It happened the year when I was three years old, nearing four.
When the conquest of Pretzia ended, Caitel did not start other wars. When the warmongering emperor ceased his campaign, all neighboring countries which were shivering in fear happily shouted, âhooray!â
Well, thatâs what I would have done, too. Maybe Iâd add something to it and made it an annual holiday. Saying, âthis is a day to celebrate.â
Anyway, unlike neighboring countries that were formerly a tragic sight to behold, the responses of our countryâs nobility had been consistent. Six months was the limit, and once the king felt even a twinge of boredom, then he would seek the stench of death again. Tsk tsk tsk, did they really believe that?
⊠itâs not a completely false statement, but you knowâŠ
That was already four years ago. Unlike the beginning of our peaceful years, all kinds of speculations were on everyoneâs lips that the emperor might have finally come to his senses. They were talking about how, perhaps, having a daughter had finally awakened the essence of humanity within him. Itâs all bullshit, of course.
Oh, who said my dad was human? My father was a madman!
âAssisi, do you know the reason why he quit the war?â
âIsnât it because the princess was born?â
⊠No, I couldnât believe that at all.
How could that lunatic quit his thirst for war just because of me? It was absolutely ridiculous.
As I drew my face quiveringly, Assisi questioned my reaction. I didnât think that it was right, but I couldnât say this to the naive Assisi. Somehow from the moment I first met Assisi, he had viewed me as his very beloved and innocent daughter. How did he come to such an enormous illusion?
EverythingâŠ
⊠That I had done to liveâŠ
⊠Was because of myâŠ
âŠMy tearful efforts!
Assisi should get that on his head!
Well, Assisi didnât know that my father choked my neck the moment he saw me. This was a very thoughtful way of saying that he was trying to kill me. I remembered that my childhood was like walking on thin ice. If it wasnât me, then anyone would have died. Go, me!
âAre you all right?â
âUh? Oh, yeah.â
âAre your legs not hurting?â
I looked back at Assisi.
âAssisi, are you aware that youâre asking that every five seconds?â
ââŠâ
Assisi became silent. He looked embarrassed. I couldnât help but laugh at the way he looked away from my eyes.
It was effortless to know Assisi well. How could I be so clear-cut? Unlike anyone else, I could see through him so clearly, and ironically, that was the problem. What should I do with such a pure man?