Chapter 263 (2/2)

Aethon sighed with exasperation. This fool… didn’t he realize that there were very few situations where a firm defense would be able to carry the day…? Only when defending can it be useful, and when you are solely defending yourself, it can only lead to a draw. But still, those other skills could be trained, if he is this talented in-

“Father.”

Aethon turned around, quickly forgetting this fool that he had brought back to the Steel Feather Style Compound to release some stress. Ciel had walked out of the study and stood on the edge of the courtyard, wearing simply a thin shirt of his, which absolutely enveloped her.

Unfortunately, it only reached mid thigh on her, revealing a bit too much leg in front of this idiot for Aethon’s tastes, but… “You’ve recovered?”

“Yes, but…” Ciel frowned.

Aethon’s face turned stormy. “Are there lingering wounds…?”

“Oh, no, nothing like that,” Ciel said, waving her hand lightly. “If anything, I feel amazing. Lighter, freer, than I have ever before. It isn’t such a bad thing, right Daddy, that I lost?”

His face softening, Aethon stepped towards his daughter. “No sweet thing, it’s not. Even I have to admit… that boy is strong. He deserves to represent us to the Inter-School competition.”

“Yes, he had very… direct eyes. It reminds me of you.” Ciel mused, rubbing her chin. “I’m just wondering… I think he completely forgot about our marriage bet. Should I just wait, or go to him and bring it up? I want to be… seen as a woman of her word. With how many people know about it, I probably need to...”

She trailed off. The training spear in Aethon’s hand snapped, and his blood beginning to pound. “Honey, surely…”

“No… I need to do this.” Ciel said, her eyes determined. “I’ve always just… followed along with what you’ve said, done everything for the sake of the Style… this foolish bet was the first thing I did on my own. I just want… to handle the consequences myself. To be, myself.”

Although Aethon suddenly had a tirade of acidic commentary on her opponent’s flaws in his throat, it remained lodged there; he was torn between protecting his daughter, and allowing her to grow. Ultimately, the urge to let her grow won, and he remained silent.

Not that this was a purely fatherly sentiment. Aethon had known for a long time that Ciel had been too… meek about her fate to ever be a truly influential powerhouse in her own right. She could serve as one of the vice-leaders of the Steel Feather Style, but she hadn’t yet shown the spine or initiative to have the potential for anything more. It was just profoundly aggravating that she chose to finally show some stubbornness for a dumb boy.

“Milady, if you’d like to go over now, I’d be happy to accompany you to see the Ghosthound.” Aethon’s drinking buddy said, bowing foppishly. “I, of course, stay in the room next to his.”

“Perfect,” Ciel said, hopping down off the raised porch and into the courtyard proper. Aethon’s eyebrows raised in horror as the small hop caused even more of his daughter’s legs to be exposed.

“Surely, you-” Aethon began in his sweetest voice, trying not to grab Ciel and just lock her in her room, but he was interrupted by the drinking buddy walking up to Aethon and rapping his knuckles on Aethon’s chest.

“Can’t you see her mind is set? Can you not even support your daughter?”

As the two then departed, Aethon just stood frozen. After they had gone, he spoke, enunciating each syllable very clearly.

“I…. will kill you someday. It will not be quick.”

But the sentiment quickly dissipated, and Aethon hurried over to the several craters he had made, “sparring” with his drinking partner earlier, to deal with his frustrations.

Even after a careful investigation, Aethon was left flummoxed. The force had clearly dispersed through that fools body, and impacted the ground. Yet somehow, his body hadn’t taken enough damage to incapacitate him at all. It honestly hurt Aethon’s pride a bit. This boy… nothing short of cutting off his head or ripping out his heart would kill him.

And filled his heart with a small amount of fear. “This Ghosthound… he is definitely surrounded by complicated characters…”