One Day, My Dad Showed Up

With a mixture of unease and hope flickering in his clear blue eyes.

The young boy hesitated slightly before speaking.

“I went back and thought about it… no, I’ve been thinking about it…”

“… just speak comfortably.”

He seemed to struggle with formality, as if speaking politely was as unnatural to him as a thorny tongue, so I couldn’t help but let him off the hook.

The boy, nodding quickly, letting his pent-up thoughts spill out all at once.

“First, I have to ask. If I agree, can you really send me to the Magic Tower? How?”

… this person’s nature to question everything so thoroughly meant he’d probably avoid a lot of trouble in life.

I glanced down at him briefly and then decided to sit directly on the ground.

This conversation was going to take a while.

But then, Artair’s unexpected action caught me off guard.

“Wait a second!”

Startled, the boy hurriedly waved his hands and took off his coat, laying it down on the ground for me.

… such a pointless thing to do.

Before I met my father, there were days when I’d spent all day running through fields with Eciel, so much so that even after scrubbing myself clean, mud would still drip from my hair.

But at least I’d learned not to voice every thought that came to mind. I also knew what to do in situations like this.

As I sat down, I grasped the hem of my skirt and dipped my head slightly in gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“… it’s nothing.”

I thought so too.

At this age, even if children showed up covered in grass stains, most people would just assume they’d been fighting amongst themselves. Why bother?

Still, the way he awkwardly avoided my gaze even after laying down his coat was amusing enough to make me chuckle softly.

It was just for a moment — a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

But even such a small, fleeting expression made Artair blink in surprise.

That was when I became certain.

‘I’m still not enough for this.’

Each time this boy brimmed with hope, I felt nothing from him at all.

Even now, in this quiet moment… could he really become my Tara someday?

And if that day ever came, would I regret feeling nothing toward him now?

Lost in thought, I silently stared into his wide, innocent blue eyes.

“… why?”

His youthful voice, both cautious and defiant, broke the silence.

Of course, he was only ten years old.

And I was only nine.

I was still emotionally immature. My understanding of love began and ended with family, and my view of the world barely extended beyond that.

I didn’t want this child yet.

But I also understood that one day, I might.

So, I answered slowly and deliberately.

“You asked how I could send you to the Magic Tower, didn’t you?”

“… yeah.”

“Perhaps you’ve heard, but not long ago, Lord Islay visited the Duke of Chelsiers’ residence.”

“I heard about it.”

It wasn’t exactly a secret visit, after all. I nodded once and continued.

“I told Lord Islay about you. About how I met a child here…”

“…”

“A child who could manipulate magic with his will alone, affecting another’s body without any formal training or official examination.”

Artair tensed up, holding his breath as if bracing for whatever might come next.

In a slightly faltering voice, he asked.

“And… so?”

“He wants to meet you.”

Suddenly, the boy’s face turned pale.

His words, burdened by anxiety, spilled out in fragments.

“… I can’t invite him. And my father won’t either.”

“I know. That’s why I told him to come here.”

Artair blinked once, startled.

“… what?”

“I said I told him to come.”

A faint sound of movement carried on the wind, and I spoke casually.

“I think he’s coming now.”

At those words, Artair jumped to his feet in alarm.

I was about to tell him there was no need to panic, but I realized something myself and quickly stood up alongside him, equally startled.

…… why was His Majesty the Emperor coming along too?

***

It seemed that the Tower Master had gone straight to the emperor after speaking with me to seek his permission.

He must have mentioned a talented child who was denied the opportunity to learn magic because of his parents and expressed a desire to visit the Crown Prince’s palace.

However, he probably hadn’t expected the emperor to insist on personally seeing the child himself.

“…… I greet the most honored one. Claire, eldest daughter of the Leader of the East, Duke Chelsiers…”

“Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine. I’m glad to meet you, but I didn’t come here to see you, so there is no need for such formal greetings.”

The emperor’s green eyes curved gently, but they were fixed squarely on Artair.

His gaze made it blatantly clear who he was here for.

And who could dare misunderstand the emperor’s intentions?

I didn’t even have time to glare at the Tower Master for escalating the situation. Silently, I stepped back.

I could hear Artair bowing cautiously, his voice careful and precise.

“I greet the most honored one. Artair Jaen Wilfram Tennelier, eldest son of the Marquis of Levantas.”

“Alright. Lift your head.”

With a deep smile, Evan’s words struck like a blade.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re meeting like this. It would’ve been better if we’d never had a reason to meet, considering your father.”

I stifled a weak groan.

The emperor, whom I hadn’t seen in some time, effortlessly reminded me of the caution I had let lapse.

After all, he was someone who neither needed to consider others’ opinions nor stoop into pleading.

Even after saying such harsh words, his face remained composed, his smile serene.

“I’ve heard that you have a great talent for magic. What do you think of that?”

“… it’s a tremendous honor to hear such words from Your Majesty.”

If only he were a timid child who avoided the gaze of those in power, perhaps he would have hesitated or stayed silent.

But Artair mustered every bit of courage to respond.

It was a foolish move in front of someone so high that his words could decide the course of someone’s life.

‘… is he really an idiot?’

Thankfully, Evan didn’t seem to mind Artair’s boldness much and shifted his gaze.

“Now then, Lord Islay. You’ve prepared the crystal ball for the aptitude test, haven’t you?”

The Tower Master hesitated briefly; likely deliberating intensely.

Could a transparent lie get him out of this situation? Or would it only invite further trouble?

Despite knowing this, the emperor’s smile never wavered.

It was the demeanor of someone who could compel others to choose the option he desired, no matter what.

And then, Artair’s audacious nature shone even in such a moment.

“If I do indeed possess such talent, Your Majesty, what will you do? Will you call it a blessing of Rom?”

He must be insane.

“Artair!”

Without realizing it, I called his name in shock.

But even as a faint trace of fear crossed the boy’s pale blue eyes, his resolve remained firm.

Just as it had been when I first met him.

Evan broke into a wide grin.

“Is that truly what you wish to hear?”

His tone was smooth, betraying no hint of anger.

“I hold no ill will toward you. If anything, I hope that you do possess remarkable talent, for your own sake.”

“……”

“The only thing I resent is your father. No, that’s not accurate. It would be more precise to say I resent the entire Levantas House.”

Then his smiling green eyes returned to me.

“Claire, you understand, don’t you?”

The Tower Master, who wasn’t particularly attuned to political subtleties, turned his bewildered gaze to me.

For the first time, I avoided his eyes.

… I was well aware of how much the emperor detested the current situation, in which the incompetent wielded excessive privileges.

‘His Majesty… wants to expel the Levantas family from the council as quickly as possible.’

And rightly so — the structure was grotesquely inefficient.

A family that had been declining for centuries and was now utterly inept still retained its place on the Great Council, reaping its benefits.

Even to me, newly arrived in Yelim and just beginning my education as a successor, it was a strange state of affairs.

But I couldn’t fully grasp Evan’s intentions.

“…… I have been lacking and unable to properly fulfill Your Majesty’s wishes until now.”

“No, it’s understandable. With Edith and Callen openly defending this child, it’s no wonder you’re conflicted.”

The empress and the crown prince had extended their favor toward the Levantas family.

Meanwhile, one of the emperor’s closest political allies, Duke Cezanne, openly disregarded them. It wasn’t easy to navigate such conflicting signals.

The emperor casually ruffled my hair with familiarity that made me hold my breath.

“It’s alright, Claire. Callen is still young. Take good care of him, will you?”

Such clear and arrogant favoritism.

Under his hand, I took a deep breath and carefully spoke.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Claire. What is it?”

“…… Artair is young as well.”

Even without looking up, I could feel everyone’s gaze shifting to me.

But I whispered the words anyway.

“The crown prince wished to make him his friend…”

Please show enough generosity so that no rift forms between the two of them because of you.

I couldn’t bring myself to say all the words that came to mind.

I knew better than anyone how foolish this might seem, perhaps even more so than Artair’s earlier audacity.

Still, I had to speak.

The emperor had come to see Artair personally.

To assess what kind of child he was and decide his future.

… so, there was still room for possibility.

Enough for the crown prince and this child to at least remain on decent terms in the distant future.

Above my head, Evan asked slowly.

“Oh… Callen wanted this child as a friend?”

“To the extent that he wished to play tag with him.”