As the view gradually brightened, an endless horizon came into sight. It was just a moment ago that I was in Severes’s greenhouse, but now, the surroundings were nothing but ocean.

“Is this my father’s dream?”

I had vaguely imagined what it would be like to peek into a dream, but I didn’t expect it to feel like stepping into another world. The sensation of stepping on sand, the smell of the sea breeze – everything was vivid, unlike a dream. After briefly surveying the surroundings, I called out to Sloth in my mind.

“Hey, Donkey.”

I waited for a moment, but there was no response.

 “Greed?

Greed, too. Apparently, sins do not enter dreams. Suddenly, I felt like I was alone in a remote world. 

 “Hmmm. I’m lost.”

I looked around, but all I saw was the sea, the sky, and the sandy shore.

Was I supposed to find my father somewhere around here? I scratched my cheek and started walking slowly along the long coastline.

Every time the waves crashed, it felt like the seawater would wash over my feet, but then it would quickly recede. Come to think of it, when was the last time I saw the sea? It felt like it had been ages.

It felt like my chest was clearing up.

How long had I been walking? I saw a figure far away.

Was I finally going to meet my father? As my heart pounded furiously, I approached the figure. I stopped abruptly.

 ’My father… and who is that?’

Dad wasn’t the only one there. Someone was leaning against his side. It didn’t take me long to realize who it was.

“Mother.”

In this dream of my father’s, my mother was probably just a fantasy. 

The sight of them holding hands was that of a beautiful and perfect couple.

Watching them from a distance…

I couldn’t even dare to make a sound. My father’s face, with his eyes closed, looked so happy.

’Am I allowed to disturb this peace…?’

I couldn’t help but think that it might be better to live in this eternal dream of happiness.

In real life, the mother my father loves isn´t by his side. As I stared at the two of them, the surroundings gradually dissolved, and the scenery changed.

The next thing that appeared was a magnificent ballroom.

Suddenly, there were a lot of people around, which made me feel flustered, but fortunately, it seemed like they couldn’t see me.

Thanks to that, I could wander around freely.

 “The Imperial Ball.”

Although the ballroom layout was different from the present, the place itself was familiar enough to recognize. However, with so many people around, finding my father wasn’t easy. As I navigated through the dancing crowd, heading towards a corridor with a lounge, I was taken aback when I bumped into someone.

 “Huh.”

 ’Duke Perdia……?’

The Duke of Perdia, looking younger than I remember, was right in front of me. 

He looked angry for some reason.

 My heart was pounding fast because it was the first time I’d seen someone I recognized.

Feeling awkward, I distanced myself from Duke Perdia, but after that, I encountered familiar faces several times.

Themis, not yet a duchess, and the younger, to the still unlucky-looking Duke Angellus.

The emperor I knew was always a frail figure lying in bed, but the emperor in the dream was vigorous.

Still, my father’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Since this was my father’s dream, he must be somewhere here. Despite searching every nook and cranny, I couldn’t find him. If he wasn’t indoors, there was only one place left.

I left the bustling ballroom and headed towards the garden. Couples enjoying secret meetings were scattered all around.

‘Ugh. heard that the lady is now married to another man…. They’re famous for being a lovebird couple…….’

Hm. I learned things that I didn’t really want to know. How long did I wander around the garden? As soon as I arrived near the fountain, I heard a familiar voice.

“You’re not trying to be funny, are you?”

“I didn’t mean to make you laugh, but it seems I did. My apologies.”

Upon hearing the sharp tone of their conversation, I hid my body in the bushes. Beyond them, I could see the Duke of Perdia and my father, the Duke of Severes. The Duke of Perdia who had looked angry earlier, now appeared even more enraged.

’What are those two doing here?’

Quietly holding my breath, I eavesdropped on their conversation. Duke Perdia launched an aggressive accusation.

“Richard Severes. I heard you moved Arcelia’s residence without permission.”

“Yes. I placed her in the mansion for her safety.”

“Send her back.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Even without your interference, Arcelia was adequately protected.”

“Protected… Do you know she almost died in the last attack? Can you call that protection?”

My father smiled somewhat coolly at Duke Perdia. It seemed like a love quarrel between two men with my mother caught in between.

’Seems like my mother hasn’t chosen between them yet?’

Two handsome men fighting over a woman…

‘……Yummy!!!’

As a participant in the highly stimulating romance that unfolded before my eyes, I couldn’t keep my wits about me.

I already knew the outcome of the romance, but the process was still interesting.

“Duke Perdia, don’t think you can possess someone with your family and power.”

“…. You’re going too far.”

“Arcelia’s whereabouts are her own decision.”

 “…….”

After that, it seemed like the two of them were still talking, but once again, the surroundings began to fade away. The next thing I know, I open my eyes to find myself in Severes’ greenhouse at night. 

’No way, did I escape from the dream?’

I hadn’t even met my father properly yet. That couldn’t be. I had to use the power of sin again. But when I looked where my father should have been, I doubted my eyes.

 “What the……?”

There was nothing where the glass coffin should have been. My father should have been sleeping here. Perplexed, as I stood there, I sensed movement nearby.

 Rustle. 

Turning my head, I locked eyes with someone. In the darkness, the dimly glowing red eyes captivated my gaze.

 ‘I’m still dreaming.’

Because my father, who should have been asleep in the coffin, was standing right in front of me. Unlike the other people who passed by without seeing me, my father, the dream’s subject, seemed to see me.

I finally met my father. I had so much to say, but my mind went blank like a blank sheet of paper, and nothing came to mind.

“Uh, hello?”

In the end, all I did was foolishly greet him. I thought he would naturally ask about my identity as an uninvited guest, but he didn’t. My father, who had been staring at me without blinking, smiled and spoke.

“Elodie.”

And he called my name.

‘He called my name.’

I was so surprised that I ended up asking another stupid question.

“Do you know me…?”

But even so, my father answered my absurd question affectionately.

“Yes. You are mine and Arcelia’s daughter.”

With a response that seemed obvious, I couldn’t say anything and just looked at my father’s face from a distance. Because it felt so unreal, I didn’t know what to do. Then my father reached out to me.

“Come here.”

I took a few steps closer, but the distance was still far. My father reached out his other hand to me.

“Come closer.”

I took a cautious step forward, but the distance remained. My father, who had been waiting for me, actually approached me and hugged me.

“……!”

There was a strange scent in his wide embrace. Unconsciously, I buried my face in his embrace as if to act like a child. His big hand affectionately stroked my head.

“You’ve grown up well.”

My father said it as if he was proud and pleased. I lifted my head, looked up at him, and asked. 

“How did you know?”

Even if I resembled my mother in appearance, he couldn’t be so sure that I was his daughter. How did he recognize me? But it seemed like a foolish question.

“I knew as soon as I saw you.”

“As soon as you saw me?”

“Yes. It’s hard to explain in words…”

As a child, I couldn’t understand the feelings of a parent when they discover and recognize their child. Nevertheless, a dilemma arose.

I didn’t know how to act towards my father, whom I had met for the first time in 20 years. I hesitated and timidly asked,

“Can I call you Dad?”

“If you don’t call me that, I might feel a bit hurt.”

With a warm look that seemed to be encouraging me to call him that, my dad looked down at me. 

Thinking and saying something out loud were two different things. I bravely called him Dad, despite the awkwardness.

“Dad.”

“Yes, Elodie.”

“Dad.”

“…Yes, Elodie.”

“Dad…”

“Yes.”

I called him Dad several times, and each time, he answered me promptly.

‘I see. He really is my dad.’

Finally, I began to feel the reality.

’Dad. My dad.’

I grabbed my dad’s large hand with both of mine and shouted,

“I came to wake you up!”

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***

When Sylvester arrived at the Perdia Mansion, the Perdia brothers had also just returned and were stopping their horses.

He gestured to his two sons dismounting from their horses.

“Follow me. I have something to convey.”

“Yes, father,” the two sons replied in unison.

Handing the reins to a servant, the two sons followed behind Sylvester.

As they walked towards the study, Jansi’s gaze lingered somewhere.

Sylvester held a box in one hand. It was clearly an ornate gift box, typically used for presenting gifts to women.

“It seems you’ve bought a gift for Mother.”

“That’s irrelevant.”

Sylvester firmly cut off Jansi’s words. But he couldn’t speak the truth.

How could he admit that he had bought a bracelet to give to Elodie? It was embarrassing.

It was the first time he had personally picked out an item to gift someone, especially for Elodie.

He felt even more embarrassed for doing something so unlike himself.

He had simply bought it on impulse, thinking it would suit her.

When the three of them arrived at the study, the steward waiting there informed Sylvester.

“Your Grace, Miss Elodie has visited.”

“Elodie? When did she come and go?”

“About three hours ago. She has gone out now.”

“I see.”

“She left a letter. It’s on your desk.”

Was there something urgent she needed to discuss?

If it was urgent, she could have contacted him through magical communication. Sylvester put aside the orders he had for his sons and picked up the letter from his desk.

As he opened the letter with a light heart, his expression slowly hardened.

He had thought that this day would come eventually.

Elodie had been struggling to wake her father up all this time. He knew that, but he pretended not to.

But of all days, why did it have to be today? The gift box he was holding in his other hand crumpled slightly.

Elodie had left.