How to Replace Dad 37
Wind howled fiercely.
The man had a quiet face like one melted into the blue night, yet his presence was as sharp as a honed blade.
Knights in blood-red capes embroidered with the Esgard crest advanced at the front.
Clang, clang, clang!
With a sharp sound, they drew their swords.
The grandmother’s face, which had always been expressionless, twisted in rare surprise.
“I am the wife of the late Marquis Andres and the mother of the current Marquis Andres. Do you know what it means to point a sword at me?”
“Meaning? That’s for insignificant people to worry about.”
“What?”
“You seem to think I need justification for my decisions.”
The duke slowly approached me.
And asked.
“Who made my child bow his head?”
My answer was delayed in shock.
Then the grandmother let out a soft laugh.
“What a surprising choice of words, Your Grace. My lady’s daughter.”
“Ah. I am grateful for that.”
“What?”
“Thanks to the Andres being hopelessly stupid, a treasure like you has entered my arms.”
“No more rudeness…!”
“So—!”
The duke’s voice grew louder.
The smile that had been on his lips vanished in an instant.
It felt as if his mouth had gone dry under the fierce pressure.
I wasn’t the only one tense.
The grandmother, the knights, and even Yuis had all stiffened.
The duke sharply glared at the grandmother.
“You must not threaten this child anymore.”
The grandmother clenched her lips tightly.
The one who had exhaled was staring at me.
“Threaten? It’s guidance. Otherwise, Yustea.”
She had a proud expression.
In the past, I had feared the grandmother as much as my father.
Whenever I made even the slightest mistake, the grandmother would always blame Mother.
Because of the blood of a lowly merchant.
Because she was a shallow seed full of nothing but money in her head and couldn’t teach the child properly.
Because she lacked sincerity.
Because she had scratched at Mother with knife-like words.
From childhood, I couldn’t breathe properly in front of the grandmother, and that remained like shackles even after I grew up.
The grandmother, who knew me well, had thought I would never disobey her words.
I agreed.
It would be so.
…If I had been Yustea from the Andres era.
“The grandchild who will receive the grandmother’s guidance is now Stella, not me.”
“…What?”
“So, I will learn the world from the Duke, not the grandmother.”
She bowed her head and turned away, following the Duke.
The Duke’s eyes looking at me were affectionate.
“Go to the room and rest, my puppy.”
“Yes!”
I smiled brightly.
Yuis gave me a subtle thumbs-up.
***
Yustea’s grandmother Esmeralda had been invited to the gathering of spouses of the heads of the guild, who were called elders.
Since she had attended the spouses’ meetings since young, it wasn’t a particularly special occasion.
The unexpected event happened while they were enjoying the picnic at Luna Hardin.
“Have you heard? The Esgard Duke has arrived. And he’s bringing Yustea Andres.”
The husband of the former Marquis of Albasil rushed into the spouses’ room in a hurry.
It was surprising enough that the Esgard Duke had come, but when he heard the name of the child who had come with him, he nearly dropped his teacup.
“Yustea… that child?”
As Yustea’s external activities were mainly social, the spouses knew her well.
The spouses looked at Esmeralda, Yustea’s grandmother at the same time.
After Esmeralda’s eyebrows twitched, she smiled awkwardly and turned her head.
“What on earth did the Esgard Duke bring that child for?”
“I don’t know the reason, but it was said that she definitely has talent.”
“What?”
“Thanks to that child, the Esgard Duke swept the card game. The former Marquis of Nevar and his granddaughter couldn’t move, so the coins were completely…”
“Cough.”
The one who had been passing on the message after the former Marquis of Nevar showed discomfort closed his mouth.
But the news about Yustea didn’t end there.
“I heard she took the soul of Marquis Gilron, the master of the magic tower.”
“That child’s eloquence is famous in the social world. Husbands not interested in social wouldn’t know. Is it still the case?”
“Marquis Gilron is troubled even about the magic tower’s previous site.”
“My god. No, how did the Andres raise that child? Please give some tips.”
The spouses were making a fuss and asking Esmeralda.
It was the first time they felt envy after the child was exiled.
Stella, who was doing social activities in place of that child, caused accidents repeatedly, making Esmeralda’s face hot.
“When sending the prince of Delpanium, she waved her hand and greeted.”
“My god, who did such an uncultured thing?”
“Who would it be?”
“Ah… Stella is a somewhat peculiar child. It seems the imperial and royal families feel her charm….”
“Yes. It looks like….”
Even basic etiquette was frequently mistaken.
The angle of the knees still didn’t please.
It was not something that happened when teaching Yustea.
Even at only six years old, she showed perfect posture.
At first it was awkward, but when pointed out for lacking sincerity, she practiced perfectly in a short time.
“However, was Yustea’s performance really that good?”
“My god. Where on earth are you from? In the academy, she was always first. The child who received the diploma as the youngest. How did she raise her? All the noble ladies lined up at the Andres to learn…”
The envy of the noble ladies grew thicker.
Our grandchild is going to the academy soon.
Please tell us how you taught her to study.
Is there something special in the blood of the marquis family.
While listing such stories, they were making a fuss.
When Esmeralda heard such things, she always covered her mouth with the teacup as always.
Her appearance seemed to flip the former Marquis of Nevar’s stomach more.
“Even so, where would you use that talent. Well, when doing lowly work, I’ll use it. Right, former Marquis Andres?”
No matter how you raise her like that, what can you do.
In the end, she committed a crime and was exiled.
It was pointing out the ruined family.
The spouses glanced at Esmeralda.
Esmeralda’s expression was cold.
She couldn’t respond to that remark.
The furious Esmeralda went to find Yustea.
Of course, she thought she would be at a loss and begging.
That child always did that.
‘But….’
When she returned to the room, she slammed the table with both hands.
Bang!
With a loud friction sound, the things on the table shook.
‘How… how did that child…!’
I couldn’t believe it.
In the Andres, the child who never opposed her words.
It was as if the one who gave birth to a perverted thing like Dia was correct.
If it wasn’t for the face that looked exactly like her son, I would have thought she picked up someone else’s child.
At that moment when Esmeralda was trembling with anger, the maid who was brought from Andres entered with quick steps.
“The fireworks on the deck will start soon.”
Esmeralda bit her teeth.
The purpose of this picnic was to enjoy the fireworks on the deck.
‘If I don’t go, it will be seen as avoiding it.’
It would definitely link Stella, who avoids going out under the pretext of health when only troubles happen, and make empty talk.
The one special in that family was Yustea.
Stella or Esmeralda, show the same thing.
It wasn’t that the education method was special, but that Dia gave birth to a good daughter.
Esmeralda swept the things on the table and threw them.
Crack! Clang! Bang!
Sharp explosions filled the room.
The maid gathered the fragments while looking at her.
“Shall I convey the intention of not being able to attend to the ladies?”
“Bring a coat. I will go.”
“Yes…”
The maid hurriedly brought the coat.
‘It must be fine as is.’
Even without that, after Yustea was exiled, Esmeralda’s mood was bad whenever she went to social gatherings.
Because she had been humiliated in various ways.
She couldn’t say anything to Stella, the cause of the humiliation.
If she said even one word, Stella would shed tears like chicken poop.
Then the Marquis Andres and his eldest son Onel would look at her with fierce eyes.
But contrary to the maid’s wish, as soon as she went to the deck, an incident occurred.
“Eh? It says the sunset doesn’t have good sunlight? Old people say it’s important to see the sunlight, so they walk when the sun is highest.”
“It doesn’t do good for the skin. Shall I recommend a good medicine?”
“Maybe you know a lot.”
“I have a lot of interest in the elderly. To the grandmother… no, the Duke, to serve comfortably.”
“Amazing.”
Yustea was surrounded by the old people.
There is no adult who dislikes a child who is polite and attentive.
The old people were looking at the Esgard Duke with envious eyes.
“Where on earth did you bring this child from.”
The Esgard Duke was looking at Yustea with a smile.
“You don’t have to worry about that. Taking care of the child is the role of the adult.”
“Even if the adult takes care and the child is taken care of, it would be better.”
“Haha, indeed a correct word.”
The Duke looked at Yustea with an expression as if he would die from cuteness.
Esmeralda twisted the hem of her skirt.
“She’s pretending to be someone else’s bloodline.”
“Madam…”
“If he was alive, his stomach would have turned upside down.”
“…”
The ship carrying people was swimming on the lake.
Fireworks flew over the deep blue sky.
Soon, they were launched into the sky and became beautiful fireworks, decorating the night.
Yustea quickly covered the Duke’s ears.
“It is too loud. I hope your ears are okay.”
“If I cover my ears, will I hear it?”
“Ah, mistake.”
“Hahaha.”
The sight of the loving grandparents and grandchildren made the old people’s eyes full of envy.
“I should have brought my grandchild too.”
“Even if you brought it, would you cover the ears? Look. Among the grandchildren brought by others, who covers the ears?”
No matter how much she gave hints, the grandchild didn’t move.
The spouses who knew Yustea well said.
“Upon thinking about it, there was no child as good as Yustea in taking care of adults.”
“Even if the body becomes a furnace, if it rains, the grandmother might slip, so she came with the child to support.”
“Was that when she was eight years old?”
“Yes. I remember the Empress Dowager was greatly delighted.”
Esmeralda stared at the scenery with a stiff face.
“Grandmother, I was looking at the hat. Me… because the winter wind is cold…”
“Your mother taught you to act spoiled like that.”
“…”
“If you want to be in my eyes, make sure to recite at least one more line.”
Even if I said that, the child was always following behind walking.
Then, if she fell asleep in the carriage, she always held my hand.
If an old body catches a cold, it’s a big deal.
‘That hand is warm…’
So.
Esmeralda strode across the deck.
And approached Yustea and the Duke.
“The cold has gone. Your child’s hand is warm, isn’t it. I always held hands in winter. Right, Yustea?”
What are you doing with the bloodline.
That was the meaning.
Yustea, familiar with social etiquette, wouldn’t not know.
Yustea, who had been quiet for a moment, cautiously opened her mouth.
“…I am the one with cold hands.”
“But in the past…”
“I held the hot water for a long time. Long enough to get burned.”
“What?”
“At that time, I didn’t want the former Marquis’s wife to hurt more than I hurt.”
You have been hurting me endlessly.
When Esmeralda saw Yustea’s eyes, she closed her mouth.
The Duke put a jacket on Yustea’s shoulder.
Yustea was surprised and looked at him.
“It’s okay…!”
“Do it. I am also concerned about your cold more than my cold.”
Yustea smiled awkwardly with “hehe.”
And put both hands on the Duke’s hand.
“Then I will warm your hands.”
“The more warmth is shared, the warmer it gets. So, you shouldn’t hold the hot water anymore.”
“Yes…”
Yustea smiled while closing her eyes.
Like that child when she was very young.
“Hammeni, value go. I like value going.”
“Anyway, your hands are expensive. Your father didn’t have such a thing even when he was young.”
“Hammeni I like.”
“…Words.”
The maid who saw the quiet Esmeralda asked.
“Big madam?”
“…Let’s go.”
“What?”
“When the deck arrives, prepare the carriage immediately. I have to return to the port.”
“Yes…”
The maid answered with a puzzled expression.
Considering the old people’s bathroom situation, the ship was scheduled to stay on land briefly every quarter.
When it arrived first, Esmeralda got off the ship like fleeing and got on the carriage.
Throughout the carriage ride, her chest was tight.
When the memories that were only funny came to mind, her chest felt stuffy somewhere.
“Hey. Our hammeni is the cutest, right?”
“Aunty, do you like the grandmother so much?”
“The cutest among hammeni. The most expensive.”
The memory of whispering as if whispering a secret to the servant…
“Knees at 60 degrees. Arms like this. Is it okay?”
“It’s usable.”
“Wow…”
“Is the lady showing a subtly happy expression.”
“…Because I like the grandmother’s praise. Too much… Sorry.”
Even that face that was secretly smiling with both hands covering the mouth…
Esmeralda closed her eyes tightly and turned her head.
It felt like something was sending a danger signal.
She couldn’t bear the stuffy chest due to impatience.
She picked up the communication stone.
The recipient was the Marquis Andres. Her son.
[What is it?]
“Rohan, maybe. Maybe…”
Wasn’t it a pointless thing?
If she really lost the treasure… then…
“No. No.”
It couldn’t be.
The feeling of regret that what was mine ended up in someone else’s hands.
After ending the communication, Esmeralda looked out the window to calm her heart.
Hoping the night wind would calm her heart.