have to lie. Your face says it all. Hurry and eat it, Dad."

My dad took the cookie without thinking much. So I stared at him to urge him to eat. 

He briefly looked down at the cookie I  gave him before looking up and opening his mouth hesitatingly. 

"Eve."

"Yes?"

"You don't want to stay here?"

"Hm? Of course." Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"...You don't even hesitate."

....What's wrong with my answer?

I looked at my dad with a perplexed face. A moment of silence ensued between us. I swallowed the cookie and added it in a hurry.

"I like living with my dad."

"But you can't eat cookies every day if you live with me."

"That doesn't change the fact that I like living with my dad."

"If you live here, you can eat expensive food every day and wear pretty dresses like a princess in a fairy tale..."

"Dad, I don't need expensive food or pretty dresses to look like a princess."

"Why?"

"None of that matters to me. How about you, Dad? Do you think Eve is more important than any good food or luxurious clothes?"

"Of course!"

"I feel the same way."

"But, Eve, think about it.."

"I prefer the soup you made rather than expensive and delicious food. I prefer the one-piece you bought from the market rather than fancy dresses like a princess in a fairy tale."

And I really hated people who looked down on me and my dad. 

Not only the maids who were whispering about me, but also the nobleman who picked a fight with my dad earlier. 

I heard so many nasty things in just half a day after I stepped into this mansion. Both of me and my dad suffered unprovoked harassment. 

So I absolutely despise the idea of staying here. 

The village we lived in was far from being affluent, but everyone was kind to each other. They were kind to me and my dad, unlike the people in this mansion. 

'I like places that are full of warmth.'

When I shook my head vehemently, my dad smiled and took a bite of the cookie as if he had finally given up trying to persuade me. 

I watched my dad eat and said. 

"And we have work to do at the capital. We should go back to the capital soon."

"Yeah, you're right, Eve. We have work to do. Oh, how can my sweet daughter be this smart?"

"Ouch, Dad! You're dropping the crumbs everywhere!"

It wasn't like I hated my grandfather or anything. He was my family even if I was still awkward around him. He was my mom's dad and my grandfather. No one knew how much family meant to me. 

So I was happy to meet my grandfather whose presence brought warmth to my heart. 

But I had no intention to live here forever. 

Why would I leave people who were kind to me for people who treated me badly?

'That's what I thought.'

Yeah, it couldn't be more wrong. 

"Is it good, Eve?"

My grandfather asked as he put a large slice of tender meat on my plate. 

"Pardon? Yes..."

I nodded my head as I watched the thick and tender meat being put on my plate again.

It was already the fifth piece. 

I still had two pieces left on my plate, but my grandfather kept slicing the most delicious-looking pieces of meat and gave them to me. 

I pierced the meat with a fork and shoved it into my mouth to not disappoint him. 

"It's really good."

It's so delicious!

It was the most delicious meat I've ever eaten in my life. 

But the problem was my grandfather, who kept stacking meat onto my plate. He even cut it for me when he saw me struggling. 

All I did was dig my fork into the meat and eat until my stomach was full. 

My grandfather would occasionally ask about my daily life in the village, and I would answer each of his questions earnestly. 

But for some reason...

"Did you go to the market to sell things?"

"I didn't go there to sell things. I just helped Mrs. Hillary  with her work."

But my dad, who sat next to me, shuddered every time I answered. 

"......"

"...Haha. Eat a lot, sweetie."

When I glanced at my dad, he laughed awkwardly before cutting the fish dish and putting it on my plate. 

I dug out the fish dish that my dad put on top of my plate with a fork and put it in my mouth. 

Since then, my grandfather kept asking me how I've been doing. 

I answered him with sincerity, but I didn't tell him that I went there to sabotage my dad's business. 

'I won't ever tell you that!'

[That's right. Why would you go around telling people about that embarrassing stuff? Ahh, I couldn't believe  you spread a rumor that a great sword like me can't even cut potatoes..]

'I told you I  have a situation, didn't I?!'

[I guess so.]

'Do  you want me to leave  you here?'

[..........]

Ex went quiet. Thanks to that, I was able to chat with my grandfather from time to time and eat peacefully. 

My dad kept laughing like a broken doll as if he found this meal to be uncomfortable. He hardly ate his meal. He must be very uncomfortable eating with my grandfather. 

'I'm glad I gave you cookies earlier.'

Otherwise, my dad would've starved even after having a meal like this. 

My dad smiled as much as he could when he made eye contact with me., but it was obvious that he was very uncomfortable. 

After the meal was over, the maids proceeded to serve tea and refreshments. 

"Eve?"

My grandfather called my name with a serious tone. 

"Yesss?"

So I turned my head to look at him. 

"I think it's best for you to live here."

"....Pardon?"

...Huh? Did I  hear it wrong?

When I asked back incredulously, my grandfather dabbed his mouth with a napkin and answered. 

"Living in the countryside is not good for you. You are staying in the capital now, but aren't you planning to return to your village soon? It's not good for your education. What's there to see in the countryside anyway?"

Duke Theobold continued with a determined voice. 

"I wonder how well Nial has been raising you? He said he never let you starve, but who could tell me if that was true?"

I stared at my grandfather with a blank expression. 

....Why are you saying that?

What do you even know about me and my dad?

I heard my dad laugh awkwardly, but my grandfather didn't stop talking.

"Isn't it obvious? He must've raised you without feeding you proper meals or bathing you properly.  I can't bear watching my granddaughter living like that. So I think it's better for you to live here."