Father, I Won’t Do Anything

* * *

Diamid was inherently disinclined to concern himself with others. To him, only his own power mattered.

Yet presently, even he couldn’t help but take notice of those around him.

‘That is…’

In the hands of the maids and magicians were cookie bags, one each.

Supposedly, the child had distributed them.

‘Only I didn’t receive any.’

Without realizing it, Diamid found himself gravitating towards Jaina’s vicinity. He then summoned Izren, who still remained by Jaina’s side as her escort knight after his formal appointment.

“Where is the child?”

In response to Diamid’s query, Izren replied fluently in the imperial language – a laudable outcome from three years of diligence.

“Ah, she was just handing out cookies to those around, so she should return shortly.”

“…I see.”

His curiously flustered expression prompted Izren to tilt his head inquisitively.

After some time had passed, Diamid was finally able to encounter Jaina as he had wished.

Over the past three years, Jaina’s wariness towards Diamid had significantly diminished.

Seemingly aware of this, Diamid would occasionally visit Jaina’s room for tea, though conversations remained scarce.

‘Oh, it seems Izren has returned.’

Jaina scurried over to Izren standing before her room, presenting him with cookies and a flower arrangement.

“Thank you. Ah, this is the topiary I made last time.”

Izren delighted at the topiary Jaina had crafted from the courtyard flowers.

“I remembered you said my room felt rather bleak before.”

Izren remained oblivious to Diamid’s observant presence as he cheerfully bantered with Jaina. Only after inadvertently glancing aside did he belatedly realize Diamid had been there all along.

‘Uhh…’

Diamid’s icy gaze exuded an unsettling chill. Though uncertain why he seemed displeased, Izren hastily excused himself with a bow before retreating to his quarters.

Yet Diamid’s torment didn’t end there. Even after parting with Izren, he continued lingering by Jaina’s side, witnessing Mikael receive flowers from her.

“Mikael, earlier I only gave you cookies. This is a topiary I made.”

“Oh, you didn’t just bake cook- Urk.”

Upon making eye contact with Diamid, Mikael promptly excused himself, claiming he had matters to attend to.

Though puzzled by their abrupt departures, Jaina paid it no mind.

‘…’

Gazing down at his empty hands, Diamid eventually made his way to Hilvenzia’s chamber.

She was the only one remaining.

“Hilvenzia. I’m coming in.”

“Yes, Tower Lord.”

Having matters to discuss with Hilvenzia regarding potion development, Diamid naturally surveyed her desk laden with research reports as he broached the topic.

“With the materials you’ve been providing, I’ve been conducting experiments…”

Partway through explaining her research, Hilvenzia sensed an odd discomfort – Diamid’s gaze was fixed behind her.

Turning her head, she felt dismayed.

‘Oops.’

She had left the lovely topiary Jaina had just delivered on her desk, failing to remove it.

“…At this rate, I can’t fathom when I’ll be able to produce these potions. Does this imply that without divine intervention, humans are incapable of healing?”

For some reason, Diamid seemed particularly irritable today. With her keen perception, Hilvenzia quickly discerned the likely cause.

‘Is he frustrated by the lack of progress these past three years?’

Of course, Diamid had never once mentioned Jaina to her.

Whenever she subtly inquired, he would behave as if totally disinterested, so she had let the matter be…

But ever since earlier, his gaze had remained fixated on the topiary.

‘Contrary to his words, he’s clearly quite concerned.’

The past three years had been enough to thaw his frozen heart, but insufficient to open the child’s closed-off demeanor.

‘Perhaps the very first button had been mishandled.’

No, that wasn’t it. She herself had made a terrible first impression by speaking of manufacturing potions from dragon’s blood.

But now, she and Jaina had reached a point of creating things together and exchanging gifts.

‘Jaina likely relies on me the most.’

Though she had never directly asked Jaina, Hilvenzia inwardly felt that way. Shrugging to herself, she glanced back at Diamid.

‘Is it simply his personality? Or is it because of Bezrice?’

To Hilvenzia, it seemed Diamid had made efforts in his own way – providing Jaina with a spacious room, a maid, and even allowing outside tutors for her education. Yet the father-daughter rapport remained quite awkward.

Hilvenzia decided to take a chance by consulting Jaina once.

Not precisely for Diamid’s sake, but for Jaina’s safety.

While reluctant to relinquish her position as Jaina’s most trusted guardian, there was no telling when the dragon race might invade again.

The next day, Hilvenzia cautiously approached Jaina.

“Jaina. You didn’t give the Tower Lord any cookies or that topiary?”

Jaina seemed to have never even considered it.

“Should I have given some to him as well?”

“Yes?”

“I’m grateful he’s allowing me to stay, but I worried he might get angry if I gave him anything unsolicited.”

Hmm, Jaina did have a point there…

With an understanding nod, Hilvenzia subtly suggested it might not be a bad idea to give Diamid the flowers along with some cookies, mentioning he had recently developed a liking for them.

“Really? Well… he did say the desserts were better than letting them go to waste during our last tea time… I suppose I should give him something too then.”

Having decided to prepare a gift for Diamid as well, Jaina consulted Izren on when and where the Tower Lord would pass by so she could wait for him there.

After waiting for some time, Jaina was finally able to encounter Diamid.

“Um, Tower Lord.”

“What is it.”

But upon meeting him, she felt her carefully prepared cookies would only go to waste.

His aloof expression made it seem like he would toss them straight into the garbage after receiving them.

However, Jaina soon mustered her courage to speak.

“Tower Lord, I’ve been distributing cookies to everyone lately… Would you like some? I didn’t prepare any separately since I assumed you wouldn’t care for such things…”

In that moment, Diamid’s heart sank.

“…No, it’s alright.”

Unable to bring himself to admit he wanted some too, Diamid turned away.

He then promptly headed for Mikael’s chamber.

“Mikael, do you truly need those flowers?”

Thump.

It was an earth-shattering question.

Mikael’s face drained of color at Diamid’s words.

‘If this continues, he’ll take my topiary too!’

Realizing Diamid desired the floral topiary, Mikael immediately rushed to Jaina and said:

“You… Don’t happen to have any extra topiaries, do you?”

“Hm?”

“That, that’s… It seems the Tower Lord has taken a liking to the topiary.”

“How could that be. Did you ask him directly? Does he really need it?”

“…Well, it’s a matter of courtesy, you see. I mean, with Hilvenzia and me having one, it would be rather inconsiderate for the Tower Lord not to, right?”

Mikael pressed Jaina, claiming the Tower Lord might even take his topiary.

“I can’t imagine… But actually, I do have an extra. I made more than needed.”

Inwardly cheering, Mikael reached out to take it, only for Jaina to swiftly pull the topiary away.

“I’ll deliver it to him myself.”

* * *

“Tower Lord, would you accept this gift from me?”

“…”

“Though you likely have little need for such things with all your possessions already, I wished to express my gratitude regardless.”

“…Very well.”

Diamid curtly accepted the flowers and gift Jaina proffered. Then, unexpectedly, he made a statement.

“One week from now, at eight o’clock, wait for me here.”

“Pardon…?”

“Do you have other plans?”

“No, not at all, but…”

“Then there should be no issue.”

Leaving only those words, Diamid abruptly vanished.

Upon returning to her room, Jaina consulted Mikael, Hilvenzia, and Izren about Diamid’s instructions, prompting a range of responses.

“He told you to wait there for him at eight o’clock a week later? Has this man lost his mind?”

“I wonder what he could be thinking, to make such a statement.”

“…I see.”

None treated Diamid’s words lightly.

“Feign illness and stay bedridden that day! You absolutely must not go, understood?!”

“But I don’t believe it’s anything dangerous. If he intended to harm you, he wouldn’t resort to such a convoluted approach.”

“I’ll accompany you as well.”

While Mikael vehemently opposed her going, Hilvenzia and Izren reassured that it was likely harmless, agreeing for Izren to accompany her as well out of residual concern.

“Leave the others behind.”

However, on the appointed day, Diamid ordered the accompanying Izren to depart upon seeing him.

“But…”

“You are the escort knight under my command. Who is guarding whom from what, exactly?”

Leaving the bewildered Izren behind, Diamid addressed Jaina.

“Take hold of my sleeve.”

In that moment, Mikael’s previous words flashed through Jaina’s mind.

-The Tower Lord has an aversion to being touched by others, like a phobia.

“…”

Yet she could hardly disregard his instruction. Jaina stole a glance at his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, she felt he wouldn’t harm her.

“Come here.”

Prompted by Diamid, Jaina instinctively reached out her small hand to grasp the hem of his long robe, just as when he had rescued her from the dragon.

And in that instant.

Woooosh!

With a rumbling tremor, spatial movement occurred in the blink of an eye. Jaina glimpsed Izren’s wide-eyed shock from afar, but it was only momentary.