n

n

nChapter 47: Chapter 47

n‘Yes, you were right, Allendis.’

nThe reality I was in was different from the past. It won’t be easy, but I’m not going to get stuck in the past anymore because my past will never come back. I was dreaming of the future, and I found a little hope that I could change my fate.

nI suddenly missed my father. Even though he knew I was sick, he didn’t ask me anything because I might be hurt more. I could guess how much his heart was broken. I could guess how much he wanted to ask. And I could understand how he felt when he couldn’t ask because he feared I would hurt more, knowing his only daughter’s heart suffered so much.

nI was choked up with emotion. I wanted to see my father right now and jump into his arms. I wanted to tell him all the things that distressed me so far.

nI raised my body by straining my wobbly legs. With faltering steps, I opened the door. I saw my father standing frozen on the spot. He was standing at the door, dressed in white uniform covered with dust.

nTears pricked my eyes. At least one whole night had passed since I passed out, but he must have been standing outside like that, as if he was waiting for me to come out.

nI walked to him slowly with faltering steps. A trembling voice came through my lips.

n“Daddy.”

n“Yes, baby.” He replied in a hoarse voice.

n

n

nI jumped into his arms as if I was going to collapse. He quickly hugged me and kept stroking my hair. I knew he felt immensely relieved when he did so. I whispered, with my body wrapped in his arms.

n“Let’s go back to the capital, Daddy. I have a lot to tell you. ”

n“… Sure, let’s go back.”

nI raised my head fully and smiled at him brightly. There was a grin on his face, too, as he was looking at me anxiously. Under the bright blue autumn sky without clouds, the brightly shining morning sun beamed on us.

nThe sky without a cloud was brilliantly blue. It was already autumn. The garden, where even the breeze was not blowing, was very calm. Ivy vines covered the exterior wall of the mansion, built with bricks.

nI sighed as I looked at the red and green curtains.

n‘Ah, I’m bored. If I had known this, I would have just said I would have just helped.’

nThe employees of the mansion were very busy packing their stuff to head to the capital. Originally, I was supposed to help them, but the butler insisted I should take a rest, so I just went out, leaving all the assignments with him.

n‘Well, how can I kill time?’ Even if I went back to the mansion, he wouldn’t allow me to do anything. I can’t chat with them leisurely when they are so busy at the moment. I clasped my hands, pondering over what I could do.

n‘Yes, Carsein!’

nI turned and headed for the training field. As I hadn’t seen him all day long, it was clear that he was practicing fencing there. When I got out of the garden and walked a little further, there was something red glimmering in my eyes.

n‘Got it. It’s you who was practicing here.’

nI waited silently for him to finish. However, he didn’t stop even though a lot of time passed.

nI was hesitant when I found that he didn’t show any sign of stopping although he was soaked with sweat.

n‘What should I do? Do I just leave’

nWhen I turned back, I suddenly heard something dropping. When I looked back in a hurry, I noticed a familiar sword rolling on the floor. I was startled and stopped because the boy looking at the sword was very strange to me.

n“Damn it.”

nThe boy kicked the ground nervously and lay on the ground.

n‘Should I just turn around now?’ He didn’t look good. When I was hesitating for a moment, the boy who caught his rough breath, greeted me, covering his eyes with his hand.

n“Oh, are you here?”

n“Oh, you are practicing hard.”

n“Well, not so much.”

nI shook my head at his unusual reaction. Did something bad happen to him?

n“Hey.”

n“Huh?”

n“Are you okay?”

n“Oh, yes. I’m okay.”

n“That’s good to know.”

n“Huh. I’m sorry to make you worry about me. ”

n“… If you know it, don’t be sick.”

nWhy is he acting like this? Normally, he would have responded by telling me he didn’t care about my condition or I was physically so weak. I opened my eyes wide to his unexpected reply.

nWhen I was about to ask him what happened, Carsein suddenly picked up the sword again after springing to his feet.

n“Are you practicing again?”

n“Yes. If you’re not going to practice, just leave and mind your own business.”

n“… Okay. I got it. Then, I’ll leave now.”

nHe shook his hand as if he was annoyed and began to wield the sword again. What the heck? Why has he changed so much? What happened?

n“Tia, you’re here.”

nI suddenly looked back at the voice I heard. I didn’t know when he came out, but my father was looking at me.

nAs if he had something to say, my father gently stroked my head and asked, “The weather is good. Will you walk with me for a moment? ”

nI walked in the garden with autumn flowers in full bloom with my father. My father, who had been enjoying the scenery for a long time, said, “I thought we could leave tomorrow. Aren’t you sad? You must have liked this place very much.”

n“Yes, but I have to go back now. As it’s not too far from our house in the capital, I’m thinking of stopping by occasionally. ”

n“I think that sounds good,” he said after some silence.

n“Weren’t you surprised?”

n“Pardon?”

n“I mean that day. I’m sorry if I surprised you.”

n“Ah.” Did it bother him that he rebuked me for having lost my mind? I felt better somehow. I felt something warm was coming up in my heart. Was I loved like this until now?

n“I was surprised, but I wouldn’t have woken up if you hadn’t done so. Thank you.”

n“… ”

n“I know you have been upset because of me. I’m really sorry.”

n“No, not at all. Are you alright now?”

n“Yes, Daddy.”

n“I’m glad to hear that, honey.”

nI smiled brightly at him, who was obviously relieved. I felt I could leave in peace now because I realized that my present life was different from my past. I also knew that if the present changed, the future could change as well. Although nothing had changed so far, I was satisfied with the fact that I saw that little possibility.

nThe next day, I set out to the capital city with my father and Carsein. The house employees saw us off with regret. When I went down to the estate, I could watch the outside scenery, but now I had no time to do so. I had something else to do.

n“Oh, this is the way how it works.”

n“Yeah, good job, Tia. Let’s take a break.”

nI put down the documents and sighed. My father’s work was very different from what I had learned so far, so simply sorting it out took a lot of focus. I blinked my stiff eyes and tilted my head because I noticed Carsein looking out the window while holding his chin with one arm.

n‘What is he thinking so hard about?’

nThe moment I tried to speak to him, the wagon stopped violently. I momentarily lost balance and fell at the sudden stop.

n‘Oh, no!’

n“Are you alright?”

nHe was holding me tightly with his warm hands. When I opened my closed eyes, I saw him looking at me in embarrassment. His arms were wrapped around my waist as he held me.

n

n

nSuddenly, my face blushed because he was too close.

n“Oh, yes. I’m alright. Thanks, Carsein. ”

nTurning my blushing face, I pulled away from him. When I adjusted my posture and sat down again, I heard a young man’s voice coming from outside.

n“Sir, are you okay?”

n“I’m okay. What is going on? ”

n“It’s been raining for the last few days around this area. I think the wheels got stuck in the mud.”

n“Got it. Let me get out for a moment. ”

nNodding, he opened the carriage door. After the two got out, I also stepped out, avoiding the mud. Given that the wheels were deep in the mud, it looked like it was going to take some time to get the carriage out of it.

n“As you might get bored, please take a walk around here. It will take a while to get it out.”

n“Ah yes. Okay.”

n