Volume 4, Chapter 13 – A Confession without Response

“What?!”

Clark shot bolt upright. Outside, Chiharu’s breath caught, and the entire carriage jolted with her.

Fia shrugged.

“It’s exactly as it sounds.”

“This…”

A clear wavering appeared in Clark’s eyes. If the elf princess had lost her memory, then his series of actions just now were clownishly laughable. He clasped his hands together, squeezing them so tightly that the blue veins on their backs bulged.

“A month ago, I was injured by the Unsinkable Moon of the Milcandis Holy Kingdom. As I see it, the former elf princess has already perished. I am merely a soul inhabiting this body. If Anastasia hadn’t insisted that I was Dofilia and persuaded me to stay, I might have already gone to live somewhere else on the World Tree Continent. What I’m trying to say is, I don’t remember who Clark is, nor have I forgotten the matter of King Yelido. To me, everything in this world is new and untouched. We are strangers.”

As if unwilling to give up, Clark frowned and pressed on.

“If you can’t remember who I am, why didn’t you say anything just now?”

“Did you give me a chance to speak? I could have thrown you out of the carriage and stood on you to force you to listen, but you are Anastasia’s biological father.”

She hadn’t used violence out of consideration for Anastasia’s position. Fia did not say this part out loud; it would only make things difficult for her.

The first half of Fia’s sentence left Clark momentarily speechless. He truly hadn’t given her a chance to speak. But when she got to the second half, he perked up again.

“What insolence. Even if you are an unprecedented genius, at this distance, you have no chance of defeating me.”

“You want to try?”

“Bring it on.”

With that, Clark patted his well-worn tunic, striking a “come at me” pose.

However, just as Fia was about to make a move, Chiharu’s voice sounded again.

“If you’re going to fight, do it outside. This carriage is mine. If you break it, I’ll charge you double for the damages.”

“Chiharu, do you think I would lose to a frail little elf like her? I don’t even need to stand up to deal with her.”

“Save it. Even if you can’t see it, I can. She’s stronger than both of us combined. And Ana is right here. If you still want to be a good father, don’t do things that will put your daughter in a difficult position.”

“…”

Chiharu’s words made Clark’s tone falter. As if to exhale all his displeasure, he crossed his legs and let out a long breath.

“Fine. Even if you’ve lost your memory, you’re still Yelido’s daughter.”

Clark’s gaze fell on Anastasia, who sat beside Fia with her head lowered in silence. His expression gradually grew complicated. A person could lose their reason in a fit of anger, but they couldn’t stay angry forever. Clark was not a useless man incapable of self-reflection; otherwise, he would never have attracted Veronica and Chiharu in the first place. Now that he had calmed down, he recalled Anastasia’s earlier words and her current humble, silent posture, and a sense of guilt washed over him.

Although the Sinner’s Mark on Anastasia’s face had not been removed, her condition was undoubtedly several times better than before. The Eldest Princess had not only refrained from mistreating Anastasia but had given her exceptional favor, allowing her to serve by her side. If Anastasia had stayed with him, he could never have given her such a stable and prosperous life.

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Realizing this, Clark glanced around at the carriage he was in, which was piled with dirty clothes and various junk. Anastasia, in her elf guard uniform and cloak, looked completely out of place here, like a noble lady who had wandered into a slum.

The one who had truly let Anastasia down was him.

Compared to him, who had been solely focused on Veronica, the only person who had truly treated Anastasia like family was the Eldest Princess. That was why Anastasia had confronted him so sharply just now, to defend the princess’s position.

To just show up and demand that Anastasia leave the princess and go with him was simply absurd. It would be a joke if Anastasia actually agreed. He had never once considered Anastasia’s feelings, only blindly thinking of the royals as his enemy, and that his daughter should naturally stand with him.

What had he done?

His clasped hands creaked. Clark’s voice was strained, as if squeezed from between his teeth.

“…I’m sorry. I was insolent to you just now. Anastasia has been a lot of trouble for you over the years.”

Fia couldn’t help but shoot a sidelong glance at him. A moment ago, Clark had looked fierce enough to cause trouble, yet now he was suddenly bowing his head and apologizing to her. The change was startling. Perhaps the real Clark wasn’t as bad as he seemed.

She said helplessly.

“It’s good that you can understand Anastasia’s thoughts. And to say something you won’t like, I don’t think you’re a good father.”

Or even a good husband.

Clark lowered his head like a defeated general.

“What’s wrong is wrong. I don’t deny it. You’ve been better to Anastasia than I have.”

Clark turned the conversation to Anastasia.

“Do I still have a chance to make it up… Anastasia? I’ll find a way to get your mother out. When that time comes, the three of us can leave Silvar together, go somewhere no one can find us…”

Although he said this, Fia could hear the lack of confidence in his tone. He had no real conviction; his voice was only a plea.

The answer that came back was Anastasia’s, without a trace of hesitation.

“I will not leave Her Highness.”

Clark was silent for a long moment.

“I respect your choice. The one who caused all of this was Yelido, but I myself bear an inescapable responsibility… I owe you too much.”

With a thud, Clark suddenly fell to his knees before Anastasia, bowing his head deeply.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me, Anastasia.”

Hey, hey…

Clark’s sudden action left Fia at a loss. This was Anastasia’s family matter; it wasn’t her place to interfere. Besides, for a grown man, especially Anastasia’s father, to kneel before his own daughter in front of an outsider, it made her, the third party, feel extremely awkward.

No wonder this man had been able to attract Veronica.

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Although it seemed as if Clark had abandoned his dignity as a man and a father, this act actually made one see him in a different light. Not everyone was willing to admit their mistakes. Or rather, the number of people in this world who dared to admit their mistakes and beg for forgiveness was pitifully small. At the very least, Fia couldn’t imagine her own Father kneeling before her.

“I told you, I never blamed you,” Anastasia said slowly. “Anyone would have done the same in that situation. What angered me was your lack of reason, lumping Her Highness and the Elf King together.”

“Then the matter with Chiharu—”

“Explain it to Veronica. I don’t want to interfere.”

“I…”

Clark had just started to speak when he abruptly stopped. An even deeper shame appeared on his stubbled, world-weary face. He suddenly understood. Anastasia had never truly seen him and Veronica as parents. That was why she was so indifferent to whatever he did.

Whether it was him leaving the palace without a word back then, or finding another woman now, since Anastasia had never considered him her father from the start, she naturally wouldn’t take these things to heart, nor would she be troubled by them. The only person she cared about was the Eldest Princess. She only saw the princess as her family.

It seemed as if she had forgiven him, but in reality, he had long ago lost the right to be forgiven.

Subconsciously, Clark wanted to blame Fia, to think that she had stolen his daughter, just as the Elf King had stolen his wife. Now, the Elf King’s daughter was using despicable means to steal his daughter’s heart.

However, the moment that thought appeared, a powerful sense of shame flooded his mind. He was no longer as irrational as before. His reason told him that only incompetent men who only knew how to complain would blame the Eldest Princess.

The truth was, without the princess, he and his daughter might not have survived to this day. The princess had given him a chance back then, letting him stay in the capital to be with Anastasia. It was he who had not cherished the opportunity and had left on his own.

This was all his own doing.

As if he had aged ten years in an instant, Clark’s face grew pale. He lowered his head dejectedly and sat back in his seat, one hand covering his face, the other giving a weak wave towards Fia.

“You should go. Just go…”

His pleading voice was almost too quiet to hear, yet it was impossible to know how to respond. As Clark himself had realized, this was all his own karma, his own retribution.

Fia glanced quietly at Anastasia. She was looking at the soulless Clark, her azure eyes filled with sadness and pity. However, this emotion lasted for less than two seconds before she stood up, her usual formal tone returning.

“Let’s go, Your Highness.”

“Ah, right…”

Nodding lightly, Fia followed Anastasia out of the carriage.

What greeted them was Chiharu, looking over from the driver’s seat. When her eyes met Anastasia’s, a clear flash of nervousness and guilt crossed her face, but she quickly shifted her gaze back to Fia.

“Are you finished talking?”

“Mhm.”

“So, Your Highness, you won’t go back and suddenly have a change of heart, snitching to the Elf King, will you?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll pretend I never met you. Didn’t you hear, Miss Chiharu? I’ve lost my memory.”

“It’s because I heard you lost your memory that I’m not so sure…”

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She was probably worried that Fia would turn on them if her memory returned, but that was clearly an unnecessary concern.

“Rather than worrying about that, Miss Chiharu, you should be thinking about what you’re going to say to Veronica when you meet her.”

“That’s assuming we meet. Clark and I will make camp around here tonight. We won’t be traveling with you.”

That’s for the best.

Fia answered in her mind.

Given the relationship between Anastasia and Clark, if they were to travel back to the capital together, the atmosphere for the entire journey would become delicate.

Before leaving the carriage with [Flight], Fia suddenly turned to look back at the Abyss, which had been left far behind. Now, she could only see the Lantern Stems covering the plain; the Abyss itself was no longer visible.

“Do you and Clark encounter spider-women often, Miss Chiharu?”

Chiharu’s wolf ears twitched.

“Spider-women? You mean those spiders that look like humans? They often live under the cliffs near the Abyss. Clark and I are used to them. But this is the first time we’ve witnessed an Abyss appearing. The lord of this land must have done something outrageous to incur the wrath of the gods.”

By the end, Chiharu’s voice was laced with a teasing tone.

“I see,” Fia replied with a smile.

“Then we’ll part ways here. May we meet again.”

“May we meet again. And you should open your mind a bit more too. Don’t just keep Ana around as a pretty vase.”

With that, Chiharu stopped the carriage, a meaningful look in her eyes.

Fia frowned.

“Mind your own business. That’s all.”

Without another word, Fia was the first to leave the carriage with [Flight], and Anastasia followed closely behind.

Only after they had put some distance between themselves and Chiharu’s carriage did Anastasia fly up beside Fia and apologize sheepishly.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. My father said some terrible things to you.”

“It was more or less within my expectations. Although I didn’t get to teach him a lesson myself, the result was about the same. You don’t need to apologize for that, Anastasia.”

Anastasia had already taught Clark the most painful lesson. There was no need for her to do anything more. She had never planned on paying Clark much mind in the first place. If it weren’t for him suddenly apologizing to her and kneeling to beg Anastasia for forgiveness, he wouldn’t have even left much of an impression. She would have just seen him as a hysterical man, blinded by hatred and broken by life. There were countless men like that in the world.

“But I also troubled you, Your Highness…”

Recalling Fia’s troubled, pleading expression, Anastasia felt a pang of self-reproach.

“You’re completely overthinking it, Anastasia.”

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Fia waved her hands dismissively. Anastasia’s current vulnerable state made one want to hug and comfort her, but they were in mid-air; such an action would just seem lewd.

“I said don’t worry about it, so don’t worry about it. In any case, you are not the one who should be apologizing. The only one who should is Clark, and he already has. Let’s just let this matter go. Don’t waste your time and energy on it. Right now, the top priority is to report the appearance of the Abyss to the local lord and then quicken our pace back to the capital. I can’t imagine what the reaction will be in the capital when they hear I’ve lost my memory. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.”

Noticing that Anastasia was looking guilty again, Fia realized she had misspoken. Saying that her memory loss was a headache, in Anastasia’s mind, would be interpreted as “this happened because I failed to protect you.”

Fia subconsciously reached for Anastasia’s hand, but she changed her mind before her hand was even fully extended. She looked at Anastasia’s gloomy, uncomfortable profile, then poked it with her index finger.

Anastasia jumped, her eyes widening in surprise as she looked at Fia.

“Your Highness?”

“I don’t like that expression on your face, Anastasia.”

Fia frowned, puffing out her cheeks in displeasure.

“But…”

Anastasia was at a loss. It wasn’t that she didn’t know what to say, but that Fia’s current expression was far more captivating. She had never seen the elf princess make such a girly face. Her usually cold and indifferent features were now full of petulance. If not for the wind whistling past her ears telling her this was reality, she would have thought she was living in a dream.

But even if it were a dream, it would be a sweet one.

So cute.

It makes me want to hug her.

Although she’s younger than me, she’s as reliable as a safe harbor.

“Anastasia?”

“Ah, my-my apologies, Your Highness.”

“I told you, you don’t need to apologize. We’ve already flown past the carriage.”

“Eh?”

Anastasia quickly looked down. It was just as Fia had said. While she had been distracted, they had already flown ahead of their carriage.

How disgraceful.

To be so distracted, as if I had drunk some kind of love potion. It must be because of the unpleasantness with my father, and then suddenly seeing Her Highness’s cute side, that I lost myself for a moment… How embarrassing.

“Hurry back. We can already see the mountains ahead. Milu can’t handle the mountain roads.”

“Yes!”

Seeing Fia’s back as she flew ahead, Anastasia slapped her own cheeks hard to wake herself up, then quickly gave chase, leaving Chiharu’s carriage far behind on the horizon.