--Orba Trading Company Headquarters.


I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

　I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you," Wind said, waking up from his bed.

　The people gathered here were the guards who knew Wind at the Orba Chamber of Commerce, as well as the executives.
　Futa was also there, as it was right after the incident.

　It seems that Ruri was also worried about her father, so she and Prim joined the Orba Trading Company later.

　Who contacted Ruri, Futa does not know.

If you think it's a nuisance, you shouldn't have done it in the first place.

　Pasta complained while crunching on a cupcake on the couch a little further away from the bed.

"If I had to weigh your absence against the trouble you've brought me, I'd be better off helping you.
Hahaha. For the Chairman - or Pasta-san, I suppose. But for me, it was the right thing to do.
Oh, it's so annoying.

　Pasta rolls over on the couch with a sigh.
　Huta turned around and told her.

"Lilac-sama said that you took that into account.
"Why did you just goad me?
"Because I think I understand Mr. Wind's feelings.
Are all men idiots?

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
　But seeing that she's not going away, despite her busy schedule, everyone in the room makes light eye contact and raises the corners of their mouths.

"Mr. Wind. What's going on here?
"The ...... situation, sir? Yes, sir.

　Wind can't move his arms or legs.
　Normally, he would be stroking his chin or shaking his head, but his eyes narrowed lightly, and his body barely moved.

　However, I could tell that she was having trouble figuring out where to start.

...... Ruri is not my biological daughter.

　Everyone's eyes widened, except Pasta's.

　The daughter that she loves so much is not her own child.
　It was true that they didn't look alike, and that the color of their hair and eyes didn't suggest blood, but even with these differences, Wind loved Luli so much that no one doubted that she was his daughter.

　And that love was felt by all.

　It was not that he loved her because she was his own daughter, or that he did not love her because she was his daughter-in-law.

　It was just that when she was introduced to them as their daughter, no one thought of her as a stepdaughter.

"My mother is Azalea, the first princess of the empire. --My father is a man who used to be a duke of a small country. When that country was annexed by the Imperial State, the two entered into marriage.

　It must have been a little painful to speak for so long.
　He exhaled once and continued.

It was not a very loving marriage. As Master Azalea's bodyguard, I had to see it firsthand. The man who treated her as if she were a burden in his way when she was sickly and weak, and Azalea-sama who laughed and said it was because of her own weakness.

　There must have been anger that Futa and the others could not imagine.
　I'm sure there was some anger that Futa and the others couldn't imagine.

....... Around the time of Azalea's death. Ruri was less than a year old. And like Azalea, she was weak. I couldn't leave Ruri in the hands of that man who thought he could use her somehow before she died. I took her out on my own.
You had Azalea's will. Don't bother to make yourself look bad, just state the facts.
...... haha. I'm not sure you're the best person to tell me that. Azalea did indeed entrust me with Ruri at the time of her death. I couldn't allow her to stay in that house. That's why I took ...... her.

　Pasta sniffed.

　Wind couldn't see her, but he must have heard what sounded like an annoyed little whimper.
　She raises the corners of her mouth gently and says.

"The assassin's goal is to kill me and take Ruri. With so many people working for him, it was only natural that he would find someone to hire. At the very least, they must be related to the Imperial State.
...... Is that because Ruri is of royal blood?
Yes.

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm not sure what to do.　I'm not sure what to make of it.
"Are you saying that you're going to prepare doubles for the kids?

　Pasta snickered at Futa's bitterness.

I don't have the time to devote to people who have nothing to do with me.
...... So you want to save Mr. Wind and Ruri at all costs?
Why don't you just die?

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

If I could, the Empire would do it for me. There's a reason why they can't. That is the imperial coat of arms.

　Hearing those words, something came to Futa's mind.

"...... on my back, by any chance?


Haha, did they give you a bath or something?
Yes. Daddy hasn't been bathing with you lately.
"Goof......
Mr. Wind?　Mr. Wind?

　"What are you doing?" Pasta said, looking at them with a blank stare as she snacked on a cupcake.

It's not just a tattoo, is it? It's a pain in the ass.
Yes. You can easily tell if it is you or not because it reacts with magical power.
If it's ......, we'll have to destroy it from the root.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

I'm not sure what to make of this.
"Probably.
"...... I see. The empire, huh?

　Even Futa was a name I'd only heard recently.

　What if... If the prince who was approaching Lilac was the one who would endorse such an outrage.

I'm sure Prince Barrier Reef has nothing to do with it.
What?

　Wind said, as if he had guessed what Futa was thinking.
　He smiled at Futa, who looked at Wind in surprise.

Haha. I'm sure you're right. ............ Prince Barrier Reef has nothing to do with this. He's the same as he ever was. He's upright and honorable and can stand up to people. I'm sure he wouldn't think twice about kidnapping Ruri.
Yeah, I see. Have you met ......?
He used a false name, and I'm sure he doesn't like to be identified. Even so, it is better than clashing with Futa-dono over a misunderstanding.

　A sigh of relief.

"You saved me from a close call.
...... You mean you've been out of town?
He's always been that way. ......

　As soon as he said that.
　Slowly closing his eyelids, Wind began to breathe quietly in his sleep.

　He had been fighting for three days.
　It was enough that he had told me all this.

　The only thing was, the timing wasn't right.


"Dad!

　The door slammed open with a bang.

　The door slammed open with a bang, and in rushed a man with light, cherry-red hair.
　He ran through the room with a crumpled expression on his face and a tightly clenched mouth.

"Pa, Pa!

　She clings to the edge of the bed, screaming desperately.
　Futa tried to pick her up gently, telling her that she was just sleeping, but...

"Oh my god!
"Hey, Ruri!

　The way he held his head and let out a deafening scream was not in a normal state of mind.

　You'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the following article.

"Dad. ......
"It's okay, it's okay. He's just sleeping. He's just sleeping.
...... Oh.

　Tears slowly well up in her eyes, and she sobers up.
　It's a good idea to take a look at the actual information on the web, as well as to make sure that you're getting the most out of it.

...... Sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm sorry, I just said that my dad collapsed.

　Prim, who came in after her, scratched her cheek and said apologetically.
　Call me insensitive, but I didn't think it would go this far.

"It's from the beginning.

　A voice came from behind the two of them.
　When I turned around, Pasta crossed his arms in annoyance.

You don't need to imagine how many close calls this guy had before I hired him. He almost died right in front of me and everything.
Isn't this the first time this has happened to Ruri?
Yes. I haven't found a way out of it yet, so I have to stick with her father for now.

　I did everything I could for Ruri.
　That's what Wind said.

　Wind said that he did everything he could for Ruri.

　At times, he may have tried to keep her alive by throwing his life away.

　Futa could only imagine.

　But seeing Ruri crying and her father fighting to the limit...


　I want to do something about it.

　That's what I thought.