Chapter: 328
After hugging for a long time, my grandmother finally released me with a little cough. She seemed embarrassed to show such strong emotions to someone she had just met, even if it was her granddaughter.
“I’m sorry. I’ve gotten so emotional in my old age…”
“Oh, no. It’s all right.”
I hurriedly shook my head at her apology. No one in this world would criticize a mother for shedding tears over the loss of her child, and my grandmother’s tears were a mixture of sadness for her daughter and the joy of accepting her granddaughter. It would be absurd for me, nestled in her embrace, to deny those tears.
Instead, I felt grateful to her for showing such honest emotions. She wasn’t pushing me away because I was a human hybrid but was focusing on the elven blood that flowed through me.
“Your mother was a carefree spirit even as she aged, but here you are, so mature despite your young age. I see you’ve inherited your father’s temperament.”
Still, getting treated like a child was something I couldn’t get used to. Even though I had been treated like a kid by other elves back home, receiving affectionate gazes from someone with wrinkles made me genuinely feel like a child. It was the first time I experienced anything like this since my real grandmother had passed away.
Well, from my grandmother’s perspective, I must seem like a baby at just over 500 years younger than her.
“Excuse me, dear.”
Stuck on my grandma’s lap and fumbling for words, she cautiously opened her mouth.
“Is it okay if I call you Trixie?”
At her words, my body went rigid. Trixie—a name I hadn’t heard since my parents passed away. It was my nickname that only family used to call me.
In that moment, emotion surged, but I managed to hold it back. Having a family call me by my nickname was a happy occasion. I certainly shouldn’t cry now.
“Yes, Grandma.”
“Then you can call me Grandma too.”
“I will, Grandma.”
At my response, Grandma beamed like the sun. I probably had the same expression too.
I had found my grandma after 121 years, and she gained a granddaughter.
Something felt off. Did my grandma see me as a baby crawling on the ground?
“Since Ariadne was about 200 years old, I’ve been looking forward to a grandchild. I imagined what name to give them, what clothes to dress them in, and how to teach them. Just thinking about it made a month pass quickly.”
Such heartfelt and touching words, but right now, they didn’t register properly in my ears.
“It seems you already have a beautiful name, and you seem to have grown up well, so I’m not dissatisfied, but I wish…”
Everything else faded because my eyes were glued to something miraculous—a stunning outfit Grandma had just lifted up. This outfit, brimming with her love, was something she had made herself for her grandchild.
Honestly, I could smile at just a cute outfit. Little kids naturally wear small clothes, and no one can resist the cuteness of tiny outfits that no one else can wear. I could already picture how adorable a little baby would look in that lovely dress.
“I thought the young ones wouldn’t need interference from an old lady, so I only made clothes, and look how they piled up.”
The problem, however, was that the sizes of Grandma’s lovingly crafted clothes were incredibly varied. There were outfits for a regular baby, clothes for a toddler just learning to walk, and even dresses that would fit a fully grown adult.
Yes, there was a dress meant for an adult hanging in Grandma’s hands.
“Goodness.”
My head spun. A pink frilly dress? Even without reaching adulthood, I’d freak out and refuse that if I hit my teenage years!
“If my grandchild is a girl, I thought she’d look lovely in this, so I put some extra effort into making it.”
But as I saw Grandma looking at me intently, I had a feeling I was destined to wear that dress.
This was driving me nuts. Of all the outfits, she just had to hold the one I could actually wear and emphasized that she put effort into making it. How could I possibly refuse after she had just cried over me and called me by my nickname?
“What should I do?”
The answer was clear. I’d have to squeeze my eyes shut and ask Grandma, “May I try it on?” She’d be over the moon.
I knew that in my head. I really did. But still, I had a sense of dignity and honor built from my time in human society—
“…Is it perhaps not to your liking?”
“It’s so pretty! Can I try it on right now?”
As I thought about it, I was in elven society. I could set aside my human societal notions for the moment.
*
As I felt like I’d suffocate if I kept my mouth shut, I forced myself to keep the conversation going, when suddenly, footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Just like that, our conversation abruptly halted, and all eyes shot toward the stairs. Everyone’s attention and concern were focused on Marcilio, so it was only natural. Even the Young Lord was quietly sipping his juice, staying on the sidelines.
And then, descending from the third floor was just the Elder.
“I dodged a bullet,” I thought.
Relief washed over me. I didn’t know the details, but if Marcilio was still up there, the worst situation was avoided. That meant a casual conversation, rather than a confrontation.
“Who is this child named Carl?”
“Oh, that’s me.”
The fact that Marcilio was looking for me, his partner, hinted at a more positive situation than a negative one. If it were a situation filled with bad intentions, he wouldn’t seek anyone out.
“Come up for a bit.”
With that, the Elder pivoted and walked away swiftly. There was no friendly vibe, but I didn’t feel any hostility either. It felt like a government employee dealing with a civil complaint.
That was more than enough. Receiving neutral treatment from someone who despised humans was an honor—almost miraculous considering we were meeting for the first time.
“I heard from Trixie that you’re promising a future together?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
As I followed the Elder up to the third floor, I nodded vigorously at her words.
At the same time, I couldn’t help but smile. If Marcilio was using nicknames like ‘sweetheart,’ it meant we had barely skated by the worst case and landed on the best possible outcome—
“Not that I’m particularly thrilled.”
I managed to keep my expression in check.
After all, even if he recognized me as a granddaughter, it didn’t change the fact that her granddaughter was involved with a human. Now that he had officially accepted me as a granddaughter, he’d probably be vigilant about picking a suitable match for me.
“But I have no right to interfere in your matters. I couldn’t help that child, and you gave her comfort.”
I was a bit taken aback by what he said next. Setting aside species sentiment, it seemed an elder wouldn’t meddle in their granddaughter’s marriage? Just listening to that felt far more open-minded than many humans, and I was led to wonder if he genuinely despised humans.
“Trixie finds comfort in you, so I have a favor to ask.”
“Please, tell me anything. I’ll do my best.”
With that, I answered without hesitation.
Despite having suffered at the hands of humans and experiencing sorrow when his daughter married one, he allowed his granddaughter to be with a human. For someone who made such a significant decision, I owed it to him to do whatever he asked. Even if it meant carrying water for the Elder, I’d happily oblige.
“I think she’s really cute, but Trixie is shy. It seems like you’ll have to convince her to come down.”
“Yes?”
What did that even mean?
‘Shy?’
What, did she do some elf-style makeup or something? No, still, Marcilio wasn’t a kid, so I didn’t think she’d be shy over that.
And it wasn’t until I saw Marcilio wearing that pink frilly dress that I understood.
“U-Um, this is, uh…”
As soon as our eyes met, Marcilio froze and stuttered.
‘Ah, I see.’
I understood now. While she wasn’t a kid, she must have been treated like one. No wonder she felt embarrassed.
Honestly, she looked adorable, but it felt like she’d break the window and run away if I let her speak.
Forget about the twintails.
Fortunately, I managed to ease my grandmother’s urge to show off her cute granddaughter. If only elves were present, they’d all be fawning over the Elder’s granddaughter. But right at the stairwell, there were only humans waiting with eager anticipation.
“Beatrix may be cute to the Elder and the elves, but she is respected in human society.”
“Respected? This child? She’s barely over a hundred!”
“There are plenty of humans who won’t see a hundred years.”
The Elder was taken aback by the fact that his lovely granddaughter was considered the eldest in human terms. But it hadn’t even been long since the founding of the Empire, so perhaps his understanding of humans hadn’t completely faded away. It felt more like reluctant acceptance, but at least he acknowledged it for the sake of his granddaughter.
“She’s just over a hundred… as a human, that makes her a bit older than ten…”
Still, feeling somewhat unsatisfied, the Elder muttered as he walked down to the first floor.
‘This is the difference in species.’
Disturbing. I had occasionally sensed species differences with Marcilio, but standing in front of a pure elf, it was much more pronounced.
From now on, whatever Marcilio did, I’d probably think, “Well, I’ll let it slide.”
“I’m not a child,” she insisted.
“Huh?”
In the midst of that, Marcilio shook her head while holding my hand. I was confused about what she meant, and it only added to my chaos.
“I’m not over ten, I’m over twenty. Being a hybrid, it’s not 10%, but more like 20%.”
“…”
For a moment, I was left speechless. Seeing that she had a sorrowful expression, it wasn’t a joke to lighten the mood. And her quick rebuttal made it clear that it wasn’t an impromptu excuse. She genuinely believed that.
So that’s how it was. Marcilio thought of herself as being in her twenties.
“Goodness, that could have been dangerous.”
With great effort, I finally managed to respond.
If my would-be fiancée thought that, then it must be true.
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