Chapter 06…
The Daughter of the Ruined Heir!
“What is this?”
Finally, 3 PM.
The moment he spotted me, Marquis Leo recoiled in shock as if he had seen a ghost.
After obtaining intel from Abbott, I had snuck through a hole in the kitchen wall and successfully appeared in Father’s dining hall.
“Abudi.”
With my dress slightly wrinkled, I beamed brightly. He frowned at the servants.
“I clearly told you yesterday!”
“W-we also have no idea how the young lady managed to get in…”
The servants looked just as flustered.
“Ersha, I’m hungry.”
“!”
Before I could be thrown out, I hurried over to the table.
The chair was a bit too tall for me, so I propped myself up with both arms and lifted my legs with all my strength.
Once I barely managed to sit down, I saw Father still standing there in disbelief.
“You came to eat breakfast with me?”
“Mm-hmm!”
Breakfast was long over, you freeloader!
Suppressing the urge to smack his back, I looked at the servants.
“Ersha also needs a fork.”
“Pardon?”
The servants looked utterly despairing, as if the world had ended, while glancing nervously at the marquis.
He let out a deep sigh.
“Return to your quarters immediately.”
“You won’t even give me food?”
I blinked my round eyes. Father rubbed his face irritably.
“…If you came to talk about a tutor again, fine. I’ve already chosen a teacher for you. So there will be no need for you to come looking for me.”
“…!”
At those welcome words, my face instantly brightened.
After being firmly rejected yesterday, I had been so disappointed—but now I’d finally get a tutor!
“Thank you, Abudi!”
I raised one hand high toward him.
It was a gesture asking for a high-five.
But only cold silence filled the dining hall.
Still glaring at me, Father gestured to the servants.
“Bring her a fork.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“There won’t be any for children, so give her my dessert fork and a teaspoon.”
“Yes.”
Lowering my hand awkwardly, I smiled anyway.
With no other choice, Marquis Leo sat down across from me.
Before long, the servants set utensils and a plate in front of me and served small portions of food.
I picked up the fork and examined it.
Though it was meant for adults, it was small enough for a child to use.
A delicious aroma rose from the omelet on my plate, and I swallowed my saliva.
‘Looks tasty.’
The atmosphere in the dining hall was still cold, but I didn’t want to care about that.
The most important thing was that I survived.
Still, if I wanted to survive, I’d need to fix this family’s future too—since most of its members met tragic ends.
Wouldn’t the family’s happiness become my happiness?
I could leave after becoming independent and live well on my own, but I couldn’t just ignore the miserable original story.
For now, though, I needed to eat first.
After eating for a while, I gulped down some milk and finally brought up the main topic.
“By the way, Abudi.”
“…?”
“Did the eldest son do something to deserve getting hit?”
“….”
“Grandfather is too much. He didn’t even listen to you until the end!”
“….”
For some reason, Father’s expression seemed to darken further.
He set his glass down with a thud.
“That’s none of your concern.”
“What if Grandfather really kicks you out like this?”
“Hmph.”
He let out a short scoff.
A scoff?
“I wish he would kick me out. That troublesome old man.”
“…”
Right.
I hadn’t expected him to suddenly reflect on himself anyway.
“Abudi, would it really be okay if you died?”
“M-my lady?”
The servants were visibly shaken by my shocking question and looked nervously at Father.
I quickly added,
“I mean, if we get thrown out, we might all die…”
We actually will die, you idiot!
As if someone had planned it, the moment we were kicked out, he got hit by a carriage and died—and I died too just for being with him.
And it didn’t stop there.
Five years later, Grandfather would die and pass the dukedom to Oscar—but Oscar would only live three more years. I’d be dead, Father would be dead—everyone would die.
I recalled the original story.
After Shurman died of illness, our protagonist Oscar inherited the position according to Grandfather’s will.
But he fell into extreme suffering every day. The relatives who had survived refused to acknowledge young Oscar as the head of the family and coveted the house.
His retainers and aides constantly pressured him to kill those relatives who threatened his position.
Tormented by assassination threats every night, unable to sleep, Oscar eventually stained his hands with his own family’s blood.
He assassinated his uncle, Louis Shablin, and his aunt, Viole Shablin. When Louis Shablin killed Oscar’s father, Freddy Shablin, Oscar could no longer endure it.
A cruel situation where they had to kill or be killed.
Though his position was secured, Oscar developed severe trauma from the guilt of killing his family.
He suffered from hallucinations.
‘And in the end… he threw himself off a cliff.’
It was a story about the emptiness of power.
Just thinking about the fierce greed and political संघर्ष surrounding the dukedom—just like the title “Who Is the Heir”—and realizing it was now my story made my whole body shiver.
After that, the Shablin family continued fighting endlessly among themselves over succession until they were overtaken and collapsed.
And it was clear that this tragedy began with Leo.
Because the eldest son, the only legitimate heir, died—Shurman bypassed his healthy sons and named his young grandson Oscar as the next duke.
But Marquis Leo spoke coldly.
“Erusha.”
“Mm?”
“This estate and this family are what’s suffocating me.”
“….”
“Your grandfather is the root cause of what’s making us sick.”
“…Ah.”
I let out an awkward sigh.
He says Grandfather is the problem, when in reality Grandfather is suffering because of his useless eldest son.
With a serious expression, he raised his glass.
“If I get kicked out, you should be happy. That will be the day my true self-realization and freedom begin.”
“….”
I had nothing to say to that.
The “self-realization and freedom” he spoke of probably meant drinking, violence, and indulgence.
Then something I had wanted to ask him came to mind.
“But Abudi, you are Grandfather’s heir. Don’t you want to inherit the family?”
He stared at me for a moment, then answered in a calm but cold voice.
“This father values happiness as a human being more than wealth, honor, or the prosperity of the family. A life bound to the family cannot be called my true life.”
“I see… okay.”
I should just eat.
Forcing a small smile, I picked up my teaspoon again. Maybe some soup would help with this bitter mood.
‘Is it even possible to reform that crooked father?’
It felt like every cell in my body was screaming that raising him would be extremely difficult.
In romance fantasy worlds, there are charismatic tyrant dads and mastermind fathers everywhere—so why is mine a complete delinquent?
Instead of being doted on like in a childcare story, it felt like I had to raise my father properly just to survive.
Fine. Let’s not aim for a complete transformation.
‘Just make him normal enough not to get kicked out.’
No hitting people, drink in moderation, and stop causing trouble for others.
Still, it was surprising that Marquis Leo didn’t seem particularly attached to the family’s wealth or power.
‘Even though he looks completely flashy right now, dripping with jewels and obsessed with appearances… he really cares about fashion, huh?’
I sighed and looked away from him.
Just then—
“Your Excellency.”
“…?”
The dining hall doors opened, and a group of well-dressed people entered.
The moment Marquis Leo recognized the person standing at the center, his expression twisted into a frown.
If you want, I can continue with Chapter 7 or refine tone (more formal / more novel-style).
