I opened my eyes wide. Then, I smiled and nodded.

This smile was a genuine expression, not considering social etiquette first.

…I was grateful for the Countess’s kindness, but there were still a few obstacles to overcome before I could go out with Eciel.

First and foremost was the lesson promised by the Countess.

The Countess didn’t offer to skip the lesson because it wasn’t needed that day.

We had to stay together until dinner that evening to cover the scheduled material.

Memorizing the genealogies and territories of various nobles, as well as the political landscape.

… it would have been an incredibly harsh time if it wasn’t for Astariol’s memory.

After barely finishing the lesson, I went to find Mom and Dad to ask for permission to go out before the banquet.

“Master, Madam. Miss Claire is here.”

“Come in, Claire.”

I took a deep breath and consciously composed myself. I wore a calm and casual expression and spoke slowly.

“Mom, Dad.”

“Claire.”

Mom smiled at me.

Her warm smile couldn’t hide the fatigue evident beneath her eyes.

After the amnesty, Mom went around the mansion apologizing to the victims, just as she promised.

Some forgave more easily than expected, while others gave harsher criticism than what she prepared to receive.

The mental pressure and physical exhaustion left her pale and drained.

“You still haven’t spoken with Eciel today?”

Nevertheless, she showed interest in the story of Eciel and I, diligently preparing for the approaching reception, even engaging with old acquaintances.

… Mom truly seemed like she needed a day off.

“So, we plan to reconcile tomorrow. I finished tomorrow’s lesson early today. Can I take Eciel to the <Loop> then?”

“I’d like to say yes, but… Ashel, do you think it’s okay?”

I turned to Dad.

While Dad was with Mom, he seemed far from relaxed. His complexion was sharper than usual.

It dawned on me.

How much his sharp and quiet impression had normalized since we first met.

His cool, shining purple eyes and his expressionless mouth were cold and frightening enough.

They were as cold as winter and as dark as midnight.

He scanned his wife’s thin wrists and slightly pale cheeks as though dismantling them with his gaze.

Before turning towards me with a slow, gentle smile.

“Go ahead if you’re taking Huey and Louis with you. I’m sorry I can’t go.”

I just shook my head.

Didn’t Dad already have much to do? Maybe he was even busier than me now…

He said he’d managed as much of the work as possible during his time apart from Mom, only doing the necessary bare minimum.

I knew well how overwhelmed he was with tasks.

“Let’s go together next time.”

“Alright. You must have been busy today, so go rest, Claire. You did well today too.”

Mom hugged me tightly once. I replied briefly, “You did too, Mom.”

I didn’t want to show too much concern; I didn’t want to reveal my understanding of Mom’s suffering.

As I left her embrace, Dad took me in his arms.

“I’ll take Claire to her room and be back. Please rest.”

Mom nodded, but she’d probably be  writing another letter until Dad returned.

A letter asking for forgiveness from the victims.

Dad must have thought the same, urging her to rest more assertively before leaving her bedroom.

Dad and I walked silently down the corridor for a while.

I almost wished they’d argue fiercely over whether to return or not since it was better.

Mom seemed to overflow with vitality, at least when confronting Dad.

‘…Mom seems to be slowly succumbing to guilt these days.’

I hugged Dad tightly around the neck and rested my head on his shoulder.

Was I unable to understand the current situation because I was an Astariol? Ignorant of people’s emotions?

But I could understand Mom’s guilt and pain, the anger and sadness of the victims…

What I couldn’t understand was just…

‘Why doesn’t anyone come to apologize to Mom, who’s working so hard to do so?’

Mom’s only crime was towards Dad. Wasn’t Mom also, in a way, a victim of the deposed Emperor’s actions?

If even in cases where one wasn’t entirely at fault, a person could suffer so much…

‘… why aren’t the clearly specified perpetrators coming to apologize?’

– Let’s see if the Pope and the Cardinals, your aunt, Duke Sisanna… come to apologize. Not by you asking them to or forcing them, but on their own.

Today, I memorized the families and powers of Duke Sisanna and their descendants.

Duke Sisanna probably knew about Mom’s amnesty and our existence.

What wrongs could the perpetrators, including Duke Sisanna, have done to Mom? In their eyes, was their wrongdoing not something to apologize for?

How would Mom, finally reinstated and back in this world, make them feel?

While absorbed in such thoughts with my face crumpled up, Dad spoke quietly.

“I’m sorry, Claire. You’re still young, and I haven’t paid enough attention to you.”

It was a sincere affection. Gentle tone and warm temperature. A hand that kindly stroked the hair. A sorry for not being meticulous up until now.

Even if there was a lump in my heart, it would have melted silently like that.

“I’m fine. How about Eciel?”

“She’s having a hard time without you.”

“I doubt it. She’s the one who avoids me.”

It sounded more petulant than I thought. Dad seemed to think so too and smiled a little.

Then… he whispered.

In a voice so languid that it was hard to believe it came from his chilly and stern face.

“Really? Well, she can’t avoid it now. Shall we go see Eciel?”

Innocent, captivating, and subtly persuasive.

Whatever was contained in those words was a voice that could be nodded to right away.

But I shook my head.

“Instead, could you let her know that we’ll have cream soda together the morning after tomorrow? I feel like we might argue again if we go now.”

Dad readily agreed and tucked me into bed.

I fell into a deep sleep without dreams, and when I woke up the next day, the sun was already shining. Dad’s card, written in elegant handwriting, was placed by the bedside.

[Eciel will definitely come with you, my dear Claire. There’s no need to go tomorrow. How about playing together again tomorrow after today’s outing? You can skip classes for today.

From your Dad who loves you.]

The handwriting, the content, the scent faintly emanating from the card.

Everything was refreshing and clear.

Although he wrote it down without much thought, it was as neat as if it had been taken with a snap.

I held the card quietly and couldn’t help but say.

“Dad will completely ruin my habits soon…”

The girl who groomed my bushy silver hair couldn’t help but smile. Then her face turned completely red, and she cast her eyes down.

“I’m sorry, Miss.”

Leanne Remora.

The daughter of a vassal of the main Chelsiers house in the East, a pretty girl with neat black hair and flawless brown eyes.

We were about four years apart.

She was slightly younger and not originally trained for this, so she was sometimes a bit clumsy.

‘She was just here as a temporary companion and maid until I found a proper aide.’

She wasn’t losing out either.

Working briefly as a maid next to Duke Chelsier’s successor was rare and built an even stronger friendship than originally expected.

Thanks to this, she would receive a lot more marriage proposals than originally expected.

The maid who was tying the curtains and opening the window came and spoke to me in a friendly manner.

“It’s not possible. You’re not that type of person, Miss, and His Excellency just cares about you.”

“… Edna. It’s a bit too much for me to say this on my own, but it’s too excessive.”

“What about it? It means that Miss is that important for the Duke.”

I couldn’t argue because I was precious …

With that thought in mind, I kept my mouth shut and the maid smiled knowingly.

Thanks to her natural personality, she got used to me quickly.

Edna wasn’t intimidated by my cold and aloof face just as she wasn’t to Dad.

Leanne, who had neatly groomed my hair, chimed in.

“That’s right, milady. His Excellency truly cherishes you.”

Her innocent brown eyes sparkled with admiration.

Yeah. From her perspective, having a father who used such cards while living in this kind of room, as a noble heir, must be something to marvel at.

I quietly swallowed the fact that I hadn’t fully adapted to Dad yet.

It wasn’t appropriate to talk about such things to a girl I’d only be with for a short while.

So, I changed the subject.

“… well, I should see if Eciel is up.”

“Miss Eciel woke up a while ago. I heard she’s going to the dressing room to choose a dress.”

“A while ago? Wait, when exactly?”

“Just before you woke up.”

… uh-oh. I told her to wait for me, but now Eciel must be waiting indefinitely.

I hurriedly got out of bed.