/
“……”
Suddenly, I felt a small tug at my heartstrings.
I loved that about my dads. The way they thought of Lakius as a child they had to protect. Closely observing Lakius’s life and asking if there were any discomforts.
Because until now, there had been very few adults around us who were ‘normal’ like that.
After a moment of silence, Lakius replied, “Well…… the Queen has been in quite a low mood lately, but that’s okay.”
“She’s in a low mood? Why?”
In response, Lakius smiled brightly like a flower bathed in sunlight.
“It’s because Tati’s biographies were a tremendous success.”
“Why would the biographies Tati published…..Ah.” Stunned, Siegfried widened his eyes. “You mean, because it’s a selection of the greatest figures in Carolingian history?”
“That’s right. The Queen treats me rather sensitively, but so what?”
Lakius’s face had a refreshed expression, as if he’d just had a hurting tooth pulled out.
“There isn’t a person in the Empire who doesn’t know about the Carolingians these days, and I’m quite happy with that.”
Indeed, recently, the goodwill towards and awareness of the former Carolingian kingdom had grown considerably in the empire.
Through the biographies, they learned about the heroic deeds of the Carolingian kings.
‘Oh, my God, this is what happened in the Carolingian Kingdom.’
‘They are truly remarkable.’
‘If they hadn’t kept the demons at bay in Carolingian, the demons might have invaded the mainland of the empire.’
And that favorability naturally turned towards Lakius.
Well, not surprisingly, actually. Lachias was the last remaining descendant of the Carolingian royal family.
However, the Descartes Empire, which had been trying to cover up the Carolingian contributions at all costs, must be feeling pretty bitter by now…….
“This is all thanks to Tati.”
“Of course, it’s all thanks to my daughter,” Siegfried replied without batting an eye.
Caesar and Kirios also joined in enthusiastically.
“How thoughtful of my dear Miss Tati to include the Carolingian greatest man in her illustrious biography,” Caesar nodded with a pleased expression.
Meanwhile, “Hey, Lakius. Don’t you owe the kid a favor? You better repay it with interest later, got it?” Kirios laughed and gave a jab at Lakius.
Well, I was used to dads plastering gold on my face as easily as they breathe. But still, just because it’s familiar doesn’t mean it’s not embarrassing.
“Um, should we go back to the townhouse now?”
I scrambled up from my seat, desperately trying to change the subject.
At my words, the four men stood up without a word.
‘Hehe.’
The sight of them warmed my heart.
* * *
Back at the townhouse.
I ran into the butler at the front door.
“Welcome back,” the butler greeted us politely.
He was carrying a bag full of mail in his arms, indicating that he had just brought over the mail that had been delivered to the townhouse.
He’s probably in the process of sorting through it and handing it over to the respective owners…….
‘Well, most of it must be for Siegfried.’
I thought, dismissing it from my mind.
But then…
“I, ahem, Miss Tatiana.”
“Yes?”
Unexpectedly, the butler turned to me.
“I have an invitation for you this time, Miss.”
“……for me?” I muttered in surprise.
It was really strange. Although I don’t say it out loud, the only person I consider to be a friend right now is Lakius.
So, who would send me an invitation?
Checking the sender on the invitation, I doubted my own eyes.
‘Wait, young lady Ghiberti?’
Count Ghiberti.
The family of Countess Giberti, who used to be the general manager of the Orleans Townhouse.
By the way, young lady Ghiberti was the granddaughter of the former countess.
It was because I exposed the corruption of the countess and got her expelled from the townhouse that until now, the relationship between Siegfried and the Ghiberti family had been completely severed…….
[Dear Princess of Orleans,
Greetings for the first time. My name is Elizabeth Ghiberti from the Ghiberti Countess family.
I would like to host a small tea party for some of my fellow ladies at our townhouse.
I would be delighted if Lady Orleans could attend and grace us with her presence.”]
The invitation was written in a fancy font that exuded elegance.
As I skimmed through the contents, my eyes widened in an instant.
[Furthermore, Lord Norcourt of Orleans is also staying with us.
How about taking this opportunity to visit Lord Norcourt of Orleans?
I would be delighted if the Duke of Orleans could join us as well.
I eagerly await your reply.
With the utmost respect,
Elizabeth Ghiberti.]
What? With the utmost respect?
I stared at the invitation with astonishment.
A person who claims to show the utmost respect sends such an obvious letter?
Although I was the intended recipient, it was actually Siegfried who the letter was aimed at.
And the purpose of the letter was quite obvious.
‘To use Lord Norcourt as an excuse and pressure Siegfried into reconciling with them.’
Norcourt Orleans.
Siegfried’s father.
He is my grandfather, and Countess Ghiberti is his sister.
While Siegfried left to subdue the five demon lords, the old Duke of Orleans was said to have taken care of the dukedom with both mind and heart.
‘However,…… it was said that Norcourt and Siegfried did not get on very well.’
The hand clutching the invitation tightened with a sense of determination.
The very fact that the former Duke of Orleans was staying at Count Ghiberti´s, and not at his son’s townhouse.
It was an outward display of an old feud between father and son…….
‘The former Duke Orleans has taken a chance and traveled to Count Ghiberti’s.’
Come to think of it, it had already been six years since Siegfried returned to the human world.
I had never witnessed any interaction between Siegfried and the former Duke. To be honest, not even a single letter had been exchanged.
And the Ghiberti family skillfully dug into that gap.
‘It’s been six years since you’ve been in contact with Count Giberti……, hasn’t it?’
In such a situation, it was obviously Count Ghiberti who was disappointed.
I heard that Count Ghiberti had tried to contact Siegfried several times, but he adamantly refused.
‘So, through this opportunity, they want to reconcile with Siegfried.’
It was no one else, but his father, the former duke, who had finally ascended to the capital.
It would be hard for Siegfried to remain as distant as he had been, given the outside world.
‘Ghiberti is really persistent. To insinuate……’
I was clicking my tongue.
And then Siegfried asked me a question.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, it’s an invitation from Ghiberti.”
“……Ghiberti?” Siegfried’s pupils narrowed instantly. “Those shameless people dared to send you an invitation?” Siegfried asked ferociously.
Hearing his voice, I hypnotized myself.
I am a child who knows nothing.
I am a child who is very excited to meet my grandfather for the first time…….
‘Okay.’
I smiled as brightly as I could at Siegfried.
“Well, this time the former Duke of Orleans is staying at Ghiberti’s townhouse!”
Siegfried momentarily paused.
“…Father?”
“Yes! That’s why, the Lady of Count Ghiberti kindly invited me! She wants me to meet her and the former duke!”
My words dropped ominously.
Kirios and Cesar, and even Lakius, began to secretly glance at Siegfried.
……Could it be that even Lakius, who is so young, is aware of the feud between the two?
Perhaps the relationship between the former duke and Siegfried is even worse than I thought.
‘But this is a chance.’
I strengthened my resolve.
If Ghiberti had sent this invitation to improve his relationship with Siegfried.
Then I also intended to use it to my advantage.
‘I must bring these two rich men face to face, even if by force.’
And if they could at least exchange a few words of dialogue, then that would be even better.
‘We can’t let the relationship between the former Duke and Siegfried remain broken forever.’
Because, in truth, the two men cared deeply for each other. It was just that they never had a chance for an honest conversation and always ended up at odds.
As evidence of that, it was described in the original spin-off.
Shortly before his death, Siegfried was thinking of his father.
‘If I had known this would happen…… I would have approached him first.’
The duke was a typical, strict father.
Siegfried felt guilty that his mother had died giving birth to him. So, he spent his life trying to live up to his father’s expectations.
And then.
Demons invaded the human world.
The demons pushed in at a furious pace, crushing many small kingdoms, including the Carolingian kingdom.
Siegfried raised his sword to defend humanity.
’Don’t go!’
The former duke desperately tried to stop him.