Watching his profile, Milly found herself thinking about the father who had been executed in the world before the rewind.
If you’re already a grand duke and still want to climb higher, that’s your business, but aren’t the risks far greater than the rewards?
In the previous timeline, Kyle Asteara had been executed for playing the traitor, selling his country’s secrets to another nation. He had betrayed Aviria in exchange for a promise of rank in a foreign court.
The whole thing had never quite made sense to Milly. Kyle was the only man in the Kingdom of Aviria to hold the title of grand duke. He had money in obscene abundance, power in spades, and, on top of that, a highly capable only daughter in Milly.
Why would a man who had achieved such unquestionable success covet status abroad, knowing full well that if his scheme fell through, the guillotine awaited him? Precisely because she knew her father’s rational, calculating nature, Milly had always found it suspicious.
Even with rank and honor, he still betrayed the kingdom. What was he thinking? She let out a quiet breath into the silence of the table.
With ducal authority, there was little Kyle could not do. In fact, before the rewind, he had wielded that authority as a carte blanche to act as he pleased, seizing wealth and land from nobles who displeased him, sometimes driving them to ruin entirely. To the other lords, he must have seemed like a demon.
And yet, despite having that much power, Kyle still sold out his country.
Milly could never understand this line of thinking. Her father must have been in quite a state of madness at the time. That was as far as her thoughts went before another idea struck her.
That’s it. I should get father to help me!
Milly would need allies if she was to stand against Angelina. And if possible, those allies should be powerful. On that note, while Kyle’s character left much to be desired, he would make an exceptionally capable partner.
Most troublesome matters could be swept aside with ducal authority, and his skill in magic was impressive enough for Milly to admire. He would be a formidable card to have in her hand against Angelina.
Yes, it was a brilliant notion. Tearing off a small piece of bread, Milly looked positively pleased with herself as she spoke up. “Father, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
It had been ten years since she’d approached him with a request of her own accord. Kyle had noticed this himself. His brows drew together in suspicion as he looked at her.
Milly didn’t so much as flinch, keeping her smile as she made her proposal. “You see, father, I’d like you to protect me.”
“What?”
“Well, I’ll be enrolling at the academy this weekend, won’t I? There’s always the chance that someone might try to take my life.”
That someone, of course, was Angelina, but surely even she would think twice about making a move if Milly were under the grand duke’s protection. Still smiling, Milly continued.
“I’ve kept up with my magic training, of course, but there are limits. Still, if you were by my side, I could feel at ease. What do you think?”
For a moment, Kyle simply sat there, mouth slightly open. Then, apparently grasping the meaning of her words, he narrowed his eyes and fixed them on the cheerful Milly as she presented her “brilliant” idea.
“I see. I was wondering what on earth you were going to say. So you want my protection, do you?”
“Yes. What do you say?”
Even if he was the coldhearted grand duke nicknamed the Demon Duke, surely he wouldn’t dismiss his own daughter’s request out of hand. Or so Milly thought, until his next words made her eyes widen.
“There’s nothing in it for me.” His expression remained unchanged.
“Pardon?”
When Milly instinctively frowned, Kyle went on, sounding almost bored. “There’s no return that would justify expending my magic to guard you.”
“But father, my point is—”
“Well, my point is that what happens to you is none of my concern. Which means I have no intention of giving you anything more, nor any obligation to lend you my aid. Understood?”
With that, Kyle set down his cutlery and rose from his chair. He cleared his throat, and the butler, who had been watching the exchange in open-mouthed astonishment, rushed over to help him into his coat.
Snapping out of her speechless daze, Milly lifted her head and called to his back as he made for the dining room doors. “So, father, you mean to say that even if my life were in danger, it would be of no concern to you?”
“That’s right. If you can grasp that much, then make sure you don’t entertain such foolish ideas in the future.”
The dining room doors slammed shut, leaving behind a heavy silence between Milly and the household staff.
The awkward glances from Bibi, the cook, and another maid who had happened to be present all pricked at her. She hadn’t expected to be cut down quite so cleanly.
I’d completely forgotten what father is like.
She hadn’t seen him in so long that she’d let herself forget, but at his core, her father was a man without the slightest shred of affection. Or, at least, she hadn’t felt an ounce of it from him in years, and judging by the display he had just put on, Kyle truly didn’t love her at all. To him, “family” was likely nothing more than a tool for diplomacy.
If anything, he’d probably just have another child if Milly died. Even knowing this was her own father, she couldn’t help but be appalled. She sighed again and stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth.
Thinking back, he’d always been that way.
When she was five years old, after her mother had passed away from an illness, Milly had clung to her mother’s lifeless body, sobbing. Even then, Kyle’s only words had been, “What’s the use of pouting?” His demeanor made it clear he cared nothing for the loss of his wife.
From that day on, Milly had stopped expecting anything from her father.
Driven by the single-minded desire to one day live without relying on a man like him, she had thrown herself into her studies, and the effort had paid off with excellent marks at the academy.
How could she have forgotten? Milly lifted her head from where it had drooped and gave both cheeks a sharp slap with her hands.
“To even entertain the idea of relying on that man...I must’ve just gotten carried away from the rewind. I need to get a grip.”
That exchange had driven the lesson home. Asking for her father’s help was pointless.
From here on, she would manage on her own strength.
Milly took a sip of her soup. Her lips curved at the familiar seasoning, and the sight was so beautiful that even Bibi, who had been watching her like she might explode at any moment, found herself momentarily captivated.
All right. Things are going to get busy.
First and foremost, she needed information. Before the academy’s entrance ceremony began, she had to put her own affairs in order. Time was finite. With only three years until her deadline, she would see to it that every necessary step was taken.