Ru danced with her father as promised.

“Dad, you’re really good at dancing. I didn’t know.”

“Well, I’ve always been good at it.”

Hahaha, Ru burst into laughter. That’s right. Dad was that kind of person.

Even as he spoke, he skillfully avoided stepping on his daughter’s dress and gently guided her steps. At the same time, he subtly adjusted the direction so that the dress wouldn’t hinder her movements. If she hadn’t paid attention, she wouldn’t have noticed.

“You look very beautiful today. The dress suits you well. Our daughter has become a lady.”

“Yeah, pretty, right? But, Dad, that person, that Viscount or whoever, stepped on my dress earlier…”

“No, really?”

“Yeah, twice.”

Grabbing her father’s hand after a long time, Ru, speaking candidly but regretfully, revealed each detail of the small but sad incident. Looking at her with a slightly puzzled expression, Ru, at the age of fourteen, was just as sensitive and expressive as she used to be.

“Twice? That guy can’t be forgiven. It must be disappointing.”

“A little. I didn’t know there were people who couldn’t dance well. Um, also…”

“Also what?”

Ru looked up at her father and lowered her voice.

“I didn’t know people talk so much while dancing.”

“Society is troublesome in various ways. There’s a lot of trivia. Many secrets come and go, especially during dances. People who don’t dance will all talk a little when they see us.”

His eldest daughter, more of a friend than a hostage, playfully rolled her eyes, reminiscent of the past when she was a bit more sensitive.

“What should I say?”

“Well, they’ll probably say something like that family held a family reunion. Something like that.”

Even the always sharp-witted Count, in front of his daughter, was now speaking so casually. There might be words lacking in nutritional value, but Eden didn’t mind. He had accurately seen through the essence of society.

Regardless of what anyone said, today, due to Ru, Viscount Plachet finally solidified his position within the Chaléa. The label of a remote Western aristocrat, who had entered Chaléa while serving as the Emperor’s bodyguard, and was also a rural girl from Kaleeta, would now slowly begin to fade away.

While making grand and bold conversations with the Emperor during her appearance at the ball, Ru, who usually only showed formal smiles, now laughed brightly in front of her father. Honestly, her father’s shoulders were much higher than Viscount’s shoulders that she had just seen. So, Ru thought it was rather fortunate.

‘He can’t be seen.’

Hayden couldn’t be seen behind her father’s shoulders. And probably, he would be dancing with some other noble lady. Most likely, he would. So, it’s fortunate.

“I didn’t expect to be able to go home with you today.”

Ru laughed briefly again at her father’s words that caught her attention. Eden felt greatly regretful about that point.
Currently, there was a townhouse in Chalea that was not inferior to those in the south. However, due to today’s events, the daughter would attract more attention, and since she would undoubtedly become the number one target of the Kaleeta Empire’s attack, it was necessary for her safety to stay longer in the imperial palace.

“When you get home, try to calm down the younger siblings. It seems like they were greatly impressed by you saving them in Belfort. Suddenly talking about becoming a knight, what’s that about?”

“Wasn’t it something like learning the sword?”

Sia was already nine years old. It was an age where she could swing a wooden sword sufficiently.

“She got too serious, and her arm almost broke. If Bella does something, Sia imitates everything. Instead of a wooden sword, she touched my spear, saying she would swing it.”

“Oh, I see.”

It seems Ru’s quick rescue of the children with a spear left a strong impression.

“What should I do?”

“What can you do? All kids are like that. You were the same.”

“Me? I wasn’t like that.”

“You weren’t. Don’t you remember when you were eight, you broke your leg? You jumped down saying you would follow mom and fell.”

Ru remembered vividly when the whole house was turned upside down. She subtly avoided her father’s gaze.

“I, I don’t remember.”

“Why, don’t you remember anything, young lady with memory problems?”

“Probably…”

“Why, look at this kid.”

Sticking out his tongue and chuckling, Eden also burst into laughter. And then, he felt endlessly sorry and grateful to his child, thinking when did this kid grow up so much.

“Don’t just take on too much responsibility. You’ve done more than enough with what you did today, so just think about resting. Just let the younger siblings say a few words at their own pace, don’t try to do more than that.”

Ru nodded readily with an expression that seemed to understand what he was saying.

“Alright, that’s settled.”

Eden lightly tapped his daughter’s arm and guided her back to her seat.

“But why is Mom so busy like that?”

“Mom is always busy.”