ISTF 07

Chapter 07

We moved to the reception room. Even there, the fathers’ verbal sparring didn’t stop.

“I’ve already won the bet, so I’ll be the one to raise Dafne.”

“Not a single document has been processed yet.”

Alber spoke politely, but with clear contempt directed at Keys.

“I’ve looked into you as well. You seem like someone who has trouble settling down. If you can’t even be stable yourself, how can you raise Daphne to be a loyal subject of Euredia and the master of Elmeras?”

“It’s not good to decide a child’s future so early on.”

Keys, too, was never one to back down. Their sharp glares clashed in mid-air.

I watched their word-battle with interest.

“What a child needs is a stable upbringing environment and good caretakers. Not some wandering good-for-nothing.”

“It’s important to experience many things.”

“I doubt you can provide education appropriate for her developmental stage or proper emotional bonding.”

“So, do you great noble lords raise your ladies like dolls just waiting for the day they get married?”

“I will enable Daphne to protect what she has. What can you do? As a wandering gambler.”

“Better than a greenhorn wizard.”

The fierce exchange devolved into a childish squabble between adults. I was starting to get worried they might come to blows when—

“Let’s ask Daphne for her opinion.”

“Right, the most important thing is the child.”

Me? Suddenly?

Both of their gazes turned to me simultaneously. Their eyes seemed to be awaiting a judgment.

“Daphne, if you’re willing, I’d like for you to stay here while we work out the custody issue. Would you permit that?”

Alber asked gently.

I pursed my lips and thought for a moment. The image of him grieving by the graveside came to mind.

Someone who cherished and missed his love for my mother, and who could also raise me.

It was only fair that not just Keys, but he too, be given the chance to raise me.

“Uh-huh!”

I readily nodded.

Alber smiled brightly, seemingly satisfied. Keys, on the other hand, rolled his eyes at my response.

I could feel genuine goodwill and warmth directed at me from both men. These were things I had never experienced in my past life. My heart felt warm and fuzzy at these unfamiliar and strange feelings.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Just then, the reception room door opened and Alfred entered.

“My Lord, a letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

“The Imperial Palace?”

Both men looked at Alfred with puzzled expressions. I was equally surprised.

Why on earth would the Imperial Palace be contacting us?

“It is said to be a personal letter from His Majesty himself.”

Alfred held out a thick, rolled-up piece of paper. The seal on the paper bore the emblem of a two-headed lion. It was unmistakably the Imperial seal.

“Daphne can’t read yet, so would it be alright if I read it aloud instead?”

Of course, at sixteen in my past life, I could read perfectly well. But I obediently nodded at Alber’s question.

Alfred handed over the letter. Alber carefully unfolded the paper and read it aloud.

—

[To the Count of Thessalus.

First, I mourn the passing of the late Countess Adelaide of Thessalus.

I have heard various rumors regarding the young Countess.
The one who inherited the family’s abilities, the reincarnation of the White-Haired Eagle. The most amusing of them all is the fact that among the nameless wandering youth, Merlin, and my own nephew, Lef, lies the truth of who her biological father is.

Therefore, I, as Emperor, shall judge who will raise the Countess. Bring all parties involved in the custody matter to the Imperial Palace.

– Frederic Alfonso Euredia]

—

The content of the letter was rather absurd.

‘The Emperor himself is getting involved in my custody? Why?’
Out of mere curiosity? Or because his nephew is involved?

After reading the letter, Alber rubbed his throbbing temples. Keys rolled his eyes once more and leaned his head back against the sofa.

“The rumor has already spread all the way to the capital…”

Silence reigned for a while. Each seemed lost in their own thoughts. After some time, Keys straightened up abruptly and spoke.

“Lef, my nephew?”

“Lef Aurede de Romanov. Also known as the Black Lion.”

The Black Lion, Prince Lef.

It was the name of the third potential father.

“It seems there’s one more candidate besides us.”

“So there are *three* candidates for Daf’s father?”

Keys looked completely flabbergasted. I felt a bit awkward and scratched my head sheepishly.

“Adel… she was quite a woman.”

“I can’t help but agree with that.”

An awkward silence ensued.

“I heard the rumors before arriving here. That Prince Lef Romanov is leading his army southward. It seems he was on his way to see Daphne.”

At Alber’s explanation, Keys tilted his head.

“What kind of person is he?”

Alber looked genuinely incredulous.

“You don’t know the Black Lion Lef? The one who distinguished himself in the border dispute five years ago. He’s currently the Grand Lord of the North.”

“No reason I should know.”

“You are probably the only person in the Empire who doesn’t know his name.”

I too had heard of his fame. It was said his valor was remarkable, quelling the protracted border dispute in just ten days.

But something bothered me more than the news that Lef was heading south to see me.

The unforgivable enemy from my past life, who assassinated the Crown Prince and framed me for treason.

‘If I go to the Imperial Palace, I might meet Duke Rector.’

Now, when nothing has happened yet.
What should I do if I meet him?

—

***

—

The rabbit doll Robi, Mother’s diary, and a handkerchief.

That was all I packed myself for the trip to the capital.

The rest was Alfred’s responsibility. He meticulously inspected everything from A to Z and packed the necessities and clothes I would need.

“I’ve selected the finest items since you will be granted an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

Looking at the boxes packed tightly into the carriage, I suspected Alfred might actually be trying to get rid of me.

“Coachman, let’s depart.”

Leaving behind Alfred, who seemed more excited than I, the one who would actually be meeting the Emperor, we set off.

Trying to defy fate meant unexpected things kept happening. Who knew that the items I sent out to find a guardian would lead me all the way to the capital.

‘Well, it’s still better than living like I did back then.’

It was far better than living helplessly, abused by the Patelier family.

Only when the carriage carrying us left Elmeras did the reality that I was walking a different path of fate truly sink in.

The carriage traveled on endlessly. Alber, who had been lost in thought with a serious face the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

“There was a separate reason why the Black Lion Lef, immediately after earning his merit, volunteered to go to the barren North. It was to prove that he had no ambition for the throne.”

“Tsk, what a tiring way to live.”

“Lef’s loyalty is tear-jerking, but to those who didn’t wish for His Majesty’s ascension, he’s prime prey. Factions seeking to install him on the throne could unite.”

“What does that have to do with us going to see the Emperor now?”

“Grand Duke Lef, who commands armies and receives admiration and support; myself, the youngest wizard to receive the title of Melin; and young Daphne, the Countess of Thessalus who rules a territory—though small. His Majesty might be using the custody issue as a pretext to test whether we harbor other intentions.”

I gaped at his explanation.

The ‘amusing’ remark in the letter didn’t just mean he wanted to join in on something interesting. It meant he was even prepared to nip in the bud any signs of rebellion from capable individuals who could easily build power.

“So, do you have any sharp plan to dispel the Emperor’s suspicions?”

“You just have to keep acting as foolishly as you do now. I don’t think there’s anything better to allay His Majesty’s doubts.”

Alber chided.

*Krrrrrrr—*

Just then, the low growl of a fierce beast was heard.

I listened carefully. The sound from outside was growing louder.

“Sound…”

I tapped Keys’s leg, who was sitting next to me. But they had already started arguing again and hadn’t noticed the situation. Finally, I yelled at the top of my lungs.

“Weird noise!”

At my words, the two who had been bickering stopped their argument.

The sound I was unsure of at first grew closer, and its number increased. The more I listened, the more it was clearly not a sound any ordinary wild animal could make.

“Could it be, a monster…?”

*CRASH!*

Suddenly, a thunderous roar sounded as the carriage shattered. The monster’s hard claws, which had broken the carriage, seemed to obscure my vision, and then—

“Daf!”
“Daphne!”

My body was literally flung out.

“KYAAAH!”

Thrown by the monster, I plopped down onto the muddy road. My small body, perhaps only a handful compared to the enormous monster, barely withstood the impact of the fall.

I managed to lift my head.

I could see monsters charging at the carriage.

Before the shock to my body could subside, a hot liquid dripped down onto my head.

*Grrrrr—*

The monster, with a snout as long as if it weren’t from this world, was the result of a wolf’s corruption.

Standing on its hind legs, baring dense teeth and claws, the creature drooled as it looked at me.

I stopped breathing.

Even if I ran at full speed, it wasn’t an opponent I could overcome.

“KYAAAH!”

The monster lunged at me.

They say you develop superhuman strength in moments of crisis. I barely managed to dodge the monster’s attack.

I scrambled to my feet and ran blindly into the dark forest. My vision was pitch black, but first, I had to survive.