Chapter 159
After the banquet ended—
I went to report to Grandfather about the Empress Dowager.
“Ah, Grandfather!”
Grandfather happened to be in the hallway.
Just as I was about to speak, my second aunt, Bastina, hurriedly caught up from behind.
“Father~!”
“What is it?”
“I have good news. My Selene has been nominated as a candidate for the Sacred Flower!”
“Well done.”
“Everyone says Selene is amazing. In high society, they call her the emergence of a new saint, saying the Sacred Flower position is as good as hers.”
“Tell her to keep up the good work.”
Bastina’s face soured at Grandfather’s indifferent attitude.
She looked as if she expected more and couldn’t believe it ended like this.
“Huh?”
Then she noticed me and frowned.
‘I’ve been here the whole time, you know?’
“What are you doing here again? Aren’t you supposed to be studying instead of following Father around?”
‘Is she talking about herself?’
Bastina’s words perfectly described her own actions.
Both Bastina and her husband had no talent for making money but were experts in spending it.
It was well known in Astra that they were always asking Grandfather for money because they never had enough to spend.
It was obvious that she came here under the pretense of talking about her daughter Selene to ask for money.
‘I don’t mind if she leans on a reliable source, but it’s problematic if she slanders me.’
I blinked innocently and spoke to Aunt Bastina.
“I came to talk to Grandfather about the Empress Dowager.”
“What?”
At the mention of the Empress Dowager, Aunt Bastina frowned.
“Why would you need to talk to the Empress Dowager?”
“She invited me to her tea salon, and I wanted to ask Grandfather what to do.”
“The Empress Dowager’s tea salon?! How did you get invited there? Even the Sacred Flower can’t get in!”
“I gave Her Majesty a painting she liked. She seemed very pleased with it.”
“That’s impossible. Why would someone who has all sorts of precious paintings want one from you…”
“Her Majesty said she and I have a similar eye for art.”
That was the highest praise. For a ten-year-old like me to have a discerning eye comparable to the Empress Dowager’s.
Aunt Bastina was speechless and stared at me.
I pretended not to notice and continued.
“I heard His Majesty the Emperor often attends the tea salon. Is that true, Grandfather?”
“Well.”
“Do you dislike His Majesty, Grandfather? Then, I won’t go to the tea salon.”
Aunt Bastina reacted as if she were having a fit.
“What?! Are you crazy? Why wouldn’t you go to such an event!”
“But…”
I approached Grandfather and grabbed the hem of his coat.
“I don’t like people who upset Grandfather, even if it’s His Majesty the Emperor.”
“No, but His Majesty…”
As Aunt Bastina murmured in a panic, Grandfather cleared his throat.
Ahem.
He tried to act like he’s unaffected, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
Grandfather said,
“Bastina. If you have nothing more to say, you may leave.”
Then, with me still holding onto his coat, he walked to his study.
* * *
In his study, Duke Astra immediately spoke to Erylotte.
“Why does it feel like it’s been so long since I’ve seen you?”
“Huh? But we saw each other yesterday?”
Seeing Erylotte’s puzzled expression, Grandfather’s aide screamed internally.
‘Miss, please!’
“Ahem.”
Duke Astra pretended to be indifferent, but the lieutenant knew better.
Duke Astra had been eagerly anticipating Erylotte’s visit. No, he had been very eager.
“Why don’t the third generation receive residential education like they did when they were young?”
It wasn’t that he wanted to see all of his grandchildren, but he used that as an excuse.
Duke Astra himself thought he was the same as always, but it was clearly different.
The difference between the days he saw Erylotte and the days he didn’t.
Duke Astra, already known for being strict, became even more irritable when he couldn’t see Erylotte, turning into a professional complainer…
Just thinking about enduring his constant nagging made the sky look bright yellow.
‘I can’t take it anymore!’
Unable to tolerate the Duke’s nagging, the aides spent several sleepless nights trying to introduce a boarding system into the advanced education curriculum.
However, they soon faced tremendous opposition.
It was Erylotte’s father, Daymond Astra.
As soon as the idea of introducing a boarding system in the advanced curriculum spread, Daymond came to find the lieutenants.
“It’s too early for you all to die.”
The aides wanted to scream.
Caught between the Duke in front and Daymond at the back, what were they supposed to do?
‘Should I quit my job…?’
There seemed to be no way out.
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