n

n

n“Father! Brother!”

n“Oh hello, Erita. Good morning.”

nBy the time I was ready and came down, everyone was already there except me.

n“What? Not today!”

n‘That’s impossible? Make it unconditional.’

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n

n‘Haha! Master joked all around.’

n‘Does this sound like a joke?’

n‘It’s not possible! I can’t! If you want to go, you’ll have to kill me!’

nThinking about yesterday’s situation for a moment, I can’t stop smiling.

nAt first, I should have left yesterday, but I felt sorry for Fern, who had lost, so I asked him today.

nMy father just ignored me and tried to leave, but I saw Fern’s desperate face.

nSeeing the dark circles on Fern’s face, I couldn’t even stop them.

n“Have a great time.”

n“See you, lady!”

n“I’ll be back!”

nSmiling warmly while waving at Terban and Mary as they escorted us out the door.

nWhen I left the door holding my father’s and brother’s hand, a large carriage was waiting for us.

nIt was the peak of two black Krovachatz wrapped in the vines carved on the carriage.

n‘Hmm… I know this much now. There were a lot of books in the mansion library.‘

nAmong them, of course, there were books written about the history and families of the Empire.

n‘Well. But the carriage is very high.’

nPerhaps because it was big, the height of the carriage was higher than expected.

nBut I forgot for a moment that there was no need to worry about that.

n“Wait a minute.”

nMy brother got into the carriage first and held out his hand.

n“Oh!”

nMy father lifted me lightly and put me on the carriage seat.

nEntering the carriage holding my brother’s hand, I smiled awkwardly.

n“Let’s go!”

nAt father’s words, the carriage began to roll slowly.

nContrary to the splendid exterior, the interior of the carriage was simple. The chair was as soft as a bed.

nI was trying to wiggle my fingers when I realized that my brother was holding my hand.

n“Hey, brother.”

n“Huh?”

nI tried to tell him to let go of my hand, but when I saw the sweet smile on his lips, I wondered what was going on.

n“Ugh, no. It’s just fine…”

n“Haha. What?”

nWhen I shook my head and laughed along, my brother followed me and burst into laughter.

nAs I felt someone’s gaze, I turned towards and saw father, who was sitting across, was staring at us.

nWas there something on my face?

nFumbling as I touched my cheek, there’s nothing on it.

n“Isn’t it because she said it looked good?”

n“No way…”

nI responded with a light smile to my brother’s whispering words. Could it be that our father did that because of something like that?

nHe keeps staring at us, well… maybe it’s really because of that?

nIt was the moment when I met my father’s gaze while thinking.

n“Father!”

nIt’s the same expression as usual, but I’m not sure.

n“Thank you for coming with us. I love you so much!”

nWith a broad smile, I shouted. It’s a bit embarrassing, but it’s true.

n“It’s okay. If you like it.”

nSeeing my father smile, I thought this was the correct answer.

n✿

n“How pretty! It’s so warm and sunny outside.”

nAdmiring the scenery passing by through the window of the moving carriage.

nIt was autumn, and the colorful trees were adorning the road.

nAs we slowly approached the village, the buildings began to appear one by one.

n“The mansion is a bit far from the town.”

nAt my brother’s words, I nodded in agreement.

nIt was definitely a different atmosphere from the calm and quiet Grand Duke’s residence.

nIt feels crowded and lively because there are so many people.

n“We must get off now.”

n“Wow!”

nI couldn’t hide my amazement from my father’s words.

nAt that moment, I remembered one thing I had forgotten.

n‘In Lysen, where the orphanage was, I hated having black hair… ‘

nAlthough this place has been far since the Grand Duke’s mansion, where my father was, I still had a clear view from the people’s gaze.

n“Father.”

n“Would it be okay if I don’t change my hair color?”

nI’m afraid people would stare at me… I blurted out, wondering if I might offend my father.

nBut the carriage door opened, and my father gently stroked my hair once.

nAs if I shouldn’t be anxious.

n“No one is afraid of black hair here. For hundreds of years, the people of the Grand Duke have ruled.”

n“Ah…”

n“And the reason I changed my hair color last time was to hide my existence, not because my hair was black.”

nIt was only then that I found out why in Lysen he had changed his hair color.

nIn addition, the people of the Grand Duke are not afraid of dark hair.

nWell, it was the people who ruled over the territory in the first place. It’s understandable.

nI felt reassured to see my father reaching out his hand toward me outside the carriage.

nThere was also my older brother who held my hand tightly and smiled.

nYes, so I made up my mind. Let’s not be scared and worry.

nHolding my father’s hand tightly, I gained courage.

n✿

nWhen I got off the carriage, what I saw was a bustling street.

nThere were more people and more buildings than Lysen, where I lived before.

nStill, no one looked at us strangely.

nThis is what father meant by there’s no need to worry.

n“Didn’t I say you don’t have to worry?”

nI smiled and nodded at my father’s words.

n“Don’t let go of my hand because you might get lost.”

nHolding my father and brother’s hands, I have been busy looking around since then.

n“How much is it?”

n“Do you want me to buy you that?”

nFeeling embarrassed because of my father and my brother who tried to buy everything my gaze landed on.

n“Kyle.”

n“Yes, my lord.”

n“Let’s share and hold it.”

nThanks to the two people who paid before I could stop them, only the hands of the knights who were escorting us secretly became heavy.

nI knew then that there were knights escorting us.

nWhat have I bought so far? First, clothes, shoes, toys, and cakes…

nIf I were to list them all up, it would be endless.

n“Oh, thank you!”

nThis time, it was the doll I was looking at.

nOf course, I glanced at it because it was cute…

n“Thank you…”

nIn the end, I decided to carry the teddy bear around. Instead, I made the two of them promise to not buy anything anymore.

nBut despite the fact that I decided not to buy anything, this time there was something I really wanted.

nExactly what I wanted to eat.

nIt was a snack sold on the street, and it was a skewer of fruits dipped in sugar water and hardened.

nBeing possessed by the shiny surface at once, I glanced up to the side….

nIt’s too embarrassing if I tell them not to buy anything and ask them to buy this.

nWhat I had forgotten was that the eyes of my father and brother were very quick.

n“Do you want to eat that?”

nMy brother asked me, unable to take my eyes off the fruit skewer.

n“Ye-yes…”

nAfter hesitating for a while, I replied timidly.

nAs a result, I got the fruit skewers I wanted. When I took a bite, the hard sugar coating broke and fresh juice flowed out.

n“Wow, it’s so delicious!”

nI shouted with my eyes wide open.

n“I know. It’s so sweet.”

n“You had oranges, didn’t you?”

n“Yes, you have a strawberry.”

nMy brother, who had the same skewer, nodded.

nWe only bought for the two of us because my father said he didn’t want to eat but I still left some skewers for him.

nEach fruit was stuck in it, so it was after I finished eating the strawberry that I was eating.

n“Father, you should try it, too! It’s really delicious!”

n“…Okay.”

nFather paused for a moment at my words, then bent down and bit the fruit.

nWatching my father, my heart pounded.

n“What do you think?”

n“It’s delicious.”

nAs he said that, my father’s smiling face seemed to form a little frown differently than usual. It came back to normal soon though.

nThe moment I thought I was mistaken, I remembered the fact that I heard last time.

nCome to think of it, my father said he doesn’t like sweets!

nAnd this wasn’t as sweet as a dessert. It’s a whole chunk of sugar…

nStaring at my father with pitiful eyes, not knowing what to do.

n“What’s wrong with you?””

n“I’m sorry. I forgot that my father doesn’t like sweets.”

nMy father, who was looking at me for a while, soon smiled softly and shook off a piece of sugar on my cheek.

n“Everything was fine as long as you gave it to me. So don’t cry.”

n“Still…”

n“It’s really okay.”

nMy father knows everything I like, but I’ll have to eat all of this skewer first.

nShe vowed to eat the skewers quickly, being careful not to get sugar on the teddy bear.

nWhen we return to the mansion, I’d catch Fern or Terban and find out what my father likes.

nThe image of my father looking at me like that and smiling brightly as if he remembered something.

n✿

nAslan watches his little daughter.

nOld memories came to mind when he saw Erita’s sullen look.

nIt was one of those very old memories. It was still so vivid in front of his eyes that it became a memory that he missed so much.

nA time when he was much younger and immature than now. He was a platoon Duke, and Serbia was a young marquise.

n“Aslan, do you want to try this, too?”

n“…It’s okay.”

n“I’m sorry that I’m the only one eating. Huh?”

nAslan looked at the piece of cake held out in front of him with his slightly wavering eyes.

nOf all things, it’s a chocolate cake. For Aslan, who hates sweets, it was like poison.

nIf it were anyone else, they would have been beaten mercilessly, but his opponent was the only person who he couldn’t harm.

nFortunately, he was very good at managing his facial expressions.

n“Was it delicious?”

nAslan, who struggled to control his frown, nodded slowly.

nBut Serbia was as quick-witted as Aslan.

n“Lie. Your brows are twitching.”

nConfused, Aslan sneaked away from the gaze and lied once again.

nThose who knew Aslan would be terrified when they saw it.

n“It was really delicious.”

n“Really?”

nFor some reason, it sounded like giving him the last chance, but Aslan nodded.

n“Then could you have one more bite?”

nIt was then that he confessed the truth.

n“Actually, I don’t like to eat sweets.”

n“See? If you had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”

n“It’s not that I couldn’t eat it…”

n“Seriously, why are you so nice? If you don’t like it, you just have to say it.”

nSerbia, who leaned on Aslan’s shoulder, spoke gently as if feeling sorry.

nWas Serbia aware that she’s the only one who believes I’m good? But there’s no need for me to expose my genuine identity.

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nBecause Serbia has nothing to hide. It was also her who became sullen when she interrogated and asked the truth.

nIn front of Serbia was the moment when Aslan, who had ruled over victory, became the sole loser.

nThe day when Serbia, which soon burst into a clear smile, was happy.

nWhen Erita’s eyes drooped in disappointment, Aslan remembered the past alone, the memory of Serbia.

nWhen I think about those happy yet sad days, I think I could remember them a little more happily than before…

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