Father, I Won’t Do Anything

“By the way, you don’t still think Bezrice betrayed you, do you? Just look at Jaina. Bezrice herself said that every child born to a dragon is the fruit of love.”

Diamid tilted his chin up and gazed into the distance.

“I’ve been thinking… there might have been some reason behind it.”

“There’s no way to know now, is there?”

Seiden recalled the time when he and his old comrades had joined forces to defeat the Demon King.

Back then, they had all been smiling brightly, feeling they could overcome any challenge after saving the world.

‘But it was arrogance.’

Diamid had shut his heart after harsh words from Bezrice, while Reidon’s wife had been unfaithful while he was away.

Fiello had exhausted all his divine power and was practically imprisoned in a temple.

And Seiden himself… was still anguished over his lost family.

But the very ones who had turned their backs on them at that moment…

“You know I didn’t just casually visit Elia, right?”

Diamid nodded heavily.

During the war against the Demon King, not everyone had fought as fiercely as they had.

There were those who turned away from their duty, sacrificing others to preserve their own lives – the decadent nobles of the Empire.

But right after the bloody war with the Demon King, the neighboring nation of Nevedel immediately waged war, making it impossible to properly punish the traitorous nobles.

“They think if Elia, who achieved great feats in the war against the Demon King, becomes Emperor, she won’t leave them alone. They’re afraid she’ll strip them of everything they have.”

That’s why the nobles were keeping a close watch on Princess Elia, the Empire’s next ruler, and Diamid, the Lord of the Magic Tower.

-What was so difficult about defeating the Demon King? It was nothing compared to the siege battles fought by the legendary hero Sanderthe.

-Moreover, that battle was fought with the aid of other races. You had to beg for help from dragons who see humans as mere ants.

-You just played a supporting role beside the dragons, and you’re boasting about winning?

Seiden spoke in a hushed voice.

“I’ve heard they’ve been collaborating with the temples who didn’t contribute much in the war against the Demon King.”

“The day the High Priest awakens from his long slumber won’t be far off, it seems.”

The two men wore grim expressions.

Watching Diamid’s somber look, Seiden continued.

“I came looking for you to discuss this, but also because your demeanor has seemed off lately. Diamid, aren’t you acting a bit too aggressively towards the Empire?”

“Acting aggressively…”

“Diamid Bellafanian, what is your stance as the Tower Lord? Just because you’ve sealed away your emotions, does that mean you don’t care about the peace of the continent? Do you still believe power and truth are paramount?”

Diamid quietly shook his head.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then…”

“I don’t care about petty magic or truth anymore. The only thing that matters to me now is that child.”

Seiden read the rippling emotions beyond Diamid’s eyes.

“Don’t tell me…”

The icy wall surrounding Diamid’s heart had somehow crumbled.

He could feel emotions once more.

Realizing this belatedly, Seiden could only let out a deep sigh and ruffle his own hair.

“…Fool.”

* * *

‘I knew today was my birthday, but…’

Jaina unconsciously scrunched her face, having difficulty breathing.

“…Ugh.”

When she narrowed her eyes open, her bed was covered in gift boxes.

One of the boxes lined up in a long row on one side had fallen onto her stomach, weighing her down.

‘Are they trying to assassinate me?’

With a sullen expression, Jaina sat up.

She carelessly untied the ribbon on the box.

Inside were top-grade refined mana stones, said to be valuable enough to buy a city, rolling around haphazardly.

“…”

This time, Jaina opened one of the larger boxes on the opposite side.

It contained an intricate, delicate doll with emeralds for eyes and rubies adorning its clothes. The craftsmanship was exquisite anywhere she looked.

“Haah.”

Jaina got off the bed and began seriously unwrapping the boxes.

The boxes contained all sorts of precious items, from the ownership deed to a renowned seaside villa to handmade shoes by a master craftsman.

But Jaina remained entirely unfazed. She had received countless such gifts over the past few years.

“When will I ever finish cleaning this up?”

Jaina’s room was soon a mess of silk ribbons, elaborately crafted wooden boxes, velvet cases, and more.

Jaina’s seventeenth birthday began with a deep sigh.

* * *

For some time now, like a mountain of presents, gifts would arrive on Jaina’s birthday from unknown senders.

Even though so many were sent, one would expect someone to notice or figure out the sender, but her guardian knight Izren just shook his head, and Mikael and Hilvenzia, known as the Tower Lord’s right and left hands, just shrugged.

“Did you receive the emerald bracelet I sent?”

“It reminded me of Hilvenzia’s vibrant green eyes.”

When Jaina answered, Hilvenzia smiled gently, her eyes curving.

“It’s both flattery to make you think of me often, but emerald is also your birthstone, Jaina.”

Hilvenzia raised her wrist and jangled it around.

The bracelet on her wrist was the same as Jaina’s.

“By the way, it’s a couple’s bracelet.”

“Oh my, thank you.”

Jaina raised her wrist to show she was wearing it.

On Jaina’s wrist was also the sapphire bracelet Hilvenzia had given her previously.

Seeing the two bracelets on Jaina’s wrist, Mikael appeared, grumbling.

“Is your old habit of tying people’s wrists and burying them at sea still lingering? You like bracelets that much?”

Hilvenzia gave a charming, alluring smile.

“Are you jealous that Jaina and I have couple’s items? But scratching at people’s hearts like that is a bit too crass, isn’t it?”

“Wow. Acting like it never happened. Always pretending to be so kind in front of the kid. Don’t you shake your money-maker at me, you old hag!”

Mikael shuddered dramatically, brushing his arms repeatedly.

“That emerald bracelet isn’t just any bracelet, is it? Right?”

“Oh my… How did you know? It’s said to be a bracelet kept as a treasure by the queen of an ancient kingdom.”

Hilvenzia spun a tale about the queen personally visiting a famous craftsman to have the bracelet made.

But Mikael didn’t buy it, glaring at Hilvenzia with narrowed eyes.

“Don’t lie. I can sense magic coming from it.”

“Oh, our young lord has grown quite perceptive…”

Hilvenzia gave an empty-looking smile.

“The magic engraved here measures Jaina’s heartbeat…”

“Why would that be necessary?”

“In case our ever-composed Jaina’s heart starts pounding for some reason, I’d worry.”

“Hm, not a bad idea, I suppose.”

Indeed, it was just like Hilvenzia. Jaina looked down again at the sapphire bracelet equipped with a tracking device.

“If I die, Hilvenzia can have my corpse.”

“I want your soul more than your body, though?”

“Are you a demon? Trying to eat her soul?”

Mikael scolded Hilvenzia for saying something strange.

Then he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and flung it.

“Catch.”

“What’s this?”

Jaina caught it and unfolded the paper, her eyes widening.

“Mining rights to ruby and sapphire mines.”

As if to show he wouldn’t settle for just a single bracelet like Hilvenzia, Mikael shrugged his shoulders.

“It would take far less time to mine them and make jewelry.”

“Are you picking a fight now? Jaina, which gift do you prefer?”

It was now familiar for Mikael and Hilvenzia to bicker with Jaina caught in the middle.

She had a prepared response for such situations.

“I appreciate both of your gifts.”

Moreover, today she needed to tread carefully around Mikael and Hilvenzia, so Jaina alternated looking at them before speaking as casually as possible.

“Oh, by the way, I think I’ll be staying out overnight today.”

As expected, they reacted with wide, surprised eyes.

“What? But today is your birthday, Jaina. Staying out overnight?”

“If you’re going out, take me with you!”

Jaina’s attempt to casually drop the information and move on had failed.

‘I expected this reaction, but it’s almost surprising how predictable it was.’

After firmly keeping her mouth shut, Jaina carefully said:

“Well, actually, I’ll be hanging out with friends for a couple of days…”

“What did you say?”

“Friends…?”

Hilvenzia and Mikael’s gazes turned strange.

Even for Jaina, who had spent so much time with the two of them, their expressions were indecipherable, difficult to put into words.

In a way, it seemed their faces didn’t show much expression at all.

“Jaina, having a birthday party outside…”

“Have you grown too old for your brother now…?”

Jaina shook her head vigorously.

“Of course not. What would I have left if I didn’t have Brother Mikael and Hilvenzia?”

“Your friends, I suppose.”

“Your friends, I suppose.”

Jaina was inwardly startled when Mikael and Hilvenzia said the same thing in unison.

For the two, with personalities as different as oil and water, to react identically…

‘Normally they would have gotten upset right away…’

They both seemed a bit unhinged. Their lips were only slightly upturned, but their eyes looking at her were hollow.

“No matter how hard I raised her, it’ll be useless. Soon she’ll find hanging out with us old folks boring and go play with her friends instead…”

“You prefer your friends over spending time with me? What do they have that I don’t? What am I lacking compared to them?”

“Is this how it starts, her choosing friends, then later choosing a man, then later choosing children, until my place in Jaina’s heart gradually disappears…?”

“Your friends Marilyn, Camille, Rodrin, Yuan, Murina… right?”

Jaina felt a chill run down her spine.