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Chapter 27
To my daughter Yuse, who becomes more beautiful with each passing day, and whom I want to see even more.
Yuse, are you doing well?
No matter how true the saying “no news is good news” is, how could you not send even a single letter to your father? Huh?
You see, I’m always curious about what you’re doing, what you’re eating, and who you’re meeting—every single thing. That’s why I’m always waiting for your message.
At first, you seemed to send letters diligently, but recently, the frequency has decreased.
Of course, I’m not suspicious or anything. I just worry, so your father sends one more letter, just to check on you. Haha.
Lately, I’ve started learning how to cook. They say a man who can cook is very popular these days, right? Of course, I don’t have any women to impress, nor do I want to. I just want to be able to cook for you with my own hands when you return home.
I worry about when you’ll come back, but I suppose it’s because it must be comfortable there, enough that you don’t feel like coming home. Of course, I trust you.
If you ever face hardships, come back immediately without looking back. This place will always be waiting for you, understand?
Always loving you,
Your Father.
Yuse read her father’s letter over and over, which had arrived that morning.
She had been so busy recently that she even forgot to reply to his letters, and now her father Liam seemed a little hurt.
“Ha, Dad’s the best.”
As she read the letter, Yuse imagined the scents and warm atmosphere of her hometown, picturing her life there.
“Miss.”
Veila, who had been watching her, asked subtly.
“But when are you planning to return?”
“Huh?”
“I meant, when do you plan to go back to your estate?”
“Why would I?”
“Excuse me?”
Yuse looked genuinely confused, her eyes wide, showing no emotion at all.
“Well… I thought that since the Lord of the estate misses you, you might visit at least once.”
“Hmm…”
Understanding Veila’s point, Yuse slowly nodded.
“You’re right. I guess my father does want to see me, and I’m starting to miss the place a little too.”
“Then, when will you go?”
“Well… I’ll have to ask Killian first. I want to take him with me at least once to greet my father. It’s been a while since he last saw Killian, after all.”
At the thought alone, Yuse’s face slowly lit up with a soft, rosy smile.
“Meeting my father and Killian… just thinking about it makes me so happy. It’s a meeting of the two men I love most in the world, isn’t it?”
“That’s right…”
Veila nodded at Yuse’s words.
“Since I thought of it, I should tell him quickly.”
“Huh?”
As soon as Yuse finished speaking, she hurriedly stood up.
“I need to go to Killian!”
Although Yuse boldly declared she would go to Killian, she realized he hadn’t returned to the mansion yet. She even considered going to his office herself.
She had been to the place where he worked at the palace.
But she had already promised Killian that she wouldn’t enter the mansion’s office.
Naturally, Yuse didn’t want to feel Killian’s anger firsthand. She didn’t want to see him upset.
So, instead of barging in recklessly, she decided to wait patiently.
During that time, Yuse went out to the garden to relax and began reading the book How to Love Yourself, which Floheta had recommended.
“Hmm…”
As she slowly read, she noticed something. This novel was completely different from The Rose-colored Lakeside.
“Yuse!”
Just as the story was reaching its climax, someone interrupted her reading.
“Huh?”
“Long time no see!”
Floheta waved brightly at her.
“What do you mean ‘long time’? We saw each other just recently.”
Yuse laughed lightly at Floheta’s playful behavior and shook her head.
“Well… if we don’t see each other even for a day, doesn’t it count as a long time?”
Floheta shrugged and casually sat across from her, resting her chin on her hand.
“You didn’t want to see me?”
“Just a few days! What kind of joke is that?”
Yuse brushed off Floheta’s question, thinking it was just another playful tease.
“You went to the palace, right?”
Perhaps sensing Yuse’s intentions, Floheta changed the subject.
Was there really any secret in this mansion? She hadn’t told anyone, yet it felt as if everyone already knew.
“Yes.”
“What did you talk about?”
“What?”
But Floheta’s expression looked a little serious.
“You didn’t… let the Empire notice your abilities, did you?”
“What?”
Yuse paused to consider the meaning of that sentence, then shook her head vigorously.
“No, Flo. I know what you’re worried about, but that’s really not the case. Haha!”
“Really?”
“Exactly. That’s a secret that absolutely mustn’t be revealed, and I can’t let anyone know.”
“Right?”
Reassured by Yuse’s confident words, Floheta smiled at her.
“And only a very small number of people know this secret, and if the person who leaked it were found… well, you know what would happen.”
Instead of verbalizing the consequences, Yuse conveyed them through a sharp, meaningful glance.
“I understand…! Got it.”
Floheta nodded vigorously as if she understood immediately, then distracted herself.
“But I trust you, Flo.”
“Huh?”
Yuse said, and Floheta asked again.
“I know how much you value me. That’s why I know you’re not a bad person who would go around talking about my abilities.”
“Haha.”
Floheta let out a small, quiet laugh.
“To think you’d trust me like that… I’m grateful.”
“Well, you are my friend.”
Hearing Yuse’s answer, Floheta’s expression became something between a smile and a tearful look, a bit ambiguous.
But Yuse decided it was just her imagination and moved on.
“Oh, right.”
A thought crossed Yuse’s mind at that moment.
“I’m going back to my hometown, the Duchy of Berchia, with Killian soon.”
“Going back?”
Floheta’s expression turned serious for a moment.
“No, I mean… just visiting. I want to take Killian to greet my father at least once.”
Yuse smiled brightly.
“So, want to come along too?”
“Me too?”
Floheta’s eyes widened.
“Yes. Even though it’s been a long time since childhood, you were my last friend. My father remembers you, and don’t you miss your childhood home, the Duchy of Berchia?”
“A little… yeah.”
“See?”
Yuse shrugged and lightly tapped her shoulder.
“Let’s go together.”
“Uh… sure.”
“When do you plan to go?”
Killian asked as he returned right at evening.
Yuse expected a definite answer, either yes or no, but her expectations were quickly proven wrong.
“I want to go as soon as possible, but you also have your schedule. We can go whenever it’s convenient for you.”
Yuse carefully observed Killian’s expression as she spoke.
“Is that so?”
Killian asked in return.
Yuse nodded repeatedly.
“Of course.”
“It’s about to get busy soon. Going quickly now might not be a bad idea.”
“Really? That’s good to hear!”
Yuse smiled at Killian’s prompt reply.
“Alright then, let’s go soon and come back quickly.”
“Agreed. I was actually thinking I should pay Lord Liam a visit anyway.”
Killian nodded in agreement.
“Ah, and can we bring Flo along too?”
“Flo…?”
Ah.
For a moment, the smile on Killian’s face disappeared, even if only briefly.
Yuse could feel it.
It seemed she had just made a slip of the tongue.
