ISDM 20

Chapter 20

Since it was the first time an 8-year-old child had appeared in the family, Blaine probably came back with a sack full of toys, feeling both worried and excited. There were probably unreleased new products too… So, how much would that cost…

“Sweetheart, don’t blame yourself too much. Maybe we startled him because we came so suddenly. Kalek, I didn’t notice at first, but the child seems pretty timid, doesn’t he?”
“…I’m not sure.”

Kalek replied nonchalantly.
‘I thought he wouldn’t be scared by just about anything.’

Something felt off.

Leaving Kalek behind, Blaine rummaged through the sack.
“You said it’s a girl….”

The old man, once a notorious mercenary king and legendary weapons dealer, had a charred face that looked deeply sullen.
“…I even made plenty of embroidered dresses in the carriage.”

Shhhrrk.

The maids held their breath. The hems of the cute dresses were densely adorned with intricate strawberry embroidery.

‘Wow, damn. Blaine’s embroidery skills are amazing.’

Was that even possible on a shaky carriage? No, could those thick hands even hold a needle? How did the thread go through the eye? Did he moisten it first?

Curiosity surged, but I couldn’t approach Blaine at that moment.

“That’s enough… A trash like me is better off just making killing weapons like before.”

With his shoulders slumped, the old man trudged out of the dining room.

Sigh. “Self-esteem’s gone down again. Kalek! I’m going to take care of my love, so you take care of your daughter!”
“It’s not a daughter, hm. Anyway, the maids have handled it.”
“Huh? You won’t soothe her?”
“The maids will handle it properly. Better than I could. And…”
“…”
“She’s going to be sent away in a month anyway.”

Elisa, who was about to turn away, stared at Kalek intently.

Even though she had been away from the estate, she wasn’t unaware of what was going on there. She had picked up on the interactions between Kalek and the child over the past few days.

‘Hmm.’

Kalek lifted his head under Elisa’s cold gaze.

She thought he had been serving beside her like a servant.
‘Was that just my imagination?’

Then she realized: Kalek was currently taking a “avoidance and refusal” strategy.
‘Come to think of it, I heard he can’t control himself in front of the child.’

Unless it was Alec (27) floundering on purpose in the magical recording, the current 22-year-old Kalek still seemed to be struggling with the disconnect between his mind and body.

“Well, do as you please. I wouldn’t know about parenting anyway. But have you looked into what I mentioned?”
“Looked into what?”

Elisa waved her hand, dismissing the servants.
“I meant the reason you’ve kept the child close for the past five years. That is…”
“…The child’s usefulness?”

Clack.

At that moment, Kalek set down the documents he had been holding so coldly. A chilling aura radiated from him that couldn’t be hidden.

“…8 a.m. wake-up. 5 minutes of morning exercises.”

Huh? What?

“Remove sleep gunk, wash up, and from 8:30 a.m., run for 30 minutes in front of this office. With my younger sibling. Then breakfast at 9. After that, light tea time.”
“…”
“Until noon, she lingers around the maids, then after lunch, she chatters while holding onto the trees around the estate. Sometimes she even sings. Skill level? Quite good. 4 p.m. snack with the maids. 7 p.m. dinner. Ends with a bath. Then she locks herself in her bedroom.”

“You’re seriously like a servant?”
“What use is a child who spends a day like this?”

Elisa’s eyes narrowed.
‘Not particularly eager to cherish her, but I hate to see others exploit her.’

When visible, instinct wins and she treats her well; when not, reason wins and she pushes her away.

Wow. This delinquent child’s future is going to be full of regrets.
‘Ah, that’s my son.’

Elisa shook her head.
“No, I just wondered if the child might know anything about the divine beasts. Hidden powers… something like that. Maybe over the past five years, you gave hints to the child.”
“Mother, even if there’s anything else, she’s pretty clueless. The size of a candy, not powers.”

That was true. Elisa nodded.
“I’ll handle matters regarding the divine beasts myself. So let’s skip unnecessary talk. She’ll be leaving soon anyway. Leaking family secrets unnecessarily would not be good.”
“Alright, alright! Ugh, tiresome child. You never lose an argument.”
“It’s late.”
“I’m going!”

Elisa stomped away, still standing straight out of habit. She paused, turning back once more.
“Hey, Kalek. There’s a truth about love I’ve learned from being with Blaine. Something I didn’t get to teach you!”
“Oh, my, this conversation is dragging; can’t help but yawn.”
“If you don’t express your love, they won’t know!”
“Hah.”
“The thing I, and our household, are worst at! You delinquent!”
“Mm.”

Kalek moved only his lips with a stiff, expressionless face.

Elisa smiled softly at the secretary entering at that moment.
“Luska? Deal with that one.”
“Lady Elisa…”

Exhausted from overtime, Luska adjusted her glasses calmly.
“It seems like an extremely tempting offer. Shall we discuss the details?”

‘Wow, that was terrifying.’

I pressed my pounding heart gently. I didn’t even remember how I had crept up to the 4th-floor bedroom.

“But I didn’t look scared, right, Theo?”

I was proud of myself for taking care of Theo while running away.

But Theo shook his head firmly.
“Huh?”
“Looked scared? No way! I just ran out because I was busy! You wouldn’t know I ran!”
“Huh!”
“I only teared up a little…”

I recalled what happened in the dining room: the towering old man approaching me, his face flushed. Thinking of the dark shadow he cast, my body froze again.

But now I thought I might have heard Elisa’s voice.
Then… that person was?

‘Could it really be Blaine Winterwald?’

As expected of his reputation. He was terrifying, a truly imposing grandfather. His size added to the intimidation.

Of course, my father was big too, but I was used to him.

‘I was planning to avoid him as much as possible.’

Total failure from the start. Honestly, I never imagined Blaine Winterwald would come looking for me first.

‘Running away in front of someone. Was that a bit rude?’

My shoulders slumped.

Before thinking of him as a scary grandfather, he was my father’s father, so I should have behaved properly.
‘I should apologize next time I meet him.’

Hng. I probably got on his bad side.
‘Still, I must apologize politely.’

Still… still… I hugged Theo tightly to calm myself.
“Even thinking back, that size is terrifying…”

As the days passed, the estate grew busier. The commemorative parade was just around the corner.

I moved around while Theo napped, like usual. After running into Elisa and Blaine that day, I didn’t see their faces much.

I heard they were staying only in the western annex.

Of course, I was busy too, so I had no time to think about them.

‘Today, I’ll definitely find the protective magical tool!’

Clenching my fist, I tiptoed down the stairs.
“Found it, the storage room.”

Among the many storerooms, this was the last one! Thanks to the map given by the head maid, finding it wasn’t hard.

The basement storeroom wasn’t locked. After all, who would dare steal from the Winterwald estate?

“I’m just Ha-ji.”

Formerly a thief, I cautiously examined the shelves.

Ah, correction: technically, this wasn’t theft.

Before losing my memory, my father had always said to me:

“Lilin, everything that belongs to Dad belongs to you. Follow along. Dad’s stuff is yours!”
“Everything of Dad’s is mine! What’s mine is mine!”
“If you teach one, she’ll understand ten! Good girl, well done!”

‘Everything of Dad’s is mine. What’s mine is mine…’

So, technically, I was just using my own things.

Though I felt a twinge of conscience, I eventually found a shelf full of magical tools.

‘Found it! Protective magical tool!’

My eyes sparkled as I saw the label on the box at the bottom shelf. Carefully opening it, a small magical device appeared.