CH 45

Yes. Unlike seven years ago, Enoch, who became a father, had something to protect. 

More important than belief, the existence of his daughter. 

“….” 

The Emperor, who had patted Enoch’s shoulder a couple of times, looked up at the map again and said.

“Winter would be nice. Isn’t it the time when all life holds its breath? The smell of blood will cover the blizzard.”

He didn’t need any more words.

Before the end of the year, winter. It meant that the names of the countries that were still in one corner of the continent had to be erased.

“….” 

After a long silence, Enoch walked past the emperor.

And he paused.

“… I will prepare.”

A smile crept across the Emperor’s lips.

* * *

When he left the Emperor’s room, Axion was waiting for him.

“What did you talk about with His Majesty?”

“It’s obvious.”

“…I see.” 

Nothing more was said between the two, but the conversation was enough.

“There is a person who wants to see your face for a while. Meet her and go back.”

“Who?”

“Selena.”

“….” 

Enoch’s steps, which quickly crossed the hallway to get out of the suffocating palace, stopped abruptly.

Selena.

A colleague and great wizard who walked the battlefield together 7 years ago.

She was Lilith’s mother.

“Why me?”

“How do I know that?”

Axion spat out and added with a sigh.

“She must want to talk about her daughter. You’re not the only one who had a baby. As a mother, she can claim the right to meet your daughter.” 

“Ah, is that so?” 

Enoch pondered for a moment.

It would be a lie if he didn’t think of the child’s mother when he decided to return to the Capital. 

If Lilith was curious about her mother, he was willing to let her meet.

However, Enoch half-randomly stole his children, and Selena had already started a new family—.

‘If she wants to meet Lilith, she should.’

She is a mother with another family. His daughter might be confused by this not being the normal form of a family, but Enoch had to deal with it. 

As he thought about this and that, his steps stopped again. 

It was Selena.

Their eyes met in the middle of a quiet hallway.

“See you later.”

As Axion moved out of his place, Selena approached.

“Long time no see. How have you been?”

“Yeah. What’s the matter?” 

Selena brushed up her blonde hair and smiled lightly.

“It’s still there. The personality that only says what is necessary.”

“….” 

“First of all, I’m sorry. You know, but I was the one who told His Majesty about you.”

“It’s okay.” 

Enoch said calmly.

Announcing the move. Not moving with the respect of her biological mother, Selena. It was all Enoch’s choice.

“Even if you hadn’t told him, His Majesty would have found me somehow. If it bothers you, you don’t have to.” 

“Really? I received a lot from His Majesty in exchange for talking about you. I retired and my son was exempted from military service.”

“I know.” 

Selena’s eyes narrowed. She was prepared to be cursed at, but Enoch’s reaction was calmer than expected.

“Why are you back? I thought you would somehow run away.”

“Because my daughter wants to come to the Capital.”

“I see. How’s the kid? Did she grow well?”

“Yeah. Her name is Lilith. She is nice and bright. Pretty. She is shorter than her age, but she will grow up soon. She’s a little picky.”

Selena was surprised by Enoch’s face, who smiled as he talked about their daughter. 

“I thought nothing would have changed, but it wasn’t.”

“You’re here to talk about children, right?”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll show you, but I haven’t told my child about her mother yet…” 

“No, Enoch.” 

“….?” 

“I came to ask you not to talk about me to the child. I’m glad you haven’t done it yet.” 

Enoch’s eyes widened. It was different from what he expected.

“She’s going to be enlisted soon, right? I’m working in a training camp. Maybe we will meet at least once.”

“You’re not going to see the child?” 

“Maybe… Kids will be confused too. I have a new family and I have a son. But I can’t be a mother to the child.” 

“….” 

“My son, he is five years old. My son is also in training camp now. So just in case, Lilith… I thought it would be bad for my son’s emotions if he looked at it and said nonsense. Can you understand?”

Selena, who stared into Enoch’s speechless face, said.

“I’m sorry. Having children really changed people’s minds. You know best, but there’s nothing you can’t do for a child.”

Soon she turned around.

“I’m sorry again. Please take care.”

Enoch blankly watched Selena’s back as she walked away.

It was a conversation that would have been terrifying if Lilith had heard it. He didn’t know how to tell his child about her mother, about whom the child would be curious in any way, at any time. 

“Haa.”

Enoch muttered, tilting his head toward the air.

“I am tired….” 

* * *

Dad returned late in the evening of the third day after sleeping for two nights.

Actually, I heard that this is also a schedule that has been reduced and shortened. Originally, the return ceremony prepared by the Emperor was a week old.

“Huh, my princess.”

Dad, who wriggled into bed in his pajamas, hugged me.

“Daddy’s face is half gone…” 

Even if I didn’t see how tired he must have been, I gave him a gentle hug.

“Is that so? Has Dad become ugly?”

“No, no. You look the same handsome, but you look tired. Good job.”

I said calmly and opened the storybook on my lap.

“Hmm. Aren’t you going to ask me anything? How was the return ceremony, what was in the palace—” 

“I’m not curious?” 

“Is that so?” 

“Ung.” 

“…Princess.”

“Ung.” 

Dad, who was lying flat, stared up at me as I sat there. It was an eye that had something to say.

“You know.” 

“Ung.” 

“You know…” 

“What is it? Don’t hesitate, tell me quickly.”

“Don’t you miss your mother?” 

“….”

I paused at the unexpected question.

‘…It looks like he went and met mother.’

My head was spinning rapidly. Seeing Dad’s hesitant expression and hearing what I heard from the Lord of the Wizard Tower, it was obvious what my mother would have said. 

“Mother? All of a sudden?” 

“Ung. Since we came to the Capital, I’m sure you’re curious, but the princess hasn’t said anything so far.”

The face of Dad who blurted out the end of his words was like a child waiting to be punished.

If I say I want to see my mom here, he must be at a loss as to what excuse to come up with.

‘It’s fortunate that I heard about mother in advance from the Lord of the Wizard Tower.’ 

“Hmm. I don’t know…Did Dad go to the imperial palace and meet mother? Did she want to see me? I’m a bit like that.”

“Huh? What do you mean a bit like that?” 

Dad jumped up.

I fluttered across the bookshelf and pretended not to be interested.

“Since I came to the Capital, I thought there would be my mother somewhere, but I don’t really want to see her that much, and it would be awkward to meet her… Do I have to have my mom?”

“You’re not curious? You used to ask Dad where she was.”

“That’s right, I thought everyone had only Dad like me, but my friends said there was also a mother at home, so I was curious and asked. I didn’t ask because I missed my mom.”

“R, really?”

“Ung. And until now, there was only Dad, but I think it would be strange if I suddenly asked for a mother. I don’t want to see her unless I really need to meet her…I don’t even want to know.”

“….” 

“…Do I have to meet her?”

When I raised my eyes pretending to be reading a book and asked, Dad, who had been blankly opening his mouth, shook his head. 

“No? It’s not like that. Yeah, if that’s what the princess thinks, then so be it. You don’t have to meet your mother. You don’t have to know who it is. Yeah, that’s right.” 

“Okay, let’s go to bed now.”

I closed the book, lay down and closed my eyes. I could feel Dad’s gaze. 

Soon after that, Dad put out a few candles that were lighting up the room and laid down next to me.

“Hmm.”

Dad couldn’t fall asleep right away and tossed and turned for a while.

‘It must have been a really terrible return ceremony.’

I thought about it.

He must have seen the face of the horrible Emperor, and the Emperor must have used me as a weakness to threaten Dad.

Did he tell him to prepare for war? Probably. He had no choice but to nod and come out, and he ran into my mother. 

‘She has a new husband and a son, so would she have said let’s not know each other at all? Or did she say she didn’t want to meet me when Dad brought it up first?’

I could only sigh as I ran the simulation in my head.

Daddy was pitiful. It seemed like it was all because of me.

‘No, it’s true that it was because of me, well.’

I fell into Dad’s arms, who kept tossing and turning. Dad smiled and hugged me. 

“Dad.”

“Yes, princess.”

“I like Dad the best in the world.”

“Haha, Dad too.”

“All I need is Dad.”

“….” 

Dad was silent for a while, probably realizing that the sudden expression of affection was because of the sudden talk of my mother.

I said, digging deeper into Dad’s arms.

“Let’s just live happily together.”