Chapter 07
“Nocturn?”
If it was Nocturn, he was basically the right-hand man and secretary of the Duke of Schurmang. Just like in the original story, his face and eyes looked cold and sly.
He stopped at a proper distance and cleared his throat a couple of times.
“I came to deliver an order from His Grace, the Duke.”
“I see.”
I could guess what he was going to say.
…Wait. They’re not kicking us out already, right?
I swallowed nervously.
Nocturn opened the scroll he brought.
“I apologize. The Duke told me to read this exactly as written.”
What did it say? It looked like the Duke had written his own words in it.
Nocturn began to read out loud.
“Get out of that mansion immediately, you little… brat. Move into the oldest house in our estate and reflect on yourself.”
“!”
My eyes went wide.
Ah… that’s right.
Before completely kicking my father out, the Duke had already greatly reduced his allowance. He had warned several times that he would throw him out of the heir’s mansion—and now he was really sending him to the worst house.
Of course, my troublemaker father would never change his ways. And now, finally, he was being kicked out.
Sigh. My road to death is becoming clearer and clearer.
Step by step.
Still, we weren’t being abandoned right away. There was some time.
As I felt relieved, Father asked in disbelief,
“You’re taking this house away from me?”
“Yes.”
Nocturn answered calmly. Leo’s face turned cold.
Father.
Weren’t you the one who said being kicked out of this family would mean freedom and self-realization?
With a cold face, Marquis Leo snapped,
“That crazy old man has lost his mind. Who besides me can handle such a grand mansion? This place suits only me. Who else could possibly fit in a house like this?”
…Does a house really need someone who “fits” it?
I looked around.
The walls, pillars, and floors were shining marble. The candle holders and picture frames were all covered in gold.
Compared to this place, the house I lived in was like a primitive hut.
Wait.
The oldest house in the estate… that’s my house, isn’t it?
That meant Leo would be exiled to where I lived.
It was about 100 meters away on the map.
I had been enjoying my single life as a noble lady, living alone in my own house…
But now I’d have an unwanted roommate.
Nocturn took a breath and spoke again.
“It may be difficult, but this is the Duke’s order. He says that once he hears you’ve moved, he might gain the strength to rise from his sickbed.”
“That damned old man…”
Five minutes ago, Father was proudly saying he wanted to be kicked out.
Now he ignored Nocturn, picked up his utensils again, and snorted.
“I will never leave. That shabby house doesn’t suit me. Tell the old man that.”
Please consider the feelings of the person who actually lives in that “shabby house.”
I wondered if I should stop him, but in the end, he would move to my house anyway.
Nocturn adjusted his glasses and spoke sharply.
“If you refuse to leave, starting today, the budget for your household will be reduced to zero.”
…Of course.
They should have cut off his allowance earlier.
Although when they did before, Father secretly sold off rare family heirlooms.
Was he running an online marketplace or something?
There were hundreds of items.
And he sold them cheaply, so the Duke had to pay ten times the original value to buy them back.
Some items were never recovered.
Maybe later I should ask Grandfather to just keep giving him money. It’s cheaper that way.
Then Leo took a sip of soup, put down his spoon, and wiped his mouth.
“Fine.”
“…?”
“If my moving will cure Father’s illness, then I will do it.”
Finally.
Just like in the original story, he was going to be exiled to my house.
He stood up seriously and said,
“This is the last duty I will perform as a son. Tell him I am showing mercy.”
…Sure.
After showing off his “nobility,” he dragged out a luggage bag full of jewels.
* * *
Is this what they call a nightmare roommate situation?
Sadly, even in my previous life, I never lived in the same house as my father.
So this exile made me very uncomfortable.
As soon as he entered my mansion, Leo clicked his tongue.
“Damn. I have to live in this dump?”
Excuse me?
My house was three stories tall, clean, elegant, and peaceful.
Sure, it didn’t have shining marble. The floors and walls were wood.
But it was still a very good noble house.
“This place is trash. That place was trash too.”
He looked around in disappointment.
He was going to live here until the day he died in the original story, so what now?
I stood in front of him with my arms wide.
“F-Father, calm down!”
“What?”
“If you change Count Colson’s mind, Grandfather will give your house back!”
Maybe if he wanted his old mansion badly enough, he’d actually do something he normally wouldn’t.
Something normal people do.
“…Hmm.”
He touched his chin thoughtfully.
“That makes sense.”
“Right?”
“You’re correct, Erusha.”
“Yes! Then let’s go apologize!”
To Count Colson’s house!
I grabbed his arm.
“That won’t happen.”
He shook me off.
I looked up at him, shocked.
“You apologize when you’ve done something wrong. Anyway, this rotten house feels like a vacation villa. I like it.”
He shook his head, trying to convince himself this exile wasn’t so bad.
I watched his back as he went upstairs.
…I miss Mom.
* * *
“Miss, are you really okay?”
“Yes!”
I answered brightly.
Evott and I were secretly outside the Duke’s estate, wearing hooded coats.
There was something we had to find out in the busy district.
Why exactly had Marquis Leo hit the Count’s son?
Even if we asked him, he wouldn’t tell us. So we had to investigate ourselves.
“But do you really know where Father’s social club is?”
“Of course! I know all the famous places. It’s fun to keep up with what’s popular.”
“Wow… amazing…”
Maybe Evott was my only blessing in this miserable life.
I held her hand tightly.
“Thank you, Evott.”
“You’re welcome. Lately, you seem so lively, Miss.”
She smiled warmly at me.
I gave an awkward smile back.
Sorry, Evott.
This isn’t liveliness.
It’s determination.
I’m going to survive no matter what.
Soon, we arrived in front of a social club called Peony & Duke.
This was the place where Father had gotten drunk—
—and punched Count Colson’s son.
