Roderick, who had been laughing happily for the first time in a long while, turned to Alexia at her words. His expression was heavy.
It seemed like the matter she had to say was quite important.
'Is it because of that?'
The rumored incident. The one where Byron was stopped at a checkpoint and then made a dramatic escape.
There was no mention of Aila in the rumors he heard, but she might have been involved.
“Roderick, where are you going?”
As Roderick abruptly stood up from his seat, Ophelia asked incredulously.
“I’ll be back soon, Ophelia.”
Rodrick didn't bring up Ayla for no reason.
It wasn't even certain. Rather than making a fuss and being disappointed, it would have been better to speak carefully after hearing Alexia's story.
“Yes. Have a nice trip.”
It wasn't uncommon for Alexia and Roderick to talk separately, so Ophelia nodded without much doubt.
As they moved to Roderick's study, Alexia looked around anxiously.
She seemed worried that someone might be eavesdropping.
“Don’t worry. There’s no one around.”
Alexia then sat down with a relieved expression.
Roderick had such a keen sense of humor. When he said there was no one, it really meant there was no one.
“...Is it by any chance about Aila?”
As soon as she sat down, Roderick spoke first.
"Oh, yes. That's right. A survivor of the checkpoint incident testified that he saw a girl who looked just like the Princess."
It was as expected. From the moment Alexia said she had something important to say.
But when he heard the story of his daughter's sighting, Roderick felt his composure shaken.
Phew. He buried his face in his palms and sighed deeply.
“Tell me more.”
“That’s... complicated.”
Alexia began to speak, scratching the back of her head with an embarrassed expression.
It could be seen as simple, as it was just a collection of testimonies from survivors, but it wasn't.
Even for Alexia, who was speaking, it was a rambling story that made it difficult to understand what was going on.
Oh, of course, it was difficult to simply transfer the survivors' testimonies.
They used all kinds of rhetoric as if they were praising some great figure from a myth or legend.
If she copied it as is, it was clear that its credibility would be lost.
“So, that kid fought on Byron’s side?”
When Alexia finished her story, Roderick, who had been listening quietly, asked with a look of disbelief.
"Yes. I heard she uses a dagger. It seems she learned swordsmanship from Cloud Air."
It was a story he couldn't understand at all.
Why on earth would his daughter side with Byron and harm the government forces?
And why is Byron teaching swordsmanship to his enemy's daughter?
“But... it is said that the girl tried to save the soldiers somehow.”
Alexia continued.
This was the part that made things even more difficult to understand.
Although she fought on Byron's side, she tried to save at least one more person.
“He tried to silence me by killing all the soldiers.”
It was quite paradoxical.
“Oh, and... numerous testimonies were claiming they heard Byron’s men call the girl ‘Miss.’ One of them even said they heard the girl call Byron ‘Father.’”
Miss? Father?
It was getting more and more confusing. He'd never heard of Byron having a daughter the same age as Aila.
“Perhaps that silver-haired girl isn’t the Princess. If she’s his daughter...”
“No. That can’t be it.”
Roderick knew Byron all too well.
Before he met Ophelia. Maybe it was back then, when hr was so debauched and didn't turn down any woman who came his way.
There was no way he could have had a child with another woman during the time he was crazy about Ophelia.
The child was Aila.
There couldn't possibly be two of those rare silver-haired girls around Byron.
It would have been nice to say it was a father's intuition.
“That child must be Aila.”
“If that girl is really the Princess... Your Excellency...”
At Roderick's confident words, Alexia opened her mouth with a dumbfounded expression.
Because she realized what it meant when the girl said she called Byron her father.
And it was the same for Roderick.
Aila's father was none other than Roderick.
But his daughter calls Byron, who kidnapped her, her father.
He felt like my blood was boiling.
But he had to endure it.
Because she said she'd come back.
Because Aila promised to return to Ophelia and his side.
“So... to sum it up, Byron kidnapped Ayla, raised her as his own daughter, and even taught her swordsmanship.”
“Yes, I think so.”
What on earth is Byron up to?
His head was in a mess, but there was one thing he could definitely understand from this.
Byron is raising Ayla as his own daughter for some purpose, and Ayla knows his true identity.
And that she is hiding the fact that she knows the secret from Byron and his men.
'It's dangerous.'
She may be keeping the secret well hidden now, but if Byron finds out, how will he deal with Ayla...?
Since it was of no use, there was a high possibility that they would kill her to silence her.
If she had the skills to subdue soldiers without inflicting fatal wounds at such a young age, wouldn't it have been better to run away now and come under his protection?
That's what he thought.
'No.'
Roderick shook his head.
At least if Aila remained by Byron's side of her own free will, there must be a reason.
Of course, Roderick can't understand the reason right now.
It felt like tens of thousands of questions were floating around in his head.
What on earth is Byron up to?
Why does Aila, knowing all this truth, remain by Byron's side, leaving only the words, "I will definitely return someday."
He didn't understand the whole situation, and he was so angry and frustrated that he thought he was going crazy.
It seemed like the matter she had to say was quite important.
'Is it because of that?'
The rumored incident. The one where Byron was stopped at a checkpoint and then made a dramatic escape.
There was no mention of Aila in the rumors he heard, but she might have been involved.
“Roderick, where are you going?”
As Roderick abruptly stood up from his seat, Ophelia asked incredulously.
“I’ll be back soon, Ophelia.”
Rodrick didn't bring up Ayla for no reason.
It wasn't even certain. Rather than making a fuss and being disappointed, it would have been better to speak carefully after hearing Alexia's story.
“Yes. Have a nice trip.”
It wasn't uncommon for Alexia and Roderick to talk separately, so Ophelia nodded without much doubt.
As they moved to Roderick's study, Alexia looked around anxiously.
She seemed worried that someone might be eavesdropping.
“Don’t worry. There’s no one around.”
Alexia then sat down with a relieved expression.
Roderick had such a keen sense of humor. When he said there was no one, it really meant there was no one.
“...Is it by any chance about Aila?”
As soon as she sat down, Roderick spoke first.
"Oh, yes. That's right. A survivor of the checkpoint incident testified that he saw a girl who looked just like the Princess."
It was as expected. From the moment Alexia said she had something important to say.
But when he heard the story of his daughter's sighting, Roderick felt his composure shaken.
Phew. He buried his face in his palms and sighed deeply.
“Tell me more.”
“That’s... complicated.”
Alexia began to speak, scratching the back of her head with an embarrassed expression.
It could be seen as simple, as it was just a collection of testimonies from survivors, but it wasn't.
Even for Alexia, who was speaking, it was a rambling story that made it difficult to understand what was going on.
Oh, of course, it was difficult to simply transfer the survivors' testimonies.
They used all kinds of rhetoric as if they were praising some great figure from a myth or legend.
If she copied it as is, it was clear that its credibility would be lost.
“So, that kid fought on Byron’s side?”
When Alexia finished her story, Roderick, who had been listening quietly, asked with a look of disbelief.
"Yes. I heard she uses a dagger. It seems she learned swordsmanship from Cloud Air."
It was a story he couldn't understand at all.
Why on earth would his daughter side with Byron and harm the government forces?
And why is Byron teaching swordsmanship to his enemy's daughter?
“But... it is said that the girl tried to save the soldiers somehow.”
Alexia continued.
This was the part that made things even more difficult to understand.
Although she fought on Byron's side, she tried to save at least one more person.
“He tried to silence me by killing all the soldiers.”
It was quite paradoxical.
“Oh, and... numerous testimonies were claiming they heard Byron’s men call the girl ‘Miss.’ One of them even said they heard the girl call Byron ‘Father.’”
Miss? Father?
It was getting more and more confusing. He'd never heard of Byron having a daughter the same age as Aila.
“Perhaps that silver-haired girl isn’t the Princess. If she’s his daughter...”
“No. That can’t be it.”
Roderick knew Byron all too well.
Before he met Ophelia. Maybe it was back then, when hr was so debauched and didn't turn down any woman who came his way.
There was no way he could have had a child with another woman during the time he was crazy about Ophelia.
The child was Aila.
There couldn't possibly be two of those rare silver-haired girls around Byron.
It would have been nice to say it was a father's intuition.
“That child must be Aila.”
“If that girl is really the Princess... Your Excellency...”
At Roderick's confident words, Alexia opened her mouth with a dumbfounded expression.
Because she realized what it meant when the girl said she called Byron her father.
And it was the same for Roderick.
Aila's father was none other than Roderick.
But his daughter calls Byron, who kidnapped her, her father.
He felt like my blood was boiling.
But he had to endure it.
Because she said she'd come back.
Because Aila promised to return to Ophelia and his side.
“So... to sum it up, Byron kidnapped Ayla, raised her as his own daughter, and even taught her swordsmanship.”
“Yes, I think so.”
What on earth is Byron up to?
His head was in a mess, but there was one thing he could definitely understand from this.
Byron is raising Ayla as his own daughter for some purpose, and Ayla knows his true identity.
And that she is hiding the fact that she knows the secret from Byron and his men.
'It's dangerous.'
She may be keeping the secret well hidden now, but if Byron finds out, how will he deal with Ayla...?
Since it was of no use, there was a high possibility that they would kill her to silence her.
If she had the skills to subdue soldiers without inflicting fatal wounds at such a young age, wouldn't it have been better to run away now and come under his protection?
That's what he thought.
'No.'
Roderick shook his head.
At least if Aila remained by Byron's side of her own free will, there must be a reason.
Of course, Roderick can't understand the reason right now.
It felt like tens of thousands of questions were floating around in his head.
What on earth is Byron up to?
Why does Aila, knowing all this truth, remain by Byron's side, leaving only the words, "I will definitely return someday."
He didn't understand the whole situation, and he was so angry and frustrated that he thought he was going crazy.
He wanted to grab Byron right now, grab him by the collar, take his daughter away, and demand what he was up to.
But that can't be possible.
“Are you alright, Your Excellency?”
Alexia asked cautiously, observing his complexion.
It was as if she understood Roderick's confused feelings.
This was because they had been learning swordsmanship together since childhood and had been together for a long time, so she was able to read Rodrick's emotions well.
Ophelia was the only one who knew more about Rodrik than she did.
"...Yes."
It wasn't okay. Hr was angry, frustrated, and his mind was filled with questions.
There was no one to whom he could confide his complicated feelings.
Ophelia was pregnant. Furthermore, the cause of her recent collapse and loss of consciousness remains unknown.
He felt like hr shouldn't tell her about such a complicated issue, one that had not brought any clear-cut results.
When he thinks back to the way she looked when Aila first disappeared...
For the sake of the child in her womb, and for Ophelia's sake. In times like these, he needed to remain calm.
'Deceiving Ophelia? Can I do it?'
Even though there is an excuse that it is for her sake.
How difficult it was to keep quiet and not tell Ophelia this important fact.
Even though he's not lying, he just keeps his mouth shut.
Roderick was constantly tormented by the fact that he had to deceive his lover.
“Will you spar with me for the first time in a while?”
Roderick looked at Alexia and asked.
He wanted to clear his head, but when his head was complicated, the best thing to do was to move his body and sweat.
And in this empire, there weren't many who could match Roderick's sword.
One of them, Alexia, happened to be home at the time. It was a perfect opportunity for Roderick.
“...Yes? Oh, yes.”
Of course, it wasn't a bad offer for Alexia either.
Crossing swords with Roderick was a huge opportunity for her to grow, and it wasn't often that she got the chance to spar with him.
However, Alexia had a strange feeling.
She has a feeling this sparring won't end until she's completely exhausted and worn out.
And that premonition turned out to be incredibly accurate.
“One more time.”
As Alexia took a moment to catch her breath, Roderick, having regained his strength, raised his sword again.
Alexia, who knew why Roderick was so persistent in asking her to spar, groaned softly and got up from her seat.
She had to conserve her energy to answer. Only then would she be able to lift her sword.
Rodrik swung his sword with such ferocity that Alexia had to grit her teeth to block it.
Only after blocking the swords that swept like a storm several times did Roderick finally let Alexia go, seemingly satisfied with his temper.
“...Phew.”
Roderick wiped the sweat running down his chin and sat deep in thought, as if pondering something.
“Please keep this a secret from Ophelia for the time being. At least... until she safely delivers the baby.”
“Yes, I will do so.”
Alexia nodded at Roderick's command, who finally opened his mouth.
It was entirely expected. It was a risky undertaking to deliver such disturbing news to Ophelia, who was already pregnant.
“And... we need to expand the search.”
Roderick muttered to himself.
But that can't be possible.
“Are you alright, Your Excellency?”
Alexia asked cautiously, observing his complexion.
It was as if she understood Roderick's confused feelings.
This was because they had been learning swordsmanship together since childhood and had been together for a long time, so she was able to read Rodrick's emotions well.
Ophelia was the only one who knew more about Rodrik than she did.
"...Yes."
It wasn't okay. Hr was angry, frustrated, and his mind was filled with questions.
There was no one to whom he could confide his complicated feelings.
Ophelia was pregnant. Furthermore, the cause of her recent collapse and loss of consciousness remains unknown.
He felt like hr shouldn't tell her about such a complicated issue, one that had not brought any clear-cut results.
When he thinks back to the way she looked when Aila first disappeared...
For the sake of the child in her womb, and for Ophelia's sake. In times like these, he needed to remain calm.
'Deceiving Ophelia? Can I do it?'
Even though there is an excuse that it is for her sake.
How difficult it was to keep quiet and not tell Ophelia this important fact.
Even though he's not lying, he just keeps his mouth shut.
Roderick was constantly tormented by the fact that he had to deceive his lover.
“Will you spar with me for the first time in a while?”
Roderick looked at Alexia and asked.
He wanted to clear his head, but when his head was complicated, the best thing to do was to move his body and sweat.
And in this empire, there weren't many who could match Roderick's sword.
One of them, Alexia, happened to be home at the time. It was a perfect opportunity for Roderick.
“...Yes? Oh, yes.”
Of course, it wasn't a bad offer for Alexia either.
Crossing swords with Roderick was a huge opportunity for her to grow, and it wasn't often that she got the chance to spar with him.
However, Alexia had a strange feeling.
She has a feeling this sparring won't end until she's completely exhausted and worn out.
And that premonition turned out to be incredibly accurate.
“One more time.”
As Alexia took a moment to catch her breath, Roderick, having regained his strength, raised his sword again.
Alexia, who knew why Roderick was so persistent in asking her to spar, groaned softly and got up from her seat.
She had to conserve her energy to answer. Only then would she be able to lift her sword.
Rodrik swung his sword with such ferocity that Alexia had to grit her teeth to block it.
Only after blocking the swords that swept like a storm several times did Roderick finally let Alexia go, seemingly satisfied with his temper.
“...Phew.”
Roderick wiped the sweat running down his chin and sat deep in thought, as if pondering something.
“Please keep this a secret from Ophelia for the time being. At least... until she safely delivers the baby.”
“Yes, I will do so.”
Alexia nodded at Roderick's command, who finally opened his mouth.
It was entirely expected. It was a risky undertaking to deliver such disturbing news to Ophelia, who was already pregnant.
“And... we need to expand the search.”
Roderick muttered to himself.
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