Chapter 358 (1/2)

I felt the tears that I barely held back welling again, but I swept the desk, fighting back my tears. On the desk, which was cleaned for the new head of the family, there were only several things and a silver-colored envelope that my father left behind.

A hairpin that seemed to be a woman’s, the seal brooch my father always wore, and a couple of silver shoulder straps I presented to him on a winter day when I was sixteen.

While looking at them with trembling eyes for a while, I slowly reached out and picked up the silver envelope. Then, I opened it carefully to avoid damaging the content.

<Dear Tia,

I don’t know when I called your name for the last time. I know it’s not proper to call you like that when you are now the empress, but I don’t want to call your name formally until the last minute. Please understand me.

I didn’t tell you in detail because you might be worried about me, but I think my days are numbered. I feel different day after day, and these days your mother keeps occurring in my dreams. I often think the day will soon come when I get reunited with her.

So, I’m writing this, leaving some stuff to the butler. By the time you receive this letter, I probably won’t be in this world. Since you are smart, you probably know what I want to say to you after noticing the stuff I left to you. Nevertheless, I’m writing this to you, just in case.

The hairpin is your late mother’s keepsake, and I’ve left the seal brooch and shoulder straps just in case you come back to the family, just in case. Of course, given that the emperor promised me something and he loves you always, I don’t think that kind of thing will happen to you.

But who knows? So, keep them well. If something happens, they will be a big help to you.

Let me tell you this only now. In fact, I was very worried about you for a while even after marrying you off. However, I was so relieved from the moment when I saw the emperor and you enjoying a happy life that I forgot all my worries. Now that you have the crown prince and two princesses, I don’t have to worry about you anymore.

My lovely daughter, Tia.

You have always been a proud child to me, and the only precious treasure for me in this lonely world. I am very grateful that you have grown up well even though I had never expressed affection for you properly as a blunt father. I think I can speak proudly on the day when I reunite with your mother that you have grown up so well and that you will do well in the future.

So, my daughter, don’t grieve over your father’s death. I was very happy to have you, and I’m also happy because I can reunite with your mother soon. So, don’t be sad, and let me leave gladly. When the day comes when we all meet again, let’s meet with a bright smile.

So, you have to live happily ever after until that day comes.

I love you, Tia, my lovely daughter.

Kairan la Monique

P.S. Do you remember the secret place you taught me before? Remember the pride of the spear when you get stuck in a bog where you can’t escape. It will open the way for you.>

I could not read clearly the last sentence because my eyes were blurred with tears, but I wiped tears, clenching my teeth. I couldn’t cry because I knew my father’s request that I should not be sad.

‘Yes, I won’t cry, Daddy.’

The moment I was about to fold the letter, murmuring to myself, I noticed the words in the last sentence, which I didn’t read properly a moment ago: a secret place, the pride of the spear.

When I looked at the words, I suddenly remembered the memories of the past that I had forgotten, so I stood up and pointed to a spot behind the tapestry.

At that moment, I heard the sound of something interlocking, and dozens of character patterns, along with several concave grooves, appeared in my mind.

Embarrassed by the secret location of the Monique family, he asked in a surprised voice, “Tia? What is this?”

“I have something to check. Would you like to go with me, Rube?”

“… Would that be okay? ”

“Yes. As I told you a long time ago, the Monique family shares a fate with the imperial family.”

“If so, let’s go together.”

After he nodded lightly and turned his head, I deciphered the puzzles that I heard from my father on the day I became the successor of the Monique family.

<Gloria Moniqua>

Clang.