Father, I Won’t Do Anything

As Rosian's extended hand was pushed aside, Diamid stepped out of the carriage first.

"What did you just do?"

Hidden behind Diamid's broad back, Jaina couldn't see the situation.

Despite his gesture being brushed off, Rosian smiled nonchalantly.

"It's nothing. Tower Lord, welcome."

He said this while making eye contact with Diamid.

Inwardly, Diamid thought this guy was quite a handful.

He didn't like how Rosian wasn't intimidated at all, but if he had been dejected, that would have been an eyesore in its own way.

"Miss Jaina, you look even prettier today. It suits you well."

"Thank you. But I wonder if it's okay to hear such words from Rosian."

What Jaina saw before her was a face as graceful as his curving eyes.

Was it because of the white suit he was wearing? No, even with his sense of style, this was largely due to his inherent good looks.

He was originally handsome, but today he seemed to have put in extra effort, making it feel like the sight before her was dazzling.

"Really? Do I look alright to you, Miss Jaina?"

However, beneath his long eyelashes, his gem-like eyes were slightly clouded.

"I'm glad. It's one of the few advantages I have, so I should polish it, shouldn't I?"

"Rosian."

"I'll work hard so that one day I can proudly hold your hand."

It was a peculiar statement.

He must have harbored resentment for having his escort gesture towards Jaina rejected just now.

"I'll do better in the future... so could you wait for me a little?"

Diamid inwardly cursed the imperial grandson.

Somehow, it seemed Rosian was fully utilizing even the fact that he was being mistreated by Diamid.

"What do you mean 'one day'? You can hold it now, can't you?"

Jaina narrowed her eyes, certain that Diamid had just done something to Rosian, and as a result, she took Rosian's hand and placed it on her own.

"Miss Jaina..."

His pretense of being pitiful and surprised was utterly disgusting.

However, his words didn't continue any further.

As Jaina stepped down from the carriage and set foot on the ground, flowers began to bloom from that spot.

Along with beams of light that rose vividly, cutting through the darkness.

"What's this? It's winter now."

The surroundings, which had already been enveloped in darkness, suddenly brightened.

But that wasn't the end of it.

Along with the light, warm currents of air rose in puffs.

So many flowers that even people far away felt dizzy from the fragrance.

Especially, blue roses, which were said to be impossible in this world, bloomed beautifully as if lighting Jaina's path.

"Blue roses?"

It was winter now. Even with heating, it was still a bit chilly.

People who had come outside due to the loud noise were shocked to feel their cold bodies warming up.

It was already surprising that the Tower Lord had appeared in society to introduce his daughter... but to make such an entrance?

'Ah.'

Seeing the dumbfounded people, Jaina tightly closed her eyes.

She knew well that Diamid wanted to do a lot for her.

So she could understand him giving her many dresses and jewels.

She thought it was excessive, but accepted it considering his feelings.

But...

No matter how she thought about it, wasn't this a bit too much?

Mikael, getting out of the carriage last, said from behind:

"What's this? I was thinking if there were any bastards who didn't know she was the Tower Lord's daughter and tried to mess with her, I'd teach them a lesson..."

At this point, there was no way anyone could not know.

Jaina shone the brightest in the ballroom.

Not figuratively, but literally.

Even if, by some chance, someone hadn't heard the rumors about 'that Tower Lord's daughter' after seeing her current appearance.

Anyone could tell she was far from ordinary.

"..."

She had thought recently that these days were something she couldn't have even imagined before.

It was a premature judgment.

Perhaps she had imagined eating delicious food or becoming the Tower Lord's daughter a tiny bit when she was young.

But she could swear with certainty.

That a day like this, she had never, not even a little... imagined.

"Well then, shall we go in?"

Jaina was so dazed she didn't realize Diamid had already taken her hand.

And so, surrounded by Diamid, Rosian, and Mikael, she began to walk down the path made of shining blue roses.

It was a spectacular entrance that would go down in imperial history.

* * *

"..."

"..."

Had the Tower Lord always been someone who could smile like that?

Everyone in the banquet hall thought it was so unlike him that it gave them goosebumps.

Considering the stories surrounding the Tower Lord, it was truly an ill-fitting sight.

But one thing was clear from seeing how he doted on his daughter.

That he cherished his daughter greatly.

But why had he kept her hidden and not revealed her until now?

'For his daughter's safety?'

'Because there are many who target the Tower Lord?'

Even though they were whispering, people were afraid the Tower Lord might overhear.

They could only wonder inwardly.

'Not only has the Tower Lord appeared in society, but he's even dancing together?'

Today, instead of his usual magician's attire, Diamid was dressed in formal wear befitting the imperial palace's banquet.

However, he stepped without the slightest falter, as if it was something he had always done.

"You dance quite well."

"Please... don't talk."

Something resembling a smile flashed across the Tower Lord's lips.

Ignoring the astonished gazes of the people, he continued dancing with his daughter.

This remained true even as other young ladies changed partners.

He knew Rosian was watching from afar, but he didn't want to hand her over so easily.

No man dared to ask for a dance while the Tower Lord was by her side...

"I'd like to dance one song with Jaina too."

No, there was one person.

Mikael blinked with an innocent face.

He had gained a bit of courage after the previous conversation.

"If she's the Tower Lord's daughter, that means she's my cousin, right? Wouldn't it be strange not to dance together when we're side by side?"

"Is that so?"

"I'll show you this big brother's dancing skills."

Mikael's logic was irrefutable.

In the end, Diamid had to let go of his daughter.

Although he didn't like it, he was at least glad it wasn't Rosian.

Seeing Rosian's face, which had brightened when Diamid's dance ended, now cloud over, made him feel a bit better.

'Jaina, when will you dance with me...?'

Rosian kept sending longing gazes towards Jaina.

But in the imperial palace's banquet hall filled with countless people.

Jaina, inwardly tense from dancing an unfamiliar dance, had no leisure to look around.

"Um, Your Highness the Prince..."

"Your Highness...?"

Thanks to this, even Rosian lost his composure.

In the past, he would at least respond when other young ladies approached him.

But now, all his attention was focused on that side, and he didn't even reply.

"..."

As everyone's gaze focused on Jaina.

He became anxious, wondering what if Jaina noticed someone other than him.

'It's true that I've gotten closer to Jaina than before.'

Sometimes he felt even more anxious.

Like the wind, it felt like she wasn't quite in his grasp.

'I knew the size of our hearts was different, but...'

Someone once said that love is discrimination.

Jaina didn't seem to particularly care for Rosian more than others.

Of course, it was better than strangers, but...

Maybe they were dating just because it happened that way.

He became a little insecure.

'Still, with the Tower Lord and me here, no man will approach her.'

It was obvious that Rosian had feelings for her, so no matter how attractive Jaina was, who would dare to approach?

But the competitors for Jaina weren't just men, as they thought.

"Oh my, hello?"

"We heard you're the Tower Lord's daughter."

It was the young ladies.

They had seized the moment when Jaina, tired after dancing with Mikael, was taking a brief rest.

"I hadn't heard that the Tower Lord had a daughter..."

"I've been watching since you arrived in that carriage, it was so fascinating!"

What if they became friends with Jaina, the Tower Lord's daughter?

Young ladies who had finished their calculations gathered in surprising numbers.

"...Please take an armful of roses on your way home."

"Oh my! Is that alright?"

"No one would believe me if I said I saw blue roses. If I take them, they might believe."

"Won't they wilt on the way home?"

Jaina struggled to answer the suddenly poured questions.

"They won't wilt for a year."

"What did you do to the flowers... Well, they are flowers bloomed by the Tower Lord after all."

"The Tower Lord must cherish you greatly."

"It's understandable, as you're so elegant..."

"Earlier, that carriage was the Tower Lord's..."

Jaina became a bit perplexed.

The intentions of those who hadn't even acknowledged her at the previous debutante were transparent, weren't they?

She understood that they weren't approaching with malicious intent, but...

It was harder to turn away people who were trying to be friendly.

"Wait, wait a moment. I have something to discuss with her first."

And at that moment, someone intervened.

"Jaina looks troubled, doesn't she?"