TDS 10

Chapter 10

The duke, who had been slowly walking with the help of his cane, suddenly walked quickly to the carriage and pulled the door open.

At this rate, it felt like his heart might burst from anger.

Even now, it felt like it was about to explode.

That idiot Leonardo! Is he really not going to apologize again this time?!

Just as he was about to step onto the carriage…

A sweet smell like children’s candy drifted through the air.

“Let’s go together, Grandpa!”

“H-huh?!”

Where did this bright, cheerful voice suddenly come from?

The voice sounded lively like a baby bird.

Duke Shurman looked around and then noticed something.

Under his right arm, there was a small round shape sticking out—like a rabbit’s bottom.

“W-who are you?!”

Startled, he stepped back several times.

When he blinked his eyes a few times, he finally saw clearly.

A small creature was sitting comfortably inside his carriage.

Purple hair tied in two round buns on both sides of her head.

Big round eyes like purple gemstones looking at him boldly.

Chubby cheeks like a full moon.

And a small body so short that even when she stretched her legs, they were shorter than the seat.

“Y-you are…?”

No way.

Where had he seen this child before?

Who was she?

He definitely knew this child… but it felt like seeing her for the first time.

The child tapped the seat next to her with her tiny fist like a kitten’s paw.

“Get in!”

“?”

The duke, who had been frozen in shock, shook his head.

“Get in? Did you just tell me, the Duke of Shablin, to get in?!”

“Yes! Hurry and get in!”

“!”

Huge shock.

The duke staggered and grabbed his chest.

No one has ever treated me this casually before.

Except Leonardo.

But strangely…

Very strangely…

Unlike with Leonardo, he didn’t feel angry at all.

After finally recovering from the strange shock, he pointed at the child.

“Y-you! Who are you?!”

“I’m Ersha!”

The child tilted her head slightly and blinked her big eyes.

Even that small action felt like it punched his heart.

In his whole life, he had never met someone who could act so wildly and still make him want to praise them instead of scold them.

It was a very strange and confusing feeling.

“E-Ersha?”

Seeing the situation, Nocturn and Abbot quickly rushed over.

“Your Grace! That child is the marquis’s daughter!”

“She is Miss Erusha Shablin! She turned five this year!”

“That child is Leonardo’s daughter, Erusha?!”

Duke Shurman’s shout was so loud it felt like it reached the sky above the mansion.

Erusha looked disappointed and spoke softly.

“Grandpa… you don’t recognize me?”

Thump.

Did anyone hear the sound of a grandfather’s heart dropping?

What was this?

How did he not know that such an adorable little creature lived in his own house?

Thump thump thump.

The duke felt his heart beating irregularly.

“I-immediately take that child out of my carriage! Get her out right now!”

“Huh? Nooo…”

Erusha was helplessly picked up by the servants, her little legs dangling in the air.

After That

Bang!

The carriage door closed coldly.

Everyone who had come to send the duke off stood there in shock after Erusha suddenly appeared.

At the same time, everyone’s eyes turned to the small round head with purple hair buns.

Miss Erusha…?

Very few people in the ducal family had ever properly seen her.

Actually, except for Abbot, almost no one had.

Everyone knew she existed, but they rarely thought about her.

Like the saying “out of sight, out of mind,” Erusha had quietly disappeared from everyone’s attention.

There was a maid assigned to take care of Leonardo’s daughter, and she had never caused trouble before.

But now she suddenly appears like this?

Even the most glamorous debut in high society wouldn’t be this shocking.

Everyone stared at Erusha with curious eyes.

It was surprising that the child was Erusha Shablin.

But even more surprising was her appearance.

She was so beautiful that people couldn’t look away.

The sisters Briana and Diana were also very cute, but Erusha’s beauty was on another level.

People were so shocked they couldn’t even close their mouths.

As expected, she’s the daughter of a father famous for his beauty!

“Move!”

Inside the carriage, Duke Shurman pulled the bell rope angrily.

That was the signal.

The coachman pulled the reins, and the horses neighed loudly.

Hiiiiing!

At that moment, Erusha suddenly ran quickly to the driver’s seat like lightning.

If I don’t follow them to the Colson Count’s house now, it’s over!

“Ersha wants to go too!”

“Miss!”

The coachmen gasped in surprise and almost pulled the reins the wrong way.

They wanted to tell her to get down immediately…

But no one could say it.

Sparkle.

The child who climbed into the driver’s seat was overflowing with unbelievable cuteness.

Later

Phew… Good thing I managed to follow them in time.

Holding the armrest of the driver’s seat, I felt the fresh air brushing my nose.

In front of me were wide foreign plains, sheep eating grass, and beautiful trees like a painting.

This morning, as soon as I heard that Duke Shurman was going to the Colson Count family, I thought:

This is the moment!

A big plan had formed in my mind about how to reveal the truth behind the beating incident.

A plan to slightly improve Father’s image to Grandpa.

And a plan to crush Joseph Colson, who had damaged my father’s already terrible reputation.

Soon the carriage stopped in front of the Colson family mansion.

Grandpa got off the carriage and immediately looked shocked when he saw me.

“Y-you brat! You followed me all the way here?!”

As Grandpa waved his cane angrily, I quickly hid behind the coachman.

“Ersha will stay quiet.”

Zip!

I pretended to lock my lips.

Grandpa raised his cane again as if he wanted to scold me more, but Nocturn coughed and stopped him.

“It’s time to go inside.”

“I should throw that brat out—”

Grandpa glared at me but didn’t come closer.

When he finally turned around and walked away, I sighed with relief.

Looks like Duke Shurman really doesn’t like me.

He probably hadn’t seen Erusha since she was a baby.

Of course, I didn’t expect a warm welcome…

But I also didn’t expect to get scolded like this.

Honestly, the situation I imagined was more like this:

“You’re Leonardo’s daughter? You’ve grown a lot since I last saw you. So how much studying have you done? What? You’ve been playing without a tutor this whole time? What a foolish child!”

…Wait.

Even in my imagination I still got scolded.

I shook my head and quickly followed them inside before the count’s door closed.

Whether Grandpa liked me or not didn’t matter right now.

First, I had to reveal the truth that Father had been used.

Besides, Grandpa already had two lovely granddaughters, Briana and Diana.

I had no intention of stealing or sharing their love.

I just wanted to be recognized as a family member enough not to be kicked out.

Suddenly a dark shadow fell over my head.

When I looked up, Grandpa was staring down at me with a strict expression.

“!”

“Why did you come here?”

“Ersha… also wants to apologize.”

“You?”

“Yes. Daddy hit someone, so his daughter should apologize too…”

“Ahem.”

Duke Shurman looked uncomfortable.

“That’s enough. I alone will bow my head for my foolish son’s actions.”

“But if Ersha comes, maybe they’ll make the contract again!”

“They won’t.”

“….”

Grandpa walked away again.

But I quietly followed behind him anyway.