BDML 02

Chapter 02

“Ah, wait a moment!”

Thud—

But Roberic was faster.

I looked up at his handsome face with an uneasy feeling.

Roberic, looking flustered like he didn’t know what to do, said,

“I found out your name is Idis. I’m sorry… I only learned my daughter’s name just now.”

……Why is he acting so desperate?

I slightly furrowed my brows.

My bad intuition rang like a sharp alarm.

If I didn’t get rid of this man right away, my life would become troublesome in many ways—that kind of warning.

Roberic seemed to misunderstand my silence and lowered himself to my eye level.

His eyes were full of guilt.

“I heard Perion intruded yesterday. If he said anything, don’t remember it. It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“…Your appearance does resemble the Grand Duke quite a bit, but the nature of her mother must not have gone anywhere. I sincerely hope this child is never recognized as a Grand Duchess.”

How could I ever forget that?

Perion had said things that should never be spoken in front of a child.

And the hostility, contempt, and disgust clearly visible in his eyes.

I was lucky I wasn’t truly a child in mind. If I were, it would have been a lifelong trauma.

And all he says is… “don’t worry about it.”

……Let’s just send him away quickly.

Keeping face-to-face like this won’t be good for my mental health.

I swallowed a sigh and spoke.

“I heard from Grandpa. That you—”

“Uncle…?”

Roberic repeated my words blankly.

Then what am I supposed to call you?

Do you expect me to call you father?

I continued firmly.

“That you’re my father. But I have no intention of calling you that. Please leave before Grandpa comes back.”

After finishing, I grabbed the door handle again.

“Ah, wait!”

But it was blocked again by Roberic’s hand.

I frowned and looked at him.

His clear red eyes, moist like dew, were trembling violently.

“Just once… can you give me a chance? Just once?”

And then it came.

The words I never wanted to hear, something I had never even imagined listening to.

What the hell is this, some kind of trashy drama?

“I didn’t know about you. That wasn’t intentional… If your mother had told me the truth, I would never have left you—my child—without even knowing you existed…”

Roberic spoke painfully, as if barely holding back sorrow.

“Idis. Please… give me just one chance to be your father.”

It was a desperate plea.

Why is he clinging to me like this?

Because I’m his daughter?

Don’t you already have a daughter? Alea, in the Grand Ducal mansion.

Ah… wait.

My expression hardened.

Is he doing this because Alea is not his real daughter, and I am?

Because I am his true blood-related child?

……

Even when I read the original story, I never liked Roberic much.

The Grand Duke Bastavan was the one who saved him from his miserable past and raised him.

Because of him, Roberic had a peaceful childhood without pain or suffering.

Even though he was the son of a traitor, he was able to rise to the position of the First Knight of the Imperial Crown Prince only because of the Grand Duke’s support—support even the Emperor could not ignore.

Even if I tried to understand him as someone driven by love, the debt he owed Bastavan was too great to dismiss so easily.

So I did not like Roberic.

I could not like him.

Even though he was the male lead.

The same went for Shastia.

Even now, I clearly remember when Mariette faced her after the sudden broken engagement.

She had acted shamelessly, as if she were the victim.

“…Why are you being so cruel? He, Sir Roberic, loves me. Truly! Do you know how much he cried and suffered before breaking off the engagement with you? Even so, he chose his love for me. So please… let him go now. I beg you.”

Thinking about it again, it was truly a hopeless couple.

If I hadn’t already committed to reading it, I would have dropped it immediately!

Bang—

“Idis!”

Without hesitation, I closed the door.

There was no point in arguing with people who couldn’t understand words anyway.

“Haa…”

I looked up at the tightly closed door and exhaled deeply.

Please… I hope he never comes back.

“…How did I end up being born as Mariette’s daughter…”

Ugh.

I rubbed my face and left the door, where Roberic was surely still standing.

But as expected…

Roberic was extremely persistent.

More than a nuisance male lead—he was like he had evolved into a parasite.

The next day, 11 a.m.

“Idis! Yesterday I think I was too hasty as your father. So I came again—”

Bang!

“……”

The next day, 2 p.m.

“Idis! We didn’t get to talk yesterday. I brought snacks you might like, so please have them with your fa—”

KWAANG!

“Haa…”

The day after that, 3 p.m.

“Idis! You don’t need to answer, just listen to me—”

KWAANG!

“That bastard…”

The day after that, 12 p.m.

“Idis! I noticed you were looking at this item last time, so I thought we could try it togeth—”

Bang, bang bang!

The day after that, 11 a.m.

“Idis. Even if you won’t listen today, I will stay here. Please don’t even close the do—”

Bang, bang bang bang!

“Crazy!”

I slammed the door shut so hard it almost broke, then kicked it in frustration.

He came again!

I bit my lip tightly and glared at the door.

It had already been five days since Roberic started clinging to me.

His persistence was becoming terrifying.

That insane man only showed up when Grandpa was away from home.

Does he have spies watching the house?

I stared at the door.

He was probably still outside.

Just like when I secretly peeked through the window yesterday or the day before—standing there like a soaked puppy, staring at the house endlessly.

And today, he even declared he wouldn’t leave at all.

This couldn’t go on.

I steeled myself and opened the door again.

Click—

“Idis!”

Through the opening, Roberic stood there smiling brightly at me.

“Good! You finally decided to talk to your father!”

I silently looked up at his clean face, which showed no trace of hesitation or discomfort.

……How can he act so normal?

Seven years.

Seven years had passed since he cast aside the proud daughter of a noble duchy and exiled her to the countryside.

And yet he treated me—the child of that woman—without even a hint of hesitation.

Something about this felt strange.

“…What exactly are you thinking? Why do you keep coming? I have no intention of going with you.”

At my blunt words, Roberic’s smile cracked.

His eyes wavered as he looked at me.

“…Idis. Last time I asked… if you could give me a chance. Do you really have no intention of coming with your father?”

Instead of answering, I distorted my expression.

That was my answer.

Roberic bit his lip and spoke desperately.

“Think about it. Living in such a poor, old environment is nothing compared to life with your father. I will give you everything you want, everything you wish to have, so you can be happier than anyone else.”

……

My mood dropped beyond recovery.

I slowly opened my lips.

And asked,

“Why did you abandon my mother?”

I struck his most sensitive wound.

“…What?”

A ripple passed through his bright red eyes.

I watched his confusion carefully.

I was truly curious.

The child of the woman he discarded twice—once for love, and once again when he tried to harm her and her child.

And yet why was he now clinging so desperately to take me with him?

Mariette was known as a villainess even in public opinion.

If I, her child, went with Roberic, I would obviously face hatred and contempt.

Even if he were naive, surely a Grand Duke would understand that outcome.

So I wanted to know what he was thinking.

Even after all these years after the original story ended.

What does he think of Mariette now?

Only then could I understand his attitude toward me.

“…About your mother…”

Roberic avoided my gaze.

“I don’t think that is an important story.”

“…Not important?”

What nonsense is this?

I asked in disbelief.

“Idis.”

He sighed and brushed back his white bangs.

“I didn’t want to tell you this while you are still young, but since you asked… your mother was not the kind of good person you think she was.”

……What?

I stared at him blankly.

“It couldn’t be helped. She was someone who constantly caused problems… No, let’s stop here. It’s not pleasant to hear, is it?”

I moved my lips slightly.

Is that it?

That’s all he has to say about my mother in front of his own daughter?

“…My mother is already dead. Don’t you feel even a little sorry for her?”

I asked, unable to believe it.

But—

“Idis…”

Roberic narrowed his beautiful red eyes slightly.

“The one I feel sorry for… is you.”