The Abandoned Empress

The Abandoned Empress - Chapter 27

“Until then, you need to be strong-willed and stay healthy. Do you understand? ”

‘No, you should not go.’ I was very confused, but I had to stop my father from going to the border. If I let him go, I would certainly never see him again. I could never let him go.

“Please don’t go.”

“Your Highness?”

“No, daddy. Please don’t go.”

I hastily tried to catch him, but he was getting farther away from me. I was so nervous. I couldn’t let him go away like that.

“Please don’t go.”

“… ”

“Please, Dad.”

When I was reaching out desperately, I felt I touched something stiff at my fingertips.

I don’t know what it was, but I grasped it in my hand and clung to it with all my might.

“You can’t go now.”

“Tia.”

“Never, ever…”

“Now, you’re fine. Tia, open your eyes.”

I opened my eyes to someone’s friendly whispering. I saw his blue eyes full of concern.

When I quickly looked around, my room in the mansion came into view. I saw myself grasping my father’s shirt as a child.

‘It was a dream.’

I sighed with relief. My father, who reached out and pulled me into his arms, patted my back, and said lightly, “You must have had a nightmare.”

“… ”

“You’re alright. It’s just a dream.”

While he slowly swept my hair, I smoothed out my rough breathing. I sunk into his arms to feel a little more warmth. Only now could I feel relieved.

“You’re still very young. I think I’m so foolish as to forget your age. ”

“Dad.”

“Are you so heartbroken if I am leaving like this? Sorry. I didn’t know you would be so sad.”

“No. Sorry I have worried you. By the way, did you take care of your business well?”

“Yes, I finished it earlier than I thought. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. ”

“Tomorrow morning…”

“I will try to come back as soon as possible, but maybe I might not come back until sometime next spring. I’m sorry. ”

“No, you don’t have to be sorry.”

I tried not to show sadness when he repeatedly said he was sorry, but I shook my head, pulling myself together deep down. As a nobleman and an imperial knight, he was doing what he was supposed to do, so I should not dishearten him who was leaving on a long journey.

I spoke as brightly as possible to him as he let out a long sigh, “I’m really fine, so don’t worry about me, and please come back safely when you carry out your mission. ”

“… Sure. Can you go back to sleep now? You must be very tired as you slept fitfully,” he said, releasing me carefully. When I saw my father pulling the blanket over me, my heart began to pound nervously. I got up unconsciously and grabbed his sleeves when he was about to leave after saying goodbye.

“Tia?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just did that unconsciously.”

He slowly smiled after looking at me with a perplexed expression. Sitting slowly on the edge of the bed, he laid me back and covered me with the blanket again.

“Let me sit here by your side until you go to sleep.”

“You will be tired, daddy…”

“I’m fine. I think I can sleep comfortably when I see you fall asleep. ”

“Still… ”

“I’m alright. By the way, Tia.”

“Pardon?”

Cutting me off strongly, he said in a soft voice,”I will leave everything with you when it comes to our family affairs while I’m away. Take care of any urgent things, and leave the non-urgent stuff alone. As you have other work to do, don’t overwork yourself. Got it?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Avoid going outside as much as possible, and try to stay home.”

“Yes, will do. Don’t worry.”

“Okay, I believe you will keep well. Don’t worry too much about me. Make sure you practice properly. Even though you feel better these days, you are basically weak, as you know.”

“Yes, daddy.”

“And… ”

I began to feel drowsy when he gently stroked my dishevelled hair on the pillow. I heard his gentle voice fading away. I was slowly falling asleep with my father next to me.

The next day I frowned slightly at the lukewarm air even in the early morning.

I felt my father and the knights would find it harder to travel to the border areas.

When I arrived on the training field, a silver-haired knight, who looked well in his blue uniform, standing in front of the knights and calming down the neighing horses, looked at me.

“Oh, you’re here.”

“Yes, daddy. Please be careful. ”

“Sure. Keep well. When something happens, ask Duke Lars for help, okay? ”

“Sure, will do.”

“Okay, then. Goodbye!”

“Oh, dad, wait a minute.”

My father, who stroked my head once and turned around, looked back.

“What’s the matter?”

“This…”

His blue eyes opened wide slightly. As he looked surprised, I said quickly, “I made it, praying that you could come back safely… ”

“Thank you.”

Receiving a silver tassel that I spent all night making, he spoke in a slightly subdued voice.

While watching him put the tassel on his sword, he looked at it for a while. I opened my eyes wide because he took off the cufflinks decorating his shirt sleeves and gave it to me.

“If you give me this… ”

“Don’t worry. I’ve a spare. As I have received a precious gift, shouldn’t I repay it? ”

I stood pleasantly surprised by his bright smile.

At that moment, I suddenly heard a loud noise.