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“Did you eat?”
I sat down on the empty sofa after the cigarette smoke had cleared a little and asked.
“…You came here just to ask that?”
“Not really. But isn’t that the kind of question a daughter can ask her dad?”
Dad blinked blankly at me, then looked away and shook his head.
“No, not yet.”
“Oh, come on. You mean you drank six bottles on an empty stomach?”
I pointed at the six whiskey bottles rolling around on the table, shocked.
Dad mumbled an excuse.
“That’s not it. I just didn’t clean up. I only drank half a bottle just now.”
He motioned with his chin at the half-empty bottle nearby.
I sighed. That was his idea of an excuse?
“Can you try drinking less? I’m not saying quit right away, but at least cut down little by little.”
“…”
“I’m not a doctor, but I can already guess your body isn’t in good shape. Something must be wrong somewhere. So please, call a doctor today, get a proper check-up, and if they say to stop drinking, then do as they say. Okay?”
“…”
“Okay?”
“…I’ll handle it.”
He avoided my eyes awkwardly.
Guess he wasn’t used to his daughter suddenly caring about him.
“I’ll come tomorrow to check if you actually called the doctor.”
“…”
“I will come.”
Dad stared at me, then finally gave a reluctant nod.
“…Fine.”
“Good.”
“So, what’s your real reason for coming?”
“Oh, right. I did have something else to say, but I’ll get to it later…”
I thought of Rob, who was probably still trembling by the door, and spoke.
“It’s about the head butler.”
“Rob?”
“Yes. Something unpleasant just happened. He told me to go back to my room instead of letting me see you, saying I probably didn’t have any real business.”
Dad frowned.
“Did you tell him not to let me see you or something?”
“No. That servant’s gotten too arrogant.”
“I knew it…”
I pulled a gloomy face and went on.
“Actually… about a month ago, I was really sick in the middle of the night. I woke Rob up and asked him to call a doctor, but he told me to just go back to sleep. Said he’d call one tomorrow instead.”
“What?”
“I tried to endure it, but it really hurt. Still, Rob looked so annoyed, I just gave up and went back to bed.”
“…”
“And the next morning, he totally forgot. When I asked again, he complained I was too much trouble. Honestly, it really hurt my feelings.”
I wasn’t making it up.
That happened to Rubette, not me, but it was still true.
I pouted.
“That’s not the only time. There are so many things he’s done that upset me. He always makes me feel ignored. Maybe it’s just in my head, though?”
“No.”
Dad closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead in frustration.
“He must be senile or crazy. I’ll replace him. I’ll tell Viego.”
“But Viego isn’t in charge of the staff.”
“What are you talking about?”
Dad froze.
Since he’d handed over his authority, he thought my eldest brother Viego, was managing everything in the house.
“But he can’t handle it all alone. Grandma’s been managing the staff for a long time now.”
“Oh, I see.”
He nodded after thinking it over.
Guess he figured something small like staff management was fine for Mother to handle.
“Then I’ll tell Molga—”
“Grandma really trusts Rob. She’ll never let him go.”
“…”
“Dad, as the young lady of this house, I seriously think Rob’s attitude at work is a problem. You understand what I mean, right?”
My words were polite, but my face was firm.
Please fire the head butler.
Dad read between the lines and nodded slowly.
“Alright, I got it. I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Thank you. Sorry to bother you.”
“It’s nothing worth apologizing for. So then, what’s the real reason?”
“Oh!”
I gave a sheepish smile and folded my hands.
“Could you lend me some money?”
“…Money?” Dad raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, quite a lot.”
He frowned.
“You came all the way here just to ask for allowance money?”
“No, not allowance. I mean a loan. I’ll pay you back. I just need a big sum to try something.”
“….”
“So if you could just write me a promissory note under your name, I’ll withdraw the money from the bank.”
Even though the house had plenty of money, I insisted on borrowing from the bank.
Dad looked puzzled.
“Why? No matter how much you need, you can just ask Viego. He’ll give it. It’s not like the family can’t afford your expenses.”
“But then I’d have to explain everything to him. I need about three hundred million marks, and I’m only fifteen. He’ll definitely disapprove.”
That’s about three hundred million won in Korean money.
It was a shocking amount, but this family was loaded.
Dad still looked confused.
“He wouldn’t disapprove. He’d give you the money if you asked. Why can’t you just ask him?”
“Because we’re not that close.”
I answered right away.
Dad’s mouth dropped open a little.
“And even if I did, next time Grandma would definitely scold me.”
“….”
“And besides, I’m still young. If I go around spending that kind of money openly, people will talk. So let me use your name instead. I don’t want it for free, I’ll pay back the principal with interest.”
Dad stared at me silently, then stood up and walked to his bedside table.
He rummaged through a drawer, pulled out a sheet of paper, scribbled on it with a pen, stamped it with his seal, and came back.
“…Here.”
He handed me a promissory note. It had the Duke of Diorus’s signature and seal.
With that, I could borrow basically unlimited funds from any bank.
A blank check, practically.
“Hehe. Thanks, Dad.”
I gave him my brightest smile.
Dad froze, staring at me. Then he rubbed his forehead tiredly.
“If you’re that worried about appearances, fine. Use my name to borrow the money. But you don’t need to pay it back.”
“No, I will. I don’t want to use your money. Thanks for letting me borrow your name.”
I tucked the note into my dress sleeve.
Dad looked baffled.
“You don’t want to use my money?”
“Well, I’m fifteen. I should start being independent. I can’t live without you forever. Just this once, I’ll ask for help. After this, I’ll earn my own way.”
“Hah…”
Dad’s jaw dropped.
“I can’t believe a fifteen-year-old is talking about independence. You’re still a kid. You need your parents’ money, and their care.”
“Really? Did you ever take care of me?”
My quick retort froze him.
“Just the other day, I fell into the pond in the garden. Did you even know that?”
“What? How?”
“I jumped in on purpose. To die.”
“…!”
As expected, Dad’s eyes shook wildly.
Then I smiled playfully and spread my hands.
“Kidding. I slipped and fell. I’m fine now, so don’t worry.”
Of course, no one would joke about something like that.
If he had any sense, he’d realize I wasn’t really joking.
For a moment, we just looked at each other in silence.
“I’ll go now.”
“Wait—”
He reached out, then froze when he saw my face.
“….”
I put on my best performance—my award-winning expression.
In one fleeting look, I showed hurt, anger, contempt… and finally, calm resignation.
The face of someone who expected nothing anymore.
“You know, Dad.”
I said with that sad, complicated expression.
“I really hated how indifferent you were. But you’re still my dad, so I tried to understand. I don’t have any memories of Mom, but you do, so I know it must’ve been hard for you.”
“Rubettria.”
“I always wanted to eat meals with you, go out together, even pout and throw tantrums like other daughters do with their dads…”
“….”
“But I know you’re struggling. So I won’t expect it anymore. If even your daughter, who still needs care, can’t get your attention, then you must really be exhausted. Right?”
Dad’s lips trembled. He had no words.
Everyone pitied him for losing his beloved wife and barely surviving after that.
When he dumped all his duties on Viego at age fourteen and ignored his only daughter completely, no one ever criticized him.
So my blunt honesty must’ve hit him hard.
“Just keep living the way you have. Pretend I’m not even here. I won’t bother you, and I’ll take care of myself from now on.”
I left the room, hoping I’d really shaken him up this time.
