CHAPTER 30

"Grandpa." Penelope calls him in a childish voice. "Penelope has a question."

"...What is it?"

"Do you hate Penelope?"

"...Why do you ask me that?"

"Grandpa always looks at Penelope like this." the little girl said as she tries to copy the frown on the duke's face.

The duke did not deny the little girl's accusation. Instead, he stares at Penelope for a while. He heard from his subordinate before that a small child like Penelope is sensitive to other people's feelings. Although they cannot express it properly by words, the children have a sharp intuition when it comes to matters of feelings.

And maybe his subordinate was right. The little girl is just patiently waiting for his reply. The duke crossed his arms on his chest first before speaking.

"How can you be so sure that I hate you?"

"...Grandpa never lets Penelope to get near you. Grandpa never gives Penelope a lot of hugs and kisses too."

"That's it?"