Ch. 27

My dad rolled over on the bed more passionately when I didn't answer. [What's wrong with your dad?]

....Beats me.

[He's acting worse than an eight-year-old...]

That's what I thought.

I would normally scold Ex for insulting my dad, but I couldn't bring myself to say that when I saw my dad. 

"...."

[........]

I watched my dad pathetically and finally uncrossed my arms. 

"Argh! Fine! Only for tonight, right? I won't stay longer than that, okay?"

"Of course! Stay for breakfast, too! Please, Eve. I want to eat so bad!"

"Oh my gosh....Fine. Only until breakfast. That's the most I can do. We'll pack up and leave before lunch."

"Yeah! Thanks, sweetie! My daughter is the best!"

He smiled brightly and hugged me tight. At some point, I felt like I heard him muttering, 'I did it!', but I wasn't sure.

"Hm? What did you say?"

"N-Nothing, sweetie."

Wiping his sweat, he smiled suspiciously. Although it was a bit suspicious, I decided to pay no heed to it eventually. '

"Let's change into our pajamas and wash our faces. I will ask the maids to bring us a water bowl."

My dad got out of the bed and walked toward the door. We didn't ring the bell on top of the bedside drawer even though the maid asked us to do that if we needed anything.

"Uhh..Dad. I think this place is very strange. There are a lot of clothes that are about the same size as mine, but they are all brand new. Does a girl of my age live here?"

My dad, who opened the door and peeked his head out, smiled cheerily when he found a maid. 

"Um...I don't think so. Oh! Excuse me, can you bring us a water bowl? Thank you so much."

"But isn't it weird that they have a lot of girls' clothes?"

"I don't know...maybe there's someone that His Grace wants to see in those clothes?"

My dad muttered indistinctly. I didn't ask any more questions after that. 

Soon after, two maids entered with two water bowls and a change of clothes for me. They also brought my dad's.

"Miss Eve, do you need help changing?" The maid asked in a gentle voice. 

My eyes lit up in delight the moment I heard that familiar voice. 

'She's the nice sister!'

The maid who smiled warmly was the same maid who came to pick me up when I crouched alone in the hallway. 

"You can tell me anytime if you find your clothes uncomfortable. I will bring you another one. I was told by Mrs. Charlotte that these clothes match your size."

She muttered as she alternately looked between the pajamas in her hand and my body as if to gauge whether they fit me or not. So I took the pajamas in a hurry. 

"Yes! Thank you for preparing this for me. You don't need to worry. I can change by myself."

"Ah, you already know how to change your clothes by yourself....?"

Her eyes glistened as if she was proud of me. 

At that moment, the words 'The nobles don't even lift a finger' once again crossed my mind. 

Don't tell me nobles have people to dress them up every day?

'Even two-year-olds can change their clothes alone back in my village.'

[You fool. What you wear is a world difference from what the noble kids wear. Aren't you wearing it, too? A kid with short limbs like you definitely needs help wearing this type of clothes.]

Ex's comment ruined my mood. 

Is that so?

I also felt that this dress was a bit difficult to put on. There were several maids who helped me tie the ribbons and attach multiple layers over my skirt. 

[It's going to be hard to take it off alone...]

'...Fine. Stop talking.'

I regret saying that I could change on my own after listening to Ex. But at that moment, 

"I'm so proud of you! But I'm sure you must be very tired right now, so I,  Cythera, want to help you change..."

She gently held out her slightly rough hand. 

"Will you allow me to do that?"

"Yes, of course."

I took Cythera's hand without missing a beat. Her hand was a bit rough, as expected from her nature of work, but I didn't really think much of it because my hand was just equally rough. 

After changing into my pajamas, I climbed up to bed. The duke's bed was so soft that it couldn't be compared with the hard bed in my house. 

And what about the blanket? 

As I buried my face in a soft blanket, I felt like I could understand why my dad insisted on spending the night here. 

'Maybe my dad likes soft blankets as much as I do.'

Rustle-

I turned to my side and looked at my dad, who was already going to bed. But he lay down on the farthest side of the bed where I could only see his sleeping back. 

The dark surroundings also played a part. Moonlight streamed through the curtains, but that wasn't enough to see from far away. 

'We'll sleep together...'

I slept together with my dad every day at home, so there was no reason to do differently here. 

This room originally only had one bed. So I was going to sleep with my dad. But right when I was about to move closer to my dad, I heard the maid exclaim. 

"Ah, but it's better for you to rest properly! I've prepared this for you so you both can sleep comfortably!"

Another large bed was brought into the room under Cythera's direction. 

"Slowly, slowly. Put it there."

....Huh?

"Yeah, please leave it there."

The six servants who carried the bed put it down gently. I couldn't imagine how strong they were for moving that large bed without even making a thud. It was my first time seeing a bed being transported like that. 

But unlike me, who was very perplexed, my dad just casually lay down on the bed that they had just moved. 

"Eve, my daughter. Good night. I love you..."

Of course, he didn't forget to say good night to me. He had never missed saying goodnight to me for the past eight years. It was proof that my dad cherished and loved me that much. 

My grandfather didn't know anything.

"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?" Sᴇaʀᴄh the NovᴇlFɪre .ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

That was the reason I couldn't forgive my grandfather. 

We'll leave in the morning. And I won't come here anymore.

I closed my eyes to sleep after making a vow to myself. 

Baby, wake up.

Baby....Astrid's baby.

A voice rang in Eve's ears. The voice was both unfamiliar and familiar at the same time. 

A long time since that mysterious voice started calling Eve. 

Eve, who was asleep, opened her eyes slowly.

"....."

Eve got out of bed with a languid face. A disheveled golden hair scattered across her soft cheeks.

Eve.

The voice called Eve again. Eve rubbed her drowsy eyes and looked around. 

Nial was asleep, the door was firmly closed, and the curtains stayed the same as last night. 

The room was very quiet.

'But....who called me?'

Her blue eyes blinked in a daze as she tried to wake herself up completely. 

At that moment, 

Eve.

Once again, a mysterious voice called out Eve Royce.