“Grand Duke Prause. Do you have anything to say to me?”
The emperor asked curiously.
Only then did Daniel put a smile on his face instead of his stiff face.
“No, Your Majesty. I guess I was a little nervous because it was a carriage parade.”
“Hahaha. Are you nervous about the carriage parade?”
The emperor reacted as if he had heard a funny joke and went to the front of the carriage.
Daniel, who was forced to sit in the back with his three children, looked sadly at the front seat.
The carriage, specially built for the imperial family’s parades, had two seats in the front that were open to the outside.
The emperor sat there with his daughter, Frey.
‘I didn’t expect His Majesty to take that seat…’
Daniel felt a little embarrassed because he thought he was getting the seat next to Frey and sincerely participated in a traditional game he had never played before.
“I think you’ve been too much to me.”
“Didn’t you always say that adults take care of children?”
“It’s so mean to deal with us seriously!”
“……”
Damon, Arsene, and Lydia began to secretly criticize Daniel, who was trying to win the game with all his heart.
Daniel just cleared his throat.
“The carriage will leave soon, so let’s take a seat.”
“Chii.”
The three children pouted their lips but took their assigned seat.
Frey also took a seat in the front, escorted by the knights.
‘I didn’t even know I was sitting side by side with my father, and I put Daniel and the kids in a competition.’
But she had no regrets.
‘It wasn’t a common sight to see Daniel flailing his long arms and legs, trying to beat the kids.’
“Then we will leave.”
The royal carriage carrying the four transcendents, the current emperor, and the next emperor began to move.
“Frey. I never dreamed that the day would come when I would appear alongside you in the crowd.”
The emperor spoke in a calm voice.
Before the carriage left the imperial palace, the crowd’s cheers were low and relatively quiet, so Frey noticed that her father’s voice was shaking slightly.
“Yes. I never thought the day would come when I would participate in the imperial family’s parades.”
There was no way that Lady Roselia or her daughter, both from lowly origins, could attend the imperial family’s parades.
Because she could not go outside the imperial palace to watch the procession, the imperial family’s parades always felt like a story from another country to Frey.
The emperor smiled as he watched the castle gate slowly getting closer.
“Actually, Frey, I like the parades during great festivals.”
He glanced in the direction of the temple where Tahar was imprisoned.
“During the parade, the emperor and his heir would stand side by side and greet people. Just like now.”
“Father….”
“When the parade started, Tahar stood close next to me and smiled. At times like that, It was like a lie for me that he would push me away.”
Frey couldn’t say anything.
After Tahar and the Empress were deposed, the world began to know what they had done to the Emperor.
Bribing his people and harming his health.
Rejecting the emperor, who can be said to be Gelon’s enemy.
Every time her father saw the truth spilled by an anonymous employee or nobleman, Frey felt it broke her father’s heart.
‘I can only imagine how sad it must be to be ignored by your own family.’
In particular, Tahar, who was a half-blooded son of the emperor but did not have the magic ability, despised his father.
Frey couldn’t fathom the emotions his father must have felt watching Tahar during the short time he was on the parade.
“I’m sorry to tell you a dark story, Frey.”
“No, father.”
“I’m not trying to condone Tahar’s sins. but…Sometimes I imagine what it would be like if he thought of me as family.”
“……”
“That can’t happen anymore, so my remaining duty will be to take care of Lydia.”
The emperor did not want Lydia to grow up in the same situation as Tahar.
So when Lydia attacked Tahar, he had arranged for her to live in an annex with Garnet, who was protecting her.
“Lydia will also cherish the memory of her grandfather supporting her. Daniel and I are doing our best too.”
“Yeah. I guess I’ve done my duty now that you’re taking care of Lydia.”
It was a bit strange for the emperor to speak as if he was relieved.
“You still have your duties as emperor.”
“Wouldn’t my duties be completed by next year?”
“What? next year?!”
My father’s words meant only one thing.
It means that he will hand over the throne to Frey, who has been selected as the next emperor, within the next year.
“But you’re healthy now.”
The Emperor grinned at Frey, who looked at him as if she couldn’t understand why.
“Look ahead, Frey.”
—Clik
Just in time, the gatekeepers opened the gate.
The moment the carriage appeared outside the imperial palace, people cheered and set off firecrackers.
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Blessed the next emperor, Frey!”
Frey could hear her name.
This was because there were as many people wishing for her happiness as there were voices praying for the emperor.
Countless people sprinkled flowers and smiled brightly at them.
As she looked at all of that, her heart felt warm for some reason.
“Frey.”
“Yes, father.”
“A good emperor is expected to be called by his people. You are being called now.”
“……”
“So I think I will soon put an end to all my duties and hand over my place to you.”
Even though the people’s voices were loud, the emperor’s words could be heard clearly.
Frey answered as if making a promise in front of people calling her name.
“If that happens, I will do my best, Your Majesty.”
* * *
As the carriage was about to leave the imperial palace, Daniel became nervous.
If there was the slightest sign of anything unusual, he was going to cut it off immediately.
The situation where Frey moved around using a carriage that had no windows was enough to make him anxious.
“Lydia?”
However, the first unusual sign he caught was none other than Lydia sitting next to him.
The child, who was smiling normally inside the palace, became stiff when she came out of the palace.
“…..”
Lydia glanced at the people outside the window and became more and more stiff.
“Lydia, Are you okay?”
Surprised, Damon covered Lydia’s knees with a blanket.
Arsene noticed something and wrote on Daniel’s palm with his fingertips.
[Lydia is scared.]
[They must have seen her during her *replay.]
‘I should teach him later that it’s not a replay but a runaway.’
Although there were some errors, Daniel understood what Arsene was trying to say without any problem.
‘If we recall the illegal newsletter that had been secretly spread, Lydia’s worried was not without reason.’
[Lydia Obelir is of the bloodline of a sinner, so she is probably sharpening her blade for revenge.]
Among the crowd that gathered, there would certainly be people who read the illegal newsletter, and there would also be many who witnessed Lydia’s runaway.
‘It’s true that the child only made one mistake, but her power was extraordinary.’
Even though he controlled Lydia with Frey’s help, many people would have an image of Lydia going on a rampage in their heads.
The magic power of the transcendental has as great a ripple effect as a huge natural disaster.
Daniel thought for a moment, then carefully opened Lydia’s blanket and asked.
“Lydia. I know an interesting magic. Shall I teach you?”
“Magic…?”
“Yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve used it, so I’m not sure if it will turn out well.…”
Daniel twirled his fingertips.
Pong!
Then a small soap bubble began to float around inside the carriage.
“wow!”
“Soap bubbles!”
While Damon and Arsene’s eyes twinkled, Lydia stared at the bubbles and drew up a magic trick.
“So, like this…”
Pong!
Lydia, who is strong in magic, was able to create multiple soap bubbles at once.
Daniel smiled softly and said.
“Lydia. People who see the bad side are easily afraid because they believe that’s all there is.”
“…!”
“Shall we show people how beautiful your magic can be?”
As Daniel spoke, Damon and Arsene joined in, holding Lydia’s hands.
“Lydia! Everyone will be so excited!”
“It’s a secret, Lydia, but your soap bubbles are way prettier than the ones I made!”
Lydia pressed her lips together.
The only times other people supported her magic were when she needed to move an undead monster or destroy something.
But this time was different.
“Follow your heart, Lydia.”
Grand Duke Prause waited for her decision, and her two friends cheered with their cheeks turning red. Lydia took a deep breath and her eyes lit up.
“I’ll try!”
* * *
Finally, the emperor appeared and that was the scene I was waiting for. The father and daughter moment.