Chapter 136
“……”
Daphne slowly blinked.
Mom, mom.
She had never even thought about such a word, let alone spoken it aloud. That was how unfamiliar its meaning was to Daphne.
Even the word *family* had never truly felt familiar to her, and now… *mom*, *mom*.
Moreover…
‘She isn’t my real mother anyway.’
After all, she was nothing less than someone who had stolen this body. So she must not be shaken by words like these. She absolutely must not.
But she couldn’t let it show here. If she did, someone might discover the truth about the person inside Daphne.
Daphne took a breath as she stumbled over the words lingering in her mouth.
“After all, she is someone I do not know. I cannot long for someone whose face I have never even seen.”
“……”
Heros’s expression became complicated.
Come to think of it, Daphne had never seen Elise’s face. Not just her face. She had never been held in Elise’s arms, never known her warmth, and never heard her voice. Even though all the other children remembered and mourned Elise.
Why had he never realized this until now?
Heros had decided that, from this point on, he would try not to be a bad father anymore. But realizing that he had overlooked something this important filled him with shame. What did it even mean to try not to be a bad father? He was already more than bad enough.
Suppressing the wave of shame that washed over him, Heros spoke again.
“Elise’s study still remains in the main mansion. Her portrait is hanging there as well.”
Then he suddenly paused.
Daphne wasn’t living in the main mansion but in the annex.
Fed up with Daphne’s reckless behavior, Heros had practically exiled her to the annex. He had even reduced the number of servants to the bare minimum and isolated her. At the time, he had believed it was the best solution.
But had it truly been the best?
Pressing a hand against his throbbing forehead, Heros continued.
“Come back to the main mansion now. And whenever you want to see Elise, I’ll let you go to her room.”
…Do I really have to?
Daphne rolled her eyes.
She was already living comfortably enough in the annex. Did she really have to move back to the main mansion?
But if she said she was fine staying where she was, it somehow felt like that would be strange. At least, that’s what it felt like.
So Daphne reluctantly nodded.
“O-Okay. I shall make a special exception and return to the main mansion.”
“A special exception?”
Heros smiled as the corners of his lips curled upward.
He thought Daphne truly wasn’t an honest child.
She’s probably like me in that regard.
Heros lightly raised an eyebrow.
“Very well. Then I’ll also make a special exception and spend more time teaching you swordsmanship.”
“Oh. That sounds nice.”
“Have you mastered the Second Form yet?”
“Mm.”
Daphne quietly avoided his gaze.
“I’m still learning it. Just wait a little. Why are you so impatient?”
“Are you really the one who should be saying that to me?”
“Quiet.”
Things at the training institute had been so busy and chaotic that she hadn’t been able to properly learn the sword forms.
Of course, even Daphne herself knew that was just an excuse.
But what could she do?
It was the truth.
‘I need to build up more stamina.’
Right.
No matter how much strength she had used, she had already spent enough time lying in bed. It was time to start running around and improving her stamina.
Determined, Daphne opened her eyes wide.
Then she changed the subject.
“What does the Imperial Treasury have? Is there anything you, Hero, would recommend?”
But instead of answering immediately as she had expected, Heros once again wore a rather strange expression.
It was as though he was displeased, yet at the same time amused, leaving him oddly speechless.
Daphne frowned.
“Why are you making that expression? It’s annoying.”
Heros leaned forward, bringing himself a little closer so that their eyes met.
“I wonder how much longer you’re going to keep calling me ‘Hero.’”
“Wha… Then what should I call you? Your Grace? Grand Duke?”
“Dad.”
“……”
Daphne unknowingly left her mouth half open.
“My ears must have gotten clogged lately. I keep hearing nonsense.”
“I said, how about calling me Dad?”
“…Oh.”
The world’s truly coming to an end.
This ridiculously young human is actually trying to force a title like that on me.
Hah… hah… hah…
Letting out a hollow laugh, Daphne muttered,
“Either you should go and die, or I should.”
The weather was just perfect for dying.
☆☆☆
The carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace and turned off the central road onto what looked like a narrow woodland path.
According to Heros, this was the road leading to the Imperial Treasury.
They passed through a dense forest, crossed by a small lake, and then went through another stretch of forest.
Judging by the route, this place was anything but ordinary.
How much could humans possibly have gathered?
Why hide it this thoroughly?
Looking at the place that was hidden as carefully as a dragon’s lair, Daphne let out a dry laugh.
‘Though… it really is quite similar.’
The treasury, built by remodeling a cave…
Well…
It really did resemble a dragon’s lair.
The pathways, the structure, even the magic circles spread across the ground.
‘Did Shio teach them?’
Considering that guy who called himself the great sage and kept meddling in human affairs, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.
Daphne reached that conclusion inwardly.
“You asked me earlier to recommend something worth taking from the treasury.”
Heros said after helping Daphne down from the carriage.
“I gave it some thought, but I think it’s better if you see everything yourself.”
Daphne let out a dry laugh.
“So that’s how it is. You acted like you were going to tell me.”
Heros shrugged.
“It’s because there are too many good things. I simply can’t choose just one.”
“No matter how good they are, how good can they really be? If something were truly that valuable, wouldn’t the Emperor have kept it for himself?”
Heros merely answered with another shrug.
Knowing the Emperor’s true identity, he couldn’t agree with Daphne’s words.
“Well, whatever. I’ll inspect everything with my hawk eyes. Hopefully something catches my attention.”
Nodding, Heros gestured toward those guarding the treasury.
Among them, a man who appeared to be a mage placed his hand on the magic circle, while the knights beside him drew their sharp swords and stood on guard.
No matter that Heros was the Hero.
No matter that he was the Grand Duke.
They could not lower their guard.
Of course, the countless magic circles carved throughout the place, along with the golems stationed here and there, would deal with any intruders.
Even so, they remained vigilant.
The Imperial Treasury was exactly what its name implied.
It was where everything important and everything precious was kept.
Rumble!
As the sound of massive rocks shifting echoed through the air, the mana within the defensive magic circle at the entrance slowly began to subside.
‘Oh ho.’
Daphne admired it sincerely.
It had been a very long time since she had seen a magic circle and formulas crafted with such precision.
‘Shio really must have helped them.’
Daphne became convinced.
No matter how much she liked humans, she was precisely because of that able to judge them more objectively.
Humans alone were incapable of producing magic of this level.
There was no doubt that some transcendent being had intervened.
‘I’ll ask Shio about it next time. It would be nice to install something like this at home as well.’
Of course, the annex was already filled with magic circles.
But now that she would be moving into the main mansion, wouldn’t it be better to have barrier magic of an even higher grade there as well?
It was something Daphne could do.
She was capable of it herself…
‘But why bother? I already have slaves.’
There was no reason not to make use of slaves she already had.
‘I should put that Artson fellow to work as well.’
Chuckling to herself, Daphne stepped through the opening door after Heros.
That was when it happened.
“……!”
Someone else was already inside the treasury.
He stood there as though he had been waiting for Heros and Daphne.
The moment Heros saw him, he respectfully bowed.
“Your Majesty the Emperor.”
The man called the Emperor smiled kindly and shook his head.
“There’s no need for such formal greetings between us. That’s enough. Raise your head.”
Leaving the now-standing Heros behind, the Emperor turned his gaze toward Daphne.
“Oh, so this is your daughter. The famous hero! I’ve wanted to meet her at least once.”
He spoke with a bright smile.
But Daphne simply stood there blankly without answering.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Daphne.”
Even after being greeted, she did not move an inch.
Sensing that something was wrong, Heros turned toward Daphne.
“Ha, this is insane.”
A hollow laugh escaped through Daphne’s teeth.
The reason was simple.
She had immediately recognized the true identity hidden behind the Emperor’s face.
He was a Gold Dragon.
“This is driving me crazy… seriously.”
Weren’t dragons supposed to be beings that were difficult to encounter in the first place?
Then why did they keep appearing around her?
It was truly beyond absurd.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
