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n

n

n“Well, I thought you were going to leave with Duke Verita. As he is going there to oversee the relief work, I thought he would keep moving without any dwelling. ”

n“You’re right. I’m afraid I won’t be able to send messages until I come back. ”

n“… I see.” I replied feebly. Suddenly, I felt empty. My father, Alendis, my family knights.

nI knew I couldn’t live around them forever, but I was separated from them much earlier than I thought. I kept feeling depressed.

nDid he notice my gloomy feelings? Or was he depressed like me? There was silence between me, unwilling to open my mouth, and him, who was just eating silently.

n“Aristia.”

n“Huh?”

nWhen he broke the silence finally, I also stopped indulging in idle thought. It was already dessert time. Many people ate dessert to refresh their mouths with sweetness after mainly meat-based meals with spices and sauces. Because sugar is expensive, it is mainly enjoyed by nobles and wealthy commoners, and top nobles prefer cakes, pies, chocolates and sherbets.

nWhen I cut a piece of cake white like snow and put it in my mouth, I felt a bit better because of the sweetness spreading through my mouth.

n“Do you feel better?”

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n

n“Oh, sorry, Allendis. I think I was discourteous to you even thoughI invited you for dinner.”

n“No, it’s not a big deal between you and me.”

nHe replied gently and stood up after wiping his mouth with a napkin. I grabbed his hand and walked to the front door of the mansion.

n“Thank you for the invitation. I want to spend some more time here, but my schedule is tight. Sorry.”

n“It’s alright. Be careful, Allendis. ”

n“Sure, I will try to contact you often.”

n“You said it would not be easy, so don’t overwork yourself.”

nAllendis looked at me quietly and pulled me into his arms, “I do really feel bad as I have to leave you behind. I feel like kidnapping you.”

n“Oh, Allendis?”

n“You should not become friends with other guys while I’m away, okay? Be careful about the crown prince in particular. Got it?”

n“… ”

n“Take care then. Hope you can keep well while I’m away, my lady. ”

nHe briefly kissed my forehead. I saw his light-green hair gradually fading away before disappearing in the dark.

n“Your Highness!”

n“… ”

n“Please get up, Your Highness!”

nI opened my eyes when someone shook me gently. I saw my father looking down at me with a resolute expression. I tilted my head a bit as his uniform looked different from when he went to the Imperial Palace. What happened to him?

n“Please listen carefully, Your Highness.”

n“…. ”

n“Because of some urgent matters I have to go to the border area for some time. Please wait a little longer. When I get back, I will take you home. ”

nI opened my eyes because I already heard what he was saying before. What the heck is he talking about now? Only then did I see correctly who I was now. It’s not me who just observed my 12-year-old birthday, but I was a 17-year-old girl who was going half crazy.

n“Until then, you need to be strong-willed and stay healthy. Do you understand? ”

n‘No, you should not go.’ I was very confused, but I had to stop my father from going to the border. If I let him go, I would certainly never see him again. I could never let him go.

n“Please don’t go.”

n“Your Highness?”

n“No, daddy. Please don’t go.”

nI hastily tried to catch him, but he was getting farther away from me. I was so nervous. I couldn’t let him go away like that.

n“Please don’t go.”

n“… ”

n“Please, Dad.”

nWhen I was reaching out desperately, I felt I touched something stiff at my fingertips.

nI don’t know what it was, but I grasped it in my hand and clung to it with all my might.

n“You can’t go now.”

n“Tia.”

n“Never, ever…”

n“Now, you’re fine. Tia, open your eyes.”

nI opened my eyes to someone’s friendly whispering. I saw his blue eyes full of concern.

nWhen I quickly looked around, my room in the mansion came into view. I saw myself grasping my father’s shirt as a child.

n‘It was a dream.’

nI sighed with relief. My father, who reached out and pulled me into his arms, patted my back, and said lightly, “You must have had a nightmare.”

n“… ”

n“You’re alright. It’s just a dream.”

nWhile he slowly swept my hair, I smoothed out my rough breathing. I sunk into his arms to feel a little more warmth. Only now could I feel relieved.

n“You’re still very young. I think I’m so foolish as to forget your age. ”

n“Dad.”

n“Are you so heartbroken if I am leaving like this? Sorry. I didn’t know you would be so sad.”

n“No. Sorry I have worried you. By the way, did you take care of your business well?”

n“Yes, I finished it earlier than I thought. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. ”

n“Tomorrow morning…”

n“I will try to come back as soon as possible, but maybe I might not come back until sometime next spring. I’m sorry. ”

n“No, you don’t have to be sorry.”

nI tried not to show sadness when he repeatedly said he was sorry, but I shook my head, pulling myself together deep down. As a nobleman and an imperial knight, he was doing what he was supposed to do, so I should not dishearten him who was leaving on a long journey.

nI spoke as brightly as possible to him as he let out a long sigh, “I’m really fine, so don’t worry about me, and please come back safely when you carry out your mission. ”

n“… Sure. Can you go back to sleep now? You must be very tired as you slept fitfully,” he said, releasing me carefully. When I saw my father pulling the blanket over me, my heart began to pound nervously. I got up unconsciously and grabbed his sleeves when he was about to leave after saying goodbye.

n“Tia?”

n“Oh, I’m sorry. I just did that unconsciously.”

nHe slowly smiled after looking at me with a perplexed expression. Sitting slowly on the edge of the bed, he laid me back and covered me with the blanket again.

n“Let me sit here by your side until you go to sleep.”

n“You will be tired, daddy…”

n“I’m fine. I think I can sleep comfortably when I see you fall asleep. ”

n“Still… ”

n“I’m alright. By the way, Tia.”

n“Pardon?”

nCutting me off strongly, he said in a soft voice,”I will leave everything with you when it comes to our family affairs while I’m away. Take care of any urgent things, and leave the non-urgent stuff alone. As you have other work to do, don’t overwork yourself. Got it?”

n“Yes, I will.”

n“Avoid going outside as much as possible, and try to stay home.”

n“Yes, will do. Don’t worry.”

n“Okay, I believe you will keep well. Don’t worry too much about me. Make sure you practice properly. Even though you feel better these days, you are basically weak, as you know.”

n“Yes, daddy.”

n“And… ”

nI began to feel drowsy when he gently stroked my dishevelled hair on the pillow. I heard his gentle voice fading away. I was slowly falling asleep with my father next to me.

nThe next day I frowned slightly at the lukewarm air even in the early morning.

nI felt my father and the knights would find it harder to travel to the border areas.

nWhen I arrived on the training field, a silver-haired knight, who looked well in his blue uniform, standing in front of the knights and calming down the neighing horses, looked at me.

n“Oh, you’re here.”

n“Yes, daddy. Please be careful. ”

n“Sure. Keep well. When something happens, ask Duke Lars for help, okay? ”

n“Sure, will do.”

n“Okay, then. Goodbye!”

n“Oh, dad, wait a minute.”

nMy father, who stroked my head once and turned around, looked back.

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n

n“What’s the matter?”

n“This…”

nHis blue eyes opened wide slightly. As he looked surprised, I said quickly, “I made it, praying that you could come back safely… ”

n“Thank you.”

nReceiving a silver tassel that I spent all night making, he spoke in a slightly subdued voice.

nWhile watching him put the tassel on his sword, he looked at it for a while. I opened my eyes wide because he took off the cufflinks decorating his shirt sleeves and gave it to me.

n“If you give me this… ”

n“Don’t worry. I’ve a spare. As I have received a precious gift, shouldn’t I repay it? ”

nI stood pleasantly surprised by his bright smile.

nAt that moment, I suddenly heard a loud noise.

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