Riculos sheathed his sword and extended a hand toward me, pulling me to my feet.
Father remained seated in his chair. He looked at me for a long moment, then shook his head with a quiet sigh.
"Come here, Rosa."
His voice was warm.
But there was a sadness in it he could not quite hide.
I walked inside.
Father watched me for a long time, as if searching for the shadow of the child I used to be.
"There are some things… I did not want you to hear."
He spoke slowly.
"The burdens you already carry are more than enough."
"All I ever wished… was for you to grow up peacefully in this house."
He paused.
His gaze lowered slightly.
"But there are matters… beyond my ability to control."
"There are things… where all I can do is stand at a distance and watch you face them."
In my eyes, you are still that little girl running through the courtyard, laughing all afternoon.
Father turned his face slightly away. His hand briefly touched the corner of his eye.
"Damn it…"
His voice grew heavier.
"If I had been stronger…"
"Perhaps you would not have been dragged into this."
I bit my lip softly.
Father…
To the outside world, he was a man absolutely loyal to his house and the kingdom.
But I knew the truth.
To him—
family had always come before everything else.
"So—"
Father had just begun to speak.
But I interrupted him.
"Father."
My voice was calm.
"Don't worry."
I looked straight into his eyes.
"My death… I'm not afraid of it."
Father stared at me.
For a long time.
Then he let out a quiet breath and shook his head.
"If your mother were here… she would certainly scold me."
I saw his hand tighten on the table. The knuckles turned pale.
"You really are…"
He stopped.
"Just like your mother."
"Stubborn… exactly like her."
At that moment, Knight Riculos finally spoke.
"I will not allow any harm to come to the Young Lady."
His voice was low. Solid as steel.
"I swear I will protect the Young Lady… until my final breath."
He stood there, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his back straight, the way it had been on the battlefield.
I looked at him.
When I was little, whenever I caused trouble around the estate… and Mother was about to punish me—
he was always the one who stepped forward to stand in front of me.
"The Young Lady is only a child."
"If my lady insists on punishment… then please punish me instead."
Thinking back…
I couldn't even remember how many times I had hidden behind him.
To him… I was not just the daughter of the ducal house.
In his heart, I had always been like a second daughter.
But I shook my head.
"You should remain by my father's side."
"He needs you more than I do."
Riculos frowned slightly.
"Young Lady—"
"Besides…" I continued, "if I must die there, I would not want my father to lose his right hand as well."
The room fell silent.
"Young Lady Rosa."
Riculos's voice grew lower.
He stepped forward.
For a moment, it seemed as if he wanted to say something… but he swallowed the words.
In the end, he simply let out a quiet breath.
"You always say things that are hard to argue with."
I did not know if the resignation on my face was obvious.
But Father looked at me for a long time.
Then he spoke.
"I have already contacted several of the finest mercenaries to protect you."
"No. Do not interrupt me, Riculos."
Father said it before the knight could speak.
"I know you disapprove of your daughter, Miren, because she chose to become a mercenary instead of following the path of a knight."
"But the girl is more than strong enough to protect Rosa."
"Besides… the two of them have been close friends since childhood."
A trace of displeasure crossed Riculos's face.
He frowned slightly, as if wrestling with himself.
But in the end, he slowly nodded.
"I trust your decision, Your Grace."
He paused for a moment, then added,
"And… that stubborn daughter of mine as well."
"She says being a knight is far too boring."
"She wants to travel the world… and fight people who are actually dangerous."
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Miren may be stubborn…"
"But the girl knows how to survive."
His gaze shifted to me.
"She will not allow any harm to come to the Young Lady."
The door suddenly burst open.
The old butler hurried inside, slightly out of breath. In his hand was a sealed letter.
"Your Grace… an urgent letter from House Alasto."
Father and Knight Riculos frowned almost at the same time.
Father took the letter.
The red seal of Alasto was still intact.
He broke it open.
The room fell silent.
Father's eyes moved quickly across the lines.
Then—
they stopped.
His brows slowly drew together, almost touching.
A moment later, he folded the letter.
Without saying a word.
He handed the letter to Riculos.
The knight took it.
He read.
Only a few lines.
But his expression changed immediately.
"…Impossible."
Riculos muttered.
He looked at the letter again.
"This man…"
His teeth clenched.
"Is he mocking us?"
I looked at the two of them.
"Father?"
Father met my gaze.
For a brief moment, hesitation crossed his eyes.
But in the end, he nodded.
I stepped forward.
There was only a single sentence in the letter.
"The enemy of House Mariel…
is the enemy of House Alasto."