At my words, the arena stirred loudly.

Everyone—from direct and collateral descendants to imperial palace members—opened their eyes wide and stared at me.

‘Of course, such a question isn’t easy to ask.’

This place was one where a single glance from Grandfather could change one’s status.

If Ereka truly was the ‘precious grandchild Grandfather tried to hide,’ it would be enough to incur his wrath.

The direct descendants watched Grandfather tensely.

If the rumors were true and Ereka and her father truly received Grandfather’s deep affection, the succession structure would be shaken greatly.

Grandfather furrowed his brows but said nothing.

Then Uncle Balderic abruptly stood up and asked,

“Father, since the topic’s come up, please clarify it here and now!”

Aunt Bastina frowned and glared at Viscount Gilard.

“Is it really true that Viscount Gilard is your blood relative?”

The cousins also eagerly asked.

“Yes, Grandfather... we wanted to ask as well.”

“Indeed, if that’s the case, shouldn’t he be enrolled in the bloodline education...?”

Though their voices were timid, even the kids joined in questioning.

Grandfather’s demeanor turned cold.

Frowning, he looked around at his children and grandchildren and slowly spoke.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Pardon? The rumor that Viscount Gilard is your illegitimate child, secretly raised to hide from our ancestors...”

At Uncle Balderic’s words, Grandfather suddenly scowled fiercely.

“Nonsense!”

A thunderous rebuke burst forth.

The words of Duke Astra made everyone’s eyes widen.

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

No one was unaware of how much Ereka Gilard had flaunted herself at the duke’s manor.

Not just the third generation who witnessed it firsthand, but even the second generation had heard the rumors.

“It’s outrageous.”

“What is it, Hernan?”

“Didn’t you hear? The arrogance of the Gilard pair has gone too far!”

“The Gilard pair?”

“The father, without even voting rights, tried to protocol the imperial palace members, and the daughter... the daughter is truly outrageous...!”

“Tell me in detail what happened.”

“She declared to Conrad Martial that she would give him a chance to work by her side.”

“What?!”

“Judging by all the fuss, the rumor must be true.”

“Huh...”

The retainers were equally dumbfounded.

Only those holding a domain larger than 500 square kilometers had voting rights in the assembly.

Voting rights meant speaking rights; those with smaller domains were usually unable to utter a word.

But Viscount Gilard repeatedly opened his mouth and spouted foolish words.

As if he had some kind of backing.

‘I thought Viscount Debussy, the chairman, was protecting him because of the rumors...!’

Everyone was embarrassed, but the collaterals were the most shocked.

“What, what did you say? Did the duke just say that...!”

“Miss Ereka!”

“What is this...? Explain what’s going on!”

We knew the children had challenged the direct descendants, but we did nothing to stop them.

All because of Ereka Gilard.

They believed the claim that she was the duke’s biological granddaughter.

They thought that once the succession fight intensified, the duke would support Viscount Gilard.

If the collaterals united to support him, the dukedom was no dream!

A collateral child grabbed Ereka.

“Speak up. Explain what’s going on!”

“...”

“Ereka Gilard!”

Ereka tightly twisted the hem of her skirt with trembling hands.

Then—

“What is all this commotion?”

It was Viscount Debussy.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Debussy, who was holding his forehead in disbelief.

“There is no way Viscount Gilard is the duke’s blood.”

Then a retainer nervously asked,

“Then why is Viscount Debussy supporting Viscount Gilard?”

“That’s outrageous talk. There’s no backing.”

“But he was given a title even though no one knows where he came from...”

“I was lenient with him because the duke owed his late father a life debt.”

“Huh?”

“Gilard’s father took an arrow in the duke’s place and died of lead poisoning. Even while dying, he worried for his child and looked after him carefully.”

“Lead poisoning... Are you referring to Sir Benosil?!”

“Yes. Since the deceased father had merits, it’s only natural to support his son.”

The retainers’ faces flushed.

“Benosil? Benosil was a commoner guard!”

So they bowed deeply to the bloodline of a commoner?

The deeply rooted bloodline loyalists’ faces twisted fiercely.

The collateral children also looked at Ereka with hardened faces.

“Commoner?”

“Not only is she not the duke’s blood, but a commoner?”

“What is going on? You knew, didn’t you?!”

The collateral children raised their voices.

Then their parents whispered cautiously to the second generation.

“What are you doing in front of the direct descendants...?”

“B-But it’s all Ereka Gilard’s fault! She claimed to be the duke’s grandchild! So we believed her!”

They dared defy the fearsome direct descendants.

They even made bets!

“That’s right! It was all on Ereka Gilard’s orders!”

“We kept telling them to be polite to the direct descendants, but she...”

When the collateral children vented, the third-generation direct descendants snickered.

“You’ve lost your senses and are causing trouble. So it was all you, Ereka Gilard.”

When Loreina twisted her lips and spoke, Viscount Gilard jumped up.

“That’s impossible! Right, Ereka?”

“...”

“Ereka?”

Viscount Gilard looked anxiously at his daughter.

She was smart enough not to make such a mistake.

But because of what she usually says, he was uneasy.

“You should’ve seen Baron Aison’s expression. She was arrogant in front of me, but when the duke appeared, she tucked her tail and ran away...!”

“Really? Wow, the duke really likes Dad that much?”

“Of course. Even Viscount Debussy, his closest aide, backs him!”

“Then maybe the rumor is true?”

“The rumor?”

“They say the duke gave a title to a father with nothing and entrusted education to a collateral because the father is the duke’s illegitimate child.”

“If that were true, the duke would have hinted at it. But he said nothing.”

“The more you love, the more you want to protect.”

“Really...?”

“My dad is the duke’s illegitimate child, and I’m his granddaughter... So maybe someday Dad will become the duke, and I the duchess.”

“Hahaha! That’s sweet. Maybe. Maybe!”

I once joked about that.

Of course, deep down, I hoped the rumor was true.

I even used the rumor to strut around proudly.

‘Ha, but that was really just a joke...’

Viscount Gilard looked anxiously at his daughter.

‘If we stay still like this, we’ll all be blamed!’

He shouted sharply.

“Ereka!!”

“I said...”

“What?”

“I never said I’m the duke’s granddaughter!”

Ereka shouted, her face pale.

‘What is this.’

What is this all about?

I never expected things to escalate this far.

‘I just wanted to brag a little.’

Because I’m special.

I have many difficult blessings no one else has.

I’m smart, strong, and beautiful, yet no one paid attention.

Even when I ranked first in the twelfth tower, only the direct descendants were admired.

“You know? When Erilot-nim was in the twelfth tower, she used that room.”

“I lived with her.”

“Really?! How is she? Is she as strong as the rumors say?”

“She was too young to attend class together... but she was exceptional from early on.”

Now, they glorify a girl who isn’t even in the tower anymore.

“Joshua-nim’s blessing advanced to level two! First among the third generation, right?!”

“Selene-nim was even nominated for the official illustration.”

“Ah, the direct descendants are really something...”

Whenever they competed, only direct descendants who were weaker than me shouted.

But since the rumor spread that she might be the duke’s grandchild, it was different.

Everyone tried desperately to please me.

‘It’s natural that someone special like me is admired.’

So I used the rumor a little.

Why not?

Those direct descendants always used our grandfather to arrogantly live!

‘Then why can’t I?’

After the order to find a favorite among the third generation came down, I thought the opportunity had finally come.

‘If I receive bloodline education and rank in the hierarchy, or even take first place...!’

The duke would realize that I’m different from the inept direct descendants.

Some collaterals even get adopted.

On the eighth generation, an adopted collateral became the family head.

So I definitely tried to seize the opportunity by using the rumor, to make sure the direct descendants wouldn’t interfere before I got my chance. To make things quiet for a while.

But...

‘The duke did not respond to the rumor.’

I started to suspect.

So I admit I acted a bit too much.

But...

‘Can’t I imagine the rumor might be true? ...Because I’m special.’

Is it ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) really such a big crime to dream for a moment?

Even a bastard like Erilot Astra struts around claiming to be the duke’s grandchild.

My grandfather was a commoner but a knight who held a ceremony. My grandmother was noble.

My father and mother were nobles.

My mother was definitely a collateral Astra.

‘So I’m a better person than Erilot.’

Maybe Erilot is jealous of me for that.

That’s why she must have humiliated me in front of others.

‘Still, I only dreamed for a moment. Why do they have to treat me this badly?’

Ereka glared at emotionless Erilot as if she wanted to tear her apart.

“Everyone, tell me. Have I ever said I’m the duke’s grandchild?”

Ereka covered her mouth and trembled slightly.

Her large eyes filled with tears.

The collaterals burst into bitter laughter.

“This is outrageous... Enough! We’re going back! We don’t want to deal with this anymore!”

Then,

“That won’t do.”

A chilling voice came from behind.

“It seems the bloodline issue has been settled here... Now, only the settlement remains?”

Milan smiled gently as the direct descendants slowly stood behind him.

Loreina crossed her arms and looked at the collaterals.

“You haven’t forgotten the bet, have you?”

Liantin’s lips curled slightly crookedly.

“Erilot said she’d grant ‘anything’ if she won, remember?”

Joffrey couldn’t contain his excitement and transformed his lower face into that of a leopard with the blessing.

With a roar,

“Ugh!”

The collateral children collapsed to the ground.

The cousins dragged the collaterals away.

‘They won’t come back unscathed.’

Judging by Joffrey’s teeth grinding, they’d be paying a harsh price.

I shook my head and left the training ground.

Han Ji-hyuk nearby came up with a smirk.

“The collateral kids caused a fuss and ended up like this.”

“Well, it’s the chance to ‘make’ a duke, so their eyes went wild.”

“What?”

“What’s so great about making a duke? Look at Viscount Debussy as a good example.”

Even the direct descendants bowed to Viscount Debussy.

Not only them—

‘Even the great nobles of the imperial capital know Viscount Debussy.’

He gained power as a reward for supporting the grandfather, who had nothing, all the way to a dukedom.

“Do you know what Grandfather’s habit is?”

“What?”

I imitated Grandfather’s voice.

“That’s why he told us to find children when young. Only when you have a family can you create a place in the empire!”

“Who says she’s not your grandchild? She looks exactly like you. It gives me chills.”

Han Ji-hyuk shivered.

‘Anyway, Grandfather was serious about pushing Viscount Debussy all the way to a great noble.’

For the collaterals, what a dream that must be.

If there was a lottery ticket with a guaranteed first prize right in front of them, they would run and grab it.

Talking like that, it was soon to Grandfather’s study.

The retainers gathered outside the door with pale faces.

“Ah, Miss.”

“What is it?”

“Well, um...”

Just then, a voice came from inside.

“If you knew the rumors, you should have given a hint... We believed them to be true.”

Uncle Balderic grumbled.

Then an angry voice rang out.

“There are thousands of rumors about Astra, and hundreds about me! Do you want me to crack down on all of them?”

“Ah, Father...”

“Only a fool believes!”

“...”

“There’s not a single worthy one. All they care about is the succession...”

Grandfather’s voice dropped ominously.

‘Ugh.’

Grandfather couldn’t be unaware of the rumors.

The retainers hesitated and said to me,

“The meeting with the imperial palace aides is near, and the duke is very angry, so we are worried...”

They looked like they wanted me to calm him down.

‘Hmm.’

I sighed inwardly, pondering.

‘Can’t be helped. It’s good for me if the meeting goes well and Vincent returns quickly.’

I gestured to the butler.

His face instantly brightened and he hurried to knock.

“Miss Erilot Astra and the retainers.”

The shouting stopped and the door opened.

I stepped in lightly.

Smiling brightly, I said,

“Grandfather!”

“...What is it?”

“It’s been too long since I last saw you.”

I slumped my shoulders with a pouty face.

“So I missed you very, very much...”

“...”

“Did I disturb you?”

Grandfather cleared his throat.

“Well, um, have a seat here.”

“Wow!”

I sat right beside Grandfather and giggled.

“But Grandfather, why are you so angry?”

“...”

“If someone made you angry, I’ll scold them for you!”

“You’re so tiny...”

His voice sounded shocked but his mouth softened.

My uncles and Aunt Bastina stared at Grandfather and me, mouths agape.

Other retainers were equally surprised.

Come to think of it, aside from Viscount Debussy, this was the first time anyone saw Grandfather and me like this.

‘I was a bit shy, so I held back in front of others.’

So they probably didn’t know, but now I was almost an expert at calming Grandfather.

I grabbed his arm and lowered my eyebrows.

“Hm? Why are you angry?”

“Angry? What anger?”

“Really? You’re not angry?”

“Seeing you make such a fuss, how could I be angry?”

Those who saw Grandfather completely calm now almost had their eyes pop out.

“They say you’re the most beloved grandchild...”

“Not something to search for in rumors. Because you’re right in front of them...”

Someone whispered in a low voice.

Then, there was a knock again, and the butler said,

“Viscount Gilard and his daughter have arrived.”

I wondered why they gathered, and it seemed it was because of that pair.

Ereka and Viscount Gilard entered the study.

Ereka slowly raised her head, which had been bowed, and looked at me.

Or rather, at the hand holding Grandfather’s arm.

Her face instantly flamed red.

‘Why is she like that again?’