“Chirp chirp.”

Awakened by the birdsong, I sluggishly lifted myself up.

The morning air smelled fresh — the sun must have already risen.

As my groggy mind cleared, I suddenly realized—

This wasn’t my bedroom.

I quickly looked around.

A familiar desk.

Familiar wallpaper.

And the tapestry embroidered with four ravens — the symbol of Astra.

‘Grandfather’s study...!’

Why am I here?

As I thought about it carefully, yesterday’s events came back to me.

I had cried myself to sleep...

...In Grandfather’s arms, no less.

‘Grandfather must have brought me here.’

Lost in thought, I glanced around.

I was alone in the study.

Grandfather seemed to be gone.

At least that was a relief.

As I tried to get up from the sofa, I noticed a round drool stain where I had been lying.

I must have drooled while sleeping face down.

Panicking, I hurried to rub away the drool stain.

Just then, I heard the door open.

“Have you woken up?”

“Conrad!”

“Was your bed comfortable?”

It was fine when I slept — the problem was now.

I said with a gloomy face,

“I like my own bed.”

So even if I cried myself to sleep again from the side character penalty, next time please bring me back to my room...

“I tried to bring you there, but you were uncomfortable even at the slightest touch.”

I must have whined whenever they tried to move me.

‘I’m doomed, totally doomed!’

Trying not to be troublesome, I ended up being the biggest nuisance.

With a scared look, I asked Conrad,

“Where is Grandpa?”

“He’s in the dining hall. He asked to be woken and brought here.”

“Really?”

“You haven’t eaten dinner, so you must be very hungry.”

Thank goodness.

If Grandfather was annoyed with me, he wouldn’t have called for me to come to the dining hall.

Relieved, I brightened my expression.

Taking Conrad’s hand, we headed to the dining hall.

Grandfather was dining with Marquis Debussy.

“Good morning."

“......Yes.”

“Good morning, Miss.”

“Yesss!”

I smiled brightly and sat next to Grandfather.

The servants flinched. Marquis Debussy’s eyes widened.

Now that I thought about it, no grandchild had ever sat beside Grandfather.

When Grandfather sat at the head seat, everyone else sat far away.

Worried he might feel uncomfortable, I glanced at him.

He said nothing.

‘That’s enough.’

Once seated, food was served.

Today’s breakfast was French toast, cut into small pieces perfect for a child.

Excited, I picked up my fork.

Just as I was about to eat...

‘Huh?’

I noticed Grandfather’s plate was barely touched.

His dish was a huge steak.

The surface gleamed, and the cut side was soaked with juicy meat — it looked delicious.

Did he have no appetite?

But the garnish salad was completely eaten.

‘Ah, eating must be uncomfortable.’

Probably tooth or jaw pain.

I remembered seeing Grandfather touch his jaw under the ear when following Conrad earlier.

‘He’s suffering quietly without showing any sign.’

Since the situation was complicated enough, showing pain would just make the hyenas sharper.

Grandfather was old now; it was time to plan for the future.

I hesitated briefly.

Then poked the toast with my fork and held it out to Grandfather.

“......!”

“......!”

“......!”

I heard gasps from around.

The servants looked as if their eyes would pop out.

Conrad and Marquis Debussy wore surprised expressions.

Grandfather paused and looked at me.

“What is this?”

“It’s tasty.” (마시써.)

“.......”

Grandfather must be healthy for me to be safe.

Judging by the looks, he must have been eating only greens for days.

Knowing his meticulous personality, he wouldn’t have asked to change the menu so people would notice his condition.

The atmosphere turned icy.

Everyone stopped breathing as Marquis Debussy cleared his throat.

“This is Miss’s heartfelt offering.”

“.......”

“Or should I eat it? Will you give it to me, Miss?”

“No.”

Grandfather accepted the toast I gave him.

From the way he chewed, soft French toast was no trouble at all.

I held out more toast.

“More.”

“.......”

“Yum yum.”

“.......”

Grandfather ate another piece.

Marquis Debussy laughed wildly again, just like yesterday.

‘I feel bloated from eating carefully.’

Grandfather ate the toast I gave him well.

He must have eaten at least two slices.

Marquis Debussy laughed throughout the meal until Grandfather finally struck him.

Holding Conrad’s hand, I hopped out of the kitchen.

Conrad kindly asked,

“What will you do today?”

“I’m going to the library.” (도소간 가꺼야.)

“There won’t be picture books there. How about the greenhouse?”

“I like the library.” (도소간이 조아.)

I had something to do.

I smiled slyly to myself.

‘Grandfather’s birthday is coming soon.’

His birthday is on the fifteenth of next month.

There will be a big feast — a very important event for the main branch.

It’s a chance to win Grandfather’s favor with gifts.

Of course, unlike other main branch members who can present relics or legendary treasures, I wasn’t capable of that.

First of all, I was a three-year-old with no money.

‘But I have information from Ice. Black. Hand.’

I let go of Conrad’s hand and said,

“Bye!”

“Yes, Miss. Have a good day.”

Waving my hands excitedly, I headed straight for the library.

The library was far from the dining hall.

I had to pass through the second gate, but a monster was guarding it, so I froze stiff.

It was a beast-type monster with prickly, needle-like fur.

It looked so big that one swipe of its paw would send me straight to the afterlife.

I pressed myself against the wall and crept forward.

Just as I was about to pass the gate—

“Grrr.”

Startled, I froze in place.

This one scared me the most.

In Ice. Black. Hand, the protagonist Dahlia nearly died because of it.

Dahlia had freed it by mistake while passing through.

If her relatives who loved her hadn’t rushed in, she might have died.

‘She ended up with at least a bitten shoulder.’

The description was brutal.

“Grrr......”

“Please, doggy, just a little past me......” (멈머나, 쪼꼼만 지나가께.......)

“Grrr─!!”

“......!”

I quickly turned back.

That damn dog.

‘I have to get to the library.’

To make Grandfather’s birthday present — the “Physical Regression Potion” — I needed to gather materials.

Physical Regression Potion.

It was like a dream drug for the elderly, with a name as grand as “physical regression.”

It worked wonders on aching teeth.

‘There are no dentures in this world, so old people suffer with their teeth.’

Any old person would go crazy for it.

Of course, Grandfather would like it too.

He had trouble eating earlier because of tooth pain.

‘The potion’s main ingredient is green lavender.’

It was a rare and hard-to-get plant.

But I knew it was nearby.

Because Dahlia had accidentally found it inside the castle.

Thanks to the protagonist’s buff, it was good for me.

‘I planned to check the library for its growing conditions...’

If I found the right environment in the castle, the green lavender should be there.

I groaned and stared at the monster.

Should I just close my eyes and run past?

Too scary — maybe I should go with an adult.

If it were Conrad or the maids, they’d go with me.

Just then—

“What’s that?”

An unpleasant voice came from behind.

A girl with crossed arms and a woman who looked like a senior servant were approaching.

The woman wore a large pendant.

‘That’s a nurse’s (noble child’s nanny) mark.’

The girl frowned and asked,

“Who are you, hanging around the second gate where only main branch members can enter?”

I immediately recognized who she was.

Exactly like in the novel’s description.

Curled blonde hair.

Green eyes.

Freckles on her cheeks.

‘Liantin.’

My cousin.

Liantin frowned.

“Don’t you hear me?”

“Miss, you seem to be someone who can enter the second gate.”

“What?”

The nurse’s words made Liantin frown sharply.

Her lips curled in a sneer.

“Ah.”

Crossing her arms arrogantly, Liantin lifted her chin.

“Filthy blood, right?”

“I’m not filthy.” (나 앙 더러어.)

“You go around fawning to get something. Like a beggar.”

“.......”

“That’s filthy.”

“.......”

“Don’t lower the family’s dignity. Behave your place—”

Just as she was giving a big lesson, she paused.

Footsteps were coming from around the corner.

“Oh, ladies.”

It was Marquis Debussy.

Liantin’s expression immediately changed.

“Marquis Debussy~”

She coquettishly called him and smiled brightly.

Completely different from how she acted toward me.

Marquis Debussy was Grandfather’s closest aide.

His most trusted vassal, sometimes wielding more authority than the main branch.

So even Liantin, a main branch member, wanted to show off to Marquis Debussy.

She probably wanted good things to reach Grandfather’s ears.

“Long time no see.”

“Yes. How have you been?”

“No, training’s been too hard...”

Liantin pouted.

“But what’s going on in the castle? You should be resting after outside training.”

“Grandfather’s birthday is coming soon. I’m preparing a gift.”

“I see.”

Marquis Debussy nodded and looked at me.

“You dropped this.”

He handed me a pretty stone.

It was the one I picked up yesterday in the garden.

“Thank you.”

When I said this, Marquis Debussy smiled gently.

“You’re welcome. But Miss, what brings you here?”

“I’m going to the library.”

“Oh my, really~ Then shall we go together?”

Liantin said.

Only moments ago, she was mocking me for “filthy blood,” but now she looked like an angel.

She looked at Marquis Debussy and said,

“Erilot’s been at the Twelfth Tower for a long time. She probably doesn’t know the castle well, so I’ll help her.”

“It’s nice to see cousins getting along. But Miss Erilot has things to do, so you should go.”

“Does she have things to do?”

“It’s time to read the ancient language.”

Now that I thought about it, yesterday was for greeting the cadet branch, and today reading time had passed while watching Grandfather eat.

I said, “Yes,” and went to Marquis Debussy.

“Shall I carry you?”

“I walk alone.”

“You’re brave.”

Marquis Debussy smiled, and Liantin said,

“May I come along? I want to see Grandfather.”

“By all means.”

Liantin happily tagged along beside Marquis Debussy.

“The monster extermination operation from the west has begun.” (서쪽에서 몰려온 몬스터 토벌작전이 시작되었다.)

“Yes, Miss. Let’s stop here for today.”

“Yes.”

I put the history book I was reading down on the table.

“Oh!”

Liantin looked surprised as she picked up the history book, then glanced over it carefully before placing it down very gently.

“Erilot, this ancient history book is the original.”

“.......”

“It’s a book with tremendous historical value, so treat it carefully.”

She didn’t put it down hard.

Just normal.

Liantin babbled on.

“Actually, such relics should belong to the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) royal palace. So having this history book shows the power of Astra.”

“You already know that?”

Marquis Debussy chuckled, and Liantin excitedly continued.

“I heard this book was personally passed down from your great-grandfather to Grandfather?”

‘Gasp.’

As soon as that was mentioned, I hurriedly looked at Grandfather.

He was expressionless as always, but his gaze had darkened.

That book was definitely given by the previous Duke to Grandfather.

To be exact, it was the only thing among all the family wealth he was given.

The history book was a relic with no readable lines at the time.

What that meant was,

“You’re nothing but a bug with the Astra name.”

In other words, giving the book was a ruthless way to remind him of his lowly status.

Because of that, everyone laughed at Grandfather.

Until he slaughtered his brothers and rose to Duke.

Since then, no one ever brought up that matter in front of Grandfather.

Marquis Debussy was careful with Grandfather’s mood too.

But Liantin babbled on heedlessly.

“Receiving something like this means Grandfather was great even when he was young...”

“Butterfly!”

I quickly changed the subject.

Jumping off the chair, I chased a butterfly that had flown inside the window.

I crept toward it slowly and clapped my hands over it.

‘Got it.’

After playing alone in the Twelfth Tower every day, I was pretty skilled at catching winged things.

I approached Grandfather.

“Master.”

“.......”

Marquis Debussy seemed pleased the topic changed, and added casually,

“Butterflies have many meanings. White wings mean ‘peace,’ blue wings mean ‘miracle’...”

“.......”

“Yellow wings mean ‘grasped glory.’”

I released the butterfly, which brushed Grandfather’s fingertips and flew away.

Its wings were yellow.

“Yes, I grasped it in the end.”

“Yess!”

I answered brightly, and Grandfather gave a slight smile.

Liantin bit her lip tightly and glared at me.

After quietly muttering without adults noticing for a while, she spoke.

“Um, Grandfather.”

“Yes.”

“I’m preparing a birthday gift.”

Instead of answering, Marquis Debussy responded.

“That’s admirable. Others are also preparing birthday gifts.”

“.......”

“Why not reward whoever brings the best gift? It will liven up the feast.”

Grandfather was silent for a moment, then glanced at me.

Then he nodded.

“That wouldn’t be bad.”

Liantin looked very happy.

“Yay! I’ll work hard!”

She said she’d go prepare the gift, bowed to Grandfather, and left the room.

I followed Marquis Debussy out as well.

‘I should prepare a gift too...’

I was terrified to go to the second gate where the library was.

I quietly told the Marquis,

“I like books.”

“Shall I bring you picture books?”

Marquis Debussy was very favorable, probably thankful for my change of topic.

“I want to see the plant encyclopedia.”

“A plant encyclopedia? That might be too difficult yet.”

“There are many pretty pictures.”

“Yes, I’ll have someone fetch it for you.”

I was excited!

I was scared of monsters, unsure how to get there.

‘How did Erilot in Ice. Black. Hand manage to release that scary monster?’

You had to get close to release it.

Even then, it wasn’t guaranteed it wouldn’t attack afterward.

‘Anyway, I have to focus on green lavender.’

The servant sent by Marquis Debussy brought me many books.

I piled them up in my room and stayed in for days.

But something was strange.

‘What happened?’

I searched through everything, from plant encyclopedias to books on legendary plants.

But nowhere was there a mention of green lavender.

As if it didn’t exist at all.