“The Emperor of Promian truly cherishes his daughter, doesn’t he?”
One of the onlookers observing the scene spoke up.
“He seems to be a good father.”
Even though this was all just an act to give Serdin a reason not to call the Empress ‘Mother,’ there was no falsehood in Delight’s words.
It seemed as if Delight’s sincerity had reached everyone present.
And in this situation…
Forcing Serdin to acknowledge those who had used and abandoned him as family was simply not an option.
Everyone could sense the atmosphere.
“Empress.”
The Emperor of Ilnord called out heavily.
“Serdin has always been respectful and proper toward us.”
“Yes.”
“Then perhaps it would be best for us to wait for Serdin as well.”
The Emperor did not want to escalate the situation any further.
The mood had already shifted in Serdin’s favor.
“Let’s not force it.”
“………”
“Now that Serdin is getting married, he is no longer a child under our care.”
The Ilnord Emperor spoke as if he were imitating Delight, playing the role of a father who truly cared for his child.
“We must also respect Serdin.”
The Emperor gazed at the Empress with a subtle expression.
“……Now that I think about it, Your Majesty is right. I was too hasty.”
The Empress backed down.
With an apologetic look, she turned to Serdin and spoke.
“Serdin, I will wait until the day you call me with sincerity.”
She held Serdin’s hand firmly as she said this.
Slowly turning her gaze, she looked at Delight.
“I have learned what it means to be a parent from the Emperor of Promian.”
Even at the very end, the Empress did not crumble but instead maintained a smile.
“I feel reassured knowing that Serdin will be well taken care of in Promian.”
Although she had lost face, she remained determined to uphold her image as a mother who cared for Serdin.
That was enough.
“There was a bit of commotion, but I hope everyone will understand—this is just part of what it means to be family.”
Raising his wine glass, the Ilnord Emperor addressed the guests in the banquet hall, lightening the mood.
And so, the banquet continued.
Serdin, in the end, did not call the Empress ‘Mother.’
***
Serdin remained at the banquet until its final moments before finally returning.
“It was obvious how they’ve been treating you all this time.”
As soon as they entered the room, Delight’s displeasure was evident.
The attendants of the Ilnord Imperial Palace had all withdrawn, so there was no need to keep their voices down.
“To use the title of ‘parent’ as a means to control their child… It was disgusting to witness.”
Delight had always had an exceptionally strong sense of morality when it came to family matters.
‘It seems he has learned even more than I taught him.’
That was why he was even more infuriated by the Empress’s behavior.
Blueny, too, had worn a troubled expression the entire way back.
“I was already bothered by how far Serdin’s room was from the others.”
Blueny spoke as she approached the window and looked outside.
Ever since they had assigned Serdin a room, it had been on her mind.
The distance between his quarters and those of the other imperial family members made it seem as though he had been deliberately separated.
“I wanted to believe it was just my imagination, but it turns out it wasn’t.”
And today, she was certain.
“He must have been lonely, always by himself in Ilnord.”
Blueny’s voice was heavy with emotion.
“How shameless of them.”
It was surprising to see Delight this visibly upset.
“Are you angry for Serdin’s sake?”
“Of course. Just thinking about a child growing up surrounded by such deceitful people…”
Blueny felt indignant on Serdin’s behalf.
“I may not have known him for long, but I still remember him as a child. Seeing him like this now… it’s upsetting.”
“If Serdin knew how much you and Dad were upset for him, he’d be happy.”
“I didn’t say it for his sake.”
Delight abruptly turned away, denying my words.
“I’m angry because of them! Because what they did is unforgivable as parents, as family!”
His face turned red, almost as if he was trying to justify himself.
But wasn’t that just another way of saying that it upset him to see Serdin treated this way?
I smirked.
I could tell he didn’t want to admit it, which made me chuckle without realizing it.
“You were angry… because of me?”
Serdin was standing at the door.
“…Since when were you there?”
Delight’s voice wavered slightly. He must have been so caught up in his emotions that he hadn’t noticed his presence.
As for me—
‘I knew Serdin was here from the start.’
That’s why I deliberately kept bringing him up in the conversation.
Heh.
“Thank you. Just hearing you say that makes me feel reassured.”
Serdin smiled faintly, his expression touched.
“Don’t misunderstand.”
Seeing his reaction, Delight flinched and firmly denied it.
He was trying so hard to insist that he wasn’t taking his side.
“But you even went as far as lying for me.”
Serdin said, showing that he wasn’t fooled at all.
“You think I lied for you? I never did that.”
“Huh? But…”
Serdin looked at him, clearly confused.
“Do you really not care what Ollia calls you, Father-in-law?”
“…What?”
“Even if she calls you ‘Your Majesty’ instead?”
Delight’s gaze wavered before landing on me.
He looked utterly devastated, as if I had just declared that I would never call him ‘Dad’ again.
“Don’t tease Dad.”
He might actually take it to heart.
For some reason, Delight could be oddly sensitive about things like this.
I gave Serdin a small warning before turning back to Delight.
“Even if you’re not an emperor, you’re still my dad.”
“Even if I were a penniless beggar?”
Delight asked with a hint of expectation in his voice, which made me chuckle.
The one who took in and raised a penniless orphan was none other than me!
“Of course! Then I’ll just work hard and take care of you!”
I answered confidently.
“A father shouldn’t live off his daughter, even as a beggar. We’d have to work together.”
Blueny shot a glare at Delight, scolding him.
“Haha, of course!”
Delight grinned so wide it seemed his face might split.
Then his eyes met Serdin’s.
“I should be going now.”
Serdin, realizing he no longer had a place in this conversation, turned to leave.
“Serdin.”
Delight called out to him.
“Even if it’s just a title, once you start saying it often, it becomes a habit.”
“……..”
“There’s no need to force yourself to say it.”
His voice was firm but sincere.
That was something I had said in the past.
“There’s no need to force yourself.”
Hearing my own words echoed in Delight’s voice left me with a strange feeling.
As I pondered the influence I had on him—
“Yes. I will always keep that in mind… Father-in-law.”
Serdin responded with a bright smile, bowing respectfully before turning to leave.
As soon as he was gone—
“But why does he keep calling me ‘Father-in-law’?!”
Delight exploded in frustration.
‘Huh?’
I tilted my head in confusion.
Now that I thought about it, he had refused to call the Empress ‘Mother’ for ten years.
Yet he called Delight and Blueny ‘Father-in-law’ and ‘Mother-in-law’ so easily, even as a joke.
…What’s going on?
I couldn’t figure it out.
***
‘How long has it been?’
A dark, damp underground cell.
I hadn’t bothered keeping track, so I couldn’t be sure, but it had been several months since I had been locked away without a single ray of light.
Luciel slowly lifted his head.
‘The palace seems unusually noisy today.’
Even though he was deep underground and couldn’t see what was happening, he could feel the vibrations in the ground, sensing the commotion above.
There was much more movement and noise than usual.
‘Is something happening?’
But Luciel quickly lost interest.
‘Not that it matters to me.’
For a brief moment, he had focused on what was happening above, but he quickly grew indifferent again.
During his time in the underground prison, Luciel spent most of his time sleeping.
Since there was nothing else to do, it was the easiest way to pass the time.
He could only roughly gauge the passage of time by sensing the sounds and atmosphere outside.
But whether it was day or night, he had no way of knowing.
‘Might as well close my eyes again.’
Just as he was about to drift back into sleep—
“…Hmm?”
Luciel’s eyes blinked rapidly.
He adjusted his posture and raised his head slightly.
As if trying to confirm something, he concentrated—then his lips parted slightly.
“…Sherina?”
It was faint, but there was no mistaking it.
And now that he had sensed her presence, he also felt the energy of Hiel.
“Why is she here?”
Luciel muttered under his breath.
