Father, I Won’t Do Anything

Hilvenzia was right.

Jaina was still young.

"That age is typically when one doesn't know themselves well."

A glint in Hilvenzia's eyes, ill-fitting her young face, flashed briefly and disappeared.

Diamid listened silently to all those words.

"...Thank you for the advice."

"It's nothing."

Mikael, who had been shrinking during that conversation, came to his senses.

Diamid had changed.

The iron fortress-like man who seemed to allow not even the slightest gap was now gone.

Hilvenzia had already noticed.

That Jaina had changed him.

...However, Diamid wasn't the only one who had changed.

"Jaina... smiles more often compared to before."

Mikael, who had been hesitating for a moment, gathered courage and spoke.

"This is even more so after her relationship with the Tower Lord changed."

"..."

"There are certainly things that only a father can do... things we can't do."

Diamid fell into thought for a moment.

Compared to when she first came to the Magic Tower... Jaina did smile more often.

But why did it sometimes feel artificial?

There were times when it seemed like she raised the corners of her mouth thinking, 'I should smile at this timing.'

Of course, he didn't think all those smiles were fabricated.

She did have distinctly different faces when happy or depressed, and she used to have no expression at all before.

But even now that she smiled quite often, it was hard to know her true feelings.

...No matter how you looked at it, Jaina was excessively mature.

He really wanted to see a smile that was truly happy, joyful, and overflowing.

As Hilvenzia said, he would now take her on trips, give her many things, and let her enjoy what she deserved.

'Something only a father can do.'

Hearing those words, something immediately came to mind.

The New Year's Ball.

Formally introducing Jaina there.

Apart from Diamid's desire to do anything for Jaina, there was clearly a need for this soon.

The imperial grandson Rosian, who got along with Jaina despite Diamid's dislike.

Given his status, Jaina would also attract attention when next to him. If her status remained unclear, she would surely become a target of attacks.

Although he didn't like it.

Although it wasn't to help her be with that guy...

There was a need to prevent anyone from messing with Jaina.

'It's time to make an official announcement.'

This would be Jaina's first proper ball since her debutante.

Back then, she was an unknown girl sponsored by Princess Elia.

Now she would be attending as 'Tower Lord Diamid's daughter', so this might be closer to her actual debutante.

Back then, Jaina didn't have Bellafanian House behind her, and her parentage wasn't revealed.

This opportunity could be considered the place to formally introduce herself to society.

"Indeed, to announce that she's the Tower Lord's daughter, it would be appropriate to appear together at a major event."

Mikael agreed, but Hilvenzia asked worriedly.

"If it becomes known that she's the Tower Lord's daughter... people will view Jaina differently than before... will Jaina be okay?"

"She just needs to not appear easy to deal with."

It was clear that there would be a commotion when the secret of her birth was revealed.

But Jaina wasn't a simple opponent to be consumed as a topic of interest.

"The Tower Lord must have his thoughts on this."

Hilvenzia nodded at Diamid's firm words.

Mikael, who was beside them, was lost in different thoughts.

"The New Year's Ball... hmm, should I go to the Imperial Palace after a long time?"

Mikael, now more relaxed than before, muttered.

"A partner would be troublesome, but it can't be helped. If I, her brother, don't go..."

"Who's whose partner?"

"Huh?"

Mikael's eyes widened.

Diamid spoke decisively.

"I will be Jaina's partner."

"What?"

"What did you say?"

Even Hilvenzia's usually composed expression crumbled.

Of course, it's the place to announce that she's 'Tower Lord Diamid's daughter'.

Dancing with her father would be best!

'But still, the Tower Lord... dancing?'

A radical change was occurring.

* * *

Ahead of the New Year's Ball, chaos descended upon high society.

All the clothes in the dress shops and all the jewels in the auction houses were swept away.

At prices so high that even the nobles themselves dared not compete.

"Who did this? No, how could they just accept someone saying they'd buy all these things?"

"Surely they'll say they can't buy them again. Will they hold another auction then?"

"Do they really have the ability to pay the auction price?"

However, their anger cooled down easily.

Because the name of the unexpected formidable opponent was familiar.

One that no imperial citizen could possibly not know.

"Diamid... the Tower Lord?"

Dress shops, jewelry auctions.

Everyone acknowledged the Tower Lord's wealth, but there seemed to be no connection between those places and Diamid.

But after a moment of bewilderment, people began to get excited about the new gossip.

"He bought it all for his daughter?"

"The Tower Lord has a daughter?"

"That cold person, for his daughter? Wait a minute..."

This was also Diamid's intention.

It was a declaration not to mess with his beloved daughter.

"Who's the mother...?"

"It's, you know, the dragon. The one he fought with before."

"Why is he revealing this now?"

Jaina Bellafanian.

The daughter of Tower Lord Diamid and the dragon Bezrice.

"Then is she half dragon and half human?"

"She might look grotesque..."

"No, someone saw her before, didn't they?"

"Still, it's scary."

That fervor reached its peak on the day of the New Year's Ball.

"Seeing how he bought up all the dresses and jewels, she seems to be a cherished daughter..."

"But... with the Tower Lord's wealth, he might have spent that much money without a second thought."

People were extremely excited at the news that the Tower Lord's daughter would be revealed.

"So when are they coming?"

"What if I miss them? The ballroom is so noisy and chaotic."

"Oh my, there are so many people, I don't think we'll be able to see."

But it was a needless worry.

Along with a thunderous sound, something was heard approaching. Everyone, without exception, who had come out from inside, looked up at the sky following the sound.

"...Huh?"

At that moment, everyone's thoughts about the Tower Lord and his daughter shattered.

Those who thought the Tower Lord would cherish his daughter.

Those who thought he wouldn't were both wrong.

...The Tower Lord was a little… insane.

"..."

What appeared, tearing through the clouds, was a carriage pulled by eight celestial horses.

A size and presence incomparable to ordinary horses.

Even though they were just horses, it was difficult to look at the carriage.

Such was their overwhelming aura, and their appearance, shining with lightning, was dazzling.

"What is that...?"

It was a sight unimaginable even in dreams.

The winged horses gently landed the carriage on the ground as if they had always galloped through the sky.

The Imperial Palace, which had been noisy until just now, fell silent.

"To think I'd see such a sight in my lifetime..."

All the thoughts that had filled their minds disappeared.

The scene before their eyes was too magnificent.

"..."

All eyes focused amidst a breathtaking silence.

Jaina, who was about to enter the Imperial Palace under those gazes, let out a hollow laugh.

She understood up to the point where Diamid said they would go to the New Year's Ball and that he would announce her as his daughter.

She thought it was a necessary process too.

-I'll let everyone know that you're my beloved daughter.

But she hadn't intended to make such an entrance under everyone's gaze...!

"That's not so much flying as... treading on the sky? Galloping through the sky?"

"Is that even possible?"

"If you had a carriage like that, it would be so easy to come and go anywhere..."

"Even just one of those horses."

Some who had regained their senses began to speak.

"Is it okay to bring such a... carriage to the Imperial Palace?"

"Descending from the sky. Isn't this disregarding the authority of the Imperial Palace?"

The whispering voices reached Jaina's ears, who had good hearing, without missing a single word.

She agreed.

Is it okay to make such a flashy entrance when coming to the Imperial Palace?

"Father..."

However, that worry disappeared with Rosian's appearance.

The imperial grandson himself came to greet Jaina.

"Jaina."

Amidst the people who had been frozen until now, he alone had a relaxed smile.

"You came riding an interesting thing?"

As dazzling as his bright smile, Rosian was radiant today.

Under his smooth strawberry blonde hair, eyes filled with lively mischief.

He soon extended his hand to escort Jaina as she was about to descend from the carriage.

It was at that moment.

"Unnecessary kindness."

A cold rebuke fell.