Father and I rode the carriage back to the castle.

The whole way, Father kept looking at me.

‘It’s a bit overwhelming to be stared at like this.’

I blushed and rubbed my face with my hand. Then Father suddenly grabbed my hand.

Startled, my eyes went wide, and he said,

“It’s getting worse.”

I had already applied medicine to the wound.

He must have tried to stop my grubby little child’s hand from touching it.

“Yes!”

I quickly put my hand down and nodded vigorously.

“Is the wound itchy?”

“No.”

“Does it hurt anywhere?”

“Nope.”

“...Alright.”

Father nodded and let out a faint sigh.

“Don’t do that again.”

“But, Abammi...”

“Even if you need to, don’t do it.”

“...”

I pouted and fiddled with my fingers, and Father’s eyes narrowed.

“Why on earth would a child like you do something like that?”

“Hmm...”

I carefully chose my words.

I glanced outside, making sure no one could overhear, and whispered,

“I’m not Abammi’s baby.”

“...What?”

“Erilot’s not human. She was made. So if I’m going to be with Father, I have to try hard.”

I begged with shining eyes, “I’ll really try, so don’t abandon me.”

Father’s expression stiffened.

“Who told you that?”

“People...”

Father clenched his teeth sharply.

He looked angry, so I shrank my shoulders.

He sighed and said,

“I’m not angry at you.”

“...”

“I’m angry at myself.”

‘Why?’

I looked puzzled, and Father slowly spoke.

“You are human.”

“Yes...?”

“You’re my daughter.”

‘What?’

I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

‘Huh? Wha—?!’

I had almost convinced myself that this body was a homunculus.

Father barely showed interest in me as blood relative—

I was a noble without a blessing—

And if I were a constructed being, it would be easier for a soul to enter in this world.

‘But if I’m human, if I’m Father’s daughter...’

Amazing!

My body trembled with excitement.

That meant I no longer had to worry about being abandoned.

Father gently grabbed my restless arm.

“Get too excited again and you’ll hurt yourself.”

“Ah, s-sorry...!”

But I just couldn’t calm down.

Father took something out from his chest.

It was a small magical device shaped like a lantern, and when he turned it on, a pleasant scent filled the carriage.

‘Wow.’

It smelled like a baby or herbs grown in a field.

I couldn’t say exactly what fragrance it was, but it was warm and very nice.

Sniffing ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) it made my eyelids heavy.

“Now, sleep.”

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.

My last memory was Father carefully laying me down.

It was the first time I felt such gentle touch, and I think I even rubbed my cheek against his large hand because it felt so good.

The carriage passed through the main gate of Astra Castle.

After the wheels stopped, Enzo opened the door.

Other knights peeked out, but Erilot was asleep.

“Oh my.”

“You must be tired.”

“The little lady is so brave.”

Laughter echoed.

Daimond cast a sharp look around.

His eyes told the soldiers not to wake the child, so they clammed up.

“I’ll take care of her.”

Enzo said.

“No need.”

It was Daimond who got down carrying me.

After ordering the soldiers to return to the barracks, Enzo followed Daimond.

“The lady worked hard. No child could have done what she did today.”

“I know.”

“What could have made her do such a thing?”

“She said she’s not human. She was made, so she has to work hard to stay by my side.”

“What?!”

Enzo’s voice rose, and Erilot stirred, groaning.

He quickly covered his mouth, and after confirming the child was still asleep, he spoke carefully.

“Who told the lady such nonsense?”

“Damn brothers, no doubt. They’re obsessed with spreading rumors.”

Enzo sighed deeply.

I understood why the rumors spread.

Daimond had left for battle two years before Erilot was born.

Since he didn’t make a child on that brutal battlefield, people must have said she was ‘manufactured’ somewhere.

Daimond’s failure to send a single letter to his daughter only fueled those rumors.

‘Bastards.’

Enzo frowned and looked at Daimond.

“Did the General say why he didn’t send a letter to the lady?”

“...”

“He couldn’t contact her to protect her.”

Daimond was far away on the battlefield.

In a place where no one could protect the child even if they wanted to.

That’s why he couldn’t send a letter.

If Daimond had shown concern for Erilot, his brothers would see the child as a weakness.

And who knows what they’d do to pressure him through the child.

So it was better to pretend not to care and show that even malicious acts wouldn’t yield results.

“Did you return directly to Astra Castle, not to your jurisdiction, to see the lady?”

“...Shut up.”

Daimond took me to a room.

He lay me on the bed and stared at me.

“Now I’m not a bother...?”

Despite clutching his skirt with trembling hands, I smiled.

Trying not to be hated.

Daimond reached out to touch my messy hair.

But his scarred hands didn’t reach my fair face and withdrew.

“Ugh.”

Instead, he covered me with a blanket as I tossed and turned.

When I woke up, I blinked slowly.

My foggy mind gradually cleared.

‘Huh?’

As I became more alert, I realized this was my room.

I remembered falling asleep in the carriage yesterday.

Father must have brought me here.

Suddenly, the conversation from yesterday flashed in my mind.

“You are human.”

“Yes...?”

“You’re my daughter.” (Past)

‘...!’

Right, that was it!

I jumped out of bed.

Even now, my chest swells with emotion.

‘Goodbye to the days I worried I was a fake daughter, no, a fake human!’

Father was not someone who lies.

Then I must really be Astra’s blood.

The days when I was anxious about being abandoned or bullied if this got out felt far away.

I quickly got out of bed.

Noticing the noise, the maids came in.

“Good morning, Miss... Oh?”

They rushed to the door first, and seeing me clinging to my skirt, their eyes went wide.

“Get out!”

“Yes, we’ll tie your hair nicely.”

The maids washed my face, helped me change, and finally curled my hair into a round style.

‘I have to read ancient texts quickly and go to the barracks.’

Though I heard clearly, my childish mind was urging me, ‘One more time, one more time!’

I hurried to Grandpa’s study.

As usual, Grandpa was busy with work early in the morning. Conrad was there too.

When I said, “An-nyeong,” Conrad smiled.

“Hello, Miss. I was worried when I heard about your injury on the mountain yesterday. Are you okay now?”

“I’m a little hurt. Abammi saved me.”

“That’s a relief. You must apply the medicine thoroughly.”

I nodded and sat across from Grandpa.

“I’m going to read the old book.”

Conrad looked at Grandpa.

Grandpa nodded and brought me the ancient history book kept in the protective box.

“From here.”

Conrad found the page for me, so I could read without getting lost.

Today, there was nothing special again.

‘Almost done reading it all.’

It was the result of reading every day without fail.

After about three pages,

I heard footsteps outside the door.

At the same time, a guard’s voice.

“Lord Daimond is here.”

Grandpa gave permission to enter.

Father strode in.

He lightly bowed to Grandpa and handed over some documents.

“The Western Army’s paperwork is done, and the purification stone was handed to management last night.”

“I heard.”

“We’re departing for the jurisdiction now.”

Already?

I thought he’d stay in the castle until the end of the week, but he was leaving so soon?

I sulked.

It hadn’t been long since I was revealed as his real daughter.

We hadn’t really gotten close.

Grandpa glanced briefly at the documents Father handed over and nodded.

“Alright.”

Then Father suddenly—

‘What?!’

—picked me up and tucked me under his arm.

“Then.”

Me? Why me?

My eyes went wide. Conrad also looked stunned, staring at Father and me.

Just as Father approached the door,

“Why are you taking her?”

Grandpa shouted.

Father looked at him as if it was nothing strange.

“We have to leave for the jurisdiction.”

“What did you say?”

I stared at Father in surprise.

‘He’s taking me with him?’

It was rest time, and normally three-year-olds (the Duke’s grandchildren) would stay in their parents’ jurisdiction during rest time...

But I didn’t expect Father to bring me.

It seemed Grandpa and Conrad were surprised too.

Conrad was flustered, and Grandpa frowned.

After glaring at Father for a long while, Grandpa said,

“Leave Erilot behind.”

“No.”

“Leave her!”

“Is that an order?”

I glanced at Grandpa slyly.

I understood why he wanted to leave me here.

I’d have to keep reading ancient language and investigate the physical restoration agent.

Besides, if I was Father’s real daughter, I was a valuable hostage.

So it was better to keep me in the castle than send me away.

But he couldn’t give an order.

‘He can’t openly declare using me as a hostage.’

Given Astra’s special circumstances, taking a child from their parents was tantamount to hostage-taking.

If it became known that the Duke took his grandchild to discipline his son, the family would be thrown into chaos.

They’d fear losing their own children.

And such excessive fear would cause fractures.

Grandpa knew that, so he didn’t firmly order.

After a moment of silence, Grandpa shouted,

“Erilot hasn’t finished reading the ancient history book yet─”

“She can read it after the rest period.”

“She’s been at the Twelfth Tower the whole time, so she needs to be taught the rules of the main estate─”

“I’ll teach her in the jurisdiction until the rest period ends.”

“I have a question. This child brought a medicine no one’s heard of, and I─”

“I’ll find out and send a letter.”

Grandpa’s face flushed red and blue.

Seeing his harsh expression and that he had nothing more to say, Father turned and left.

Just then, Marquis Debussy entered the study.

“Lord Daimond. Where are you going with the lady─”

Before he could finish, Grandpa said,

“Erilot said she likes Grandpa more than Father.”

Marquis Debussy slowly turned his head toward Grandpa with a puzzled look.

Conrad’s expression was the same.

Of course, mine too.

‘...?’

Why was that mentioned here?

Would Father even care about that?

As I thought this, I felt a burning gaze on the top of my head.

“Is it true?”

“...Y-yes?”

“I asked if the Duke’s words were true.”

I’d never thought about it.

Before, it was in front of Grandpa, so I said Grandpa.

Grandpa laughed arrogantly.

“The child must grow up in the environment she desires.”

Marquis Debussy muttered, stunned, “Since when...”

Grandpa and Father’s gazes clashed sharply in the air.

Everyone focused on me.

Both Grandpa and Father said,

“Erilot, tell us who you like best.”

“Don’t be afraid in front of the Duke. Father is behind you.”

I felt a cold sweat run down my spine.

From my social experience, this was the moment I knew I was doomed.

It was like,

‘Who do you like better, boss or deputy?’

—answering that question while caught between the boss and the deputy!

I swallowed dry saliva.

And answered,

“...Mommany.”

“What?”

“What did you say?”

I jumped off Father and raised both arms.

“Erilot likes Mommany best!”

In times like this, it’s best not to pick just one person.

Having found a childish answer, I sighed inwardly.

Marquis Debussy made a choking noise and turned his head. His shoulders trembled slightly.

Conrad was very flustered.

The lord of vast Astra.

The strongest knight, ranked number one in the empire by force.

Apparently, it was absurd to choose a mere puppy among them.

Grandpa said nothing.

He just muttered “puppy...” and clenched his teeth.

Father was silent for a moment.

Then he looked at me and slowly spoke.

“Now that I think about it, my nickname was Dog Bastard.”

‘...?’

A whistle of wind blew through the crowd.