Marked as the Tyrant's Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 37

Hiiieek!!

Swoosh-

The sound of a sword with a sharp tip on its heavy body grazing the stone floor was heard.

S… Scary!!

Though his expression couldn’t be seen in the darkness, the movement of his lips was clearly visible.

“Heisen.”

He called Dad’s name again.

It was like this in the novel too. After calling Heisen’s name, he suddenly raised his sword and started the slaughter, and in the end, no one could stop him.

‘To think that I’d push the Tyrant’s trigger button with my own hands…!’

I unconsciously took a step back.

“I… I’m Arinel.”

But Parmes didn’t stop, and the sound of the sword blade dragging sent chills down my spine, as if it would stop my heart.

“…Your Majesty?”

The end of my voice was trembling.

Am I, am I going to die like this?

When he finally approached right in front of me, I could only tightly close my eyes with my shoulders hunched.

But what I felt was not his cruel sword blade, but a heavy hand.

‘Is my neck still properly attached?’

I very slowly lifted my eyelids.

And looked up at Parmes, who had placed his hand on my head.

I couldn’t help but be startled.

Because I could clearly see his expression that had been dim in the darkness.

“…Uncle?”

That expression wasn’t one that the Tyrant Parmes would make.

Because his deep red eyes were brimming with moisture, shimmering with emotion.

As if he was about to cry at any moment.

‘This is… different from the development in the novel, isn’t it?’

He was looking at me with eyes full of longing.

His dry lips slowly moved.

“Arinel… you really are Heisen’s daughter.”

A gentle voice, filled with emotion, flowed from Parmes.

I stared at him blankly, forgetting to answer.

When this handsome face made such an expression, it looked like an angel holding back tears.

“…..”

After staring at Parmes for a long time, I said to him.

“You must have… cherished my Dad very much.”

Parmes nodded with a sad look in his eyes.

And he lowered the hand on my head to cup my slightly chubby cheek.

“Heisen…”

Parmes seemed to be searching for Dad in my eyes.

“He was my most precious friend.”

At those words, I flinched.

My Dad was Parmes’ most precious friend?

I knew that Dad was one of the people who followed Parmes, but this was the first time I heard this.

But thinking about it now, it makes sense for their relationship to have been that close. In the original work, I even suspected Heisen of being Parmes’ ex-girlfriend.

“Arinel’s father died to save my life. Because of me.”

Parmes’ eyes wavered as he spoke. As if recalling that time.

“Your Majesty…”

Dad had died before Mom even gave birth to me. They said he was Parmes’ benefactor.

But, even so, I didn’t resent Parmes.

“…Dad wouldn’t have regretted it. What he did to protect Your Majesty, who calls him his most precious friend.”

At those words, Parmes’ eyes shook deeply.

“So don’t blame yourself.”

After staring at me for a long time, Parmes slightly bent his knees to meet my gaze.

His deep red eyes no longer seemed frightening.

“Thank you, Arinel.”

Parmes’ low voice was heard.

“…To receive such comfort from you.”

I looked at Parmes with wavering eyes.

I thought he had been living as Uncle Zimmer, hiding his cruel and destructive personality… but now I wondered if it might be the opposite.

Perhaps he was actually hiding a warm and gentle heart behind a cold exterior and attitude?

No, it doesn’t matter either way.

Whether he’s Parmes or Uncle Zimmer, he’ll always be this gentle figure to me.

“……”

I hugged Parmes and patted his firm back with my small hand.

***

As soon as I arrived home by carriage, the rain stopped abruptly.

“…Young miss.”

And Adam’s face, surprised for the second time upon seeing my attire.

“…Seeing the young miss’s appearance… a great wave is surging inside me. This is surely…”

I shook my head as I passed by Adam, who was getting emotional with reddened eyes.

“You’re late. I’ve already met someone who misses Dad.”

“Is that so? Still, seeing the young miss dressed in the Elementalist’s clothes, I’m moved as if the Marquis has come back to life…”

It seemed that even to Adam’s eyes, who was a knight who followed Dad, I looked quite similar to Dad.

“Hey, I have something to ask.”

“Truly, young miss, you are just like his daughter…”

Since Adam still seemed unable to come to his senses, I clapped my hands.

Only then did Adam focus on my words.

“I’m curious about the situation when Dad passed away.”

Hearing those words, Adam’s hand flinched.

“Young miss…”

And Adam’s expression darkened rapidly.

Adam’s voice that followed was lower and more somber than usual.

“I didn’t witness the tragedy at the time either, and only know from what I heard… but there was an attack when His Majesty was heading to Galnem.”

“An attack?”

“The struggle for the throne in the Aslet Imperial Family has traditionally been fierce, so it must have been either the 1st Prince or the 2nd Prince who resented His Majesty the most at the time. Or perhaps it was the 3rd Prince.”

Parmes Aslet was the 4th Prince and had a different mother from the 1st and 2nd Princes.

The 3rd Prince had the same mother, but I know he rejected his younger brother Parmes and sided with his half-brothers.

“There’s a terrible arrow called the poison arrow, which kills you quickly with poison if it hits. They say a rain of arrows poured down from an ambush point on the way to Galnem. And a knight with an enormous build who was guarding His Majesty deflected all of them. Thinking about it now…”

Adam furrowed his brows and nodded.

“…It must have been His Grace the Duke of Guermont.”

I could imagine Uncle Famel swinging that huge iron slab, smashing all the incoming arrows.

“Anyway, because it was a dangerous situation, Marquis Mylar escorted His Majesty to the back, but there was one more trap. Some of those bastards had infiltrated among our soldiers as spies.”

Adam’s eyes grew even heavier.

“And when the Marquis threw himself to block the one rushing towards His Majesty…”

“……”

“He went on a path from which he would never return.”

I stood silently for a moment.

I could imagine the nightmarish scene of that time.

“…I see.”

I understood Adam’s words when I first entered the Marquis’ household, introducing Dad as His Majesty the Emperor’s benefactor.

And Parmes, who was looking at me earlier, must have been projecting the image of a precious friend he could no longer meet.

“Even though I’ve never met Dad, I’m certain he must have been an amazing person.”

At my words, Adam’s eyes wavered.

And he spoke in a calm voice.

“He was a man who never compromised his principles. A man who walked the righteous path, unbending even if it meant breaking.”

Adam’s eyes held respect for my deceased Dad.

“Young miss, you resemble him greatly.”