Chapter 62
The moment I heard those words, veins popped in Elber’s neck. He was probably angry again at “that jerk” who had tried to save himself by dragging me into trouble.
“From the lake—”
“Uh, wait.”
I quickly covered Elber’s mouth.
“What’s Father doing right now?”
“He’s in a meeting with someone at the palace.”
“Then I’ll speak to him personally after the meeting. Don’t tell him I came back looking like this.”
“But—”
“I don’t want to worry him unnecessarily.”
If it were the Duke, he’d probably have tied that jerk to a boat and made him be the oar for a week.
The servant stepped back for now. But when Elber and I reached the fork in front of our respective bathrooms, Elber spoke.
“That’s not an unnecessary worry. Your father has things he must do and things he needs to know for his children’s sake.”
“Hm, what do you think Father would do if he knew?”
“He’d make that guy the oar.”
Everyone’s thoughts are pretty similar. But still…
“Even if Elber-ssi had fallen into the water, would Father have taken revenge in that way?”
“…No, he’d hope I threw that guy in.”
“See?”
I smiled wryly.
“You’ve already punished him enough. I’m satisfied with that.”
“……”
“Thanks for worrying about me. See you later?”
“…Wait.”
“Hm?”
Elber stepped forward as I was about to enter the bathroom.
“There’s a petal stuck in your hair.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Right, the lake had tons of petals floating like duckweed. Elber removed them one by one from my hair, forehead, and ears.
They’d wash away anyway, so was it really necessary…?
Finally, he removed a blade of grass from my eyelashes and said,
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. You allowed me to help even though you knew it was unnecessary.”
“Eh, unnecessary?”
“…Now that you’ve grown, you probably don’t need this anymore.”
Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?
“Honestly, when you suggested we play this weekend, I imagined something like hide-and-seek. But then I realized you had plans to go boating with a friend, and it felt like I got hit in the back of the head.”
“……”
“You’re not a child anymore. You won’t fall just because I’m not holding your hand. Realizing that, I suddenly wanted to do something for you…”
Hey, wait. Why are you acting like a father who gets sentimental seeing his daughter off on her first workday, gently patting her head at night?
You’re still young and should be worrying about your own future! Especially romance! Just because I’m a bit older doesn’t mean you can leapfrog my youth!
Feeling urgent, I quickly changed the subject.
“Uh, um, Elber! My friend—she’s pretty, right?”
“…Huh?”
“The one who came out with me, Seraphina!”
“Oh, the brown-haired one?”
“Blonde!”
“Why does it matter?”
Why doesn’t it matter? We’re talking about the most beautiful girl in the world! You look at the most handsome guy in the world in the mirror every day and don’t even notice this? Then I’ll force you to see it.
“…I just wanted to introduce my best friend. You’re not interested in my school life, are you?”
“Huh? That’s not what I meant!”
“Fine. Students just need to study well, right? I won’t talk about my friends again. See you later!”
I spun around sharply. Elber couldn’t follow me into the bathroom and called out.
“Sorry! Next time I’ll memorize even her family tree when I meet her!”
Good, that’s how you should react.
Seraphina is really a nice girl. If Elber meets her a few more times, he’ll notice her charms. Starting with a friend is enough…
I imagined a bright future in my mind.
…So why do I feel like a parent forcing a kid into a cram school, saying “It’s for your own good”?
I ran to the office after a lightning-fast wash.
I worried that if the Duke heard I came, he might think, “Then why didn’t she come to greet me…? Did something happen?” and guess about the lake incident.
But it seemed the discussion with the palace messenger wasn’t over yet, and voices were growing louder.
I pressed my ear to the office door.
“Your Grace! I’ve told you many times, but returning to the capital without reporting to His Majesty is unacceptable!”
“My answer remains the same. Who needs permission when I come to my own house?”
“It’s not about permission. You should at least give a hint.”
“For what? So you can gather soldiers in case the Duke goes berserk?”
“Your Grace!”
“If the only words you can bring up are titles, your mind must be empty. I have no hobby of talking to a scarecrow.”
“……”
“If His Majesty wants to ask about this humble elder brother, I’ll comply with courtesy. But if you treat me as a disaster to prepare for—”
A sharp energy reached the door. The messenger continued, trembling.
“N-No, Your Grace! I’ll report properly to His Majesty again! Please forgive my rudeness today!”
“If you leave quickly, that would be possible.”
A tone without any politeness.
The messenger repeatedly thanked him and ran out.
A cold breeze escaped through the open door. The Duke must be furious. Should I go in soon?
…Then, suddenly:
“Sol?”
“Hello, Father. Were you in a meeting—huh?”
The Duke immediately took the coat from the office hanger and draped it over my shoulders. The long coat crumpled at my feet. Then he lifted me up and entered the office.
“The room’s cold, right? I’ll light the fire immediately. Or wine…”
“I’m not old enough yet! And it’s not that cold!”
I was warm from just bathing. He touched my cheeks and finally relaxed into his seat. I asked first.
“About the middle cousin—”
A term referring to all sorts of cousin relationships.
The Duke nodded.
“Yes. My late mother’s brother’s descendant sent a messenger.”
A word that feels even more distant than “register mate.” Four characters: “maternal cousin,” two: “king.”
He’s also a coward who only allows audiences in midsummer when the sun is highest to avoid freezing with his ice powers.
“Did you ask why he came in spring and irritated himself?”
“Yes. He said he’d come in summer, but he didn’t promise he wouldn’t come in other seasons. He must have misunderstood.”
“There are always people like that. They interpret everything their way and get angry when things don’t go their way.”
Maybe the Duke liked my bluntness; he smiled.
“Yes. You have nothing to fear when you’re with me.”
Not quite. I don’t care who’s around. Being submissive to the strong doesn’t help when you get scammed.
Still, I didn’t correct the Duke’s pleasant misunderstanding.
…I had more pressing questions.
“Father, are you really okay staying in the capital?”
“What about it?”
“Politics in the Flogel Territory…”
“I trust Venen. Also, I’ve never raised my vassals weak enough to collapse because of one incompetent leader.”
“Aren’t you hot here? What if Silver Dragon overheats?”
“…We’re not snowmen.”
“What if you get caught in capital politics? The king who sees you as a thorn could do anything. You don’t have allies here!”
Honestly, probably none at all! I held back the last sentence.
…Seeing him touch his forehead, I’m glad I restrained myself.
“…Sol.”
“…Yes.”
His face crumpled; he seemed genuinely offended. Cancel the plan to be submissive to the strong. Survival instinct took over my words.
“I trust your strength and wisdom, Father. Surely, even back in your battlefield days, you built the foundation of House Duke with countless allies!”
“……”
“Not just allies! Your achievements weren’t all carrots; surely you instilled fear in your enemies with the whip too!”
“….”
I mimicked a con artist’s tone. I thought I did well, but why is he still frowning? How much flattery does it take?
Damn, I saved this line for later!
“…Father, you’re handsome.”
“……”
He bowed further, touching his forehead, seemingly on the verge of explosion. But I could see it—all the trembling lips.
Finally, he couldn’t hold it for three seconds.
“Ahahaha!”
The smile of truth filled his face. Sure enough, handsome men like compliments too.
After laughing for a while, he spoke, still smiling.
“I am not someone who should worry you. The only discomfort I felt—”
“….”
“Is that I am in the Flogel Territory.”
“Not dislike, just… burdensome.”
“Why?”
“Your priority is ruling your territory. Did you come all the way here just for me?”
“Wasn’t that our plan all along? The ‘dotting father’ act?”
“….”
“Rumors have limits. By coming personally to care for you, we make those schemers who counted me as cold-blooded regret their political plans.”
Suddenly, the Duke’s face returned to neutral. I felt both relief and anxiety.
Honestly, sometimes I’m scared he might genuinely grow attached.
I don’t want him to go insane like in the original story… but if he becomes genuinely weak for his daughter, that could also endanger the Schlaeger family.
He asked in a fatherly tone:
“Sol, are you enjoying school?”
A real fatherly question. Heart, don’t flutter.
“Yes. I made good friends. Seraphina—she’s really kind and pretty.”
“More than you?”
“Calm down.”
I tried to advertise my future daughter-in-law, but nonsense came out.
The Duke reverted to his usual tone, but not in the way I wanted.
“I remain coldly objective. Anyone whose first impression is ‘really’ positive is likely a con artist. They’re intentionally dressing themselves up.”
“….”
After being scammed, I can’t argue. At first, everyone seems ‘really smart’ or ‘really kind.’
But Seraphina is genuinely kind. I complained ‘a saint has arrived’ the whole time in the original story!
“No, Father. She really—”
“Less than a week and you already defend her. How did you get so soft? What’s her name?”
“What are you trying to do!”
“Nothing. My subordinates will investigate.”
“Heyyy!”
“Don’t worry. If she’s really kind, she’ll stay by your side… but still, don’t trust people too easily.”
I wanted to pitch how great she is… ruined. Sorry, Seraphina! Even if I tried, not a speck of dirt would come out anyway!
“And Sol, don’t say another girl is pretty in front of me.”
“Isn’t it usually the opposite? Asking Dad to do that, or Dad saying ‘Don’t compare to other dads!’”
“No. This is correct.”
His blue eyes shone as if piercing me.
“I just feel like you’re comparing that girl to yourself unnecessarily.”
