ISDM 30

Chapter 30

“Our little pup is all better? You’ve really grown healthy, my dear!”
Elisa’s face instantly brightened as she rushed over and scooped me up, spinning me around in the air.

These days, if I didn’t call her “Grandma,” she would pretend not to hear anything and act distracted.

“Let’s see if you’re really all better. Time for some exercise!”
“Yah!”
I stretched promptly like a little soldier.

‘For some reason, my tongue feels short in front of Grandma.’
Maybe it was because she doted on me so much. Or maybe everyone behaved this way around her.

We’d become quite close over the past few days.
Elisa was… really an entertaining grandmother.

‘At first, she seemed so awkward around me.’
I realized later that it was simply because she wasn’t used to dealing with children.
She wasn’t the kind of grandmother you always see in fairytales—warm and soft—but maybe that was why I liked her even more.

“Come here, child. I’ll tell you an old story.”
“Oh! A story from Grandma!”
“A long time ago, in a turbulent capital swept by bloody winds and a chaotic power struggle, I alone, with just a sword, eliminated my enemies. And with cunning and strategy, I crushed those who slandered me, rising to glory. That long and perilous tale begins now…”
“Ooooh…”

I didn’t know exactly what it was, but it sounded exciting—full of intrigue and bloody battles. And that wasn’t all.

“Come here, child. Grandma has a gift for you.”
“Oh! A heartfelt gift from Grandma! Could it be homemade butter cookies?”
“…? Why would I bake something like that myself? You can pay a patisserie to make them. Here, take it. A diamond.”
“Ooooooh…”

I blinked at a pink diamond bigger than the fists of both my hands put together.

“Play with it however you like.”

Who plays with a diamond like a toy…?
The huge, sparkling diamond was mysterious and beautiful just to look at.
It was too big to carry around, so I polished it carefully and decided to treat it as a companion stone, raising it well.
Grow, grow!

Elisa noticed the diamond by my bedside while watching me exercise and furrowed her brows.
“Why are you treasuring that cheap thing so much? Tch, I’ve already ordered SSS-grade top-quality ones, so don’t make a fuss and just put it away!”
“Ooooh…”
A diamond that multiplies—love it.

Anyway, after thoroughly inspecting my room, Elisa picked me up again.
Today, she wore a tight-fitting silk dress. Being in her arms, I could feel her firm muscles.
She clearly maintained her physical training steadily.

‘Now that I think about it, most of Winterwald’s magic had already passed to Dad.’
I had heard that the snowflake dragon pattern on Dad’s body had been there for quite some time. It had once been on Grandma Elisa’s thigh.

‘So Elisa must have kept the dukedom with a body that had little of Winterwald’s magic for a long time.’
I thought she was impressive in many ways.
Her raw physical strength might have been somewhat lacking, but she had experience, skill, and outstanding political acumen.
Through her, I learned that there are many ways to lead a family.
Though retired now, taking life easy with her burdens set aside, back in her day, Elisa would not have been an easy person to deal with.
Of course, neither would the strict Duke…

“Hmm? What’s wrong with these pajamas? Why won’t they come off?”
“My head…uhh, my head is stuck, it’ll—pop off!”

It seemed she had no talent for removing children’s pajamas.
“Puhah!”
Kate quickly unbuttoned the top of my pajamas, and I finally freed my face.

“Oh, sorry. I rushed too much.”
“It’s okay.”

By now, I was wearing a yellow dress with strawberry patterns on the hem.

“Huh? But what’s this outfit? I’ve never seen this dress before…”
Elisa, who had a slightly peculiar expression, said,
“I brought it.”
“Oh, thank you for the gift!”
As expected, Grandma’s sense of style was amazing.

‘It’s really pretty.’
It was a hundred times prettier than something bought at a clothing store. The embroidery was delicate, and the size fit perfectly—absolutely flawless!

“Do you like it?”
“I love it!”
“Oh… my poor little dear, I can’t believe you couldn’t see this before.”

Huh? What did she mean?
I looked at Elisa with wide eyes, not understanding, but she simply smiled and held my hand.

“Let’s go eat! Your cheeks have gotten so thin!”
“Yes!”

We walked down the corridor happily.
It felt great to stroll through the mansion again—everyone we met greeted us warmly.

Then, at the other end of the hall, I saw Theo holding Aisa’s hand, toddling along after playing outside.
‘Huh?’
It looked like Theo had new clothes too. Did Grandma Elisa buy those as well?

“Um, where did you get the clothes for me and Theo?” I asked suddenly.
When we had visited the clothing store before, I hadn’t seen these designs.

Elisa raised her eyebrows instead of answering.
“Well… you can’t buy these clothes in any store.”
“Wow! Then who made them? They must be a master crafter… no, a diamond-hand artisan!”
“Hahaha! Right! Of all the diamonds I have, these are the biggest and cutest!”
“Huh?”
Who could secretly give me such special clothes…? Who else in this mansion?

I finished a mountain of food with Theo.
Elisa said she needed to go out and returned to the west annex. She had been pursuing hobbies she postponed after retirement, and today she planned to binge her delayed performances. The troupe’s name today was “Metflix.”

Dad seemed busy and wasn’t at the mansion.

After a snack, I decided to go to the east garden with Theo, of course accompanied by the maids who fussed over me.

“It feels so good to be outside again! Right, Theo?”
“Uh!”

The sunlight was warm, and the gentle breeze was refreshing.
I hopped down the stairs in front of the lobby.

‘So spring has finally come to the capital!’
The south always had a mild climate, perfect for crops, so I hadn’t noticed the seasons. But here, the four seasons were distinct, and the change was palpable.

‘I should be playing in the garden today!’
I wanted to plant potatoes, short tomato seedlings, and sprinkle lettuce seeds.
I wanted to pat the soil, water it, and run between the rows!

“Too bad…”
Honestly, I had thought about making a garden in the flowerbeds, but the gardeners managed everything so carefully, it seemed difficult.

“The sunlight is stronger than I thought. Theo, does it hurt your eyes?”
I looked back to see Theo walking with his eyes closed.
“Oh no, I didn’t bring my straw hat from home.”
But it was okay! We’d soon return to Refi Village!

I remembered something Dad said a few days ago:

“When your body recovers, I’ll take you to that little cabin as promised.”
“I’m better! I’m all better!”
“Don’t lie.”

‘Heh. I hope everything’s okay at home.’
I was filled with the urge to return quickly.
Aunt Marsha promised to care for the garden crops, so that was one less worry.
The doors were locked tight, so no thieves could have gotten in.
‘I hope this helps Dad recover his memories!’

I ran toward the stairs, hoping my plan would work.

At that moment, something enormous seemed to flash by in my peripheral vision.
‘What was that?’
I stopped dead in my tracks.
It felt like a huge boulder had rolled past…

“Huh.”
I quickly scanned my surroundings, but there was nothing.

Then, I saw Kate a little further away, staring quietly behind a tree.
Her face was set in a serious expression, and she seemed to nod… or maybe not…?

“Kate?”
At my call, she turned sharply and came over, a small hat tucked under her arm.

“Oh, I found it.”
“Huh?”
She hadn’t been carrying it when we left the mansion.
It was a round, wide-brimmed white hat with a yellow ribbon and a cute strawberry decoration.

‘It matches my dress!’
On her other side, she had what looked like Theo’s hat with little bear ears.

I fiddled with my own hat and tilted my head.
“Huh?”
Who in this mansion could secretly give me such a cute little child’s hat…?