As expected, the cream soda was delicious, just as Eciel had anticipated.

It contained syrup, juice, carbonated water, and ice cream, so it would be hard to imagine it not tasting good.

In addition, there were pastries filled generously with sugared apricots, crispy-baked egg tarts, a cool yet sweet chocolate mousse cake, pancakes topped with tangy blueberry compote and white cream…

Various snacks were prepared in the reserved room.

In a decent room, I spent time without any worries, selecting and enjoying delicious treats.

In this leisurely state, I felt as though I had arrived in paradise, just as Eciel had once expressed.

Louis, who was present, also contributed to the peaceful atmosphere.

“… so, we hold a magical fair every summer, and the play on the last day is famous for showcasing the latest technology from Magic Tower by setting magical fireworks…”

In this manner.

He seemed to be well-versed in many interesting places and anecdotes, captivating Eciel with his quick wit and eloquence.

He even smoothly wove in suggestions about visiting with Dad later.

There was nothing to say except to praise him as perfect.

‘… could it be that being beside Dad had made him like this, and because he was this kind of person that Dad valued him?’

No matter how many times I saw him, it was amazing how he could catch on so quickly and smoothly. Perhaps he was like a tailored aide for Dad, who lived his life without caring about others.

He was indeed my father, but other than his face, wealth, and status …

No, but in some ways, weren’t these three things the most important considerations in life?

If those three things hit their peak, were the personality and social skills completely abandoned in order to balance things out with others?

Feeling a bit confused, I concluded that since he devoted his life to Mom, if she was happy, that was what mattered.

Dad spent all his attention on our family and generally didn’t care about other people. Anyway, it was mainly Mom, me, and Eciel who benefited.

Meanwhile, the ice cream on Eciel’s cream soda was quietly melting.

A faint blue liquid oozed out like an aurora.

“Eciel, your ice cream is melting.”

At my brief remark, Eciel was startled.

Without delay, she took a big bite of the ice cream. Then, her forehead wrinkled slightly.

‘… oh.’

I let out a shallow sigh and gently wiped her forehead with my palm, gently stroking it.

“Are you okay?”

“No…”

In the midst of this unintended pause, Louis asked.

“Miss Claire, is there anywhere else you’d like to go or anything you’d like to do?”

I was about to respond with something Eciel wanted to do, but suddenly Dad’s words came to mind.

– Don’t ask Eciel, ask yourself. What do you want to eat, do, or have?

… perhaps Louis’s question meant something like this?

After some more thought, I replied.

“To be honest, I wanted to go to the Academy. Or maybe to the Temple.”

Louis blinked.

It seemed like he understood that it wasn’t just about wanting to see but wanting to enroll.

However, the academy was a place where commoners and fallen nobles sponsored by the state studied.

And to study at the Temple, one must swear the priest’s oath.

Should the heir of Duke Chelsiers deceive her status and enroll in the Academy?

Or should Astariol, who revered as demigod by the scriptures, volunteered as a junior priest at the Temple?

As his expression gradually turned disheartened by the same thought process as mine, I faintly smiled.

“I’m fine now. Back then, I was just curious about what this was and where I could find it.”

The wind gracefully lifted and lowered the dessert plate.

Louis, who had seemed tense, smiled genuinely relieved.

“I was really surprised, Miss.”

“I’ve learned almost everything I was curious about back then—about who I am and what Dad is like—so I don’t have a place I want to go that badly right now. I’ll think about it for the future.”

I replied peacefully, then finally withdrew my hand from Eciel, whose cough had subsided.

But the wind didn’t stop.

It playfully swirled from one plate to another.

Then it picked up a flower from the middle of the table and spun it in the air.

Eciel, who often saw me play with the wind, quickly lost interest and reached for a new snack plate.

However, Louis looked at my handling of the wind with awe.

“Isn’t Dad’s power more amazing than mine?”

It was an innocent question. Louis chuckled. It was a meaningful smile.

“Do you know what His Excellency’s power is?”

“Yeah, I know Dad’s power!”

Eciel, who was about to take a bite of tart, shouted cheerfully.

I blinked.

I lost focus and the wind dissipated, causing the flower to fall. Louis skillfully caught it, but I didn’t even look in that direction.

“… you do?”

“Yeah. Dad gave me a necklace. If I wear it, I won’t part with him anymore. That’s Dad’s power.”

… how did wearing it prevent parting?

That eerie night, with a ferocious beast behind me, flashed before my eyes.

The soft voice suggested, should he kill the emperor, or should he gently bury him?

But Eciel, with a careless expression, pulled out the necklace from around her neck and handed it over.

It wasn’t much different from mine.

If there was a difference, it was that the ring hanging from Eciel’s necklace wasn’t the heir’s signet ring.

The delicately polished and smooth body of the ring was engraved with very thin and intricate characters.

A pair of crossed swords intersecting over a horizontally balanced scale.

The symbol of the House of Chelsiers.

This inscription would be recognized anywhere.

‘It seems Dad stamped his seal here.’

With a flick of my finger, I scanned the spot I guessed before returning it back, and Eciel happily chattered.

“Dad said if I have this necklace, even if I get lost, he’ll appear like a splendid knight.”

Hmm… seemed like Dad was really impressed by this strange fairy tale about a knight rescuing a lost princess.

‘It’s probably better to just think of it as a preventive charm.’

Louis and I exchanged glances of conspiratorial understanding.

And to preserve Eciel’s innocence, we both nodded with a smiling face.

It would have been better if she just knew it this way. Actually, that was not entirely wrong…

I lightly warned the child, who could easily veer off course.

“But still, Eciel, don’t purposely get lost just because of this.”

The child, with a mouthful of tart, dramatically pouted.

“I’m not that foolish. Claire is the kind of idiot who follows strangers even when told not to.”

Yeah, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have said anything unnecessary to her…

With nothing more to say, I quietly lowered my eyes. Eciel lectured me like a mother.

“You need this more than I do. You always hate crowds, get lost everywhere you go alone, hide in strange places, and suddenly appear nearby when Mom looks for you. You even follow strangers and make secrets!”

How old did I have to be before she stopped lecturing me like this?

My gaze involuntarily turned to Louis.

But maybe because he was Dad’s aide…

Louise showed no sign of intervention whatsoever. Instead, he looked on with interest.

Regardless of others watching, we were on the brink of cold war after just reconciling.

I softened my approach as much as possible.

“Alright, I’m sorry. Instead, let’s go somewhere just as fun together this month.”

Eciel’s mouth, which was about to nag again, snapped shut.

Faint shadows cast slowly across her eyes, sparkling above her thin, lush lashes.

 

As beautiful as a butterfly flapping its wings.

Her leaf-like green eyes blossomed delicately like a flower with curiosity and excitement.

“Really?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“But Claire must be busy. Isn’t it hard?”

“I have time for you.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Why does it have to be a secret?”

“Because we only need to know where to go and what to do.”

Eciel burst into a wide smile.

A vivid joy radiated from her eyes, spreading out to her entire face.

I smiled along with Eciel.

Her happiness was always my measure of happiness.

Observing us, Louis remarked curiously.

“Miss Claire sincerely cherishes Miss Eciel.”

My younger sister vigorously nodded.

Maybe Countess Rocar tried to correct that, but probably didn’t teach it to me…

Would she be able to attend the event this time?

As I briefly pondered Eciel’s attendance at the event, Louis spoke gently.

“I have served His Excellency since he was the young misses’ age. Can you guess what His Excellency was like when he was young?”

“Did he play with Louis?”

Eciel asked innocently.

But I kept my gaze lowered.

Dad and those around him must have known Dad was an Astariol. He probably grew up with the awareness of his emotional limitations and probably grew up in an atmosphere where he naturally accepted a child who didn’t make an effort to communicate.

I probably knew better what Astariol would be like, who grew up in an atmosphere where it was natural to expect a child who didn’t try to communicate.

“Your highness didn’t play with me, Miss Eciel. He just walked around with me on the first day, and then wrote down a hundred ways I had to do to stay with him the next day.”

“… Dad?”

“Yes. I was in a rebellious phase at the time. So, I was so annoyed that I tore it all up. He said he didn’t need me, and I still remember that.”

Eciel made a face that seemed to say, “Our dad? Really? Really?”. I chuckled inwardly.

Dad was just as socially deficient when he was young.