Episode 74

“Um, thank you for your help today.”

"Thank me? No need. I’ll be collecting payment, Dad.”

After repeating the awkward word 'Dad' dozens of times, it had finally started to come naturally.

'At this rate, I’ve done quite well.'

I hadn’t once slipped up with the title, and I played my role as a bazaar assistant to perfection. I even overheard a couple of people comment on how close we seemed as father and daughter.

I might not be as slick as that merchant, but I wasn’t half-bad. Everything was going smoothly, except…

“Dad. Right, Dad… Dad, huh…”

What was his problem?

From the moment he began tidying up the booth until we got into the carriage, the man had been in a daze.

He was chatting just fine with the people around earlier.

Maybe it was just the difference in personality. While I stepped away for a moment, he had already struck up conversations with six or seven strangers.

He seemed to be enjoying himself, laughing and talking animatedly—so much so that even from afar, I could sense the energetic atmosphere.

“Why are you like this now that everything's over?”

Could he be the kind of person who gets drained after being around people?

I studied his subdued expression but stopped myself.

'It’s not really my concern.'

It was strange to see someone who had smiled all day suddenly go quiet, but it wasn’t my place to pry.

“Hey, daughter.”

“Isn’t the roleplay over now?”

“Don’t be so cold. Daughter, I’ve got something I’m curious about.”

“Go ahead.”

“Since when did you—”

I was about to hear him out when a familiar street unfolded outside the window.

“Oh, I’ll get off here, please.”

“But the townhouse is still a way off.”

“I want to grab a snack. Go on ahead. I’ll call for a carriage or something.”

“Well, I mean—”

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

Only after I jumped out of the carriage did I see his gloved hand awkwardly reaching out. Pretending not to notice, I crossed the street.

The long sunset lay gently over the tall and low buildings alike.

'For Ute, maybe something that keeps well… candy might be a good choice? I can make pudding myself.'

Once I ruled out anything I could either make myself or get from the kitchen, the list of options narrowed considerably.

I was counting my coins and about to step into a shop when a heavy warmth wrapped around my waist.

“I finally found you.”

…Huh?

“Ma’am.”

“...Who are you?”

I hadn’t done anything to warrant being called ma’am.

Chills prickled down my spine. When I turned my head, a complete stranger was standing there.

“…My mistake.”

A grim expression. Dark shadows under his eyes, rough skin, and bloodshot whites.

He looked like someone who hadn’t slept or eaten properly in a while.

“My mistake. Again… hahh…”

He covered his face with his hands and shook with what looked like hysterical laughter.

I tried to smile awkwardly and take a step back.

“But… where did you get this?”

The cold joints of his fingers felt brittle, as if they'd snap with pressure. Then, like a centipede coiling around me, his hand seized my hair.

“This ribbon. Where did you get this ribbon?”

Ribbon?What about the ribbon…

I carefully opened my mouth, trying not to provoke him.

“I was given it.”

“Given? By whom?”

His fierce eyes contorted. Spit gathered at his dry lips.

“There’s only one of this ribbon in the world.”

“Only one?”

“Yes. I won’t ask again. Where did you get it?”

“Haha, well…”

I tried to break free from his grip, but it wasn’t easy. My eyes darted around, but this street was full of residences, not shops—no one in sight.

All I had to do was name the person who gave it to me and this would all be over.

But… I had a strong feeling I mustn’t.

I thought of my friend, who had wished me luck as she handed me the ribbon.

'Iris…!'

What kind of life were you living before you met me?

“Don’t try anything. Speak.”

“…”

“If not—”

“Excuse me.”

The soft yet distinct tone. A familiar warmth wrapped around my shoulder.

“What’s this now?”

“What business does a noble have with my daughter?”

The man I had just left stood behind me as though he had never parted from my side.

“Hey—”

“Goodness, my daughter walks so fast. I need to start keeping up.”

The roleplay was over, but the mischievous lift at the corner of his lips fell flat as soon as he looked at the stranger.

“In broad daylight, what exactly were you planning to do to my precious daughter?”

“I’ll leave once I'm done with my business.”

“Ha, ‘your business’... You grab a girl off the street by the hair and call that business?”

“I’ve no time to argue with the likes of you. The one who needs to answer me is her.”

“My daughter has no obligation to answer. If it’s a conversation you want, shouldn’t you let go of her hair first?”

“Useless nonsense…”

At the urging of Rezit Dahl, the man released my hair. Then, with that same hand, he reached for the hilt of his sword.

'He's the wrong person to mess with.'

The way he drew the sword was too practiced. Even with my training, I couldn’t match that.

The man who may or may not have been my “father” stepped slowly in front of me.

'Is he really planning to fight for me?'

But how? He didn’t even have a weapon.

And if this guy really was someone important, would anyone intervene properly if things went south?

Over a damn ribbon—this is ridiculous.

“I-I-I found it!”

When in doubt, lie.

“…What?”

“I said I found it!”

“You said earlier you were given it.”

“I was—the ground gave it to me.”

I crossed both hands over my collarbone and added:

“Some people call that a gift from the earth.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Don’t, then. I said I picked it up. Why would I lie about something like this?”

A small crack formed in those unnerving red eyes.

“Where did you find it?”

“Hmm, it’s been years…”

Shing.

The blade gleamed coldly. I grabbed Rezit Dahl’s wrist and shouted:

“A train! I found it on a southbound train!”

“You truly don’t know the owner of this ribbon?”

“No. I swear on my one and only father.”

“If you found it, I suppose it’s not that important to you.”

“I suppose not.”

“…”

“Give it to me. I’ll compensate you well.”

“No. I don’t need anything.”

Taking something from someone like this only ever led to trouble.

I took a step back and shook my head.

“Discarding things carelessly brings misfortune. I tend to get attached to my belongings.”

“Hand it over.”

“No.”

“Was that a request?”

His threatening red eyes chilled me to the bone. I instinctively gripped the hand covering mine and looked around.

“Immediately—”

“Your Grace, there you are.”

A man appeared from somewhere, stepping behind the ‘Duke’ like a shadow. His voice was flat, but carried urgency.

“Someone might see. You should return quickly.”

“Silence.”

“There are reports that person was seen in the West.”

The final words were quiet, but I heard every syllable.

The dangerous aura that had threatened to crush me faded slightly.

The Duke’s gaze remained fixed—not on me, but on my hair.

Thankfully, he said nothing more about the ribbon and followed his attendant away.

Only after he disappeared completely did I finally exhale.

“Whoa… That was close.”

“My daughter, are you okay?”

The sunset soaked the ground at our feet, red like blood. A chill ran through me.

Father Candidate number 2 scowled with furrowed brows.

“What’s your relationship with the Duke?”

“The Duke? I don’t know him. That was my first time seeing him.”

“Then why… that guy’s always holed up in his mansion. Why was he even out?”

“You know him?”

“There’s not a noble who doesn’t. Even merchants like me know his name. For a while, he practically had the kingdom in his grasp. But he hasn’t shown up publicly in years.”

“Why not?”

“Well… My goodness, look at that. My daughter’s hair is beautiful!”

“…What?”

“The way the sunset hits it, it looks pink. Just like Marilyn's.”

He had just been grimacing, yet now his blue eyes were filled with tenderness.

His tanned fingers casually stroked my hair.

“Your hair’s a mess. Anyway, don’t get involved with people like him. Those red eyes—if you see them from a distance, walk the other way. And if anything happens, tell your dad, okay?”

The roleplay was already over.

I meant to say that… but, strangely, the words wouldn’t come.

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