Chapter 19 (2/2)

I looked at him nervously. He stroked his chin as if he was suspicious, and said, “Can I ask you something?”

“Yes, please.”

“I also felt strange when you talked to the emperor last time, but why are you so hateful towards the crown prince? Did you remember anything about him? ”

I stiffened at his words. I don’t think he knows I can remember all the things that happened to me until I was 17 years old. When I was at a loss about how to respond, he added, “I mean when you were young.”

“As a kid?”

Whew! I swallowed a sigh of relief in my heart before tilting my head. What’s the relationship between my avoidance of him and my childhood memories? Wasn’t it when I was ten years old that I met him for the first time?

I felt somewhat uncomfortable about it, but that’s important now. What’s the point of bringing back my childhood memories that I don’t remember at all? I’m not going to get entangled with him anyway.

“Oh, it looks like it’s not relevant. Hmm, then why do you hate the prince so much? ”

“I don’t want to marry. I just want to live happily with you, Dad, like now. ”

“I see.”

My father shut up, though he obviously wanted to say more. When I looked at his restless eyes in silence, he gave me a faint smile and said, “Got it. Let me do as you wish.”

“Thank you, Dad!”

As I brightly smiled, he rose from his seat and reached out to embrace me. I buried my face in his arms. I felt his gentle touch when he stroked my hair.

“I thought you were grown up, but you are still a baby to me.”

“… ”

“Good. Then let’s start your fencing practice tomorrow, but remember this, I’m a very strict teacher. ”

“Of course, Dad. Thank you very much. ”

“Okay. Is there anything else you want to say to me?”

“Nope.”

“It’s late. Go and get to bed. You have to start training tomorrow, so you need a good rest. Let me take you to your bedroom. ”

He picked me up and walked with discipline, which shook my body pleasantly. After laying me down on a soft bed, he said goodnight and pulled a blanket over me before leaving.

Is it because I was tired after a long day? I quickly fell asleep.

Is it because I was thrilled to learn new things? I woke up early in the morning before the sun had risen. I urged Lina to find me clothes as comfortable as possible, but they were all skirts. So, I thought I had to order several pairs of pants. In the end, I changed into a riding suit, which looked better than the other clothes.

“Are you already up?”

“Good morning, Dad”

“Good morning, honey. Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah.”

“You must be very excited as you look so happy today. Then, shall we go? ”

I headed for the training field with my father. The day was starting to break, but there were already many knights training at dawn. When I stepped onto the field half excited and half nervous, they came running to me and greeted me.

“What are you doing here?”

“Are you going to ride a horse so early?”

“It’s been a while since I have seen you, my lady!”

“Stop there, guys!”

When a man’s low voice rang through the airfield, the knights surrounding me stiffened. As I expected, my father was a strict boss. When I was about to run to the edge of the training field, I saw a boy with yellow green hair running from afar.

“Aristia!”

“Allendis, welcome! I thought you wouldn’t come! ”

“No way. What are you doing here? Gimme me a break! Are you here to cheer me up while I’m struggling here?”

While greeting him gladly, I looked around because I felt strange. Not only my father, but all of the training knights were staring at me and Allendis.

‘Oh my goodness, did I greet him so loudly?’

I hurriedly apologized to the knights and spoke as quietly as possible.

“No, I decided to learn fencing, starting today.”

“Really? That’s great!”