Well⦠I guessed it was true. I couldnât say Ferdel didnât have any influence on me.
That thought soothed me again.
âThings were better when I was a child.â
âThatâs true.â
Ferdel laughed at my grumpy complaint.
âBecause a child only has one responsibility, and that was to grow up well. Of course, itâs better.â
Then, looking back at me, Ferdel chuckled silently. I was embarrassed by his father-like happy smile, so I turned my eyes away.
Should I say itâs embarrassing?
Yeah, Ferdel always acted like an idiot. Then he would suddenly act like a different person. Itâs hard to get used to it, really. Still, I didnât hate it when he smiled at me like that. Itâs just that I would be confused about who my father really was when he smiled at me like that, and thatâs sad.
â⦠donât you have a council meeting to attend? I heard the secretary say that.â
âOh, thatâs right. There is. I must leave now.â
I asked because I remembered that he said, âI stopped byâ on his way to the meeting. Ferdel clapped his hands and nodded as if he just remembered.
I nodded to tell him to go away.
Ferdel said he would leave, but he just stayed, standing in the same place. As I stared at Ferdel, whoâs also staring at me, he grinned.
â⦠why do I feel so anxious?â
âSee you next time, my dear princess. Donât cry while Iâm gone, and make sure to eat your meals! Donât cry because you miss me!â
ââ¦â
How come my ominous premonition always turned out wrong?
Weâre not parting lovers, nor was he my mom. What was he talking about? As I frowned, Ferdel wiped away his tears and gave me a heartbroken look.
âNow then, we must part ways until fate brings us together again.â
What should I say? I asked back seriously.
âHow about we let fate end things here and now?â
âAww!â
ââ¦â
In an instant, a lot of thoughts came into my mind.
âWhat the hell is wrong with this guy?â âWhy is he like that?â âDoes he have a grudge against me?â âIf not, why else would he be like that?â âWhatâs he aiming at?â
Of course, it was apparent why Ferdel was doing this, but the reality was that I had nothing to say when he did this right in front of my eyes.
Ferdel laughed when he saw my face harden because of the cutesy act of a 40-year-old man. Was he happy now? Was he satisfied? Hmm?
I opened my mouth to say something, but a step ahead of me, Ferdel jerked out of the room.
âHehe! See you later, then!â
â⦠geez, that rascal.â
âPhew.â