Chapter 4

Yuria Miller.

If you ask who she is, then it’s only right that I answer!

Yuria was one of the five heroes who defeated the demon king and, without question, the greatest healer in the Kailum Empire.

And her personal motto was none other than…

<The true healer kills the enemy before their allies get hurt!>

…that.

Anyway, for that reason, Yuria, my mom, had personally hunted countless monsters and demons just like the others.

Which was highly unusual for a healer, a class generally known for supporting party members from the rear.

“Why did these people have to gather in front of our house of all places and make my old habits come out… Hmm?”

While I was lost in thought, Mom smiled angelically and muttered to herself again.

Then she spotted me standing there blankly and immediately brightened as if nothing had happened.

“Cece!”

“Hii, Mom…”

I awkwardly waved at her.

At the same time, Mom hid the instrument she was holding behind her back.

The movement was so quick that it looked as though she’d never been holding one in the first place.

“Oh my? Why is there suddenly smoke everywhere? Hoho…”

She rapidly fluttered her eyelashes as she added that.

At first glance, she really did look innocent.

“♬♪…”

Watching the entire situation unfold, Daddy Kyle muttered blankly.

“I’m genuinely, truly terrified of her.”

“Terrifying.”

“Because of her, the empire’s peace officially died today…”

Wait a second.

When people who are going to cause the apocalypse later say that, it sounds way too believable!

‘This won’t do.’

At this rate, I’d really end my life at the age of seven.

I immediately ran forward and latched onto Daddy Harzen’s leg, who was still in a battle-ready stance.

“Nooo!”

* * *

It should’ve been an unbearably ordinary day.

A repetitive life that turned like a wheel, monotonous and predictable, and therefore peaceful.

The very life Harzen Walker had longed for throughout the years he’d endured in the cold imperial palace.

The life he’d finally managed to obtain.

A perfect day he thought would continue forever.

But that wish was shattered in an instant.

“His Majesty the Emperor has ordered Duke Einhart and Lady Miller to return to the imperial palace.”

And by people like these, no less.

That was why, when he heard such an absurd announcement, Harzen felt something beyond mere disbelief.

It was rage.

After all, it had been the imperial family and the nobles of the imperial capital who had practically driven Yuria out.

If possible, he wanted to wipe out everyone standing before him right then and there.

But.

‘I have to endure it.’

Because Cecilia was here.

Harzen let out a long breath as he thought of the tiny child standing behind him.

A child who deserved to grow up seeing only the most beautiful things in the world.

A child precious enough that he’d gladly give his life for her.

How could he allow such a daughter to be left with a horrifying memory?

So he endured.

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

That is, until they took Yuria hostage.

“It seems you don’t value your life very highly.”

Just as he reached his limit and prepared to cast large-scale magic.

Ding, BOOM—!

At the familiar explosion, his movements stopped instantly.

For a moment, Harzen forgot how to breathe as he stared at the woman standing beyond the dust cloud.

The strength to fight back no matter who stood before her, no matter the circumstances.

A brilliance and beauty that not even the thick dust cloud could conceal.

The very woman he’d fallen in love with.

The Yuria he loved with all his heart.

“Oh my? Why is there suddenly smoke everywhere? Hoho…”

Thanks to Yuria, disaster had been avoided.

But.

‘I can’t let this slide.’

Harzen looked coldly at the soldiers before him.

A peaceful life without threats.

The ability to love someone openly without hiding his feelings.

These were things he’d only just obtained.

‘Anyone arrogant enough to lay a hand on Yuria should pay dearly for it.’

Harzen wasn’t magnanimous enough to overlook those who had harmed someone more precious than life itself.

Perhaps this was a good opportunity to ensure they’d never dare try something like this again.

Just as he took a step forward.

“Nooo!”

A bright yet urgent voice stopped him once more.

The chubby arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

The fluffy pink hair that looked like a cotton ball.

A daughter just as precious and beloved as Yuria.

Cecilia.

* * *

Clinging tightly to Daddy Harzen’s waist, I shouted.

“I hate fighting! Don’t fight!”

Let’s solve this peacefully!

Love and peace!

“Cece.”

Perhaps my actions had genuinely caught him off guard, because Daddy Harzen raised a hand and grabbed my arm.

I refused to lose and hugged his waist even tighter.

In the end, while I continued dangling from him, he spoke in an extremely stern and serious tone.

“Since your plan has failed, I believe it’s finally time to hear your true purpose, Count Leonard.”

His voice was still cold, but this wasn’t bad.

At least he was willing to talk now!

“That is…”

Count Leonard answered in a stiff voice.

“I can’t discuss it in a place with so many people present.”

“The moment you said that, anyone could already guess.”

Daddy Harzen curled his lips into a crooked smile.

“It seems His Majesty’s final days are approaching.”

“Duke Einhart!”

“When he wanted to belittle her, he claimed the capital was full of skilled physicians. Yet now he’s come looking for Yuria instead of seeking treatment from them.”

Wow.

Dad really knows how to cut deep… I mean, how to say exactly what’s on his mind.

“After treating her so cruelly, he should at least have some shame. Did his fear of death finally drive him senile—”

“…It’s not His Majesty.”

Unable to endure Harzen’s relentless barrage of truths any longer, Count Leonard squeezed his eyes shut and interrupted.

Then he spoke again with difficulty.

“…The person currently bedridden is Her Majesty the Empress.”

At that moment, the scroll floating before me flickered faintly.

‘Huh?’

My eyes widened.

‘The progress percentage dropped a little.’

Why?

Could it be because of what Count Leonard just said?

“Her Majesty…?”

Daddy Harzen also looked slightly surprised as he raised an eyebrow.

But the person who reacted the most was Mom.

“Her Majesty the Empress?”

Mom stepped forward.

Unlike before, her expression had completely hardened.

“Is her condition really that serious? Serious enough that even the imperial palace physicians can’t treat her?”

Mom immediately began firing off questions as though she were about to rush straight at Count Leonard.

At the same time, the scroll flickered again.

Wait. Wait a second.

Judging by the flow of this conversation…

Don’t tell me the side story starts the moment Mom says, “I’ll go to the imperial palace”?

“Many renowned physicians have already examined her, but all they could say was that medicine won’t cure her.”

“How awful…”

“It’s an extremely urgent situation. Please show mercy and help us this once.”

Count Leonard bowed his head as he pleaded.

The progress percentage dropped mercilessly again.

‘So the side story really begins the moment Mom accepts the request.’

But how was I supposed to stop her?

If I told her not to treat a sick person, wouldn’t that make me a terrible daughter?

Though, to be fair, Daddy Harzen’s comments earlier had sounded pretty unfilial too…

‘Wouldn’t becoming an unfilial daughter after having an unfilial dad be taking it a little too far?’

But if I don’t stop her, Mom will be in danger!

“Harzen…”

At Mom’s troubled voice, the scroll flickered once more.

At the same time, I snapped to attention.

Forget being unfilial or whatever.

‘That’s not what’s important right now.’

We’re literally one percent away from entering the route where Mom dies!

“Underst—”

Just as Mom began to speak.

I squeezed my eyes shut and gathered every ounce of strength in my body.

Then I screamed at the top of my lungs.

“WAAAAAAAH!”

For now, scream first! No matter what!