STIH 03

chapter 03

“Hey, did you know the Ambrose family uses tables made of gold?”

Suddenly, I remembered the gossip of the older maids I had worked with at the baron’s estate.

I shook my head with a hollow smile.

You were wrong, sisters.

The real Ambrose estate wasn’t just using a table made of gold.

The entire room was gold.

The ceiling, the walls—even the legs of the sofa I was sitting on gleamed brightly.

Sitting with my back straight, I swallowed a sigh.

How much would a sofa like this cost? Whatever the price, it must be absurdly expensive.

…It’s uncomfortable.

The sofa itself was as soft as a cloud, but my uneasiness made it feel like I was sitting on a bed of thorns.

I couldn’t stop worrying about my younger siblings’ dirty shoes touching it while they slept with their heads on my lap.

For a moment I considered taking their shoes off.

Then a rebellious thought surfaced.

So what? It’s not like this is someone else’s house.

Besides, we’d been left here without so much as an explanation.

It had already been three hours since we’d entered this golden reception room.

My wide-eyed siblings had spent ages running around in amazement before tiring themselves out and falling asleep.

“Hmph…”

I hadn’t expected a grand welcome, but I certainly hadn’t expected to be treated like an unwanted guest.

As a small act of defiance, I leaned heavily against the sofa’s backrest.

Then I slowly looked around the reception room.

The place was so large it was hard to take it all in at once.

Silky curtains, carpets embroidered with golden thread, and even a chandelier that looked like a masterpiece of art itself.

Money really was a wonderful thing.

It was enormous, luxurious…

Warm.

It was nothing like our old house, where cold drafts slipped through every crack.

Good. At least I don’t have to worry about the kids catching a cold.

Only then did the tension finally leave my shoulders.

I dozed off in my seat for what felt like ages.

By the time the hour hand on the grandfather clock had completed another full rotation, a knock finally sounded.

“The Duke will see you now.”

Finally!

I widened my eyes and stared at the slowly opening door.

Let’s see this supposedly priceless face—

I understand now, Mother.

If he’s that man’s son, then I can see why he became the great love of your life.

I almost clapped my hands.

The man who entered carried himself with perfect posture and the imposing presence of a mountain.

He had the overbearing aura of someone who had never needed to watch another person’s mood his entire life.

And though he was now in late middle age, I could easily imagine that he had possessed astonishing looks in his youth.

“You’re late.”

“Yes.”

“…I was verifying the authenticity of the ring.”

Ah.

From the duke’s perspective, the bloodline of his only son—whose fate had been unknown for years—had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

And considering the status of his family, multiple layers of verification were only natural.

Keeping my eyes lowered, I nodded.

“I understand. This must have been quite a shock for you too, Your Grace.”

“Well, naturally…”

“Though you could have at least informed us that you’d be late.”

Huh?

For a moment, I thought I heard someone let out a dumbfounded laugh.

I glanced up, but both Duke Ambrose and the butler behind him remained expressionless.

Did I imagine it?

As I tilted my head in confusion, the duke dropped into the seat across from me.

So this man was…

My grandfather?

For a while, we simply observed one another.

Funnily enough, he seemed to be thinking the same thing.

So this is my granddaughter?

“Your name is Ravine, correct?”

“It’s Ravune.”

“…Ravine.”

“Just call me Bebe.”

“Ravinne.”

He sure had his pride.

Even after getting it wrong repeatedly, Duke Ambrose remained completely confident.

I studied his face carefully.

Most of my appearance resembled Mother’s, but there was one thing—

“Your eyes resemble your father’s.”

If we’re being technical, these eyes came from you, didn’t they?

Bright crimson eyes.

Mother and my siblings all had golden eyes, so it felt strangely fascinating to meet someone who shared the same eyes as me.

I’ve never met him before, but he doesn’t feel unfamiliar… and that’s what makes it strange.

It was a feeling difficult to describe.

As I fidgeted with my fingers, Duke Ambrose asked,

“Judging by your name, was your mother perhaps from Ritz?”

“That’s right.”

“Then…”

Prejudice seeped through both his rigid expression and his voice.

I knew exactly what he was thinking.

While stroking my siblings’ hair, I calmly interrupted him.

“She was a dancer. Not a prostitute.”

“…”

“It’s not as though I owe you an explanation. I just felt like saying it. Believe it or don’t.”

Ritz was a country that had disappeared from history over twenty years ago.

And for women from a fallen nation, surviving wasn’t easy.

Especially if the only talent they possessed was beauty and dancing.

Misunderstandings were inevitable.

In fact, countless pimps and men looking for mistresses had approached Mother.

But my mother valued her face—

No, her love—even more than her life.

Smiling brightly, I added,

“You’ll have no choice but to acknowledge it eventually. That my siblings and I were born from love and raised with love.”

By the woman who possessed more love than anyone else in the world.

I straightened my shoulders proudly, without a shred of shame.

Duke Ambrose stared at me.

What was that look?

Maybe it was because he was a businessman.

It felt as though he were evaluating my worth.

“Perhaps. But I wouldn’t know how noble the love of a street prostitute could be.”

I flinched.

My hands clenched in midair.

They were still soft hands, untouched by hardship.

Our circumstances had never been comfortable, but Mother had never even allowed me to help with simple chores.

With that fragile body, she had stubbornly fed, clothed, and cared for three children.

She loved us.

She truly loved us.

Lowering my head like a child trying not to cry, I said quietly,

“…Then try measuring it yourself.”

“Hm?”

“Why look far away? Your precious son must have been exactly the sort of man who suited a street prostitute.”

“W-What did you say?”

“No, that’s not right. A prostitute managed to give birth and raise children this well. Maybe he was even worse than that.”

Duke Ambrose’s jaw dropped.

Apparently the idea that his own bloodline ranked below a prostitute was quite a shock.

Serves him right.

He’d insulted my mother first.

I glared at him and shouted,

“The great Ambrose family isn’t all that impressive after all!”

“You little—!”

The old man’s furious roar echoed through the mansion.

Thus ended my first day at Ambrose.

* * *

The historic first meeting between grandfather and granddaughter came to an end when the children woke up and burst into loud tears.

After summoning the head maid to take care of the three children, the butler firmly shut the reception room doors.

Then he addressed his master, who was trembling all by himself.

“You may laugh now, Master.”

“Ahem! Ahem! Why would I laugh?!”

What a transparent lie.

Pin narrowed his eyes before smiling fondly.

It had been a long time since Gustav had looked this pleased.

Not since the disappearance of his only son.

Gustav coughed several more times before reaching into his coat.

A rusted ring emerged from his rough, calloused hand.

“Tch. I wondered why he took it with him when he left for the campaign. Who would’ve thought he’d give it to a woman?”

Then again, perhaps that was exactly like him.

Instead of leaving some pretty piece of jewelry as a token for his secret lover, he’d left this.

Something that looked unimpressive, yet was more valuable than any gemstone.

A ring that served as the emblem of the Ambrose heir.

Clicking his tongue, Gustav stared at it.

The ring had been tested repeatedly with magical verification devices.

It truly belonged to his son.

The truth was, he had recognized it the moment he saw it.

How could he not?

He had searched for it for years.

Lowering his wrinkled red eyes, Gustav muttered,

“…That fool Ansley was stubborn as a brick wall. The sort destined to be nothing but a knight.”

“Indeed. The young master always struggled when dealing with people.”

“And yet he secretly left something behind that didn’t take after me.”

“That’s true. The young lady is remarkably bold and clever.”

“Hmph. A brat whose baby teeth haven’t even fallen out yet, acting so cheeky…”

“Yes, yes. In other words, you like her very much.”

“Who said I like her?!”

Standing behind him, Pin shook his head.

His master was hopelessly incapable of being honest whenever it came to personal matters.

His romance with the late duchess had been anything but smooth in their younger days.

It made Pin wonder what Ansley’s own love story had been like.

Gustav seemed to have had a similar thought, because he spoke with a strange expression.

“Honestly, that boy… He never showed the slightest interest in women. I even wondered whether he’d ever become a proper man. Turns out I worried for nothing. Sneaking around behind my back like this?”

The corners of Gustav’s eyes crinkled as though he were smiling.

Then he squeezed Ansley’s ring so tightly it almost hurt.

Ten years had passed since his only son vanished in battle.

The situation was far from hopeful.

The only thing sustaining him was that no remains had ever been found.

“That worthless son… a worthless son to the very end.”

One hope had left.

Another had arrived.

The old butler gently patted the shoulder of a master who could neither laugh nor cry freely.