Chapter – 10
“I’m scared….”
I tried to make excuses, but Grandfather didn’t seem like he intended to believe me.
Eventually he even sat down next to me on the sofa, pressuring me to tell him the truth.
“Wait. So the crying yesterday was also an act?”
“Yesterday I really cried because I was scared…!”
“Yesterday?”
“Today too…!”
“You even understand the proper use of particles.”
Just like on the stairs earlier, Grandfather placed his hand on the top of my head. The patting didn’t hurt, but since I didn’t know his intentions, it made me uncomfortable.
Ugh. This feels like sitting on thorns.
My plan was to get acquainted with Theon, not to sit here next to Grandfather.
“So when does this kid start lessons? Callet.”
“In two days, sir.”
Uncle Callet answered Grandfather’s question.
The lessons referred to the mandatory education that all direct children of the Travel family had to receive.
Cain, the eldest son of my eldest uncle, entered the Academy this year.
The relatives my age still in the mansion were:
Eldest uncle’s daughter Siel,
Aunt’s son Calypse,
Younger uncle’s twins Hati and Mati.
The twins and Calypse were especially mischievous and got along well.
Haa… Just thinking about being bullied because I supposedly had no ability already made me worried.
“In two days? That’s soon.”
My worries disappeared quickly at Grandfather’s voice. First I needed to get through this crisis.
Should I say I was too scared of him to move? If I start trembling now, maybe he’ll believe me?
Or maybe make a pitiful face like I did with Anne—
“Then to celebrate your return home, I should give you a present. Tell me. Is there anything in this room you want?”
“Huh?”
Oops. My eyes sparkled without me realizing.
And I even turned my head too quickly and made eye contact with him…!
“Oh ho.”
One of Count Travel’s specialties was negotiation.
Meaning he was excellent at reading how tempted someone was by his offers.
“Looks like there is something you want. Those candies aren’t enough? What do you want?”
“I… want… something…”
“Pick anything.”
“I want…”
“Hurry up and choose. Should this old man pick for you? Let’s see, there’s a box of chocolates over there—”
“Th-that one!”
I instinctively pointed my finger.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to choose anything from the head of the Travel family.
Chocolate isn’t it!
The commander’s office also contained many of Grandfather’s personal collectibles.
For example, the thick framed dagger displayed on the wall. It wasn’t sharp enough for real use, but the proportions between the hilt and blade were beautiful and its artistic value was high—
Auction price about 50 million kona?
Hehe. That could probably be hidden under my clothes. As long as my relatives didn’t find out, picking something expensive should be fine.
Money was useful. Even if I didn’t need it now, I would eventually.
“That’s not allowed. Pick something else.”
Too expensive. Rejected instantly.
Then the fountain pen in the walnut bookshelf! Estimated 35 million!
“Something else.”
The horse-shaped table ornament! Estimated 20 million!
“Ahem.”
Grandfather’s index finger gently pushed my pointing finger aside.
My fingertip slid past the horse ornament to somewhere else.
A very common cube puzzle toy displayed near the entrance of a general store.
Estimated retail price…
3,500 kona.
I blinked at Grandfather. He deliberately avoided my gaze.
For reference, my monthly allowance from Dad in Bonwell village was 10,000 kona.
“……”
Grandfather smirked slightly while looking at the cube toy.
“You want that?”
Unbelievable. The generosity of Count Travel was smaller than my allowance.
“Grandfather.”
“Yes?”
“I….”
I smiled brightly at him and moved my finger slightly further in the direction it was being pushed.
“I want that!”
A jewelry box with a music box function.
Estimated auction price: about 15 million kona.
“…What kind of seven-year-old has such expensive taste?! Absolutely not!”
“Pfft.”
Behind Grandfather, Uncle Callet burst out laughing.
“My apologies.”
At Grandfather’s glare, Callet quickly fixed his expression.
I pouted.
“…You asked what I wanted.”
“I asked what you wanted. I never said I’d give it.”
“Hm. Then you don’t have to give anything.”
At first I got excited and pointed at expensive items, but from the second time I realized my mistake.
This was a space other relatives also used.
If something valuable disappeared, at least one person would question where it went.
Whew, that was dangerous.
If rumors spread that the newly arrived youngest granddaughter got a present from the family head…
Bullying would be guaranteed starting from the lessons the day after tomorrow.
I preferred peaceful and quiet classes. I’d rather not smell rotten eggs or see dead mice on the first day.
“Well, well.”
Grandfather patted my head again and spoke in an incredulous tone.
“Don’t you have the Golden Eye? Everything you point at is worth at least ten million.”
“What a coincidence…”
“Coincidence my foot. What were you going to do with those if you got them?”
“…Decorate my room?”
Actually, his reactions were just funny…
“Sometimes it feels like you’re teasing this old man.”
Gulp.
There was a reason he was the family head. It felt like he could see right through me.
I fiddled with my fingers and pretended to look elsewhere. After watching me silently for a moment, Grandfather took out a small pouch from his clothes.
“Take this instead.”
“Sir…! That is…!”
Uncle Callet said in surprise. If even he reacted like that, it couldn’t be ordinary.
My heart trembled as I took the pouch. Inside I felt something round and hard.
“What is this?”
“You don’t want it? Then I’ll send a present to your annex later. Something big and expensive enough for everyone to see.”
“I-I like this!”
I didn’t know what it was, but I definitely didn’t want a gift delivered to my residence! A gift that didn’t draw attention was perfect!
“If you lose it, you’ll be in serious trouble.”
How petty. It’s supposed to be a gift.
“I’ll treasure it like my own body.”
Grandfather quietly asked while pointing at the pouch.
“You like it, right? Because it’s small.”
“…What?”
Because it’s small?
That passing question pierced my ears like an arrow.
As I tried to raise my head, Grandfather lightly shook my hair.
Then he stood up.
“You act just like your father. The others are desperate to show off.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Take some candy and go. Let’s go, Callet.”
“Yes.”
Callet opened the door in time with Grandfather’s steps.
Then Grandfather suddenly shouted loudly as he walked out.
“Why are you crying like you did nothing wrong?!”
Startled by the thunderous voice, I hurried off the sofa.
I wasn’t crying though?!
Callet raised a finger, signaling me to stay quiet. Even in the hallway Grandfather continued shouting.
“Stop crying and don’t come out until you’ve reflected! And why are you still here?! Go back to your posts and work!”
It seemed the knights were still outside.
They answered loudly and their footsteps scattered in perfect order.
Anyone hearing this would think Grandfather was very angry at me.
Right… anyone would think that…
“Anyone… would think that…? Huh?”
Watching Grandfather through the closing door, I blinked.
***
For some reason, Grandfather helped me.
It felt like a continuation of the act where I pretended to be someone being scolded, like I did with Anne.
It seemed he had completely seen through my intentions.
Scary… the experience of Count Travel.
Tick. Tock.
I stared at the desk clock.
Since I received his help, I needed to match his timing.
“Stop crying and don’t come out until you’ve reflected!”
How long would it take for a scolded young granddaughter to stop crying and reflect…?
I had never even been scolded enough by Dad to cry, so I didn’t know.
“Maybe… 15 minutes?”
That seemed reasonable.
If I stayed too long, someone might come looking.
“Let’s go out after 15 minutes!”
Having decided the time, I climbed back onto the sofa with some effort.
I wanted to check what was inside the pouch Grandfather gave me.
“What could this be that surprised Uncle Callet~”
Grandfather refused to give even the 15-million-kona jewelry box, yet Callet was shocked.
Maybe it was something amazing!
I untied the pouch and took out what was inside.
It was a stone about the size of my thumb.
“Is this really just a stone? It must be a gem.”
One of Travel’s major businesses was mining, so my other self had some ability to appraise gems.
And now I could do it somewhat too.
As time passed, the experiences from my memories were starting to feel like my own.
Just yesterday at dinner, I used noble tableware so skillfully that everyone was surprised.
I lifted the stone and examined it with the naked eye.
“Let’s see. If it’s an opaque sky-blue gem, it could be larimar, amazonite, or…”
Several gems came to mind, but I couldn’t be certain.
I closed my eyes and focused on the sensation in my fingertips as I traced the stone.
A smooth surface without imperfections. A bean-like shape.
Clink.
It almost sounded like clear flowing water somewhere.
“This is…!”
After finishing the appraisal, I opened my eyes wide in shock.
