Chapter 15

The arrival at the Duke of Pencillia's castle was decided immediately.

It had only been a week since then.

As soon as Rias conveyed his wish to enter the castle, it was decided that it would be the next day, without delay.

Although the king's schedule was tight, it was an unusually quick decision, with a week's gap.

Today, Rias, Eidan, and I are in the carriage.

The nanny followed in the carriage behind with Meia.

The carriage entered the castle and passed through the second castle gate.

We could enter the inner castle by carriage thanks to the Duke's carriage.

Eidan is in a good mood. It took about 15 minutes by carriage, and we arrived at the castle before he could fuss.

Rias got out of the carriage while holding Eidan and offered his hand. I took it and slowly got out of the carriage.

In front of us was the door to the inner castle. Opening this door would lead directly to the royal family's living area.

I wondered if it was a good idea to come this far in the carriage, even though we are no longer part of the royal family.

"This isn't the audience chamber, is it?"

"Because we are family. Today is the king's day off."

That's right. I thought it would be an audience as a noble's family.

Well, it is my first grandchild. My younger brother, the crown prince, isn't even of marriageable age yet.

If it were the audience chamber, the king would be sitting on the throne, and he wouldn't be able to hold me.

—It feels more like a distant memory than a nostalgic one.

In my mind, the memories of my past life are closer. Of course, the memories from the past two years here are the most vivid.

Rias walks into the castle with ease. He holds Eidan in one hand and escorts me with the other.

We are led to a room by the guide walking in front of us.

It's a private guest room.

As we drink the tea served, the king appears almost immediately.

The door opens, and we stand up and bow.

"......S......Synthia......"

As I thought the footsteps were getting closer, they stopped in front of me.

My hands were taken and tightly gripped.

"Look up. ——You've become so thin... Oh, Synthia."

When I looked up, I met the king's eyes, which looked like he was about to cry.

I think he can still be considered young. He is a middle-aged man in his fifties, with platinum hair and red eyes, much like mine. The royal family often has red eyes. My younger brother is also a fire user.

"Father."

When I called him as I used to, the king's face quickly changed from a strict king to a gentle father, and then he broke down.

"U, uu..."

The king finally started crying.

"I didn't mean to make you suffer... U, uu..."

"Father? Please don't say such things."

Am I really that thin?

"I am healthy."

"But you've lost so much weight..."

The king glared at Rias.

"Is the food at the Duke's residence not suitable for you?"

"Father. I was unwell after childbirth, as you know."

"But it's been two years."

"I was bedridden for about a year, and now I move around a lot. I think I have a healthy figure."

"Are you in any pain? Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I'm fine. ——Now, I came here today to show you Eidan."

With that, Rias showed Eidan to the king.

"Thank you for the 2nd birthday present. Now, please stop crying."

The king wiped away his tears and looked at Eidan.

"Synthia, you've become a fine mother... ——Eidan, this is your grandfather."

Eidan seemed to have found comfort in Rias's arms and buried his face. I poked his back, but he ignored me.

There's nothing I can do. I'll wait until he gets used to it.

"I heard he's a healthy child. Synthia, you did well."

"I'm fine. The rocking horse you gave me is being used actively."

"Is that so..."

Silence fell.

What should we talk about after not seeing each other for so long?

The king keeps looking at me, but he doesn't say anything.

This atmosphere... What should I do?

"Mama."

Eidan broke the silence and reached out to me.

I took him from Rias, who was struggling to hold him.

"Papa."

"Oh, you've been held by him all this time."

The king smiled at this. Even though he hasn't been shown my face.

"The Duke doesn't seem to be very close to his son."

"If the king reduced his workload, he could spend more time at home."

Rias said this casually, ignoring the king.

"Time has nothing to do with it."

What a baseless claim.

I interjected, thinking, "Father, you were often rejected by Titi too."

Titi is my younger brother.

"——Speaking of which, where is Titi?"

"Today, I'm here in his place."

"Wow, you can do that now?"

He's only 15, five years younger than me. Is he already doing a good job as the crown prince?

Just as I was thinking this, the door opened.

"Sister!"

"Oh... It's Titi!?"

The one who entered was my only younger brother, Ortimetis, whom I call Titi because his name is long.

"Sister! I'm glad to see you."

He ran over, and I stood up to greet him.

"Oh, Titi... You've grown taller than me. Your voice has deepened."

He's a head taller. In just three years, he has grown much more mature than in my memories.

"You've become a fine young man."

"No, not yet."

"How's your work?"

"Father... The work you assigned me is done. It's terrible, you only assign work to me."

Titi has light brown hair and red eyes, like his mother.

"Sister, I'm really glad to see you. ——You must be Eidan. I'm your uncle."

Titi smiled, and Eidan was very interested.

"Eidan, this is Uncle Titi."

"Ti-ti!"

It seems easy for him to say. He seems to like the word and repeats it.

"That's right, Titi. ——Wow, Eidan, you're a genius!"

"That's unfair. Say 'grandpa.'"

"......"

He doesn't seem interested in me. He doesn't even look at me.

I can't understand the difference, but the king is disappointed.

With Titi here, the conversation picked up.

"Rias is teaching me swordsmanship while doing his work as the head of the knights."

"It's just a little sparring. The prince has a proper teacher."

"Still, Rias's sword skills are amazing. His swings are so heavy."

"Oh, really?"

The head of the knights isn't just for show.

Titi seems to admire Rias.

While talking, we had lunch together and took a walk in the garden. By then, Eidan had gotten used to the environment.

He only let Titi hold him, but while he was sleeping in Rias's arms, the king approached. After some back and forth, Eidan was in the king's arms.

Since he was sleeping, he didn't resist. The king's way of holding him was practiced.

"——Oh, how cute. His face resembles the Duke, but this adorable expression is undoubtedly like Synthia's."

Even though his face looks like Rias, his expression is like mine.

"His voice is like a bell, just like Synthia's when she was a child."

He hardly ever says anything nice...

"Oh... How precious. Synthia, why don't you stay at the castle for a while?"

"Father, what are you saying?"

The king lowered his voice.

Rias was talking to Titi a little away.

"Are you not suffering? Are you not overworking yourself?"

"Yes."

"I've thought of you every day for the past three years. ——I know I'm an unreasonable father for forcing you into a marriage you didn't want."

"Father."

I need to be clear about this.

"Marriage is a duty of a princess. In my youthful indiscretion, I said hurtful things to you. I apologize here and now."

"Synthia. I can't annul the marriage, but if you're suffering... you can come back anytime. For health reasons..."

"Father."

I didn't expect him to say that.

"I am living as the Duchess of Pencillia and have given birth to Eidan. Please don't say such things again."

The king's shoulders drooped as if he were dispirited.

"But I appreciate your concern. Knowing that I can return if I'm suffering makes me feel lighter."

I poked Eidan's chubby cheek. I could hear his gentle breathing from his slightly open mouth.

"To me, you are the only and reliable father."

A drop of water fell on Eidan's cheek.

"Oh, Father... Please don't cry. Have you become more sensitive to tears? I'll come to see you again. Okay?"

"Uu... Synthia. You've grown up so much. Did you suffer... suddenly..."

Well, I've changed a bit inside.

"I've always been selfish to you. Please forgive me."

"Don't say that. Don't say that..."

The king's tears wouldn't stop after that.