I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 28
“If you’re feeling unwell or anything, please tell me right away. I may not have much to offer, but I can at least hold your hand like last time.”
Unaware of Jeshuan’s inner thoughts, Lia spoke with genuine concern in a worried tone.
“That’s enough. Thanks for saying that.”
“It’s not a difficult thing.”
In response to Jeshuan’s seemingly heavy answer, Lia displayed a slightly awkward expression.
“Well, it might be difficult for someone, you know.”
People who were afraid to be in the same room as me were not going to reach out and push me.
Therefore, the meaning in Lia’s words was far from light. At least for Jeshuan.
The conversation paused briefly as Lia glanced at the clock tower’s time and stood up.
Despite seeming like a short conversation, more time had passed than she thought.
As Lia stood up, Jeshuan’s gaze naturally followed her actions.
“I think I should go back to the ball now.”
“That’s too bad.”
In a moment, Jeshuan impulsively said those words.
The source of the regret was unknown.
Just thinking about parting ways with Lia made him suddenly feel that emotion.
Despite only having met twice now.
Perhaps it was because no one had treated him so casually before, especially considering it was her first time.
At this moment, Jeshuan was not a dangerous monster ready to explode at any time but just an ordinary boy.
Even his father, due to his circumstances, always sent a gaze full of pity.
Despite knowing it was out of affection and concern, Jeshuan found that gaze uncomfortable.
Every time he faced that gaze, Jeshuan couldn’t help but think about his situation, even if he wanted to turn away.
But Lia was different.
Even if it was due to ignorance, her attitude and presence provided comfort to Jeshuan.
“Well, if you say so, would you like to come with me?”
Pretending not to know he was feeling regretful, Lia suddenly asked.
Seeing him look somewhat lonely, leaving him alone made her feel concerned.
While she didn’t know why Jeshuan didn’t attend the ball, but who would oppose when the Crown Prince attends?
“Haha.”
Receiving an unexpected proposal, Jeshuan smiled faintly, a laughter devoid of any real emotion.
It was an empty laughter, containing nothing.
Perhaps that’s the reason.
Despite smiling, there was a fragile feeling in holding Jeshuan, as if he might break.
“… Seems like you really don’t know anything.”
Realizing Lia’s ignorance again, Jeshuan wore a somewhat bitter expression.
Lia looked at him with clear and transparent eyes, innocent and naive.
It brought great comfort, yet at the same time, it made Jeshuan’s heart ache.
“Going to the ball, other nobles won’t welcome it.”
Suppressing complex emotions, Jeshuan casually spoke with an indifferent face.
“Well, it’s the same for me. In a way, this ball was held to celebrate me becoming the head of my family, but ironically, no one came forward to congratulate me.”
It was fortunate not to get involved in a dispute.
So despite being the protagonist of the ball, instead of escaping the ballroom alone, she was talking to him.
Jeshuan had a strange expression at Lia’s words.
Certainly, Lia seemed to have a peculiar talent for making people feel at ease.
If it were someone else, they might have found her words perplexing.
It would be difficult for them to understand why nobles weren’t enthusiastic about the Crown Prince’s attendance.
If others who knew his reputation were there, they probably wouldn’t have even suggested going to the ball together.
However, Lia responded to his answer as if it were nothing.
Just like an ordinary conversation.
As if the fact that other nobles weren’t welcoming his attendance wasn’t such a big deal.
She breezed over the implied meaning in that statement.
Of course, Lia didn’t entirely dismiss any doubt about Jeshuan’s response.
His answer carried a strange assurance, and Lia couldn’t quite understand it.
The sole son of the Emperor, the Crown Prince.
Why nobles weren’t welcoming his attendance.
However, Lia refrained from asking such questions.
Perhaps there was an intricate backstory that shouldn’t be casually probed.
If that were the case, it was better to feign ignorance rather than prying with unnecessary curiosity.
His curiosity could potentially be a thorn causing wounds to the other.
So, he chose to tread lightly and move past the topic.
“By the way, I almost forgot to say. Congratulations on becoming the head of family.”
“Thank you. Finally I heard a proper congratulation.”
It was a bit bitter that the only ones who congratulated her were the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
Still, being properly acknowledged by those two meant something.
After all, she’s couldn’t expect to satisfy everyone from the start.
Regardless of how much time it took, Lia was determined to earn recognition from other nobles as the head of family. She believed in her abilities.
“Well then, see you again. We’ll meet again soon.”
Jeshuan’s farewell brought a puzzled expression to Lia’s face, but she didn’t dwell on it.
She simply interpreted it as a meaning that they would meet occasionally now that she had become a duke.
“May tranquility accompany you, Your Highness.”
Lia herself didn’t know why she greeted Jeshuan like that.
It just seemed like something she should say.
Within her gentle smile, there seemed to be something complex and challenging, something she herself couldn’t easily understand.
For some reason, vulnerability felt imminent beneath her relaxed demeanor.
So, she hoped for his tranquility.
With the farewell, Lia returned to the ballroom.
Before Lia entered the banquet hall, a courtier guarding the door approached her.
“His Majesty is waiting in the study.”
“Oh, I didn’t intend to make His Majesty wait.”
Lia had thought of returning when the ball ended, but somehow she found herself in a situation where she had made the Emperor wait, and an awkward expression crossed her face.
“His Majesty won’t mind. Let me guide you to where His Majesty is.”
“Sure, I appreciate it.”
With her reply, Lia followed the courtier’s guidance toward where the Emperor was.
The courtier knocked, announcing Lia’s visit, and from inside came the Emperor’s permission to enter.
Lia entered the room cautiously.
“Didn’t I say it before? Grand greetings are unnecessary.”
Once again dissuading Lia from formalities, the Emperor spoke with a gentle voice.
His demeanor, which had been dignified at the ball, softened somewhat when alone with Lia.
“Please, have a seat.”
Seeing Lia awkwardly hesitating at their first private encounter, the Emperor kindly smiled and invited her to sit.
Only then did Lia comfortably take a seat on the sofa.
“How was the ball?”
“… Well, it was an interesting experience.”
Unable to express her initial annoyance openly, Lia chose to keep it simple and honest.
Despite Lia’s polite packaging, the Emperor understood her true feelings.
It was the subtle discomfort in the flicker of Lia’s eyelids.
“Even Duke Shubaren seemed quite fed up with the ball.”
“Indeed…”
Recalling the past, Lia’s expression held a touch of nostalgia.
Her grandfather, who perhaps disliked the ball even more than herself, came to mind.
Those times suddenly felt missed—the voice and the touch of a grandfather who, despite his gruff complaints, would send affectionate glances her way.
The moments from her very early years, when her grandfather, rough but affectionate, would comfort her with his caring touch whenever she didn’t want to be separated.
“You must still miss him a lot. It’s a heavy burden for someone so young.”
Especially with the sudden loss of a loved one, Lia found herself shouldering a considerable load.
Leading a noble house came with immense responsibility.
So, it was pitiable.
Why Duke Shubaren had abruptly left this young child behind was a puzzle.
“It’s okay. It’s all my responsibility.”
Although she still felt sadness over her grandfather’s death, yes, it was genuinely okay.
Occasionally, when she keenly felt his absence, her heart still ached, but having received abundant love from her grandfather all this time was enough.
That alone sufficed.
As her grandfather’s granddaughter, whether the time together was short or long, it was a gift more than enough.
The Emperor remained silent after Lia’s response.
The Emperor was well aware of the sorrow of losing a loved one, making it even harder for him to find words.
Knowing that no words could truly console.
Furthermore, there was nothing the Emperor could offer for her.
The Emperor had to be fair and just more than anyone else.
He couldn’t single her out for special treatment just because she was pitiable.
So, he could only wish. Wishing that she could overcome the sorrow safely. Hoping she would find someone who cherished and cared for her enough not to feel her grandfather’s absence.
Hoping she could lean on someone instead of enduring the hardship alone.
Perhaps that someone could even be a grand duke.
It may be hard to believe, but the grand duke truly cherished her.
Putting aside those thoughts for a moment, the Emperor recalled the reason he summoned her and began to speak.
“I have one request for you.”
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