NOVEL WEB Chapter 188
With a gentle smile, Dad stood up from his seat and looked at Stella, Pina, Yurasia, and me.
“Lady Behrhaigen. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah, nooo… you can just call me Stella… and please, speak casually… I mean, we’re friends of Ellie… so…”
“Eee…”
Why does she always drag her words like that? And what’s with ‘Eliaernes’ and ‘Ellie’?
I narrowed my eyes at Stella’s goofy face.
“Haha, then let’s do that. Stella, even though you’re from a different class, thank you for being close with my daughter. And Pina, I’m also grateful that you’re friends with Ellie.”
“Eee… Eee…”
[No, no! It’s my Lady Eliaernes who’s the one getting close with me!]
Even with Pina’s absolutely unreadable words, Dad maintained a peaceful expression and nodded.
“You are now a sword and shield for my daughter, Yurasia. I can’t help but always be grateful to you. Thank you.”
“But I’m the one receiving protection from the Young Lady—”
“It’s alright. You’ve fulfilled your role well. And now you’re here as Ellie’s friend. So put those feelings aside.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
After having one sentence with each of them, Dad finally turned his gaze toward me.
“Ellie.”
“…Yes.”
I cautiously measured Dad’s mood.
He seems… quite pleased.
He’s not angry, right? From what Sara said, he should be furious…?
Could it be that things are going a bit smoother?
“I understand you have a lot to share with your dad.”
Until I heard that voice…
“…Uh, um, haha.”
I awkwardly scratched my cheek and smiled.
Dad, who had been staring at me for a while, swallowed a sigh and turned his gaze away.
“You must be tired; looks like I’ve wasted your time. The palace staff will guide you to your rooms, so it’s best to rest before dinner.”
“Ah… Understood…”
“Eee…”
“I will follow your instructions.”
“Then I’ll see you again later—”
“Ellie stays behind.”
“Yes.”
A gentle command directed solely at me as the three made their way out.
Watching them grow distant, I chewed my lips.
At least if Yurasia was beside me, I wouldn’t feel as scolded…
“Ellie.”
“Yes…”
“I heard you saved many students at the Academy.”
“Um…”
I glanced at Dad’s expression.
Stone-faced. I quickly averted my eyes.
“Well done. I’m truly proud of my daughter.”
I cautiously lifted my gaze again.
A smile. I also smiled back.
“Hehe. I did well, didn’t I? I—”
“But.”
Darn it!—I lowered my eyes again quickly.
“This father isn’t worthy enough to say this, but I believe your life is more important than other students. It’s far more significant and precious.”
“Well, I’m confident I could win no matter what…”
“So, it’s complicated for you. My most beloved daughter rescued countless students, and yet you returned completely unscathed.”
“Then you should be twice as happy… right?”
“Eliaernes.”
“Uh… I’m sorry.”
“No, you have nothing to apologize for. In fact, it’s a matter where you’d still be underappreciated even if praised. Yet… here I am, feeling angry. Human emotions are truly fickle. When I heard the news, I prayed you’d simply be alive, hoped you were uninjured, and wished you wouldn’t suffer trauma; yet upon seeing you now, I feel anger and laughter. I’m overwhelmed with mixed feelings. The one who should apologize is me. I’m scolding you instead of praising you.”
“Um… uh…”
With a thoroughly sunken expression, I tried to gather Dad’s words and think hard.
–If you can’t think of anything to say, then hug the lord.
Sara’s words suddenly popped into my head.
Now? Can I do it now? What if I get scolded for making a joke out of it?
Squirming my hands nervously, I moved closer to Dad and opened my arms wide.
Dad looked at me with astonished eyes.
I… I… squeezed my eyes shut and hugged him tightly.
His massive size made me feel like a cicada stuck to a tree… but I’m still hugging him.
Then I looked up to see Dad’s face.
His enormous pectorals blocked my view, but he looked a bit more haggard than the last time I saw him.
Moreover, I noticed the cut on his jawline.
It’s rare for someone at Dad’s level to cut themselves while shaving.
Does that mean he didn’t even have the state of mind to look in the mirror…?
That must mean he was worried.
Feeling complex feelings in many ways, I let out a small laugh.
“I missed you…”
The corners of Dad’s mouth began to twitch.
“Oh, right. I brought a present for you.”
“…Hmm, a present? What kind of present are you talking about?”
“I picked it after many thoughts. It’s probably the only one of its kind in the world. I was originally going to send it by mail, but I wanted to give it to you personally, so I held off. Should I show it to you?”
I tilted my head and asked.
Dad’s expression, seen over his massive chest, melted completely.
*
I conveyed the current situation.
However, I didn’t hand over the present just yet.
It’s insurance in case Dad’s mood turned sour.
Just in case I might be scolded again, I need to save at least one insurance.
Anyway, I spoke as clearly as possible, making sure Dad wouldn’t have any doubts.
From the plans to take down the branch family, the incident that happened in Anketin, and my plan to go to the Holy Kingdom with Leona.
Throughout my story, Dad listened intently without interrupting me even once.
When I finished, a very heavy sigh escaped Dad’s lips.
“Well… I have a lot to say, but first, we need to talk about the branch family. I apologize for not mentioning it sooner, even though I’ve been worried about it.”
“You have no reason to apologize. You and Mom must’ve had thoughts about it too, right? Since I messed that up, I should be the one feeling sorry.”
“You have no need to feel sorry, Ellie. It was right to cut out the rotten branches early. All the delays were because I lacked the capability.”
“Hmm… I think I can guess the reason why you prepared thoroughly. The reason you couldn’t cut it out in the past was due to the ownership of the iron mine, and that house has connections with the First Prince’s faction, right?”
Dad frowned as he scratched his head.
“…Did you figure that out? Information like that would’ve been pretty tough to acquire even with a lot of money.”
“It just… happened that way.”
“Hehe…”
His sad smile turned into a defeated laugh.
“So, you’ve also become close with the Second Princess, in addition to the First Princess.”
How did he know?
Blinking for a moment, I hurriedly continued.
“They’re siblings, so I ended up becoming close… But Pina’s senior Fabiana turned out to be quite a decent person compared to the rumors. So I don’t think you need to worry about that…”
“Ellie, this father’s mind is a bit… complicated.”
Dad, rubbing his temples, glanced through the papers on the desk.
“Recently, with Fabiana’s power becoming solidified, could it be that you had a hand in her rise?”
Where did such a guess come from?
Is he just asking out of curiosity?
“…Eh, how can I do such a thing?”
“The Flame Sovereign stated that the Second Prince’s position was taken by the Second Princess. Now the Second Prince is far from the throne. There’s also talk that it was the First Princess’s strength that elevated the Second Princess.”
I may have had a hand in it, but I never expected the Second Prince to be completely out of the picture.
Of course, that’s not a concern of mine. Fabiana and Silina will take care of that.
“Oh…”
“Perhaps before this year ends, the First Princess might take the First Prince’s position.”
“Wow…”
“Rumor has it that the funding from the Illuma Merchant Association, backing the First Princess, is very suspicious. It hasn’t been long since they established themselves in the iron industry, but the investment is enormous.”
“…Maybe they just realized the market’s flow too late? Recently, with the demon race causing disturbances, iron might be in demand for war efforts.”
I blinked innocently and responded as well.
“Did you strike a deal with the First Princess?”
Not a chance.
How does he know such a deep extent?
How did he know I’m close with Fabiana?
How does he know about the process of boiling down the funds of the branch family, which Fabiana had kept hidden?
And he seems to have figured out I’m behind it…
What’s the basis for such deductions?
“…No, well, you see… Silina… I mean, let’s just call her Silina. Anyway, I made a plan with Silina, but that Silina clumsy little kid spilled everything to her sister, and that… uh… during that process, I did receive a bit—just a tiny bit—of help from senior Fabiana…”
“What happened between you and the Flame Sovereign?”
“I… don’t know that person.”
My denial came out reflexively.
Dad ignored me and waved a letter in his hand.
It wasn’t ripped. There weren’t even signs of it being resealed.
The seal in the center of the letter, a blazing flame.
Its shape was clear.
That looks like…
“This morning, a letter from the Flame Sovereign, who had no interest in worldly matters, arrived. So if you claim you don’t know the Flame Sovereign, then is this letter meant for me?”
“Uh… well, that’s, um…”
Dad’s deductions all stem from the Flame Sovereign.
But… did the Flame Sovereign finally lose their mind? Is it dementia? Why?
Why would they send a letter to Yustetia?
Is it because they urgently need to convey something to me?
Currently, the Flame Sovereign is in the catacombs.
They had gone there to help Leona, unearthed something suspicious from the past, and then stayed holed up there for a while.
So I was supposed to stop by the catacombs to meet the Flame Sovereign before heading to the Holy Kingdom… but is this something that couldn’t wait?
As I felt cold sweat trickling down my back, just then,
Flap
The letter Dad was holding automatically opened.
“Ellie! Watch out—”
“Greetings, Eliaernes!”
A familiar voice came from behind the solid body of Dad, which held me.
No, it wasn’t just the voice.
“The Flame Sovereign came here in their spectral form to urgently speak with you!”
The Flame Sovereign’s appearance appeared before us.
“Well, your expression doesn’t look good… was it rude of me? Still, you and I are very close friends, so I hope you’ll forgive this slight!”
“…Very close friends? Ellie and the Flame Sovereign?”
Looking at the panicking Flame Sovereign and Dad, who had stiffened while holding me, I covered my face with my hand.
“…This is bad.”