K-Eldest Daughter Possessed a Childcare Novel

“Belladi Alton, explain what happened… no, never mind.”

Father sighed deeply and turned his head away.

“Rover.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

“You explain. Objectively.”

Rover’s shoulders stiffened at those words.

Taking advantage of the moment Father turned around, I gave Rover a meaningful glance.

‘Handle this well if you want to avoid trouble later.’

I knew that both father and Meldor were not ones to hold grudges. Because of this, they were known among the staff as masters who were easy to serve.

Unfortunately, I was not someone who could be such an easy-going master.

‘You must have heard my warnings from Emily that day, right?’

Rover’s throat bobbed noticeably, perhaps understanding my silent warning.

“I will explain exactly as I saw it, Your Grace.”

Rover replied, bowing politely.

“Lady Belladi had begun refurbishing the neglected mansion and intended to change the sofas and tables in the greenhouse to match the season.”

Despite being a mere butler, Rover’s voice remained serious under the scrutiny of both Father and me.

“As we were moving the furniture, the young duke entered the greenhouse. He misunderstood our actions…”

“How insolent!”

Meldor’s nasal voice cut in abruptly.

“What right does she have to touch Mother’s greenhouse! She rejected most of Mother’s invitations, yet she has the audacity to…!”

Up until that day, I had tried to respond to Mother’s invitations as best I could.

But after that incident, just seeing the greenhouse made my heart ache. How could I possibly sit there and enjoy tea with a calm face?

Because of that, I rejected all invitations, and neither Mother nor Meldor could understand me. To them, the incident was insignificant.

As always, I was the only one who clearly remembered and suffered from that day.

‘Why would I be crazy enough to go watch Mother favoring you?’

I’d rather spend that time practicing shooting.

Father’s eyes turned towards the frozen sapphire.

“Then what about the sapphire?”

“That, that is…”

When Meldor was at a loss for words, Rover stepped in.

“There was a minor altercation between the young duke and Lady Belladi, during which the young duke accidentally used magic.”

“I just wanted to scare her! But she suddenly changed the direction of the magic! She usually dodges just fine!”

As Meldor protested, I brought out the excuse I had prepared.

“I used my magic reflexively in response to the sudden attack. It wasn’t intentional, but my magic deflected Meldor’s spell.”

“Reflexive? Who would believe that was unintentional?!”

Meldor yelled but quickly fell silent like a scolded puppy under Father’s stern gaze.

Father didn’t even look at the servants huddled in the corner as he spoke.

“Rover, take the servants and leave.”

“Yes, Your Grace! Everyone, get up!”

At Father’s dismissal, Rover and the servants hurriedly left the greenhouse.

They had been barely breathing while hiding in the corner since the fight began, so they must have been very relieved at the dismissal.

After they all left, Father, having grasped the situation, looked at Meldor.

“I told you not to use magic out of emotion, Meldor Alton.”

“… I’m sorry.”

“If I hear once more that you used magic on a whim, I will remove magic from your lessons.”

“Father!”

“I allowed you to take magic lessons in addition to your successor classes because you showed talent, but if you use it selfishly, it’s worthless.”

“I’m sorry…”

Meldor sniffled.

At first, Father spoke sternly, but perhaps his heart softened seeing Meldor’s tears. He awkwardly wiped them away.

“I understand you might want to escape into magic because other lessons are overwhelming. But you are the heir to the Alton family. Hang in there a little longer.”

Meldor nodded vigorously at Father’s kind words. Finding his son commendable, Father patted his head a few times before turning to look at me.

His gaze was a bit more critical compared to when he looked at Meldor.

“Belladi Alton.”

“Yes, Father.”

“You understand what this place means to your brother who just lost his mother, don’t you?”

“… yes, I do.”

“Despite that, you caused a conflict by meddling with it? I haven’t even given you the authority to manage the mansion yet.”

Father frowned as if troubled, blaming me.

It was Meldor who first used dangerous magic. But his mistake was glossed over, and I alone was excessively scolded.

However, I just bowed my head quietly. I was used to this kind of situation, and I had a plan in mind.

“I think I got carried away while refurbishing the mansion. I will correct it, Father.”

Seeing me show remorse, Father sighed deeply.

“Don’t cause any unnecessary trouble and behave.”

“Yes.”

As he spoke, I glanced sideways to see Meldor smirking as if enjoying the situation.

‘Annoying brat.’

Though my irritation flared, I could endure it.

Because I had a plan for what would come after this.

After issuing a few more warnings, Father dismissed us from the greenhouse. I left and headed to the first floor, where the mansion’s refurbishment was in full swing.

Meldor jeered from behind.

“Make sure you listen to Father. Don’t touch Mother’s belongings again.”

“A daughter can touch her mother’s belongings. What business is it of yours?”

“How close do you think you were to Mother?”

I ignored Meldor’s words and continued walking.

With my business concluded, there was no need to engage with him any further. The matter had already been set in motion; now, I just had to wait.

I continued with the mansion’s refurbishment in a leisurely mood.

***

That night.

As I waited in my room without sleeping, I heard a knock at the door.

Knock, knock.

“Lady Belladi. The duke calls for you.”

“You’re here.”

After tidying my disheveled nightwear, I gestured for the maid to open the door.

The maid quickly opened the door, revealing Rover standing there.

“Let’s go.”

I walked past Rover and headed towards Father’s study.

Following closely behind, Rover whispered cautiously.

“The duke asked for more details about the incident afterward. I gave a thorough report.”

“Does it seem like Father believes your account?”

“Of course. He must have heard similar stories from the other servants who were there. I made sure to prep them.”

Satisfied with the answer, I smiled at Rover and glanced over at him.

“Well done, Rover.”

“Thank you, Lady Belladi.”

Rover placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head.

‘He handled it well without me having to say much.’

Rover must have realized to some extent who held grudges the most in this mansion.

‘Once this is over, I need to secure Rover’s loyalty firmly.’

With that in mind, I walked confidently.

I hadn’t sent the servants out of the greenhouse during the quarrel with Meldor for this very moment.

‘They need to be witnesses and support me.’

They said that couples resembled each other. Though usually cold, Father tended to be impulsive when it came to Meldor.

Because of this, whenever my brother and I fought, he would usually scold me first.

‘Only later would he investigate and call me separately to find out the truth.’

Then he would ask me what compensation I wanted, trying to make amends in his way.

I had mixed feelings about that.

When Father tried to console me, it felt like he cared, but being scolded first just because I was the older sister felt unfair.

‘But now, it doesn’t bother me.’

Father’s stern gaze?

Just like during the hunting competition, such a gaze had no effect on me. Instead, thinking about the reward I would receive for enduring this made me chuckle inwardly.

Suppressing my smile, I stood in front of Father’s study.

Knock, knock.

When I knocked, a voice told me to enter.

As I entered through the door Rover opened, I saw Father checking the piles of documents on his desk as he had been earlier that day.

“You called for me, Father.”

Approaching him as I spoke, Father looked up from his documents to face me.

“Yes, I heard about the situation in the greenhouse in detail.”

Father put down the pen he was holding and rubbed his temples.

“You may have rushed the mansion’s refurbishment, but I think I blamed you too harshly.”

“I understand, Father. It’s true that I didn’t consider Meldor’s feelings as his sister.”

Ugh, understanding Meldor’s feelings? If I did, I should be called Foolish Alton instead of Belladi Alton from now on.

But saying such things wasn’t difficult. I made a remorseful face and said things I didn’t mean.

“I feel like I ruined Mother’s greenhouse because of me. Since Meldor’s magic has frozen the ground completely… it can’t be used as a greenhouse anymore, can it?”

“… it can’t be helped.”

Father sighed with a complicated expression.

I seized the moment to look at him.

“Father, I’d like to take responsibility for Mother’s greenhouse.”

“Responsibility?”

“Yes. Since my actions caused Meldor’s misunderstanding. It can’t be used as a greenhouse anymore, but… if I make it into a more useful space, he might understand.”

For instance, my own personal jewelry vault?

Of course, I didn’t need Meldor’s understanding.

My polished words caused Father’s red eyes to waver for a moment.

‘Is he reminiscing about his memories with Mother in the greenhouse?’

It was fortunate for me. I had no sentimental attachment, just scars.

Like with Alexander before, the silence stretched out. But I wasn’t worried. Since he called me to console me, he wouldn’t reject my request.

Eventually, as expected, Father nodded.

“Alright. You can take charge of the greenhouse. And finish the mansion’s refurbishment you started.”

Keeping a composed face, I bowed slightly.

“Yes, Father. Thank you.”

‘Great, Mother’s greenhouse is now mine!’

I wanted to thank Meldor for helping me secure the annex so quickly.

Father turned his attention back to the documents.

“You may go.”

“Yes, Father. And… don’t stay in your study too long, try to get some rest.”

At my words, Father’s hand, which had been signing documents, paused momentarily.