Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Grandfather's Wrath
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A grandfather with eyes so fierce they made everyone's legs go numb from fear glared savagely at the mustached nobleman and bellowed.
"Drag that bastard out right now! How dare he spout nonsense at my granddaughter?"
"No need to call the knights. I'll handle it myself."
Dad, wearing an equally murderous expression, turned to the mustached man.
The noble who locked eyes with Dad let out a squeak and collapsed to the floor.
This is getting out of hand!
'Pairing an eleven-year-old minor with a nineteen-year-old adult is pretty insane, to be fair.'
But I couldn't let some idiot like that ruin Erich's coming-of-age celebration, which was right around the corner.
Erich was my brother, after all.
Pretending I had no idea what was going on, I flashed a big smile and sidled up to Grandfather, looping my arm through his.
"Grandfather, it's been so long. How have you been?"
His face, which had been boiling with rage just moments ago, softened a bit.
"Ahem. It's only been 247 days, and here you are acting spoiled."
...He'd been counting?
"Today's a great day since I finally get to see you after so long. Don't be mad—come inside with me, okay?"
"Well, if you're insisting..."
"You too, Dad. It's been ages since you saw Grandfather, so you must have a lot to catch up on."
Don't go picking fights with some random noble for no reason!
Dad cleared his throat awkwardly and trailed behind us.
Seeing my two brothers follow along, Grandfather smirked and patted the back of my hand, which was linked through his arm—a clear victory pose if there ever was one.
Dad and my brothers clenched their fists tight at the sight.
Grandfather could be surprisingly childish sometimes.
"Ella."
Erich spoke up, his jaw clenched but his smile soft and gentle.
He was the most refined and elegant-looking among the men in our family.
Which made it all the more surprising that he had the strongest competitive streak.
"Once the birthday banquet's over, I'm heading down to Dybayer County. Want to come along?"
Dybayer County? What for?
His coming-of-age ceremony was in two days, right after his actual birthday, and then he'd officially join the Northern Inspectorate.
Was it related to that?
I unlinked my arm to turn and ask, but Grandfather, whose eyebrows had been twitching, exploded first.
"You're taking the girl who's only here after 247 days somewhere? Go by yourself."
He sounded genuinely angry, which was unlike the doting grandfather who usually kept Erich close, but Erich just smiled brightly.
"Don't you think Ella needs some real-world experience too, Grandfather?"
"Mariella's still too young. She can gain that kind of experience later."
"Let Ella decide. She's smart enough to judge for herself."
Grandfather couldn't argue with that.
"Why are you going to the county?"
"You know how the ducal house sends inspectors every year to check on the vassal territories?"
I'd learned about it in family lessons.
Unlike Grandfather's secret undercover agents, there were also official inspections announced in advance during the public audit period.
"Yeah."
"The influence of Morten Merchant Group—run by Viscount Dybayer's brother-in-law—is growing fast. They expanded massively last year and made it into the top three merchant groups in the North."
Viscount Dybayer was on the uncle's faction, I thought.
'Wasn't the current viscount's aunt the uncle's mother?'
They were cousins, right?
And now this guy's brother-in-law's merchant group was one of the North's big three?
I'd swum in gold coins thanks to Dad's monster byproduct sales and preserves business, but even I'd never heard of them.
That was definitely suspicious.
"So this year, during the public audit, I'm going down to Dybayer County myself."
This would officially be Erich's first official duty.
Yeah, I should tag along for something like that.
Erich was capable, sure, but you never knew what might come up.
"I'll go!"
I grabbed Erich's arm enthusiastically, and Grandfather's face crumpled.
"Me too!"
Dietrich, who'd been gauging the mood, shot his hand up right after me.
Dad eyed us three siblings sticking together and started to raise his hand slyly, but I shot him a sharp glare.
"Dad has tons of work."
"No, not really..."
"No, you do."
How many knights did our county even have?
I needed to convince Grandfather for more military funding this time.
'Gotta show off those new buried explosive bombs too!'
I glared at him, eyes screaming for military expansion, and Dad lowered his hand with a pout.
I felt a little bad, but it couldn't be helped.
The trip to Dybayer County was set for after the banquet.
So it'd just be me, Dietrich, and Erich?
Erich had always traveled with Dad as his guardian since he was a minor until now.
This would be our first trip just the siblings.
"Miss, your hair's all dry now. Time for bed."
"Already?"
While I was excitedly planning the county visit in my head, my hair was already fluffy and completely dry.
"Of course! Who am I? Your personal nurse!"
"It's been so long since Nurse dried my hair—feels amazing!"
I hugged my long-lost nurse tight.
Four years ago, she'd married Oliver and settled in Kalena, where the main house was.
Seeing her again after exactly 247 days.
It was sad when she left, but with Oliver promoted to Grandfather's chief adjutant, the intel we got was top-notch—no complaints there.
And it was good to have someone reliable watching Florian back home.
The other staff felt too influenced by Aunt.
"My hair's dry, so go check on Dietrich, Nurse. He's probably waiting with bated breath."
"Really?"
"Yep. He came loaded with gifts for your baby."
"Oh my goodness..."
"Don't tell him I spoiled it. Oh, and my gift for your house is coming tomorrow!"
Mine was a baby swing that tied to a tree.
Her eyes welled up at the mention.
Oh no, Nurse was going to cry again.
Ever since she decided to settle in the capital, she cried every time we met.
And I'd cry right back on reflex.
With a packed schedule ahead, I couldn't afford tears, so I hurriedly shoved her out.
Thud!
'What was that?'
Just as I'd calmed down after the crisis passed, I spotted a small pebble that had hit the window and fallen.
Who'd throw something at my room? It wasn't thrown hard, but this was still a direct ducal family room!
Irritated, I flung open the window and saw Florian perched on the balcony railing.
"Hey, baby."
"Florian!"
He'd grown even taller since last year. Beaming, I circled him excitedly.
Taller and more filled out.
At just fifteen, he looked like a slightly youthful adult.
No trace left of the scrawny kid from when we first met.
"But what's with your hand? How'd you get hurt?"
Florian let out a small "Ah" and tried to hide his index finger where my gaze landed.
I forcibly pulled his hand out and inspected the wounded finger.
Looked like a deep cut from something sharp.
Florian blinked innocently at my frown.
"During sparring... accident."
"Did you put medicine on it?"
"Not yet."
"What do you mean 'not yet'? You need to treat it properly. Come here."
I dragged Florian inside and headed straight to the bed, opening the drawer in the left nightstand.
The Northern Ducal House ruled a land rife with skirmishes.
That's why every direct family member's room—and even guest rooms—always stocked first-aid supplies.
All in the same spot for uniformity.
Florian's room would have it in the left nightstand drawer too, of course.
"Check here, and you'll always find medicine. There's a doctor on call, but for emergencies, use this first."
The ointment... ah, here it was.