Chapter 4
The drawing in the book was so detailed that Lor recognized it at once.
The pendant in the book was none other than…
The very pendant that Elaine had tucked deep inside her drawer!
The moment Lor saw the illustration, he snorted excitedly.
Alcade had said that he placed a special mechanism in the pendant in case Elaine was ever in danger.
With this pendant, I can go to Dad!
Remembering what the book had revealed, Lor’s eyes sparkled.
Then, all of a sudden, she tilted her head.
But… why did Mom…
Why did Mom look so sad whenever she saw the pendant Dad gave her?
That, Lor truly couldn’t understand.
But—now wasn’t the time to worry about that! First, she had to leave a letter so Mom wouldn’t worry.
Book, this is all I need, right?
At that, the book flapped its pages like clapping hands. Once again, the pages turned and golden letters appeared.
[Now, I’ll let you go and meet your father! The method is simple. Just place the pendant on this page!]
Right here!
On the newly opened page was a circle just the size of the pendant, with an arrow pointing toward it—as if telling her to place the pendant inside.
With trembling hands, Lor gripped the pendant tightly and set it down on the book.
Flaaash—!
From the spot where the pendant touched the paper, a dazzling light burst forth. In an instant, it swallowed Lor whole.
…And when the light faded, Lor’s figure was nowhere to be found in Elaine’s room.
Only Elaine, still fast asleep, remained.
Sunlight poured through the large windows, brightly illuminating the room. The wide desk was piled high with important documents and maps.
This was the office of Archduke Atteleon, Alcade.
On a large strategy table stood a world map with the Empire’s territory marked.
Seated at the desk, Alcade gazed with cold, sharp eyes at the aides standing before him.
“Your Grace, there is no trace of Princess Elaine in the western region,” one aide reported carefully.
“And the east?”
“It is the same in the east. We searched thoroughly, but there was nothing…”
Tension filled the air among the aides.
Alcade fell silent, his gaze fixed somewhere far away.
Five years.
It had been five years since Elaine disappeared.
Crack. The bones in his clenched fist popped audibly.
Without leaving a single word for him, Elaine had vanished.
Though they hadn’t shared many deep conversations after marriage, the longer they spent together, the more he thought she had begun to open her heart to him. And yet—
She was gone.
And not only Elaine.
The Holy Grail vanished along with her.
The Grail was a sacred relic imbued with the powers of the Goddess and God, one of Atteleon Empire’s greatest treasures.
The Imperial family had even suspected that Elaine had stolen it and fled.
But such accusations quickly withered away in the face of Alcade’s fury.
As time passed, his feelings toward Elaine had grown more complex, like an aged wine with deep, tangled notes.
During those long five years, her absence left a gaping emptiness in his chest, casting a shadow over his every day.
He had scoured the world to find her, but no one had ever seen her.
Where in the world are you…
And then—
Flaaash—!
Suddenly, a brilliant flash erupted in the middle of the room.
What began as a glow no larger than a firefly swelled rapidly until it lit the entire office.
The aides recoiled in shock, but Alcade alone stood firm, eyes fixed on the blazing sphere of light.
That power…
Only Alcade could withstand the blinding brilliance.
Within the light, something began to take shape.
And then, in an instant, the light vanished—revealing a young girl.
Clutching a book almost as big as herself, she hovered for a moment in the air before gently descending, featherlike, to the floor.
“……”
Everyone in the office stared, dumbfounded.
Her golden hair shone like sunlight, and her fresh green eyes brimmed with excitement.
When her feet touched the ground, the glowing particles that lingered around her slowly faded, and the room returned to calm.
Glance, glance.
Each time she looked around, her twin braids swished.
And then—
“Daddy!”
The child, Lor, pointed straight at Alcade and shouted.
Wow! It really is Dad!
He looked exactly like the words written in the book.
Sea-blue eyes, black hair!
And most importantly, he was the most handsome of everyone here!
Book, that’s really my dad, right?
Lor beamed as she looked down at the book in her arms.
The book fluttered its pages like wings and floated up, writing letters on its blank sheet.
[Correct! He is none other than Lor’s father, Alcade Atteleon!]
Reading that, Lor puffed out her chest proudly, her little bottom wriggling with excitement.
The golden book fluttered like a bird around her, but the others couldn’t see it. All eyes remained fixed on the strange girl who had appeared out of nowhere.
“What is this now!”
The aides froze, on high alert.
For a child to suddenly descend from light in midair—
Is this some ploy by the enemy to target the Archduke?
But it’s just a child… what’s going on?
Wait… did she just say—
The aides stared at Lor in bewilderment.
Though she was a child, no ordinary child appeared from thin air.
“Uh, um…”
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Lor stiffened. The adults’ faces had all turned grim and severe.
“Who are you? How did you appear here!”
One aide strode forward, towering over her with a menacing gaze. Terrified, Lor clasped her hands together and shrank her shoulders.
“M-my name is Lorvantes. People call me Lor…”
“And how did you come here?”
“Well, um, the book told me…”
Lor’s eyes darted nervously as she stammered out her answer. But the more she spoke, the colder the room grew.
A book? What nonsense is that?
“I’ll summon the knights.”
Another aide stepped up, heading quickly toward the door.
“Uh—uhh…”
Still dazed from the interrogation, Lor’s eyes went wide at the mention of knights.
Grandfather had always said—
If Lor didn’t listen to Mom or Grandpa, scary knights would come and take her away!
“No! Lor is—!”
Lor wasn’t a bad child.
She hadn’t done anything wrong. She only came to find her dad!
Tears welled up as she clutched her skirt, about to protest—
“…Wait. Hagens.”
Archduke Alcade’s voice stopped the aide at the door.
The aide, Hagens, quickly turned back toward him.
“But she is suspicious, my lord. What if she was sent to harm—”
Alcade lifted his hand, silencing him. At once, Hagens obeyed and stepped aside.
Alcade turned his gaze on Lor.
He had heard countless false reports about Elaine’s whereabouts over the years. So now, anyone claiming knowledge of her only drew his suspicion.
But never—not once—had anyone appeared claiming to be Elaine and his child.
“…You called me ‘Daddy’?”
His voice was low and measured as he repeated the title. He studied her face carefully, his brows knitting slightly.
Bright golden hair. Clear green eyes.
If Elaine had been a child, she would have looked like this.
This girl looked exactly like Elaine.
The moment he saw her, his heart stirred violently.
And she called him “Daddy.”
Though she might be some little trickster, Alcade couldn’t take his eyes off her.
For that reason, he did not dismiss her outright as he normally would.
“Come here.”
Instead, he beckoned her closer.
“Y-yes, sir.”
Lor nodded quickly and toddled over to him. Trying to show proper manners to the dad she was meeting for the first time, she even spoke more formally.
Daddy’s face!
Her nervousness melted away, replaced with joy, and a wide grin spread across her face.
She had done it!
She had completed her grand adventure!
Thrilled, Lor clenched her little fists tightly.
Even though scary adults had nearly chased her out, Dad had saved her in the coolest way!
