Flora stood in front of a door.
She took a deep breath before opening it.
Inside was the dining hall.
Before her was a long dining table, the very one her entire family would gather around for every meal together.
"So, you've finally arrived?"
A raspy voice broke the silence. It belonged to a middle-aged man sitting at the far end of the table.
'Grandolf Vasselieu.'
This man was her father.
His blue hair, just like hers, and amber eyes, the family's signature traits, were traits her and her older brother did not inherit.
The middle-aged man didn't even bother to look up. He meticulously cut the steak in front of him.
Seeing that her father had nothing more to say, Flora decided to walk over to the seat on his right and sat down.
As she sat, a maid placed a dish in front of her.
"I heard you've encountered a 'child from another world'?"
"Yes... I've decided to take her in."
Flora replied to Grandolf.
"Very well, but does your fiancé know about this?"
Flora shook her head in response.
"Then I'll have to inform him myself."
"I'm sorry to burden you with this..."
Flora lowered her head and apologized.
"Forget it... It's unavoidable."
"Encountering someone who has wandered from a gate is a matter of importance determined by the Empire."
"It's an acceptable excuse, even if it might upset your fiancé's conservative family due to the adoption."
Hearing this, Flora bit her lip.
Her marriage was a political one, intended to balance the power between both sides.
This was what the royal family desired.
Otherwise, the balance of power would be lost, giving the liberal faction, the new nobles, too much control.
This would threaten the royal family and could lead to a coup.
"Vincent?"
Her father mentioned her brother's name as he continued to slice his steak.
It was a brief word, but she understood its meaning.
"Brother Vincent, he's out reporting to the military command."
"This war was a devastating loss."
Flora spoke.
Although she and her father were conversing normally, they didn't share any familial warmth.
She knew just how much her father despised her.
But no matter how much he hated her, he couldn't show it; otherwise, gossip would tarnish the family name.
"Disappointing."
He uttered, causing Flora to pause in her steak cutting.
Flora bit her lips tightly before speaking.
"Then why didn't you go yourself?"
For the first time since Flora entered the dining hall, Grandolf looked up.
Flora averted her gaze from Grandolf's piercing eyes.
"If you had gone to the battlefield, wouldn't the war be over by now?"
"The third strongest Sword Master in the Empire didn't go to the frontlines, huh."
Flora spoke with a sarcastic tone.
She felt her heart constrict when she heard her father say 'disappointing.'
It felt like everything she had worked for had crumbled, as if all her efforts were worthless.
"The royal family is watching the Vasselieu family closely."
"The Ironclad Titans, your unit, serves the third prince."
"While the crown prince is about to ascend the throne."
"Do you realize what that means?"
Grandolf spoke with a cold, accusatory tone to Flora.
Flora bit her lip harder.
"So what? You want me to abandon my benefactor!?"
"The third prince is the one who saved my life from the barbarians a year ago, isn't he!?"
"If not for the third prince who defied the odds to break through the barbarian's army and save the northern forces of the Empire last year!"
"Would I'd be alive?"
Flora spoke with intense emotion.
"So what?"
Grandolf responded, his gaze calm as he looked into Flora's eyes.
Hearing this, Flora breathed rapidly, anger rising within her.
"Abandoning one's benefactor is no different from abandoning a knight's honor!"
"You know that better than anyone!"
Grandolf stared into Flora's eyes before the atmosphere in the room gradually darkened.
At that moment, an unseen force struck Flora's body, flinging her against the wall.
Ugh!
The force, centered on Grandolf, surged with a blue aura around him, swirling wildly.
"Is gratitude really that important?"
"Even if it comes at the cost of your life?"
"You don't even realize what will happen if the crown prince successfully ascends the throne."
Grandolf slowly rose from his seat and walked toward the exit.
"Do as you wish."
Grandolf opened the door and left as soon as he finished speaking.
As soon as he left, the invisible force disappeared.
Flora collapsed to the floor, tears welling in her eyes.
'I have to be strong.'
'I must not cry.'
Flora repeated these words to herself over and over.
After spending over an hour calming herself, she finally felt at peace.
She opened the door and left the dining hall, heading straight to her bedroom.
She opened the bedroom door and entered.
The sight before her was Ellie, sleeping on the sofa.
Her tail curled around her belly, just as it had been when they first met.
Flora stood still for a moment before gently stroking Ellie's head.
Ellie groggily responded to Flora's touch by slightly raising her head to meet the caress.
'Ellie... if I bring you into chaos instead of a warm and peaceful place, would you hate me?'
Flora wondered to herself before shaking her head.
'Never mind... I promised to take good care of you, and I will do it.'
'Even if it's only temporary.'
Flora recalled the agreement she made with Ellie.
Ellie would stay at her mansion for two or three days only.
In those days, Flora intended to make Ellie as happy as possible.
If Ellie was content, she might choose to stay with her longer.
With this thought, Flora felt more at ease.
She carefully slid her arms under Ellie's small body and carried her to the bed.
She tucked Ellie in before lying down beside her, gently rubbing her belly.
[The Next Morning]
Ellie woke up groggily.
The reason she woke up was none other than Flora, who was shaking her awake.
"Ellie, wake up, today we're going to buy you some clothes."
Flora said while holding a hairbrush and patting the sofa.
Ellie walked over and sat down, still half-asleep.
Seeing that Ellie had come, Flora began to brush Ellie's hair gently.
"Ellie, have you ever tried any hairstyles?"
Flora asked curiously.
"Hairstyles?"
Ellie responded, tilting her head, nearly dozing off on the sofa.
"Hmm... It doesn't look like you have."
"No... never."
"In that case, I'll try different hairstyles for you every morning."
Flora smiled slightly, letting out a chuckle as if she had found a new experiment.
Seeing Flora's behavior, Ellie responded with a bittersweet smile.
"Look... Ellie, you're so cute!"
Flora handed Ellie a mirror.
The reflection in the mirror showed Ellie with her hair styled into twin-tails.
"Uh... um..."
Ellie stared at her reflection in shock. She didn't know what to say.
"Ah... don't think we're done yet!"
Flora spoke again, smiling.
"Huh?"
Ellie murmured in confusion before Flora grabbed her and changed her hairstyle again.
Flora styled her hair in various ways until she found the one, she thought was perfect.
"You're absolutely adorable!"
"Ellie, you look just like a little angel!"
Flora handed Ellie the mirror.
The reflection in the mirror truly resembled a little angel.
Ellie's hair was partially braided, adorned with small floral accessories.
"Ellie, do you think you're cute?"
"Uh... yes... cute."
Ellie stammered, never imagining she could look this cute.
The person in the mirror looked far better than she ever expected.
While Ellie was still in awe, Flora spoke up.
"Now that we're ready, let's go buy some clothes for you!"