“Do you still feel guilty toward Milan?”

At the Duke of Astra’s words, the crowded people around flinched.

‘Milan?’

‘Does she owe Milan? How big could the debt be?’

‘Is it a debt so enormous even the white jade trade can’t cover?’

‘More importantly, what does that have to do with grandfather personally coming to Erilot’s quarters?’

The Duke of Astra slammed his hand on the door.

“I told you there’s nothing to worry about!”

Tension began to spread on people’s faces.

Dionera, who had jumped at the door knocking, now looked pale.

Restless, Dionera glanced at Liantin.

“W-what should we do?”

From the crowd, Joffrey smirked.

“What else? We’re in serious trouble now.”

“Se-serious trouble?”

“Would grandfather come himself instead of sending a servant if he wasn’t furious?”

Several other cousins crossed their arms and chuckled.

“Looks like Erilot, that fool, got involved with Milan.”

“There was something with Milan even before she lost consciousness.”

“Oh, that ridiculous hunger strike?”

“Yeah.”

Michel, Sylvain’s daughter and Ayla’s elder sister who fled Astra, burst out laughing.

“I thought she went crazy back then.”

Others giggled in agreement.

“Having a dragon and grandfather spoiling her, she thought she was invincible.”

“Grandfather didn’t even care.”

Dionera, her face flushed, shouted,

“N-no! Grandfather ordered her to eat back then too. You all saw that...!”

“That was when the palace people were here. They probably feared her blessings would get out of control and hurt them.”

Michel laughed, raising her eyebrows.

“Always acting so high and mighty.”

Liantin, hearing the cousins, looked anxiously at the Duke.

‘Erilot, what on earth have you done?’

Biting her nails nervously, Liantin said,

“Dionera.”

“Hmm?”

“Go quickly and bring Uncle Daymond and your mother.”

“And you?”

“I’ll communicate with Erilot. Maybe she’s not leaving her room because she doesn’t know what’s going on outside.”

This might really turn into a mess.

Liantin bit her lips.

‘Please come out and apologize, you idiot!’

Michel said,

“Though grandfather’s temper seems completely ruined, do try to make an effort~.”

Liantin frowned.

“That’s really unfair. Michel, you got help from Erilot during the artificial forest attack too!”

“Help? What are you talking about?”

“If Erilot hadn’t been there, that wouldn’t have happened. Right, guys?”

Joffrey and some cousins agreed.

“Yeah, if Erilot hadn’t provoked Erekka Girard, none of this would have happened.”

“We suffered so much because of that.”

Liantin and Dionera frowned sharply.

Dionera said,

“That’s really cruel! She’s the victim, so why mock her? You’re dumber than me!”

“Enough, Dionera.”

“But...!”

“We already know they’re worse than beasts.”

Michel and Joffrey scowled deeply.

Michel asked,

“What did you just say, Liantin?”

“Before, Erilot was beloved by grandfather, so she had influence and they bowed down; now that she’s hated, they want to crush her.”

“Is that so wrong?”

“Even dogs know gratitude, Michel.”

“Hmph, aren’t you the anxious one? You clung to Erilot, but now you’re nervous because she’s hated.”

“Don’t compare me to trash like you or Joffrey. It’s offensive.”

“Whatever you say, looks like Erilot’s only fate left is ruin.”

Michel laughed cruelly.

Joffrey [N O V E L I G H T] and other cousins snickered.

Then—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Duke of Astra knocked fiercely with both hands.

And shouted,

“Erilot! Grandpa was wrong!”

‘...What?’

‘Huh?’

“Please eat!!”

Please.

Please.

Please~!

The wailing voice echoed down the corridor.

Michel’s mouth dropped open.

‘W-what is this—!!’

Is she really hearing this correctly?

Is that really the voice coming from the formidable Duke of Astra?

Other cousins were stunned, muttering.

“Wh-what did he just say?”

“So grandfather...”

“Yeah, grandfather...”

“Grandpa was wrong... and...”

“Erilot, please eat!”

Liantin and Dionera exchanged bewildered looks.

“This is...”

“...What?”

Now noticing, it wasn’t just banging.

Knock knock! Knock! Knock knock!

“The Milan matter is with reason... No, grandpa was wrong. Yes, yes.”

“......”

“......”

“But not eating is just cowardly...! No, it’s wrong! Yes!”

“......”

“......”

The third generation looked dazed, sweating as they stared at the large elderly man.

‘Is this real?’

‘Is it really...?’

All direct 2nd and 3rd gen, retainers, administrators, and servants stiffened.

No one could speak, all staring blankly at the duke’s back.

Then—

“Grandpa, what are you doing here...?”

Erilot walked down the corridor, tilting her head as she looked at the Duke of Astra.

I had just stepped out briefly, but the crowd before my door was packed.

Everyone was staring at grandfather by my door, but he himself...

‘Hmm?’

He looked stiff and tense.

“Grandpa?”

I asked, and he glared fiercely at the door.

“I heard you were inside.”

“Ah, I was here ten minutes ago. I just stepped out briefly.”

“......”

“Is something wrong?”

Grandpa suddenly shouted,

“You just recovered but where are you wandering off to...!”

I lightly grabbed his sleeve, and the shouting stopped.

“Did I upset you, grandpa?”

“...No, not really.”

“Then...?”

Grandpa cleared his throat and said,

“You...”

“Yes?”

“Do you still feel sorry for Milan?”

“I do. She suffered because of me.”

“I told you it wasn’t your fault. It was all because of Hernan.”

“I know, but I persuaded her and told the truth about Hernan’s corruption. She suffered in the deep underground prison, so I feel sorry.”

“She’s out now.”

“Yes? Ah, yes. She’s out of the underground prison.”

“Then why refuse to eat?”

Me?

‘I eat too well, though?’

Wondering what he meant, I suddenly nodded.

I think I heard grandfather ask Philippo to eat with me.

I refused, so they must have thought I was still on hunger strike.

‘Still, coming all this way is kind of... nice?’

Glancing around, I quickly changed my mind.

Everyone was surprised grandfather came all the way here.

He even came to stop my hunger strike personally.

So cousins who aren’t on good terms with me looked like they were having nightmares.

‘If Grimier hears this...?’

No one would dare touch me while I have grandfather’s full attention.

I chuckled inside.

But outwardly, I dropped my eyebrows and held grandfather’s arm with both hands.

“Did I upset you, grandpa?”

Grandfather cleared his throat again.

“Well, not exactly...!”

“I just didn’t want to bother you.”

“You don’t bother me that much...!”

“Really? Then can I nag you to eat every day?”

“...Every day?”

I hugged my arms and giggled, and grandfather turned his head with a sigh.

But he couldn’t fully hide the twitch at the corner of his mouth.

“Well, do as you like.”

“Really? Yay~!”

“Oh, the spoiled one.”

I caught the pleased look with hawk-like eyes and laughed wickedly inside.

‘Finally, you’re mine.’

The master of the Astra estate.

The king of western nobles who controls the West.

The absolute ruler of Astra, with the richest lands and the largest mercenary force in the empire.

The Duke of Astra...!

Ah, if I were alone, I might have danced grabbing the air shouting, “Nice, nice!”

How much effort I’d made for this day.

‘Ten years.’

Ten years in this life alone.

Because I had to earn the Duke of Astra’s favor to survive, I never lived an easy day.

I worked hard, again and again.

I had to be a proud granddaughter.

I had to raise Astra’s honor.

I had to be helpful.

Work hard.

Even harder.

More, more.

‘And finally, I have it.’

Just then, Grimier and some other direct 2nd gen approached from the other side.

Our gazes clashed in midair.

Holding grandfather’s arm, I smiled gently.

‘Grimier, you may have seized the power of Chronote... but I have the absolute power of Astra.’

Now I stood at the starting line.

Then now...

‘You died by my hand.’

Nine years remain until Dalia arrives.

Nine years remain until Grimier’s plot begins in earnest.

‘Whatever you plan, I won’t lose easily.’

Our gazes locked fiercely.

Grandfather’s study.

After dinner, I, grandfather, Viscount Debussy, and dad gathered in the study.

I sat close beside grandfather.

He glanced at me and cleared his throat.

“That kid’s gotten more spoiled since getting sick...”

Though it sounded like a reproach, I could see through it.

‘He’s proud of me.’

Viscount Debussy nearby looked at me incredulously.

And dad...

“Erilot, come sit here.”

“You’re so eager not to bother the kid, Daymond. Leave her be.”

Grandfather and dad glared at each other sharply.

I answered quickly.

“I want to sit here.”

“Erilot...!”

“Yes.”

Dad and grandfather’s reactions were polar opposites.

Dad looked like a sad, abandoned puppy, while grandfather looked arrogant.

‘Now’s my chance.’

Pretending nothing, I picked up a glass of juice and said,

“When I go to the capital, I’ll be with dad every day, so for now, I want to be with grandfather.”

“Capital...?”

Grandfather blinked and looked at me.

“Yes!”

“Well, you still have bloodline lessons, so you don’t have to rush to the capital, right?”

“But now I’m in the advanced education room, so I don’t really need to care about bloodline lessons anymore.”

“That’s true, but...!”

Grandfather spoke urgently, then from the side came a sudden choking sound.

Viscount Debussy was trembling with laughter, looking like he might burst.

Grandfather glared at him and said to me,

“Bloodline lessons are important. Spend half the month at the estate.”

“But I’m worried dad will be too lonely.”

“...What?”

“Grimier is at the Central Tower and knows many people, so he’s not lonely.”

“Well...”

“Dad has no particular work at the center and doesn’t know many people. So I have to be by his side.”

Dad looked at me with a moved expression.

Grandfather looked displeased.

Just as grandfather was about to say something, I hurriedly said,

“Also, I don’t want to go to the capital.”

“What do you mean?”

“The noble kids in the capital subtly look down on me. Maybe because dad’s not part of the Central Tower.”

“What?!”

“What?!”

Grandfather and dad both jumped up.

I calmly chewed a cookie.

“But I expected this. I won’t get discouraged and will do my best in the capital. Because I’m Miss Astra!”

Grandfather and dad’s eyes blazed.

Viscount Debussy smiled, amused.

Grandfather said,

“Erilot.”

“Yes.”

“Step outside for a moment. I need to talk with your father.”

“Ah... yes!”

I cheerfully replied and left the room.

As soon as the door closed, I giggled.

‘No sweat, got it done without touching a thing.’

I thought it would take a long time to arrange a place in the center.

‘If grandfather steps in, it can be done in a day.’

Because of Hernan and Ayla’s betrayal, grandfather appointed Grimier to oversee the 2nd gen.

‘Dad’s too rough; one wrong move and everything’s ruined.’

In other words, Grimier will leave the capital.

‘I’ll use this opportunity to seize the capital.’

Grandfather is at the estate, so Grimier won’t dare act recklessly.

Then I can strip all of Grimier’s power away.

I smiled coldly in the dark.

At that time. Masa and Mari’s house.

“Ahhh!”

Masa suddenly sat up.

Mari, who was sleeping on the bed, opened her eyes wide.

“What is it?”

“......”

Masa pressed her trembling hand against her forehead.

“What’s wrong?”

“Unnie...?”

“Did you have a nightmare?”

“Uh? Uh...”

Mari put down the book and chuckled.

“What kind of dream made you so upset?”

“It was a strange world, and an adult woman was crying.”

She was crying with such a terrifying face.

She was so hopeless it was frightening.

Mari asked,

“What was she saying while crying?”

“She was saying... ‘I can’t forgive you, Yu Hyemin’...”

“Yu Hyemin? That’s an unusual name.”