I'm The Only Granddaughter Of The Strongest Duke
Ch. 18

Startled, the female knight jumped out of her seat. We were worried that she would run off somewhere, but thankfully, she was just startled. 

'...Are you sure she's an expert?'

[Are you doubting ME?]

'Yeah, just now...'

I felt sorry for the female knight who was shaking in her boots at the knocking sound, so I rushed toward the door to open it. 

"Who are you?"

"Hello, Miss Eve. I'm the Head Maid of House Ferdinand, Charlotte. You may call me Charlotte comfortably."

A woman in front of the door, who had a slightly larger frame than the other maids, greeted me with an amicable smile. 

Unlike the other maids in this mansion, she had the Ferdinand insignia embedded on the sleeve of her uniform. 

I didn't know what exactly a 'head maid' does, but even a girl rolling around on a filthy market ground like me could tell that she held a higher status than regular maids simply by her attire alone.

"Hello, Mrs. Charlotte. I'm Eve. I'm eight years old this year."

After greeting her politely, I hugged Excalibur tighter in my arms. 

"This sword is Excalibur, and the person behind me is the Ferdinand knight...."

[She's gone.]

Huh?

I looked back to check on the female knight who sat with me just a moment ago. But that female knight disappeared out of thin air! 

I mean, does that even make sense?

With hawk-like eyes, I looked around the reception room and noticed that the corner window was slightly open.

Did she exit through that window?  How can she be this fast?

[I told you so. She's an expert.]

I glanced around the reception room again with a face full of disbelief. 

Charlotte must've sensed that I was feeling uncomfortable by something, so she bent her knees to match our eye level. 

"Miss Eve, are you feeling uncomfortable by chance? Or are you replaceing the dessert not to your liking?"

She must've not heard me mumbling 'Ferdinand knight' earlier. 

"N-Not at all! It was really tasty! Actually, it was my first time eating that..."

I was about to mention the female knight who was with me just a moment ago, but I decided not to. 

'Let's not talk about it!'

That person must've been on some mission, and fled before she could be caught on the act. 

Also, I didn't need to bring her up since she didn't harm me or anything. I could just ask her the reason she ran away when we meet again later.

Charlotte smiled in relief when she saw me waving my hands quickly with a smile on my face. 

"I'm glad to hear that. But was it really your first time eating it? Are you saying that you've never eaten anything like this before....?"

I-Is that a bad thing?

I was quite taken aback and shifted my gaze to the side.

"Huh? Um, yeah, where I live, people don't normally sell fancy food like this dessert. Even if they did sell it, we can't afford it..."

"O-Oh, my goodness! How is that possible!"

The Head Maid exclaimed as if very shocked. 

What's so shocking about it?

'Did I do something wrong?'

[Nah, I think your dad is more at fault than you are.]

'Dad? Why is he at fault?'

But Charlotte intercepted me even before Ex could answer me. 

"I cannot believe this....Shall I bring you more dessert? Which one did you like the most? We will prepare your favorite dessert as much as you want..."

I just blinked in a daze since I couldn't understand what she was pitying me for. So I began to talk after much deliberation. 

"It's alright! I'm already so full! But, um, if you don't mind..."

I hesitated again and said.

"C-Can you pack the leftover cookies for me? I'd like to eat them with my dad once we go back...!"

"...You are going back?"

"Hm? Of course, I have to go home later. C-Can you do that?"

Charlotte still looked confused, so I was worried that I might have made a slip of the tongue. 

"Not at all. Of course, I'll do it for you!"

Her enthusiastic reply and bright smile made me think that I was worried for nothing. 

"I'll pack it up nicely! Also, when someone knocks on the door, you don't have to come out and open it yourself."

"Umm, what should I do then?"

But the person outside couldn't come in unless I opened it for them, right?

"If that happens, you can just say, 'come in'."

Listening to Charlotte, I was reminded of the village chief's words. 

The noble masters are used to living without lifting a hand!

Ah, so this must be what you mean. Now I get it, mister!

When I nodded my head awkwardly, Charlotte got up as if she were satisfied. 

"I'll pack up the dessert for you a little later. You have to go see His Grace first, Miss Eve."

"You mean the Duke?"

"Yes. He's your grandfather. Please call him 'Grandpaaa~' when you see him. I'm sure His Grace will love it. Hoho."

Charlotte smiled and reached her hand to me. I hesitated a little before taking her hand. 

"By the way, can I bring Ex along?  When I met His Highness the Prince, I left him to somebody else because I wasn't permitted to bring any weapons. Even if his position isn't as high as that of His Highness the Prince, he must still be a high ranking figure if he's a duke."

"Yes, of course. You may bring Ex with you~ All the servants are equipped with swords here in the Ferdinand mansion." Charlotte said, showing a short sword hanging around her waist. 

Are you saying everyone in this family is carrying swords around?

[Ferdinand has always been that kind of family.]

Ex murmured. 

'I have no idea....'

So I kept telling myself to not play around from now on.

I took a quick glance at the sword tied to Charlotte's waist before tightening my grip on her hand. 

Still holding Charlotte's hand, we arrived in a place with a lot of clothes. This place was filled up with nothing but clothes. 

'Why did Mrs. Charlotte bring me here?'

I slowly looked up to Ferdinand's head maid, who still looked quite young.

"Um, didn't you say that we're going to see the Duke?"

"Yes, that's right~"

"But why are we here...? Is the Duke here?"

Don't tell me he's among all of these clothes? No way, that's not it, is it?

For a moment, I imagined Duke Ferdinand hiding among these dresses. 

'Oh...'

[Why are you imagining that?]

'I told you not to look inside my head!'

[It was you who was imagining something weird first, didn't you? Why are you taking it out on me?!]

Ignoring Ex, who was grumbling at me, I turned my attention to the maids standing amid the dresses with a serious expression. But then Charlotte ushered me into the center of the room and said. 

"I'm going to help you change into pretty clothes before you meet His Grace. We happen to have a lot of pretty dresses for Miss Eve- no, I mean, for little girls, here in the Ferdinand mansion."

"Hm? What did you just say?"

"It's nothing, Miss! Shall we choose a dress together? Do you have a color you like?"

When Charlotte pointed to numerous dresses, I was just looking at them with a blank expression. 

'Is this for real? Can I wear it?'

[Are you not this family's granddaughter? So by default, these dresses are yours.]

'But the Duke doesn't even know of my existence. How are these dresses mine?'

[That's not what I'm saying....Forget it! You foolish brat!]

I watched the expensive-looking dresses in front of me and grabbed the hem of my worn-out one-piece dress.