“...Why are you here?”
A cracked voice spoke as if muttering.
A variety of emotions were mixed in the cloudy eyes.
A mixture of self-destruction, anger, pain, and love-hate was directed at his granddaughter.
The old matriarch looked down at the young girl in the hallway and stretched out his hand.
“You.”
The hand that touched the cheek was rough.
Dorothea, who had never cared for anyone in her life, stumbled back from the clumsy touch.
Then the matriarch's eyes shook.
"You too."
The old man's voice became furious.
“Are you going to run away too?”
Although he was asking Dorothea, his eyes were looking at someone else through her.
Perhaps he was looking at his precious youngest daughter, who ran away from him a long time ago and never returned.
Dorothea blinked.
In fact, she only planned to stay here until her family came to pick her up.
But now her thoughts have changed a little.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings.
Solid, fine stones are embedded on both sides of a quiet hallway.
Countless rooms and dense amethyst decorations on each door.
A roof that looks tall and solid, strong enough not to collapse.
It was a very nice and wonderful mansion, different from her house in many ways.
The blanket was soft and the clothes she was wearing were fragrant.
The room she woke up in was full of traces of her mother.
From the doll placed by the bedside to the portrait hanging above the fireplace.
'I think I understand why people are so greedy for money.'
For her, who had lived her entire life in old mansions and shrines, this mansion was like a new world.
It was full of people serving excellent and delicious food, and luxurious items were scattered everywhere.
Thinking of Jane worrying about running out of food and reusing old rags, Dorothea was able to realize the value of money even more.
After all, having a lot is a good thing.
“Are you going to abandon this place too?”
The rough voice asked again.
Instead of nodding, Dorothea looked at the old man's face.
She slowly opened her mouth, looking at those eyes that were somewhat earnest yet filled with resentment.
“Do you want me here?”
“...”
“Would you like me to stay with Grandfather?”
At her question, the head of the family looked into space and muttered.
“I don’t know. What do I want to do?”
“I quite like it here.”
His eyes widened slightly at Dorothea's honest words.
She didn't know what people were like, but there was no reason to reject beautiful and rare things.
Don't you know if it binds you and makes you suffer?
“I don’t hate staying here, but my family will come get me.”
“We are your family!”
The old man seemed to be in tears and shouted in a loud voice.
Dorothea touched her tingling ear and shook her head.
“You abandoned my mother. You didn't understand or approve of the family my mother had chosen for me. So in the end, even my mother abandoned me.”
In fact, she had been missing this place all along.
The traces of it remained on the clothes that her mother had made for Dorothea a long time ago.
She realized this when she came here.
Everything she had prepared for her daughter.
It was created while recalling the memories of growing up in this mansion.
Her mother was always Ellen of Highclere. They just didn't acknowledge her like that anymore.
“Your mother was the one who never looked back!”
Drops of water fell from his face, distorted in pain, and landed on his cheek.
The old man was crying.
“Did you plan on ending it like that, as if you didn’t need any brothers or parents, and left without a single regret?”
His feelings of affection transformed into desperate hatred.
Tears filled with regret and remorse soon began to pour.
“You weren’t supposed to do that. You shouldn't have done that...!”
A watery voice muttered.
He wanted to help his daughter become the most loved and admired woman in the world.
She secretly ran away at night with such an insignificant bastard, was unable to receive anyone's blessings, and was unable to even see her family properly until she died...
He didn't want to give his granddaughter such a lonely and lonely life.
“Why did you choose him...!”
If she had wanted to, he could have elevated her to the highest position in this empire.
He raised her as a child who was loved more than anyone else and knew how to love.
Dorothea, looking at her grandfather, sighed and stretched out her hand.
With her small size, she still couldn't reach the face, so the only thing she could tap was the side.
“Mom wasn’t angry. She just waited, and you were just a little late.”
If she had hated and resented those who abandoned her, she would still be wandering around here.
She ended her life without any regrets, to the point where she was able to shake off resentment and travel to a distant place.
Regret is always the responsibility of those who remain.
“If you’re sorry, you can apologize. You're sorry you're late. Actually, that wasn’t how you felt.”
“...”
“And if you want to apologize sincerely, you shouldn’t treat my mom’s precious people carelessly either.”
As she spoke clearly, he looked at his tiny granddaughter, who was patting his side with a tired face.
The skinny and bony wrists were clearly exposed in the moonlight.
The young girl, who must have been suffering from a long illness, had the face of a mature adult.
“If you want me to be here, the family that came to get me has to be here too.”
“...”
“My mother was vividly alive during the time you ignored her. With Dad and me.”
Sean Highclere, the head of the Highclere family, nodded slowly at the words she spoke softly.
The softened face was looking at the granddaughter a little more comfortably than before.
Dorothea thought it was time to start talking one by one.
“I have a maid named Jane. She knows how to sew and cook. I will stay with Jane when she comes. My dad didn’t have time to spend time with me because he was always traveling here and there to pay for my medicine. I hope my dad has a more comfortable life. I have an errand boy, his name is Wood. He may be a deserter, but he's got some pretty good legs...”
Sean nodded as if fascinated, as he watched Dorothea spell out the conditions for bringing her entire family here.
He hesitantly stretched out his hand and picked up his granddaughter for the first time.
In this way, Dorothea cleverly obtained the opportunity to live in this large mansion instead of the shabby one.
The next day, there was silence at breakfast.
Everyone exchanged glances, unable to hide their embarrassment at the sight of the Marquis carrying his granddaughter in his arms.
“So when are you going to visit Dad?”
“Don’t send someone.”
Aaa“He’s probably coming here, so we need to find him quickly.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The butler, who was watching as if his eyes were popping out at the Marquis' obedient answer, quickly lowered his gaze.
Felix Highclere, who had been silent due to his father's strange behavior, opened his mouth.
“Are you going to bring him into the family?”
“Because he is Ellen’s husband.”
Everyone fell silent with confused faces at the calm voice.
The old woman sitting next to the Marquis pretended not to notice the atmosphere and stretched out her hand toward Dorothea.
“Baby, you couldn’t sleep well last night, so your complexion doesn’t look good. After eating, I will call the priest.”
"It's okay. I will sleep better after eating.”
“Yes, if our baby wants to do that, we can do it.”
Despite the old lady's generous words, the Marquis said nothing.
Normally, he would have said that even children should not rest immediately after eating.
He, who had lived his entire life following strict rules, changed overnight.
The old lady raised her head and asked gently.
“Where did Colin go, anyway?”
“He went back to the mansion. Eh received a telegram in the morning, but his body was a little weak from the excessive movement.”
“Send a therapist.”
“He probably already called.”
While the conversation continued, hot soup was placed in front of Dorothea.
Intoxicated by the savory taste, she nodded with a happy face.
'It was such a good thing to enjoy.'
She felt like she could understand why her brother in her previous life was so obsessed with not letting go of what he was holding.
When the dishes fell due to clumsy use of the fork, the maid quickly approached and skillfully handed out new ones.
The silver tableware was shiny and pretty, so Dorothea liked it.
“I heard that His Highness the 7th Prince said that he would report this child to His Majesty?”
“Yes, he said he has a connection with the child.”
“After receiving approval from His Majesty, I will add this child to Highclere’s genealogy.”
“...”
“You have to tell everyone in the family.”
"Yes."
Felix bowed his head.
Dorothea hummed, finished a clean plate of soup, and then reached for the fruit plate in front of her.
The maid next to her quickly helped her eat some of the fruit on the plate.
Intoxicated by the sweetness, she picked up a piece with her hand instead of a fork, and the Marquis flinched and looked at her.
“...”
“...”
Wordless glances were exchanged between the granddaughter and her grandfather as if they were fighting.
Eventually, the first person to turn his head was the Marquis.
The old woman smiled happily as she looked at Dorothea, whose cheeks were bulging from swallowing the fruit in one mouthful.
“You’re eating well. I need to bring in some more fruit for you.”
Everyone pretended not to notice the Marquis, who wanted to lecture her but couldn't, and repeatedly held a knife to the plate.
A warm wind began to blow through the dry, cool, and inhumane mansion.
The imperial capital was in an uproar over the Marquis's decision to belatedly register the child of Ellen, the youngest daughter of the Highclere family, who had run away at night in protest against her father's decision to oppose her marriage to the person she loved.
Moreover, the girl's existence became even more important as the 7th Prince, who returned after making a great contribution in this war, told the Emperor that he was indebted to the young girl.
“She became the Marquis’ granddaughter overnight.”
“I heard that the strict Marquis even sent knights to meet his son-in-law, whom he had never acknowledged before.”
“That’s amazing. What kind of kid is this...”
The nobles were excited by an interesting story that appeared for the first time in a while.
The family's collateral and vassals began to gather one after another at the quiet Marquis's mansion.
Those with sinister intentions and those who wanted to offer heartfelt blessings all entered the mansion.
However, Dorothea Highclere Everly, who dominated the public's attention, did not actually appear to anyone.
The Marquis and his wife also did the same thing and did not leave the house.
People's curiosity deepened as they saw the tightly closed mansion, but no one who visited the mansion met the girl.
“Why did you choose him...!”
If she had wanted to, he could have elevated her to the highest position in this empire.
He raised her as a child who was loved more than anyone else and knew how to love.
Dorothea, looking at her grandfather, sighed and stretched out her hand.
With her small size, she still couldn't reach the face, so the only thing she could tap was the side.
“Mom wasn’t angry. She just waited, and you were just a little late.”
If she had hated and resented those who abandoned her, she would still be wandering around here.
She ended her life without any regrets, to the point where she was able to shake off resentment and travel to a distant place.
Regret is always the responsibility of those who remain.
“If you’re sorry, you can apologize. You're sorry you're late. Actually, that wasn’t how you felt.”
“...”
“And if you want to apologize sincerely, you shouldn’t treat my mom’s precious people carelessly either.”
As she spoke clearly, he looked at his tiny granddaughter, who was patting his side with a tired face.
The skinny and bony wrists were clearly exposed in the moonlight.
The young girl, who must have been suffering from a long illness, had the face of a mature adult.
“If you want me to be here, the family that came to get me has to be here too.”
“...”
“My mother was vividly alive during the time you ignored her. With Dad and me.”
Sean Highclere, the head of the Highclere family, nodded slowly at the words she spoke softly.
The softened face was looking at the granddaughter a little more comfortably than before.
Dorothea thought it was time to start talking one by one.
“I have a maid named Jane. She knows how to sew and cook. I will stay with Jane when she comes. My dad didn’t have time to spend time with me because he was always traveling here and there to pay for my medicine. I hope my dad has a more comfortable life. I have an errand boy, his name is Wood. He may be a deserter, but he's got some pretty good legs...”
Sean nodded as if fascinated, as he watched Dorothea spell out the conditions for bringing her entire family here.
He hesitantly stretched out his hand and picked up his granddaughter for the first time.
In this way, Dorothea cleverly obtained the opportunity to live in this large mansion instead of the shabby one.
***
The next day, there was silence at breakfast.
Everyone exchanged glances, unable to hide their embarrassment at the sight of the Marquis carrying his granddaughter in his arms.
“So when are you going to visit Dad?”
“Don’t send someone.”
Aaa“He’s probably coming here, so we need to find him quickly.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The butler, who was watching as if his eyes were popping out at the Marquis' obedient answer, quickly lowered his gaze.
Felix Highclere, who had been silent due to his father's strange behavior, opened his mouth.
“Are you going to bring him into the family?”
“Because he is Ellen’s husband.”
Everyone fell silent with confused faces at the calm voice.
The old woman sitting next to the Marquis pretended not to notice the atmosphere and stretched out her hand toward Dorothea.
“Baby, you couldn’t sleep well last night, so your complexion doesn’t look good. After eating, I will call the priest.”
"It's okay. I will sleep better after eating.”
“Yes, if our baby wants to do that, we can do it.”
Despite the old lady's generous words, the Marquis said nothing.
Normally, he would have said that even children should not rest immediately after eating.
He, who had lived his entire life following strict rules, changed overnight.
The old lady raised her head and asked gently.
“Where did Colin go, anyway?”
“He went back to the mansion. Eh received a telegram in the morning, but his body was a little weak from the excessive movement.”
“Send a therapist.”
“He probably already called.”
While the conversation continued, hot soup was placed in front of Dorothea.
Intoxicated by the savory taste, she nodded with a happy face.
'It was such a good thing to enjoy.'
She felt like she could understand why her brother in her previous life was so obsessed with not letting go of what he was holding.
When the dishes fell due to clumsy use of the fork, the maid quickly approached and skillfully handed out new ones.
The silver tableware was shiny and pretty, so Dorothea liked it.
“I heard that His Highness the 7th Prince said that he would report this child to His Majesty?”
“Yes, he said he has a connection with the child.”
“After receiving approval from His Majesty, I will add this child to Highclere’s genealogy.”
“...”
“You have to tell everyone in the family.”
"Yes."
Felix bowed his head.
Dorothea hummed, finished a clean plate of soup, and then reached for the fruit plate in front of her.
The maid next to her quickly helped her eat some of the fruit on the plate.
Intoxicated by the sweetness, she picked up a piece with her hand instead of a fork, and the Marquis flinched and looked at her.
“...”
“...”
Wordless glances were exchanged between the granddaughter and her grandfather as if they were fighting.
Eventually, the first person to turn his head was the Marquis.
The old woman smiled happily as she looked at Dorothea, whose cheeks were bulging from swallowing the fruit in one mouthful.
“You’re eating well. I need to bring in some more fruit for you.”
Everyone pretended not to notice the Marquis, who wanted to lecture her but couldn't, and repeatedly held a knife to the plate.
A warm wind began to blow through the dry, cool, and inhumane mansion.
***
The imperial capital was in an uproar over the Marquis's decision to belatedly register the child of Ellen, the youngest daughter of the Highclere family, who had run away at night in protest against her father's decision to oppose her marriage to the person she loved.
Moreover, the girl's existence became even more important as the 7th Prince, who returned after making a great contribution in this war, told the Emperor that he was indebted to the young girl.
“She became the Marquis’ granddaughter overnight.”
“I heard that the strict Marquis even sent knights to meet his son-in-law, whom he had never acknowledged before.”
“That’s amazing. What kind of kid is this...”
The nobles were excited by an interesting story that appeared for the first time in a while.
The family's collateral and vassals began to gather one after another at the quiet Marquis's mansion.
Those with sinister intentions and those who wanted to offer heartfelt blessings all entered the mansion.
However, Dorothea Highclere Everly, who dominated the public's attention, did not actually appear to anyone.
The Marquis and his wife also did the same thing and did not leave the house.
People's curiosity deepened as they saw the tightly closed mansion, but no one who visited the mansion met the girl.
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