Chapter 121
As expected, my father didn’t just stop at catching the culprit—he took matters into his own hands! And all this while I was lying down.
I wanted to ask exactly what he had done, but standing in front of my father, who seemed to be observing my reaction after giving his daughter a surprise gift, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
Then again, saying, “Wow, Dad! Thank you for the gift!” felt… wrong somehow.
“General Pine is the problem! Even though he’s past his prime, rumors say his lust for power is as strong as ever… spreading even to the southern provinces…”
“And you, the marquis who only knows how to supply alcohol, are criticizing others! Rumor has it you signed unfair contracts with monasteries just for wine…”
The background music—or rather, sound effects—were way too intense!
As I stood there momentarily speechless, the duke handed me a bundle of papers.
“You played a part in this as well.”
“Uh… this is?”
It was the preparatory report for the spear-and-lance tournament that I had requested from Lady Pine.
Back when I thought my father might have orchestrated a terrorist attack, there was a clear trace of how he planned vulnerable points to lure in the terrorists. He had been digging into participant selection.
Amazingly, my father had used that.
“I understand your plan. You were trying to attack General Pine over the participant bribery scandal, right?”
No. At that time, I couldn’t trust my father.
“…Yes! That’s right! General Pine, he’s one of your political rivals, isn’t he?”
“Exactly. Although with just this material it would have been impossible to topple him, there’s nothing wrong with dreaming big. More importantly, didn’t it really help this time?”
My father wore a look as if he had received a carnation from his youngest child. He was clearly mistaken, but I couldn’t bring myself to correct him.
While we smiled at each other, thinking differently, the judge below set the sentence. Lady Pine burst into tears.
Leaning back comfortably in his chair, my father said,
“The king may have wanted to use my freezing ability as an excuse to get rid of me, but now that General Pine has fallen, he can no longer punish me—the strategic asset in times of crisis.”
“….”
“Furthermore, Marquis Godel, a powerful regional noble, also received a prison sentence, so he won’t be meddling with other provincial nobles for a while. Doing so would provoke the other powerful figures.”
“Uh… so it wasn’t just for me, then?”
“No, it’s for you.”
My father gripped my hand tightly. Rough yet warm, and not painful.
“I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to stay by your side, even if I saved you.”
“Father…”
“I swear, I will continue to be your shield… no, a fortress so wide that nothing can enter.”
Thump, thump, thump.
The judge struck the gavel. The scribbling of reporters’ pens sounded like a marching army of ants. Someone screamed.
Yet, amidst all that, my father’s voice was clear in my ear.
“Even if the fortress is soaked in blood or falls, do not worry. That is the fortress’s role, and you will always be safe.”
Immediately after the summer festival, the high-ranking officials in the capital must have felt drained. The fall of General Pine, the exile of Marquis Godel, repairs to the main hall of the ministry—all sorts of incidents happened at once.
The king likely realized that it was impossible to target my father over his freezing ability now. Besides, everyone else had been meeting the duke regardless of the weather; if the king fussed and got himself in trouble, it would be nothing short of a disaster.
Anyway, everyone from the king to the minister of the court, secretaries, and other high nobles was busy to death. My father left for vacation with a cool farewell:
“Take care.”
Our journey southward began.
The first carriage held my father, Elber, and me. On the second day, Benen joined us, looking exhausted.
“Father… sending a letter demanding I finish the Q3 budget report immediately because you’re going on vacation—really too much!”
“I said you could take your time if you didn’t come.”
“If I can’t go on a family vacation, there’s no reason to work.”
“…Benen, isn’t that strange you’ve learned to argue like that?”
Benen didn’t reply further and simply patted my hair while smiling. I returned the smile.
Yes, that little trick—I had taught him. To always join me, just like when eating ice cream.
It was a shame that Ignatz, aka Eugene, couldn’t come too, but they were going on vacation with their colleagues.
Finally, the four of us found seats in the spacious carriage. Outside the window stretched landscapes I had never seen before.
In midsummer, the rain-soaked plains looked like a vivid green sea. I could look at them for hours without tiring.
“Wow, that tree is huge! What kind of tree is that, Father?”
“I don’t know. Let’s bring one back on the way home and ask the gardener.”
“I’m not saying I want it.”
Elber and Benen looked at us, seemingly unfazed, and laughed.
It took two days to travel. We passed rugged plains, green fields, and mist-covered villages. The first scent I noticed was that of the sea.
I immediately turned to the window.
“Wow…”
Even through a window barely a foot wide, I was overwhelmed.
The beach, piled with white pebbles, stretched endlessly. The gentle waves looked like an infinite line of piano keys.
So beautiful…
As I lost myself, my father chuckled and called to the coachman:
“Go faster! Otherwise, the lady will jump out of the carriage!”
“Ah, no!”
No matter how I protested, the carriage sped up. I panicked; Elber grabbed me, and Benen just laughed.
Of course, my father’s crescent-shaped gaze never left me, from start to finish.
The carriage soon arrived at the lodging.
Expecting a luxurious villa, we were surprised to find a modest two-story wooden building. White and stylish, like something from an energy drink commercial.
I had been spoiled too much. Calling such a beautiful building “ordinary” felt embarrassing.
Time to check the bedrooms!
When I tried to get my bag from Linda, Benen looked surprised.
“Why? Isn’t that your bag?”
“I want to put my things in the room.”
“Shouldn’t you unpack your stuff there?”
“Excuse me?”
“Ah… you thought this was the main lodging?”
“It isn’t?”
“This is only used when visiting the beach. The lodging is over there.”
Benen pointed to a fenced area over a few hills.
“Private property? Why the wire fence?”
“Don’t you see? Excuse me a moment.”
“Kya… uh?”
When Benen lifted me, I finally saw the massive mansion in the distance—like an apartment block laid on its side, folded in the shape of a ㄷ (Korean letter).
What I had been looking at was just the garden fence.
“The white building is the main villa.”
“…Borrowing such a grand place for just a few days?”
“Not happy with it?”
“Uh, Father!”
Suddenly, my father interjected.
Though expressionless at first glance, I could tell by his eyebrows that he was sulking.
I shook my hands emphatically.
“No! It’s huge! I’m just amazed. It’s perfect!”
“Good. It’s your birthday gift.”
“…What?”
“If you like any autumn flowers, tell me. I’ll plant them in the garden as a kind of gift wrapping. If not, I’ll go with Michelia and Orange Jasmine.”
“…Uh?”
“…Where has my clever daughter gone?”
“Uh… that’s…”
Still dazed, my father looked genuinely concerned. Normally, I would have made a comment.
Then Benen placed his hand on my shoulder.
“I’ll handle this quickly.”
“Wait, put me down! Hey, where are you going!”
“I’m cheering you up!”
“Ahhh!”
He ran straight to the beach, holding me!
The shadow of the beach house quickly passed, and the scorching sunlight surrounded us. I closed my eyes for a moment. Beneath Benen’s feet, the sound of splashing water woke me up.
And—
“Ha… ahahaha!”
The salty sea breeze tangled my hair. Laughing at this rough greeting, I tried to fix my hair, when suddenly I heard the waves.
Even if I fell into the water, I thought, it would feel good.
Suddenly, Benen stopped moving.
Elber, who had run over, grabbed him.
“Don’t drop Sol! Remember when you fell into the lake? He might have trauma!”
“Brother, that was long ago! The water here is shallow!”
“Still…”
“If I thought it was traumatic, I wouldn’t have suggested coming to the beach!”
“Ah.”
Overprotective, as usual.
Benen gently set me down, and Elber knelt in front of me.
“Wait, Sol, your shoes will get wet.”
As he untied my shoelaces, he got soaked up to his thighs. It happened so fast there was no time to stop him.
Elber stepped back, holding my shoes, and Benen carefully set me down.
At first, the sun-warmed water felt pleasant. But through the white foam—
“Ah, it’s cold!”
Instinctively, my legs kicked. Water splashed everywhere, and naturally…
“…Sol?”
“Elber?”
He was still bent beside me, a strand of his hair floating along the foam.
“…Sorry, Elber…”
“…If you apologize—”
Hmm, classic pattern.
Elber was about to splash water at me—
“Ah!”
Wrong prediction.
Elber’s confused expression tilted sideways. Benen had pushed me into the water from behind!
“Puh, pff! Brother!”
“Ahahaha!”
“Benen! Don’t push Sol in!”
“It’s okay—ugh!”
As soon as I got out, I kicked Benen behind his knees.
Elber immediately splashed Benen back. I laughed, clinging to Benen so he couldn’t escape.
Benen protested, “Glasses! Give me time to take off my glasses!” I stalled Elber briefly, then clung to him, sitting down.
At this point, it didn’t matter who splashed whom. What we exchanged was laughter.
I don’t know how long we played.
Outside the beach house, a tired middle-aged gaze pressed us to leave quickly.
Walking onto the white sand, my summer dress, pretty a moment ago, hung wet and heavy.
“Can you even walk? You look like a freshly washed giant curtain.”
“I’m fine. Benen, clean your glasses first.”
Benen went ahead; I followed. Summer clothes felt lighter than the outfits we wore in the lake.
Was Elber following?
I realized why my steps felt light when I looked back.
“…Brother, what are you doing?”
Elber had picked up my wet skirt. His eyes shone with purpose.
“Trying to make sure those bad memories don’t come back. Trust me, Brother!”
That’s not the problem, though.
Somehow, my father on the beach seemed to be shaking his head.
