I Think My Daughter Has Regressed (7 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 5
“Tomorrow, it would be good if you also go to the Imperial Palace. Bring Lucy as well.”
Damian said, looking at his daughter who was lying in his spot.
“Tomorrow? But tomorrow is… the day you receive your imperial gift. On that day, at the palace…”
“I think it would be good for Lucy to know what kind of man her father is.”
“Ah… I see. It’s because of what Lucy said to you yesterday…”
Ariel lowered her eyes.
“It’s my fault for being inadequate.”
Ariel’s expression quickly darkened as she blamed herself.
Damian didn’t understand why Ariel was blaming herself, but he thought it best to leave it as it was.
Because, at last, Ariel’s worried eyes were fully fixed on him.
*
“Lucy, you mustn’t shout or run toward Papa like you did that time. Understand?”
Ariel instructed her on palace etiquette.
Her parenting philosophy was to raise a bright child, not an ill-mannered one.
“Yeah, I understand, Mama.”
Lucy nodded with a bright smile.
Normally, she wouldn’t have brought a child to such a place, but since Damian had specifically asked this time, Ariel brought Lucy along.
Fortunately, Lucy was the kind of child who obediently followed instructions, so Ariel relaxed somewhat and moved to her seat.
“Duke of Genova…”
In the grand hall, Damian knelt on one knee before His Imperial Majesty the Emperor.
A lengthy proclamation echoed through the hall, praising his merits in suppressing the rebellion and announcing the bestowal of gifts.
Ariel stood from her seat, tightly holding Lucy’s hand as she watched Damian.
Sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows beautifully illuminated Damian’s golden hair.
The same golden hair as Lucy’s…
His straight nose, like his unwavering loyalty, and blue eyes reflecting the sea.
Damian—alive.
Holding her daughter’s warm hand somehow made it difficult for Ariel to look at her husband.
She had watched him in this very place before, but perhaps it felt different now that she was here with their daughter.
She had grown tired of seeing Damian receive imperial gifts, of seeing him kneel before His Imperial Majesty.
At first, she had been proud; the second time, she worried; and by the third, she had begun to accept it resignedly.
Damian, who had repeatedly led victorious campaigns in frequent conquest wars, had become a figure who inspired the knights’ morale.
Was it his second deployment?
She had once gone all the way to the ship he was boarding while she was pregnant.
Barely managing to fight off the overwhelming drowsiness caused by her pregnancy, she had tied a handkerchief—embroidered with both their names in large letters—onto his gear.
The words “Do you really have to go?” had lingered in her throat, but she never spoke them.
Seeing the countless knights boarding that ship, Ariel had lowered her head.
After all, Damian wasn’t the only one who was someone’s beloved husband.
“This war seems like it will last a long time.”
Damian stared at the ship with an emotionless face.
“Could you possibly send me letters this time?”
“Letters?”
“Even just a short sentence would be fine. I just need to know you’re alive.”
“Do you really need to go that far?”
Damian tilted his head, gazing at the handkerchief Ariel had tied for him.
She had fastened it to his sword hilt, but Damian undid it.
“Damian, that…”
“I didn’t think you believed in such superstitious things. It might even get in the way. Go back inside. You’re not alone anymore.”
“Right…”
Ariel nodded and stepped away. Fortunately, Damian returned victorious from that war.
He hadn’t been by her side when she gave birth, and no letters ever came, but the fact that he safely returned home was enough.
“…Mama?”
Lucy looked up at Ariel, startled.
Ariel quickly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and gave Lucy a faint smile.
“Papa looks handsome, right?”
Lucy’s green eyes blinked slowly.
“…Yeah. He’s handsome.”
Nodding, Lucy beamed as she met Ariel’s gaze.
That—that very smile made Ariel’s throat tighten, and she bit hard on her lower lip to hold back her tears.
“I guess Mama doesn’t want to see Papa looking handsome anymore, right?”
Ariel squeezed Lucy’s small hand tighter and nodded.
She knew it was wrong to show such weakness in front of a child who was only seven, yet her tears wouldn’t stop flowing.
If he went off to war again…
If, by any chance, he never returned…
What would happen if Damian left, leaving only her and Lucy behind?
She couldn’t shake the disloyal thought that this very moment of glory was pushing him back into war.
“…Duchess of Genova.”
Startled by the gentle voice, Ariel quickly wiped her face and turned her head.
Her Imperial Majesty the Empress was approaching her.
“I pay my respects to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress of the Empire.”
Ariel curtsied, carefully composing her expression that had, just moments ago, been tearful. Apparently, Damian’s award ceremony had already concluded.
“I pay my respects to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.”
Beside Ariel, Lucy also curtsied and kissed the Empress’s hand.
Once the greetings were done, the Empress gently placed her hand on Ariel’s shoulder. Pat—pat—it moved lightly like a feather, comforting Ariel.
“You always carry such burdens. Though the Duke of Genova carries iron-blooded lineage, you do not. Of course, I’m well aware that you’ve suffered greatly these past few years.”
The Empress gave a bitter smile.
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Before being a duchess, you are a woman. I understand that feeling well. When I was still Crown Princess, His Majesty participated in a war. I cried so much back then. Come to think of it, the Duke of Genova had just received his ducal title then as well. After all, I married later than you did.”
Ariel quietly nodded.
“But since then, the Duke has continuously gone off to war. His Majesty becoming Emperor made it unavoidable… Still, thanks to the Duke’s constant efforts, the people of the Empire and many in this nation have enjoyed peaceful, happy lives.”
“No, Your Majesty. All peace comes from Your Majesty’s wise governance and boundless compassion. The House of Genova is always grateful for the opportunity to serve as loyal subjects.”
“Your eyes are still red.”
The Empress looked at Ariel’s eyes and comforted her with a gentle smile.
“I was once the same. I once shouted at the previous Emperor in anger, asking why the wars couldn’t just stop. I know exactly what you’re thinking. How could men ever understand? They can’t fathom how difficult it is to wait helplessly in safety.”
“…No, Your Majesty.”
“But you see, that is precisely a husband’s heart—to wish for his wife to stay safe in a secure place.”
Ariel blinked slowly as she looked at the Empress.
“The Duke of Genova always thinks of you. Ah, by the way—I heard you brought your daughter, so I came to see her. Her name is…”
“My apologies for the late introduction, Your Majesty. My name is Lucy.”
Lucy curtsied once more before the Empress.
“She has your eyes, Duchess. Lucy is seven, isn’t she?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. She is seven.”
“My Crown Prince is eight. Perhaps they could become good friends—what do you think?”
The Empress smiled at Lucy. Ariel, slightly flustered, gently pulled Lucy closer.
“Lucy is still very young and feels uneasy in the palace. I worry she might cause trouble for His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince… Actually, our House of Genova has a boy named Derek who is also eight—the same age as His Imperial Highness. Perhaps two boys could become good friends?”
The Empress nodded with a smile toward Ariel.
“I see. Then perhaps I should have tea sometime soon with Madam Jessica. But before that—I’d like to take a stroll in the garden with Lucy, if that’s alright?”
“Oh…”
“I’d like that, Your Majesty! Mama, I’ll go walk in the garden with Her Imperial Majesty!”
Lucy let go of Ariel’s hand. Ariel reached out in haste, but Lucy was quicker.
“Haha! They say your daughter is a little Damian—and indeed, she is!”
“Mama! I’ll be right back! You go play with Papa!”
Left alone, Ariel watched Lucy disappear into the distance with bewilderment.
Clenching her empty hand, Ariel anxiously watched Lucy and the Empress walk away.
*
“My apologies for the delayed greeting, Your Grace.”
“…Sir Charles.”
Ariel released the hand she’d been clenching and smiled brightly at Charles.
He was the eldest son of Count Gorman, Damian’s direct subordinate.
Whenever Damian, who always seemed annoyed by correspondence, neglected to write, Sir Charles had occasionally sent letters on his behalf every few years.
He always provided detailed updates—not only about Damian’s well-being but also whether he’d been injured and what recent events had occurred—making Ariel immensely grateful.
She would have been utterly anxious had even those letters ceased to come.
“Yesterday, during the victory banquet, I had to step away briefly to see the doctor and couldn’t attend.”
“Oh! So that’s why you were absent. I hope your injury wasn’t serious?”
“It wasn’t anything major—just a scratch near my leg. Haha…”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Yes, well…”
Just as Ariel bowed her head to take her leave, she quickly opened her lips toward Charles, who was about to turn away.
“Um… Sir Charles, may I ask—is the rebellion fully suppressed now?”
“Hm? Ah! …Haha! Yes! You may consider this rebellion completely quelled. Even if another campaign is scheduled in future, I doubt His Grace will be able to go anymore.”
Upon hearing Charles’s words, Ariel couldn’t help but break into a bright smile.
She quickly composed her expression and asked him cautiously.
She had been disappointed too many times before.
After all, no one had expected Damian to go even this time.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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I see that Lucy is guiding her tutor to discover the truth and realize that he is being manipulated.
Poor Ariel, I know her daughter Lucy would have ways to resolve that situation peacefully, but she went to extremes 😅 Poor mother, I imagine the next episode will show the anguish she’s carrying in that situation, especially since Lucy is under Ariel’s care.
What a fascinating novel! The title suggests that Lucy might be a regressor, but from my point of view, she behaves like a gifted child. How curious!