Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Grandfather's Verdict
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The silence filling the hall didn't last long.
It was because Grandfather stopped slowly tapping the table and turned an icy gaze on Uncle and Aunt in turn.
The two of them froze like mice before a cat the moment his eyes landed on them.
"The people we sent to the branch family this time—you two selected them personally, didn't you?"
"Father, that's..."
"You hold the personnel authority for the main house's internal affairs."
Aunt must manage all the main house servants.
With no wife at Grandfather's side, it made sense for her to play the role of the lady of the house.
That must be why Uncle had been bold enough to raise spies right under Grandfather's nose and send them to our home.
"We know nothing about it, Father-in-law. There's no evidence anywhere. If you suspect us just because of what a child says..."
"R-right! Brother might have taught the child to say such things!"
Uncle and Aunt's defenses didn't drag on for long.
"Foolish. That man would sooner bite off his own tongue than teach his child to insult my wife. Do you really know him so little?"
"Father!"
"Enough."
Uncle put on a deeply aggrieved expression, but it had zero effect on Grandfather.
Grandfather didn't even spare a glance toward our family.
He simply wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin and issued his command in a calm voice, as if nothing had happened.
"Hand over internal personnel and funds to the butler."
"Father-in-law, we're truly innocent..."
"One more word of defiance, and I'll turn every bit of reclaimed authority over to that bastard. Is that what you want?"
Only after Grandfather jerked his chin toward our father did Uncle and Aunt's pleading finally stop.
The meal resumed.
But no one uttered a word throughout the entire time.
Even Uncle, who'd been so chatty before, kept up the silence while glaring at our family like he wanted to murder us.
'A fair man.'
I snuck a few glances toward Grandfather, but he never looked my way again.
A man on terrible terms with Daddy, who dislikes Mommy, and cold even to his grandchildren.
Yet the moment he judged Uncle had done wrong, he'd sliced away the authority like a sharpened blade.
This was enough to call it taking our family's side.
'Worth dragging that uncomfortable topic out at dinner.'
Now that I knew he wasn't blindly taking Uncle's side, maybe I could get closer to Grandfather?
I'd be staying at the main house for a while, after all—no harm in currying favor with its top authority.
Daddy showed no interest in getting along with him, so I'd have to step up.
Having decided that, I deliberately cut off a big chunk of steak right in front of Uncle, who was glaring at me, and shoved it into my mouth.
"Yummy!"
He'd praised the texture so much before, and sure enough, it was delicious.
Having resolved to get friendly with Grandfather turned out to be far easier said than done.
'First things first—I need to even see his face.'
True to his role as lord of the North, Grandfather was an incredibly busy man.
He seemed to spend nearly the entire day holed up in his study, a place not just anyone could enter.
I'd visited twice, but all I got were orders to come back later because he was busy. Not a single strand of his hair in sight.
On top of that, the main house servants didn't care much for me.
They were polite and kind enough, but they wouldn't go out of their way to deliver snacks I'd brought straight to Grandfather.
"Ugh!"
"What's wrong, miss?"
"Nuffin'."
Unable to stand the frustration any longer, I punched my pillow and bolted upright.
"Do you need something?"
"Wanna go see Ditri."
"Young Master Dietrich is probably at the training grounds right now. I've heard Grandfather's been personally overseeing his sword training lately."
"Wanna see Daddy too!"
The moment I stepped outside, that stifling feeling vanished like a lie.
The Kalenberg Duke Family's training grounds had to be massive compared to ours, right?
Lots of knights training, too?
Ours were basically just a spot for weapon maintenance and a few wooden training dummies—what about here?
Any fitness equipment for building strength?
"...!"
Maybe even wooden swords sized for little kids like me?
If I'd known, I would've packed a jump rope to train together!
"...you say!"
Walking along bouncily amid a whirlwind of imaginings, I noticed a faint ongoing noise suddenly pitch up a tone and whipped my head around.
It sounded like kids fighting.
"Laura, didja hear fighting just now?"
"Yes, you heard it too, miss?"
"Maybe Ditri?"
"N-no way. It sounded like boys fighting, though... And this is near the young master's training grounds..."
Laura didn't seem entirely convinced it wasn't Dietrich either.
She stuttered with an anxious expression.
There were plenty of kids around the main house.
The cousins from dinner just days ago, plus others coming and going from the main building every day for their education.
Recalling how those cousins hadn't even properly greeted us, it wouldn't be strange if someone had picked a fight with Dietrich.
'Gotta go see.'
The sounds were coming from behind some bushes not far from the training grounds.
The voices grew louder the more I pushed through the low shrubs.
"Say it again. Our homework? You don't wanna do it?"
"P-professor said homework has to be done yourself. A-and this time there's so much, even mine takes all my time..."
"Hey, shorty Yoahim."
"I-I'm not a shorty!"
"Where do you get off snapping like that? Should I call you beggar Yoahim instead?"
Not Dietrich's voice.
The tone was different too, and Dietrich wasn't the type to say nasty things like that.
Even when he was jealous of me, the worst he could muster was calling me ugly.
I stealthily peeked out from between the shrubs.
Three boys came into view.
Two were ganging up on a third sandwiched between them. One of the bullies looked familiar.
'Name was... Mark?'
My cousin who took after Uncle. The arrogant face from the family dinner.
The one who'd stared at me and Dietrich like we'd crawled out of the dirt jabbed the wooden sword in his hand at the smallest boy's shoulder.
Judging by the shorty insult, that tiniest kid in the middle must be Yoahim.
A trembling voice leaked from Yoahim as he clutched his stabbed shoulder.
He seemed to be barely holding back tears.
"O-our house isn't beggars. My grandpa is the, c-chairman of the council."
"So what? They borrowed a ton from Stefan's house and haven't paid it back—of course you're beggars. Beggar grandson. Beggar grandpa."
"Not beggars!"
Yoahim finally burst into tears. In the process, he shoved Mark's shoulder once.
Mark, who hadn't taken any real hit, grimaced like he was in pain and promptly raised his wooden sword, as if he'd been waiting for it.
'Chairman Verben's the one who helped our house last time.'
If that's his grandson, I should help out and repay the favor.
I plucked a red berry from the bush I was hiding behind and hurled it at Mark.
The berry left my hand perfectly and smacked his wrist before dropping to the ground.
Mark whipped around toward me with a savage expression.
Just as I'd recognized him instantly, he recognized me too.
"What the—it's the commoner's daughter."
The smirk twisting his lips was shockingly like Uncle's.
"A branch house wench dares throw a berry at me?"
"Relatives shouldn't turn on each other like dogs."
"Hilarious. I'm gonna be Northern Duke someday. You think you're on my level?"
He glanced around, confirmed no one else was nearby, and twisted his face into the vilest sneer he could muster.
"Your lucky day. Perfect chance to show what happens when you act all high and mighty in the main house... Aack!"
All talk and no action.
I scooped up a handful of sand and flung it right into the eyes of Mark, who was threateningly pointing his wooden sword at me, then charged straight at him as he clutched his face and screamed.
Go—first strike wins!