I’m The Only Granddaughter Of The Strongest Duke [Novel] Chapter 40

Chapter 40

“Huh?”

“The door to that secret chamber isn’t something others can open for you. Only those permitted entry can open it.”

“……Then was that the voice of someone else who had permission to enter the secret chamber?”

Grandfather shook his head.
“No. After your mother died, I was the only one who could come and go from that secret chamber. That place is one that only the heads of the Ferdinand family have been able to enter throughout the generations. The only exception was your mother.”

“Mom?”

“Yes. Your mother was already able to enter and leave that secret chamber when she was ten.”

With those words, Grandfather picked me up and left the conference room.
He strode off somewhere while holding me.
He didn’t tell me where we were going now.

It was clear that Grandfather was heading to that ‘secret chamber’ right now.
The room right where the dragon statues were lined up in the hallway.
As expected, Grandfather’s steps only stopped once they reached the first dragon statue.
Grandfather set me down in front of the dragon statue and said.

“That means your mother was recognized as the next head of the Ferdinand family at the age of ten.”

“By the dragons?”

“Yes. These statues are ones that block intruders. If someone who hasn’t been recognized approaches closely, they attack and bite.”

“……Huh? Even though they’re statues?”

“Magic is cast on these statues, so if someone who hasn’t been recognized tries to pass through this hallway, they open their eyes, wake from their sleep, and attack.”

Grandfather placed his hand on the statue, but the statue did not move.
I also carefully placed my hand on the statue.
And As expected, it did not move.

“That’s why no one can enter this hallway. Not even the maids who clean. But Eve……”
He took a step into the hallway.
Grandfather was now standing in the middle of the hallway where the dragons were lined up.
Standing tall there, Grandfather extended his hand to me.
As if telling me to come here.

“Come here, Eve.”
Without the slightest hesitation, I ran over and firmly grabbed Grandfather’s hand.
Because there was no way Grandfather would make me do something dangerous.
And because the hallway that had already let me pass once didn’t seem likely to attack me again.

For that reason, I didn’t hesitate to stride forward and grab Grandfather’s hand.
I stood in the middle of the hallway holding Grandfather’s hand, and now we were standing where the gazes of the dragons facing us reached.
Grandfather held my hand and walked slowly.
Holding Grandfather’s hand, I walked slowly down the hallway and looked at the statues.
The dragon sculptures did not move an inch from their places,

Somehow, it felt like an illusion that they were rolling their eyes and watching me.
When I gripped Grandfather’s hand even tighter, Grandfather, who noticed that I was scared, picked me up again.
Grandfather approached the front of the secret chamber and carefully pushed the door.
Then the sound of the massive door moving was heard.

It was The exact same sound I had heard back then.
From inside, the sounds of gears interlocking and iron clanking and moving noisily several times were heard, and then the door slid open.
Grandfather entered the secret chamber while holding me.
“This secret chamber is permitted only to the heads of the Ferdinand family. So the previous heads stored their most precious things here.”
As Grandfather stepped into the secret chamber, light entered the secret chamber in an instant.

“Some books, some gold and jewels……”
There were books piled up like a mountain, and gold and jewels stacked high like a mountain were also visible.
Things I hadn’t been able to see back then because it was so dark now gradually came into view.
“Some precious memories…”
Grandfather stopped while holding me.
Nestled in his warm embrace, I stared intently at that ‘painting’ in the bright place.
Now I knew who had brought this painting here.

Because he missed Mom, because the memories of being with Mom were the happiest memories for Grandfather.
Grandfather had personally brought Mom’s portrait into this secret chamber that only the heads of the Ferdinand family could enter.
Mom wasn’t smiling even a little in the portrait, but somehow I thought it seemed like Mom was smiling.

It was tilted a little, so it felt as if Mom was really looking at me.
As I was staring intently at Mom’s portrait, Grandfather carefully stroked my cheek.

“Eve, the fact that you can enter this room also means that this mansion has recognized you as the next family head.”

“But I haven’t even been at this mansion for a few days……”

“But you’re my granddaughter, and Astrit’s daughter. Eve, you passed the statues, entered the secret chamber, and saw your mother’s portrait.”
Grandfather carefully pressed his forehead against mine with a soft bump and said.

“My granddaughter, it seems that from the moment you set foot in this mansion, Ferdinand has recognized you as the next master.”

Even though Grandfather had personally brought me to the secret chamber and explained what it meant to be ‘recognized by the dragons,’ countless questions still remained floating around in my head.
So I chose the person I could freely pour out my inner thoughts to.

[Don’t use a masterpiece sword like that!]

I sat X in front of me and chose to pour out these troubled feelings to X.
“So, do you know anything? About a voice that suddenly calls out a child in the middle of the night or something……”

[Even if you explain it that, I don’t know what voice you heard.]

“But still, you said you’ve lived a really long time. Huh? Isn’t there anything that comes to mind?”

[Would there be? Didn’t I say that me waking up from sleep was after several hundred years in the first place? This kid is demanding more and more unreasonable things from me!]

“Aww, you’re no help……”

[But one thing is certain. The dragons recognized your swordsmanship talent.]

“No, the only time I’ve ever held a sword is when slicing ham, so why is everyone talking about swordsmanship talent to me like this?!”
I shouted with an absurd expression.

[You held it besides when slicing ham!]
X also shouted repeatedly while trembling as if dying of frustration.
The sword body trembled so much that I worried X might suddenly jump and run off like this.
It seemed like it was starting to resemble its master a little, or was that just my imagination.

[Didn’t you fight while holding me! I told you to grip me tightly, and you grabbed onto me who was bouncing around as I pleased just as I said and didn’t let go. That alone was sufficiently excellent.]

“That’s just because my grip strength is good……”

[Does a holy sword and masterpiece sword look that easy? If it had been an ordinary kid, they would have fallen off the moment I leaped.]
X said in a firm voice.

[And I am a masterpiece ego sword. A sword that chooses its master and a sword that recognizes its master. At that time I did get a tiny bit annoyed wondering why a brat like you became my master……]

“A lot.”

[Yes a lot…… No! Isn’t that not what’s important! Because of you the conversation keeps going off track!]

“Aww, I got it. I won’t interrupt anymore so continue talking.”

[Ahem, anyway…… I also don’t know why I chose you as my master. Because my subconscious chose you as master. But isn’t there a reason that the holy sword chose you and the dragons permitted your entry?]
X said.