Chapter 11
“Please, let my dad get treatment before he leaves.”
Please!
I shrank my neck and rolled my eyes around, and my grandfather sighed deeply.
“Wow… oh, five years left!”
He said it with a forced smile, but the mood didn’t lighten.
I’d been talking the whole time, and even my mouth was tired.
“……”
I decided to just stay quiet. Every time I spoke, it felt like I was sinking deeper into a swamp of despair.
“I didn’t particularly dislike your father. A parent who hates their child…”
Grandfather furrowed his brows slightly with a serious expression and slowly spoke.
“…might exist, I suppose.”
The answer sounded a bit gloomy.
“……”
“I only disciplined him out of a desire for him to do better. The method was just a bit harsh.”
I blinked at my grandfather’s words.
“If you want him to do well… why get angry?”
“…I thought that by doing so, he might develop some ambition. I thought he might try to challenge his father, to make an effort.”
What are you talking about?
Dad loves his family more than anything in the world.
Someone so kind could never become cruel just to defeat his own father.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted him to become someone.”
“Dad can’t do that kind of thing.”
“Yes, I know. He’s far too weak…”
No, no, why are you thinking that way again?
I shook my head vigorously.
“No! Our dad doesn’t do that to people he cares about! Doing that to family would be even weirder.”
At my firm words, my grandfather’s eyes widened.
“It would be strange if a child tried to beat their dad just because he said something mean.”
Why would a person refuse to fight?
Maybe because the opponent is too strong and can’t be beaten.
Or maybe because the opponent is too precious to fight with.
“Dad isn’t weak… he just didn’t want to fight with you, grandpa.”
“…What?”
“If my dad says something mean to me… of course, I’d feel upset, hurt, and sad…”
Thinking about it made me almost tear up. I pressed my eyes tightly and continued speaking.
“But I wouldn’t say something equally mean back to him.”
Because I know how painful that is.
“Who would want to share the pain they know with their family?”
“…!”
I giggled, stomping my feet lightly.
“So grandpa, you didn’t dislike dad either. That’s a relief.”
Now, what remained was a happy conversation to clear the long-standing misunderstanding between them…
‘That way, I could get grandpa’s help, and dad would gain some personal resources.’
Especially for the barbarian subjugation, grandfather’s help was absolutely necessary.
The damage to our territory was quite large.
“So, how about it? How about having a reconciliation time with dad?”
“Re… reconciliation time…?”
“Yes! A time to check each other’s feelings and be honest! I think it’s absolutely necessary!”
I raised my tiny thumb confidently.
“Of course, I’ll stay out of it.”
Grandfather didn’t say anything at first.
Then suddenly, he burst out laughing.
“What an unusual kid you are.”
“I just don’t want dad to be lonely. I get sick a lot… and it makes him sad all the time. So…”
Even if I were to die someday, even if I leave his side…
He should be able to live his own life.
“Even if I become independent, I think dad should still have someone by his side!”
Grandfather clicked his tongue, formed a circle with his thumb and index finger, and lightly tapped my forehead.
“Ah!”
The sting was stronger than I expected, and I held my forehead with both hands, eyes wide.
“You’re too young to be talking about independence and such.”
“Y-yes…?”
“And you’ll meet your father soon… so go play now.”
Grandfather, who had been thinking, handed me a thick envelope.
“Here, this is your allowance.”
“But dad said not to accept bribes when he goes out…”
“It’s not a bribe, so take it.”
“Okay!”
Well, money is always useful.
I calmly put it in my pocket, bowed slightly, and headed toward Valox’s room.
“Bell, tell him to make some time.”
Before the door closed, I heard grandfather’s voice. Looks like the plan had worked.
“Let’s go.”
“Mm.”
I grabbed Valox’s outstretched hand, about to step forward.
“Eh? Bro, I didn’t see you all day, and now who’s that?”
If I hadn’t heard the voice behind me, we would have reached Valox’s room safely.
“Elliot.”
“Oh, hi. Bro.”
Valox acknowledged him.
‘This is…’
Elliot Tigreto.
Valox’s cousin who liked Valox very much.
‘Was he a year older than me…?’
And for some reason, he had hated me intensely since long ago.
No surprise, his gaze toward me was mischievous. A cruel look, as if he was thinking how to toy with me.
Gulp.
I swallowed my tension.
“So who is this? A new toy? Or someone to turn into a toy? Or someone trying to act up and get punished?”
Why are the choices so deadly?
I didn’t want any of them.
Valox frowned too, clearly unhappy with the situation.
“What is he saying? He’s my little brother. Cousin.”
“…Cousin? Did someone adopt him without me knowing?”
“No, he was always our cousin. The youngest uncle’s daughter.”
“Oh… that useless uncle?”
Elliot snickered.
“Can you even play with that kid? Didn’t grandpa say not to? You might lower yourself just by being near him.”
‘…Excuse me?’
My cheek twitched.
“Stop talking nonsense and go. You can’t play today.”
Valox clicked his tongue, turned his head, and tugged my hand to hurry me along.
“Let’s go quickly.”
“Okay.”
I smiled and turned my head, remembering the old saying: the one who endures wins.
Someone once said, if you endure three times, you avoid murder!
“Bro! Don’t play with him, play with me! If you play with that bad bloodline, you’ll ruin your life too!”
Already three times!
But the wise sage said he would tolerate up to three times!
“Because of that useless uncle, our family’s honor has already fallen! Grandpa even hates hearing the name. That useless uncle’s kid won’t amount to much either. He looks weak and pitiful.”
What if it’s four times?
The wise sage would probably allow murder!
“You damn talkative brat!!”
With that thought, I grabbed a vase as big as a face and threw it at Elliot.
Luckily, my aim and strength were terrible, so it fell just in front of him.
Clang—!
Elliot’s eyes widened in shock as he glared at me.
“Hey, did you just throw something at me?”
“I did!”
“Do you want to die?!”
“You die then!”
I lunged and grabbed his hair.
“Ah! Wh-what are you doing! You idiot! You don’t even know who—aaah!!”
“You dare pull my hair, you fool!!”
“You’re dead—aaah!!”
Elliot screamed as I yanked his hair.
