A banquet celebrating the monster subjugation was scheduled right after the national banquet. Until then, imperial power would continue its upward trajectory.

The Emperor’s return with Imperiale was as grand as when they had headed to the West. Winged mythical beasts raised their heads; Imperiale, adorned in uniforms, carried victory on their shoulders. And Lady Countess Flache also packed her bags quite confidently.

“……What’s all this?”

The very generous godfather had no choice but to ask. The children each clutched a stuffed animal they slept with at night, a book, and a cookie box from Shalea’s royal palace, a gift from their godfather.

“We’re also going to Shalea.”

Ambitious Shia affirmed, and Bella nodded.

“Now?”

“We’re going now, aren’t we?”

“Yes. Now.”

Hayden knelt for a moment, watching the confident children. When the godfather didn’t reply right away, Shia and Bella started to nag in turn.

“Sis is going.”

“Godfather is going.”

“We want to go too.”

“Right.”

Bella was twisting her body, sneakily catching Hayden and Lu’s reactions.

“Mom said we’re going to Shalea too.”

“Can’t we go with you?”

Hayden scratched his eyebrow with a troubled face and started to explain softly while holding Shia and Bella’s hands.

“It’s a bummer, isn’t it? We’ve just met Sis and we have to say goodbye without having properly played together. But Sis is busy. We need to go back to Shalea. Sis and I will be in Shalea, so let’s meet again after a few nights’ sleep.”

It seemed it couldn’t be helped. If it were possible, the adults would have nodded long ago. Realizing the situation but still full of disappointment, the children’s small shoulders slumped.

“We’ll see each other soon.”

“Can’t we go with you?”

Just as they were expecting so much from their newly met big sister and their godfather. At times like this, Mom had to step in. Milene, sensing something, approached and took care of the children.

“We’ll sleep for three nights and then we can meet Sis and Godfather again.”
With Carlos revealing himself at the tower, it was impossible to leave Lu at the Flache estate even for a day. Moreover, as she had been the envoy to Kaleta, it was only natural to provide her with the best protection during this sensitive time when she had chosen Ferseta.

So Lu had to return to Shalea with Hayden. Of course, it was being considered whether she would stay at the depths of the Shalea palace, the Fuhrli mansion located near Shalea, or the Flache townhouse that the Flache family always used when they came to Shalea.

However, the children couldn’t quite understand.

“Why are you going alone? You should live with us.”

Don’t go, don’t go. Bella, unable to stand on her own, leaned on Icarus and spread her arms toward her older sister. The godfather who had filled the room with toys and played around with them was instantly forgotten.

Lu hugged Bella tightly. Then she hugged Sia who had run after Zilla.

“We were going to ride horses together.”

Sobbing filled the air. Lu stroked her siblings’ backs and looked at their parents. Milene approached and kissed her daughter’s forehead.

“We will tidy up here within three days and attend the national assembly.”

Lu nodded.

“I hope my foot will be better by then.”

The conversation about Haizhou was brief, and there was no time for a deep talk as they had to part ways again. Although they planned to reunite soon, the time spent together seemed much shorter than the time apart.

“Take care of your ankle, and don’t overdo it, Lu.”

“Yes, Dad. Don’t worry.”

Parents’ hearts ached seeing their daughter leaning on Icarus, unable to stand properly.

Ethan also approached, struggling to hide his uneasy expression. If not for Carlos, his daughter would have been flying around, but now a curse bound her entire body. He had suspected as much ever since Hayden had passed on the news a long time ago, but it was still alarming.

“I’ve contacted the townhouse. We’ll meet there later. Now, say goodbye to your sister. Don’t cry.”

But knowing that the hardest part was for his daughter, Ethan only calmed down his young daughters.

“In three nights we can meet. Hurry and say goodbye, and we should greet His Majesty, shouldn’t we?”

Finally, they hugged their sister one more time with their father, made promises to play at the townhouse, and pinky-promised to see their godfather again before parting. The children backed off when everyone thought they would make a bigger fuss.

“We were wrong to make a fuss.”

“We were wrong.”

Hayden laughed, looking at the children who bowed their heads in apology without being told to do so.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry for separating you from your sister. We’ll meet soon.”

He wiped the still-teary eyes of Sia and Bella. Hayden was always the generous godfather.

“Make sure to play with us then.”

“Yes. No, yes.”
He gave Bella, who was nodding her head vigorously, a final kiss on the cheek and turned around after patting the children’s heads.

Sia watched wide-eyed as her godfather swiftly lifted her sister onto Icarus. Her sister reached out and caressed Sia’s cheek. Her sister’s hand was just like their father’s and mother’s—rough yet tender and warm.

“See you later.”
Sia nodded vigorously. The hand that had touched her receded, and Ethan moved the children back.

“The Matopzu decided to monitor the monster wave trend in the West, so the West will be a bit more peaceful. See you at the national funeral.”

Hayden gave a nod to Count and Countess Plache, who bowed, and then took off.

“Follow His Majesty to Imperialle!”

“Take off!”

“Return to Shalea!”

“All units, take off!”

Once an emperor who led subordinates that didn’t even make up a quarter of the current Imperialle forces.

For their loyalty as the right-hand aides to the emperor at that time, Count and Countess Plache, who now remained behind to send him off, looked up at the teleportation magic circle Hayden had opened in the high sky.

They had been fighting monsters so far, but three days later they would have to fight anew in Shalea without drawing swords. With their daughter now involved, the couple had to fight more fiercely.

“It’s troublesome to prepare for the banquet during the national funeral.”

If they loudly prepared for the upcoming banquet at a time when the empire was to be quiet with sorrow and mourning, they would immediately be criticized.

“Let’s prepare as much as we can here and bring it with us. You’ve already amassed many items for Lu.”

Ethan gently patted Milene’s shoulder.

She had carefully collected items one by one for their eldest daughter who they would meet someday and stored them in a room. The clothes Lu wore today were also one of the outfits Milene had prepared. She felt glad because there were clothes for Lu to wear while staying in the palace in a hurry.

“The nobles will try to pick on our child quite a bit, won’t they?”

“She’ll do well. She grew up well even without us; she can’t fail. Lu will do well.”

Holding Milene who kept sighing deeply, Ethan muttered endlessly. Our child will do well.

“We should provide good support.”

Now, Lu was not alone. There were parents who would become a reliable shield for her, and there was the prestigious Gennes family.

Three days later, all the nobles will gather in Shalea when the official national funeral begins. And there, the politics of the Perseita Empire will be shaken once again.