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nChapter 50: Chapter 50

n“No, nothing,” said the emperor, putting down the mug after taking his eyes off from the window. “By the way, how is your fencing practice? Have you been studying hard?”

n“As I’m only a beginner, I can get by in one way or another.”

n“Really? Good. I don’t think your father will go easy on you just because you’re his daughter. It looks like you are catching up better than I thought. That’s great.”

nWhy is he interested in my fencing practice? I was afraid he would tell me to stop fencing practice immediately and come to the palace. I was puzzled, but instead of expressing it, I continued the conversation over tea.

nAfter finishing tea time after a long time, I headed to the 2nd Knights’ Building to meet my father.

nAs I left the inner palace and headed for the outer palace, I remembered what the emperor said.

n‘Hmmm… Is he treating me specially? It’s strange. My father doesn’t treat me specially just because I’m his daughter.’

nWhile walking deep in thought, I arrived at the 2nd Knight’s Building. Responding to the cheering knights here and there, I found a familiar guy with red hair while walking in the corridor. ‘Is that Carsein?’

n“Nice to see you, Lady Monique! It’s been a while.”

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nThe man with red hair was not Carsein, but his brother Sir Lars. I felt mixed feelings of joy and regret, but I greeted him gladly without revealing such feelings.

n“It’s been a long time, Sir Lars.”

n“I’m seeing you for the first time in six months. Have you been at the estate?”

n“Yes, thank you for asking that.”

n“Are you on your way to see your father?”

n“You, too?”

n“That’s right. Then, can I escort you? ”

n“Of course. Thank you.”

nWhen I saw his vivid red hair, I kept thinking of his brother, Carsein. I wonder if something happened to him. When I saw him in the field and met him last time, he was a lot different than usual.

n“Is Carsein doing well?”

n“You mean ‘Sein? Well, I don’t know if I can say he’s doing well. ”

n“Pardon? What’s the matter with him? ”

n“Oh, he is not sick or something like that, but he has changed for some reason. Obviously, like before he is practicing fencing all day long, but he looks a little different from before. Well, in some respect, it looks like he is desperate.”

n‘Desperate?’ In my case, I was desperate to avoid being empress, but why was he practicing so desperately? As far as fencing was concerned, he was always relaxed.

n“Come on in, Tia. Oh, welcome, Sir Lars!”

n“Oh, Lady Monique, it’s been a long time.”

nWhen I entered the office, someone with a familiar voice greeted me. It was Duke Lars.

n‘Why is he here when he is supposed to stay at the First Knights building?’

nI was a little puzzled, but I bowed to greet him politely.

n“It’s been a while, Duke Lars. How have you been? ”

n“Thanks, I’m doing well. I hear you went down to the estate. You’re back now. ”

n“That’s right.”

n“Good. This friend of mine was so worried about you that I couldn’t bear to see him. I am just so sad as I don’t have a daughter, man.”

n“Arkint, please.”

n“Okay, okay. Let me stop it. ”

nLooking at my father’s expression, he replied with a smile. When I took a seat cautiously, my father, who exchanged eye signals with him, said, “Tia, do you know the organization and characteristics of each knight division?”

n“Yes, I know.”

n“Then, you know that the leader of the 1st Knights Division comes from the Lars family while the leader of the 2nd Knights Division comes from our family, right?”

n“Of course, I do.”

n“Then it’s easy for me to explain how they work. Traditionally, the next captain of the 1st and 2nd Kights played the role of the captain’s deputy to learn how he works before switching. That’s why Sir Lars is working as my deputy now. ”

n“Yes, I got it now, Dad.”

n“So far, as there was no successor to our family, we didn’t have to follow the tradition, but isn’t the situation different now?”

nWhen I gently nodded, Duke Lars told me, “I thought it was a joke, but according to Carsein, you started learning how to be a successor in earnest. And I heard the emperor tacitly agreed. If you’re really serious about succeeding the family, I think you should learn the assignments of the knights little by little. If you can, I want you to be my assistant starting next spring. What do you think? ”

n“But I am far from an apprentice knight…”

n“I heard from ‘Sein that you are already competent enough to beat an apprentice knight. Don’t worry. You can quickly solve the problem once you take the knight test.”

n“If so, I will accept your offer.”

n“Then, I understand you have accepted my offer. If you have any questions, please ask this man. He will help you a lot, ” Duke Lars said with a smile, patting Sir Lars’ shoulder.

n“I will. Sir Lars, I hope I am in great hands.”

n“Oh, I hope, too, Lady Monique.”

n“Great. Let me leave first. I’ve got some business to take care of. I’ve got my work backed up a bit.”

n“Sure. See you again soon. ”

nAfter bowing to Duke Lars with a nod, I watched how Sir Lars was doing his work and put down a list of things that the captain’s deputy was supposed to do.

n‘Wow, there are so many things to do!’ When I learned there were simply too many, I sighed somehow, but I was glad that I was making a different life from the past.

nHow much time passed? When my father said we were done for the day, I cleaned up after myself and left the office.

nA knight urgently arrived and said, “There was a fire in the inner palace. I think you should go there immediately. ”

n“Fire? Got it. Go immediately to the scene and help them put out the fire. Sir Lars, issue an order to gather all the knights and dispatch them there immediately without having to report to me. ”

n“Yes, sir.”

nWhen the two knights disappeared quickly, my father turned to me and said, “Tia, go back home first. I think I will be late today. ”

n“Yes, Dad. Take care!”

n“Okay.”

nOnly after he asked to go back home safely did he walk away with big strides.

n‘Fire in the inner palace? Where did it catch fire?’ While I was walking down the hallway, lost in thought, I suddenly stopped. Perhaps the fire broke out there? I hoped it was not, but I stopped a running servant and asked, “I heard that a fire broke out in the inner palace. Do you know exactly where the fire broke out?”

n“Oops! You must be Lady Monique. I’m sorry I have not recognized you. The fire broke out in the garden. ”

n“Garden? Where is the garden? ”

n“It is the garden in Ver Palace.”

nMy heart was beating quickly. ‘Oh no! Why was fire there? That place is…”

n“Lady Monique, are you okay? ”

n“… I’m okay. Go ahead and help them put out the fire.”

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n“Excuse me, let me leave now.”

nI closed my eyes, watching the servant running urgently.

n‘You should not go there, Aristia. The emperor might be interested in you again if something goes wrong. Just go back home. You don’t have to take the risk. There’s no difference even if you go home.’

nI reluctantly walked towards the wagon, taking one, two, two and a half steps.

n‘Oh no, I can’t.’ I stopped. I could hardly go back.

nRationally, I should go home, but I couldn’t emotionally. I couldn’t tolerate myself if I decided to go home.

nIn the end, I turned back. Holding the cumbersome hem of my skirt in both hands, I ran towards the Ver Palace. I was gasping for health because I was suddenly running, but I didn’t care.

nWhen I was about fifteen, the emperor, who liked me, calling me his daughter-in-law kindly, took me to a small garden. While walking and talking with me, he suddenly stopped in front of a tree and asked if I knew what it was. When I answered that I did not know because it was my first time seeing it in my life, he smiled and said, ‘It’s rare in itself, but it’s even harder to see its blooming flowers.”

n“I am so curious what it looks like since you say it’s rare. Do you know which flower it blooms?”

n“Well, I saw it only once. That tree blooms only in winter. It is a silver flower that shines more beautifully in the moonlight. “

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