---
Since returning from Mother's grave, the father and daughter had always been together. Not only that, even Ryan, the head butler, noticed that the two were getting closer.
He often saw them enjoying afternoon tea together, taking walks in the garden, or even horseback riding. Never in Ryan's wildest dreams did he imagine that His Majesty would take his little princess to the training grounds of the royal knights.
Of course, this was seen as a good thing by everyone in the palace. Their king, Aliester Hohenzollern, was known to be incredibly cold when it came to his duties.
He never allowed anyone to disturb him, especially after his wife passed away. Perhaps he was using this as an opportunity to heal his pain.
However, everyone knew that this had left wounds on others as well, especially on the princess, Magdalene.
She couldn't even remember the last time she truly spent time with Daddy. During meals, they never stayed together for long because Aliester would immediately stand up and leave the dining room to return to work.
As a result, their father-daughter relationship had become distant.
However, sometimes bad things bring miracles. Ever since the princess fell ill and recovered, the two had grown closer.
---
The Next Day…
Here they were now—Ryan, along with the princess's two maids, Viona and Selina, all equally puzzled by the scene before them.
"He-Head Butler, why did His Majesty bring Her Highness to the training grounds?" Viona asked.
"Good question, Viona. I can't read His Majesty's mind, so you should ask him yourself."
"If I do that, I'll be hanged."
"Haa… I don't understand either. But maybe this is His Majesty's way of winning back the princess's heart and attention."
"I see," Viona muttered, watching how little Magdalene held hands with her father, looking cheerful. "That must be it. Her Highness looks happy."
Actually…
That wasn't the case at all.
---
The Night Before…
Aliester sat in his room, deep in thought.
"How do I become a good father—at least, the noble kind? I've never had children before!"
"Forget children, I've never even dated anyone."
"A jobless man who died saving a cat like me wouldn't possibly know how to handle a princess, right?"
"Besides…" Aliester fell silent as he pulled out a painting from his desk drawer. It was an image of his wife smiling while holding their little daughter.
"I'm not Helene's real husband… I'm just someone borrowing Aliester's body for who knows how long."
"If Magdalene ever finds out that I'm merely using her father's body, I might as well end my life right then and there."
"Haaa~"
He walked to the window, gazing at the moon.
"This place isn't my real world, nor is it the afterlife. I'm still alive here."
"If I have to lie for that little girl's sake… then maybe that's the last thing I can do to make my existence meaningful in this world."
"Even though I've never had a child, I'll do my best."
"For Magdalene… and for the real Aliester, when he returns to this body."
"But… how?"
Aliester paced back and forth in his room, making the problem more complicated for himself.
"It's true. The real Aliester is already a widower, isn't he? So, does that mean he doesn't want to remarry and give his daughter a new mother?"
"Eiy, but if I give her a new mother… that means I have to marry someone, right?"
"Forget it. I doubt the real Aliester would even think about that. Hmm, I'm sure of it. Let's not dwell on that."
"Tomorrow morning, I have to cheer Magdalene up and take her out. The kingdom's affairs can wait. Besides, I don't want to look at those piles of paperwork."
"Tomorrow is father-daughter time."
Aliester ended up sleeping just before dawn.
---
Meanwhile…
Little Magdalene was no different. She couldn't sleep in her room either.
"I can't believe I get to be pampered by a handsome man who's now my Daddy!!" she squealed into her pillow, muffling her voice so no one would hear.
"How could I sin like this?!"
"Being carried and fed during afternoon tea, playing together, holding hands, and even… even…"
"Even Daddy offered to read me a bedtime story! Gyaaa!!!"
It seemed the little princess had more complicated thoughts than her father right now.
She collapsed onto her bed, hugging her pink pillow tightly.
"Magda, forgive me. I am truly a sinner for taking advantage of your body to be spoiled by your incredibly caring and handsome Daddy."
"Please don't hold a grudge against me. I really don't want your Father to find out that I'm not his real daughter."
Magdalene fell silent, recalling the days she had spent with Aliester.
"I… I knew from the start that Father loved his daughter so much. He played with me, fed me, hugged me. He truly loved his family."
"Being part of a royal family must be tough, but he's doing his best. Especially without a wife by his side."
"Hmm? A wife?"
She suddenly sat up.
"I once wondered whether Father wanted to strengthen his position as king by remarrying… but now, I'm not so sure."
"In Magdalene's memories, he seemed to love Mother so much. Could it be that Father refuses to remarry because he's still trapped in his love for Mother?"
"Haaa~... My head is filled with questions."
And so, the little princess stayed up late. No, she actually fell asleep when morning was already approaching. It could be said that she barely slept at all.
---
The Next Morning…
After waking up and being attended to by her two maids, she had breakfast and went on a walk with Aliester, visiting the garden and watching the knights train.
That was why their morning was filled with smiles. Yes, they both tried to mask their exhaustion and sleepiness by putting on fake smiles.
As they watched the knights practice their swordplay, they both wore expressions of happiness. But deep down, they were thinking the exact same thing.
"Why are we here?"
Whoever had the brilliant idea of strengthening a father-daughter bond at a training ground, it was clearly absurd.
Even the knights training there felt uneasy. It was unheard of for their king to watch them practice so closely.
"Why is His Majesty here?"
"We're done for if we make a mistake."
"We're doomed. Is His Majesty here to reprimand us?"
"Why is Princess Magdalene here too?! This is no place for a child!!"
That was what ran through the minds of the knights, who were growing stiff and pale.
Magdalene glanced at her father, who seemed genuinely happy to be with her.
"Daddy…"
"Yes, Magdalene?"
"Um…"
Aliester knelt before her. "I'm sorry. Are you bored? I really… don't know where to take you. I just want to be with you right now."
Magdalene blushed, feeling both embarrassed and happy, but she had another goal.
"Daddy… are you lonely?"
"What?"
"Are you… lonely after Mommy passed away?"
Hearing his daughter's question, Aliester looked a bit shaken. Who would have thought that his little princess would ask something like that?
"Lonely? Was the real Father truly lonely?" Aliester thought. "For Magdalene to ask that… This is a bit shocking."
"Could it be that the real Father also felt lonely?"
That thought left him momentarily confused.
At lunch, Aliester merely smiled and reassured Magdalene that he wasn't lonely at all. They even enjoyed their meal together.
But later, when he was alone with Ryan in his office, his feelings shifted once again.
"Ryan…"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"This morning, and even during lunch, my daughter asked if I was lonely. What do you think?"
"Eh? M-My opinion?"
"Yes. What do I look like in your eyes?"