Chapter 205 (1/2)

Chapter 205: Chapter 205

I felt drained at his nonchalant reply, so I looked back at him again after bowing out.

There were no feelings in his blue eyes. He even looked bored at the moment.

I felt scared somehow.

How much time passed?

When everybody was done swearing allegiance, he stood up from the throne and walked down the six steps.

While looking at him blankly, I suddenly noticed something unusual today.

First, his blue eyes, which always looked at me, didn’t turn toward me at all. Secondly, he passed by me without stopping like he did usually.

His eyes that didn’t look at me anymore, and his steps that didn’t stop in front of me.

Feeling even more scared, I bowed towards him as he went out for the parade.

The sound of the hem of his robe rustling on the light green carpet faded away quickly.

Watching his robe fluttering, I realized freshly that my relationship with him now was only that of the ruler and his subordinate, which was only natural.

“Tia.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

When I was having dinner after work, my father, who remained silent, suddenly called me. When I put down the fork and knife carefully to see if he had something to say, he drank a glass of wine and said, “Now, your coming-of-age ceremony is around the corner. Are you getting ready?”

“Yes, Daddy. I also keep that in mind.”

“I’m sorry for making you prepare for this. This is your once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremony. I wish your mother were here…”

“Oh, don’t say that, Daddy. It’s my job.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

I smiled broadly at him who also smiled. I thought I had to tell him what I had in mind, as he mentioned my coming-of-age ceremony.

“By the way, Daddy, can I hold this banquet at the mansion on our estate rather than in the capital?”

“At the estate? Why? ”

“Well, as the pro-emperor faction members were divided because of the recent event, I think we had better use this occasion to filter out those who are friendly to us and those who are not.

“Hmm.”

As he was listening silently, I picked up a glass of water and moistened my mouth before continuing, “And I would like to solidify my position as the successor of my family. Even though I have been learning the family affairs steadily, there were lots of people who were suspicious about me because of my status as the emperor’s fiancee. I think the situation got much better because of the recent event, but there are some of our family vassals who still cast a suspicious glance at me.”

“That’s right.”

“So, this time I’m going to hold the banquet in a slightly different way.”

“Different way?”

“Yes. In order to solidify my position as the successor, I think it is necessary to promote me as the daughter of the martial arts family instead of the daughter of a typical noble family.”

The servants cleared the empty plates, and put down apple tarts with a sweet aroma.

I looked at my father, taking a fork to a tart that looked delicious.

I said, “How about holding a hunting contest? It will provide entertainment for the knights guarding the estate and those who came a long way. I also want to give them the impression of me participating in the contest rather than waiting quietly with a handkerchief. I think we can hold a two-day event, and hold the banquet on the eve of the hunting contest…”

“Hmm, that’s a good idea. Do what you want.”

“Thank you, Daddy. Then I’ll prepare for it, starting tomorrow. ”

“Sure.”

I thanked my father with a bright smile.

I knew that my father, who did not want me to be the successor of our family, would not like this kind of coming-of-age ceremony, but I wanted to make the best use of this opportunity to promote my image as the family successor. From now on, I needed to control the vassals of my family and solidify my position as the successor gradually.

By late into the night I worked out a rough plan for the banquet and drew a list of those to invite. I double checked with the invitation list to make sure there should be no loophole or mistake.

‘I have to hold the event perfectly.’