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nI opened my eyes to his unexpected words. Why did he prepare a birthday present for me? Wasn’t I supposed to receive it after I came of age? I shook my head and received the box from my father. It was almost half the size of my body. Why is this so big? When I unwrapped the navy blue ribbon and opened the lid, there was a big doll inside. A woman doll wearing a pretty dress with her shiny gold hair tied together.

nI was speechless at that moment. I guess he gave me this gift because he thought I was young, but it was a little embarrassing for me who had lived up to seventeen years. I would have thought so even if I had no memory of the past.

n“You don’t like it? Well, actually, the knights told me that a kid your age…”

n“No, Dad. I really like it! ”

nI laughed brightly when he spoke awkwardly as if he tried to make some excuses.

nWhat’s the big deal anyway? It’s a gift from my father. After I shook my head several times, telling him to make any excuses for the gift, my father smiled a faint smile. I closed my eyes when he was touching my hair gently.

n“Khmm, it looks like you don’t like dolls.”

nWhen my father, who was having breakfast with me, said that in passing, I flinched.

nObviously, he felt sad to know that I kept the doll for a few days without playing with it.

nComing back to my room, I sighed, looking at the doll. Thanks to Lina’s good handling, the doll’s golden hair glowed brightly.

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nI felt I had to pretend to play with the doll. With a big sigh, I held the doll in my arms. I didn’t really want to do this, but it seemed like I had to carry it for some time. Because of the big size, my vision became narrow, so I hugged the doll with one hand and grabbed the railing with the other hand and cautiously went downstairs.

n“Hut, lady?”

n“Wow, I love her image like that!”

nWhen I arrived at the front door, I heard several people holding their breath and looking at me.

nThe knights waiting to accompany my father opened their eyes wide. A knight who silenced another young knight’s shouting, smiled awkwardly at her. I was so embarrassed to see the surprised servants. I knew I would go through this.

n“Tia?”

nWhile coming downstairs, my father’s eyes popped up wide. When I blushed in embarrassment, he naturally smiled at me. When he extended his hand to me, I tilted my head, but one of my feet almost missed a step. I instinctively hugged the doll and looked at my father’s navy blue eyes.

n“Dad?”

n“Let’s go together.”

n“Pardon? To the Imperial Palace? ”

n“Yeah. Don’t you like it?”

n“Oh, I’d love to.”

nWhen I hurriedly shook my head, my father walked away. When I could no longer see the knights looking at me curiously because of the wagon blocking my vision, I suddenly came to remember I was holding the doll.

n‘Oh, I wish I had left it behind.’

nThe closer the wagon got to the imperial palace, the more anxious I was.

nI wondered for a moment if I had to take the doll with me, agonizing about what’s the best way to deal with it. But when I saw my father looking at me pleasantly, I decided to take it, though I was a bit embarrassed because he liked it.

nWhen I was getting out of the wagon with my head down, I could not see well because of the doll in my arms. I held my father’s cuff with one hand, walking after him cautiously. I felt many people around were looking at me curiously. Even though I could not see them, I could imagine what kind of expression they were making on their faces. I quickly followed him, with my blushing face down.

nWhen I entered my father’s office and took a break after putting down the doll, Sir League said, “Captain, I think you should come out for a moment.”

n“What’s up?”

n“There was an accident during the training. Two knights were seriously injured. I just got back after taking the appropriate measures right away.”

n“Got it. Let’s go right away. ”

nAs soon as his father got up and disappeared, the silence fell in the office.

n‘If I had known this, I would have brought a book with me.’

nOut of boredom I stood up. I felt I would like to read a book about war tactics as I had to learn about it anyway later.

nI picked up one book that looked easy, and sat down. It’s not so thick, but as I’ve never read such a book before, I focused on it. It’s not as difficult as I thought. The basic tenet of the tactics was similar to politics and diplomacy. Maybe that’s why politics and diplomacy were called wars without weapons. I thought it was just a simple metaphor.

nWhile I kept reading the book with delight, I already came to read the last page, but my father hadn’t come back yet. I wondered if the two injured knights were in serious condition, given that he didn’t come back yet. I wanted to read another book, so I stood up, but suddenly, the doll in my seat caught my eye.

n“Well… ”

nI slowly raised the doll and put it on my lap.

nWhen I was looking into its blue eyes for a long time, I suddenly felt warm in my heart. It was the first birthday gift from my brusque father. Strictly speaking, I received one at my coming-of-age ceremony, but this was definitely the first one that I received in my newly earned life.

nBesides, my father gave me one, ignoring the customs of the empire that parents didn’t give gifts to their children before they came of age.

nI thought that I should treat it more valuably, so I grabbed the doll’s crooked skirt and opened it, when I heard the door opening.

n‘Is my father coming back now?’

nWhen I slowly turned my head, I was startled. It was not my father who came in, but the boy with blue hair.

n“Oh…. the little son of the empire… ”

nWhile I hurriedly bent over, I hugged the falling doll with a little scream.

nI barely managed to grasp it, but I stiffened when I felt goosebumps at his unexpected appearance.

n‘Oh my God, what did I do now?’

nWhen I swallowed and raised my head, I could see something passing by in his blue eyes.

nAs always, his gaze came back to me without expression and said, “Where is your father?”

n“He went out, saying there was an accident during the training…”

n“Got it. As I’ve come here, let me wait.”

nI bowed my head, swallowing a sigh that I couldn’t help. I sat down awkwardly when he asked to sit down. As I felt so uncomfortable and awkward, I only touched the hair of the doll in my arms. I was conscious of his gaze, but I kept my head down, pretending not to notice it.

nHow much time passed? The two who were coming into the office chatting jovially stopped.

nThe blue-haired boy nodded at my father and Duke Verita who hurriedly greeted him politely.

n“I stopped by here for a brief inspection at the order of the emperor.”

n“I see. What do you want to inspect first?”

n“I inspected the training session sometime ago, so let me pass it. I want to see some financial documents today.”

nWhile the two were talking, Duke Verita, who looked at me as if my presence was very unusual, said, “I didn’t know you had this side to you. Only now do you look your age.”

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n“… ”

n“But you shouldn’t neglect to study. OK? ”

n“Yes, Duke Verita. I will always keep it in mind. ”

n“Well, I’m sure you’re doing well without my advice. I know you have a very perceptive mind. I was very surprised when you insisted on introducing a luxury tax the other day. How can you who is only ten years old think of it? How smart you are!”

n“I’m flattered Duke Verita. It’s all thanks to your guidance.”

nAs I bowed to appreciate his praise, he patted my shoulder gently with a smile.

nWhile I was talking with him for a while, I turned my head when I found their quiet conversation seemed to stop. I saw my father collecting the papers as if he was done reporting, and the boy looking at us.

nLooking back at the boy, the duke said in a satisfied voice, “She is only 10 years old, but she is so special. Isn’t it really the blessings of the empire?”

n“Yes, I am also very happy to have a smart fiancee, ” He said, nodding slightly.

nMy heart sank when I saw him leaning against the chair, locking his fingers together with a very happy expression. It was an expression he usually made when he didn’t like something.

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