Adelric, the eldest son of the Isiron family, was as pale as a sheet.

Yesterday, his father, Duke Isiron, had hastily departed for the manor.

The father, having been ousted, had sneaked into the estate during his absence.

The peace-loving mother and younger brother merely sighed, saying nothing else.

Then, that morning, news arrived that someone had barged into the estate without notice early in the day.

The eldest son had hoped to restore his shattered authority by driving out the intruder, but...

“W-Why did this man come here himself?”

Adelric glanced at the man standing before him.

At that moment, their eyes met.

‘Eek—!’

Just meeting eyes sent chills all over his body.

Despite his advanced age, his posture was impeccable.

His unbowed back and broad shoulders made his already large frame appear even bigger.

His wrinkled but long hands bore scars in many places.

One could tell just how hellish the wars he had endured were.

Though his aura was terrifying with all his experience, the creepiest part was...

‘Those, those eyes.’

Those deep, bright red eyes were monstrous.

‘A nightmare-like monster.’

He was not the only one who felt this way.

Even his younger brother Serian and mother were more tense than ever.

Adelric signaled Serian with his eyes.

‘What are you doing?!’

The second son, Serian, sighed.

‘He boldly stepped up, huh.’

Whenever scared, he always hid behind their father, but now that father was gone, he hid behind his brother.

‘Such a fool.’

Serian asked awkwardly,

“What brings you such a distinguished visit?”

“Bring my father before me.”

“Father has gone down to the manor.”

“Then send word.”

“That is...”

Serian glanced at the Duchess of Isiron.

She shook her head with an embarrassed expression.

“She will be staying at the manor for the time being. Unless there is news equivalent to the Emperor’s death, do not contact her at all.”

—Then she happily left.

Serian and the Duchess tightly closed their eyes.

‘Could it be... that man...’

‘Father...’

The Duke of Astra’s eyebrows twitched.

‘That despicable old man...!’

Daymond, Conrad, and Viscount Debussy, who came with the Duke of Astra, shared the same thought.

The old man fled.

Viscount Debussy chuckled.

‘I guess even Astra couldn’t handle it.’

But they didn’t want to give up the engagement with Erilot, so they hid away completely in the manor.

Serian forced a smile.

“It will be difficult to speak with Father today. When he returns to the capital, we will contact you. For now, that is all—”

“Must I go down to the Isiron manor myself? I won’t be the only one crossing the manor.”

“L-Lord Duke...”

“You dared to covet my family behind my back, so you must be prepared—!!”

A thunderous shout shook the Isiron estate.

Serian squeezed his eyes shut.

‘Father...!!’

Even though he was unusually cheerful and humming!

As Serian and the Duchess exchanged flustered looks, Adelric spoke up.

“Um... were you angered by the engagement to the Western Wonhwa?”

“......”

So that’s it!

‘This might be our chance.’

Adelric smirked.

“Our precious granddaughter chose a bastard; how uncomfortable that must make you.”

“Are you saying my granddaughter’s choice is wrong?”

“N-No! I don’t mean that, but we too were surprised. Well, Alexis’s appearance is quite an advantage for a young lady of that age...”

“You chose the fiancé just by his face?”

“N-No! There are men in Isiron more worthy than Alexis. Even Serian, and myself...”

“How old are you now?”

Is the mood lightening?

Adelric laughed awkwardly.

“I’m already over thirty years old. I first met the Duke when I was just learning to walk. Time flies—”

The Duke of Astra’s eyes gleamed sharply.

He suddenly stood up and shouted,

“Debussy! Bring my sword!!”

“Y-Yes?!”

“How can a man over thirty be engaged to an eleven-year-old child...!”

“T-That’s not what I meant! I-I just meant there are men in Isiron far more worthy than Alexis...”

Clang—!!

The Duke of Astra swiftly drew the Dragon Blood Sword from Viscount Debussy’s hand.

Serian, the second son of Duke Isiron, thought blankly,

‘Is that the family heirloom made from the blood of the Eastern Continent’s dragon...?'

It all felt so nightmarish, it hardly seemed real.

The Duke of Astra stormed in from the morning.

Father foresaw this and fled.

The eldest son made nonsense that enraged the Duke Astra...

“Duke Astra—!”

Only after the mother shouted almost screaming did Serian snap back to attention.

“L-Lord Duke, please calm down!”

“My son made a mistake out of nervousness; I, at over thirty, would never dare to be engaged to an eleven-year-old girl...!”

Conrad and Viscount Debussy desperately held onto both Duke Astra’s arms.

“Please calm down, Lord Duke!”

“Even if it’s nonsense, he is Isiron’s eldest son! If we kill him in the Isiron estate...!”

K-Kill?

Who?

Me?!

Adelric, pale, froze stiff.

He looked around.

No one seemed able to stop Duke Astra.

Only Daymond Astra, who seemed capable by force, was quietly stepping back.

‘W-What...!’

His mouth twisted in a way that said he didn’t care whether someone died or not.

When Duke Astra gripped the sword’s hilt,

“Grandfather—!”

Erilot dashed in.

Breathless, she shouted again,

“Stop this!”

“You don’t know what that bastard dared to say...!”

“But still, no!”

Erilot clung to Duke Astra’s arm.

“Let go! I’ll kill that bastard...!”

“If you kill, I’ll hate you!!”

Serian, the Duchess, and the Isiron servants gawked at Erilot.

‘Is she... crazy?’

‘What on earth is she trying to do...?’

Daring to say ‘hate’ to Duke Astra?

Is there anyone who can say such things in front of a nightmare monster?

Not the Emperor, but an eleven-year-old granddaughter?

Serian stammered,

“L-Lord Duke, please forgive her. The young lady acted out of urgency—”

“W-What did you say?”

But strangely,

Duke Astra stiffened as if under a spell.

Soon, the precious Dragon Blood Sword fell from his hand with a thud.

The Duke, stiffly moving, carelessly stepped on the heirloom sword and grabbed Erilot’s shoulder.

“What did you say?”

“If you kill, I’ll hate you.”

“What?”

“If you kill, I’ll hate you.”

“W-What?”

“Hate.”

Erilot narrowed her eyes with a swollen face.

It was not a look of mistake.

Duke Astra swallowed dryly.

So... his granddaughter...

From a young age,

“I love Grandpa! (I like Grandpa!)”

“Grandpa is the best. (Grandpa is the best.)”

“I want to marry someone like Grandpa~!”

—That very Erilot...

Hates?

Because of that useless kid who’s only got a face?!

The Duke of Astra looked sharply at Alexis, standing behind Daymond.

“What have you done to my granddaughter, dare you...!”

When Duke Astra stormed forward with heavy steps,

Erilot spread her arms wide and blocked him.

“Don’t do that to Alexis! I really will hate you!”

Duke Astra froze stiff again, as if sealed.

He glared fiercely at Erilot.

“You...”

“Yes.”

“......”

“......”

“That’s a lie.”

“It’s true. I will hate you. Really, really, really!”

She said it was true.

Three times.

Duke Astra stared at his granddaughter as if struck by lightning.

This was the start of the infamous “Really, really, really incident” recorded in Astra’s history.

Astra Second Viscountship.

The moment I stepped down from the carriage, I leaned against the wall and thought,

‘Ah, I feel ten years older.’

Han Ji-hyuk shook his head.

“So why are you running around like that? Do you really think he was killed?”

Han Ji-hyuk didn’t know our grandfather.

“That look was real.”

I have seen my grandfather’s eyes like that.

When he crippled Marquis Toriso, who invaded Astra and sent assassins after grandfather.

“No way. But would he really kill Duke Isiron’s eldest son for that reason?”

“Justification is whatever you make it.”

Like ‘Better to wage a territorial war than lose a granddaughter with a dragon.’

‘Thank goodness “hate” worked.’

I thought it was ridiculous that grandfather got more excited about my engagement than Father.

Thank heavens I sucked up from a young age.

‘Thanks, Yu Hye-min’s terrible boss!’

Because of that, I could become the king of flattery.

“Really lucky. Even if that guy is blood-related to Alexis, if he’d died, the engagement would have been doomed.”

While I was saying that, Mikelan approached.

“The Duke’s carriage is arriving.”

“Okay, I’ll go inside.”

“Yes.”

As I was going inside, I turned back and looked at Mikelan.

“Welcome.”

“Yes?”

“You say that when family comes home, don’t you?”

Mikelan smiled shyly.

“I haven’t heard that phrase in a long time. Now I understand why the Duke treats you specially.”

“Is that so...?”

I tilted my head uncertainly, and Mikelan said,

“If you come to this manor again, would you say the same?”

“...Mikelan, where are you going?”

“I was appointed as a Baron.”

“What?!”

“I will be in charge of Daymond’s jurisdiction from now on.”

“That’s great!”

I grabbed Mikelan’s hand happily.

“Mikelan is capable, so I can trust him! Then what about the capital manor?”

“We’ll ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) elect a new steward. Conrad and I are thinking of bringing Harrod.”

If it’s Harrod, he’s a staff officer of the Egritz army.

‘He’s from the Emperor’s direct army, with networks as good and brains as sharp as Mikelan’s.’

Since Mikelan will watch over the manor well, bringing him is good.

“Yeah. Let’s do that.”

Mikelan retied the ribbon on my clothes that had come loose.

He said,

“When I was young, I lost my family in a flood. The only precious thing left was ‘that person’ who passed away.”

“...Yeah.”

“It’s presumptuous, but I consider you like a granddaughter.”

“Just like me. Mikelan is like my grandfather!”

Mikelan smiled gently.

“Thanks to my new family, I live happily every day.”

I hugged Mikelan tightly.

“I like you, Mikelan. Really, really, really!”

Then—

“Really, really, really?”

A gloomy voice came from behind.

I flinched and turned around.

Grandfather glared at Mikelan with a goblin-like face.

Behind him, Viscount Debussy bent over laughing, looking like he might die from it.

I quietly stepped away from Mikelan.

“Please go inside, Grandfather.”

“......”

“It’s cold, you know?”

I smiled and held grandfather’s hand.

Grandfather glared at Mikelan as if ready to tear him apart but then slowly started walking.

When I changed clothes and came down, the parlor was crowded.

Grandfather, Viscount Debussy, Conrad,

And all my family were gathered.

I quietly sat opposite grandfather.

He squinted at me.

“You......”

Immediately, I sighed deeply.

Huuuuuuuh......

Grandfather’s eyebrows twitched.

“What is it?”

I lowered my eyebrows, joining my hands.

“I guess our grandfather is the coolest.”

“What do you mean......?”

“I thought grandfather was the coolest in the world, really, really, really loved him, but now I’m worried he’ll make Mikelan’s granddaughter his own.”

“You......!”

“But the coolest person in the world is the one who respects their child’s choice.”

“I respect your choice too!”

“But you oppose my engagement.”

“That’s......!”

“Then if you dislike grandfather, I’ll get engaged to Prince Germo.”

“What?! Why that useless talker......”

“Then Prince Chateaubriand......”

“Our family will be ruined if such a useless man marries in!”

“Then is it okay if it’s not the Duke family......?”

“A lowly family is absolutely impossible!”

“Then who should I marry?”

When I asked, the parlor fell silent.

Grandfather cleared his throat.

“You don’t have to marry if you don’t want to. The insistence that you must marry is only the opinion of those narrow-minded fools.”

Balzac’s eyes sparkled.

“That’s a good life too......”

I glared at Balzac sharply.

Balzac immediately quieted down.

I squeezed between them and sat next to grandfather.

“How about this then?”

“.......”

“Too many marriage proposals keep coming in. And Her Majesty the Empress Dowager keeps asking the Marchioness of Paante to arrange separate meetings with Father.”

“Could that old man be telling Prince Salvatore about you......!”

“It’s hard to refuse the Empress Dowager, so until someone who looks exactly like Grandfather appears, Alexis remains the fiancé.”

“.......”

“Huh?”

“.......”

Grandfather frowned but unlike before, his attitude softened a little.

“You’re allowing this, right?”

“......I have no choice.”

I hugged grandfather’s neck with a loud ‘Wow!’

“Grandfather is really the coolest in the world. Really, really, really!”

“Oh, the spoiled brat......”

“I want to keep being grandfather’s granddaughter.”

“Hah, really!”

Grandfather sounded displeased but his lips twitched slightly.

Viscount Debussy chuckled again.

He got hit with a tray thrown by grandfather, though.

I secretly wiped cold sweat.

‘Ah, getting engaged is harder than I thought.’

But now that this matter was settled, it was time to move on.

I looked at Father, who gave grandfather a truly disapproving glare.

‘I should find Father a friend, not just subordinates.’

Now it was time to meet Father’s academy peers.