“In the morning, Sir Walter came by! He said the master wanted to dine with you…”
By ‘master,’ she clearly meant Selenea’s father, Duke Tiggeris.
“The Duke… no, Father?”
“Yes, it seems he heard about your collapse yesterday. He must be worried… since, well, he is your father!”
I looked at Anna curiously as she emphasized the word father with a somewhat awkward smile.
A simple and obvious thought flashed across my mind, only to vanish again.
Did Selenea usually dislike her father?
And when I heard what came next, I was convinced.
“You will go today, right? You don’t have any other plans, and… it’s been so long since you’ve eaten together.”
Yup. She’s definitely been avoiding those meal invitations.
I nodded in response.
But my head was already spinning with countless thoughts.
Selenea’s father, Aleon Tiggeris, wasn’t just anyone.
He might even be a match for Estelline’s father, Calypso Laurent.
If Calypso Laurent was the emperor’s unshakable shield, then Aleon Tiggeris was a blade no one could control.
He graduated top of his class from the Academy, made countless achievements in every battle across conflict zones…
Possessing the empire’s strongest military force and a terrifying supernatural ability, he was formidable.
Wasn’t he considered the strongest in the entire world, aside from the male lead?
Granted, his end had been a little… underwhelming.
Still, considering the circumstances, the fact that Selenea could cause so many outrageous incidents without consequences was likely thanks to him…
And she had a bad relationship with that kind of father?
Now that was new information.
“…She’s late.”
Aleon Tiggeris sat at the head of the grand dining table, staring at the empty seat across from him.
“It’s still five minutes early. You’re the one who arrived ahead of time, Your Grace,” said his aide, Walter.
The Duke kept his gaze fixed on the tightly closed door, his expression unreadable.
Tap—tap—
The sound of his fingertips drumming on the oak table echoed across the vast hall.
Walter glanced at him anxiously, then checked his watch again.
Only two minutes left until the scheduled meal time.
Looks like she’s not coming again today.
Walter rubbed his aching temples. If the lady didn’t show up again, he knew he’d catch the fallout.
And I already have mountains of paperwork…
If the Duke decided to launch a special training exercise for the upcoming winter monster subjugation, he was doomed.
Most likely, His Grace would start swinging that dreadful sword of his again, practically exuding killing intent.
Walter shuddered, recalling the time he had been forced to spar with the Duke. Never again.
“Shall we begin serving the food?” the head chef approached quietly.
Walter glanced at the clock. The hands pointed straight up—exactly on time.
Looks like she’s not coming today either.
With a quiet sigh, Walter gave the chef a nod.
The Duke still hadn’t moved, his eyes locked on the door.
She wouldn’t show. His accumulated experience told him so.
The chef retreated, and soon, a line of cooks began bringing in dishes.
Just as the first silver plate was about to be placed on the elegant tablecloth…
Creeeak—
The heavy door unexpectedly groaned open.
And through the crack… peeked a familiar crown of platinum blonde hair.
“Uh…”
I stared at Duke Tiggeris seated in all his imposing glory at the head of the massive table.
Hair the same platinum as mine, eyes the color of dark wine.
A stubborn-looking brow, and lips parted slightly in surprise below a gracefully sculpted nose.
“E-excuse me, just a moment…”
Feeling his gaze, I hurriedly crossed the dining hall in short, awkward steps. Skirting around the frozen chefs, I quickly took my seat.
Uncertain where to look, I fidgeted as a heavy silence settled over the room.
Then I suddenly remembered—I hadn’t greeted him.
“A-ah, hello.”
After a brief pause, I added a hesitant word.
“…Father?”
It came out in a weird, rising tone, but there was no helping it.
Even in my previous life as Lee Sebin, I’d never used the word Father before.
While I sat there awkwardly, the Duke remained rigid, eyes fixed on me.
Beside him, a navy-haired man stood slack-jawed.
That must be Walter.
I was sure this was the Duke’s aide who had visited Anna that morning.
Though, I had no idea why he looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“I’m… not late, am I? I thought I arrived on time,” I mumbled.
I even tried a sheepish smile, but the tension in the room didn’t budge.
Do I have something on my face? Why are they all staring at me like that?
The servants’ expressions weren’t any better—like they’d witnessed something unholy.
Confused, I looked around, and Walter coughed awkwardly.
“W-what are you all doing? Bring out the food, now.”
The stiff chefs and servants scrambled to place the dishes on the table.
The silver domes lifted, revealing steaming plates of food.
Glossy meat dishes, a hearty soup with vegetables and bacon, and an array of colorful desserts on smaller plates.
All of them looked so good I almost drooled on the spot.
Holy crap.
I swallowed hard, barely restraining my excitement, and reached for my fork and knife—only to pause.
Duke Tiggeris was still sitting completely still.
“…Aren’t you going to eat?”
I asked hesitantly, glancing at him.
Was I supposed to greet him a different way? Or maybe start with some small talk?
As I watched nervously, he finally looked away from me.
His expression still seemed vaguely troubled.
As he slowly picked up his fork, I eyed him from across the table and thought:
So this is what a strained father-daughter relationship feels like.
The atmosphere was so stifling it was hard to breathe.
But I shook the thought away and stabbed the steak in front of me.
Whatever. I’ll deal with it later.
This was not the time to dwell on other things.
It had been so long since I’d had steak.
Thinking back to my broke days when I could only afford frozen chicken breasts brought tears to my eyes.
My empty stomach roared.
I quickly popped a piece into my mouth—its clean, savory flavor spreading across my tongue.
But just as I closed my eyes to savor it—
“You’ve been starving, haven’t you?”
My eyes snapped open.
Across the table, the Duke was staring at me, fork still suspended midair.
“…Pardon?”
“I asked if you’ve been starving.”
There was a sharp edge to his voice. I stared back in confusion.
“Uh, I mean, I skipped breakfast, so I was a bit hungry…”
“…”
An icy silence followed.
His cold gaze pierced into my face.
Slowly, I lowered my fork.
This is… serious.
Their relationship wasn’t just strained—it was dire.
What kind of father greets his daughter at the dinner table with “Have you been starving?”
“Walter,” he said suddenly.
Alarmed, I stopped chewing.
“Who is Selenea’s personal maid?”
“Anna Bardi.”
“Lock her in the dungeon. Don’t let her out until she starves.”
My eyes went wide. I choked on the meat in my mouth.
“W-wait! I misspoke!”
I coughed and cried out in panic, the Duke staring wordlessly at me.
“I overslept, that’s all!”
Grabbing the water glass, I took big gulps and continued in a rush.
“It wasn’t Anna’s fault—I told her I didn’t need breakfast because I got up late…!”
Then, in the chaos, a terrible realization hit me.
Wait. Is he doing this on purpose? He’s mad at me, so he’s punishing Anna to make a point?
Collective responsibility, seriously?!
But Duke Tiggeris didn’t respond. He just kept examining my face with those glacial eyes.
“…I had no idea,” he murmured at last.
“That you cared for your maid so deeply.”
His cold voice echoed across the silent dining room.
I stared at him, completely bewildered.
Is he… twisting my words?
It was clear. He was expertly passive-aggressive.
A sigh caught in my throat.
I just quit my company yesterday and fell asleep blissfully…
And now I have to do social politics here too?
One mountain after another.
I’d barely saved the female lead from being poisoned, and now it felt like I had to fight just to stay in this house.
Then—
“While we’re at it, let me ask you one thing.”
“Y-yes?”
“What brought this on?”
The Duke furrowed his brow, voice low and sharper than before.
I stared at him silently, mouth slightly agape.
What’s going on here?
What brought it on?
He said he wanted to dine together, so I came.
And yet, this was the response?
Whatever it is, he’s clearly furious.
I’d have to choose my words carefully.
“You haven’t joined me for a meal once in the past two years.”
My eyes widened.
So when they said it had been a while…
They meant two whole years?!
