Novel Full Chapter 308: Love needs to be cultivated.
Chapter 308: Love needs to be cultivated.
“That’s how he was able to defeat you and kill me.”
The Princess nodded as she clenched her fists in anger and… pain.
“To think he would go that far just to get rid of me…
He…”
Lavinia lowered her head as her body started trembling.
“Lavinia?”
Kael frowned. For some reason, he found her reaction a bit odd. It felt as if, more than her death, her armor her father was wearing pained her.
Soon, a thought popped up in Kael’s head and,
“Is this related to the armor? Is there something you haven’t told me yet?”
He questioned.
Lavinia paused for a moment. Her trembling fists calmed down as the Spirits touched them with worried looks on their faces.
The Princess smiled lightly in order to reassure the little things before she glanced at Kael and,
“There is a reason this armor is called the Last Hour.”
She began.
Kael narrowed his eyes but stayed silent, letting her speak.
“It is a desperate measure that is only used when the fight is above one’s own self. The Last Hour drains one’s life force. Wearing it means certain death.”
Kael’s expression changed.
“Certain death…?”
“Wearing it once would leave the wearer with only five years of life. Wearing it the second time would leave one year. The third would leave five months, and the fourth time is instant death.”
“So wait, if I wear the armor only once…”
“Then no matter how young or strong you are, you will only have five years to live.”
Lavinia answered, and Kael just stared at that woman with a shocked look on his face. Only now did he realize what affected her so much.
Being betrayed by her father she loved was one thing, but…
To think her father would go as far as to risk his life to kill her…
This wasn’t just betrayal. It was… hatred…
Of course, the King could have done this because he was cornered by the two of them or there was some other reason,
But… to a daughter who once loved her father with her all, the reason didn’t matter.
Just the thought of her father hating her so much was more than enough to crush her heart, and seeing how she was still avoiding his gaze, it was clear that it affected Lavinia more than she showed.
“Lavinia…”
Kael called out in worry.
Then suddenly,
Slap
Vitaria slapped his hand in a way that it fell on top of Lavinia’s. The Princess was taken aback, Kael turned to Vitaria who had already hidden behind Nyrri, and before Kael could get to her,
He noticed that Lavinia’s trembling had calmed a little.
‘Just you wait.’
He stared at Vitaria’s direction one last time before he turned his focus back on Lavinia and got even closer to her. He placed her head on his shoulder and gently rubbed her shoulder.
Both of them stayed silent for a while. Kael’s Bonds and Lavinia’s spirits didn’t say anything either. Only Vitaria stared at the situation with a proud look on her face, while Imperia just shook her head.
The Ant was wondering how she was supposed to raise this ever-growing, immature family.
An hour later, once Lavinia was in deep sleep, Kael gently placed her on top of Igni. He then turned towards Vitaria, ready to scold the little thing, but then—
“No need to thank me. I only did it for you.”
The little fox nodded with a reassured look on her face, and seeing how genuine her expression was, as if she truly believed what she was saying, Kael’s mouth twitched even further.
“You…”
He called out, his voice much heavier than before.
“What? It was important, okay? A man needs to be bold if he wishes to win a lady’s heart.”
Vitaria spoke as she jumped on top of Kael’s shoulders.
“She won’t fall in love with you on her own if you do not do anything. In the worst case, she might even get stolen by someone else.”
“Love needs to develop on its own. One cannot force such feelings.”
Kael answered. Soon, however, he shook his head and realized something,
“No, why am I even discussing it with you? There is nothing between u—”
“No, Father.”
But Vitaria interrupted again, staring at her father with an unnaturally serious look on her face.
“Friendship is what develops on its own, not love.
Love needs to be cultivated, carefully and gently.
If you continue like this, you and her will become friends who rely on each other, and trust me when I say this, Father, it wouldn’t be easy to develop any further once you reach that stage.”
“…”
Kael turned silent. He didn’t know how to reply to that.
What he did know, however, was that he shouldn’t be talking about such things with his month-old daughter, but…
He couldn’t bring himself to ignore her words either.
And knowing her words were working, the fox grinned secretly and continued further.
“And at that stage, things will take an even worse turn if someone else comes into the equation—someone who proposes his love for her. After all, you would then have no right to say something in the situation. You will only be a hindrance until finally, you are forced away from the ‘friend’ you like so much.”
“…”
Again, Kael stayed silent as the fox slowly brought her mouth next to his ears and whispered gently,
“This is how the world works, Father.
So you need to act in order to get what you want.
It would be a shame if someone else got it, wouldn’t it?”
“That is enough, young woman.”
Slap
Suddenly, Imperia jumped on her sister’s head and slapped again.
“You will not talk to Father in such manner. Apologize.”
She ordered.
“What!? I am only telling the truth!”
Vitaria countered, trying to use her paw to crush the little ant. Imperia, however, just jumped around and dodged casually. It was clear that the Ant had already gotten used to her sister’s antics.
“Truth or not, this is no way to talk to your Father.”
“He is your Father too!
And I am older than you, damnit!”
Slap
“No bad words!”
The Ant slapped again.