I'm the crazy heir's daughter Chapter 4

Ch 4

He was dumbfounded by his outburst. The unlucky old man he was talking about was Duke Schurmann.

The Duke, who valued honor, had high academic expectations for his children and grandchildren and poured much investment into them.

According to the Duke's educational philosophy, the tutors of the Sableen ducal family were also giving them Spartan discipline and endless pre-learning.

For that reason, my cousins were struggling with homework every night, and thanks to that, they were treated like geniuses.

'That's nice!'

Why am I the only blockhead~.

A serious shadow fell over my face.

"Ersha, I want to be first."

"What?"

The Marquis looked back at me again at my serious voice. He had a bewildered expression, as if he had heard something he shouldn't have.

"I want it, Sensei."

It was that moment.

"Leonardo, you scoundrel!"

A loud, dignified shout echoed, as if shaking the entire building.

The shout had already entered the same space.

"Did this scoundrel get drunk again and break someone else's son's front tooth?"

Thump!

Duke Schurmann Sableen entered, hitting the floor with his cane. The sound was like thunder.

It seemed that nothing good would come from being noticed by my grandfather here, so I hid behind Ebbott.

Peeking out, I saw all the servants bowing their heads and trembling like aspen trees.

And in the middle of them, my father...

'He's the only one being defiant.'

The Duke came in, bringing a mountain of anger, but he alone was calm.

My life is at stake!

I swallowed hard and grabbed Ebbott's skirt.

The Duke was already standing face to face with the Marquis. Only then did I properly see my grandfather for the first time, and I couldn't hide my surprise.

'He's scary...!'

Even though he was my grandfather, Schurmann was surprisingly imposing and fierce.

His tall height, similar to Leo's, his intense golden eyes that seemed to burn, and his dark gray hair, streaked with white in places, were neatly swept up without a single strand out of place, making his sharp impression even stronger.

Meanwhile, his mustache curled up at the ends like a comma, which made him seem even more difficult.

He was handsome enough to not fall behind anyone, not only in his youth but also now in his old age, but he had a wild demeanor.

However, Marquis Leo, standing opposite him, overwhelmed his father the Duke's charisma with his unique mystique and radiance. He was, in fact, boasting an elf's proportions and a cool winter tone that transcended human beings...!

'Is he not his son, but a completely different species?'

I looked back and forth at Leo and Schurmann with wide eyes. It was a moment that made Leo's reputation as the mutant of the Sableen ducal family feel real.

And Erusha, who strongly resembled Marquis Leo's features...

'She was insanely cute.'

As I was admiring the appearance of the Leo father-daughter duo, Duke Schurmann spoke in a majestic low voice.

"Is it true that you broke the front tooth of Count Colson's son?"

My heart vibrated at the sudden cave-like voice. Even without a single shout, a fearful feeling enveloped me to the point of tears.

So my grandfather was such a scary person.

My heart pounded so fast it felt like it would jump out of my throat.

'I'm not going to be kicked out of here suddenly, am I?'

However, the Marquis turned his head with an expression that said, 'Who's barking?' and frowned.

"The scoundrel deserved it."

"So you were right to hit him?"

"I didn't do anything wrong."

"!"

Schurmann's face turned redder at Leo's retort. He suppressed his anger and opened his mouth with difficulty.

"Do you know who Count Colson is? If that family withdraws the partnership contract because of this, do you think you can bear all the losses? How many times have I told you not to harm the family, even if you ruin your life like a scoundrel?"

Schurmann finished speaking with a solemn and fierce tone. I couldn't help but worry about his veins, wondering how much anger he was suppressing inside.

'That's why Duke Schurmann didn't live a long life.'

In the original story, the Duke did not live very long. After Leonardo and Erusha were expelled and died, he suffered from regret and chronic illness and died five years later.

As a result, the male protagonist of the original story became the head of the family at the young age of eleven, and he was Oscar Sableen, one of my cousins.

Oscar, who was six years old this year, was the first son of Freddy Sableen, my grandfather's second son.

He was already an incredibly exemplary student, and the protagonist who eventually became the next Duke amidst all the family's power struggles surrounding the successor.

As of now, he was a being with a role opposite to mine.

Although Oscar's ending was as tragic as my grandfather's...

'Anyway, this is a big problem.'

The person my father broke the front tooth of was Joseph, Count Colson's son, and the Colson family was an important family for my grandfather's business. Indeed, my grandfather had fallen ill because the partnership contract was canceled due to my father.

It was a future I had to prevent.

"I'm tired of being angry at you."

"I told you, the scoundrel deserved it."

"Shut up, you scoundrel! Ugh."

"Your Grace!"

"Duke!"

Gasp!

Startled, I covered my mouth with both hands.

Duke Schurmann grabbed the back of his neck and leaned backward.

The servants quickly approached him and supported him, a scene that passed slowly before my eyes.

"We've brought the stretcher here!"

In an instant, people brought a stretcher from somewhere. It was a luxurious stretcher adorned with splendid decorations and jewels.

In the chaos, the Duke raised his hand with difficulty.

"It's alright. I will walk out on my own."

"Really? Are you sure?"

Despite the worries of the people, the Duke moved his steps with difficulty, relying on his cane.

He looked precarious, as if he would collapse at any moment, yet each step he took was majestic, as if he would remain steadfast forever.

As the Duke and the servants receded like a tide, an awkward silence settled in the Marquis's residence.

I blinked blankly.

Will my grandfather be okay?

He's constantly stressed, so he must have developed a chronic illness.

Suddenly, I heard a clicking sound from somewhere.

I turned my head and saw my father.

"The old man is being dramatic. Go get a bottle of whiskey."

The Marquis turned away lightly, as if he didn't need to be there anymore, and left somewhere.

No, his own father almost collapsed, and that's his reaction...?

I was speechless, unable to believe it.

It made me realize anew that he was indeed the most notorious scoundrel in the empire.

'That scoundrel father...'

I narrowed my eyes and glared at his retreating figure for a while.

***

"Damn it!"

Inside the mansion, everyone had gone back.

Marquis Leonardo Sableen, in his bathrobe, threw every visible liquor bottle he could get his hands on.

Clang! Crash!

"Damn them all!"

Today had been the worst day for him.

Not only did Erusha suddenly barge in, but even that old man showed up.

The strong liquid from the broken bottles seeped into the carpet, and the smell of alcohol filled the room.

The smell of alcohol.

It was this very smell of alcohol that bothered him.

He was always soaked in alcohol anyway, but today, for some reason, that fact was unpleasant.

Paradoxically, the only thing that could suppress this unpleasant feeling was also alcohol.

"Your Excellency the Marquis!"

"Are you alright?"

At the sound of breaking glass, Helen and the other servants rushed in. The Marquis's room was already devastated.

Only then did Leo walk erratically and sink deep into the rocking chair.

The broken glass shards reflected the moonlight, gleaming coldly.

"I told you never to let Erusha into my residence."

"We apologize."

"Has it been so long that everyone has forgotten?"

"It was an unexpected visit for us as well. The young lady has never done this before."

"Don't let her appear before my eyes. I mean, I don't want to see that child."

Just a moment ago, Leo's heart nearly dropped when he faced Erusha.

She was a child who should exist as if she didn't exist to him.

Why did Erusha suddenly appear before him?

She was a child who would hide first if they ever almost ran into each other outside.

She had never approached him or spoken to him first.

In a way, that made him feel more at ease.

Because she disappeared from his sight and didn't make him feel uneasy. He could usually forget that he had a daughter who bothered his conscience.

'But why?'