別に in non-negative clause


Context: Grandad was bought food as a gift for looking after Maruko. Maruko
apologises to grandad because dad has just eaten it all. Then Grandad says:

> 「いいんじゃよ、まる子。おじいちゃんは別にただまる子をかわいがっているだけじゃ」  
>  Grandad (I) just cares for Maruko.

I'm familiar with 別に when used in a negative clause to mean "(not)
particularly". I can't understand what it means in this sentence.

Also a bit confused about the placement of だけ. If it's at the end doesn't it
mean that he does nothing but care for Maruko i.e. "All I do is care for just
(ただ) Maruko".

If it helps, the previous sentence is

> 「おじいちゃん、おばあちゃん、ごめんね」

which is said by Maruko.




> 「いいんじゃよ、まる[子]{こ}。おじいちゃんは[別]{べつ}にただまる子をかわいがっているだけじゃ。」

There is nothing wrong or unnatural about this as a **_casual spoken line_**.
You really should not apply the rigid grammar required for formally written
Japanese.

That said, I am actually "seeing" **_physically_** the negative element with
which 「別に」 can be used quite naturally. This might surprise you, but I see it
in 「いいんじゃよ、まる子。」 = " ** _No problem!_** " That was said in response to
something Maruko had done or said, correct? Grandad has negated Maruko's
apology, and he now has all the reasons to use 「別に」.

> "No problem, Maruko! I just adore you for who you are. (It is as simple as
> that)."

(A literal TL is difficult as the line is completely colloquial.)

Finally, regarding the use of both 「ただ」 and 「だけ」, it is not uncommon that we
use them together in informal speech.




> 「いいんじゃよ、まる[子]{こ}。おじいちゃんは[別]{べつ}にただまる子をかわいがっているだけじゃ。」

There is nothing wrong or unnatural about this as a **_casual spoken line_**.
You really should not apply the rigid grammar required for formally written
Japanese.

That said, I am actually "seeing" **_physically_** the negative element with
which 「別に」 can be used quite naturally. This might surprise you, but I see it
in 「いいんじゃよ、まる子。」 = " ** _No problem!_** " That was said in response to
something Maruko had done or said, correct? Grandad has negated Maruko's
apology, and he now has all the reasons to use 「別に」.

> "No problem, Maruko! I just adore you for who you are. (It is as simple as
> that)."

(A literal TL is difficult as the line is completely colloquial.)

Finally, regarding the use of both 「ただ」 and 「だけ」, it is not uncommon that we
use them together in informal speech.

