I'm The Only Granddaughter Of The Strongest Duke
Ch. 31

"G-Grandfather, no, Your Grace...."

Startled, Eve opened her eyes wide. 

"Eve, I was really worried when you were gone. I thought you were really gone. Do you know how much I...."

Eve hesitated for a moment before she hugged his neck. 

But her surprise didn't end there. Eve tried to slightly pull away and looked at him. 

",,,Y-Your Grace."

"...."

"Are you crying...?"

Eve's small shoulder was getting wet with Theobold's tears. 

"Your Grace....!"

I was surprised and hugged my grandfather tighter than before. 

My shoulder was hot and wet from the tears. 

A-Are you really crying? You must be worried sick about me.

I glanced around and tried to look outside. But I didn't see any window in this secret chamber, and the door where I came from was closed again. 

There was no clock around here either, so I couldn't tell how long I had been looking at my mom's portrait. 

Not to mention,  someone kept talking to me.

[Eve.]

The voice that led me to the portrait kept talking to me! I didn't know how long time had passed while I was sitting here. 

But it wasn't the time to think of an excuse. 

My heart ached for him, so I hugged him and leaned my cheek on his broad shoulder. 

"Grandfather....I'm sorry for making you worry...I really don't know how much time has passed..."

My shoulder was still wet. It was hard to believe that such a grown adult would cry. 

Well, my dad cried a lot, too. Sometimes, after he talked about mom, he would cry alone with his face buried in the pillow.

'But I thought the Duke won't cry.'

I thought a distinguished nobleman who lived in such a cool house would never cry.

But that wasn't the case. 

Even a noble who was seemingly unapproachable like him was also human, after all. 

I held my grandfather tightly, not knowing what to do. 

Not long after, he raised his face. The tears seemed to have dried up a little, but his eyes were so red. 

But when he lifted his face, my shoulders felt a little damp and cool. It must be because all his tears soaked into my clothes. 

"This is my fault."

Yeah, this is my fault, so I will take responsibility.

I stared at his pale face with my arms still lingering around his neck. 

"Your Grace...Were you worried?"

"Yes, I got so worried."

"Are you angry at me?"

"No...not at all. I'm not angry at you, Eve."

Grandfather's big and rough hands cupped my cheeks. I tried to gauge his feelings as his big hands touched my face gently. 

"....."

"I'm not angry. I was just worried. And I really wanted to apologize to you..."

"...Apologize for what?"

"For everything I said during our meal...I said something reckless without knowing how you and your dad had been living."

Then my grandfather continued.

"I swear by Ferdinand's name. I will never say anything like that to you or your dad. My ignorance is not an excuse to hurt a child with my words. I will not make any excuses and apologize to you."

Theobold then added.

"But I'll show you by my actions. I'll never say anything that will hurt your feelings again. I will prioritize your feelings in every situation. It's fine if you don't want to stay at my mansion. I guess this is just my greed. I was just so happy to meet you after so long..."

"Grandfather!"

"When Astrid left this world, I vowed to never do anything that I would regret, but I made a mistake on the first day I met you..."

"Grandfather!"

I couldn't stand it anymore and called him out loud. I cupped his cheeks just as he cupped mine. But my hands were so small that I couldn't cover his whole face. 

'I know my dad calmed down when I did this.'

I knew since I had used this method to calm my father countless times before. Every adult could be calmed in the same way. By holding them this way.

"Can you please hear me out?"

We locked eyes. 

"Thank you for apologizing. I'm glad that you apologized, but not this way! You don't need to beat yourself to it. You went overboard with your apology."

"...Eve."

"Eve, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. That's it! Two sentences are enough. Grandfather, I like people who own up to their mistakes. A person who regrets their actions and apologizes is a good person in my eyes."

My grandfather just blinked in a daze. But I didn't stop there.

"And today,  you said  you were worried about me, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Have you been looking for me?"

"Yes, I've been looking for you."

"Good people care about children and do whatever it takes to bring them back to safety. That's why I feel like you are a really good person at heart. Your Grace, no, Grandfather! Eve's anger is all gone! You don't have to beat yourself up like that just to apologize!"

I let go of my grip on his cheeks and once again hugged him by his neck.

"I'm sorry for roaming around by myself and worrying everybody. I won't do that from now on. My dad must be worried about me a lot, right? I should go back and apologize to him, too..."

My grandfather patted me on the back. It was a bit clumsy but gentle. 

"Yes, Eve...thank you for your forgiveness."

I could feel my grandfather raise his head a little. 

'What are you looking at?'

There was a portrait of my mom behind me. The same portrait that caught my eye for a long time. 

'Are you looking at her portrait?'

Maybe he thought of my mom when he saw me. Just like my dad sometimes.

I didn't rush him. I just stayed in his warm embrace and waited for him to get up. 

My grandfather sat down for a long time as if he was reminiscing about something, and soon he got up with me in his arms. 

"Let's go, Eve."

My grandfather said as he leaned his forehead on my cheek. 

"Your dad is waiting."

"Eveee! My daughterrrr! Where did you go without saying anything? Hmm?"

"Ugh, sorry, Dad. I don't know either. I was already outside when I woke up....huh? Dad? Did you cry, too?"

I reached out my hand to caress his cheek while still in my grandfather's arms.

My dad, whose eyes were swollen, nodded and grabbed my hand. 

"Do you know how worried I was? I thought someone took you away...we all know how scary the capital is."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry for making you worry. I won't do that again..."

"Yeah, don't do that again. Always bring your sword when you go out. Huh...wait a minute..."

My dad tilted his head in confusion as he handed Excalibur to me.

"...What did you say earlier? Who else cried?"

"Uh? Huh..grandfather...."

I looked back at my grandfather. 

"....Huh?"

When did my grandfather's face look so clean? I was sure there was a tear mark until just now.

Puyu:  (っ˘̩╭╮˘̩)っ  ♡.