On a wide road.

Unknown masked figures patrolled around the only carriage.

Within the vigilant escort, the carriage that drew attention started moving somewhere.

It was the Imperial Commander and the mansion of Marquis Hubert Bengham.

The unfamiliar road intrigued Nia, who had not been on such a journey before. She stuck to the carriage window, looking around with curious eyes.

What would Grandpa’s house be like?

The places the child had experienced since birth were five: a small nursery, a dirty warehouse, the Imperial palace, the military training camp barracks, and Ivan’s house.

Thinking about Grandpa’s house this time, passing the endlessly long wall, the carriage finally stopped briefly in front of a solid iron gate.

Looking at the child who was preparing to get off, Grandpa shook his head, as if saying it wasn’t time yet.

Leaning back against the soft chair, Lucia looked out the window again as muscular attendants, who had been waiting, pushed the iron gate aside. Once again, it was a beautiful avenue lined with maple trees.

Although it was not actually a long road, the child, who had lived in the palace all along, felt differently, having never seen the vastness of a grand mansion compared to the strict palace.

Amidst this, as the building finally began to appear, Nia was surprised and leaned out of the window.

Similar to what she saw in the palace, a grand mansion adorned with a splendid fountain and divided into three parts.

A much larger building than Ivan’s house, which she had considered the best so far.

If that was Grandpa’s house, what kind of king was Grandpa from some kingdom?

Humbert spoke to Nia as if he were caressing her.

“Nia, it’s dangerous. Come here.”

“Um. Grandpa, but, but there are three, three houses…!”

When his granddaughter exclaimed with surprised eyes, Grandpa just nodded and smiled.

Indeed.

Humbert was quite wealthy.

As the first hero of the founding, he received the title of Marquis and was given a large mansion connected to the capital along with the territory in the sunny southern region.

“Nia, my dear, have you arrived.”

“……!”

Finally, the wide entrance of the mansion they arrived at. When the child who got off the carriage hid behind due to the grandeur of the mansion and the unfamiliar people, Humbert nodded at the butler who had been waiting.

The butler, who briefly nodded and hid something behind him, carefully brought it forward in front of the child.

What the butler held in his hands was a golden-furred puppy, fluffy like a dandelion seed.

It was a cute and small friend, sleeping in the butler’s hands like a marshmallow.

“…A, a puppy…!”

Suddenly, the child’s golden eyes shone brightly, and her cheeks were filled with life.

A cute and small friend almost to the point of tears.

“How about it, Nia?”
“E, Cute!! Too, too much!”

A child’s love for puppies is like an unwritten rule.

Humbert secretly raised the corners of his mouth at Nia’s reaction.

“It seems that the guard dogs gave birth to puppies this time. So, where is someone to take care of those puppies, even for a short time…”

“…M, Me! I’ll do it, Grandpa!”

“Hahaha! Will you do that for me?”

Seeing his granddaughter rolling her small feet in front of the puppies, a satisfied smile broke out on Grandpa’s face.

He, too, had a kind but somewhat weak side, like any other grandfather.

‘If it continues like this, I’ll probably persuade her to come to Grandpa’s house to see the puppies. Then Lucy will gradually come into this house. Hahaha!’

While taking care of his granddaughter, he also planned to bring his disobedient daughter home.

Thus, Humbert began to envision a peaceful and happy life with his adorable granddaughter and his stubborn daughter.

Whether it happens or not, the child, who had put down the rice cake behind her, grabbed her reddened cheeks as the fluffy puppy followed her.

Such a shy child and an innocent puppy, what a sight.

The mansion’s servants welcomed the owner’s granddaughter with warm smiles, holding their hearts.

In the dining room fireplace, which was rarely used, logs were piled up.

It was for the splendid dinner with the suddenly appeared granddaughter of the mansion.

The butler of the mansion prepared many things to carry out the master’s command.

‘I must plant good memories for the child to want to come back again.’

Under the master’s command, there were all kinds of dolls, soft silk dresses, and dishes that suited the child’s taste until the table was full.

It was undoubtedly a tempting feast to make even his own children reluctant to leave.

However, the granddaughter, who sat listlessly despite such efforts, only played with the puppy on her lap.

It was because of the child’s instinct to seek her mother when tempted, even in the darkening temptation.

Seeing that, the butler nervously watched the master’s expression.

But eventually, a deep sigh was heard.

“Nia, do you still hate your mother?”

At the grandfather’s question, the child was startled, shaking her head vigorously.