Chapter 20: The Unexpected Arrival

Sena Palace, Privy Council Chamber.

Marquis Ed sat at the head of the long table. A mountain of documents loomed before him, his brow furrowed into a knot.

The finance minister droned on with an inventory list. Two clerks scribbled furiously, their quills scratching against parchment. The hall was packed with council members and guards, the atmosphere taut as a battlefield.

“How much more grain for disaster relief do we need?” Ed rubbed his temples.

“By the current number of refugees outside the city, at least three hundred sacks. Hermes’ funds have arrived, but grain prices have risen another twenty percent…”

Ed said nothing, his face darkening.

A clerk seized the moment to hand him another document. “My Lord, several southern villages have submitted a joint report. They say monsters have appeared in the Crownlands’ countryside, injuring several hunters.”

“What kind of monsters?”

“Unclear. Only that they are creatures never seen before, active at night, and large in size.”

“Tell the local lord to mobilize the knights for a search first. I’ll approve the requisition order later.”

Ed tossed the document back onto the table, exhaling deeply.

Not enough money for disaster relief, and monsters stirring in the countryside—this job as Prime Minister was more exhausting than being on the front lines.

As he stewed, a clatter of footsteps erupted outside the hall.

A squad of castle guards in chainmail filed in. The leading sergeant knelt on one knee. Behind him, two guards flanked a golden-haired, violet-eyed girl.

The girl’s dress was dusty, her hair slightly disheveled, and a shallow scratch marked her face. Yet she showed no sign of embarrassment. Tiptoeing between the two guards, she craned her neck toward the man at the head of the table, then blinked.

Then she smiled, bright and innocent, like a neighbor kid dropping by for a visit.

“Hi there~ Father!”

She even waved at him.

Marquis Ed’s quill pen clattered onto the table, ink splattering over a freshly written document. He shot to his feet, the chair legs scraping against the stone floor with a harsh screech.

The entire Privy Council Chamber fell silent.

“What are you doing here?!”

Rewind a few minutes.

Aurora’s mood was fantastic as she floated down using Feather Fall.

Behind her, the silver-armored man on the watchtower practically radiated fury across the distance. She even waved up at him.

Then she spotted a squad of castle guards in chainmail, standing stock-still not far away.

Her landing point had landed right in the middle of the castle guards’ training route.

She had intended to land in a secluded corner, but the directional control of Feather Fall was limited. The wind had pushed her off course like an unruly leaf, directly into the open space where the guards were drilling.

A group of soldiers in formation looked up in unison, watching a golden-haired girl descend from the sky on a faint golden glow. Their expressions were priceless.

As soon as Aurora touched the ground, she was surrounded.

She didn’t run or panic. She just dusted off her skirt and called out to the approaching guards.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Aurora of the Olivia family. Please take me to my father.”

And so, with a nervous escort of castle guards, Aurora swaggered into the middle of her father’s meeting.

Back to the Privy Council Chamber.

Marquis Ed’s voice nearly lifted the roof.

Aurora was completely unphased. She trotted over with a smile, hands clasped behind her back, tilting her head to use her most obedient tone.

“I came to see you, Father~ It’s been a while. I missed you.”

Marquis Ed nearly choked on his breath.

The guard sergeant tactfully added, forcing himself to speak: “My Lord, this young lady fell from… uh, from the sky. My men witnessed it during patrol; it gave them quite a start.”

“From the sky?” Ed slowly turned to look at his daughter.

Aurora blinked her violet eyes, her expression utterly innocent.

“I can use magic. Feather Fall—very safe, no danger at all.”

She even made a ‘tiny bit’ gesture.

Ed took a deep breath, then another, then waved at the sergeant.

“You’ve worked hard. Dismissed. Go to the steward for a reward—twenty denarii each.”

“Thank you, My Lord!”

The guards, relieved, bowed and filed out. The heavy hall doors closed behind them.

The council members, reading the room, all lowered their heads and pretended to study documents.

Ed pulled his daughter aside, lowering his voice.

“Tell me the truth. What’s going on?”

Aurora’s expression turned a bit more serious, though her tone remained light.

“I have a friend staying in the castle. I came to find her.”

Ed’s eyes instantly sharpened.

“Friend? Male or female?”

The question came too fast and too direct.

Aurora’s mouth twitched.

“Female.”

“Oh.”

The wariness in Ed’s eyes visibly faded, replaced by a strange disappointment.

Good grief, exactly what did you hope for—that I’d bring back a man or not?

Ed rubbed his forehead, his tone softening.

“If you’re looking for a friend, why not use the main gate? You’re my daughter. Just say your name, and no one would dare stop you. Why jump from the sky?”

Aurora answered with utter confidence.

“Would you have let me in if I came through the front door?”

Ed opened his mouth, then closed it.

—No, he wouldn’t have.

He knew his daughter too well. Whenever Aurora showed up at Sena Palace, nothing good followed.

“Who is this friend, and where does she work?”

Changing tack, Ed’s tone turned serious. He stared into Aurora’s eyes, adopting the demeanor of a judge.

Uh-oh, the interrogation was coming.

Aurora’s mind raced.

She certainly couldn’t confess. If she mentioned Juliet, the questions would pile up—how did you meet? What do you want with her?

The further she explained, the worse it would get. She’d never leave today.

So instead of answering her father’s question, Aurora tiptoed like a nimble cat around behind Ed, stretching her neck to peek at the documents spread on the table.

“Wow, so many files~ Father has been working so hard lately—oh, what’s this? Disaster relief funds?”

Her hand reached out.

Ed reacted quickly, slapping his hand over the document while using the other to block Aurora.

“Don’t touch that! It’s a confidential council document!”

“I just want to see~”

Aurora blinked innocently, her fingers still reaching.

“What is there to see!”

Ed retreated half a step while shielding the document, a vein pulsing at his temple.

Aurora pressed forward, taking another step closer.

“And this one? Is it the report from the south? Something about monsters, sounds so interesting—”

“Aurora!”

Ed took a big step back, took a deep breath, and raised his hand in surrender.

“All right, all right! Stop bothering me!”

He rubbed his temples, waving his hand wearily.

“Go do whatever you want. Wander around the castle. But—”

He raised a finger, his expression stern.

“No mischief. No causing trouble. Don’t touch anything you shouldn’t. Understood?”

“Got it~”

Aurora nodded obediently, smiling like a cat that had stolen the fish.

Ed looked at his daughter’s harmless smile. Something felt off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He sighed and added one more thing.

“I’m busy today. I won’t be home tonight. Go back early and get some sleep.”

“I know, Father~ Take care of yourself.”

Aurora blew him a heart sign, then turned and bounced toward the door.

Ed watched his daughter’s back disappear beyond the hall doors. He felt like he’d been played.

But he was too busy to think about it.

Aurora snickered inwardly.

This is the broken window effect.

If you want to open a window, people won’t let you. But if you try to smash the wall, they’ll compromise and let you open the window.

Ah, the French always compromise.

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