The feelings of parents with daughters.

What on earth does that mean?!

‘I thought he had absolutely no interest in me. Why is he suddenly like this?’

I’ve met Dad only three times so far. When I was a baby, when I started walking on my own, and now, with my mouth wide open.

Looking back on these three encounters, which wouldn’t even add up to an hour in terms of time, Dad making such comments was a very unexpected turn of events.

“…What’s Dad feeling? Bella won’t know if you don’t tell her!”

“You don’t have to know. I don’t want to say much.”

Oh, really.

Doing this at such an important moment!

‘Quietly looking at it, Dad and Raven are quite similar in personality.’

Few words, pretending not to know anything once he finishes saying what he wants.

Revealing his true feelings and then tightly sealing his lips like that.

Though I haven’t experienced Dad much yet, there was a strange sense of déjà vu because Raven’s early treatment of me was so similar.

“It seems like the outing was coming to an end, and I probably disturbed it. Don’t worry about me, just go back to your respective palaces.”

“Well, wait a moment!”

As Dad turned around quickly, I instinctively grabbed the hem of his robe.

Oh no, why did I do this?

The resolution to make him say that he clung to my skirt and cried for doing something wrong had just faded away.

“What’s the matter? If you have something to say, say it.”

“Um… that… I mean.”

Good grief.

I can’t think of anything to say!

But why.

Contrary to wanting to escape from this place, my small hand, holding onto Dad’s clothes, didn’t seem to know how to let go.

Maybe, without me realizing it, I had a lot of words I wanted to say.

A myriad of emotions, which I didn’t know how to express, surged up in my throat.

However, I didn’t know a way to describe it in just a few simple words.

“Uh, Dad… Have you not… missed me all this time?”

Ah, it’s over.

What on earth am I saying?

Giving up on myself, I stood in place and closed my eyes tightly.

Luca, of course, and the palace residents around us seemed bewildered, and I could hear the sound of their feet shuffling.

“Do you want an honest answer, Princess Bella?”

“…Yes.”

After hesitating for a while, it was a response that I blurted out unable to bear the silence.

But soon after, I regretted asking that question.

“I only miss one person. And that person is no longer in this world. Satisfied with the answer?”

“…Probably.”

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll go.”

Dad’s cold gaze swept alternately between me and Luca.

Then, Dad, with slightly quick steps, left the place where we were.

It was as if he wanted to escape from this place.

“Princess Bella! Are you okay?”

“Uh… um. I’m okay.”

When I lifted my head in response to Rosa’s worried question, something rolled down my cheeks.

It was tears.
‘Why am I crying…?’

I didn’t know the kind of pain I’m experiencing now.

I had lived thinking it was natural for Dad to hate me or be indifferent and never paid much attention.

But meeting in a private setting where we could have a normal conversation changed my perspective.

The moment I confirmed from Dad’s mouth that he didn’t want to see me at all, it felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest with a dagger.

“Bella, don’t be too sad. Lord Raven has always been like that. He’s not only my father but always so cool-headed.”

“Luca…”

“So, let’s just go! Maybe his feelings will change later. It’s already a great thing that he allowed you to call him Dad.”

Luca comforted me, wiping away my tears with a handkerchief.

Although he seemed much like a younger brother earlier, now, watching him, he indeed had the appearance of a caring older brother.

After taking the handkerchief from him, I sniffed away my tears and regained my composure.

“That’s right! Dad has been like that for a day or two. There’s no need to be sad about such a small thing, right?”

“Of course not. Originally, Lord Raven seems to be a person without emotions. Did you see earlier? I was so scared that I couldn’t even look him in the eyes. Compared to that, Bella, you’re truly amazing!”

Luca, playing around to cheer me up, shaking his body as if shivering, was a genuine and affectionate older brother.

With a face free of tears, I smiled softly, held hands with Luca, and left the lake.

The maids who were worried about me suddenly bursting into tears seemed to have returned with relieved expressions.

Just when I thought my embarrassing moment was fading away, an unexpected trouble was lurking in Rose Palace.

“Princess Bella, your eyes seem a little swollen. Is something wrong? You didn’t get stung by a bee, did you?”

Shione, who had something firmly misunderstood, began to contemplate whether she should cast a recovery spell while touching my eyelids.

I, who couldn’t even express emotions properly, let alone be part of an acting group, felt embarrassed about the fact that I had burst into tears in front of people.