I might not know much about Shailyn’s mother, but when I mentioned being a granddaughter, it was hard to ignore.

He asked us to wait for a moment and then disappeared.

Upon his return, he led us into the Duke’s mansion.

I tried to remain composed, but honestly, I was a bit surprised inside.

‘I thought they might refuse… but they accepted?’

Soon, I marveled at the grand mansion before my eyes.

At the end of a path lined with tall garden trees on both sides was a two-tiered circular fountain, and beyond that stood a majestic white building.

The color of the mansion’s spires and roof was so bright blue that just looking at it felt refreshing.

Upon entering the interior, an elderly man in a formal suit greeted us.

“Hello, I am Paul, the butler of the Duke of Diart. Please follow me.”

Paul guided us to the reception room, served us tea, and then left.

I rolled my eyes around. Even the reception room of the Duke of Diart was luxurious and elegant.

A solid gold statue hanging on the wall, a large chandelier on the ceiling, and a plush velvet sofa.

It was more opulent and sophisticated than my room or even the Sharofe residence.

Unlike me, who found everything fascinating, Carl was quite indifferent.

He sat with his legs crossed, sipping tea without a care.

“We’ve entered a duke’s house, but you seem so calm.”

“There’s no reason to make a fuss. You’re a noble too.”

Carl replied nonchalantly.

However, even among nobles, there was a vast difference between a humble count’s family and a duke’s family.

The Duke of Diart was a high-ranking noble family, almost close to the imperial family.

“By the way, are you really related to this family?”

“Yes, my mother was the daughter of the former Duke of Diart.”

“Then there’s no reason for them to kick you out.”

He confidently assured.

I took off my robe and placed it beside me, trying to tidy my appearance as I replied.

“I can’t be sure.”

From beyond the door, heavy footsteps approached.

Soon, a man appeared, opening the door while panting heavily.

White hair and deep dark green eyes.

Though age had left its mark, he was an elderly man who must have been quite handsome in his youth.

I recognized who he was.

Bartholomew Diart.

The former Duke of Diart and my mother’s father.

The heartless grandfather of Shailyn, who had never once tried to meet his only granddaughter in her life.

I slowly rose and bowed politely to greet him.

“Hello, Duke Diart.”

“……!”

When our eyes met, his dark green eyes shook greatly.

* * *

Bartholomew had finished his afternoon schedule early and was taking a walk in the garden.

As he walked aimlessly, he found himself in the garden connected to the south of the main building.

Underneath the balcony of a room that had been empty for decades, pure white wild roses were in full bloom.

At the sight of the flowers, a corner of Bartholomew’s heart naturally ached.

‘Diane…….’

He silently mouthed the name of his long-deceased daughter.

Wild roses were his daughter’s favorite flowers during her lifetime.

The daughter he cherished and raised with utmost care ran away twenty years ago to marry a man Bartholomew strongly opposed.

She turned her back on the father and brother who loved and cherished her dearly, unilaterally cutting ties.

If she left, she should have lived well, but she died during childbirth, leaving a deep wound in Bartholomew’s heart.

When he heard the news of Diane’s death, he felt not only his heart break but also an excruciating pain as if his heart was being ripped out.

Yet, the scoundrel count who took his daughter away shamelessly remarried the following year, claiming the newborn daughter needed a mother.

He never showed Diane’s only daughter to Lord Diart.

Even when Bartholomew personally visited the count’s residence, it was the same.

Seeing through the count’s intentions to use the child for profit, Bartholomew turned away in anger.

He never again paid attention to the Sharofe family.

Just hearing the name Sharofe made him shiver, so he cut off all news related to the count’s family.

‘Dad, come here! Wild roses have bloomed under my room. Aren’t they beautiful?’

The image of Diane smiling brightly lingered before his eyes.

When longing for his daughter moistened Bartholomew’s eyes, it was then…

“Mr. Bartholomew! Mr. Bartholomew!”

Paul hurriedly ran across the garden.

Puzzled, Bartholomew discreetly wiped his tears and asked sternly.

“What is it?”

“Please listen without getting surprised.”

Paul, who was standing before him, couldn’t hide his excitement.

“Miss Shailyn Sharofe has come to see you!”

“What……?”

Bartholomew’s eyes widened. It wasn’t because of the surname ‘Sharofe,’ which he hadn’t heard in a long time.

Shailyn.

It was the name of his granddaughter, which he had only heard once.

A child he had never seen since birth suddenly here…….

Not believing the news, Bartholomew hurried to the reception room.

And the Shailyn he faced was…….

Her silver hair, like melted moonlight, and her delicate features that resembled Diane…

“It’s nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Shailyn Sharofe.”

At the same time, she looked directly at Bartholomew with the vivid blue eyes she inherited from her father.

Thud.

His heart sank heavily and pounded.

* * *

The former Count of Sharofe always said.

The reason Shailyn wasn’t loved by her maternal family was that Lord Diart didn’t provide child support.

Gwen chimed in, saying,

Lord Diart despises you, and there’s no one who loves you, Shailyn.

Thanks to their gaslighting, Shailyn firmly believed her maternal family hated her.

I somewhat agreed.

‘It’s not exactly hate. They probably just have no interest in Shailyn.’

If they truly hated her, they would have destroyed the Sharofe family long ago.

But the reason they left them alone until now was likely because of Shailyn.

‘No matter how much they hate me, I’m still the only blood left by my mother.’

I reminded myself of that, trying not to shrink back.

The more they dislike me, the more confidently I need to act. Otherwise, they’ll look down on me and ignore me even more.

“Did I surprise you by coming suddenly? I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you in advance.”

“……No, it’s fine.”

Lord Diart, who had been staring intently at me, gestured lightly for me to sit.

I waited politely until he sat at the head seat before taking my seat.

The Duke, unable to take his eyes off me, spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.

“So you are Diane’s daughter.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Nodding, I tapped Carl with my hand.

Give me my backpack.

Carl, who had been watching the situation blankly, handed over the backpack. I took out the items I had carefully brought.

“I brought some of my mother’s keepsakes to show you while visiting.”

His dark green eyes wavered greatly.

Lord Diart carefully caressed the keepsakes with trembling hands.

“This is…… the diamond necklace I gifted Diane for her coming-of-age ceremony. And that’s the sapphire bracelet from her debutante.”

There were also a handkerchief embroidered by my mother, a pen she frequently used, and a small doll she made for me.

I wished I could have brought clothes too, but most were either thrown away or taken by Gwen, so I couldn’t retrieve them.

The items I brought were what Shailyn barely managed to protect while enduring all sorts of humiliation.

“Seeing these makes me miss Diane even more.”

Tears gathered in the old man’s eyes.

Though nearly 20 years had passed since his mother’s death, his face seemed still stuck in that time.

A father deeply missing and longing for his daughter.

‘Do most parents love their children like that, or is Lord Diart exceptional?’

I don’t know, as I never had parents, and Shailyn never had proper ones.

I only judged that the Duke’s reaction was a positive sign for achieving my goal.

By showing my mother’s keepsakes, I planned to open his heart and use that opportunity to settle here.

“……So, did you come to show me Diane’s keepsakes?”

“No, I actually came to ask for a favor.”

“Tell me.”

Lord Diart, having neatly folded my mother’s handkerchief, looked at me.

Even though he was merely looking, the pressure and presence he exuded were formidable.

I straightened my back, swallowed dryly, and spoke.

“I wish to stay in the capital for a while and have a place in the Duke of Diart’s residence.”

“……You wish to enter our Diart family?”