Chapter 4: Chapter 4
『 Chapter 4 』
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"She kicked him down and after that, she started hitting us over and over again with her book..."
How crazy.
I can't believe you're telling him a lie by twisting the truth cleverly. It's quite shocking that Astall has some brain that could do that.
I wanted to scream to deny what he told me was a lie right away, but I decided to hold it in.
Instead, I stare at my grandfather with a look implying, 'I have something to say!'
"..."
Grandfather catch sight of me looking at him and asked Astall once again, "So you're saying that Florentia started hitting you and Belsach for no reason?"
"Tha, that's...!"
Sadly, Astall isn't so good at making up an excuse quickly and is bad at coping with situations.
<< Among Lombardi's veins, especially those who do not understand if they use their bodies, how can you be a storekeeper who if don't have a brain. >>?
"Florentia hated us from the beginning..."
Feeling a sense of crisis, Belsach's voice spoke out loud, interrupting Astall's hesitation.
The corner of my lips was raised in silence.
"Don't intervene in other people's conversations, Belsach."
Because that's what grandfather despised the most.
That's the reason why I've been holding myself back so far from yelling that I've been falsely accused.
"Where did you learn to be mean?"
Tears filled again in Belsach's eyes, which had been stopped by my scolding. Still, he can't even whimper loudly because of how scared he is of grandfather.
"Continue speaking, Astall."
Now, it's Astall's turn to be tense, and has grown more nervous. The poor boy, who couldn't come up with a proper excuse a while ago, now began to bury his face in his father, Laurel's clothes, to cry.
Well.
That was an ordinary reaction of children standing in front of their grandfather when scolded.
Lulak Lombardi's enormous charisma sometimes even makes healthy grown-ups tremble in fear. They are the children of the Lombardi who have seen their grandfather since they were young.
Most people dared not to even make eye contact.
"Florentia."
When my grandfather called for me, I felt my father's hand holding my shoulders.
"You tell me."
But while asking for my explanation, grandfather didn't seem to have high expectations.
It was obvious.
My past self as a child, Florentia, was an exceptionally timid and fearful child. My father's timid personality is what I inherited from and because of that, I was harassed by my cousins and they can easily get away just like that.
But I respond, looking straight into my grandfather's eyes.
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"You dare say that when my son currently looks like this...!"
"Vieze!"
Eventually, a loud roar broke out of my grandfather's voice.
Vieze, who was about to chew me up, suddenly died down his tone as his shoulders crouched.
A little while ago, seeing that his son was scolded for doing the same thing, he couldn't overcome his mood and intervene.
Like father, like son.
(Vieze and Belsuch)
"Continue."
Grandfather told me coldly.
But at first glance, I could tell that there was something else in that cold eye.
"I was waiting for my father here. But suddenly, Belsach and Astall came and teased me by calling me half-blood. I told him not to do that, so he hit me."
"Hit you? Who hit you?"
"Belsach."
I did not fail to lift my index finger to point at Belsach. "And he called me lowly. He told me to go back to the commoner's village."
Although I'm unable to see him, I know the expression on my father's face when he's listening to me now.
I can feel his hands on my shoulders, trembling with anger. I could've glossed my words over cursorily, but now is my chance and the best time to tell them how I have been treated recently.
I'm sorry Father. Just hang in there a little longer.
"So did you hit Belsuch because of that?"
"No."
"Then why did you do it?"
"That's because Belsuch..."
I took a small breath in and said my words clearly.
"That's because Belsuch told me, 'You're not a Lombardi.'"
My grandfather's brown eyes immediately met mine.
His brown eyes were plain looking, but I recognize his eyes know so much that the criminals couldn't even imagine.
"I am half-blood."
Unfortunately, my mother wasn't licensed to get Lombardi's last name until the end, so I was half-blood.
I have no intention of denying it.
"Even if it's half, but I'm definitely a Lombardi. A Lombardi whom my grandfather will acknowledge."
In the past, I thought I was imperfect because my mother was born a commoner. So I always ignored my common blood, yet my cousins regarded me as half being with no noble's blood at all.
He found it reasonable. That's why he treated me like a servant and not as a member of the Lombardi. Though I became aware of how to manage one's household, I only realized when I left. Furthermore, I'm a hundred times more suitable for the title of Lombardi than those idiots who call themselves Lombardi.
To tell the truth, I'm not inferior as a Lombardi to anyone else.
"He denied my existence as a Lombardi. And I can't stand it."
"He didn't make fun of you because you were mean, but because they said you aren't part of Lombardi?"
"That's right."
I answered along with a nod and deliberately added,
"Grandpa."
This means, 'I am your granddaughter too.'
I wanted to say that I deserve to call you my grandfather as much as Belsuch.
And at that moment, I saw... A faint smile on the lips of an angered, hardened faced grandfather.
"Do your knee hurt?"
Only then did I look down at my knees at my grandfather's words. Blood was running down the skin from the fall.
"Of course, it hurts."
"But you didn't cry. You were such a crybaby back then."
I forgot about that.
Will they think it's weird that I, a crybaby until yesterday, suddenly changed?
Feeling a little embarrassed, I answered quickly. "I will cry. I will go to my room and cry after everything I wanted to say."
"Pfft."
Above my head, I heard my father slightly laughs. At the same time, the tense atmosphere eased off smoothly.
That's a relief.
I secretly swallowed a sigh of relief. The first step I needed to do to become the successor was to earn my grandfather's trust.
The King of Lombardi is my grandfather.
From the large and small things of the family to the heirs, everything goes according to grandfather's will. Briefly, it means that once I earn my grandfather's favour, I will receive my grandfather's beauty.
(t/n: Once she gets her grandpa's favour, beauty meant his title, land, estate, and all his fortunes to protect.)
Although Vieze and the rest of the family may not like me, as long as I'm favoured by my grandfather there is nothing much they can do.
However, being out of my grandfather's sight in Lombardi means an automatic death, so that's all.
This incident happened to be an unexpected accident, but to me, this was a blessing in disguise.
I was wondering how to get my grandfather's attention, but it seems like I definitely took this opportunity to get his eyes set on me.
"Pardon me, Father. I think we'll excuse ourselves to treat Tia's wounds."
My father, who was very wary of my grandfather, carefully brought out his words.
"Hm. Yes, you should. Take her there."
I've gotten permission to leave, I should quickly run away. When I was trying to hold my father's hand.
"Hold on," Grandpa called me.
Oh. Why again?
"Florentia. Does this book belong to you?"
Grandfather asked, who picked up a book from the ground and questions about it.
Titled <People in the South>, the thick covered book was not a children's book at a glance. For instance, it was a very expensive and precious book.
I felt a twinge at the moment.
It's because I had carelessly forgotten about the book and I knew what my grandfather thought of people who use books without permission and the way people treat them.
I have decided to turn myself in.
Grandpa even saw me beating Belsuch with this book, so there was no way out.
"Yes. It is my book..."
I replied as I took the book back with both hands.
"I'm sorry."
"Hm?"
Grandfather looked at me as if he were wondering.
What is it? Isn't he angry?
"What are you apologizing for?"
"Well, that's. That's because of my rough handling of books. Books are meant to convey knowledge, not to beat, no, harm people."
"Didn't you just say that you did nothing wrong?"
He sure does have a good memory too.
I presented not to know and said, "I think it's good to admit you're wrong quickly when you realize you made a mistake."
"Hoho..."
My grandfather, who might have laughed for a moment, told my father,
"Go ahead and bring Florentia to the doctor."
Inside the Lombardi estate is a resident doctor. It's a small hospital where students were taught, studied, and treated people under the auspices of their families.
"Yes, Father."
My father glanced at my bloody knee and carried me close in his arms.
Since I am a seven-year-old child, it was natural for a father to hug his daughter, but her healthy mind is of an adult. It felt a bit awkward to be hugged by someone so sweetly.
Especially to my father, who died a long time ago and never seen again.
"But Father! Are you going to just cover this up? Florentia made Belsuch clean up this mess!"
Vieze, who had been crumbling and distorted, shouted unjustly.
"Florentia must take responsibility for what she did!"
Oh, you moron.
I put up with the desire to bury my face in my father's shoulders. Not being able to grasp the mood, you're still the same as in the future and now.
"Are you complaining about my decision now?"
Grandfather's voice became harsh again.
"No, that's not it..."
"Vieze."
"...Yes, Father."
"You should be ashamed of yourself."
My grandfather, who had only said those words, went back into the room. The remaining members of the Lombardi gnash his teeth, but there was nothing he can do.
"We'll be leaving then."
My father greeted them while holding me in his arms.
I thought we were going to go right away, but as we passed by the offer in the rain, he halted for a while and said,
"Brother, aren't you getting too excited about the children's quarrels?"
"Galahan!"
I covered my mouth shut with one hand, holding in my laughter. Meanwhile, whenever Belsuch harassed me, my father would take care of what his brother had said.
"You, why you...!!"
Vieze was so angered that he didn't know what to do, but my father just walked away with a straight and calm face. I hugged my father's neck and peek from behind and searching for Belsuch. When he made eye contact with me, he shook his shoulders.
I mouthed out my words as I try to suppress my smiling face from laughing.
'I. Will. See. You. Later.'
The quiet guy suddenly bursts into tears, 'Argh!', I was so nervous.
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