"You may leave now." — Cold, I did not et her eye. Whether her wishes were true or not, we would know for sure once she ets the witch or her lackey tonight. Her intentions ant nothing as long as I had nothing to give them value.
She nodded, not persisting in reassuring her beliefs, leaving my chambers and letting all those whom I truly trusted remain with .
"... Are you confident about this, Marianne? We do not know if Theressa will be able to show you wrong."
"Y-yes, my lady... if she is to et the one behind the young master’s escape... this could place you in danger and also miss Theressa."
"It is alright... the hazards were sure to arrive. This is solely the start... even if she becos her ally she will need to feign allegiance to myself so they can take advantage of her. It is dangerous but she’s not dumb. It is better to keep her close than away so as to keep watch of her steps."
"... I know this is logically the best strategy, yet it is still uncomfortable to allow it." — Dad sighed, coming to hold my hands in his while in deep thought. — "... Feathered child... You are clever, yet do not dive into danger, alright? I will also do my part."
"Thank you, Dad..." — His reluctance was visible and yet he still supported my decisions. eting my eye, I felt our anthracite waver and his severe countenance softened, smiling softly to then wrap in a warm hug.
"... I can tell you are afraid, dear."
"... .. ."
"No matter how, this father will not let you drown in it, sweetie... it is alright."
The kind sound of my father’s voice and his reliable hug, finally broke down the wall I was keeping up for the sake of a plan. I felt myself tremble from the inside, and tightened my heart as if trying to keep every emotion bottled up.
I despised the present I had to face... I had thought it would not be possible for him to escape such a jail. That even once judged, there would be no way for him to appear in my path again like I once feared with Seth... yet today, in such a short ti I experienced uncertainty without a break for my heart to endure the shock.
"... sniff... d... do you think... he will co to ?"
"..."
"Will he... haunt like before, Dad...?"
"... I wish... I could assure you he won’t, dear..." — Holding tight, dad’s voice broke... just like mine... and I cried feeling this despair fully. Feeling the misfortune as if it were myself again without forces to take it but oddly enough there was a kind of serenity I only ca to learn at this place. For it was too late to recognise it in my other family and could not be completely welcod when in the geezer’s company. — "We both know that Paul is not in his right mind..."
"mhm... sniff..."
"But I... I am not ignorant now..." — Dad said letting craft a smile for the first ti while helplessly afraid of what may co. — "He might attempt many things, yet you are not to fear... I will remain here, guard your sleep if needed... I am to protect you, my child."
’... this is what I lacked for so long and never had in another life... I am grateful... I feel fear yet I am at ease... the sense of loneliness I lived with before... is no more here...’
Cuddling in my dad’s embrace, I slowly felt the shiver forbade and lull summon calmness within myself. I relished in the caresses he gave my back and hair, returning to a composed self under my dad’s care.
"... how is it? Has this father cald the daughter’s soul?" — A little playful as he is, Dad peeked at , causing a giggle that incited his poetry. — "My... for laughter to trill... the true sun must have arrived and the day must have truly comnced... Thou rain ought to clear to see the sky. Thou eyes ought to shine and see how the shades of autumn turn around feeling winter arrive... otherwise, how may anything on the ground do as it is ant for? If the child whose wings rule this realm is not to see its changes, what will nature do when it is for the neverwhithering blossom that they want to amuse?"
"... ~pff~ dad... what a forced ti to praise myself with your poetry, haha~"
"And yet I got a wider smile from my sweet Marianne." — He smiled as well, pinching my cheeks with his thumbs also clearing the rain I had on my visage. Becoming montarily serious for there were still other matters to discuss. — "What happened was unexpected... yet it is at a good ti that it happened."
"? How co?"
"You received a letter from Clente recently, am I correct? We have had no ti to converse properly, yet his invitation to visit his Duchy is tily..." — Dad announced, guiding myself to the couch to take a seat and comfortably talk. — "We will take the invitation as an excuse to leave the palace. It is best if Paul does not fully know your whereabouts. Before going to Noverrne’s Lands, we will go ho for a pair of days and then we shall head there."
"... Why are we going back instead of directly going to Clente’s? Grandpa Thomas has been taking good care of the household as far as I am aware."
"You are clever... You may already know one of the reasons, sweetie."
"... Yes, but I wonder if he will take the bait."
"Even if he doesn’t he is sure to follow us there. We have to go back at least for a few days to give him the chance and catch Paul if we can. Besides... your mother... being on her own is already making people talk. We must keep the eyes off ourselves as much as we can so Paul will feel confident and surely make a mistake."
"... I understand."
"Good... We are leaving tomorrow morning."
"—... A-alright."
"... You must be wondering how co that brat did not rush here at the news."
"!? N-no... I... I wasn’t... I knew he would be busy today so..."
"Even if busy he’s not one to care about that." — Dad sighed, unaware that in truth, I believed his absence was because of the rejection I faced before any news arrived. — "While on our way here, I saw him rush out of the palace."
"... oh... I see..."
"..... If Paul is wise... he will hide inside an abyss and not appear on that man’s radar. Even I would not like to face the hero of the Empire when he seeks my blood so badly. Much less knowing Paul’s skill cannot compare to Zeleskiaz’s."
It must have been clear in my gaze that dejection was there when it ca to the crown prince. Dad’s words lightened my mood a bit at least... and certainly discerning my unsettled spirit, Dad kept company throughout the day. Eating with and doing his work while accompanying , being investigated by Khibi until becoming its favourite visit.
Night arrived and as he had conveyed, Dad guarded my sleep even when I had said it was alright... my last day in the Palace was such an eventful one... and then morning arrived... saying goodbyes to the Emperors and the princes... solely three of the four... none being the one I love... before leaving for our ho.
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