Ferdelâs goal was to end the war that was raging before Caitel recovers fully.
War broke out in Agrigent and Pretizaâs border.
To be precise, it was due to Pretziaâs forced occupancy of the southern land, which was formerly known as Izarta. From Ferdelâs point of view, it was an ideal situation for Pretzia to give back the land and retreat, but would Pretzia really do that?
However, if things went on, then the only option left was to wait until Caitel recovers so that we could take on the war.
Somehow, Ferdel was intent on avoiding the situation.
âBut the agreement!â
âAn old agreement.â
Elene seemed on edge and yelled, but I dismissed it.
She was different, that lady.
Anyway, the post-war process of Ferdelâs last achievements before his retirement came to an end.
They managed to establish an agreement after the talks to the point where Langres and Agrigent met. While the worldâs attention drew towards them, Agrigentâs importance grew.
Above all, it was so important that it was the second-largest agreement after the one they held during the Great War of Conquest of Agrigent twenty years back. I accompanied Ferdel after requesting him to place me as the representative for ours. However, my dad was strictly against it.
Everyone in the palace was concerned about me, but I thought of taking knights along with me; no one would surely kidnap me if my knights were around.
They would protect me!
Most of all, I was really nervous about taking even a single step outside the Imperial Palace, but since Ferdel was going, I tagged along.
One life could be a boon to the country.
âPrincess, are you really going ahead with the plan?â
âItâs fine. Itâs just for three nights and four days.â
âWhat if something happens.â
âRight.â
Libby and Elene nodded at each otherâs words.
When did they even get close? Above all, it was shocking to see unsociable Libby take Eleneâs side.
âSo you want me to let my ill father go?â
I apologize to Caitel for treating him like a grandpa.
I was right, though, so they went silent. If my dad couldnât go, I could attend instead as the Emperorâs proxy! Most of all, even from Ferdelâs point of view, it would be more comfortable for him to take me than my dad, who was like a ticking time bomb.
Serira seemed troubled as she spoke.
âYour Majestyâs wounds are quite fatal.â
âTrue, and he hadnât regained consciousness for a while, so it had a great impact on his body.â
âMiss Serira, that, too, was all possible because it was Your Majesty.â
âRight. It would have been the end if it was someone else.â
Right, if there were a hospital with Caitelâs injuries, he would have been placed in the intensive care unit. Of course, we had our doctors who gave enough treatments.
By the way, my dad was being rather quiet?
Of course, when I first opened my eyes, words were already fuming like wildfire. Even I ran over to him once I regained consciousness, but my father wasnât the kind to sit still.
However, after an in-depth conversation about his attitude, which was a grave threat, he seemed to have relaxed the following day.
Ah, it felt like forever. Should I go later?
âAh, I need to visit my dad.â
If I didnât meet him, I wouldnât be able to see him for four days. If the talks lasted longer than expected, I might not see him for weeks.
Once I realized that, I jumped up right away.
âPrincess, would you be fine?â
âWouldnât it be better if you left without letting him know?â
The maids seemed concerned by Caitelâs reaction, but I just nodded.
âIsnât dad smart enough to know that I would hide from him?â
âBeing honest is the best move!â
Libby seemed worried. I just waved my hand with a laugh.
I was going!
Perhaps it was because of my light footsteps, but I reached Solay in no time.
Would dad be sleeping?
I went straight to Caitelâs room, and on the way, I looked at a familiar person. A maid of Solay went still after looking at me and bowed her head.
I looked at the tray she was holding.
âNot finished serving him yet?â
âNot yet, Princess.â
Neither I nor my dad would have our meals in the dining room; we received our meals to our bed.
However, the fact that he hadnât eaten anything worried me. It has been relatively late since lunchtime.
The maid smiled at my worried expression.
What was so funny about worrying about my dad?
âHe just woke up, so I brought in the meal.â
âAh, I see.â
Well, if that was the case, then I guess I could understand.
I was convinced and tried to walk away, but then I thought of something.
Ah, right.
âMiss maid, Iâll take it from here. Please give it to me.â
The maids seemed a little taken aback.
She had no idea what I planned on doing.
Without asking for an explanation, the maid just gave me my dadâs meal.
Hohoho.
âLetâs go, Libby.â
âPrincess, what are you doing?â
âSecret.â
Did she think I would just tell her?
It didnât take long before we reached Caitelâs room. When I entered with a tray, the guards were a bit shocked, but no one said anything.
âDad!â
âWhere did the maids go for you to bring that?â
Unlike me, who was happy to see him, Caitel had a scrawny expression as he looked at me.
Wasnât he being too much! Mean!
It seemed like I was the only one who wanted to see him! So depressing.
âI asked for it and brought it. Wonât you at least greet your pretty daughter? Dad, show some affections!â
As I complained, Dad asked.
âDid you greet me?â
âNo. Dad, hello!â
â⦠yes, hello.â
If I hadnât done it, I could just do it.
Phew, if my dad would be so withdrawn, how did he plan on living? As his daughter, I couldnât stop worrying about him.
Once I got closer, Caitel reached out his hand to me.
What?
When I looked at my dad, I realized that he was looking at the tray I brought.
âGive it.â
âNope.â
ââ¦â
My dad frowned at my rejection.
What did he want me to do? His frown wouldnât work on me. Fearing my dad was a quirk I stopped doing at the age of four.
Libby pulled a chair next to dadâs bed; I sat down and smiled.
âKay, dad. Ah, open your mouth.â
Caitelâs angelic voice responded to my request.
âI can eat with my own two hands.â
âAh, dad, do you mean to say that you donât want your pretty daughter to feed you?!â
Come on.
I was there to feed him!
Dad tried to put up a gloomy expression, but I knew that he was only embarrassed. I had been with Caitel for a long time, so I could see the difference. Right, I half-knocked him with my words!
â⦠it isnât that.â
âThen, what?â
I was trying to tease him, and my dadâs lack of words would take me down so quickly, especially with Ferdelâs training. People whom Caitel crushed were weak for making any kind of emotional appeal to him.
All thanks to Ferdelâs teaching.
He couldnât say that he hated the idea; it was evident that I would grunt about him the entire day.
Hahaha!
Caitel could grumble as much as he wanted, but he couldnât deny me.
Eventually, after a long time, my dad permitted me.
â⦠come one.â
âHuh!â
I took a spoonful of the soup, which went cold, and gave it to my dad.
What was that! He really did let me feed him!
âOh my, youâre eating so well, my dad. Who did you take after to eat so well?â
ââ¦â
My dad didnât like it, but he didnât say anything.
If he started an argument now, he would lose. When I looked at his expression, I laughed. I tried to hold back, but I couldnât.
Thus, Ferdel would constantly bug dad. I think I knew why he did that. It was so fun.
âYouâre going to Langres?â
âHuh. Did Ferdel tell you?â
âHe entered with a confident expression after saying that. He also told me that you were the one who gave him temporary permission.â
âAh, I did.â
He seemed to be questioning me, but I nodded confidently.
âRight, I am the princess of Agrigent!â
âWithout Ferdel, we had no chance, and you were on the bed. II didnât know how much I could handle, so I called for Ferdel. To be honest, no one in our offices can work as quickly and efficiently as Ferdel. Why? Donât you like my idea, dad?â