# 112
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“Yes?”
Leah couldn't understand what was being said, so she tilted her head slightly.
The Marquis, who saw this, bit the soft flesh inside his mouth.
“This cute thing!”
The way he opened his bulging eyes and tilted his head like a squirrel was cute beyond words.
I had no idea why he was so cute.
'Is this the granddaughter joke the others were talking about?'
Of course, Leah was a stranger to me, but that was the only way to explain this unfamiliar feeling spreading within my heart.
However, the Marquis was not particularly dissatisfied with his grandchildren.
Ascart was a good, polite child, and Clara was also polite, needless to say.
The only thing is that he does not have a grandson running towards him and hugging him, saying: “Grandpa!”
But when I saw a child who was not afraid of me and was kind to me, my heart broke.
“So, you can call me Grandpa!”
The Marquis spoke frankly, trying to hide his true feelings.
"Yes . … ".
Then the girl's pupils, which had widened in surprise, shook rapidly.
She may have spoken too frankly, but Leia was speechless and couldn't say anything, and she didn't know that the Marquis was worried.
In my previous life, I would casually say, “Grandpa.”
I called out, and thanks to that the words came out of my mouth without me realizing it.
When the Marquis allowed this title, not a sound came out of his mouth.
One thing has changed.
It is possible that the Marquis is actually my grandfather.
Even though that was all, the words were still stuck in my mouth, and my heart was beating for some reason.
It was then.
“Dad, what in heaven’s name are you doing?”
A voice as cold as frost echoed in the drawing room.
* * *
Yesterday, even though I only heard it once, I knew who that voice was.
My body reacted faster than my head.
As I expected, the woman standing in front of the drawing room was the Archduchess.
She must have just woke up, her hair was long and she was wearing a comfortable dress, looking at me with cold eyes.
But I didn't have time to pay attention to her cold gaze, and my eyes were stuck elsewhere.
The Archduchess's arms, exposed outside the dress, looked so thin and weak that my heart sank.
“Are you okay?”
Now that I thought about it, his face was pale and delicate, like someone who had not seen sunlight for a long time, and he looked like someone who had suffered from illness for a long time.
"I . … ".
It was a moment when I was about to speak without realizing it.
“I came to you as soon as you woke up because I thought you might be lonely, Grandpa, did I misunderstand? It was so outrageous that I thought I was still in bed.”
A cold sound continued from the Archduchess's mouth as she walked slowly.
Only then did I realize that she was very angry.
‘Why? Now that I think about it, what were we talking about? …?’
I was stunned for a moment, and then I remembered that the Marquis had asked me to call him Grandfather.
“I didn't hear that wrong, why not call her my grandfather? So am I her grandfather?”
At that moment, the Marquis spoke as if to confirm the matter.
“Impossible! What nonsense now...”
“What doesn't make sense? After seeing all this fuss over something that doesn't matter, I don't think you need to worry, you look very good.”
"my dad !"
When the two people started raising their voices, my heart sank.
Father and daughter, who have not seen each other for a long time, have to quarrel instead of having a friendly conversation.
I was embarrassed because I felt like this all happened because of me.
"sorry !"
While I was shouting hurriedly, the Marquis and the Archduchess, who were arguing, looked at me at the same time.
"It's all my fault, and I keep calling the Marquis my grandfather. ... I made a mistake in my words, that's why."
When she finally spoke in a timid voice, with a look in her eyes, the Archduchess looked at me with a cold expression.
"You ."
“Yes, yes...”
“Who taught you about interruption in speech? Did you learn that from Duke Elad?”
At that moment, I was speechless and became very sad.
Honestly. …
I expected that.
So far, both Marquis Diabelle and Ascart have been very friendly with me.
It's a little embarrassing, but there have been times when I've felt something akin to affection over preference.
'As if I'm attracted to flesh and blood...'
So, I thought that maybe the Archduchess would love me as much as the Marquis and Ascarte loved me.
But it was a mistake.
My heart, which had been rising with joy at the fact that the Archduchess had looked directly at me and spoken to me for the first time, felt as if it had suddenly fallen to the ground.
I felt very sad and sad, and it was natural for my eyes to shed tears.
But it was definitely my fault that I jumped into the topic while I was a maid without knowing how to do it.
Because of my delusions, arrogance, and comfortable life in Elad, I temporarily forgot my identity.
"sorry."
I quickly bowed down and at that moment, a tear fell to the ground.
I didn't even know I was crying, so when I looked up in amazement, I saw the Archduchess looking at me with her eyes wide open as if she was shocked.
It was then.
Suddenly the Archduchess extended her hand to me.
I felt dizzy for a moment, so I immediately shrugged and closed my eyes.
I opened my eyes, confused. Nothing happened, and I saw the Archduchess with a stern expression.
“Oh, no.”
I just wanted to show my good side, but I made another mistake.
I thought it was really okay now.
Why hasn't this young body been able to kick this habit yet?
But I knew the truth.
The Archduchess's cold expression was so frightening that I was truly frightened.
At that time, I saw the Archduchess slowly withdraw her hand with a stiff expression on her face.
suddenly.
".. … What are you doing now?"
When she unconsciously took the Archduchess's slender hand, she responded as if it were ridiculous.
"sorry."
“Leave it.”
"Yes . … ".
Feeling disappointed, I dropped my hand very slowly and bowed to the Marquis.
“Then, Marquis, I hope you have a good treatment, I will go now.”
". … Yes."
The Marquis, who froze with a surprised expression when he saw me crying, nodded slowly.
I gave him a small smile as if to reassure him.
Ever since she mentioned the word “treatment,” the Archduchess had noticed that the Marquis was injured.
It was a small wish that we would not continue fighting even after I left.
“Hey, Leah, it's cold, don't leave, I'll get you a cart.”
At that time, the Marquis caught me with a nervous expression.
Even though they were right in front of the house, the two palaces had very large spaces, so the distance to the front gate was very long.
But it wasn't so much that I couldn't walk for a walk.
I did not attend with Princess Diana, so I could not get such attention in this case.
So it's time to say it's okay.
“Leah?”
The Archduchess remained silent for a moment and raised her eyebrows.
"Is that your name?"
“…Yes, my name is Leah.”
After being taken aback by the unexpected question for a moment, I quickly answered.
This is because I remembered that the people of the Principality of Pylos who heard my name always showed a hidden reaction.
I don't know what the signal might be, but I thought it might help reveal my identity.
“It's a name that doesn't really suit you.”
But the words that came back were unexpected and cold.
“Stella!”
At the same time, the Marquis shouted at the Grand Duchess as if to scold her.
It looks like another big battle will break out.
When I saw that, I didn't think I could hold on any longer, so I quickly nodded and left the living room as if I was running away.
The feeling was indescribably miserable.
It was sad, disappointing and painful.
Even though I knew I wouldn't feel full after the first drink, it was all very stressful.
then.
“Leah!”
I heard a voice calling me from behind.
When I turned my head, Bianca was lunging at me.
Now that I thought about it, I thought I saw her as I was frantically leaving the living room.
Maybe she came with the Archduchess from the beginning and I didn't notice it.
“Hi Bianca.”
This is the person I really wanted to meet again.
Maybe because of my situation, it was very awkward.
As expected, Bianca spoke with a stern expression, as if she had seen the whole situation before.
“Leia, I know you may feel insulted by Her Highness’s words, but please understand.”
“...What do I have to understand?”
I have to say it's fine.
Maybe it was because my mind was at a loss for words, but I answered honestly without realizing it.
“Leah, Emily, Emma….they are all just common names given to orphans in orphanages.”
Not only was she labeled a spoiled maid, I didn't even like her name.
I became depressed beyond words.
When she sighed and looked sullen, Bianca shrugged, swallowed her sleep, and said.
“Well, she's worried because your name is the little princess.”
". … Yes?"
What does this mean again?
My eyes widened when I thought that I might be able to find information about the missing princess.
“Princess...what is her title?”
I asked, careful not to let my voice shake.
Bianca closed her eyes tightly, as if suppressing a faint sadness, and then opened them.
“Yes, he gave the Archduchess a name and title even before she was born. It is ‘Leia’.”
Only then did I remember the facial expressions of the people who stopped at my name, including Bianca.
“…Hey, Bianca, can I ask the princess’s name?”
When I asked, barely holding my beating heart, Bianca smiled bitterly and nodded.
“Adriana, it's Adriana Bellos.”