314 – The Foolish Father Who Gathers Courage.

Today, the troubled Count Hystania’s household.

Rowen, sitting in his office, stacked the books he had read to the side and nodded.

– Until now, you have been a garbage father! – How to be a good father. [Advanced Edition]

1. A father who always says no is not good.

– No.

(A rough drawing of a sad child)

– I’m saying this for your own good!

(A rough drawing of a crying child)

– A good father should accept and support their child’s opinions; that’s what makes a good father.

– You’re doing well.

(A drawing of a child with a vague smile)

– Dad may be old and not understand much, but if you take after me, you’ll surely do well.

(A drawing of a child with clenched fists, shedding tears of emotion)

– Of course, unconditional acceptance can have negative effects, but if you cheer on while maintaining a balance, you can be a reliable father.

Rowen, moved by the impressive words, nodded and wrote them down in his notebook.

‘A father who supports his child is a good father…’

With a graceful phrase penned in his notebook, Rowen smiled softly. The book had provided him with knowledge that would help him take a step forward in his constant journey toward the wrong answers.

“It’s difficult…”

Since he had declared his ambition to become a good father, there had been no significant progress. They had grown close enough to exchange letters, but that was about it.

– Have you eaten?

– Yes.

The sparse content of the letters still reflected a distance between them.

He had seen a letter from his friend.

– Is your life at Olivia Academy happy?

– Dad…

– I see.

Though it was of no real help, a deeper look revealed the distance within the letters.

His friend’s letter felt close.

His own letter felt somehow…

Formal.

Awkward.

He thought there was an awkward atmosphere flowing between Hannah and himself.

All of this must be the karma he had created, yet the impatience he felt was an unavoidable trait of a sinner’s heart.

“Foolish.”

To have become a swordmaster and yet avoid waiting instead of enjoying it—Rowen suddenly thought it was immature, but still…

– Yes, have you had your meal, Father?

Seeing the letter written by his daughter made him smile, and Rowen felt good knowing that this choice was not wrong.

Among countless wrong answers, he had finally chosen a normal one, and that was meaningful.

“That’s good.”

Rowen was happy.

“…”

How wonderful it would have been if it had been like this long ago. Rowen held the letter written by Hannah in his hands and closed his eyes.

Malik.

Hannah.

And their second daughter, Roshi.

He felt a pang of regret, thinking that if he had realized it just a little earlier, he could have been a better father to his children.

He was someone who despised regret, yet now, because of that very regret, he found himself feeling a sense of longing, which made him chuckle hollowly…

“It’s difficult…”

With three beloved children, and now that he had just begun, there was still a long way to go.

Rowen thought it was wrong to favor only Hannah. Although he had been favoring the other children until now.

He could pay a little more attention to Hannah, but still, he had always said that a good father should bestow the same love upon all his children, so he resolved to no longer show any favoritism.

“I suppose I should go.”

Rowen rose heavily from the chair and left the office, walking down the corridor.

Passing by Hannah’s room, where a cold wind blew.

Passing by Malik’s room, filled with documents.

Rowen stood in front of Roshi’s door, which was firmly shut.

“I hope she’s there.”

Roshi was currently honing her swordsmanship in the mansion. After graduating from the academy, she had expressed her intention to train with a sword in the mansion.

Spending time to improve her lacking skills, which were unfit for the royal knight order, their second daughter was spending another day in her room.

She must be going through some emotional turmoil.

She had set a goal to awaken her aura and officially join the knight order, following in her brother’s footsteps.

Aiming for an absurdly high wall, but Rowen believed in her. She was his blood, and he had decided not to pressure her anymore.

“Haah…”

Taking a deep breath, Rowen knocked heavily on Roshi’s door.

– Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Come in.”

‘She must have thought I was a servant. I should surprise her.’

– Creak.

Rowen opened Roshi’s door with a small smile.

And.

“Ah… Father?”

I found Roshi with vacant eyes in the room.

Sitting in a chair, Roshi was looking at me with trembling eyes. Perhaps thinking that a servant had entered, Roewen smiled lightly at the sight of Roshi staring at him without even bothering to clear the scattered notebooks in the room.

It was written, “The first step to being a good father: smile often.”

In the old days, I would have seen the messy room and left without a word, but having decided to change, Roewen picked up the notebook that had fallen on the floor with a small smile.

And.

I was at a loss for words as I watched a piece of paper fluttering down to the floor.

“I was working hard on… um?”

Roewen’s eyes trembled.

“What is this…?”

I wondered what the drawing in front of me was. I was sure I had written down stances for swordsmanship in the notebook, but…

– No! That big baguette…! No more…!

Roewen’s eyes widened at the unexpected drawing on the paper.

“…”

“…”

I had no idea what to say.

“Um…”

Roshi, trembling with hands that shook, lowered his head deeply at the sight of the frozen Roewen and spoke in a quivering voice.

“Ah… Father.”

“…”

“This isn’t what it looks like…”

“…”

“It’s really not a drawing I made…!”

“Cough…!”

Roewen gently closed his eyes, feeling a whirlwind of emotions.

What did the book say to do in times like this? I racked my brain until it felt like it was on fire.

Beginner’s guide.

Novice section.

Intermediate…

Deepening…

‘There’s none…’

Rowen found himself trembling at the realization that the book didn’t offer any guidance for such a situation.

He never expected a crisis like this to arise right from the first step of becoming a good father.

‘…This is awkward.’

“Father…!”

“…”

“Th-That!”

“Shh.”

In that moment, a phrase flashed through Rowen’s mind.

– A father who says no is not a good father.

‘Nod.’

Recalling the content from the book he had read today, Rowen nodded and then furrowed his brow, speaking in a cautious voice.

“Is it… your drawing?”

“W-What…?”

Roshi bowed his head deeply, crumpling the paper in his hands. He couldn’t let his father find out.

If his father knew, he would tear it up immediately, and he knew that he would tear every piece of paper in the room to shreds, so Roshi was holding back the suffocating feeling in his chest.

No matter how much he loved to draw. His father wouldn’t allow it.

Neither lies.

Nor truths.

Since his father wouldn’t accept them, Roshi struggled to choose the method that would get him in less trouble.

– Crack…

“I’m sorry.”

Roshi’s trembling voice, with his head bowed, was directed at Rowen.

“I drew it.”

“…”

“Still, Father, I’m practicing my swordsmanship properly…! Drawing brings me peace of mind….”

“…”

Let me know if you need anything else!

“Absolutely, I haven’t been lazy about practicing… I just like drawing… No, it helps with my training…!”

Trembling, Roshi squeezed her eyes shut at her father’s cold expression. She thought she might never be able to draw again.

“…”

The thought of having to give up what she loved made her heart ache painfully.

Is this… the feeling Hannah talked about? It hurt even more.

– Come home.

– No. I’m going to do what I want now, without worry.

– …Do you know how bad the atmosphere at home is because of you? Even if Mother says so, Father…!

– You don’t understand how I feel, sister.

– …

– I came out because it was a place my brother made for me, but it’s the same.

Roshi thought.

Regretting her arrogant belief that it would be fine if she kept it hidden until the end, she slowly closed her eyes as she watched her father’s hand approach.

“Ugh… I’m sorry…”

Her father had never laid a hand on her before, but today, she felt he might.

But.

– Thud.

“I see.”

Roshi opened her trembling eyes to the warm touch she felt above her head.

It was warm.

It felt the warmest of all the touches she had ever experienced.

“Father…?”

With a nervous smile, Rowen spoke as Roshi lifted her gaze.

“You drew well.”

“…”

“I didn’t know you had this talent.”

“What…? What did you just say?”

Roshi thought.

What had she just heard? She couldn’t believe that her father had praised her, and the gentle hand that caressed her while looking at her drawing felt too unreal.

Yet, the warm touch above her head made Roshi’s heart tremble greatly.

Rowen spoke to Roshi.

“Were you secretly drawing?”

“Yes.”

“Why…?”

“Because… I was embarrassed….”

“Certainly… it’s a genre that’s hard to show others….”

Roshi, looking at Rowen with trembling eyes, blurted out an excuse.

“I don’t draw this kind of picture every time! It’s just that the part my father is holding is particularly risqué…!”

“…”

Rowen smiled awkwardly at the information he didn’t want to know.

“You’ve grown up.”

“…”

In Rowen’s eyes, the image of his daughter gathered.

Not the stiff demeanor she always showed him, but a daughter who seemed a bit more relaxed, with a calm expression.

Today, Roshi’s shoulders looked lighter.

‘So this is how it is.’

Rowen, who had been wandering without finding an answer, thought he had found the right path in Roshi’s bright demeanor. He believed that understanding was the answer, rather than tormenting his children for the sake of the family’s survival.

It was amusing that the daughter he thought had no talent was the only one carrying on the will of the sword, but now it didn’t matter.

“…How fascinating.”

Roshi, glancing at Rowen, cautiously opened her lips.

“Would you like to see more?”

Rowen nodded heavily and replied to Roshi.

“Let’s do that.”

—Kugh, kill me…!

There were many drawings that made his face heat up, but seeing his daughter excitedly showing her artwork brought a warm smile to Rowen’s face.

This… must be the answer. It felt like a weight had lifted from his heart.

Not forcing talent, but allowing each to find their own path.

“Roshi.”

“Yes…? Ah, I’ve taken up too much time…! I need to go out and practice my swordsmanship…!”

“Let’s take a break from the sword for a moment.”

“Father…!”

Rowen finally opened his mouth, which he had struggled to keep shut.

“Now, let’s do what you like.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for everything until now.”

Roshi shed tears.

*

In the room where Rowen had left.

Roshi wiped her tears and took out a piece of stationery from the drawer.

-To Hannah.

I talked to Hannah, who ran away with my brother’s help, for the first time in a while.

-Why do I have to meet her!

-Follow my words.

-I don’t want to!

-If you don’t say anything, I’ll tell your father about your drawings.

-…!

And it didn’t end well.

I only realized today.

Hannah must have been really struggling.

And that Hannah changed Father.

Roshi’s eyes stung with the realization that Father’s stubbornness had been broken by Hannah’s determination to show success.

So.

Roshi wiped her tears and picked up a pen.

“…Isn’t it too late?”

*

Histania was changing.

Little by little.