Preparation
Then I had Tanya prepare my travelling needs and I headed for the Kingdom again.
Focus on maneuverability, bring in minimal personnel.In case I got attacked, I need to be able to escape and defend.
On the way, I remember the excommunicating riot some time ago.
At that time, I asked Dean for help.
…… It’s not just that time, many times, is not it?
But now, Dean is not at my side.
I wonder if such a thing happens again.. will he be by my side then?, is he safe …?
Thousand questions that I had not thought about are boiling inside me.
Dean… I miss you…
I have no means of knowing his safety.
Therefore I worry … My chest hurts.
However, the reality kept me away from trying to pry too deep into Dean’s affairs, even the time to worry about it I don’t have.
I put aside the thoughts that occasionally came to me about Dean, and when I was about to get crushed by anxiety, I always clasped this pocket watch he gave me.
…… If allowed, I wanted to jump out looking for him.
But I can not. I need to fill my role and support my people.
Just being able to wait for him … I don’t know if I will have that leisure. Problems keep pilling on me… and my situation here is unstable…
And.. If I moved to look for him, I’m sure he would not forgive me forever…
I grasped the pocket watch so as to shake off my anxiety.
When I arrive at the kingdom, I take a deep breathe like trying to shake off all thoughts about him.
With so much going on, the capital was saddened …
Lyle and Dida are wary of the neighborhood.
They felt danger, their tension was rising.
We proceed in such a state and arrive at the mansion.
While breathing out at the unchanging scenario of the mansion, I headed for the father first.
“Long time no see, father, How do you feel?, Are you better now?.”
“… It’s been a while, Iris. Thanks to Mary and everyone, somehow I’m better…”
The sort of smile is somewhat weak.
He is definitely thinner than before.
Sitting still seems to be painful.
But his complexion seems better than before.
“Mother, I also have not seen you for a long time”
“Yeah .. I guess I’m doing my best too, same as you…”
“No, that’s too much to say… I didn’t help that much”
At my mother’s friendly words, I am shy at the grand scale.
“… Iris, I listened to a story in the recent times… “
But to the words that followed from my father, I quickly changed my mood.
“I am sorry, my father, my existence has again created trouble to the house…”
“What you do say… … I have not regretted that I gave you the position of acting as a lord, and even if you were not standing on that position, for Marquis and Princess Elle, the Duke of Armelia is an obstructing existence, so whatever we do, they would have been moving to reject it. “
“Yeah, Iris. Please stop referring to yourself like a troublesome and unneeded person, you are an important person for us and the people of the territory.”
“Father, mother ….”
“You need to be yourself and do what you can. We … and our people believe in what you decided”
“Thank you”
My eyes got hot and humid.
Really, how is it that they understand me? … Both my father and mother can accurately give me the words I want.
“Even though we want to help you, I feel that we wouldn’t move together”
I shake my head to my father who seems to be sorry.
“Good, father … Those words alone, are enough for me.”
In the conversation I had with my father and my mother, my heart got warm.
They believe in me absolutely always and in any circumstance… …that I can affirm.
How much confidence they have in me, more than my own.
“Father, you should take care of your physical condition, take some rest, I will excuse myself.”
Then, I returned to my room.
At that timing, Tanya came in.
“…Excuse me, Milady”
“Was it a success?”
“Since Moneda cooperated, I already surveyed the area, and sincerely thanks to him and Mr. Anderson’s cooperation, including the master everything was sucessfull.”
“Well then, in the unlikely event they send us the army, were you able to contact that man named Milo to ask for help. Tanya?” (TL: Milo, if I remember correctly was the spy the first prince sent to help tanya before.. most likely she plans to get help from the first prince…)
To my question, she nods silently.
“If so, is he the reason why we received that invitation to Princess Elle party …?”
“Yes, he had said at that moment, ” She’s not a person who mistakes a move in the game. She’ll win.”
Just like Dean’s words were in hers… a feeling of security spread to my heart.
“It is due to my state of mind ….” I said to myself…
I softly put my hands on my chest. Under the clothes, the pocket watch was hanging like usual.
“How are you… Milady?”
“No, it’s nothing, as for my opponent with whom we have to negotiate in the future … Tanya … I have left you a letter that I need for you to hand it over to the other party”
“I certainly got it, I will dedicate my best to return with good results to the lady.”
“Yeah … … Thank you, Tanya”