Chapter 101
The scent of the Omega pheromones that the Beta Lancelot carried.
Even in the original story, it was never fully revealed.
There were many things I was curious about, but I decided to put thoughts of Lancelot aside for later.
Right now, the task at hand was to get my father’s permission to marry.
Before I knew it, I had arrived in front of the reception room.
The servant standing at the entrance bowed his head.
“Count is waiting inside.”
The reception room door opened, and I stepped in. My father was drinking alone.
‘He drank so much even in the dining room!’
I needed to start with the topic of marriage.
But seeing my father drinking, other words slipped out first.
“Father!”
“Uh… hmm?”
“Aren’t you drinking too much?”
I stepped closer and lifted the bottle he was holding to check.
It was liquor, much stronger than wine.
“My goodness, what’s the alcohol content? Drinking such strong liquor will harm your health!”
My father paused mid-sip.
He looked at me and his glass alternately with a displeased expression and said,
“You’re still nagging.”
Even when I was little, my father drank a lot.
He wasn’t reckless when drunk, but he drank more than water, and I worried about his health.
I even took the glass from his hand and set it firmly on the table.
“Because you’re my precious family, of course I worry. I want you to stay healthy for a long time.”
“Ahem, even so, after suffering through your nagging, I’ve reduced my drinking.”
“…….”
“It’s been a while since I had hard liquor. Usually, I just have wine before meals.”
He coughed lightly and spoke gently.
I smiled at the news that he had reduced his drinking.
“That’s a relief. No wonder you look so healthy.”
“I see… and it seems you’re doing well too.”
Earlier today, I had seen my father at the main palace.
Even though he had left muttering that he didn’t want to talk to me, his measured steps and demeanor reassured me that he was well.
‘I was secretly worried about how to bring up the topic.’
But once I faced him, it felt natural to ask about his well-being.
‘My father hasn’t changed.’
Though he had left with displeasure, I realized it wasn’t because he disliked me.
He still considered me his family.
I smiled.
“I’ve wanted to see you, and now I finally get to.”
Father looked at me intently and began speaking gruffly.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean!”
“Pardon? I truly wanted to see you.”
“I’ve heard that even novice priests can return home once a year. But you’ve never come, as if you had no home!”
Then he glared at Cassius beside me with displeasure.
Novice priests could indeed take a few days off during the Holy Kingdom’s festivals to return home.
But if they stayed behind to help at the temple, they could earn extra points!
Blinded by promotion, I stayed to earn those extra points.
And there was another reason.
“You said I’m not your daughter…”
When I left for the Holy Kingdom, he had been angry.
So I couldn’t return to the Theodore Count’s house, fearing he would scold me for shamelessly coming back.
Moreover, the letter I had sent with great courage had been ignored.
I had felt truly unloved, as if I weren’t his daughter at all!
“Even so, if you have a home, you should’ve come back!”
Isn’t that a bit unreasonable?
He should consider my side too!
If I went back, I would have worried whether I’d be treated as having no daughter, turned away at the door.
‘So he was upset because I didn’t come during my leave.’
Understanding why he had ignored me, I smiled softly.
His anger came from wanting to see his daughter, who stayed away in the Holy Kingdom.
“Don’t be angry. I’ll come often from now on.”
“Make sure you do.”
“This time, it’s no lie. I promise, Father.”
The frown on his forehead finally softened.
We didn’t exchange many words, but just receiving his permission to come often made it feel as if the tension between us had eased.
By the time our conversation reached a natural pause, my father turned to look at Cassius.
“I hear you have something to tell me.”
“Yes.”
Upon hearing Cassius’ reply, my father gestured for the servant.
The servant standing by the entrance quickly approached.
“Yes, Count.”
“Bring out new glasses and liquor.”
I shot my father a sharp glare.
“You said you reduced drinking. More again?”
You liar!
“Today is an exception. We have something to discuss.”
Father turned his gaze to Cassius, speaking in a tightly restrained voice.
“So, I’d like to ask the reason you sought me out. Your Grace.”
He emphasized the title “Your Grace.”
I knew he wouldn’t speak kindly to Cassius, but to act so childishly…
Even with my father deliberately showing his displeasure, Cassius remained calm.
“Yes, I thought I should inform the Count before the official announcement.”
Father seemed to have roughly guessed the meaning behind Cassius’ words and let out a deep sigh. Then he gulped down the newly prepared liquor.
Still, he exhaled deeply again, as if it hadn’t relieved him.
“What is this about?”
“I want to take Sonia as my bride.”
Father was silent for a long time after hearing Cassius.
Then, after some thought, he looked at me.
“Sonia, please leave the room.”
He seemed to want to speak quietly with Cassius.
I nodded and left the two of them alone.
After Sonia left, the atmosphere in the reception room grew heavy.
The first to speak was Count Theodore.
“I received and inspected the wine Your Grace sent.”
This meant he had understood that it wasn’t just a few bottles of wine, but that an entire farm had been transferred.
Initially, he read the deed several times, thinking he might have misread it.
But it clearly stated that the ownership of the entire farm in the Holy Kingdom would be transferred.
He had received a great fortune.
Yet instead of joy, he felt a lump in his throat and was drinking to calm himself.
“Even though I received such a gift, I have no intention of giving my daughter. Honestly, it feels like placing a price on her, which is unpleasant.”
The Count didn’t hide his displeasure, frowning.
He was upset that his daughter was being taken away as if for a dowry.
Cassius, however, felt relieved by the Count’s attitude.
Sonia had never spoken of her time at the Count’s residence, so he had no knowledge of her childhood.
Fortunately, her family seemed to love her.
“This is not a dowry. I only prepared it to ease Sonia’s mind.”
“Her mind?”
“She blamed herself for becoming a priest against her parents’ wishes. I thought a gift might help her feel at peace.”
He had prepared the gift simply to ease some of the debt in her heart.
“If you care for Sonia as much as this, please understand. The higher I rise in power, the more dangerous it could become for her.”
“I understand.”
“And yet you would risk Sonia’s safety? Because of your desire?”
“She is safest by my side.”
If she wasn’t safe there, he would work even harder to protect her.
He could do anything for Sonia.
“Now that I think about it, giving the farm also has another meaning. Wealth is one of my strengths.”
“…….”
“Consider it one of my means to protect Sonia.”
Count Theodore still wasn’t entirely satisfied.
He watched them stroll through the palace, speaking and smiling at each other lovingly.
He didn’t ask Sonia directly, but he could feel her affection for Cassius.
Marriage to the man she loved was the right choice.
“……I think it’s too soon.”
“We’ll ask Sonia for her opinion on when to hold the ceremony.”
“Honestly, we should check how she’s living in the Holy Kingdom…”
“I will grant Sonia whatever she desires.”
The Count was stunned by this.
Not “I can grant,” but “I will grant.”
With his immense power and wealth, he could fulfill anything Sonia wished.
“Your Grace, do you know what Sonia wants?”
“I know well.”
Cassius, knowing her goals clearly, answered without hesitation.
Sonia wanted to completely leave behind the novel she read in her previous life and reclaim a peaceful life.
And after that, she wished to be happy.
Sonia is ambitious.
To satisfy her, he must possess great power himself.
Hearing Cassius’ answer, the Count recalled what he had once said:
“Sonia, I will support anything you wish to do.”
It was heartfelt, though at the time he didn’t fully know what Sonia wanted.
The Count ultimately concluded:
His daughter would be happier beside the one she loved than in her parents’ care.
