Chapter 17: Chapter 17

“Father! Brother!”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Oh hello, Erita. Good morning.”

By the time I was ready and came down, everyone was already there except me.

“What? Not today!”

‘That’s impossible? Make it unconditional.’

‘Haha! Master joked all around.’

‘Does this sound like a joke?’

‘It’s not possible! I can’t! If you want to go, you’ll have to kill me!’

Thinking about yesterday’s situation for a moment, I can’t stop smiling.

At first, I should have left yesterday, but I felt sorry for Fern, who had lost, so I asked him today.

My father just ignored me and tried to leave, but I saw Fern’s desperate face.

Seeing the dark circles on Fern’s face, I couldn’t even stop them.

“Have a great time.”

“See you, lady!”

“I’ll be back!”

Smiling warmly while waving at Terban and Mary as they escorted us out the door.

When I left the door holding my father’s and brother’s hand, a large carriage was waiting for us.

It was the peak of two black Krovachatz wrapped in the vines carved on the carriage.

‘Hmm… I know this much now. There were a lot of books in the mansion library.‘

Among them, of course, there were books written about the history and families of the Empire.

‘Well. But the carriage is very high.’

Perhaps because it was big, the height of the carriage was higher than expected.

But I forgot for a moment that there was no need to worry about that.

“Wait a minute.”

My brother got into the carriage first and held out his hand.

“Oh!”

My father lifted me lightly and put me on the carriage seat.

Entering the carriage holding my brother’s hand, I smiled awkwardly.

“Let’s go!”

At father’s words, the carriage began to roll slowly.

Contrary to the splendid exterior, the interior of the carriage was simple. The chair was as soft as a bed.

I was trying to wiggle my fingers when I realized that my brother was holding my hand.

“Hey, brother.”

“Huh?”

I tried to tell him to let go of my hand, but when I saw the sweet smile on his lips, I wondered what was going on.

“Ugh, no. It’s just fine…”

“Haha. What?”

When I shook my head and laughed along, my brother followed me and burst into laughter.

As I felt someone’s gaze, I turned towards and saw father, who was sitting across, was staring at us.

Was there something on my face?

Fumbling as I touched my cheek, there’s nothing on it.

“Isn’t it because she said it looked good?”

“No way…”

I responded with a light smile to my brother’s whispering words. Could it be that our father did that because of something like that?

He keeps staring at us, well… maybe it’s really because of that?

It was the moment when I met my father’s gaze while thinking.

“Father!”

It’s the same expression as usual, but I’m not sure.

“Thank you for coming with us. I love you so much!”

With a broad smile, I shouted. It’s a bit embarrassing, but it’s true.

“It’s okay. If you like it.”

Seeing my father smile, I thought this was the correct answer.

✿

“How pretty! It’s so warm and sunny outside.”

Admiring the scenery passing by through the window of the moving carriage.

It was autumn, and the colorful trees were adorning the road.

As we slowly approached the village, the buildings began to appear one by one.

“The mansion is a bit far from the town.”

At my brother’s words, I nodded in agreement.

It was definitely a different atmosphere from the calm and quiet Grand Duke’s residence.

It feels crowded and lively because there are so many people.

“We must get off now.”

“Wow!”

I couldn’t hide my amazement from my father’s words.

At that moment, I remembered one thing I had forgotten.

‘In Lysen, where the orphanage was, I hated having black hair… ‘

Although this place has been far since the Grand Duke’s mansion, where my father was, I still had a clear view from the people’s gaze.

“Father.”

“Would it be okay if I don’t change my hair color?”

I’m afraid people would stare at me… I blurted out, wondering if I might offend my father.

But the carriage door opened, and my father gently stroked my hair once.

As if I shouldn’t be anxious.

“No one is afraid of black hair here. For hundreds of years, the people of the Grand Duke have ruled.”

“Ah…”

“And the reason I changed my hair color last time was to hide my existence, not because my hair was black.”

It was only then that I found out why in Lysen he had changed his hair color.

In addition, the people of the Grand Duke are not afraid of dark hair.

Well, it was the people who ruled over the territory in the first place. It’s understandable.

I felt reassured to see my father reaching out his hand toward me outside the carriage.

There was also my older brother who held my hand tightly and smiled.

Yes, so I made up my mind. Let’s not be scared and worry.

Holding my father’s hand tightly, I gained courage.

✿

When I got off the carriage, what I saw was a bustling street.

There were more people and more buildings than Lysen, where I lived before.

Still, no one looked at us strangely.

This is what father meant by there’s no need to worry.

“Didn’t I say you don’t have to worry?”

I smiled and nodded at my father’s words.

“Don’t let go of my hand because you might get lost.”

Holding my father and brother’s hands, I have been busy looking around since then.

“How much is it?”

“Do you want me to buy you that?”

Feeling embarrassed because of my father and my brother who tried to buy everything my gaze landed on.

“Kyle.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Let’s share and hold it.”

Thanks to the two people who paid before I could stop them, only the hands of the knights who were escorting us secretly became heavy.

I knew then that there were knights escorting us.

What have I bought so far? First, clothes, shoes, toys, and cakes…

If I were to list them all up, it would be endless.

“Oh, thank you!”

This time, it was the doll I was looking at.

Of course, I glanced at it because it was cute…

“Thank you…”

In the end, I decided to carry the teddy bear around. Instead, I made the two of them promise to not buy anything anymore.

But despite the fact that I decided not to buy anything, this time there was something I really wanted.

Exactly what I wanted to eat.

It was a snack sold on the street, and it was a skewer of fruits dipped in sugar water and hardened.

Being possessed by the shiny surface at once, I glanced up to the side….

It’s too embarrassing if I tell them not to buy anything and ask them to buy this.

What I had forgotten was that the eyes of my father and brother were very quick.

“Do you want to eat that?”

My brother asked me, unable to take my eyes off the fruit skewer.

“Ye-yes…”

After hesitating for a while, I replied timidly.

As a result, I got the fruit skewers I wanted. When I took a bite, the hard sugar coating broke and fresh juice flowed out.

“Wow, it’s so delicious!”

I shouted with my eyes wide open.

“I know. It’s so sweet.”

“You had oranges, didn’t you?”

“Yes, you have a strawberry.”

My brother, who had the same skewer, nodded.

We only bought for the two of us because my father said he didn’t want to eat but I still left some skewers for him.

Each fruit was stuck in it, so it was after I finished eating the strawberry that I was eating.

“Father, you should try it, too! It’s really delicious!”

“…Okay.”

Father paused for a moment at my words, then bent down and bit the fruit.

Watching my father, my heart pounded.

“What do you think?”

“It’s delicious.”

As he said that, my father’s smiling face seemed to form a little frown differently than usual. It came back to normal soon though.

The moment I thought I was mistaken, I remembered the fact that I heard last time.

Come to think of it, my father said he doesn’t like sweets!

And this wasn’t as sweet as a dessert. It’s a whole chunk of sugar…

Staring at my father with pitiful eyes, not knowing what to do.

“What’s wrong with you?””

“I’m sorry. I forgot that my father doesn’t like sweets.”

My father, who was looking at me for a while, soon smiled softly and shook off a piece of sugar on my cheek.

“Everything was fine as long as you gave it to me. So don’t cry.”

“Still…”

“It’s really okay.”

My father knows everything I like, but I’ll have to eat all of this skewer first.

She vowed to eat the skewers quickly, being careful not to get sugar on the teddy bear.

When we return to the mansion, I’d catch Fern or Terban and find out what my father likes.

The image of my father looking at me like that and smiling brightly as if he remembered something.

✿

Aslan watches his little daughter.

Old memories came to mind when he saw Erita’s sullen look.

It was one of those very old memories. It was still so vivid in front of his eyes that it became a memory that he missed so much.

A time when he was much younger and immature than now. He was a platoon Duke, and Serbia was a young marquise.

“Aslan, do you want to try this, too?”

“…It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry that I’m the only one eating. Huh?”

Aslan looked at the piece of cake held out in front of him with his slightly wavering eyes.

Of all things, it’s a chocolate cake. For Aslan, who hates sweets, it was like poison.

If it were anyone else, they would have been beaten mercilessly, but his opponent was the only person who he couldn’t harm.

Fortunately, he was very good at managing his facial expressions.

“Was it delicious?”

Aslan, who struggled to control his frown, nodded slowly.

But Serbia was as quick-witted as Aslan.

“Lie. Your brows are twitching.”

Confused, Aslan sneaked away from the gaze and lied once again.

Those who knew Aslan would be terrified when they saw it.

“It was really delicious.”

“Really?”

For some reason, it sounded like giving him the last chance, but Aslan nodded.

“Then could you have one more bite?”

It was then that he confessed the truth.

“Actually, I don’t like to eat sweets.”

“See? If you had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”

“It’s not that I couldn’t eat it…”

“Seriously, why are you so nice? If you don’t like it, you just have to say it.”

Serbia, who leaned on Aslan’s shoulder, spoke gently as if feeling sorry.

Was Serbia aware that she’s the only one who believes I’m good? But there’s no need for me to expose my genuine identity.

Because Serbia has nothing to hide. It was also her who became sullen when she interrogated and asked the truth.

In front of Serbia was the moment when Aslan, who had ruled over victory, became the sole loser.

The day when Serbia, which soon burst into a clear smile, was happy.

When Erita’s eyes drooped in disappointment, Aslan remembered the past alone, the memory of Serbia.

When I think about those happy yet sad days, I think I could remember them a little more happily than before…