TGHB 24

Chapter – 24

“That snot-nosed kid who looks like a cotton candy. Is she really your daughter?”

“Yes. That marshmallow is my daughter.”

“Good grief. How can you spout such nonsense with a straight face?! There’s no way you could have a secret child?! You, who showed less interest in women than the stones on the roadside!”

“I guess I must have figured out how to have a child all by myself in the meantime, or something.”

Faced with Conthieu, who was literally not backing down an inch, Carlos trembled with rage.

‘And he doesn’t even realize I’m worried…!’

Carlos was worried that Conthieu’s recent eccentric behavior might stem from guilt towards Sienna.

This nonsense about not wanting to marry just to pass his title to his nephews.

Well, things like that.

He didn’t mind him not marrying, or him thinking of his nephews, but—.

‘If he’s trying to throw his life away because he’s shackled by guilt from the past.’

If that were the case, then as his father, he should rightly stop him—.

“What’s wrong? Are you cold?”

“You damn brat!”

“If I’m ruined, the Dukedom would be ruined too, are you sure that’s alright?”

Enough, enough.

I should just stop talking!

Because of his son, who only spat out infuriating words until the very end, Carlos felt like he might truly pass out.

Gripping the back of his own neck, he took a rough breath and glared at Conthieu.

“Seeing how you’re acting, it seems you plan to gloss over this child’s matter vaguely like this… Don’t even think about it! Next time, you’ll have to properly explain about that snot-nosed kid.”

“Yes, well. I’ll try my best.”

“Damn brat. He never loses an argument.”

Carlos turned his back, fuming.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes! My blood pressure’s risen because of you, I need to lie down!”

Tch, tch.

What a waste of time.

Clicking his tongue, Carlos leaned on his cane and stood before the door.

And then.

“If this is some ill-natured prank, stop it here. That would be better for both you and that brat.”

Leaving behind that quiet advice, he exited the room.

Slam-!

Staring at the loudly shut door, Conthieu shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, I told you it’s not a prank.”

Fortunately, the hiccups that had jumped out in surprise soon stopped.

Sniff.

Sniffle sniffle.

Instead, I couldn’t stop sniffling my dry nose repeatedly.

Hudson, who had escorted me all the way to my room, looked at me sympathetically and comforted me.

“Don’t pay too much mind to the Former Duke. He just has a rather loud voice, that’s all.”

“Weawy…?”

“Yes, really.”

“…But what if the Duke and the Former Duke fight because of me…?”

“Don’t worry. Those two fight all the time. It’s their daily routine. By now, if they didn’t fight, it would feel a little disappointing, honestly.”

Isn’t that a problem in itself?

Not long after, Hudson, who had been staying by my side with dark circles under his eyes, rubbed his eyes and stood up.

“It should be about time for their fight to be over now. I have a lot to do, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Okey. Thank oo for taking me.”

“Not at all. Thanks to you, I got to skip work legally. I’ll tell a maid to attend to you, so please wait a moment.”

“Okey.”

“I’ll also have her bring a cup of hot chocolate on her way.”

“Huep. I wuv hot chocolate….”

“Then.”

With a bow of his head, Hudson took some medicine from his pocket, tossed it into his mouth, and staggered out of the room.

I waved my hand vigorously at Hudson’s retreating back, but as soon as the door closed, I let out a deep sigh.

Ughhh.

I felt sorry to Hudson, who had kindly comforted me, but my head was still filled with worry and anxiety.

‘I thought I’d meet him someday, but I never thought it would be so suddenly.’

Because of that, my plan to make a good first impression failed miserably.

‘At least I should have introduced myself properly…’

But all he saw was me hiccupping.

Gulp.

‘…And he already seemed to view me unfavorably.’

The image of him shouting angrily, asking if he’d brought a secret child on a whim, was still vivid in my mind.

Moreover, he said ‘an unbelievable secret child’….

That means he’s suspicious of me, right?

‘Suspicious that I’m not the Duke’s real bloodline.’

To be honest, it was a bit of a shock.

I had thought, of course, he wouldn’t welcome me, but a part of me had naively wondered if it might be easier to get through this.

‘Because everyone so far has accepted me without much fuss.’

But thinking about it, they were all servants.

They were in a position where they had to follow the Duke’s orders.

The Former Duke, however, had no reason to do so….

‘To keep living in the Ducal residence, I absolutely need to be acknowledged by the Former Duke, too.’

After all, he would remain the real power behind the dukedom for over 15 more years.

‘…But I still have a chance.’

Even if he suspects I’m not the Duke’s blood, it would be difficult for him to find definitive proof.

‘The only real thing to worry about is a paternity test—.’

Not long after I arrived at Pantebe, I had a conversation with the Duke about it.

“But, what if they say they wanna do a paternity test?”

Fortunately, the servants seemed to believe I was the Duke’s secret child, but there was no guarantee that the direct line of Pantebe or other nobles would believe it.

Furthermore, according to a magazine I read before my regression, nobles use something called a paternity test when verifying secret children.

‘If a paternity test is done, it would be revealed that I’m not his real daughter.’

As I was fretting with worry, the Duke answered nonchalantly.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll handle it, so don’t worry.”

“Handwel it…?”

“Of course. There’s always a way.”

The Duke answered with a sly smile.

‘…He really has a way, right?’

Though doubt surged within me, I pressed my lips together and nodded.

Well, he said there’s a way!

It’s not a problem I can solve anyway, so I have no choice but to trust him.

Anyway!

My goal is to play my role as the contractual daughter well and stick to the Ducal residence for as long as possible.

To do that, being recognized as a ‘member of the family’ by the Former Duke is essential.

If I’m not acknowledged by him, the real power of Pantebe, my future would be…

‘Like a lamp before the wind.’

Even now, I’m on tenterhooks, not knowing when I might be kicked out. If the Former Duke also continuously refuses to acknowledge me…

…Wow, it really seems like life would be tough.

‘So I have to make him my ally by any means necessary.’

No. Even if he doesn’t become my ally, I need to strive to be recognized as a ‘person of Pantebe’.

“I have to stuwdy even hawdwer now.”

Muttering with a determined expression, I hopped down from the chair.

I didn’t have time to be lounging around like this.

‘Let’s go to the library.’

I need to borrow more books!

The Former Duke is, family-wise, my ‘grandfather’.

So this time, I should look for books that focus on grandfathers and granddaughters!

Just as I was about to run off to the library.

‘Ah, right.’

I flinched and stopped walking.

It occurred to me that Eina was supposed to bring hot chocolate.

‘What to do…?’

Gulp.

It was the biggest dilemma of my 4-year-old life.

After tasting hot chocolate at the Ducal residence, the sweet drink instantly became my favorite food in life.

The number one food I want to eat before I die.

The number one food I want buried with me in my grave.

Luxurious chocolate and luxurious milk combining to create the most luxurious sweetness…

The best food I’ve ever encountered in both my previous life and this one.

Gulp.

Just imagining it made me salivate.

I considered climbing back onto the chair but shook my head side to side.

‘No, even so… if I lose my life, there’s no hot chocolate either…!’

I can just go quickly and come back before Eina arrives, no big deal.

I’ll come back fast and read with my hot chocolate!

Steeling my resolve, I left the room, bol-bbol-bbol.

And, I had no idea at that time.

Of the presence of the shadow following behind my back.