The Daughter of Evil - Volume 4 - Chapter 2.12

chapter 2, section 1-hometown of misgivings; scene 2
Praefacio of Blue, page 53-58

♣ Yukina ~The Country of Marlon, “Freezis Estate/Foyer”~

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“The house is as big as ever.”

That was the impression I was brought to standing in front of my home for the first time in over a year. Once Shaw heard that, he tilted his head to the side.

“What? You’ve only just noticed?”

To my little brother, the fact that the house was “big” was obvious. But for me it was different.

The first time I’d stayed in an inn after setting out, I had thought it was so small. That was my sense of values at the time. But now I realized that that inn hadn’t been “small”, it was this house that was “big”.

The house’s exterior hadn’t changed at all since I’d left. I knew that what had changed wasn’t the house, but me.

Descending from the carriage in a line, I headed for the area before the foyer ahead of Shaw. There, a single boy wearing a servant’s uniform was on standby.

“Welcome home, Master Shaw.”

I didn’t know this servant. Was he hired after I went out on my trip?

“I’ve brought my sister and some guests. Could you tell Dad?”

The servant boy made his reply and then disappeared into the house to call on my father.

Standing behind me, Germaine tactfully suggested, “You’re going to be reuniting with your parents again, right? Should we step away for a minute?”

I wanted to accept her proposal, but it was probably better that she and Gumillia stayed put. It would make everything a bit less of a hassle.

“Don’t worry about it,” was all I replied.

Immediately upon entering the foyer, it opened up into a long hallway. My father’s room was all the way down it, to the left.

After a short period, I could see a figure dashing towards us from that direction with all his might. Even though I couldn’t see him clearly it was obvious to me who it was.

In truth, until I’d arrived here now, I hadn’t been able to decide in what manner I should accept my confrontation with my father. I had even calculated that if I innocently embraced him and said “Papa~!” or something like that, like when I was a child, I might be able to mitigate his scolding somewhat. Shaw had said as much before we departed from Lucifenia, but considering Dad’s personality there was very little chance he’d be furious with me. Even so, to make doubly sure of something was the way of a clever girl like me.

But in the end, I decided to see what he would do first, without doing anything extravagant myself.

“Y~u~ki~na~! Welcome home~!”

My father headed for me at full speed. And then he opened his arms wide, and hugged me as hard as he could. All as I was expecting, including the fact that his cheeks were wet with tears.

After this I’d probably be made to hear him go on and on about how worried he was about me, and how lonely he’d been. Thinking about what I’d done perhaps that was my just desserts, but as that would probably be a little annoying, it was an event I would have liked to refuse if possible.

“It’s good to see you too, Papa. This is Miss Germaine and Miss Gumillia.”

I made my response to his welcome and then quickly introduced him to the two others with me. This obviously wasn’t their first meeting. But I did so anyway.

“Hm? Ah, long time no see, you two.” Dad hurriedly wiped his tear-soaked glasses and straightened up. “Since you’re here, try to make yourself comfortable. I’ve got a few things I’d like to ask you.”

In a moment he returned back to the countenance of Keel Freezis, head of the merchant trade association. I was right to bring Germaine and Gumillia along after all.

I knew that while my father was an amazingly doting parent, more than that he was also someone who put priority on his appearance as a merchant. I was able to delay some annoyance with that for now. Although well–I probably ought to talk to my father again when things had calmed down again and I was able to recharge from my trip.

“You come along too, Yukina. We’re making preparations for supper.”

My father spoke while maintaining a level of gravity, unlike how he’d been earlier.

“Alright, but first I want to go see Aile and Mother.”

“I see, then while you’re at it please call the two of them to the dining hall. We’re going to have dinner with the whole family together this time.”

My father started to turn around, but he stopped, seeming to have realized something, and then looked around the foyer.

“Come to think of it, where’s Kyle? Did he not come with you?”

“I advised him to return to Marlon castle first. I thought that important he do that as king.”

“Well…That being said…”

Appearing accepting despite looking a little dissatisfied, my father headed for the dining hall, taking Gumillia and Germaine with him.

One of the men in black spoke to Shaw. “Well then, we shall take our leave.”

“Thank you for your time. Get some rest today.”

With the men in black gone, that just left me and Shaw.

“You should go to Mom’s room, sis. I’m gonna go see Aile while you’re doing that.”

“Alright. By the way, Shaw.”

“Hm, what is it?”

I didn’t myself know why I was saying something like this. But I spontaneously blurted out, “Has Papa…changed from before?”

Shaw looked back at me with a somewhat bemused expression. “I think the one who’s changed isn’t Papa, but you, sis.”

“Yeah…I guess so. Sorry for asking something so weird.”

Shaw shrugged, and started to head for Aile’s room.