I’m The Only Granddaughter Of The Strongest Duke [Novel] Chapter 54

Chapter 54

“Did you really run all this way just to say that?”

“I didn't run. I simply walked at a brisk pace.”

“Usually, we call that running…”

“Why must you constantly talk back to a Prince?”

Lemartes spoke with his usual prickly tone, shooting me a sharp glare.

I quickly covered my mouth with both hands before my runaway tongue could offend
the prickly Second Prince any further. He must be exhausted after three hours of
that show; why is he picking a fight with me instead of going to rest?
anyway, I kept all those ‘disrespectful thoughts’ strictly to myself.

“You have the look of someone thinking very rude things.”

Of course, he caught on in a single second.

Ignoring my reaction, Lemartes looked at me, then at Excalibur, and spoke.

“You’ll be seeing me again soon. I’ll come to the Ferdinand estate.”

At that moment, a gentle breeze swept through the air, lightly brushing
Lemartes’ bangs. His soft silver hair fluttered in the wind, revealing his
crimson eyes. However, unlike our first meeting, his expression seemed somewhat
relaxed.

I stared at the softened Lemartes for a moment before gathering my courage to
ask.

“About that, Your Highness… are you really coming to learn swordsmanship?”

“Yes.”

I desperately wanted to avoid that, so I tried to subtly talk up those foolish
Heroes.

“Those Hero misters seemed really talented, though…”

“They are nothing but mercenaries. I have no idea why my Father decided to
appoint someone like that as an instructor for my brother and me.”

“Still, the Emperor must have had a reason…”

“It doesn't matter.”

His ironclad defense crushed my attempt before it could gain any ground.

He was a tough opponent. Lemartes let out a small, smirk-like laugh, as if he
could see through my schemes with his eyes closed, and rested his hand on the
hilt of his sword.

“If I can receive basic training alongside you at Ferdinand, I will surely be
able to surpass my brother.”

“I see…”

“I look forward to the day we train together. I’ll see you soon.”
The boy looked at me with such a resolute expression that I couldn't bring
myself to throw a tantrum and say I didn't want to take lessons with him.

Protesting after seeing eyes like those is the sort of thing a four-year-old does. Yet the fact that he’d managed to best Eve Royce, the Level 8 Master of Protests and Level 13 Grandmaster of Stubbornness, showed he was a genuinely tough rival.

But what could I do? He was the Prince of the Empire. Sometimes, you just have
to take the loss. Pick your battles when deciding when to throw a tantrum! That
was the motto of my eight-year-old life.

Therefore, I gave him the most! excited! and happy! nod I could muster.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it too…!”

I must not have looked very excited, though.

Lemartes asked with a suspicious look, “You don’t look very pleased. Are you
actually happy?”

“……”

“Eve?”

“Daaaaddy!”

As soon as I hopped off the Ferdinand carriage, I dove straight into my father’s
arms. The maids gasped as they saw me clinging to his chest like a baby koala,
but Grandfather didn’t pay it any mind.

He simply glanced at me and patted my head. “You’re just like Astrit.”

While I was briefly thinking about her, Dad popped a large candy into my mouth.

“Mmph!”

I immediately started gnawing on the giant sweet. Dad, having soothed my fragile
mind and body with sugar, began a barrage of questions.

“Eve, how did it go? Was the palace okay? You weren’t scared, were you? Did
anyone treat you poorly…?”

As expected, my dad was a pro at parenting. He knew exactly how to handle an
eight-year-old. But business is business. I looked up at him while rolling the
candy around in my mouth.

“Dah-dy, are yu a dummy? Gwan-pa was wif me, how couwd dey say anyfin to me?”
(Daddy, are you a dummy? Grandfather was with me; how could they say anything to
me?)

Dad squeezed his eyes shut and gave my cheek a quick peck. “True, but I was just
so worried about my princess…”

I crunched the candy into pieces, swallowed it, and rested my cheek on Dad’s
shoulder.

“I’m always sharp and clever no matter where I am or who I’m in front of, so you
don't need to worry, okay?”

“Okay…”

“The Heroes couldn't pull Excalibur. They couldn't admit defeat, but they went
home anyway. You don't have to make fourteen backup swords or whatever they
were.”

I neatly summarized the situation while tucked in his arms.

“And the Emperor said thank you for putting up with the Heroes’ ridiculous
demands, so he’s going to grant me a favor later. I’m still thinking about what
to ask for. Should I ask for a nice house? One where just you and I can live…”

“Huh? Eve… you aren't going to live with Grandfather?”

“Oh? Oh, right. Grandfather. I forgot Grandpa was here.”

Oops. I’d completely forgotten about Grandpa. I clapped my hands together, and
Grandfather, who was about to pass by us into the mansion, turned around with an
incredulous look.

“Eve, how could you forget your own grandfather?”

I hesitated for a moment before answering clearly.
“Well, I’ve lived with Dad for eight years, but I’ve only lived with Grandfather
for a month. Besides, Grandfather already has this huge, wonderful duchy… I
didn't think you’d need another house.”

I figured he wouldn't want to live anywhere else when he had this place. But
Grandfather’s expression only grew more bewildered.

“If you need a house, I will buy it for you. If you need a carriage, I will buy
it. If you need a dress, I will buy that, too. So, ask the Emperor for something
else.”

“Oh? You’ll really buy me a house?”

“What? A house?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Grandfather looked at me with a slightly troubled expression. “I can buy you one
if you ask… but isn't this place your home?”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, this is Grandfather’s house. I want to have my own house. Auntie Olson said
everyone needs to achieve ‘home ownership.’”

“Home… what?”

“Home ownership.”

When I answered firmly once more, Grandfather looked at me with genuine doubt.
“Are you truly eight years old?”

“Geez, if Eve isn't eight, would she be nine?”

Grandfather shook his head as if he couldn't handle me and headed inside. Dad
quickly followed him, still carrying me.

“It’s chilly because it’s evening, isn't it, Eve?”

He made sure to tuck me tightly against his chest so I wouldn't catch a cold.

At that moment, X, who had been listening to our entire conversation from my
back, vibrated loudly! He spoke in a voice full of conviction.

[If you listen to the way she talks, she’s not eight, but eighteen!]

[I mean you’re 'pretending' to be mature.]

But instead of my usual bickering, I chose to gently stroke his smooth scabbard.
X vibrated faintly, as though he were feeling uneasy.

[…Did you eat something weird?]

I didn't answer him.
@thought
‘I can’t tell you yet.’

Indeed, indeed. I could absolutely not tell him that I’d thought of a brilliant
business idea after seeing the Heroes struggle with X at the palace today.