Ch. 37

"Dad, do you like being back in your old workshop that much?""Of course, I spent my entire youth here. I also met your mom here. I worked as Ferdinand's private weaponsmith, you know."

"Yeah, I heard my mom was a young duke, so I wasn't surprised that you both met here, but I didn't know that dad was the family's private weaponsmith."

"At that time, your mother was the princess. Even Duke Ferdinand's children have to prove their ability first in order to succeed him. Your mother was a great swordswoman."

"Swordswoman..."

"And I was the weaponsmith who created both your grandfather's and mom's swords."

"Why didn't you tell me about all of this?"

"Your mom asked me to keep it a secret from you..."

My dad quickly put me in a seat that he just dusted off. 

"Oh my god, I wanted to clean it myself, but the place is too big for me to clean alone. I should ask the maids for help tomorrow."

My dad's eyes under his glasses glisten like stars as he looks around the workshop. 

'My dad must love this place a lot.'

The dad that I saw was not a middle-aged man with an eight-year-old daughter but a boy full of energy. 

So, I had no intention of nagging him. I wanted my dad to stay in his boyhood a bit more. 

Ah, I really want to place a curfew in the workshop.

Last night, my dad put me to sleep first and pulled out an all-nighter in the workshop.

"Daaaad!"

The next morning, I found him passed out in his workshop, so the servants carried him to the bedroom.

This workaholic weaponsmith!

You'll die of overwork! Overwork!

I had been breaking my back, sweating blood, and working my guts out to prevent your death, but now you walked into hell with your own feet?

I really wanted to ask my grandfather to place a curfew in my dad's workshop. 

[Why didn't you ask him, then?]

Ex asked in wonder. 

'Because my dad looks so excited...'

My dad was busy raising me, so he didn't have a chance to showcase his talent. I also played a part in making him struggle to make a living by obstructing his business. 

And wouldn't he be excited when he suddenly returned to his original workshop to make the 'Great Sword' that he always wanted to make?

Phew...that's why I let him do as he pleases. I'm going to let him be for just a week, and if he still stays up all night in his workshop a week later, I'm going to seriously ask my grandfather to place a curfew. 

I seriously get wrinkles because of the stress my dad caused!

Maybe because I was eating with a frown on my face, my grandfather asked me out of concern.

"Eve, why do you look so annoyed?"

"Pardon?"

"What's wrong? Do you not like the food?"

He placed a large cut of meat on my plate right away. 

It was already the fourth piece, and another five pieces were already in my stomach. 

But I couldn't bear to reject my grandfather's loving gesture, so I poked the meat with a fork and pushed it into my mouth. 

"Nuffing!"

"Is that so? I'm glad, then. If there's anyone else who talks badly in front of you, please let me know. Grandfather will scold them."

My grandfather was still upset about the maids who mocked me on the first day of my visit. My grandfather already scolded them for me, so I wasn't angry anymore. 

Ex, who was placed on the chair as we dined, began to ramble. 

[Isn't it natural that he's still upset about it? This is called filial affection. Plus, the Guardian must be dejected by what happened to his granddaughter, whom he never saw until she turned eight years old.]

Filial affection, huh....bound by blood-relation....

Thinking of those things made my heart feel ticklish again. 

Ack! Ticklish! I feel weird!

I hardly felt this way before, but my feelings began to fluctuate weirdly every day ever since I came to the duke's residence. 

As I experienced this unknown feeling, I aggressively chewed the meat in my mouth and swallowed it.

Cough-

Is it because I swallowed it too quickly? Ugh, I can't breathe! I should've eaten it slowly!

As I patted my chest repeatedly, my grandfather put a cup of water in front of me and said.

"Drink water and eat slowly."

I took the cup of water with both hands and gulped it down.

Haaa...I finally can breathe now.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay. And I'm done eating. I'm very full now."

"Really?"

"Hehe, yes."

"Then go to the dressing room after this, change your clothes and come to my office."

Huh? Why do I suddenly get summoned to the duke's office?

So I asked him just to be sure. 

"W-Why..? Did I make a mistake...?"

"It's not like that. I have someone to introduce you to, so don't be afraid."

I answered him with a nod.

"Alright, if you say so."

I was an eight-year-old who had dealt with the warriors who would make my dad die of overwork, the imperial prince, and even the obnoxious uncle that insulted me. 

Will I get to meet another scary person here? Nobody can scare me now! Bring it on!

Although, my heart sank a bit when my grandfather called me to his office. 

"Yes, then I'll go up first. Thank you for the meal!"

"The maid will show you the way."

"Ah, I'm fine! I know my way around here."

After dabbing my mouth with the napkin, I rose up from my seat. My grandfather also rose up from his seat shortly after. 

"Then, I'll see you later, Eve."

"Yes, Grandfather! I'll be right there!"

When I waved my hand, my grandfather replied with the same gesture awkwardly. The maids who came to clear the table looked surprised when they saw my grandfather uncharacteristically waving his hand. 

Looking at the maids' reaction, he quickly put down his hand as if embarrassed. 

"Ahem, ahem. See you later. And don't be shocked at what you're about to hear today." S~eaʀᴄh the Novelƒire.n(e)t website on G00gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He quickly disappeared after leaving such a vague comment. 

It was so fast that my grandfather was already gone in a blink of an eye. 

A Sword Master's speed is really unmatched. 

To the point he disappeared in an instant.

Ah, I was mistaken.

I didn't think there could be anyone worse to meet than Remart, the second prince, the warriors, and the annoying uncle who made fun of me.

They actually existed. 

"Is this her?"

Right in front of my eyes. 

"I've heard a lot about you, Miss Eve."

There were six of them!

I fixed my posture to prevent my dress from getting crumpled and curtsied. 

"H-Hello."

Ack, why did I stutter? Let's do it again.

After taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth again.

"H-Hello...my name is Eve Royce. I'm eight years old this year."

"She's my granddaughter. I called you here because I wanted to introduce her."

My grandfather picked me up. As a result, I lost my poise that I tried so hard to maintain. My grandfather's arms are warm and nice, but....

"I see. I've heard about that."

I didn't want him to carry me in this kind of situation!

I was sitting in the middle of Ferdinand's meeting hall. To be exact, I was sitting on my grandfather's lap. 

And six old men and women were staring at us.