Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Grandfather's Resolve
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It didn't take long for a chill anger to pool in Grandfather's eyes as he gazed at me with pity.
"Count Dviaer—that bastard's completely lost his mind."
"Has the investigation wrapped up, Grandfather?"
"Yes. The ones working at the Morten Merchant Guild confessed."
"And you've caught all the culprits?"
"Erich took charge. You know how furious he was—he even insisted on staying behind to handle things personally. Not a single one slipped away."
If sword-sharp Erich had stepped in, he would've shaken them down without leaving a speck of dust behind.
No wonder he hadn't followed me back despite my illness—he'd stayed to exact proper revenge on Count Dviaer.
"What do you plan to do about it?"
"If I had my way, I'd team up with my brother-in-law right now and have that Count Dviaer scum from the Northern Army put down... disposed of. But there are procedures to follow."
"You'll take him to court?"
"Don't worry. The jury will be selected from the council of elders, and the trial will be overseen by the Minister of Justice herself."
With Grandfather handpicking the jury and Lavinia's mother presiding as judge, the outcome was as good as decided.
Aunt Palenberg—the Marquis Palenberg—was infamous for doting on her children.
She might have stayed neutral if it only involved our siblings, but with Lavinia tangled up too, there was no way she'd let it slide.
And especially not with Grandfather grinding his teeth like this.
Count Dviaer wouldn't walk away from this with all his limbs intact, that much was clear.
"So what happens to the Dviaer County now?"
"Stefan's still a minor, but it seems he knew about his father and uncle's scheme. We can't just let that go."
"What about Saskia?"
"She's only fourteen—she wouldn't have known a thing."
She wasn't the heir anyway.
She'd spent her days watching either Mark or her brother Stefan's moods.
"We'll see what the court decides, but for now, we'll pass the title to Saskia and appoint a guardian recommended by the council until she comes of age."
A growl rumbled in Grandfather's throat as he bared his teeth.
Guardian, my foot—it'd be more like a warden in practice.
"We've overlooked Valeria's family and their petty misdeeds up to now, but this crosses the line."
"Valeria...?"
"My second wife, and your uncle's birth mother. She's Count Dviaer's aunt."
I'd seen a portrait in Grandfather's study of a woman who resembled Uncle.
That must have been Valeria Dviaer.
As far as I knew, Grandfather had married twice.
His first marriage produced our father, but my paternal grandmother had died shortly after giving birth due to postpartum complications.
His second marriage had brought Uncle into the world.
"Something on your mind?"
Grandfather could always see right through me.
"I'm curious about my grandmothers. I've never met them."
"I figured as much."
Grandfather looked at me with a touch of pity and began his tale slowly.
"My first wife was a political match arranged by my father."
Given Grandfather's position, that was only natural.
"Looking back, I only feel regret. When she gave birth to your father and passed, I was away at the front lines. I missed his birth... and her funeral."
Grandfather, who'd spent half his life on battlefields, wore a pained expression.
I gently took his hand, not wanting him to dwell in sorrow, and asked,
"What about Grandmother Valeria?"
Grandfather's eyes wandered the air as if tracing bygone days.
The silence didn't last.
"She came as my second wife and raised your father and your uncle without favoritism. Your father treated her like his own mother."
"Dad did?"
"Yes. She'd raised him from such a young age—it was no different."
Dad always pretended otherwise, but he was a sentimental soul at heart.
If Grandmother Valeria had shown him kindness first, he'd have returned it tenfold.
Baby Dad must've been a lot like Dietrich.
Picturing the two dead ringers, I couldn't help but smile.
Grandfather shared the thought, his lips curving faintly.
"Your father was full of curiosity and mischief. Overflowing with energy, too."
"Sounds like Dietrich takes after him."
"Blood will tell."
"You must've scolded him plenty."
"Valeria would always step in to defend him. She doted on him fiercely—sometimes even more than Dominic."
How did such a kind woman end up with an uncle like that...?
As I furrowed my brow at the mysteries of genetics, I belatedly noticed the bitterness shadowing Grandfather's smile.
He'd been enjoying tales of Dad's childhood just moments ago.
"If only your father hadn't run off like that, she might have lived longer..."
"What do you mean, Grandfather?"
"She was always frail. After your father bolted suddenly, she took to her bed and never recovered."
"Oh no..."
"She didn't last long. Even on her deathbed, she called his name, apologizing over and over. After all her care, what did she have to be sorry for?"
Apologizing? For what?
Grandfather elaborated, reading my curiosity.
"She blamed herself for your father leaving—thought it was because she wasn't his real mother."
It made a twisted sort of sense.
Raising someone else's child is always harder than your own—everything feels like your fault.
Grandmother Valeria's death must have fueled Grandfather's resentment toward Dad, too.
Abandoning his heir position, causing his stepmother's demise, and defying him with that marriage.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't all Dad's fault, but from Grandfather's side...
"...Do you still hate Dad that much?"
I asked carefully. Grandfather pulled his gaze from the past, fixing bright eyes on me.
Then he reached out with a large hand and ruffled my hair.
"What can I do? He's my son."
It was as good as saying he couldn't help but love him.
I relaxed into a relieved smile, and Grandfather ruffled my hair harder, as if to say not to worry.
After days of being force-fed tonics and nourishing meals, I'd put on a little weight.
Nothing a good Divine Grace training session couldn't burn off.
Divine Grace drew on divine power through the human body, after all—it was notorious for draining stamina.
I headed lightly to the entrance hall.
Today was the day Erich returned from handling cleanup in Dviaer County.
"Erich!"
"Don't run—you'll trip, Ella."
"If I fall, big brother can catch me!"
He laughed as I threw myself into his arms, stroking my head slowly.
"How's your body feeling?"
"See for yourself—good as new."
"Glad to hear it. Still, take it easy for a while."
"Got it!"
When we were young, Erich had suffered greatly for being born without Divine Grace.
It was something he could never overcome, no matter how hard he tried. Not even when someone like Mark wielded it freely.
And then the baby of the family awakened hers.
Worried he might feel down, I'd come to greet him first—and there wasn't a trace of hurt on his face.
If anything, he looked proud, gazing down at me with concern as he petted my head.
...Thank goodness.
I'd been anxious he might feel bad because of me.
Relieved, I hugged his waist tightly.
"Ahem."
A pointed cough came from behind. Grandfather stood there, having come to welcome Erich too.