Ferdel’s goal was to end the war that was raging before Caitel recovers fully.
War broke out in Agrigent and Pretiza’s border.
To be precise, it was due to Pretzia’s forced occupancy of the southern land, which was formerly known as Izarta. From Ferdel’s point of view, it was an ideal situation for Pretzia to give back the land and retreat, but would Pretzia really do that?
However, if things went on, then the only option left was to wait until Caitel recovers so that we could take on the war.
Somehow, Ferdel was intent on avoiding the situation.
“But the agreement!”
“An old agreement.”
Elene seemed on edge and yelled, but I dismissed it.
She was different, that lady.
Anyway, the post-war process of Ferdel’s last achievements before his retirement came to an end.
They managed to establish an agreement after the talks to the point where Langres and Agrigent met. While the world’s attention drew towards them, Agrigent’s importance grew.
Above all, it was so important that it was the second-largest agreement after the one they held during the Great War of Conquest of Agrigent twenty years back. I accompanied Ferdel after requesting him to place me as the representative for ours. However, my dad was strictly against it.
Everyone in the palace was concerned about me, but I thought of taking knights along with me; no one would surely kidnap me if my knights were around.
They would protect me!
Most of all, I was really nervous about taking even a single step outside the Imperial Palace, but since Ferdel was going, I tagged along.
One life could be a boon to the country.
“Princess, are you really going ahead with the plan?”
“It’s fine. It’s just for three nights and four days.”
“What if something happens.”
“Right.”
Libby and Elene nodded at each other’s words.
When did they even get close? Above all, it was shocking to see unsociable Libby take Elene’s side.
“So you want me to let my ill father go?”
I apologize to Caitel for treating him like a grandpa.
I was right, though, so they went silent. If my dad couldn’t go, I could attend instead as the Emperor’s proxy! Most of all, even from Ferdel’s point of view, it would be more comfortable for him to take me than my dad, who was like a ticking time bomb.
Serira seemed troubled as she spoke.
“Your Majesty’s wounds are quite fatal.”
“True, and he hadn’t regained consciousness for a while, so it had a great impact on his body.”
“Miss Serira, that, too, was all possible because it was Your Majesty.”
“Right. It would have been the end if it was someone else.”
Right, if there were a hospital with Caitel’s injuries, he would have been placed in the intensive care unit. Of course, we had our doctors who gave enough treatments.
By the way, my dad was being rather quiet?
Of course, when I first opened my eyes, words were already fuming like wildfire. Even I ran over to him once I regained consciousness, but my father wasn’t the kind to sit still.
However, after an in-depth conversation about his attitude, which was a grave threat, he seemed to have relaxed the following day.
Ah, it felt like forever. Should I go later?
“Ah, I need to visit my dad.”
If I didn’t meet him, I wouldn’t be able to see him for four days. If the talks lasted longer than expected, I might not see him for weeks.
Once I realized that, I jumped up right away.
“Princess, would you be fine?”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you left without letting him know?”
The maids seemed concerned by Caitel’s reaction, but I just nodded.
“Isn’t dad smart enough to know that I would hide from him?”
‘Being honest is the best move!’
Libby seemed worried. I just waved my hand with a laugh.
I was going!
Perhaps it was because of my light footsteps, but I reached Solay in no time.
Would dad be sleeping?
I went straight to Caitel’s room, and on the way, I looked at a familiar person. A maid of Solay went still after looking at me and bowed her head.
I looked at the tray she was holding.
“Not finished serving him yet?”
“Not yet, Princess.”
Neither I nor my dad would have our meals in the dining room; we received our meals to our bed.
However, the fact that he hadn’t eaten anything worried me. It has been relatively late since lunchtime.
The maid smiled at my worried expression.
What was so funny about worrying about my dad?
“He just woke up, so I brought in the meal.”
“Ah, I see.”
Well, if that was the case, then I guess I could understand.
I was convinced and tried to walk away, but then I thought of something.
Ah, right.
“Miss maid, I’ll take it from here. Please give it to me.”
The maids seemed a little taken aback.
She had no idea what I planned on doing.
Without asking for an explanation, the maid just gave me my dad’s meal.
Hohoho.
“Let’s go, Libby.”
“Princess, what are you doing?”
“Secret.”
Did she think I would just tell her?
It didn’t take long before we reached Caitel’s room. When I entered with a tray, the guards were a bit shocked, but no one said anything.
“Dad!”
“Where did the maids go for you to bring that?”
Unlike me, who was happy to see him, Caitel had a scrawny expression as he looked at me.
Wasn’t he being too much! Mean!
It seemed like I was the only one who wanted to see him! So depressing.
“I asked for it and brought it. Won’t you at least greet your pretty daughter? Dad, show some affections!”
As I complained, Dad asked.
“Did you greet me?”
“No. Dad, hello!”
“… yes, hello.”
If I hadn’t done it, I could just do it.
Phew, if my dad would be so withdrawn, how did he plan on living? As his daughter, I couldn’t stop worrying about him.
Once I got closer, Caitel reached out his hand to me.
What?
When I looked at my dad, I realized that he was looking at the tray I brought.
“Give it.”
“Nope.”
“…”
My dad frowned at my rejection.
What did he want me to do? His frown wouldn’t work on me. Fearing my dad was a quirk I stopped doing at the age of four.
Libby pulled a chair next to dad’s bed; I sat down and smiled.
“Kay, dad. Ah, open your mouth.”
Caitel’s angelic voice responded to my request.
“I can eat with my own two hands.”
“Ah, dad, do you mean to say that you don’t want your pretty daughter to feed you?!”
Come on.
I was there to feed him!
Dad tried to put up a gloomy expression, but I knew that he was only embarrassed. I had been with Caitel for a long time, so I could see the difference. Right, I half-knocked him with my words!
“… it isn’t that.”
“Then, what?”
I was trying to tease him, and my dad’s lack of words would take me down so quickly, especially with Ferdel’s training. People whom Caitel crushed were weak for making any kind of emotional appeal to him.
All thanks to Ferdel’s teaching.
He couldn’t say that he hated the idea; it was evident that I would grunt about him the entire day.
Hahaha!
Caitel could grumble as much as he wanted, but he couldn’t deny me.
Eventually, after a long time, my dad permitted me.
“… come one.”
“Huh!”
I took a spoonful of the soup, which went cold, and gave it to my dad.
What was that! He really did let me feed him!
“Oh my, you’re eating so well, my dad. Who did you take after to eat so well?”
“…”
My dad didn’t like it, but he didn’t say anything.
If he started an argument now, he would lose. When I looked at his expression, I laughed. I tried to hold back, but I couldn’t.
Thus, Ferdel would constantly bug dad. I think I knew why he did that. It was so fun.
“You’re going to Langres?”
“Huh. Did Ferdel tell you?”
“He entered with a confident expression after saying that. He also told me that you were the one who gave him temporary permission.”
“Ah, I did.”
He seemed to be questioning me, but I nodded confidently.
‘Right, I am the princess of Agrigent!’
“Without Ferdel, we had no chance, and you were on the bed. II didn’t know how much I could handle, so I called for Ferdel. To be honest, no one in our offices can work as quickly and efficiently as Ferdel. Why? Don’t you like my idea, dad?”