~Chapter 67~
After seeing Prince Ivan, Lady Sennis, Young Master Barker, and the earlier guests off, unexpected news arrived a short while later.
“Grandfather is coming all the way to Cardonia?”
“Yes,” the attendant answered. “We received word that the Grand Duke will be arriving soon.”
Ruby had thought her grandfather wasn’t very interested in the festival since he hadn’t said anything when she left for Cardonia. But apparently, he had planned to come see it himself.
“And your younger siblings will be coming with him as well.”
“Calix, Sasha, and Maria are coming too?”
“Yes. The Grand Duke Lux personally ordered them to join him.”
“Are you sure it was truly Grandfather’s order?”
Ruby couldn’t believe it and asked again. But Raphael answered firmly.
“There is a letter here.”
Ruby checked the letter Raphael handed her. It really was written in the Grand Duke’s own handwriting, stating that he would come to Cardonia together with the children.
Even though she doubted her eyes, Ruby quickly began preparing to welcome her grandfather.
There were still many guests staying at the lord’s manor, so things were already chaotic, but Ruby personally prepared rooms for her siblings to stay in.
It seemed Grand Duke Lux had departed the moment he sent the letter, because not long after, his carriage appeared.
“Grandfather, I never imagined you would really come.”
Ruby greeted the Grand Duke with an emotional expression.
“You used my name to invite all these guests, did you not? If I’m the one inviting them, then I should be here at the lord’s manor.”
Ruby had only planned to borrow his title—she never expected him to come in person.
“Sister, we’re here too!”
Behind the Grand Duke, Calix and Sasha got down from the carriage, along with the nanny holding baby Maria.
“Hello, Sister!”
Sasha ran to Ruby and wrapped herself around her leg.
“Unni.”
Maria babbled happily, reaching her small hands toward Ruby.
Ruby patted Sasha’s head first, then picked up Maria.
“Did you all listen to Grandfather while I was gone?”
Ruby had been separated from the children ever since she began organizing the Cardonia festival. It had only been a few days, but for the children—who were always stuck to her—it had felt long.
“Don’t worry,” Calix said, sounding very grown-up. “I’ve been taking good care of Sasha.”
“When did you ever take care of me?”
Sasha asked in disbelief.
“I was always watching you, so that counts as raising you.”
“You were so busy training with your sword that you didn’t even know whether I ate or not!”
Now that Sasha could speak well, she could argue with Calix almost as fiercely as an equal.
Ruby felt a strange comfort watching the two bicker—Yes, this is the usual daily chaos.
Ruby then looked at baby Maria.
“Did you stay well too, Maria?”
As if understanding, the baby touched Ruby’s face.
“Unni-ya.”
Ruby lowered her head so Maria’s tiny hand could touch her cheek.
Hearing the baby’s happy giggles, Ruby felt relieved.
“Now then, I should receive a report on the current situation.”
Grand Duke Lux waited until the siblings finished greeting each other before getting straight to the point.
“Yes, Grandfather. I’ll go to your study right away.”
Ruby watched him walk ahead into the manor, then entered with the children following behind.
Guests who were passing by widened their eyes in surprise.
It was rare to see the Grand Duke’s grandchildren—most of them had hardly ever shown themselves in public.
To comfort the children, who were not used to the staring, Ruby whispered softly:
“Don’t worry. No one here will hurt you.”
After all, who would dare threaten the grandchildren walking beside the Grand Duke himself?
Calix seemed to realize this and quickly returned to his usual playful expression. Sasha, seeing him relax, brightened as well and even waved at some people.
***
Ruby led the children to their rooms.
“There are many guests staying here, so I prepared some rooms in a quieter wing. If anything feels uncomfortable, let me know anytime.”
The journey from the capital to Cardonia by carriage took a full day, so they must have been tired.
“I like this room,” Calix said, sinking into the sofa.
Sasha immediately ran toward the small dolls placed in her room.
“Sasha likes it too!”
The last room—belonging to Maria and the nanny—was placed closest to Ruby’s own.
Ruby gently laid Maria into the baby crib.
“Rest for today, and tomorrow we’ll go see the festival together, okay?”
“A-boo-boo.”
Maria babbled in response.
Satisfied, Ruby left the room and headed straight to the Grand Duke’s study.
***
Inside the Study
Knock, knock.
The door opened, and Raphael appeared.
“Ah, Lady Ruby.”
He stepped aside politely, allowing Ruby to enter freely.
Thanks to the Grand Duke’s previous order, Ruby was allowed inside without special permission.
“Grandfather, I’m here.”
The Grand Duke was at his desk reviewing documents, not looking tired at all. When Ruby entered, he stood and walked to the sofa.
Ruby waited for him to take the head seat, then sat down.
“I’ve skimmed through the details of the festival you organized.”
“How was it?” Ruby asked nervously.
The Grand Duke looked at her for a long moment, then sighed.
“Most of the festival events are designed for commoners, not nobles.”
“Well… I wanted as many people as possible to enjoy it.”
“That is the problem. Festivals for nobles must be different. Nobles are people intoxicated with their own privilege. If they are not given special treatment, they won’t be satisfied. You should have prepared separate events exclusively for nobles.”
Ruby’s shoulders sank.
Her vision had been to create a festival that nobles and commoners could enjoy together.
That was why she showed Prince Ivan, Lady Sennis, and Young Master Barker an ordinary festival experience. And since they enjoyed it, Ruby believed she had succeeded.
But hearing the Grand Duke’s words… he wasn’t wrong.
As someone who used to be a commoner, Ruby had never fully understood noble privilege.
She realized nobles might spend more money if offered something special just for them.
“Should I prepare additional noble-only events now?”
“It’s too late for this festival. For the next one, remember this.”
Ruby’s head suddenly snapped up.
“T-The next festival?”
“Why are you so surprised? Did you think Cardonia’s population would grow like a snowball from just one festival? You must hold festivals continuously if you want to develop the tourism industry and bring people here.”
Ruby’s face lit with hope.
“Then… does that mean…?”
The Grand Duke spoke with a slightly awkward expression, almost like he didn’t want Ruby to notice he was praising her.
“Your idea wasn’t completely wrong.”
“Creating an arts district to attract artists helped increase the population. And the festival brought in many merchants. From now on, it’s easy to predict we’ll see meaningful results.”
He crossed his arms with a grumpy expression—but to Ruby, it looked like he was shy about admitting she did well.
“You performed the task I gave you… excellently.”
Ruby blinked.
Then she pinched her own cheek.
“Well done.”
It hurt—a lot.
So she definitely wasn’t dreaming.
It was the first compliment she had ever received since arriving at the Grand Duke’s household.
Ruby covered her mouth, overwhelmed.
“Grandfather… do you really, truly mean that?”
“I don’t speak nonsense.”
Hearing such firm confirmation, Ruby’s eyes grew hot.
She barely held back her tears.
With a choked voice, she said,
“Grandfather… I’m so touched.”
She sprang to her feet and hugged him tightly.
Because the Grand Duke was so large, Ruby looked like a tiny insect clinging to an old tree trunk.
“Why are you doing this?”
He sounded embarrassed but didn’t push her away.
Ruby rubbed her head against his shoulder happily.
“Grandfather, I’ll keep doing well! So please praise me like this every time.”
“I’ll praise you if you deserve it.”
“Of course! I can do it.”
“Still as arrogant as ever,” he muttered.
Yet he awkwardly placed a hand on her shoulder—his clumsy attempt to hug her back.
Ruby, moved by even that small gesture, hugged him even tighter.
“Enough.”
“No. I’ll stop only when Grandfather truly dislikes it.”
“That would be now.”
“Nope. Not yet.”
Ruby refused to let go for a long time.
“Good grief…”
The Grand Duke sighed, but he didn’t pull her off.
