We returned to King's Landing after successfully defeating the Ancient Dragon.
　Since we weren't tasked with killing the Ancient Dragons, we didn't get any gold or honor for our defeat.
　That didn't matter to me.
　I didn't seek him out for the gold or the honor.
　I wanted to get rid of the regret lingering in my heart.

　And besides--
　And besides--if I thought that by defeating him, I could have prevented people like my daughters from being killed in their home village.

　But .......
　As the Ancient Dragon said just now.

　--I attacked that village to kill them. I did my job. They were never meant to be born.

　They're stuck in my head like soot.

　Who are the girls?

　A few nights after we returned to King's Landing.
　I was ready to tell Elsa and Meryl the truth.

"Elsa. Meryl. Got a minute?

　My living room.
　I call them over and sit them down facing each other.
　Anna watches from a distance.

"Father. Yes, father?
Do you want me to sleep with you or something?
Listen to me, both of you.

　I said.

"I need to talk to you about something I didn't tell you before.
"[............?]

　She sensed an unusual atmosphere.
　The two of them just sits there.
　They're waiting for me to open my mouth to talk.

"As you two know, I don't have a mother. I guess I never really asked you to your face why that was.

　Maybe they cared in their own way.
　And so I haven't talked to them either.
　I let it get to me, and I haven't talked to them.

So, now I want to tell you. I need to tell you the truth.

　I stared into their eyes.
　Elsa and Meryl seemed confused by the suddenness of it.
Maybe this is what they were thinking.
　Why are they telling me now?
　It's been quiet for 17 years.
　But they never spoke of those questions.
　Elsa nodded as a look of determination came over her face.

'Father. Talk to me.
We're here to listen.
...... Yeah.

　I gathered myself up again and began to speak slowly.
　That my daughters are not of my blood.
　That I had gone on a mission and missed killing the Ancient Dragon, and that my daughters' home village had been burned to the ground.
　Picking up three babies from a land that had burned down their homes to ashes and death. Deciding to raise them as the only survivors.
　And that these babies are her daughters now.
　I told them everything, down to the last detail.

　They were stunned.
　It's understandable.
　How could they just come out of nowhere and swallow it all at once?

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this all along.

　I bowed to them.

'You didn't tell me this because you were thinking of us, didn't you?　Because if you confide in us, we'll be upset.
Yeah. But that's not all.

　I was honest with you.

"I was afraid to tell the truth myself. Knowing that you weren't really your son might drive you apart. I thought that finding out the truth might stop you from being family.
So ...... why now?
"The more time I spend with you guys, the more I think. And I thought, even if we weren't blood related, we could still be a family. I love you three very much. Elsa, Anna and Meryl are my prize daughters, the only ones I will ever have. And I can tell you with all my heart that I love them more than anyone else in the world. I would risk my life to keep you happy. And I know that we will be as good as, if not better than, our blood family. That's why I chose to confide in you.

　I looked into the girls' eyes and said.

"I consider you... more than family.



　I spoke my mind.
　Maybe at first it was an act of redemption.
　I couldn't protect everyone in my village from the Ancient Dragon, so I thought I'd at least raise my girls well.
　But after spending so much time with them, I grew to love them.
　I grew to love them.
　I love them now more than my own daughter. I would trade my life to make them happy.

"Thank you, father. Thank you for telling me. It must have been very painful to carry that thought with you all the way to .......

　Elsa had a labored look on her face.
　She wasn't angry, she wasn't sad.
　She was just full of compassion and love for me.

"Your father and I may not be related by blood. But your sword taught me a great deal about him. It lives on in me, no doubt. I feel truly blessed to have grown up as your daughter.
Elsa: "Elsa: ......
I feel the same way. If you weren't my dad, we wouldn't be having so much fun every day.
Meryl: ......
Father. We are your daughters, without a doubt.

　Elsa said, and both Meryl and Anna smiled and nodded .
　My eyes burned when I heard that.
　I felt like I was going to cry.

　The Ancient Dragon said just now.
　--They shouldn't have been born in the first place.
　No, they weren't.
　I can say with all my heart that I'm glad my girls were born.
　I don't care who they were.
　Elsa, Anna, and Meryl are the important girls I love and care about.
　That's all right.
　I will keep them happy, even if it kills me. I will.
　And I swore to myself that I would keep them in front of me.