Chapter 07 …
“The Daughter of a Good-for-Nothing Heir?!”
“Nocturne?”
‘If it’s Nocturne…’
He was practically the right-hand man of Duke Shurman, his secretary. His impression and sharp eyes were just as cold and sinister as in the original story.
He stopped at an appropriate distance and, as usual, cleared his throat a couple of times.
“I have come to deliver an आदेश from His Grace the Duke.”
“I see.”
I could roughly guess what he was about to say. But surely… I’m not getting kicked out already, right? I swallowed dryly.
Soon, Nocturne unfolded the scroll he had brought.
“My apologies. I was told to read it exactly as written, without missing a single word.”
What could it be? It seemed the Duke’s words were written inside the scroll. Then Nocturne began reading aloud.
“Vacate that mansion immediately, you ba—… bastard. Move into the oldest house in our estate and reflect on yourself.”
“!”
My eyes widened.
‘Ah, now that I think about it…’
Before completely kicking Father out, Duke Shurman had drastically cut down the budget allocated to him.
After repeatedly warning that he would be expelled from the heir’s residence, he was eventually driven out to the worst mansion.
Even so, there was no way that good-for-nothing Father would turn over a new leaf, and now, at this very moment, he was finally being forced to move out of the heir’s residence.
‘Ha… my path to the afterlife is way too clear.’
I’m really climbing each step one by one.
Still, since he wasn’t being thrown out immediately, there was some time left.
As I let out a sigh of relief, Father asked back with a stunned expression.
“You’re taking this house away from me?”
“That is correct.”
At Nocturne’s calm reply, Leo’s face turned cold.
No, Father.
Weren’t you the one who said being kicked out of this family would be a path to self-realization and freedom?
Keeping that cold expression, Marquis Leo spat out venomous words.
“That old geezer has gone mad. Do you think there’s anyone other than me who can handle such a magnificent mansion? This place suits no one but me. Who else do you think fits a residence like this?”
“……”
Was there really such a thing as someone ‘fitting’ a house?
I lifted my head and looked around the mansion.
The walls, pillars, and floors all gleamed with natural marble, and every candlestick and picture frame was gilded.
Compared to this place, the mansion I lived in was basically a primitive hut.
Wait!
‘The oldest house in this estate… that’s where I live, isn’t it?’
Come to think of it, Leo had been exiled to Erusha’s residence.
What a shocking fact. Maybe about 100 meters apart on the map?
I thought I was enjoying a noble lady’s single life thanks to having a whole house to myself, but now an unwelcome roommate?!
Nocturne took a breath and spoke again in a businesslike tone.
“It may be difficult, but this is the Duke’s आदेश, so please comply. He says that hearing news of your relocation would give him the strength to rise from his sickbed.”
“That damned old man…”
Just five minutes ago, he was proudly saying he wanted to be kicked out immediately.
Leo ignored Nocturne’s words, picked up his utensils again, and snorted.
“I will never leave this place. That shabby house doesn’t suit me. Tell that old man I’m not going anywhere.”
Could you at least consider the feelings of the person who lives in that ‘shabby house’?
I wondered if I should say something, but in the end, he would be exiled to where I lived anyway.
Nocturne adjusted his glasses, his eyes sharpening.
He spoke as if he didn’t want to go this far, but had no choice.
“If Your Lordship refuses to leave, His Grace has said that starting today, the budget allocated to your household will be reduced to zero.”
“……”
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
‘I knew it.’
They should’ve cut off his allowance earlier.
Of course, when they did that before, Marquis Leo secretly sold off the family’s rare heirlooms and artifacts.
‘What, is he running a marketplace or something?’
How many were there? Hundreds?
He even sold them at dirt-cheap prices, so Duke Shurman had to spend ten times their original value just to retrieve them.
Some heirlooms were never recovered.
‘I should tell Grandfather later to just keep giving him a budget.’
Better to prevent a bigger disaster.
When I looked back at the Marquis, he took a sip of soup, set down his spoon, and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
In a seemingly calm tone, he spoke.
“Fine.”
“……”
“If my moving will cure Father’s illness, then I’ll do it—just this once.”
Finally, he’s listening.
Whether in the original story or now, the situation remained the same—he would end up exiled to my house.
Leo stood up solemnly and said to Nocturne,
“This is the last duty I fulfill as a son. Tell him that I’m doing this out of the last bit of compassion I have left for him.”
“……”
After making a big show of it, Marquis Leo dragged out a suitcase studded with jewels from somewhere.
Should I call this a nightmare cohabitation?
Unfortunately, even in my previous life, I had never lived in the same house as my father.
Maybe that’s why I really didn’t welcome Marquis Leo’s exile.
It already feels uncomfortable and awkward.
“Damn it, I have to live in this dump.”
The moment he entered my mansion, Marquis Leo groaned and clicked his tongue.
Surprisingly, the mansion I lived in was a neat and dignified three-story building, very quiet and refined.
Though it didn’t have sparkling marble, the wooden floors and walls were still more than respectable for a noble residence.
“This place is a dump, and that place was a dump too.”
Leo looked around in disappointment.
Well, in the original story, he lived here until just before he died, so what can you do?
I spread my arms to block his path.
“Fafher, calm down!”
“What?”
“If you change Count Colson’s mind, Grandfafher will return your house!”
Suddenly, I thought he might do something he normally wouldn’t if it meant getting his mansion back.
Something he wouldn’t normally do.
For ordinary people, that might be unthinkable—but for Marquis Leo, it was desperately needed.
“……Hmm.”
Father placed his hand on his chin, thinking seriously.
“That sounds plausible.”
“Right?”
“Yes. You’re right, Erusha.”
“That’s right, Father! Then let’s go apologize!”
To Count Colson’s family!
The moment I grabbed his arm—
“That won’t do.”
He shook off my hand.
As I looked up at him in shock, he clicked his tongue.
“You apologize when you’ve done something wrong. Living in a rotten house like this—feels like I’m visiting a vacation villa. Not bad.”
He shook his head, trying to rationalize his exile.
I stared at his back as he disappeared up the stairs.
‘I miss Mom…’
“My lady, are you really okay with this?”
“Yeah!”
I answered as brightly as I could.
Ebot and I had secretly slipped out of the duke’s estate, wearing hooded coats.
There was something we absolutely had to find out in the bustling district.
Why exactly had Marquis Leo beaten Count Colson’s son? Since he wouldn’t tell us, we had no choice but to investigate ourselves.
“But you really know where Father’s social club is, right?”
“Of course! I pride myself on knowing all the famous places like that. It’s quite fun keeping up with what’s trendy.”
“Hehe, amazing…”
Could Ebot be a ray of salvation sent to this poor transmigrator?
I held her hand more tightly.
“Thank you, Ebot.”
“Not at all. Actually, it’s nice to see you so full of energy these days, my lady.”
Ebot smiled warmly, but I returned it a bit awkwardly.
‘Sorry, Ebot. This isn’t energy… it’s desperation.’
A fierce determination to survive no matter what.
Soon, we arrived in front of a social club called “Peony & Duke.”
This was the very place where Father had gotten drunk and struck Count Colson’s son.
