Ch. 32 - Changed Emotions
It was obvious without even looking.
They wanted to pair their innocent Yuriana with that sleek-looking imperial boy and then take her away when she was too young to know better.
He understood why Harun didn’t come with them.
If he had, Asil would definitely have grabbed that guy by the collar!
‘Sneaky guy. Is this why he wanted to establish ties with Dark Town? He left everything except the rotting fruit as gifts and packages. I have to send him back immediately! I should shove that chocolate up Harun’s mouth and nostrils!’
Asil’s lips twitched menacingly, and Al hurried to calm him down.
Remarkably, for a magician, Al had a flexible personality, unlike the hot-tempered Baine or the rigid Charon.
Therefore, Harun specifically chose Al to accompany them.
“It was just a suggestion.”
“What?”
“You understood the meaning immediately, as expected of the leader of Dark Town.”
“Do you think I’m a joke?”
As Asil bristled, Al was secretly pleased.
Why?
Because it was a much better political marriage if it were with a beloved daughter.
“Absolutely not, Lord Litus. There’s no need to rush now. After all, age matters.”
“Why bring up unnecessary topics? The person involved might not even want it, yet you mention it at the dinner table. Astonishing.”
The curter Asil became, the more words Al had to report back.
Al was the only person who thoroughly understood what Emperor Harun envisioned and planned.
So, he merely watched as events unfolded.
Meanwhile…
Yuriana, who was nearly choked by the delicious kingdom-style dumpling soup, was racking her brain.
She had guessed correctly!
‘The biggest alliance among allies would be… a blood alliance? In the end, it’s a marriage alliance. There’s nothing greater than becoming one family through marriage.’
And the reason for bringing up a marriage alliance with Asil, Dad. So, then…!
Thus began Yuriana’s grand deduction.
‘It must be that. Judging by the talk of age, it’s obvious.’
Harun must have felt pity seeing Asil raising his daughter alone.
Though, in reality, Levina mostly took the task of childcare…
Anyway, was that why he suggested marrying a noblewoman from the empire?!
Even though it would be her father’s first marriage, it felt like a second, so he suggested waiting a bit longer.
The dumpling skin in her mouth suddenly felt mushy.
‘Am I getting a stepmother? Not Alice, but a woman from another country… I’m scared but also curious. Well, it’s too harsh to expect Dad to stay single just because he didn’t end up with the main heroine.’
If he wasn’t chosen as the main male protagonist, he should find his own path, indeed.
No one could have everything!
It was enough to fill Yuriana’s mind, lost in perfect misunderstanding.
The meal ended in a somewhat subdued atmosphere.
Yuriana fiddled with the whistle around her neck and asked.
“By the way, Dad.”
“Yes, dear?”
“Is Lord Karas going back this evening?”
Again, Al quickly intercepted the question.
“No. Actually, Yuriana, there were some close talks between your father and us.”
That guy was spreading rumors again!
Asil placed his hand on the dagger at his waist, but the sly Al just grinned.
“Close… talks?”
Thinking the term might be too difficult for a seven-year-old girl, Al kindly explained.
“It means good people talking closely together, haha.”
“Hmm!”
… from her father’s snort, that didn’t seem to be the meaning.
Despite Asil’s discomfort, Al, looking excited, continued to chatter.
“His Majesty wanted closer relations between Dark Town and the Empire. That’s why I and Young Lord Ifrit came here to celebrate the New Year. Unless there are special circumstances, we plan to stay here for about ten days. Does that sound good?”
“Te… Ten days?”
An enormous schedule.
And then…
Suddenly, a choice popped up in front of her!
Then, will you visit the kingdom’s capital too?
Will you be okay staying in gloomy Dark Town for ten days?
Lord Karas, live with us until we get married.
‘Huh?’
What kind of choices were these?
Why did Karas appear in the options?
She was very confused.
Option 2 was outright disrespectful to her father, and option 3 was just…
‘Are you sane?’
Even considering Harun’s proposal of a marriage alliance, it would be quite significant.
It wouldn’t just end with introducing a daughter from another noble family.
Officially, that noblewoman could be sent with a title like adopted daughter or sister.
But… for Karas, Harun’s nephew, and Asil’s daughter, Yuriana, to marry first?
‘Impossible. It’s embarrassing in the eyes of others.’
Though the right answer was presented clearly, Yuriana chose to sidestep it slightly.
Opting for the safest choice, she opened her mouth.
“Will you visit the kingdom’s capital too?”
Al knew well what a cute girl like Yuriana implied by such words.
“Haha! Even if it’s not in the schedule, we must include it. If I’d known Yuriana would be this happy, I would have pushed for a return visit sooner.”
“Mm-hmm!”
It seemed like he liked it, and the next person to target was… not Karas, but of course Asil.
He made sure to keep Yuriana inside the Dark House as much as possible.
It was even a challenge to beg Levina to go out to the front yard for a bit.
She liked to explore the world too. A trip to the capital, a tour!
She would go out with a guest.
“Hehe, Daaad~”
“What?”
“You know… Dad, Lord Karas is going to the capital with Al, how can I just stay put as the host?”
“Ha! Is that so?”
When she was anxious, calling him
She might never get this chance again, so she had to act cute.
“The capital is big and there are many people. I’m worried, so I want to go too.”
“You might get lost too.”
“Oh… then you could come with us, Dad. Right? Right?”
Asil watched his daughter, who had run over from her spot and was now clinging to his arm.
He thought it was a good idea to send Lupedos to watch over her.
Such a cutie.
How could she be so adorable when acting cute?
“Meow!”
‘Crying together at the perfect time.’
Asil, with a pleased expression, gave his permission.
“Alright.”
“Lord Karas is going to the capital too, right? I got permission from Dad!”
The moment Asil gave his permission, her head turned sharply.
They said no matter how prettily you raised a daughter; some guy would come along claiming to be her husband and take her away!
Regardless of how fierce her father’s eyes might become, Karas quickly responded.
“We’ll go once the snow stops and the roads are cleared.”
“Yes! Great!”
Karas’s cheeks turned red at her somewhat spirited answer.
Even knowing that the father of the little girl he liked was glaring at him from the side… it was inevitable.
Karas didn’t mind going to the capital with Yuriana.
No, he had been looking forward to it ever since she mentioned it.
Asil, despite having already scheduled the trip, pretended to be dissatisfied.
“Ahem! Hmph!”
As Asil coughed more than usual, Al tried to wrap things up.
“Lord Litus, the thought of touring the capital with your daughter is delightful. If there is a suitable day within ten days, let’s go together.”
Even though he had already granted permission, he pretended otherwise, acting as if he was giving it special consideration.
“Ahem! It can’t be helped.”
Yuriana thought Asil’s attitude was a kind of territorialism.
Even though they were from the empire, this was Dark Town.
In other words, the gateway to the kingdom was here!
No need for a seating fee, but a scolding was necessary, right?
Ugh, it was too funny, but she couldn’t laugh, her stomach hurt.
She loved the way Asil pretended to be serious and this soft, subtle atmosphere.
Excited about the trip to the capital, Yuriana was in high spirits.
After the meal on the third floor.
Karas left with Al, but Asil kept Yuriana behind, saying he had something to say.
Even though she had received gifts and exchanged good wishes. What could it be?
“Yuriana.”
“Yes!”
It was such a strange feeling.
She used to think of Asil Litus as just a handsome man who was her type. Her feelings were slowly changing.
The romantic excitement she felt when she looked at him as a man was fading.
No, it was actually gone. Even when she stared at his handsome face, she didn’t feel excited as a woman.
As her foolish infatuation faded, a new and different feeling emerged… this.
A sense of similarity…
A sense of relief.
He was her father.
It felt like she truly believed that her blood was connected to this man who lived a life similar to her.
Wasn’t it strange? She didn’t know if it was okay for her to have these feelings.
Asil said something unexpected to her, who was lost in thought.
“You’re too young to stay here now. You need to climb stairs. But… when you get older, I want to give you this entire third floor.”
Yuriana was so surprised she opened her mouth, barely managing to respond.
“Huh? Huh? Here?”
To clear out the space made for Alice and give it to her?!
Come to think of it, the golden frames she saw before were gone when she came in.
Over here too… there used to be no dining table.
This space was filled with expensive artworks and display cases to entertain Alice’s boredom.
It was natural.
As a cage just for Alice, this prison didn’t need space to entertain guests.
Asil, who had the key to the cage, had intended to come and go alone… the table and chairs were only in pairs.
He teased her as if mocking her for being trapped here forever.
The man, who had shed all his painful love, smiled.
“Yes.”