The gazes of people unfolding layer by layer towards us approached like waves blown by the wind, but they collided with Dad and were pushed away without any impact, flowing out onto the road.

So many people couldn’t even face Dad directly. They lowered their eyes, bowed their heads, and looked away.

‘Ah, this silent and overwhelming world is Dad’s world.’

A world that no one dared to disturb, absolute and flawless.

No one could encroach upon it or criticize anything within it.

Until we left the venue, not a single person dared to stop Dad or challenge his unconventional behavior.

They merely averted their eyes, silently accepting his disposition.

I felt a strange sensation.

At first, I attributed it simply to Dad’s influence… but of course, that was part of it…

‘So many people, none of them truly see Dad as a fellow inhabitant of the same world.’

When Dad looked at us, he also smiled. He was happy when good things happened. He loved Mom deeply.

But the Dad these people saw was not someone who smiled, rejoiced, or knew how to cherish others.

To them, he was merely an enigmatic figure from a lofty world.

Expected not to respond, and if they had a wish, they must humbly present and pray before them.

Not a human like them, but someone elevated and sacred.

Supernatural, inhuman, extraordinary.

‘…But <we> were also born like you, grow up like you, and will die like you.’

Feeling bewildered, I watched as the venue grew distant.

Even after leaving the banquet, Dad’s face remained eerily calm for a while.

His gaze was as if he had been seeing a living deity since birth.

Then, he briefly glanced at me before breaking into a gentle smile.

“Why so serious, Claire?”

… before Mom appeared, who taught Dad about <humanity>?

Was there such a person?

Before I could swallow this sudden question again…

“Hey, I can’t take it anymore. Can we talk?”

A voice of irritation disrupted Dad’s serene and indifferent world.

It was the Emperor.

Startled, Eciel and I looked up in shock as Dad lowered himself, pulling us into his embrace protectively.

Only then did he respond coldly.

“If there are orders, I will duly obey.”

“This crazy… do you not have any intention of changing your temper?”

Evan rubbed his head irritably.

Eciel’s gaze, once as if viewing a villain, subtly shifted.

‘The Emperor’s words aren’t exactly appropriate, but they’re too light to be those of a villain…’

Anyway, Dad, who was holding us, said dryly.

“If you wish, command me. Your Majesty can accomplish anything.”

Gosh, this guy is really…

Evan muttered under his breath before saying with a discontented voice.

“Hey, if you’re going to say that, at least stop hugging your daughters like you won’t give in even if you die!”

Dad didn’t even raise an eyebrow.

His arms were wrapped around Eciel and me, his gaze, indifferent almost to the point of apathy, remained unwavering upon Evan.

‘Ah. It was this person.’

The man who turned a flawless and unresponsive cold god into an angry human who grumbled while being unaware of the feat he had accomplished.

“Are you really going to keep doing this? Hey, we should talk, shouldn’t we?”

“Let me repeat…”

I watched this unfold, and eventually unable to hold back any longer, I asked a question.

“Why did you do that?”

Eciel looked at me in surprise, and even Dad showed a rare hint of surprise.

But compared to Evan…

Even though Dad knew what he said to me, he still absentmindedly pointed his finger at himself.

As if asking if it was true.

I nodded.

“…uh …whoa, I couldn’t have predicted this…”

“Why did you do that?”

Evan’s expression gradually calmed down.

Claire.

Dad called my name quietly.

A voice that was soft but heavy, slow but cold, smooth but wary.

I had never heard him speaking in such a tone.

I felt his arms slightly tighten around me. And with that, I became even more convinced.

That even if the world were to collapse, Dad would never again leave me alone before the Emperor.

So, it had to be asked now.

“Why did you do that that day even when you know Dad will be very angry at you?”

Evan let out a grunt, scratching his head before speaking to Dad, as if he was having a hard time.

“Your precious daughter seems curious about something. Can we have a ceasefire for a moment?”

“Are you saying that to me as the person who brought my precious daughter there?”

His response echoed like thunder from the depths of hell.

Eciel and I were momentarily taken aback, but Evan, without a hint of fear, nodded his head calmly.

“I know you don’t trust me at all right now, I know you’re angry with me, I know everything. But what can I do? Your daughter is curious.”

Dad’s gaze finally returned to me. With a short, weary sigh, he spoke gently.

“Claire, this is dangerous for you. You’re brave and intelligent, but you worry me. Wouldn’t it be best for you and Eciel to just go home today?”

Evan muttered that Dad was being overprotective.

Dad didn’t show any signs of anger. He didn’t try to pressure us with logic.

Instead, he offered affectionate words, warm-hearted gestures, and firm affection.

I responded from within his embrace.

“But Dad, if you really thought this place was dangerous and that the Emperor would harm me, wouldn’t you have taken Eciel and me and run away as soon as the Emperor appeared?”

“…..”

“Far away before any <orders> were issued.”

“Claire.”

“Dad, you’re just upset with a friend you trusted, who was your closest and best friend, who you can’t completely trust anymore because of me.”

Eciel looked back and forth between Dad and Evan, her eyes questioning.

Evan asked suspiciously.

“… is this really your daughter? She’s a bit different from you.”

Dad didn’t answer. I reached out and hugged him.

“I wish Dad could trust you again as he used to. Please don’t let your relationship with your best friend grow apart because of me.”

“If we grew apart, it’s not because of you, but because of that idiot.”

Dad said firmly.

While Evan seemed to want to protest, he simply nodded reluctantly.

“It’s my fault.”

I blinked and asked again.

“So, when you said you completely trusted each other before, and that you were best friends, does that mean both were true?”

“…..”

Seeing Dad’s troubled expression, Evan chuckled. The sound of his laughter spread through the night like dew, as if it was the first time seeing him so troubled.

That laughter, that familiarity, that straightforward character.

Did this person teach Dad about friendship and trust before meeting Mom?

Teaching about human interaction and communication, knocking on the door of the perfect and lonely world, urging him to come out quickly.

Surely, that person was a good friend.

Thinking this, Evan finally stopped laughing and spoke.

“Hey, still don’t trust me? How about this? Let’s go to the crown prince’s palace first. Eciel will be my son’s guest.”

“….”

“In the reception room, Eciel will sit at the same table as him, and you and I will sit separately to talk. That way, you can keep an eye on both your daughters. Sound good?”

Dad’s face displayed clear disapproval.

But Eciel, I, and even Evan were close enough to Dad not to be afraid or intimidated by his disapproval.

And Dad knew that.

Evan led us, nonchalantly bringing us to the crown prince’s palace.

Upon arriving at the crown prince’s palace, the crown prince, unexpectedly, was amazed to hear that the Duke Chelsiers’s second daughter was here to see him, and the Emperor promptly sat Eciel down with the crown prince, whom she had knew about just a few minutes earlier.

Dad, with an irritated look, watched Eciel and me by the window in the middle of the reception room.

‘… can the crown prince really talk freely with Eciel when Dad watches like that?’

Even the mere thought of the crown prince, whom I had seen only once, made me wonder, yet the Emperor seemed unperturbed.

He even lifted a teacup to sip nonchalantly. He truly had a remarkable personality, albeit in a different sense from Dad’s.

“So, Claire. Will you ask again?”

“Why did you do that?”

Not shying away, I asked, and Evan shrugged. Still focused on his teacup, he replied leisurely.

“Why do you think I did?”

“… I thought you were teaching out of kindness.”

Slowly, I listed.

“Remember this feeling clearly. If you ever feel this way again, never go near that area. Also… understand what kind of relationship your mom and dad really have. Because they won’t tell you themselves.”

Evan’s green eyes rose to meet mine. Wide open as if surprised by what I had just said.

Or was it not?

‘Then why would he do such a thing?’

This person hadn’t benefited at all. Rather, it only further his relationship with my father, his good friend …

Evan said quietly, breaking out my complicated thoughts.

As if it was amazing.

“You see the best in people first, Claire.”

“…..”

“I understand why Ashel is overprotective of you. Even though you’re an Astariol, you try to understand people through emotions rather than reason.”

“… is this strange?”

Evan grinned.

A laugh similar to the mischievous smile Dad sometimes made. Did Dad learn that playful smile from this person?