Chapter 123

"As the chief maid taught me, I came back after all the preparations."

Perez's quiet voice rang low as if it was buried in the wind.

"I'm ashamed not to see you off."

The chief maid Impigra came to the academy once a year around Perez's birthday, with her decrepit body.

And the last day she came.

The chief maid Impigra said as if she knew it was her last day.

"When you return to the Palace, you must prepare yourself. Because they're probably all set up."

In addition, the chief maid, who made various requests, bowed her head politely for the last time.

"Please be a Holy Army, Your Majesty."

It was treasonous for Emperor Jovanes to say such a thing when she was alive.

It was absolutely not what the chief maid Impigra, who had devoted her life to the Imperial Family, would say.

Nevertheless, it was probably because that was the last thing she wanted to say.

Perez caressed the monument with a bitter face.

He was remembered and embarrassed that he couldn't give a specific answer, at that time.

Perez also has too.

Something he had to say, but he couldn't.

The lips, which had been flapping a few times, struggled to spit out the words.

"Thank you."

Even though the sick old woman ran the long way to the young man over and over again.

Back then, Perez had never expressed his gratitude properly.

And it left a deep regret in his heart.

Finally, Perez, who was still pressing his forehead to the tombstone, rose from his seat shortly after.

And spoke briefly to Lignite, who was waiting behind.

"Now let's go back to the Palace."

* * *

I decided to spend the last evening in my 17th with my father.

As Gallahan's Clothing Store gradually entered the stable zone, my father was taking care of what he had delayed one by one.

Among them, the most urgent was the management of the Chesire Estate, which was awarded with the Order of the Founding Medal.

My father, who had been in Chesire all this year, came back to Lombardy for my birthday.

Maybe because he was tired from the long trip, he lost a little weight on his face, but my father is still handsome.

No, as he entered his 40s, the scent of a middle-aged man radiated.

Somehow, I was looking at it with pride, and my father, who was cutting steak, murmured blankly.

"Our Tia is already an adult."

Oh, you're crying again.

I knew this would happen, so I brought a handkerchief this time.

It was to prevent a mishap in which my father wiped away tears with a napkin he used to wipe his mouth.

But my father was surprisingly calm.

"Now it's really time to get out of your dad's arms."

Though with a bittersweet smile.

"Tia."

Across the table, my father looked at me with friendly eyes.

"Thank you for growing up well and strong under this poor father."

"Dad..."

"I was so clumsy and vulnerable that I made you suffer, child."

Maybe he was talking about what happened before my father started his business.

"I should have protected you more strongly..."

"Don't say that, Dad."

I got up and sat next to my father.

"My dad is a better man than anyone else in my memory."

"...really?"

"Don't you remember? When we went to the Palace together, you said, 'My daughter was surprised' to the Emperor because of the knights checked."

"Oh, that's what happened..."

My father was scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"And most of all, you overcame incurable diseases for me. There's nothing stronger than that."

"Tia."

My father swept the back of my hand.

"How did such a beautiful daughter come to me?"

"Hey. All the beautiful things are from my dad. Of course."

"What? Haha!"

My father burst into laughter.

I laughed with such a father.

"Oh, by the way, I have something for Tia."

My father took a small box out of his arms and showed me what was in it.

"Ring?"

It was a thin gold ring made of round, large purple jewels.

"It's a purple sapphire."

Father took out the ring himself and said.

"It was something I prepared when I proposed to Shan. She was so happy to get this ring."

My father's eyes, looking at the shiny ring, were filled with longing.

"I'll give it to you for your 18th birthday, Tia."

"But it's a precious thing for you."

My father didn't deny what I said.

"Yes, but I want our Tia, who is now an adult, to have what this ring means to Dad."

"What's that?"

My father, who was choosing words for a while, smiled and touched the ring.

"A person to love with all my heart."

My warm father's green eyes looked at me.

"Although there are many regrets left, I don't regret every moment I met your mother, Shan, and loved her. That's how happy we were."

Father put the ring down on my palm and said.

"So whenever you're ready, Dad wants this ring to bring someone to Tia one day. Just like your mother came into your dad's life."

My father seemed really happy to say that.

And it looked refreshing somewhere.

I nodded, holding the ring in my hand.