36 Lesson 36: Father and Daughter, King and Princess (1/2)

What I cut out and Uffi talks about is the desire I have. The thought that you should not make me king and the advantages if you get the throne. Of course, I'll tell you all I can think about when I couldn't be king.

My father, listening to Yufi, always looked difficult. My mother is distracted, but she still squeezes her expression to listen. The Knights of Sprout show confusion but remain silent, and Lord Grants has the same faceless expression.

”... to the point of becoming...”

After Uffi had finished talking, he opened for a little while and then his father exhaled deeply, trying to keep his body behind his back. And I look up at the ceiling just a little bit, and I close my eyes.

How much would I have done that? I felt a long time of silence. Father didn't say anything, he just doesn't move with his eyes closed.

”... it's Grants”

”What is it, Your Majesty”

”The rest, I think, is impudent.”

Waking himself up, his rising father turns back to Lord Grants, who had refrained behind him. I can't see that face because you turned your back on us.

”… Your Majesty. We, the Duke, are ready to offer ourselves to the kingdom.”

”I know.... forgive me, Grants. The rest, I always pretend to be your devotion.”

”Don't let them ask you stupid things. It is the result of His Majesty's reign. Whether I'm happy or not, I can't help but think it's impudent.”

”You don't know how many young kids...”

My father, who returned his words to Lord Grants without strength, looks back. There was a tired look on his face like he'd given up.

”... it's Uphilia. I only took your advice.”

”Your Majesty...”

”But. Let's just say it's still premature to admit it. Spirit covenant, indeed, that is a feat that the First King exchanged. It can lead to the legitimacy of the road to the throne. But there's no reason why it should be you.”

So Father shifts his gaze to me. I take my father's gaze straight.

”... it's Anis”

”Yes.”

”Do you resent the rest? After giving birth to someone without magic.”

”No, not even my hair.”

”Then while you draw the” possibility ”... resent the remainder of keeping you away from the spiritual covenant?

To that, I had to stop the words, too. My father kept his spiritual covenant away from me. It's not like you don't know it if you say so.

”It doesn't have to be Uphilia. It would be the same if you gave the” Spirit Contract ”. Then everyone will recognize you.”

”... but Father. My research suggests that spiritual covenants are probably impossible for me.”

”Not even like you! Did you demonstrate that?

”... no”

I didn't actually try it. I've never even looked at it from a real example. I am merely speculating that it is impossible at the moment, and whether that is really impossible is not enough when it comes to verifying it.

I'm not saying I wasn't interested. But if you still think that you didn't stick to the spiritual covenant because of your father's strong opposition, you can convince yourself.

I found a reason to give up myself. So I never looked at the means by which magic might normally be available.

”The rest, I wanted to keep you away from the throne.”

”... Father”

”It is Algard who will be king when a boy is born more than his ex. I was afraid that the wiser you were, the rougher the country would be. For example, you could have linked yourself to a powerful nobleman and targeted a king. I also thought about leaving the country before that. The rest... I was afraid of you, Anisphere. So in case there is, I don't want you to be able to use magic properly. That's what I thought.”

... Unexpectedly, my breath trembled.

I was surprised too when I realized you were holding my fist with nature.

”It still seemed loving that you were my daughter because you were smart. You turned away the throne yourself and did not have too much power, but you helped me reign. That you delivered the voice of the people is not something anyone can do. It was you who received the voice of the people and showed me what to do.”

”Father...”

”Laugh but good, Anisphere. I used you above all else, in fear of you. The name Father is a decorative, just a king. I was only a king. If you were inclined to magic, if I recognized its value, you would have soaked up there. It was convenient.”

... Oh well. So, as a family, you feel the wall, and as a boss, it's convenient.

It hasn't always been that way. It was what I thought. My father was only a king. Against me all the time, I've always been king.

”If it's inconvenient, it's good to deprive you of your freedom in the name of the royal family. Until then, throw it away.”

”As a king, it was necessary. Even praising the decision, resentment, etc. And as a father, I don't want you to think of me as a flirt, Father.”

”... what?

”Who has the fool to let the king do the scratching! I want you not to make me look like a rare fool that far!

... the place froze.

What's your father talking about, Koz? He's got a face, and Uffi puts his hand on his forehead and exhales. The Knights of Sprout are blowing out as much as they want, and Lord Grants is poking him with his elbow and hastily retightening his expression.

Raini also blows up in the back and feels signs he's rushing to fix it. My mother is so open with her eyes open. I keep coughing like I'm trying to fix the place.

”That's because he was my father. Besides, I thought you handled it like a proper princess when you were king.

”Are you serious about that?

”I mean it! So Father, Father was making you look like a proper father. Maybe that's what it looks like, but it makes sense to be seen that way, and it's worth it to think that way. I wasn't behaving to wait for His Majesty the King to scratch! He was sweet because he was my father!

That's what I mean. I'm not going to wave the king around on the boulder either. I was going to do something right. Yes, it's just that even if your father was the king and your father was behaving as king, even if he was afraid of me. What the hell is wrong with that?

... To be honest, I'm not convinced in terms of emotion. But there's only one thing I'm not convinced of.

”If I resent you, it's just that you took magic from me.”

”But isn't that what you were most thirsty for?

”That's a misunderstanding. I didn't want to be able to use magic. I wanted to be a wizard.”

”... I can't convey my intentions. How is it different?”

”For me magic isn't“ purpose, ”it's“ means. ”The magic I had in mind was flying. A feat no one has yet accomplished, and what happens if we can fly. I've shown my father what it's worth.”

”… improved transport convenience, accompanied by logistical developments”

”Yes. To me magic is a means of making someone smile. I am certainly dissatisfied with the fact that the magic itself was taken away. But that's why I went down the path of magic, and now I am. It's hard for me to think that I was... unhappy or something.”

That's all, that's all. Make me angry, Father.

”Didn't you, above all, recognize my worth? Father.”

”... Anisphere”

”I didn't want to be king. I didn't want to vandalize the country. But still, there's something I can do without being king, and I kept inventing in magic, hoping to help you, help the people. You and your mother were the first to recognize the value of the Wizards that I admired in denying them. Whatever that intent may be. I didn't want to hear that.”

No matter who doesn't admit it, I would have been glad if my parents would have been happy.

If it wasn't even there, I'd be too miserable. At least I thought you were admitted.

”Was my value just sympathy? Then don't play witch mountain games. I'll have to punch you in the side.”

”... if that makes you feel better”

”Are you an idiot! Why aren't you trying to discuss it! I told you to keep your father's heart open and that I would not aim for the throne, please do not raise Al-kun as a priority! Didn't you assert yourself with me! I was flashy for that, but I thought you couldn't! Because you didn't say so, and now you're sinking on your own and regretting it?

”Mm, mmm...”

”It pisses me off! I'm mad at you. I am! That I didn't trust anything! I was convinced! Do you want to make me so miserable that I didn't have to tell you everything and I thought it was something I could do as a daughter to be convinced!?”

Really miserable! I thought it would be hard to say the truth because my father is a king, and it would be hard to say things to me, even though I turned my mind! No, maybe it's out of line to be angry because I used it too, but if you say that, it's war, Father!

”Never! With my guilt! Don't be confused! We did make sense without words, and no, it was a little sporadic, but, uh, for what? It's a little hard to judge, but I thought you came walking with me!

”That's good enough. Don't talk, you fool! I feel sorry for you just listening!

Father groans as he hands on his forehead like a headache. Because I say stupid things!

”Father did his best. It's just that things were too unexpected to have the art of coping.... and the technique of solving happened to be in our hands. That's all it is. Then, Father, as king, you can only order. If you still don't feel well, say something to me as my father.”

”... as king, as father?

”I'd be fine with either, if Father cares”

Take my word for it. Father pushes silence. Then after a deep sigh, Father turned his tired eyes to me.

”Anis, how could it be Uphilia... at least something that Uphilia wouldn't have thought of so far if she wasn't the other guy!

”........................... Yes?

”It is still good for Uphilia to be king. No, rather, in the sense that I won't make you king, it's best to raise your hands and welcome them! That's where Algard's engagement was originally intended! But in order to do that, we have to take Uphilia from Grants! Don't you know how much I can't get my head up on Grants!?”

”I don't know!? Why did the story roll over there!?”