Having arrived at the main palace, I followed the guidance of the knight and headed to the garden.

This garden was a place I used to sneak into with Sione when I was a child, and it was also where I first met Dad.

‘I never thought I’d come back here… Somehow, it feels strange.’

According to Sione, this garden was a place where Mom used to stroll frequently during her lifetime.

I could guess that the roses blooming along the walking path reflected Mom’s taste.

I took in a deep breath of the fresh and fragrant rose scent, calming my nervous heart.

How many minutes had passed as I walked behind the knight, following his back?

The figure of Dad, who was scrutinizing a single flower, came into view.

‘Somehow, he seems a bit haggard. Has something happened recently?’

Of course, there was a considerable disturbance in the royal palace not too long ago because of my flight from the capital, but from Dad’s perspective, it was by no means a bad thing.

Dad, who looked slightly leaner than when we last met, was so beautiful, combining with the usual charm, that it was almost frightening to meet his gaze.

To think that Mom welcomed such a man as her companion; in retrospect, Mom wasn’t that unlucky.

While the knight and I, who had played the role of a guide in an atmosphere that was not easily approached, were discreetly observing each other, Dad, who noticed my presence late, turned his head in our direction.

“You’ve come, Princess Bella. I’ve been waiting.”

“…Hello, Dad. Have you been well?”

“So-so.”

Indeed, there was no greeting inquiring about my well-being.

At the moment when the atmosphere became more practical than I had thought, Dad nodded toward the knight standing behind him.

“Withdraw now. Make sure not even an ant can be heard around for a while.”

“I understand, my lord.”

Dad only approached me after all signs of those around us had disappeared.

Today, his gaze toward me carried a faintness, and it felt strangely unusual.

In an attempt to dispel the awkward atmosphere lingering in the air, I mumbled whatever came to mind.

“The weather is really nice today, isn’t it? Dad!”

“Yeah.”

“This garden is so beautiful! Maybe it’s because it’s a rose garden, but it feels similar to my palace.”

“Yeah.”

It was clear that someone had cast a spell to repeat the same words to Dad.

I tried to continue the conversation somehow, blabbering away, but in the end, it turned into a monologue-like muttering.

While I was babbling nonsensically and doing something that didn’t suit my personality, Dad finally finished his brief answers and began to bring up another topic.

“I heard you’ve accomplished something significant recently. Just being silent, the princess’s reputation is ringing in my ears. In just one day, she annihilated the two most prestigious noble families in the kingdom.”
“Uh… you’re not angry, right? I thought Dad might have some plans.”

“No. I’m just purely surprised. I’ve never thought there’d be someone among my children bold enough to pull off such a thing.”

While his response still made it confusing whether it was praise or blame, my guess leaned towards the former.

As Dad mentioned, what I caused was not something just anyone could handle.

“But why did you suddenly call me? It’s not like we coincidentally met passing by, and you directly summoning me is the first time.”

“That…,”

For a moment, a new expression crossed Dad’s face.

Clear perplexity and a peculiar expression mixed with a bit of embarrassment.

As if giving up on saying something, Dad pursed his lips, avoided my gaze, and mumbled.

“I just thought of it suddenly. Since, thanks to you, the thorn in the side, the Council, disappeared, proper rewards should be given.”

Ah, what a letdown. I got my hopes up for nothing.

I somewhat tensed, thinking I might hear some groundbreaking answer like he wanted to see me, but as expected, there was no such thing.

Despite my disappointed expression, Dad continued without paying any attention.

“Is there something you want? Whether it’s fertile land or money, I’ll give you as much as you want.”

“What I want is…”

It’s not something like that, but Dad’s small interest and care.

I was about to sharply retort like that but stopped myself.

Because I thought that I would get an obvious cold response anyway.

“Dad probably already knows, but I have a lot of money. I have some land deeds and a mansion saved up. Unless you give me the key to the royal treasury, it’s not really pulling me.”

“As expected, you’re audacious. In that regard, you really take after Daphne.”

What was Mom’s personality like to bring up such a story at this timing?

I deliberately pretended not to notice Dad’s eyes, filled with clear sadness, and shifted the topic to another place.

“Since we’re done with money, please lift the dependency spell on Raven. It’s troublesome to be constantly together because of that.”

“Raven, the boy brought from the border?”

“Yes. That’s him.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t undo that spell. There’s only one way you can solve it on your own.”

“…What’s that?”