The steps that will bring me to the house's entrance aren't many. Twelve, to be precise.
Yet, they feel like a hundred.
It's odd. I thought I would come in with Ignis by my side. Yet, he's busy talking with Tobin.
They're agreeing on something. Oh, right, we need to see what the knight will do now that he doesn't have a job.
When the last step is passed, Lucia pulls me inside. The butler was just opening the door, so we surprised him by barging in.
«Sorry,» I chuckle.
His polite smile is rather weird. He bows his head and retreats.
Oh, is everyone going to be as difficult as Lucia?
As soon as I'm in the waiting hall, I look up the stairs out of instinct. It's like this, among mages. We feel each other, in most cases.
Mother is walking down the stairs, slowly. She doesn't have any trace of a hurry, and her smile is bright. It's as if I wasn't ever abducted by a crazy tyrant.
Behind her, father walks with a dark face. He's not that happy.
His gloomy expression is extreme as well. I'm back: he should at least be relieved!
What is happening to my parents?
Has one stopped worrying about me the least while the other decided that I made a grave mistake? What in the world?
Did they argue, perhaps?
«You're finally back, daughter,» mother exclaims when she's at half of the staircase. «We have a lot to discuss.»
Oh, why does it look like she's the one in need to scold me, now?
When she's off the stairs, father walks to her side and offers his arm. His expression hasn't changed one line. I wait for him to say something, to hint what's the problem, but he stays silent.
Except for a «welcome back, daughter.»
They both look behind me in search of Ignis. I give up on deciphering father's gaze, but... Mother? She seems excited.
«Do you remember Ignis, mother?» I ask her.
She walks to me, nodding her head in the meantime.
«Of course, I remember. How could I forget?»
«He saved me, mother!»
«Saved?»
«He helped me escape and signed a marriage so that I can't be betrothed to the King anymore.»
«Oh, you silly child,» she chuckles. «What in the world are you talking about?»
«Ignis and I are married, mother.»
«I know that already.»
Then, why is she confused?
«I am free from danger, mother. I managed to contain my magic while in the capital, so no one knows about me.»
She nods, sighing.
«This was your principal worry, wasn't it?»
«Yes, mother.»
«Where is Aida?»
«She was in the carriage behind mine.»
«I'll talk with her, then. We need to prepare for the future... She is your guard, you already know that. Wherever you go, she follows.»
«But, mother, do I need to go somewhere now?»
Father's face turns even darker. Oh, now... Does he want me to stay or to go?
«Father?» I stutter, confused.
«I think you should stay a bit longer at home,» he says.
Oh, thank goodness. Father is not angry at me.
«Sure! I also would like you to get to know Ignis better. I'm sure you'll both like him...»
The little improvement shown with my agreement to stay here is vaporised by my words.
«Oh, hubby, don't be that scary,» mother comments with a giggle. «Our daughter will think you're angry at her.»
«Who...» I murmur, taken back.
«Not at you, Veronica. Rather, it's difficult for a father to let go of a daughter. After the efforts to make you grow up as a lady, he regretted teaching you as much as to become so smart and paying loads of money to make you pretty as well.»
Ah? Is that the matter?
«Father, I will be your daughter forever! Even if I'm married!»
I clench my fists and look him in the eyes. I won't become an ungrateful brat forgetting about her family after finding a husband.
«This old father of yours is worried,» he sighs, this time, letting go of the bad mood.
Mother shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
«I hoped to hear the details of your journey,» she says. «You're quite late. Have you incurred any problems?»
«Our carriage was attacked two times,» I say. «Some assassins found us, and that slowed us for three days.»
«Oh, it was about assassins...» she murmurs. Was mother hoping for something else to be the cause?
As long as we're all safe, she shouldn't mind what exactly made us waste time, right?
And we are all safe.
The door behind my back is opened, and then it's closed after two short steps. I turn back to see Ignis's red hair and his nervous posture.
He's so worried... He already knows my parents; what's the matter with him?
Is there something weird in the air today? Everyone is behaving so oddly. Everyone except Lucia, to be precise. My little sister is just like always.
«Is everything all right?» I ask him.
He nods, and his eyes meet mine. It's like looking at a puppy, for some reason.
«Greetings to all,» he says, this time a little more formal and brave.
He looks behind me, and his gaze supposedly meets mother and father.
«Duke Bursio, Duchess...» she says, nodding his head.
Duke? He calls my father... Duke? There are very few people allowed to be this informal?
I turn on my feet to check the situation, but there's no irritation on my parent's faces. Or better said, it's not about the greeting.
If it was, they would have already corrected Ignis.
It's weird... I can't explain it. Also, they might think he feels more powerful now that he's married into the Bursio family.
Yet. No, it doesn't make sense. What in the world am I missing?
Then, my eyes widen at the second surprising show of the day.