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☾ fifty - four ☾

My father and Max's expressions changed noticeably.

My father's face stiffened while Max was looking at me with a frown.

'Well, is he doing that because he can't trust me?'

Actually, I wasn't very confident with the tea I made today, so I didn't even want it to be taste tested, but I still felt a prick in my heart.

"Oh, or any other tea." I was embarrassed and reversed what I had said.

Then, the butler approached my father.

Seeing that it was probably from the Imperial Palace, I opened my mouth.

"If it's urgent, we can drink tea next time."

When I finished talking, I held onto Max's hand, in case I might have an accident.

"Go."

I wondered what to do with the backlash, but it's okay because Max was next to me.

'This is as far as the reconciliation goes.'

As I turned around with regret, the voice of my father spoke determinedly.

"I'm not in a hurry."

Since my father was a Duke, it was a very shocking remark.

"However, isn't it an imperial order?"

Even with my carefully asked question, my father stared at Max and spoke stubbornly.

"This is more important to me."

No matter how important it is to make peace with your student, it is still an imperial order.

I wondered if it was okay to violate the Emperor's name like this.

Then, I heard a calm voice amongst all the nonsense.

"I agree."

I frowned at the sight of Max, who had not said a single word to my father all along, just now suddenly confronting him.

'What do you mean? This is not the right time to do that!'

I glanced at Derek to ask for help in this chaotic situation.

However, he somehow kept his head down with a pitiful expression.

A sigh came out of my mouth.

'Am I the only one among these who has remained rational?'

I calmed my mind.

Then I struggled with what to do in this ridiculous situation.

'No matter how much these two people are willing to reconcile, it doesn't mean that they should do it right now.'

Disobedience to the Imperial Order is disloyalty.

It didn't matter if my father was the hero of the country, it was obvious the Emperor would think this over.

'Moreover, I don't want to get entangled with the imperial family.'

In the original future of the novel, the Emperor's anger is caused by his inferiority complex towards the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince kills me in that future as well.

Besides, didn't my father turn a blind eye to me in that future?

But in order to live, I would have to save myself from situations like this no matter what. 

"Father, you're not supposed to break the Imperial order. If it is an urgent matter then..."

Despite my perfectly normal rebuttal, my father shook his head.

"It's okay. There's plenty of other talented knights to replace me, it doesn't have to be me."

It makes no sense, but in a way it's true.

"My teacher is right. So let's have some tea."

I frowned a bit at Max's words, suddenly calling my father teacher.

'If they've already made up, do we really have to drink tea together anymore?'

_

'What the hell are you doing?'

The Emperor clenched his fist as he touched the throne with his hand.

Soon after the Mayor came in, the Emperor asked the head of the city.

"Is the Duke of Floyen still not here yet?"

"It's too late today, he told me he'll head to the palace tomorrow."

The moment he heard the answer, the Emperor harshly questioned the head of the city.

"What?! Did that really come out of his mouth!?"

"Yes."

It was the first time ever that Regis turned down his request.

The Emperor stared at the ring on his finger and glared.

'What are you up to now? Regis.'

_

I squeezed out the juice from the tea leaves.

My attempt was a success, judging by the smell at the tip of my nose.

'I hope it will be to your taste.'

Soon my father lifted the teacup with his graceful hands and put it down.

"The tea tastes good."

At his words I turned to Max.

He also nodded in agreement.

"This smells good."

'If a person who complained about how bad the tea was before accepted it now...'

I did it roughly by freehanding it, but fortunately it was good.

'Now I can skip the tasting.'

I was smiling at the thought.

Then, my father stared at me, maintaining eye contact.

'Why is he looking at me like that?'

I thought about avoiding his eyes because I felt burdened.

My father lowered his eyes slightly and spoke straight to me.

"It's great."

Frankly I was embarrassed rather than pleased by the unexpected compliment.

My father almost never praised me like this.

'I'm great?'

My heart fluttered.

If I lowered my guard down a little bit, I would feel precious to myself, who had hoped for his love from him.

But...

I stifled my rising expectations and berated myself hard.

'Juvellian, don't expect anything.'

The one who told his young daughter not to come to him again on a cold winter day because she missed her father.

On the day of my debut, which is a once in a lifetime event, my father was absent under the pretext of training.

He couldn't be praising me.

It can't be changed.

As soon as I realized the reality, my senses became numb.

Soon I pulled a mechanical greeting out of my lips.

"Thank you."

Then my father glanced at Max and opened his mouth.

"Now, I have something to talk about with my disciple, I want you to go up first."

I wondered why you were praising me, but in the end, he seems to have been trying to get some time alone with his disciple.

'Yes, it'll be enough if my father and Max make up.'

The inside of my chest was strangely numb, but I didn't show it and smiled.

"Then I shall leave you two to talk."

_

The door closed, and Juvellian's presence gradually faded away.

Max and Regis openly revealed the animosity they had hidden so far.

"What the hell are you trying to do?"

At his teacher's question, Max asked back, grinning.

"Trying to do what?"

Regis opened his mouth because he was beginning to think Max was abominable.

"Why are you hovering around my daughter?"

_

[ note : so many heartbreaking misunderstandings, i mean i don't blame juvel imagine being ignored by your dad your whole life and then one day he just starts acting like a completely different person towards you like i would be having those doubts too ]