"Papaa! You won! Way to go!"

  Viena is running towards Randia and clinging on his leg as he puts his wooden longsword on the weapon table. Suddenly, Lisabelle is also running towards him, clinging onto his arm.

  "W-Wait! Let's continue! You must teach me more!"

  "Wha-! Lily?! Go away! This is my spot!"

  "Ugh - Stand aside, pipsqueak! The adults are talking!"

  When the two are squabbling, An and Gwen approached.

  "You certainly have a lot of experience in close combat. I thought you were a medevist, Mr. Ran?"

  There is a hint of disbelief that surfaced through her facial expression. Viena noticed this, and started to feel uneasy, worry that her dad might raise suspicion. After all, even the smallest seed of doubt can grow into a much bigger hindrance given time.

  "No medevist moves like that. That's amazing!" An praised.

  "Before my daughter was born, I traveled alone to Law End once . . . and learned every single thing the hard way."

  Everybody went silent. They all knew what Law End is, except for Viena. This time, she holds herself to ask right away as she feels that there is some weight in the air.

  "Law End? What were you doing in such a pce?"

  "I was desperate back then and looking for Gadrius."

  Sensing that Randia doesn't wish to discuss the topic any further, An and Gwen decided to drop the talk. At the same time, Eleanor walks towards them and there is a disappointment on her face. She looks at her granddaughter and let out a big breath.

  "Weapons are not toys, Lisabelle. I'd rather you just stick to your yarn and needles than hurting yourself with something you know nothing about. So please, do me a favor and stop fooling around bothering Sir Ran."

  "I cannot stop grandma. I must not. Vir en virtute - Virtue lies in valor."

  "No, you are far from truth. Vir en divirtias - Virtue lies in wealth. That is what you should aim for."

  "If wealth alone could save our family, father and mother would still be here today."

  Upon hearing what Lisabelle had said, Eleanor turns angry. Not only because Lisabelle invoked the most sensitive memories, but also because she said all of that in front of the gathering outsiders. Looking at a scene in the making, Randia pushed Viena's head back as if trying to hide her behind him before anything else happened.

  ". . . Go inside, Young Arbona. Now."

  Without any rebuttal, Lisabelle gets back inside the house, leaving everyone else behind. Now that the atmosphere has turned awkward, An and Gwen quickly excused themselves, saying that they had an errand to do - delivering report or something of the sort. Meanwhile, Randia and Viena is still standing unmoving.

  "My deepest apology, Lady Eleanor. I shouldn't have-"

  Eleanor raises her hand, stopping Randia's words halfway.

  "Don't be. Whatever you do, she will find a way to get what she wants from you. Instead, thank you for holding back with her."

  "If I may say, I do find your viewpoint more agreeable, midy. However, I wouldn't say that she doesn't have any talent for martial arts."

  Randia expined a little to share his view with Eleanor as he walks her back to the chair in the patio. Viena folowed them, listening to what her father is talking about carefully. From the conversation, she can infer that her father has taken a liking towards Lisabelle quite a bit more that she thought.

  "Perhaps it was all just a coincidence. She is not all that, I'm sure of that. She is just an ordinary girl," Eleanor wipes her brows.

  "That might be true. Maybe it's because she is in her adolescent age."

  "That's a more pusible inference. She is turning sixteen in a few months after all."

  "Sixteen . . . Will she be attending the ceremony?"

  "Ah, yes, the ceremony. Despite the st trouble she made, I think she would still be able to be a part of the ceremony next year."

  "I see."

  After a talking for quite some time trying to calm Eleanor, Randia excuse himself to get ready for work. He is holding Viena with him and entered the house. The little girl helps him to pack his stuff in silent. Until finally, Randia rubs her head and smearing an ointment to her cheek pyfully.

  "What are you doing? What is this . . .? It smells nice!" Viena is checking the substance.

  "Just something that I made in my leisure time."

  "Really? It smells good although not as strong as a perfume."

  "But it st much longer. Five hours, as long as you don't wash it with water."

  "Wow! I think will sell nicely then! I'm sure people will buy!"

  They discussed about the strange fragrant ointment for a while, until finally everything is packed and Randia is ready to go. However, when Randia wanted to lift the bag, Viena holds down his robe.

  "Papa, are you not going to expin?"

  Randia knows what she meant, and he sits beside her on the sofa.

  ". . . Good work holding your questions to yourself when the others are talking back then. Now, you may ask."

  Viena is so happy to hear that and immediately change her seat into Randia's p like she usually does when listening to him. She asked all the questions in her head, nitpicking every word that he heard in the backyard.

  "Lisabelle parents died in an accident. Judging by her words, I assume you can guess the cause of death."

  "Murder?"

  "That is most likely. That's why she sought strength more than anything," Randia nodded.

  "Then what about the ceremony?"

  "The Prima Risera, the coming-of-age ceremony. The people of this country throw a celebration for when a child turns into an adult."

  The terms 'child into an adult' seems interesting to Viena.

  "So, we are an adult when we turn sixteen?"

  "Lawfully, yes."

  "People can have adult job and get married?"

  "Yes."

  "That means I can do that too?!"

  "No."

  "Huh? Why?!"

  Randia doesn't answer right away, instead he puts Viena aside and stand up.

  ". . . That is a talk for another time."

  "Come on! Stay for a while! It's okay to be te sometimes, right?"

  "All of a man's worth is his commitment, Viena."

  Randia brushed up Viena's face with his huge wide palm and pick his bag. Viena then sees him into the door, clinging into his legs like a leech refusing to come off.

  "Get off from me already and go take a bath."

  "Wlee!" Viena sticking out his tongue.

  Before he leaves for good, there is one more thing that Randia forgot to tell Viena.

  "Also, please fetch me the rings from Lisabelle, okay? I will bring some food ter."

  "Okie dokie!"