Side Story 13

Before Ellia’s birthday party, a secret letter arrived for Dyffrin. It was sealed with the royal emblem.

Dyffrin read the letter and remained silent for a while. Then, after some time, he spoke.

“Evelyn, His Majesty the Emperor has issued a decree summoning me to the royal palace.”

Fenris wants Dyffrin?

“What’s the reason?”

“He wants to discuss sending a delegation to the Stranraer Empire.”

“Why you…?”

“He wants to send me as part of the delegation.”

Evelyn frowned.

“…You’re no longer a royal official. Could it be that he wants to weaken the ducal family by sending you away?”

Dyffrin shook his head.

“That’s not it. I can refuse to go as an envoy. It’s probably because the situation has become urgent due to pirates causing trouble shortly after ending the trade war with the Stranraer Empire, so he wants to borrow my expertise.”

“His Majesty believes that Stranraer, not admitting defeat, has conspired with pirates to stage a drama and wants to send a trustworthy envoy.”

“It’s an important matter.”

“Even so, to extend such an offer to you…”

“He will likely offer something enticing in return.”

Evelyn felt uneasy.

“If you go as an envoy to the Stranraer Empire, you won’t be able to return in a short time.”

“It will probably take at least a year.”

That meant being apart from Dyffrin for a year. The thought alone made Evelyn feel gloomy.

“There’s no need to make that face. I plan to refuse the offer anyway. I’ll just visit to show my courtesy.”

“…Alright.”

Even so, Evelyn felt uneasy, thinking Fenris might offer something irresistible. She knew what kind of person Fenris was.

If he was targeting Dyffrin, he wouldn’t use an ordinary bait.

“If I leave for the capital today, I can return by Ellia’s birthday party.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“I want to be there too.”

Dyffrin said with a faint smile. Evelyn tightly held his hand.

“Alright. Be careful.”

* * *

With Dyffrin gone, Ellia’s birthday approached.

Evelyn clasped her hands as she looked at the beautifully dressed Ellia.

“Wow, our Ellia looks like a princess.”

“The title of princess doesn’t suit me. I’m not a princess, and it sounds too fragile.”

Ellia said with a haughty face. Evelyn pretended to be hurt.

“When you were little, you often called me a princess.”

“I was wrong. Mother is not a princess.”

Evelyn was taken aback by the brutally realistic answer.

“Mother is much stronger and wiser than an ordinary princess.”

“Ellia, I told you not to read the novels the maids are reading. Not all princesses are fragile and waiting for a prince to save them.”

“I’m not just talking about novels. They are often depicted that way in paintings and history books too.”

At that moment, Woody chimed in.

“That’s right! Mom is more like an elegant queen than a princess.”

“Woody, that could be considered treasonous.”

Ellia sternly pointed out. A question mark appeared above Woody’s head.

“Treason…?”

“Your words could put our family in danger.”

“R-Really…?”

Woody, scared, started to tear up.

Evelyn sighed and comforted Woody. Then she looked at Ellia.

“Ellia, such words won’t be considered treason.”

“But it never hurts to be cautious with words.”

“You’re just like your father, always saying the right things.”

Ellia smiled proudly.

‘How can she be so brazen…?’

She used to be shy, but now she was excessively confident no matter what she said.

While Evelyn was thinking this, Ellia asked.

“When will Father return?”

“He should arrive by evening.”

Dyffrin stayed longer at the royal palace than expected. It was unclear whether the discussion was long or he was taking time to think.

“Instead of waiting for Father, shall we go greet the guests first? Grandfather and Uncle should be arriving soon.”

“Alright.”

“Yay, Grandfather and Uncle!”

Ellia and Woody answered in turn and left the room first. Evelyn cautioned Woody to be careful not to fall and followed them.

At the front gate, Dunswell and Isaac had already arrived.

“Our Ellia, happy birthday!”

Dunswell hugged Ellia and greeted her. Ellia, on the other hand, bowed her head gracefully.

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

“Grandfather, me too!”

Woody jumped up and down beside them, not wanting to be forgotten. Dunswell lifted Woody up.

“My little puppy, have you been well?”

“Of course, yesterday I even ate all the broccoli that was served for dinner.”

Woody loved people. Sometimes, he seemed like a puppy wagging his tail at everyone, just as Dunswell said.

After warmly greeting Isaac, Ellia and Woody stood at the entrance of the Grand Hall to greet the guests. They simply bowed their heads.

Taking advantage of a brief lull, Dunswell whispered to Evelyn.

“Dyffrin hasn’t returned from the royal palace yet?”

“No. It seems the discussion is taking long. But he will arrive at the castle today.”

“I see… Then it’s best if I handle the heir appointment ceremony in his stead.”

Today was both Ellia’s birthday party and the heir appointment ceremony.

Originally, Dyffrin, as the head of the family, should have done it, but Dunswell, the former duke, would do it as his proxy.

Dunswell warmly congratulated Ellia and formally appointed her as the heir of the Duke of Liwonoc.

Everyone clapped and congratulated her. No one dared to speak ill, as Dyffrin’s monopoly on luxury goods had intimidated them.

Ellia gracefully bowed and stepped down from the platform.

Just as the party was about to end, Dyffrin arrived.

“Dyffrin.”

Dyffrin, looking a bit tired, greeted Evelyn with a kiss on the cheek.

Despite his late arrival, Dyffrin greeted everyone without rest. It seemed he wanted to fulfill his fatherly duties properly.

Thus, Ellia’s hectic birthday party ended safely.

Evelyn bought Ellia a fountain pen as a gift, which Ellia loved.

Dyffrin gifted Ellia a horse, as she had just started learning to ride.

Ellia named the horse “Thunder” even before meeting it.

After the party, Evelyn tucked Ellia into bed and asked.

“Did you enjoy your birthday party?”

“It was a perfect party.”

Ellia smiled quietly.

“I’m glad you liked it. Our daughter, Ellia. Never forget that Mom and Dad always love you.”

Evelyn kissed Ellia’s forehead, making her face slightly blush.

Hesitating, Ellia wrapped her arms around Evelyn’s neck.

“I love you, Mother.”

Evelyn smiled and gave her another goodnight kiss. As she was about to leave, Ellia hurriedly said.

“Father too…! I love Father as much as I love you.”

Evelyn smiled warmly at Ellia’s shy confession.

“Next time, tell Dad directly. He’ll be happy.”

“…”

Ellia pulled the blanket over her face, trying to hide her blushing cheeks.

After putting Ellia and Woody to bed, Evelyn returned to the bedroom. Dyffrin was sitting in a chair with his head down.

“Why were you at the royal palace for so long?”

“…I needed time to think.”

“His Majesty must have offered something significant.”

“It was an offer I couldn’t ignore.”

What could have shaken Dyffrin so much? 

Evelyn focused on his voice.

“His Majesty offered Ellia’s future as a bargaining chip.”

It was a much greater offer than she had imagined.

“…He knows how to hit where it hurts.”

Fenris had anticipated Dyffrin’s current dilemma upon hearing the news of Ellia becoming the heir of Liwonoc.

The challenging path of a female noble.

And Fenris had the power to make that path smoother.

“He promised to appoint Ellia as a diplomat when she comes of age.”

“A diplomat…”

Ellia might be disappointed that it wasn’t a position she earned on her own, but in reality, a diplomat was a position where achievements were most clearly recognized. It was easy to rise or fall based on one’s abilities.

Fenris had offered just enough to open the path, leaving it to Ellia to pave her way.

It was a suitable position that wouldn’t provoke the opposition of high officials or nobles. They wouldn’t easily accept a young noblewoman taking a key position through the Emperor’s power.

Fenris had made a very clever and appropriate offer.

“What do you want to do?”

“Thinking only of Ellia, accepting it is the right choice.”

Indeed…

However, if he accepted Fenris’s offer, they would be apart for at least a year.

The reward offered by Fenris was sweet, but a year was not a short time.

Evelyn’s expression darkened. Rationally, it was right for him to accept Fenris’s offer. The envoy’s work might be bothersome, but it wasn’t too difficult. The reward was great for the effort required.

Most importantly, it was for Ellia.

Having made up her mind, Evelyn looked up.

“Go, Dyffrin.”