TDS 08

Chapter 08

“Why does he keep hitting people like that?”

Don’t his fists hurt?

I tilted my head because I was truly confused.

In the original story, my father’s violent behavior was described many times. But it never explained why he acted like that.

That meant there wasn’t even one line I could use to defend him in front of my grandfather.

“It would be nice if someone just explained why he did those things. Then I wouldn’t have to run around investigating.”

Sigh.

Or maybe there really was no reason that could defend him.

Maybe the author thought Leonardo was such a hopeless person that they couldn’t write even a single line to excuse him.

I shook my head to push away that terrible thought.

“If I get kicked out, what happens? My life will become miserable.”

Even if I somehow avoided the carriage accident, I didn’t know if I could survive alone afterward.

Right now, the best thing for me was to stay quietly inside the Shablin Duke family and not cause trouble.

Thinking that, I looked at the outside of the social club.

The building looked like an old museum made of dark wood. It was actually a tavern.

Inside, people could drink and also play many kinds of games. Only noblemen who enjoyed entertainment usually came here.

I heard it was busy even during the day, and sure enough, many luxury carriages were parked in a long line outside.

“But why can’t I see anyone? Oh.”

At that moment, I noticed two neat-looking men coming out of the entrance on the left. They looked like employees.

Ebot and I immediately stood up straight and hurried toward them.

“Excuse me! Can I ask something?”

“…?”

The men looked confused and turned toward me when Ebot shouted.

They looked at me from head to toe. Their eyes stopped on the high-quality dress visible under my cloak.

“Hmm, whose daughter are you?”

“Did you come to look for your father?”

The two men looked at each other awkwardly.

They seemed surprised to see a young noble girl at a social club where only men usually came.

“Ahem! This young lady is from the Shablin Duke family. She came here to ask something, so please give us a moment.”

“The Shablin Duke family?”

“Sh-Shablin Duke family…?!”

The employees were shocked.

It seemed they knew very well how powerful the Shablin family was.

Hehe.

I lifted my chin a little. My shoulders felt proud.

Wow. So this is what it feels like to enjoy the power of your family.

In my previous life, I was an illegitimate child. Even after people discovered the truth about my birth, I was still blamed and judged.

I never enjoyed the benefits of being born into a rich family.

But maybe here I would finally receive admiration like this.

“So, whose daughter are you exactly?”

“As far as I know, Lord Louis Shablin has two daughters.”

“Ah…”

I wasn’t included as an option?

Somehow I expected that.

I was the daughter of the infamous troublemaker, and I had been hiding quietly in the mansion like a ghost.

The daughters they were talking about were Briana Shablin and Diana Shablin.

Louis Shablin was my grandfather’s fourth son, and he had two daughters.

Unlike me, Briana and Diana were loved like precious jewels by the family and envied by the empire.

Because, except for me, they were the only granddaughters of the Duke of Shablin.

The employees smiled brightly.

“What brings a young lady from such a noble family here?”

“Are you looking for Lord Louis Shablin?”

I stepped forward, already expecting their disappointment.

“My name is Ersha Shablin. I am the daughter of Marquis Leonardo Shablin.”

“W-Who?”

When they didn’t understand immediately, Ebot repeated it.

“This young lady is the only daughter of Marquis Leonardo Shablin.”

“….”

For a few seconds, there was silence.

Then the employees frowned as if they finally understood everything.

“Oh, the troublemaker’s daughter?”

“The abandoned daughter that even the marquis ignores?”

“…!”

They clicked their tongues, and my mouth dropped open.

Was this treatment for real?

Of course I didn’t expect the warm welcome that Briana and Diana might get.

But wasn’t this too much for someone with Shablin blood?

If the Duke of Shurman saw this situation, how would he feel?

Wouldn’t he punish these men?

“No! He might just remove me from the family registry instead.”

Where could there be a bigger disgrace to the family than me?

One of the employees looked at me as if I were annoying.

“I heard they don’t even let you leave the house. Why are you here? Because of Marquis Shablin, our shop has suffered a lot.”

“Yesterday he smashed expensive display cases and chairs.”

“…I’m sorry. I came to find out what really happened.”

“What really happened? The troublemaker beat someone. What else is there to explain?”

“Hey, watch your mouth.”

Another employee quickly poked him in the side.

Maybe he was worried I would tell my father.

I clasped my hands together and stepped closer.

“I won’t tell my father! What happened yesterday? Did the person really deserve to be hit?”

“Sigh.”

The employees shook their heads.

“We have nothing to say. Please go back. Important people are involved, so we can’t talk about it.”

“You just need to tell me what you saw!”

“I can’t believe this.”

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice came from somewhere.

Everyone—me, Ebot, and the employees—jumped in surprise.

When we looked toward the voice, we saw a young boy staring at us. He looked one or two years older than me.

Who is he?

He was handsome!

His black hair shone like it held light inside it. His black eyes sparkled even more brightly.

His face was perfectly shaped, with a dignified expression and cute, soft cheeks.

Even grown nobles might hesitate to look directly into his powerful gaze.

Anyone would fall for him at first sight.

What? This kid has a very promising future.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

When he grew up, he would probably make many noble ladies cry.

While I was having these useless thoughts, the boy looked at me suspiciously.

“Are you really the daughter of Marquis Leonardo Shablin?”

“Huh? Yes!”

I nodded strongly twice.

“Hmm.”

He looked at me carefully for a moment, still unsure. Then he turned his sharp gaze toward the employees.

“What kind of way is that to speak to a young lady from a duke’s family?”

“S-Sorry!”

“Even if she is the abandoned child, you still don’t have the right to speak about her like that.”

“….”

My heart thumped.

This little boy was defending me?

I was deeply moved.

His strict scolding mixed with clear facts made the employees bow repeatedly.

“We’re sorry! It won’t happen again!”

“Then leave.”

When the boy said that firmly, the employees hurried away.

Seeing them run away, I stepped forward and stretched out my hand.

“Wait—!”

I still had questions!

Important ones!

But the employees had already disappeared.

I stared blankly at the place where they had gone.

Then the boy’s clear voice spoke again beside me.

“Your name is Ersha?”

“Huh? Yes.”

“I heard you live almost locked inside the mansion. But it seems you can go out.”

“My lady was not forced to stay in her room. She simply decided to go outside today.”

“…I see.”

After Ebot corrected the misunderstanding, the boy nodded.

Judging by his attitude and how the employees reacted, he must be from an important noble family.

Whose son was he?

But honestly, he had also interrupted my work.

“Thank you for helping me. But who are you? Ersha was doing something important.”

“You don’t need to know who I am. Stop wandering around and go home. Marquis Shablin has many enemies.”

“…?”

The boy suddenly turned and walked past me with perfect posture. Knights behind him followed him.

I was so surprised that I could only stare blankly as he left.