Everything felt like a mess.
I had my face buried in the pillow, then slowly lifted my head.
Before I knew it, the sky outside the window had darkened.
I had fallen asleep as soon as I got home, but I kept waking up.
‘Ugh, my head…’
As I held my forehead, the events from early dawn consumed my mind.
…It was the worst. Really, the worst.
There was no word that could describe this situation other than that.
As if it wasn’t enough to take my anger out on Ricardo, I couldn’t even speak properly like an idiot.
Did that mean I felt relieved?
No, not at all.
If I had, at least I wouldn’t regret it.
Knock, knock.
“Young Lady, Lord Blua is awake.”
I nodded at Emily’s words.
“I’ll go now.”
I stood up while roughly brushing my hair. Following behind me closely, she continued speaking.
“Earlier, while you were sleeping, Lord Blua went out.”
“...Grandfather? Where to?”
Emily shook her head.
“I don’t know that much. But he’s seemed quite down since then.”
“...”
“But I’m sure he’ll brighten up once he sees you.”
Emily gave me a thumbs-up.
Does she think I’m some kind of human vitamin?
Still, I figured I should lift the mood a bit before meeting Grandfather.
In front of Grandfather’s door, I lightly slapped my cheeks with my hands and cheerfully shouted.
“Grandfather, it’s me! Bianca!”
As soon as I opened the door, the first thing that greeted me was the scent that filled the room. It was a sedative meant to temporarily dull pain. Then, Grandfather, who had been reading a book, welcomed me.
“Come in, my dear.”
“I thought Brother would be here too, but I guess he already came and left.”
I familiarly brought a chair near the bed and sat down. Grandfather opened the window slightly and said with an awkward expression,
“…The smell is pretty strong, isn’t it?”
“It’s not as bad as my perfume, though.”
“Isn’t that usually called a fragrance?”
“You’ve really never smelled strong perfume before, have you?”
At my words, Grandfather let out a slow chuckle as if he had no choice.
“Cedric came by earlier.”
“Did Brother give you this book?”
On the pink book cover, the grotesque title ‘The Count Who’s Only Mean to Me’ was written in bold letters.
…That’s a romance novel, right?
At my sour expression, Grandfather let out a deep sigh.
“He said I overthink things and gave it to me.”
“That’ll definitely help empty your mind.”
Cedric, really.
I quietly got up from my seat and closed the window. Grandfather narrowed his eyes in displeasure at the sight.
“I’m cold! What if I catch a cold like this?”
“It’s still summer, isn’t it?”
“What’s with you? Summer colds are the worst, you know.”
I shivered dramatically as I approached Grandfather. Instead of replying, he gently patted the chair I had been sitting on.
“My dear, would you sit for a moment?”
Was he about to tell me something important?
Feeling oddly nervous, I hesitated, and Grandfather gave a small smile.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know if the butler already told you, but today I went to the House of Hessen.”
So the destination Emily mentioned was the Duke’s house.
“…There’s something I haven’t been able to tell you.”
Grandfather carefully took my hand. Perhaps finding it difficult to speak, his voice came slower than usual.
“I know that you, Bianca, have been trying to cure this old man’s illness.”
“...!”
“Cedric as well.”
A sense of dread came over me.
“But don’t do that anymore. I think it would be better if you two treasured your time a little more. What do you think?”
“What if there is a way?”
I gripped Grandfather’s hand tightly.
“What if I’ve already found that way…”
His eyes widened at my words.
I hurriedly continued.
“I can take away your pain. You won’t have to suffer anymore.”
“…You always surprise me.”
Grandfather closed his eyes tightly, then opened them.
“So? My dear, do you believe that method is the right one?”
…My guess was right.
Grandfather already knew.
About Eileens, and everything about Drimokan.
Now that it’s come to this, there’s no need for me to hold back either.
“I, actually met Eileens.”
“…!”
“She said she cast the curse because she hated the grandfather who took away her freedom.”
I moved my lips.
“But I don’t understand what was so wrong about Grandfather ending the war.”
It’s not that I can’t understand Eileens’ perspective. But I believe Grandfather, who was once the captain of Carpea’s knights, made the best choice he could.
Because the loser of a war is bound to face a tragic end.
“...Grandfather, why did you accept Drimokan?”
Even though he knew Eileens would surely take her anger out on him.
Grandfather gave a bitter smile.
“They say people live while hoping for the future. But my dear, some people live trapped in the past.”
“...”
“I still feel like I’m on the battlefield.”
Grandfather’s hand, which warmly clasped mine, had only four fingers. He gently caressed my hand.
“I wished for something like that to never happen again. And to make that happen, someone had to protect Drimokan.”
“But it didn’t have to be you, Grandfather.”
My voice came out like a childish whine.
“...If I had known her fury would be directed at those around me, I would’ve chosen differently.”
The moment Eileens awoke was the day of the full moon. Taking advantage of the weakened seal, she cursed the Roygin family.
Everyone died, and only Grandfather was left to suffer alone.
“Still, please don’t apologize to me.”
I cut in before he could finish.
“I’ve never once blamed you, not for a single moment.”
“...”
“Brother probably feels the same.”
Cedric, being so perceptive, surely knew. But he never changed his attitude.
Grandfather gently comforted me.
“Cedric will be a good family for you. Ever since he brought you to me while you were still a child.”
“I’m a greedy person, so just Brother isn’t enough. You have to stay with me too, Grandfather.”
When I heard what Eileens had said, I hesitated. I was afraid of how far her rage, now free, would reach.
But when I sensed the end drawing near with Grandfather, I held onto him without hesitation.
“Bianca, you’re a lot like me.”
“...!”
“I too once pitied her situation. I scoffed at humanity’s endless greed, but before I knew it, when I looked back, her presence had become a massive fear.”
Grandfather continued with difficulty.
“What did she say again? Didn’t she promise me a peaceful rest and speak of her circumstances?”
Struck to the core, I couldn’t say a word.
“My dear, for us, war has no more meaning.”
“B-But what about you, Grandfather? What exactly did you do wrong?”
It was practically a complaint. If only he had said he was the one wronged…
It made me a little angry to see him calmly accepting his situation.
“Did you know, Bianca?”
I only bit my lips tightly and shook my head.
“A person who kills one in the Empire becomes a criminal sentenced to death.”
“...”
“But I, who killed hundreds, was hailed as a hero.”
Grandfather’s lips trembled as he continued.
“Bianca, I am a butcher. Even if I claim I did no wrong, I committed an unforgivable sin.”
“That’s...!”
“I hope that you and Cedric live a different life from mine. I want your greatest worry to be about this moment right now.”
I remembered something Grandfather once told me.
That he hoped I’d live as Ricardo’s wife without anything serious to worry about in life.
“...You may see yourself as a butcher, Grandfather, but I don’t.”
“...”
“I was able to grow up as someone who can look forward to the future thanks to you ending the war.”
I forced a smile.
“To me, Grandfather, you’re a hero.”
His eyes widened as he looked at me.
Perhaps even those words felt like a burden to him now.
But this was the one thing I had to say.
* * *
“Young Lady.”
As soon as I stepped out and closed the door, Atticus, who had been waiting outside, called to me.
“Bring Grandfather more romance novels. He seems to have too many thoughts.”
“You say the same thing as the Marquis.”
Atticus chuckled briefly before handing me a letter.
“More than that, I’ve got good news.”
I opened the envelope with a puzzled expression.
“Congratulations, Young Lady.”
What emerged was a breakup letter.
With Ricardo’s signature on it.
And attached to the next page was the ownership of the Hurrigon Mine.