41 — You Are Not My Grandson
“You’ve lost your mind!”
The words were directed at the man in front of him. He was awarded the medal with the title of “great” in recognition of his contribution to the victory. It was something he usually cared about, but now he could no longer see that.
“I’m sorry, but that kid is also my child.”
However, when his son acted as if he would never back down, he immediately grabbed his son’s neck. But then, he heard a small voice crying voice from below him… He looked down at it. The grandson, who had attached himself to his grandfather, looked up in tears at the sudden situation.
I’m out of my mind. I should have let him go earlier.
It was hard to hold back the anger when his son insisted on bringing the child who he had consummated from out of wedlock. Even though he had ordered his son to go into hiding. He tried to tell his obstinate son to make the kid stay out earlier, but instead, had shoved the matter into the light.
“He had nowhere to go. His mother has died. Even though he’s illegitimate, your blood still runs on him. “
“I know that it’s up to you to decide whether this child can enter the house or not, but just remember this one thing, I will never acknowledge that child as my grandson!” The old man cried.
With those stern words, the younger man left the room with the child he had brought. The moment the door closed; the child looked at his grandfather through the hole in the door. The child had silver grey hair and dark brown eyes that were undeniably resembling his father. The Grand Duke sighed with a complicated face when the door fully closed.
“Grandpa…”
The Grand Duke quickly embraced his only grandson when he entered the room. He looked more like his daughter-in-law, who had died young. However, it didn’t matter who the child looked like. The important thing was that he was his only precious grandson.
“Do I have a brother?”
At his grandson’s words, the Great Kristen shook his head after a moment of thought. After his daughter-in-law had died, his son had begun to wander around and had left his family behind. So, it was on the Great Kristen to raise up his precious grandson, who had lost both his parents at once. The Great Kristen towards his grandson, cared for him like he was his own son.
“It’s all right. Because you are my only grandson.”
Then, the old man smiled and pinched the young child’s cheeks to ease him, and the child seemed relieved. While hugging the child, he, William Kristen, vowed that this child would be the only family left of the Kristen line. It was only this child who would be fit to succeed the family.
♔♔♔
“… of all things, he fell on his neck and instantly died.”
“…”
His beloved grandson had suddenly died in the hunting grounds.
“Grandfather…”
Noel approached him but he was unable to speak anything. Noel, who had entered the mansion when he was a child, had become a decent young man.
However, during the long time Noel had lived there, William never once looked at him. It was because he knew that his grandson was afraid that his affection would turn to Noel.
When his son had passed away due to illness, his grandson’s obsession had intensified. Thus, the gap between him and Noel had widened to the point where it was no longer reconcilable.
One day, the young Noel entered his room. However, the Great Kristen had not spoken a word to the young boy. As if he did not exist at all, the old man had turned a blind eye on Noel. It was an unfortunate incident, fuelled by inexpressible insecurity on both sides. The young Noel only wanted to be recognised as the grandson of his grandfather. The grandfather did not want to lose the only grandson he recognised.
Noel had left the room after only being able to stare at his back. His courage had fled out the window and he did not know how to communicate with the man he called his grandfather.
Until that moment, William had still thought that it was the right thing to do. Later, he realised that his choice had been wrong. But then his grandson suddenly died.
William had thought, why did the child have to die? He was just a poor kid who been longing for love all his life. He was just afraid of losing the only affection he had to his brother who had suddenly appeared. Why, of all the people, did the kid have to die?
The arrow of sorrow and anger turned to the surviving Noel.
“… You are not my grandson.”