Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Mistress of the House
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"You'd better."
He could let other things slide, but not that. Ian followed her as she entered the mansion.
Helena, having enjoyed her leisure for three years, was now singing a tune of boredom, but Ian felt differently.
How long had he longed for this time alone with her?
That was precisely why he had deliberately settled in a secluded countryside far from the family estate.
He couldn't possibly yield such precious time to his granddaughter.
Helena might not know it, but Ian had gone so far as to give Kaide a stern warning not to disturb their time together before they left.
-Such a tear-jerking love. Just go, quickly.
-I was planning on it.
His last conversation with his frosty son.
And not long after, news of an heir reached them.
He had been a little worried, but just as he was feeling relieved that the family was being managed well, a granddaughter unexpectedly appeared.
That much was fine. The problem was...
"Darling. Let's get ready to go out."
"Where are we going?"
"It's our first time meeting her, so we have to give her a present, right? I wonder what a little girl would like... I've only ever raised a son, so I have no idea."
Helena pondered this as she got ready to leave. Ian let out a sigh.
She was already so delighted; he couldn't possibly stop her.
To think he now had to share her attention with their grandchildren.
Ian couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. Helena would surely tease him if he did.
But as if she had read his mind, Helena gave him a sly smile.
"Still, I love you the most. You know that, right?"
"I know."
Having finished their preparations, the two left the mansion. Though they were by no means young, they both had a very youthful appearance.
Walking hand in hand with Ian, Helena spoke.
"Do you think the child is adjusting well?"
She seemed a little worried. After all, wherever you go, there are always those who ostracize someone for being different.
"There have been mixed-bloods among the past family heads. I can't speak for other regions, but you don't have to worry so much about that in the south."
"But there's always a 'what if,' isn't there?"
"Then we'll just deal with them in front of everyone. Who would dare ostracize the heir?"
At Ian's words, Helena's worries vanished, and she broke into a grin.
"That should do it! So, what would be a good gift, Ian?"
"I have no idea."
"Perhaps we should visit a weaponsmith."
...A weaponsmith?
For a moment, Ian thought he had misheard. But he soon realized that wasn't the case.
Helena was considering it with utmost seriousness.
Was it really appropriate to visit a weaponsmith to buy a gift for a child?
As far as he knew, it was not. Ian was bewildered. What kind of childhood did Helena even have?
"When I was young, I used to play with things like glaives or maces. I was a girl, after all..."
"..."
"I could handle things like that with ease. The family allowed it, too."
It was possible because the females were born much stronger.
In the case of the Su-in, the higher up the food chain, the smaller the population, and females were extremely rare.
The exact reason was unknown, but in exchange for their small numbers, they were born with strength far exceeding the average.
Even so, it was customary not to place a weapon in a child's hands.
Helena grinned.
"She should at least know how to protect herself. I'd like to teach my granddaughter myself. But I suppose she already has an excellent teacher, doesn't she?"
"...She would never be allowed to play with something like a mace."
"What a shame."
Kaide would never have permitted it in the first place. It wasn't a matter of whether she could or couldn't handle it.
"How about a dagger instead? She needs to get familiar with weapons first."
She had probably never even touched a weapon.
He could tell just from the letters that Kaide was doting on her.
The affection in the sentences about Aileen was practically dripping off the page; it was impossible to miss.
But would *that* Kaide have placed a weapon in those tiny hands?
Ian was certain he would not.
Helena wore a dissatisfied expression.
"Honestly. Kaide has no idea how to raise a child. Then let's go with a dagger, as you suggested."
"That would be best."
"What are you going to give her?"
To his very excited wife, Ian decided to bring up the matter he had been debating whether to mention.
"Helena."
"Yes?"
"By the way, do you think that child even knows we exist?"
Kaide surely wouldn't have properly explained their existence to her.
He had only just now contacted his parents, telling them to come see their granddaughter...
Did he really think *that* Kaide would have kindly told her, "You have a grandmother and a grandfather"?
It was better for one's mental health not to harbor such expectations.
As expected.
Understanding the meaning behind Ian's words, Helena's expression slowly hardened.
As his mother, she knew her son's personality better than anyone, so there was no need for further explanation.
Helena stopped walking and slowly looked at Ian.
"Surely not."
"..."
"Surely she doesn't know?"
*She probably doesn't.*
They hadn't shown their faces when the child was born, so it was only natural that she wouldn't know.
But Ian didn't bother to point that out.
She was already quite shocked, and he had no desire to shock her further.
The aftermath...
*'That boy will handle it himself.'*
It had been a long time since they'd had a date, and he didn't want to ruin the mood.
Ian took Helena's hand and gently led her forward.
"Of course not. No matter what, he must have told her that much."
"Right? Even you would have told a child that much, wouldn't you?"
"...Why am I always the one you compare him to?"
"Because anyone can see that Kaide takes after you."
"...He's your son, too."
Feeling needlessly guilty, Ian cleared his throat.
***
Preparations to welcome the delegation from the east had begun.
Orders had apparently been given to prepare thoroughly so that the guests would have a comfortable stay at the mansion.
I sat on the swing, as I did every day.
Swing. Swing.
As I was busily kicking my feet, a large shadow fell over me.
"Huh?"
I turned my head toward the shadow and saw Mesis standing there, peeking at me.
"Whatcha doin'? Mesis, when did you get here?"
"Just now, Young Lady. What are you doing here?"
"I'm swingin'."
As I swung higher as if to show him, Mesis awkwardly wiped his face.
After a moment of silence, Mesis spoke again.
"So... what are you doing while you swing?"
*What am I doing while I swing?*
*Who does anything else while they're swinging?*
Mesis was acting very strange today.
For a moment, I considered ignoring his silly question, but he looked more serious than ever, so I couldn't bring myself to do it.
"I'm just swingin' and thinkin'."
Come to think of it, there were a few things I needed to think about.
It wasn't about my worry that Kaide would send me back, of course.
I already knew for sure that he had no intention of sending me away, so that didn't matter anymore.
He had declared that I would continue to be his daughter from now on.
I no longer had to worry about having to leave the Astrofel family.
However, the plan to welcome the delegation was still on, which was a little strange.
It was clearly related to the person named 'Estella' I had vaguely overheard in front of the office.
Baon had spoken of her with respect, so she seemed to be someone of high rank.
I had never heard that name in the mansion before.
I glanced at Mesis, who was still standing beside me, fidgeting.
"Mesis."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Who's Estella?"
"...Pardon?"
"Do you know who she is?"
Mesis looked flustered by my question.
He seemed to know exactly who Estella was.
But he also seemed to be conflicted about whether to tell me.
I narrowed my eyes.
"You know who she is, don't you?"
"..."
"Who is she?"
"Young Lady. Who did you hear that name from?"
*That person?*
For even Mesis to refer to her with such respect, she must be someone very important.
He ran a hand through his straight white hair, a troubled look on his face. Then he lowered his head.
"Can't you ask the Lord?"
"Yeah. Papa won't tell me."
"...Haa. Then it's a bit difficult for me to say, as well."
Mesis glanced around before leaning in close and whispering in my ear.
"That name refers to the Madam."
"The Madam...?"
"Yes. The mistress of the Astrofel family."
The mistress...!
I gasped and stared at Mesis in shock.