Volume 4, Chapter 68 – The Contradiction

What’s going on?

Yelido’s behavior stunned Fia. She had originally planned to say something else before apologizing to him, and had never imagined that he would apologize to her first. What baffled her the most was that she couldn’t think of a reason for him to apologize to her. Yesterday, she had been the one to hit him, not the other way around.

Before Fia could react, Yelido continued in a low voice.

“I hit you yesterday in a moment of impulse… my actions at that time were not thought through. I hope you can accept my apology.”

No, no, I could have easily dodged it back then. The only reason I accepted it was because I felt that as the one who inherited the princess’s identity, I should take that hit. In other words, I didn’t take it to heart at all, so there’s no need to apologize.

However, Fia couldn’t think of how to explain this to him for a moment. She looked towards Anastasia and Claire, who were standing by the door. Both of them had surprised expressions on their faces. When they saw her pleading gaze, they only returned a look that seemed to say “you can do it.”

I can’t expect them to speak for me…

Fia immediately realized that neither of them was in a position to speak at this time. She should be thankful that he hadn’t asked who Claire was.

At this thought, Fia began to look at the man before her in a new light. Generally speaking, traditional men always gave the impression of being stubborn and inflexible. That was the impression he had given her as well, stubbornly holding on to the matter of Anastasia, and after she had said she would not allow Anastasia to be punished, he had dragged the matter back to Clark and Veronica, and had even used the statement that because he was her father, she had to listen to him in everything, as if he always had a reason. This arrogant image had made her feel that he was unbearably conceited and overly stubborn when they first met.

But the fact was, that seemed to be her stereotype. If he were truly a stubborn and unyielding man who would not listen to others’ advice, he would not be apologizing to her, his daughter, now, and he had even lowered his head, his tone like that of someone speaking to a friend.

Anastasia was right. He was a man who reflected on himself.

She just didn’t know how far his reflection had gone—although to say so felt a little greedy.

Fia’s hands, like his, were unconsciously clasped and gently rubbing against each other. She was thinking about how she should answer him.

“I… I didn’t take that slap yesterday to heart…”

The moment Fia’s words fell, Yelido looked up. His slightly cloudy red eyes were filled with disbelief, and his arms even trembled.

The unease and tension that had been pressing on his heart instantly lessened. He asked with pleasant surprise.

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“Then you’ve forgiven me?”

“…Mhm.”

Not wanting to see his overjoyed expression, Fia turned to look out the window. It wasn’t that she thought he was bad, but that there was a strange, dislocated feeling. Her impression of him had always been that of a superior, a man of few words. Now, this humble, joyful expression of begging for her forgiveness made it difficult for her to adapt for a moment.

Subconsciously, she wanted to find something to do. So she stood up and walked to the magic device on the wall. As long as she infused mana into it, the jewel chandelier on the ceiling would light up. In just a moment, the originally dim room was filled with bright light, and everyone squinted their eyes slightly at the light.

Fia sat back down in her original position, her hands between her legs, looking a little awkward. Although she had seen countless others admit their mistakes and apologize, she had never done so herself. This feeling of being unable to speak was exceptionally shameful.

That being said, she couldn’t just let things go muddled because she was embarrassed. As a daughter, she indeed should not have used violence against her father. She opened her mouth and said with difficulty in a small voice.

“Actually, I was planning to go and find you in a little while. I was also at fault for what happened yesterday… Are you alright?”

“I’m completely fine. That little injury was nothing,” Yelido answered lightly, straightening his back with a relaxed look. He quietly observed her expression and then said, “Besides, I was at fault first. You don’t have to take it to heart, Dofi. Uh, does this count as us having a mutual understanding?”

He actually wanted to say, “You won’t leave the Royal Castle now, right?” But his long-formed dignity made it difficult for him to say it. Apologizing was one thing, but to say something that sounded like begging, he wouldn’t be so direct.

He looked at the hesitant Fia, who seemed to be thinking about something, his subdued red eyes wavering slightly.

His daughter had really changed.

It was hard to imagine that Dofilia would apologize, and would even make such human-like gestures. To be sitting on the sofa, the Dofi of the past was always calm and composed, looking full of confidence. But now, there were many small movements. Whether it was her slightly trembling eyelashes or her rubbing fingers, they all made her feel more alive.

If it had been the Dofi of the past, in the face of his apology, she would at most have just nodded and given a light “mhm.” Come to think of it, that was not at all the reaction a daughter should have, but was more like something between friends. Before coming, he had never thought Fia would apologize for those two punches yesterday. The surprise she felt now, he also had, and no less than her. His feeling yesterday was not wrong. After losing her memory, Fia was more like an elf.

He felt his heart lighten, but he did not show it on his face. He just sat on the sofa and looked at her indecisive face, as if he were admiring the most beautiful thing in the world. Titles like “Father” or “Yelido” no longer seemed important at this moment. Just the picture formed by her lively little movements was enough to bring joy.

“An understanding… I really don’t blame you… blame Father. But since you’ve apologized… Does that mean you will no longer punish Anastasia? When I first arrived in Blossom, I had an unpleasant encounter with the military over this matter. I have already punished her by revoking her position as captain of the Second Squad of the Imperial Guard. I think that is enough.”

“…”

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Hearing Anastasia’s name again, Yelido’s face tensed. He felt that her name was particularly out of place at this moment, but he knew it was an unavoidable topic. The reason they had quarreled was because of her. He really wanted to insist on his view from yesterday, that the punishment Fia had given her was too light and was not enough to atone for her dereliction of duty. Even if he didn’t hang her, he should at least make her stay away from Fia, that is, exile her back to the Land of Exile. With her current strength, she was more than capable of dominating a part of that land. Fia no longer needed to worry about her safety.

However, he also knew that this was just him thinking from his own perspective. From Fia’s perspective, if she really disliked Anastasia, or felt that her crime was very heavy, she would not have kept her by her side until now. He had not forgotten what Fia had said before she left yesterday, that she already saw Anastasia as her own sister.

Own sister? What a joke!

Yelido really wanted to roar like that. Anastasia was the shame of the royal family. Unless he died, he would never allow that mongrel to become a member of the royal family. However, if he were to roar like that, his sitting here would lose all meaning, and he and Dofi would just end up fighting again. There were always such and such differences between people. What was a matter of course in one’s own eyes could be incredible and unforgivable in the eyes of others. He, as the king, had seen more people than Fia had eaten grains of rice. He was not unaware of this principle.

He suppressed the impatience he felt for the name “Anastasia,” took a deep breath, and resumed his usual majestic expression, saying slowly.

“Dofi, I want to know what you have experienced on your way back from the Holy Kingdom.”

For two people to try and persuade each other from their own standpoints was as difficult as asking the other to point at a 6 and say it’s a 9. It would only be a battle of words and would not solve the problem.

Since he had to find out why Dofi was so protective of Anastasia, he naturally had to understand what had happened between them after she had lost her memory. Especially what she had said yesterday, that “if not for Anastasia, she would have already given up the identity of the princess.” Although he had no way of understanding the meaning of this sentence, he could start to understand from now.

Fia did not understand why he had so stiffly changed the subject, but for her, as long as he did not pursue the matter of Anastasia, it was enough. She began to recount from when she had woken up in the Dry Desert. Just like when she had told Yulisha, she omitted the parts about Claire and Erin Slate and recounted her experiences along the way one by one.

The process of telling the story was exceptionally long. It wasn’t until the sky outside had turned from the dimness of dawn to the brightness of early morning that Fia had gotten to the part where she had discovered Prince Schain’s coup attempt and had killed him.

Yelido did not interrupt, but just quietly listened to her.

“…And that’s all of it.”

Fia looked up to gauge his expression. The latter’s gaze was no longer as aggressive as when he had first heard Anastasia’s name. He was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice.

“Because you lost your memory and at the same time had memories that did not belong to you in your head, you felt that you were not yourself. It was Anastasia who persuaded you to stay, so you came back. Is that right?”

“Yes,” Fia bit her lip lightly. “Actually, even now, I’m not sure if I am really me…”

“Hah…”

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As if he were arguing with himself, Yelido tilted his head back slightly and repeatedly took deep breaths. It took a long time for him to calm down. Then he glanced at the uneasy Anastasia standing by the door.

The answer as to why the amnesiac Dofi would argue with him for Anastasia was already very clear. If not for her, he would not be seeing Dofi now. Father and daughter would be strangers. For Dofi, Anastasia was the angel who had pulled her back from the cliff and had let her accept her true self. Putting aside his status as a father, his position in Dofi’s heart was no match for Anastasia’s.

Although it was ironic, it was the reality.

Just like in Veronica’s heart, he was no match for Clark. Although he had never thought so on the surface, he knew in his heart that there was only one person she loved.

But Dofi was different from Veronica. There was still a place for him, this father, in her heart.

He savored the bitterness in his mouth and let out a long breath. He said, with great reluctance.

“I understand. I will no longer pursue Anastasia’s responsibility. But this does not mean that the past can be written off. Dofi, the reason you lost your memory was because of her inadequate protection. Do not reverse the cause and effect.”

“But the princess might have—”

Yelido no longer indulged Fia. He held his palm up to her and cut her off forcefully.

“No more explanations, Dofi. I will not concede any further.”

Fia still wanted to say that the princess might have deliberately lost her memory, but his attitude was very firm. Fia could feel that to allow Anastasia to continue to stay by her side was already the greatest concession he could make.

And for the current her, this was already enough.

She swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue and finally nodded lightly.

“…Alright.”

The matter should be more or less over here.

Although what had happened yesterday would not be treated as if it had never happened, the thorn had been removed. Once a quarrel is reconciled, in the future, it will only become a memory that makes one smile wryly. She should take this opportunity to talk about Greyan’s suspicious death and the problem of the Holy Tree, and also settle the matter of Mizuki’s marriage. As for her and Claire, honestly, now was not the time to say it. Her Father had already given in a lot and would not concede any further. She should choose a time when he was happy to discuss it again.

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However, not everything would always go as one imagined.

Yelido suddenly fixed her with a sharp gaze, as if he were trying to see something in her eyes.

“Dofi, did you deliberately omit something when you told me?”

Although she didn’t know what he was going to say, to be stared at like this made her heart skip a beat.

“What do you mean specifically…?”

“Who is that person named Claire? You mentioned her at the beginning, but in the end, you didn’t explain her whereabouts. And, what is the name of this human woman standing by the door? I don’t remember you having any human friends.”

Yelido had long wanted to ask about Claire’s existence, but because of the matter of Anastasia, he had never had the chance. He had not missed the gaze Claire had given Fia when she had first stood by the door. That gaze was just like the one he had seen from Clark when he had first met him, the gaze he gave to Veronica. It was the detestable gaze of someone who was about to steal something important from his side. More accurately, it was the gaze one gave to a person they admired.

Tsk.

Fia clicked her tongue heavily in her heart. She had never thought he would suddenly visit her palace, so she had naturally not realized that he would see her going to the dining room with Claire in the morning.

The current situation did not allow her to prevaricate. Then a casual lie… no, Claire was right here. Even if the situation was pressing, she did not want to say in front of her that they were just ordinary friends.

She had no choice but to brace herself.

Summoning her courage, Fia puffed out her chest and admitted.

“She is Claire. And she is the one I love.”

In an instant, Yelido’s eyebrows shot up. The atmosphere in the room tensed, and his voice was filled with dissatisfaction and questioning.

“The one you love? With a human? Dofi, do you know why I objected to you bringing Anastasia back? In the past, I did not watch your mother closely, and that coward Clark took advantage of the opportunity, leaving a huge joke for the royal family. Humans are base and cowardly. They are not qualified to stand with you. To allow Anastasia to stay in the Royal Castle is already my bottom line. I will not let a mere human take you away from me. The mistakes of the past will not be repeated!”

By the end, Yelido had narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed sharply on Claire.