[TKOSINM] 147 - Call me grandfather

Grand Duke Kristen had not been able to sleep properly since the night before, even though he was not the one getting married. He was nervous about Noel’s greeting. He knew that this child would come to greet him before the meeting with the elders began. Thus, since early morning, he had been pondering in his room. Occasionally, he would get up from his seat at his desk, move to the sofa and back.

What kind of expression should I have?

He was not even as nervous as the time when his son married. Especially his current trembling state. Maybe it was because the relationship with Noel was still awkward. He wanted to greet the newlyweds with a more natural and amicable attitude, but he did not know what kind of expression would be more natural and intimate, yet appropriate for their relationship.

“How is this expression?”

“Sir, you are very natural.”

No thanks to his consistent asking, the butler was subject to the morning grievance for the nth time. Since early in the morning, William had changed his facial expressions and asked the opinion of his butler. Of course, there was a limit to the answers that could return, which was essentially ‘yes’, the butler liked it. What else could he say? The butler only hoped that the couple would arrive quickly and so he could get out of this facial hell.

As soon as he had those thoughts, Noel’s voice sounded from the other side of the grand door. When he turned his head to sneak a glance at the Grand Duke, the Grand Duke’s expression hardened visibly.

‘I’ve served you all my life, but this is the first time I’ve seen you like that. You weren’t so nervous on the first day, but...’

It was questionable whether there were any other beings within this empire that could make the Grand Duke of Kristen so nervous.

After taking a quick deep breath, the Grand Duke replied with a solemn expression.

“Come in.”

The Grand Duke’s permission was granted. On the other side, Noel turned the doorknob and pushed. The Grand Duke stared at the open door with a hardened expression. Why had he practised all morning? It was insignificant at this point when his expression was like that! His butler felt tormented.

Soon, two people holding hands came inside.

“Good morning, Grandpa, I’m here to pay my greetings.”

“Good morning.”

The door closed and Noel and Irene, standing in front of the Grand Duke, greeted him side by side. The Grand Duke looked at the two curiously. He did not seem to even think of giving an answer.

When no words were heard, the butler looked at the Grand Duke cautiously.

He spent a very long time with the Grand Duke. He knew his whole life, and he knew his happiest moments and his saddest moments.

People called the Grand Duke the iron-blooded general, but in the eyes of the butler, he was...

A person who is sorry.

He lost his son to an illness and a grandchild in an accident. He also had a quarrel with his grandson, who was left estranged because of his stubbornness. He had lived his whole life staring at the wall; unfeeling, and blocked off from the warmth of his cherished ones.

Therefore, the butler was very grateful to Irene. The older he got the harder it was. But because she was there, he could turn his back, even if it was just barely.

You’re probably thinking of the former Grand Duke and his wife.

The Grand Duke’s only son. He was Noel’s father and the former Grand Duke.

Grand Duke Kristen the Great lost his one and only wife to illness and took care of his son. Even when he met his wife and married her, he had never shed a tear before. Yet at that time, he could not stop the saltiness falling from his aged eyes.

So, naturally, the image of his son must have overlapped with the figure of Noel who came after getting married.

However, the Grand Duke quickly erased any signs of longing and the reminiscent memories of the past disappeared. He would get caught up in those feelings of loss and regret, and longing from time to time, but now was not the time. He looked at Irene and Noel. Slowly, he opened his mouth.

“Ah, did you two have a good night? You must be very tired from the ceremony yesterday.”

“We’re fine.”

Noel responded calmly to his concerned words.

“Sorry, if you are tired, tell me. I will postpone the meeting.”

Irene’s eyes widened at the Grand Duke’s words. No matter how high he was, this was not an ordinary council, and he could not easily postpone the council of elders. But the eyes of the Grand Duke who spoke his words were sincere. Irene, who was embarrassed by that, spoke seriously.

“Thank you for your concern. However, since this is the first meeting since I entered the Kristen family, I want to proceed without any setbacks.”

“Heh-heh, if you want to do that, then you have to do it. But when you’re having a hard time, please tell me. I will give you my strength.”

“Yes, Grand Duke. I will definitely do that.”

Irene responded with a smile at his friendly words. But for some reason, the appearance of the Grand Duke was a little strange. It was as if a cigar was stuck, and he was making a face that he did not like.

Then he said, “Now that my darling is a member of our family, isn’t it appropriate to say that you are the Grand Duchess?”

“Yes…?”

“Call me grandpa like Noel. Grandpa likes it too.”

At the completely unexpected words of the Grand Duke, Irene’s eyes fluttered incessantly. The butler and Noel, who were listening, looked at each other in surprise. Only the Grand Duke was staring at Irene stubbornly with a warm smile on his face.

Irene was perplexed as she did not know what to do. But seeing his unchanging attitude, she spoke very quietly and carefully.

“...grandfather.”

She could not say ‘grandpa’ to Grand Duke Kristen, so she used the word “grandfather” to still address him in a formal way.

Irene fidgeted, even though she was the first to speak. Since she had never spoken the word ‘grandfather’ before, it was an unfamiliar and awkward term.

“Yes, darling. That’s great.”