“...There are a lot of people.”

At Basto’s mutter, Tie—still holding tightly to Tesetan’s hand—turned her head.

She pressed her nose against the carriage window.

“Waaah!”

The square in front of the imperial palace looked the same as always.

Vast beyond belief.

And with that same enormous clock tower standing at its center.

If there was any difference—

“Ugh... these people, swarming like magic creatures. Looks like I saw too much filth in the old palace.”

—as Bale had said, today the square was packed to the brim with people.

“Look! Tie remembers the tower too! The one at the old palace and this one—they’re the same!”

“That’s because of what the princess said last time... no, the association head.”

Basto explained.

“When they moved the imperial palace here long ago, the emperor at the time ordered them to preserve the old palace’s style.”

“Yeah! That’s really cool!”

Tie’s eyes sparkled.

She stared for a long time at the tower, where people had gathered, laughing and chatting.

And only when she turned away did Tesetan understand why.

“Papa, this is where we really met for the first time, right?”

Tesetan let out a quiet sigh.

Tie continued,

“Back then Papa didn’t recognize Tie and got really mad! You said Tie had no manners and that you’d kill her... k-k—”

“When did Papa ever say that.”

Tesetan covered her mouth with his hand and answered.

He sighed heavily, as if giving up, and muttered,

“Princess, how can you say something like that with a smile? Just remembering it makes Papa so ashamed and miserable I could die.”

“Mmf—pah!”

Tie wriggled free from his hand and tilted her head.

“Why? Tie isn’t sad or hurt at all right now.”

She wrapped her arms around Tesetan’s neck and, just like he always did to her, began peppering his cheeks with kisses.

“Right now we get along well, and that’s great! Just like before—we love each other, and that’s great! Tie is very, very happy!”

In the end, Tesetan laughed.

Watching them, Bale also smiled without realizing it.

Then he asked,

“Hey, kid. You’re this happy about your dad—so what are you going to do at the Ascension Ceremony?”

Tie’s face immediately fell.

“At the ceremony, you’ll have to play the role of the King of the Dead, so you won’t even be able to hold his hand. No hugging either.”

As if it were nothing, Bale added,

“See? I told you—we should’ve revealed it.”

“Revealed what...?”

“That you’re actually four years old.”

Tie fell silent.

A complicated expression appeared on her face, and Bale continued,

“Before, it made sense. The squad was small, and there weren’t many people who could cover for you, so you hid your age.”

But now, Agavert had become such a powerful mercenary group that no one in the empire would dare target them.

And not just that.

“Yes. Bale’s right. Since we’re heading to the central continent anyway, we can’t keep deceiving the temple forever.”

Basto said.

And it was true—they had already gone too far to avoid the temple’s attention.

“Who knows? If we reveal she’s just a normal child, the temple might lower its guard.”

“No. That’s dangerous.”

Tesetan cut them off sharply.

“It would be good if they did. But they might do the opposite—start seeing Tie as easy prey.”

“...”

“For now, it’s best to leave things as they are. Understood, Princess?”

Tie nodded reluctantly, looking at him as ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) he held her hands.

But her small lips were already puffed out slightly.

“...Being the King of the Dead is a little hard for Tie...”

Sometimes she had to hide at the academy.

And when she went outside, she couldn’t throw tantrums.

‘When Papa wasn’t there, Tie managed on her own.’

But somehow, now that Papa was here, it had become harder to be as brave as before.

She wanted him to carry her, even though she could walk.

If she fell and scraped her knee, she wanted to run to him so he could blow on it.

“It’s alright, my daughter. It’s only half a day.”

Tesetan hugged her and gently soothed her.

“And you won’t have to be far from Papa.”

“...”

“Our daughter is the Squad Leader. Papa is the deputy. A deputy must always stay beside the leader. You just can’t hold hands or kiss—but Papa will be right next to you the whole time.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Really really?”

“Yes.”

Only then did the girl’s face brighten.

She covered her mouth and giggled quietly, while Bale rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.

“The moment she finds her dad, we’re already yesterday’s rice.”

“Oh come on, Bale. It looks nice, doesn’t it?”

“If we’re being called yesterday’s rice, then that’s exactly what we are.”

It was an expression Tie had picked up somewhere.

She said rice had to be hot—and when it cooled, it got pushed aside.

“Exactly. That’s us—yesterday’s rice.”

Tilting her head, Tie suddenly exclaimed,

“Ah!”

Ignoring Bale, she turned back to Tesetan.

“Papaa, Tie wants nurungji.”

“Nurungji?”

“Mm-hm!”

Bale and Basto exchanged glances silently.

What even was nurungji?

Ever since Tesetan regained his memories,

those two kept talking about things only they understood.

For example—

“Papa! This kitty has its ear hurt like this! Was it sterilized too?”

“Looks like it. Probably fought with other cats. But I don’t think they do those operations here.”

“What?! They don’t?!”

Or—

“And then Grandfather Tangun turned a bear into a woman.”

“...Good grief, who even is this Grandfather Tangun?”

“Papaa! Bale doesn’t know Grandfather Tangun! Tie already told him!”

“Really? Then tell him again. Maybe he’ll understand this time.”

“Mm-hm! Look carefully, Bale? In this beautiful land, with rich mountains and rivers~ Grandfather Tangun...”

And so on.

“They don’t give us even a single chance to cut in.”

Bale clicked his tongue and crossed his legs.

But there was still a satisfied smile on his lips.

“As long as Tie is happy.”

Basto also laughed.

Even if they had become “yesterday’s rice,”

the current Tie—alive and bright—was far better than the one who cried every day, missing her father.

And at that moment—

“Squad Leader! We’ve arrived!”

The carriage, having crossed the entire square, stopped at the palace gates.

Tie slid reluctantly down from Tesetan’s arms.

When she stood in front of him, he straightened her clothes.

“Whose daughter is this, looking so unbelievably adorable today?”

“Really? Tie is pretty?”

“Very pretty.”

Dressed up, Tie really did look like a little doll.

The braids Lady Marshal had done for her bounced behind her.

“Alright, shall we go?”

Tie nodded tensely.

“Fighting!”

She hopped energetically out of the carriage—but—

“Let’s go... ah.”

She froze, feeling the gazes directed at her.

Tie hesitated and looked around.

Dozens of carriages were lined up in front of the palace gates.

And everyone who stepped out of them was staring straight at her.

In silence.

Tie began to hear aristocratic ladies whispering behind their opened fans.

“...That’s her, right?”

“To think we’re attending the same reception as mercenaries.”

“But they’re here in support of House Luminel.”

“Yes, but still... to have them at the same event... they could’ve at least separated the routes.”

Tie’s shoulders tensed.

She didn’t understand everything, but she could tell—

this wasn’t a welcome.

“And have you heard the rumors...”

At that moment—

someone stepped forward and stood beside Tie.

The girl carefully raised her head.

In a white uniform, Papa stood next to her—like a solid pillar.

“It’s been a while, Duchess Mayfield.”

At his voice, the whispers immediately stopped.

“L-Lord Luminel?”

One of the women hurried over, looking at him in disbelief.

“Weren’t you resting at the border? How are you here...?”

Tesetan tilted his head toward the carriage behind him.

“I’ve been working as a mercenary for some time now.”

“A mercenary?! But why—”

Tesetan raised one eyebrow and replied lazily,

“It suits me. Much better than attending events like this every day while staying in the Order.”

Silence fell instantly.

As if realizing something, he added,

“Ah, my apologies. It seems life on the battlefield has made my speech a bit rough. If I were to soften it...”

“...”

“A life where you risk your head is still better than wagging your tongue and pretending to be something you’re not.”