After meeting Sien, Matthias headed for his mansion. While riding on horseback towards the mansion, he thought that raising a child seemed quite difficult.

He spoke to the man who silently stood by his side.

“You said you’re raising a child too.”

“Ah, yes.”

“By your standards, is our Sien somewhat mature?”

Despite having gone through quite a lot while assisting Matthias, the aide was slightly flustered. Especially because of the inexplicably deep attachment he showed towards Sien.

Pondering how to respond, the aide cautiously began.

“She… seems like an ordinary young child. And lovely.”

“What.”

Matthias’s expression turned cold.

It was then that the aide looked at him with a bewildered expression.

“Our daughter is special. The best in the world.”

“…Pardon?”

The aide tilted his head in confusion, receiving Matthias’s gaze.

“Warm like sunshine, far from ordinary in every way.”

After making such doting remarks with a frigid expression, Matthias immediately leapt off his horse.

He had seen the princess’s carriage arrive in front of the western mansion of Mirmode where he resided.

“Follow slowly.”

After saying that, he strode into the mansion.

He also became curious about what business the princess had, interrupting his precious time with his daughter.

And so, seated alone with the princess.

The princess, who had been sitting in the reception room until the steaming tea cooled, immediately gave a beautiful eye-smile upon seeing Matthias.

It was an eye-smile that would melt any man, but Matthias remained as hard as stone.

“What business does Princess Serina have in Mirmode.”

“Ah… is this going straight to the point?”

Even seeing Matthias get right to the point as soon as he sat down, the princess didn’t show a flustered expression.

She probably came knowing something about Matthias Mirmode’s disposition.

She put down the cooled teacup and declared neatly.

“I intend to propose marriage.”

“To whom.”

“I, to you. I’m requesting our union.”

Matthias’s expression showed not a hint of curiosity or interest.

He stared at the princess as if dissecting her with a sharp gaze.

“That’s sudden.”

“I’ll formally propose marriage soon. Officially.”

“It’s very good for me. Because I’d gain the wing of His Majesty the Emperor, but.”

The princess smiled as if that was quite reasonable.

The empire’s only princess, outwardly evaluated as beloved by the emperor.

With an image as the flower of high society… her reputation was excellent in many ways.

But Matthias continued speaking with a bored expression.

“It doesn’t seem to add up for you, probably the most beautiful and noble woman in the empire, to propose to me.”

“What do you mean by ‘add up’?”

“I have a child. Moreover, my past is exceedingly dark. Also, I don’t think I can cherish you much… Due to the hostile relationship between the imperial family and Mirmode, you’d likely suffer quite a bit mentally if we married.”

“…”

“Anyone can see that requesting such a marriage first means you must have some ulterior motive.”

The current Matthias Mirmode now knew very well.

The fact that there could be a trap in tempting food.

Besides, doesn’t he have a daughter to protect?

Since it would also mean his daughter getting a mother, it was something he needed to look into a bit more.

“It seems you need to convince me now why you want to get married. How about it?”

Even the fact that the princess might try to put a leash on him.

So was there really any need to say anything?

“His Highness the Crown Prince desires a union between the imperial family and Mirmode.”

Despite Matthias’s penetrating gaze, the princess continued speaking eloquently.

“Moreover, if not you, Matthias, my marriage options are old men at least ten years older than me, or princes from outside the empire. I don’t want that.”

Matthias silently stared at the princess. The princess’s eyes meeting his gaze were quite graceful and proper.

Though it didn’t particularly impress him, she was objectively the most beautiful woman in this empire.

Enough that if it weren’t Matthias Mirmode, but another person proposing marriage, she could easily do so.

“If you’re trying to put a leash on a beast like me through this marriage proposal.”

“Ah, such words are rude to a lady.”

Lightly ignoring her words, Matthias said.

“It seems quite an interesting thing will happen.”

The princess quietly smiled and bowed her head, then raised it again.

“Then, I will formally request marriage to your family.”

Axel Mirmode cannot come out of the demon realm for the time being.

Now the imperial family will become Matthias’s enemy.

“Well then, go ahead and try.”

He stared at the princess with a cold expression.

As for what the imperial family’s intentions were.

Matthias, too, intended to slowly find out.

Even while checking resumes after sending Dad off, I couldn’t focus at all.

‘What on earth is the princess’s motive!’

I was already easily distracted due to being in a child’s body, but now that something concerning had come up, it was twice as hard to concentrate.

Because of that, I couldn’t pick out any outstanding talents today, but after conducting their interviews sincerely, I decided to return home.

On the way home, carried in the arms of the maid sisters in one breath. The maid sisters said I was so admirable and cool that they wouldn’t let my feet touch the ground. When I asked if it wasn’t tiring, they smiled happily saying I was lighter than one dumbbell.

‘To think my body weight is less than one dumbbell…’

On the way home with a lonely heart. I happened to receive some surprising news from Leonhart who had come to visit our mansion.

About the reason the princess came to see our dad.

There’s a rumor that it was to propose marriage, is it true? he asked.

Leonhart asked brightly, “Chestnut, you know?” but… I was in a slightly shocked state mentally.

‘So, the princess could become my new mom?’

The marriage proposal that was directed at Axel Mirmode came to Dad.

No one knows if this will be a green light or a red light, but.

‘This… would be closer to a red light.’

Come to think of it, I had never heard Dad talk about a new mom.

I had never heard him talk about Mom either.

If the Emperor himself brings up the marriage proposal, even Mirmode couldn’t unilaterally refuse.

A union with the imperial family, especially the legitimate princess, would be ideal for anyone to see.

Especially a union with the imperial palace that had been trying to devour Mirmode.

If this happens, Mirmode could truly gain unrivaled power.

What if Dad unilaterally refuses in this situation?

The Senate or the Duke’s vassals could all rise up at once.

But for me, Dad’s situation was more important than such political positions.

Come to think of it, I had never thought about it.

To me, Dad was just my beloved country farmer dad.

‘Can our Dad live alone for his whole life?’

Unlike me, Dad might want to have a wife.

I blinked, realizing I had never thought that Dad might need a wife too.

“I think I need to go see Dad!”

Princess Anesa was famous as the close friend of Saint Melodia and an angel. But since I was possessed by the villain, whether Anesa would be an ‘angel’ to me remained to be seen.

Moreover, I don’t know what butterfly effect caused it, but she’s proposing marriage to Dad instead of Axel, unlike in the original story.

I flung open the door to Dad’s bedroom and rushed into the arms of Dad sitting in a chair. Instead of a soft, fluffy body, hard muscles pressed against my face with a thud.

“What’s the matter?”

Unaware of my heart that felt like it would burst, Dad asked sweetly in a happy voice.

“Let’s be happy for a really long time.”

“Hm? Did something happen?”

“It’s nothing…”

I looked up at Dad and asked straightforwardly.

“Dad. Are you going to get married?”

As I walked towards Dad, I carefully organized my thoughts.

I was no longer a baby but a proper ten-year-old. I was old enough to fully recognize that Dad might need a lover too.

‘If it’s a good person, it’s okay if they become my new mom.’

At that one sentence, Dad seemed to realize that I had heard about the marriage proposal with the princess that was currently circulating.

Dad quietly said as if it were obvious.

“I don’t know. I’m not interested. Dad only needs Sien, right?”

I raised my head abruptly and stared at Dad.

As they say adults can’t lie to children, I could see through most adults’ lies in front of me.

But you know what.

There wasn’t a single speck of lies in the eyes Dad showed me.

Strangely.

“Really?”

“Yes. Sien is Dad’s top priority. Dad only has Sien.”

Dad’s eyes looked desperate. It felt as if I was Dad’s entire life.

But that shouldn’t be. Dad should have something he likes other than me, whether it’s a new mom or whatever. So that even if something ever happened to me, Dad could live happily.

But Dad whispered affectionately, seeming not to think about any future without me at all.

“Sien is the reason for Dad’s life.”

Those words were very sweet to hear.

But the meaning of those words also meant that if something ever happened to me later, Dad wouldn’t be able to live on.

I bit down on my small baby teeth firmly and said seriously. Even though my front teeth were loose and it hurt, I still had to speak sternly.

“That’s not okay.”

“Huh?”

“Sien will slowly find things Dad likes as much as Sien!”

It’s also worrying when the reason for a loved one’s life is only me.

Not knowing such feelings of mine, Dad carefully asked.

“Then what about Sien? Sien, would you like to have a mom?”

At those words, I blinked. Hmm, if you ask if I want a mom…

“I haven’t thought about a new mom.”

I hadn’t thought about wanting a new mom.

I just hadn’t really thought much about having a mom in the first place.

It was because I had always thought ‘I only need Dad!’

It’s not like Dad left any empty space. He always treated me so well that I never felt any gaps.

‘And honestly, I’m also scared of getting a new family member.’

Mom in my memories before reincarnation was a scary presence. When she glared with fierce eyes and threatened me, I had to curl up quietly.

So I was fine with just having Dad too. If Dad was okay with it.

“Sien is happiest with just Dad!”

The moment I said that, I vaguely thought that accepting a new mom seemed like a rather distant matter for us…