Chapter 12 …
“The Daughter of the Villainous Heir!
I also stared blankly at the count’s aide, wondering what kind of unexpected ally this was. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat forming on his forehead once.
“W-we are deeply sorry for hiding this. Sir Joseph kept pleading with us so insistently that we couldn’t report it to His Excellency.”
“Truly a disgusting bed.”
At midday, when the sun was high in the sky.
Leo clicked his tongue and simply kicked off the blanket as he got up.
He had returned home after playing card games until early morning, but he couldn’t sleep deeply like usual.
The old-fashioned, worn-out bed was extremely uncomfortable and didn’t fit his body at all.
He had no choice but to move into this estate in exile in order to preserve his dignity allowance as a marquis, but he felt like he didn’t want to live in a place like this even for another day.
As he stepped down from the bed, his long silver hair flowed down dazzlingly. Noticing the movement, Helen and the maids quickly approached Leo.
“Did you wake up?”
Without replying, Leo drank the water the maids brought.
As the thirst accumulated from his hangover was washed away, his mind seemed to clear a bit.
“When exactly are the newly ordered beds and furniture arriving?”
At Leo’s irritated question, Helen took a slight breath and replied.
“We will replace everything with new furniture today. You will be able to sleep in a better bed than the one you used before tonight.”
“It better be.”
Leo replied sharply and slipped his arm into the silk robe the maids were holding open for him.
Even though it was just after waking up, the maids inwardly clicked their tongues at his glowing skin and straight nose bridge.
How could their master drink so much like a scoundrel and still have flawless, dewy skin?
His beauty, more dazzling than most women, felt like something they would never get used to. It truly was an unfair world.
“Shall I prepare the dining room? I will arrange the meal immediately.”
“Do that.”
With a light nod, Leo left the room. Every time he stepped, the wooden floor creaked loudly.
Thinking once again that this was an old, decaying mansion, Leo looked around in displeasure.
The upper floors were barely used, so cobwebs that had not yet been cleaned still remained on the ceiling.
Then, as he went down to the first floor, something that had not caught his attention before came into view.
“What is that little dog-hole-like door?”
Leo frowned deeply.
On the edge of a large wooden door, there was an oval hole that looked like it was meant for small dogs to pass through. It even had a tiny curtain attached, which made it look rather ridiculous.
At Leo’s question, Helen quickly answered.
“That was a private door used by Lady Erusha when she was much younger. It seems Ebot made it for her.”
“…I see?”
Leo replied ambiguously and walked on again.
“Then is that room Erusha’s room?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“…I see.”
Leo deliberately avoided Erusha’s room, sticking close to the wall as he headed toward the dining room.
Erusha’s room.
The room of his biological daughter, whom he had ignored all this time.
He didn’t want to face it, as if confronting an uncomfortable truth he had been avoiding.
He had been too shocked by being forced to live in this old mansion to even think about it, but this place was none other than Erusha’s living space.
He didn’t want to know anything about what that place was like or what was inside…
“Open the door.”
Before he knew it, Leo had arrived in front of Erusha’s room and gave the order.
It was nothing more than simple curiosity.
A meaningless curiosity about what lay beyond the closed door.
In other words, it was absolutely not because he was interested in the being who shared his blood as her biological father.
‘My lord is acting unusual.’
Helen thought it was unexpected, but she didn’t show it and opened the door.
Leo stepped inside, his long silver hair swaying.
How long had the silence lasted?
Everyone was left stunned by the bombshell announcement made by the Colson Count’s aide.
I swallowed dryly at this unexpected windfall. Soon, Duke Schurman broke the heavy silence.
“You’re saying Joseph has gambling debts? Is that true?”
At Schurman’s question, Count Colson stammered in disbelief.
“Th-that can’t be. I already paid them all off— you brat, don’t tell me you’ve done it again…!”
“I haven’t! I absolutely haven’t!”
Joseph shouted, his face completely flushed red.
Was this what chaos looked like?
Someone like me, who had often seen situations suddenly turn into complete disasters even in my past life, almost felt nostalgic.
‘This feeling of truth being exposed is thrilling.’
Joseph desperately denied it, but no one seemed to believe him anymore. As he slowly backed away, he seemed to realize that fact and spoke up.
“W-well, you shouldn’t have frozen my savings! The one who pushed me into a corner was my father!”
“What, what did you say?”
“It’s all because of you, Father! How am I supposed to pay back that much money!”
Whoosh!
Without anyone able to stop him, Joseph turned and bolted away.
‘Huh?’
Someone, please catch that guy!
“Aigoo, oh no…”
“Count!”
While I was flustered, Count Colson grabbed the back of his neck with a groan, and the shocked people rushed over, afraid he might collapse.
Duke Schurman closed his eyes tightly, as if suppressing his anger. His expression almost seemed to say, “Even this household’s son is hopeless.”
I tugged on his sleeve and whispered.
“Look at that, Harabudi. Every household has at least one scoundrel.”
“Cough.”
Duke Schurman suppressed his anger with an even fiercer gaze. Count Colson finally shook off the people supporting him.
With a face that looked like he had aged thirty years, he bowed to Duke Schurman. The atmosphere instantly shifted, as if the initiative had passed from Count Colson to Duke Schurman.
“I have no words to excuse what you have just witnessed.”
“…Hmm. Count Colson, regardless, the fact remains that my son hit the count’s son, so my apology stands. However, I must wonder whether your son truly had no ill intentions.”
The Duke’s already sharp gaze turned even more piercing.
It was certain that Joseph had unmanageable gambling debts, so it was hard not to suspect that he had deliberately approached Marquis Leo.
“T-that is…”
“However, I have no intention of sorting out that dispute. Consider the items I brought as compensation as my sincerity. If you wish to reconsider our agreement, feel free to contact me anytime.”
“Your Grace…”
“I shall take my leave now.”
As Duke Schurman turned and left, the people from the ducal household, including Nocturn, followed him.
I also followed the duke and glanced back.
Count Colson’s eyes shimmered with emotion, as if he had just met a generous saint.
‘Wow, look at our grandfather’s composure.’
Even though he had clearly been stabbed in the back by that fool Joseph Colson, he didn’t even raise his voice once.
Perhaps it was because he had to maintain noble dignity, but it was likely also because the partnership with the Colson family was that important.
As we left the Colson estate, Duke Schurman asked Nocturn.
“Was the Count’s son always involved in gambling?”
“That seems to be the case. The Count has paid off his debts many times. If it weren’t for the chandelier business, the family would have gone bankrupt long ago.”
“Hmph, that bad habit is truly incurable.”
The Duke clicked his tongue sharply.
I seized the moment and quickly ran in front of him, blocking his way. Startled by my sudden appearance, Duke Schurman staggered slightly before stopping.
“Y-you brat—!”
I spread my arms and teared up.
I had to achieve the purpose of following him all the way here.
“I’m sorry, Harabudi. It’s all because of my dad… don’t… don’t kick him out…”
“You—!”
Duke Schurman pointed at me and shouted, but soon fell silent. My appearance must have looked too pitiful.
I clasped my hands together as if praying.
“I was wrong for hitting you, Harabudi. I hit many people until now. But this time, even my dad was being used. Please forgive him.”
“……”
Duke Schurman opened his mouth slightly, then spoke more sternly.
“Didn’t I say that I alone should bear responsibility for apologizing because of Leonardo that brat!”
Regardless, I continued pleading desperately. If I wanted to fix my scoundrel father’s situation, apologizing first was the only way.
“Erusha will study hard from now on. I will try not to make Harabudi worry about Dad anymore. So please trust Erusha. Don’t abandon me.”
“P-please~”
