I let go of the maid's hand and ran to my dad at full speed.
"Dad!"
My dad hugged me back like a habit when I clung into his arms.
His shaggy brown hair and thick glasses.
While it was true that his appearance did not match this luxurious and grand mansion at all, he was the coolest person in my eyes.
As I fell into his embrace, I buried my face on his shoulders and began to hit him repeatedly.
"Where did you go? Why did you leave me without saying anything?"
"Sweetie, it hurts, ugh..wait a minute-"
"You disappeared as soon as we arrived at the mansion! I ended up eating all the cookies by myself!"
When I kept hitting him, my dad locked me in his arms while grimacing in pain.
"Is that so? I'm sorry, sweetie. Did you wait for a long time? It's because I have something to discuss with your grandfather."
"My grandfather?"
"Yes, this is your grandfather's office. It's your first time coming here, right?"
Of course, it's my first time.
The entire duchy was new to me.
I took a glance at the office while clinging to my dad.
Unlike other rooms, the dragon and sword symbolizing the Ferdinand family was engraved on a large door.
"You're here to meet your grandfather, right? I see that my lovely daughter is wearing such a pretty dress."
"Huh? Yeah, but I like the clothes that my dad bought for me more than anything."
The maid who heard me whining to my dad laughed awkwardly as if feeling pressured. My dad laughed along due to embarrassment and tried to lessen the awkwardness.
"What's wrong with it? I love this dress, too. My daughter looks like a princess. And..."
"And?"
"And this dress looked exactly the same as the one your mom wore when she was young."
"What?"
"It definitely looks the same."
I opened my eyes wide at that moment.
Don't tell me....
'When she said that I'm the owner of this dress, does that mean....'
It was my mom's dress?
"It can't be the same dress, right? Well, that dress is probably more than 20 years old..."
"N-No, Dad! I think you're right!"
Suddenly, I was reminded of the story that Charlotte had told me before, so I embraced my dad tighter.
"What?"
"The maid who helped me put this dress on said that it belonged to me. Then it must be my mom's dress, right?"
"Hm? But that dress must be very old now..."
"They must've taken a really good care of it! I should ask the maid again later."
I couldn't help feeling a bit excited at the possibility that this dress belonged to my mom.
[You're getting too excited, brat.]
'Yeah, maybe I got a little too excited...'
Don't interrupt me!
[Hmph.]
I could feel Ex was sulking.
I mean, how can a sword be this grumpy?
I was baffled, but it wasn't the time to care about Ex now.
I thought me and my dad had a pretty fulfilling life together, but I guess he must've missed my mom.
My heart pounded in excitement at the thought of wearing the dress that my mom used to wear.
"Alright, be sure to ask when you meet them later. I'm also curious, you know. Alright, then. You should go in now. Your grandfather is waiting inside."
"You're going to wait for me outside, right?"
"Of course~"
"Wait for me here, okay?"
I finally let go of my embrace only after he promised me.
"I'll be waiting for you. Do you want to leave Ex with me?"
"No, it's okay. I'll go in then."
I waved to my dad and the kind maid who had taken me all the way here before knocking on the office door.
Then I heard something clattering and breaking from the inside.
Clatter-! Thump-! Crack!
"Huh?"
What's that sound?
[Why is the guardian wreaking havoc inside?]
I just blinked in a daze before turning to my dad. It seemed like he was just as confused as I was.
Should I knock again?
Thump, bang!
Um, no, don't waver, Eve. Be brave.
I heard a loud sound of something breaking, and not long after that.
Clack!
The office door swung open.
Whoosh!
The huge office door burst open with such force that the wind blew our hair back.
If Ex has hair, I think he'll have the same fate as us...
[Don't even imagine that, brat!]
Okay, okay. I'm sorry.
Anyway, there was a very strong wind. Startled, I looked up at the person who came out of the door.
Of course, it was none other than Duke Ferdinand.
He was huffing in anger and said in an enraged voice.
"Nial, you punk! I'm going to kick you out for sure....hm? Eve?"
....He didn't even finish his words.
I looked alternatively between my dad and grandfather with a slightly awkward face, then smiled at him.
"Ah, hello?"
"Eve! Did you get hurt when this door opened?"
"The door opens inwardly, so I'm not hurt."
"I didn't know it was you ... .You should have made it known that you came."
But grandpa, you're mad as a hornet when you come out before I can even talk to you....
But I wasn't daring enough to speak my mind even when I knew that this person was my grandfather.
'Well, it's only been a few hours since I found out he's my grandfather....'
He still felt like a random nobleman in my eyes. I didn't have the courage to say anything like that and just laughed awkwardly.
"P-Please don't get mad at my dad."
And I didn't forget to protect my dad like the filial daughter I was.
"Alright, I'm sorry. I showed you an ugly sight. Wait, the office is not in a mess right now..."
I took a peek at the office behind my grandfather. It seemed like he really turned the office upside down.
Dad, did you make a mistake to the duke....?
When I looked at my dad with eyes filled with sympathy, my dad turned his head as if embarrassed.
"Hold on, this dress..."
My grandfather squinted his eyes. He stared at me and extended his trembling hand. I hesitated a little before inching closer within his reach. He then picked me up and lifted me high.
"This is what Astrid wore....why are you wearing this?"
"The maids told me to choose any dress I like, so I chose this one because I like it the most."
"Hahaha, it really suits you, Eve...."
My grandfather called my name with a woeful voice.
How strange.
He didn't say something important, but he sounded like he was on the verge of tears for some reason.
'Um, this is really strange...'
And the tearful voice seemed to be contagious that I also felt a lump in my throat.
Maybe because I heard about my mom, I just let him hold me and didn't rush him to put me down.
[Won't you let go of my little brat? This rude thing! Do you think she's a puppy?]
Ex shouted angrily behind my back, but it was impossible for anyone other than the owner to hear him.
[You rude thing! Put her down!]
'I'm fine, stupid. I like to be carried like this. And since when am I your little brat?'
[You are mine!]
'Wrong, you are mine.'
My grandfather gave me a hug before he pulled away and stared at me for a long time with reddish, wet eyes.
"I'm sorry for lifting you up suddenly. You must have been very surprised,"