Chapter 50 (1/2)

“No, nothing,” said the emperor, putting down the mug after taking his eyes off from the window. “By the way, how is your fencing practice? Have you been studying hard?”

“As I’m only a beginner, I can get by in one way or another.”

“Really? Good. I don’t think your father will go easy on you just because you’re his daughter. It looks like you are catching up better than I thought. That’s great.”

Why is he interested in my fencing practice? I was afraid he would tell me to stop fencing practice immediately and come to the palace. I was puzzled, but instead of expressing it, I continued the conversation over tea.

After finishing tea time after a long time, I headed to the 2nd Knights’ Building to meet my father.

As I left the inner palace and headed for the outer palace, I remembered what the emperor said.

‘Hmmm… Is he treating me specially? It’s strange. My father doesn’t treat me specially just because I’m his daughter.’

While walking deep in thought, I arrived at the 2nd Knight’s Building. Responding to the cheering knights here and there, I found a familiar guy with red hair while walking in the corridor. ‘Is that Carsein?’

“Nice to see you, Lady Monique! It’s been a while.”

The man with red hair was not Carsein, but his brother Sir Lars. I felt mixed feelings of joy and regret, but I greeted him gladly without revealing such feelings.

“It’s been a long time, Sir Lars.”

“I’m seeing you for the first time in six months. Have you been at the estate?”

“Yes, thank you for asking that.”

“Are you on your way to see your father?”

“You, too?”

“That’s right. Then, can I escort you? ”

“Of course. Thank you.”

When I saw his vivid red hair, I kept thinking of his brother, Carsein. I wonder if something happened to him. When I saw him in the field and met him last time, he was a lot different than usual.

“Is Carsein doing well?”

“You mean ‘Sein? Well, I don’t know if I can say he’s doing well. ”

“Pardon? What’s the matter with him? ”

“Oh, he is not sick or something like that, but he has changed for some reason. Obviously, like before he is practicing fencing all day long, but he looks a little different from before. Well, in some respect, it looks like he is desperate.”

‘Desperate?’ In my case, I was desperate to avoid being empress, but why was he practicing so desperately? As far as fencing was concerned, he was always relaxed.

“Come on in, Tia. Oh, welcome, Sir Lars!”

“Oh, Lady Monique, it’s been a long time.”

When I entered the office, someone with a familiar voice greeted me. It was Duke Lars.

‘Why is he here when he is supposed to stay at the First Knights building?’

I was a little puzzled, but I bowed to greet him politely.

“It’s been a while, Duke Lars. How have you been? ”

“Thanks, I’m doing well. I hear you went down to the estate. You’re back now. ”

“That’s right.”

“Good. This friend of mine was so worried about you that I couldn’t bear to see him. I am just so sad as I don’t have a daughter, man.”

“Arkint, please.”

“Okay, okay. Let me stop it. ”

Looking at my father’s expression, he replied with a smile. When I took a seat cautiously, my father, who exchanged eye signals with him, said, “Tia, do you know the organization and characteristics of each knight division?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Then, you know that the leader of the 1st Knights Division comes from the Lars family while the leader of the 2nd Knights Division comes from our family, right?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Then it’s easy for me to explain how they work. Traditionally, the next captain of the 1st and 2nd Kights played the role of the captain’s deputy to learn how he works before switching. That’s why Sir Lars is working as my deputy now. ”