CH 7

The Asterian family was blown upside down.

After confirming the color of Thiel’s eyes, the old butler hurriedly left, saying that he would bring the family head and the marquis.

In the meantime, the maids escorted Cedric, Ian, and Thiel to the drawing room.

Thiel was relieved to see the kind Ian and Cedric accompany her to the drawing room.

At first, I promised Ian and Cedric that I would do it alone, since I couldn’t bother them anymore.

But…

Gulp.

Thiel swallowed and looked up at the ceiling of the mansion. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.A majestic chandelier studded with huge sapphires was reflected in her tiny golden eyes.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

When I slightly turned my gaze to the side, I saw a gorgeous and extravagant wallpaper inlaid with gold leaf.

‘… It’s huge.’

The chandelier, the statue at the entrance, and the gate of the mansion were lavishly decorated.

Everything in the Asterian Mansion was much larger and grander than the Nestian Mansion.

So the little girl had no choice but to bow her head in a daze from the moment she stepped into the entrance of the mansion.

At this rate, it seemed that she wouldn’t even be able to meet Duke Asterian’s eyes, let alone tell him that she was his daughter.

In such a situation, Ian and Cedric’s companionship was nothing short of a small salvation for Thiel.

Thiel looked up at Ian, who was walking briskly while holding her hand tightly.

It was to remember the kind face of my benefactor even a little more.

Because I might not be able to see you anymore.

Ian and Cedric seemed to think that the people of the Asterian family would welcome them.

‘… Actually, it’s not at all.’

Zender had said over and over again that Asterian loathed her terribly.

Since her mother died when she was born, the Asterian family can’t help but hate her terribly.

In fact, Thiel implicitly agreed with Zender’s words.

She feels guilty of her mother’s death, but what about others?

So Thiel knew. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She knew that the Asterian family would not welcome her as ‘their youngest daughter’.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

However, if I said it with my own mouth, it would make me cry, and it felt like betraying Ian and Cedric, so Thiel kept her mouth shut.

Arriving at the drawing room, Ian pointed to the center of the soft sofa and said.

“Sit here.”

“I can stand here…”

However, Ian didn’t even respond to Thiel’s words and lifted Thiel up and sat her down on the sofa.

“Uh, excuse me!”

“Noisy and sit down. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s weird when everyone is sitting and the main character is standing.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Ian lightly subdued Thiel’s struggles and replied.

Listening to it, Ian seemed to be right, so Thiel respectfully sat with her hands together.

Soon after, Asterian’s maids entered the drawing room with a tray.

On the tray, there were simple snacks, tea, and three or four kinds of juice that a seven-year-old could eat.

The maids placed a small plate in front of Thiel and handed out a couple of chocolate cookies with marshmallows.

Thiel looked up at the cookie once and then at Ian with her mouth open.

The child was actually hungry.

It was because Thiel was stubborn and ate only the bread she brought with her the whole time, but Thiel did not regret her actions.

Because I was really, really thinking that I couldn’t be any more trouble to Ian and Cedric.

However, when I saw the chocolate cookie placed in front of me, my saliva flowed naturally.

So that was unavoidable. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Thiel was a child, and she was hungry now.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Looking at Thiel like that, Ian sighed deeply and picked up a cookie in front of Thiel.

“Come on, eat.”

Cedric also helped.

“Eat, Miss Thiel. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It was given to you to eat comfortably.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

However, Thiel shook her head as she looked at the maids.

She didn’t want to be remembered as an embarrassing child already, considering that they might soon come to dislike her.

When Thiel tightly sealed her lips and didn’t open them, Ian said to the maids while holding a cookie in one hand.

The maids who were standing with trays left the drawing room immediately.

In the huge drawing room, only the three of them, Cedric, Ian, and Thiel, were sitting side by side.

Ian said again, bringing the cookie to Thiel’s mouth.

“That’s enough, right? Go ahead and eat.”

Thiel finally realized that the reason Ian had the maid’s leave was due to his kind consideration for her.

And since I didn’t want to ignore Ian’s consideration, I carefully took the cookie with both hands. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.And then, I bit a little bit.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

It was a little bit, but it didn’t take long for the sweet and bitter taste of the chocolate cookies to spread in my mouth.

Having tasted the sweetness of chocolate cookies for the first time in her life, Thiel’s eyes widened.

But then…

Bang-!

The door to the parlor opened in a clamor. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Thiel dropped her cookie and turned her head towards the sound.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

A man with black hair like the black night sky and golden eyes, the symbol of the black tabard, was striding into the drawing room.

“Lord Celeste.”

Cedric stood up first.

At those words, only then did Thiel know who the man was.

‘That person…’

That’s my dad.

Cassius Celeste Asterian.

Thiel had heard about him from her grandfather, Zender.

He is a man who knows neither his subject nor his position, and he is a very arrogant man.

… Just like Thiel herself.

Is it because she had heard that he hated her terribly that Thiel’s little heart began to beat loudly?

The little girl put her hands together and looked up at the man standing in front of her.

He was looking down at Thiel with a confused gaze, as if he couldn’t understand the situation.

His gaze pressed on the little child.

There was a heavy silence for a while.

It was Cassius who broke the silence first.

“… you…”

Cassius choked up and couldn’t say the next word.

But Ian and Cedric knew what Cassius had not been able to bring up.

He wants to know if she really is his daughter.

Is this the daughter he buried in his heart without even daring to hope for her survival after Lena Nastian’s death?

But Thiel didn’t think so. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.No, it was more appropriate that she couldn’t.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

However, Thiel did not think that way. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.No, it was more appropriate to say that she couldn’t think that way.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Because Thiel thought that the Asterian family hated her.

She thought Cassius couldn’t speak because he was angry at her.

The hardened expression on his face was that of an angry person.

Thiel was well aware of the angry expression. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.That was the only expression she had seen over the years.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Of course, it was determined that Cassius would be angry, but when I faced the angry Cassius, my head turned white.

All the things I practiced for so long disappeared, and I wanted to keep praying that my life would be saved.

However, Thiel got her head together. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She got here with the help of Ian and Cedric, so she couldn’t be sent back to Nestian.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

So, Thiel decided to gather her courage.

Thiel spoke first in place of Cassius, who was speechless.

“… My, my mother’s name is Lena Nestian.”

As she said that, Thiel’s golden eyes shimmered in the reflected sunlight.

It was the same color as Cassius.

“… this, this.”

Thiel held out the necklace she was holding tight to Cassius.

The necklace that the girl had been holding for a long time remained warm.

Without saying anything, Cassius accepted the necklace Thiel handed him with trembling hands.

“This is…”

He recognized at a glance who the necklace belonged to without even opening the locket.

This was what Lena wore around her neck until she disappeared.

Click.

Pressing a thumb on the bulge, the locket opened, revealing a familiar portrait in Cassius’ eyes.

“Lena.”

The white-haired woman smiling brightly resembled the girl in front of him.

He unconsciously reached out to Thiel. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.A trembling hand lightly touched Thiel’s soft cheek.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

At that time, Thiel jumped up from her seat and stood in front of Cassius.

“… I, I have a favor to ask of you.”

And before Cassius could speak, Thiel spoke up.

With her sudden action, Ian narrowed his eyes at the sight of Thiel for the first time.

Thiel’s voice was trembling as if she were scared, and anyone could tell. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.But the little girl was so tense that she didn’t even notice.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Before Cassius could kick her out or get angry, Thiel spoke up.

“Can you please let me stay here?”

And finally, after repeating the words hundreds of times in her head during the journey to Asterian, Thiel struggled to speak them out loud.

“I, I can live with very little, I can even live as if I don’t exist. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I can sleep in the warehouse, I can sleep in the barn, so… I want to stay here.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Thiel’s throat moved slowly.

“I want to stay here.”

At Thiel’s last words, everyone in the room reflexively closed their mouths.

For a moment, silence filled the room.