Chapter 84

Night. In the study of the Lamproug family mansion.

Blaze Lamproug was reviewing a stack of documents under the light.

Regarding the management of the territory, he entrusted most of it to people he trusted.

However, there were times when the lord himself had to approve certain matters.

With tired eyes from the work he did not particularly enjoy, Blaze addressed the man standing by his side.

“Edis”

“What is it, Blaze?”

The freed slave, who was waiting for Blaze to finish his work, replied curtly.

It was a casual attitude he never showed in public. But for the two of them, this was their true relationship.

Without making eye contact, Blaze asked,

“Surely, you’re not still angry, are you?”

“...”

With Edis remaining silent, Blaze let out a sigh of exasperation.

“Eifa seemed to be doing well, didn’t she?”

“...”

“She seems to be doing well there too. Sending her to the academy was the right decision, wasn’t it?”

“...”

“It would be a pity to keep her in such a remote place. She is your daughter, after all.”

“Don’t talk about it like that. I like this place.”

“You and Eifa are different. That child must want to see the outside world.”

“... My dissatisfaction isn’t about that. I can’t stand the fact that you so easily let Eifa go.”

Edis would never say that he wanted Eifa to be freed from her slave status.

It was not uncommon for the children of freed slaves to be kept as slaves. In many cases, they served as a kind of hostage to ensure continued loyal service after being freed.

However, for these two, it had a different meaning.

“... Especially, to be a servant to that cursed child.”

“Edis”

Blaze spoke in a tone of admonishment.

“Eifa is not just a memento of that person, nor a token of your loyalty. Our sentimentality will fade with age. It’s time to let that child walk her own path.”

“... Hmph”

“And stop calling Seika a cursed child. She is just a normal child now.”

Blaze continued,

“She is an excellent student at the academy. She hasn’t caused any problems. In the end, she wasn’t a demon at all. Even Berta, who used to be afraid of her, now shares my view.”

Blaze himself was surprised by Berta’s attitude towards Seika at the dinner table.

His wife had always been afraid of Seika.

She was always worried that Seika’s mysterious magic might harm Luft or Grail.

However, now that their two sons had grown up well and Seika had built good relationships with various people in a distant place, Berta might have become more accepting.

“Hmph... I still find her unsettling.”

Edis said dismissively.

“She has been strangely mature since childhood, and she hasn’t changed inside.”

“I don’t see it that way. The face she shows to Eifa and her school friends is different from the one she shows to me, Berta, and the servants.”

“You can think what you want, but what’s the reason for assigning Eifa to her?”

“... Edis”

Blaze said in a voice that sounded like a sigh.

“Why don’t you just admit it? You can see, can’t you? That child seems to really like Seika.”

“...”

“When it was decided that Seika would go to the academy, I thought you were happy to report it to her.”

“... Tch!”

“I am a father too. I understand how you feel.”

“You, who don’t have a daughter, wouldn’t understand.”

“Haha... Maybe you’re right.”

Blaze smiled and spoke to Edis.

“Seika is a good person. Don’t you trust me, Edis?”

“... No, I will try to believe you.”

Edis answered with a sigh.

“You are a strange man. You seem uninterested in others, but you have a good eye.”

“Observation is essential for a researcher. And, surprisingly, so is social skills.”

“I can’t see that in you. If you’re talking about social skills, why don’t you try to be a better conversational partner for the Holy Princess?”

Blaze’s expression turned slightly bitter at the suggestion.

To be honest, Blaze found Fiona difficult to deal with.

He didn’t understand young girls’ thoughts in general, but especially not how to interact with a princess who seemed to be living in a daydream.

Fortunately, she usually spent time with her own maids or with Grail, who was set to become a Holy Knight, so Blaze didn’t have to deal with her much.

However, on the other hand.

Blaze felt that there was some meaning to her staying in this place.

The Holy Princess was not just a girl as she appeared to be.

If she weren’t, she wouldn’t have been able to gain such a presence from a position where the throne was the furthest from her, with no backing.

Her desire to meet Amu, an exceptionally talented student at the academy, was probably genuine.

But that wasn’t all.

There was a hidden purpose, whether it was an object, information, an opportunity, or another person... It was unclear. But it had to be one of them.

And he would likely never know what it was.

The princess would achieve her goal in a way he was unaware of and leave.

Blaze had a premonition of this.

There was no need to pry into unnecessary matters.

He just needed to get through the next few days without any problems.

After a moment of silence, Blaze spoke again.

“Will you join me for dinner tomorrow? It would be nice to have a meal with your daughter...”

“I told you I have a dinner meeting with a merchant executive from a distant place. Don’t try to involve me. If you won’t do your work as a lord, at least fulfill your duties as the head of the Lamproug family.”

Blaze sighed deeply at the unexpected truth.