Aria's Father
Andrew Shane Bricville sat in the study, a grave expression etched across his face as he examined two documents on the desk.
While his rank in the bureaucracy wasn’t particularly high, the duchy he governed was vast enough to rival a small nation, and his decisions could sway countless things.
Today, like any other day, he was deep in thought, pondering a momentous decision.
“You, a guest has arrived— what are you doing?”
The door opened and Iliana stepped in. Seeing her husband’s serious expression, she approached calmly.
Andrew suddenly looked pleased, picked up the two documents from the table with one hand each, and showed them to her.
“My dear, which one do you like better?”
“... ... Assassins...?”
Iliana carefully examined the documents in her husband’s hand, her face tightening.
Even if she was someone he could confide in, accepting something like this easily was tough.
“To show them the proper taste, expensive ones are best, right?”
“Who exactly are you showing the taste to?”
Her calm words caused Andrew to name the target with pride.
“Of course it’s that Zeroa brat. How dare he look at my daughter? I’ll show him the bitterness of an adult.”
“... ...”
Even though a guest had come, Andrew hadn’t emerged from the study for a long time, causing Iliana to look at him with disappointed eyes.
“Aaaah— don’t worry. I’m just taking a quick look. To stop Zeroa from eyeing our Pudding, we need to put up with this much.”
“Haa-”
A capable man in most matters, when it came to his daughter, Andrew turned into a complete fool.
Even though she was already an adult, just seeing him use the childhood nickname “Pudding” so casually told you everything.
Iliana sighed and reached for the paper listing the expensive assassin.
“As expected, expensive is the best? I’ll make sure to handle it properly... wait, wait? My dear?”
- Tearing sound
Iliana tore the paper sharply and snatched the other document from Andrew’s hand, ripping it apart as well.
“If you do something unnecessary, Aria will hate her father.”
“No... I’m doing this... because I’m thinking about Pudding...”
“Don’t even say the word Pudding. You hate it so much.”
Pressed by Iliana, Andrew shut his mouth.
Seeing her husband, the flustered and timid child and the fool of a boy she had raised, Iliana patted his back and told him to greet the guest.
“Your nephew has been waiting for a long time. As a duke, you should greet the guest properly.”
“Ah— again him. I already made it clear at the entrance, yet he’s come to spout nonsense again.”
“What is ‘him’ to my nephew? Hurry up and go.”
Andrew was pushed out of the study by Iliana’s insistence.
Andrew, who had only shown a foolish demeanor, now heading toward the reception room, gradually changed. When he opened the door, he was a dignified and cold duke once more.
“Uncle, it’s been a while.”
As soon as Andrew entered, the black-haired man lowered his head in greeting.
The refined manners ingrained in him and the overflowing elegance that came without effort made the man noble.
“Long time no see, Edwin. Sit down.”
Andrew replied in a serious voice and sat on the sofa opposite Edwin.
Edwin Shane Bernies— the third prince who competed for the succession with Endo and Kimelia.
Edwin, who had been in the middle of a power struggle, came to see Andrew because of their relative connection. It was obvious: he wanted to pull the neutral duke into his side.
Andrew had rejected both Endo and Kimelia. It was unfortunate, but everyone had agreed and left. Only the third prince Edwin kept coming, making Andrew secretly annoyed.
What annoyed him most was the way Edwin pursued power.
“Uncle, will you approve my marriage proposal to Aria?”
This brat was shamelessly eyeing his daughter.
Andrew understood. No woman in the world could be as beautiful and charming as Pudding.
How could Narcissus Endo not look away from Aria?
But love was love, and it was unacceptable.
Even if it meant giving up his dukedom, he would never let his daughter marry a stupid man.
The butler, who had been plastered against the wall to disappear, kept an eye on Andrew’s expression, tense.
“I’ve already rejected that proposal before.”
As soon as Aria’s name was mentioned, Andrew’s insides boiled, but he calmly refused.
No matter how much he wanted to yield, the opponent was a child of the emperor.
However, Edwin’s next words broke Andrew’s patience.
“I can make her happy.”
Andrew smiled brightly.
“What your nephew wants is my power? Or Aria?”
“... ... Both.”
Since Edwin spoke honestly in front of a strategic mind like Andrew’s, there was no point in lying.
“Ah, but if I had to choose between the two, of course it would be Aria.”
Edwin thought he had given a good answer, but it was wrong.
“No. Nephew, it seems you’re mistaken. Our Pudding isn’t someone who chooses between the two. Even if you gamble everything you have, it’s not enough. Do you know what they call our Pudding in the academy? Goddess, they call her the goddess. How charming is our Pudding...”
As Andrew proudly bragged about his daughter, the butler lowered his head in embarrassment.
Even though Andrew’s brilliant and long-winded praise continued, Edwin smiled brightly and nodded.
“A good nickname. If it’s Aria, calling her goddess isn’t an exaggeration at all.”
“Eh? Nickname? Is it a joke? Didn’t I make it clear? There are many of her devotees. It’s not a nickname— it’s the meaning of her existence.”
“Ahaha... I see...”
The butler wanted to shut his master’s mouth immediately, but held back.
After enjoying the prideful talk about Aria, Andrew returned to a calm atmosphere and drank tea.
“Let me say it again. If you want to propose to Pudding, hand over all your nephew’s forces.”
“... ...”
“I’m not telling you to hand it over to me. Stop this meaningless power struggle and give it to one of Endo or Kimelia. I don’t want to leave my daughter in the middle of dirty power games.”
The last part was the father’s worry for his daughter.
Understanding Andrew’s meaning, Edwin put a hand on his chest and said firmly.
“Don’t worry. I will protect Aria. No threat will approach her, and no sorrow will touch her.”
Edwin’s beautiful golden eyes shone, and his words were as bold as a knight’s vow.
Yet even with that answer, Andrew quietly looked at him, then showed a sly smile.
“You don’t plan to give up your power until the end, do you?”
“But Uncle, I want to make Aria an empress.”
“Hahahahaha!!”
At the word empress, Andrew burst into laughter.
His mocking laughter gradually subsided, and his eyes sharpened as he glared at Edwin.
“Our Pudding as an empress... how interesting. Just imagining it seems fitting.”
“Yes, with Aria’s elegance, I will warm all the people. Her name will spread across the empire and the continent, and everyone will envy her. Imagine Aria is the love of all...”
“You know nothing.”
Andrew interrupted Edwin’s words.
“If you want to propose to someone, you should at least learn something about them. Calling someone ‘this guy’ or ‘that guy’ without thinking about my daughter.”
As the words continued, Andrew’s killing intent rose.
Edwin’s escorts glanced sideways in caution, and Andrew’s own guards behind him placed hands on their swords, glaring.
“Do you know what your daughter likes? What she hates? What she wants? What she wants to do in the future? What type of person she likes or dislikes? Can you answer even one of these?”
“... ...”
Edwin couldn’t answer.
Aria didn’t talk much to people, so her preferences were only known through rumors. There was nothing solid.
He had talked to her, but when they met, Aria always looked at him with unreadable eyes, listening to his stories.
Even when he talked about his dreams and ambitions, she silently nodded. When he boasted about achievements and merits, she looked at him with enchanting eyes and said, “You did well.”
“By the way, the type I like is a handsome man like my father.”
‘That is definitely not the case.’
Both the butler leaning against the wall and the guards behind him agreed with one voice.
Andrew pointed at himself proudly and leaned forward to face Edwin straight.
“I know a timid, ordinary, stupid, foolish, useless brat. You don’t know anything about it.”
“... ... But...”
“Since my nephews have been so curious about my whereabouts, I won’t make a promise here.”
Stopping Edwin again, Andrew looked at him with a creepy gaze and added.
“I, Andrew Shane Bricville, will never join the third prince Edwin’s faction on the day I can’t maintain neutrality.”
“... ...”
“This is my family’s Bricville vow.”
Andrew’s words from a high position carried heavy weight.
Since he had declared it, he would keep his word no matter what— for honor.
Neutral, but he had firmly stated he wouldn’t be on Edwin’s side. This would affect many forces still maintaining neutrality.
Andrew’s influence as a duke was that strong.
“No, Uncl—”
Panicked Edwin tried to speak, but Andrew didn’t listen and stood up from his seat.
“Go back. Consider yourself lucky to be my nephew.”
Andrew gave Edwin the dismissal and left.
* * *
“Then I’ll go first.”
After training, Philia, who had to learn swordsmanship from Selma as well, stood up and said.
The routine that had continued for over a year and become daily life, but lately Philia didn’t want to leave the garden.
The reason was simple.
Philia, who left first to learn swordsmanship from Selma, was still looking at the students training in the garden.
Especially toward Diana, who was chattering beside Rai.
Quick-witted Diana noticed her gaze and hugged Rai’s arm with a sweet smile.
“What are you doing?”
“Because it’s cold, let me hug you~”
“If it’s cold, I can make it hot?”
“Oh my, if I approach so actively, I can’t refuse. Will you warm me up?”
“Good, you’ve won the duel.”
“Aaaaa! Not that! There’s something else! Something else!”
Diana’s flustered look was amusing, but it seemed like she was showing off her closeness to Rai even more, causing a vein to bulge on Philia’s forehead.
While talking with Rai, Diana’s eyes were fixed on Philia as she smiled brightly.
Philia smiled back, but her smile was somehow scary.
Zeroa, witnessing the subtle emotional battle between the two, let out a bitter smile without a word.
Even if one person left, training continued.
First they practiced duels and basic spells, then after Philia left, they focused on technical training.
To stabilize Gel, Diana trained with Rai’s advice, while Aslan and Mia concentrated on delicate movements.
However, Zeroa only trained basic swordsmanship and shield combat.
Since Sozeta was strong even with basic swordsmanship, Zeroa, without doubt, used his fundamentals.
Although he had no talent, with experience as his weapon as Rai said, Zeroa, who had realized his role once more, sweated profusely today for standing beside Aria.
“Senior, do you have plans today?”
“Sorry, I have plans today.”
After training, Mia asked shyly, but Zeroa answered with a sorry expression.
Today, there was no way he could make any plans.
It was the day he would eat snacks with Aria on the bench.
This meeting had continued for nearly two years, showing no progress that would make anyone watching frustrated, but for the two involved, it was a happy time.
To serve Aria, who had tasted all the street foods, Zeroa brought his mother’s stew.
The weather had turned cold, so eating on the bench would be good.
As expected, Aria liked it.
Of course, Aria’s taste for expensive food had made the stew’s flavor faint and slightly salty, but when Zeroa said it was made by his mother, she had a strange emotion.
Aria, who had experienced her mother’s cooking, thought she might ask her own mother, Iliana, for food when she returned to her family.
She had always eaten food from a chef with good hands, so she was curious about her mother’s skill.
The chef’s food was tastier, but after finishing the strangely appealing stew, Aria quietly placed the empty bowl on her knee and looked at Zeroa.
“I’m curious about your house.”
“Eh? It’s nothing special. It’s small, the ceiling is low, and it’s embarrassing to show a duke’s daughter.”
Thinking his house was smaller than Aria’s room as the duke’s daughter, Zeroa smiled awkwardly.
“Is that so...”
Aria, who had felt longing for Zeroa’s stories about the worn table and family scent, lowered her gaze with disappointment at his rejecting words.
Zeroa, who usually had no expression, felt her small change greatly and opened his mouth unconsciously at the sad eyes of Aria.
“Eh... then can you come once tomorrow?”
Zeroa, having blurted out the words, felt chills down his spine.
Inviting Aria to his house. Just by stepping foot in his shabby house, she would have to kneel and apologize.
It probably wouldn’t happen, but if Aria frowned at the shabby house, he might be disappointed.
“Ah, th-that’s not it. I, I want to...”
“Yes, I’ll go.”
Zeroa, who had been flustered and stuttering, looked at Aria’s sparkling eyes and firm answer, freezing up.
“I... really...?”
“Yes, I have to return to my family soon, so I want to see you before that.”
Zeroa couldn’t refuse Aria’s small smile.