Seraphina POV
"You can take the two seats prepared for you on the left side. We'll bring out the meals shortly."
"Okay, thank you."
Guided by the head butler, Lucy and I sit down at the large dinner table that has been neatly set up. A few moments later, the main door opens and a middle-aged man with a polished and stern appearance walks in.
Although I haven't met him personally before, I still easily recognize him from the portraits I've seen of him in the past. He has black hair with a few noticeable strands of grey, but other than that, there is little trace of his age.
And even though there isn't a hint of affection on his face, I can see a faint resemblance to Lucy if I look closely.
"Lady Lazarius, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Ah, you're back as well. How was the journey here?"
"Hi, fa- ...Lord Castille."
"I'm delighted to meet Lord Castille as well. Although the road was long, having good company made it pass by very quickly."
Seeing how nervous Lucy seems, I decide to keep up the conversation and try to redirect it towards her.
"Hm, I was a little surprised to learn that you're on good terms with her, Lady Lazarius. Even though your personalities are rather different. I heard that you're held in quite high regard by both your peers and the teachers at the academy."
"Yes, Hina is really amazing! She-"
"...Hina?"
Lucy speaks up with a new wave of excitement when she begins to talk about me, but a moment later she is met with a rather stern look from her father. It's pretty much the first time he has looked at her until now.
"Ah, that… It's just a nickname for Lady Seraphina."
"Addressing a member of nobility that way is immensely disrespectful. I thought you'd already learned that you're supposed to show proper respect to others."
"Yes, I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay. I'm fine with Lucy calling me that. I don't take offense to it at all. Our social standings aren't that different and it's also a good way to show how close we are too."
"Hm, well, if Lady Lazarius is okay with it, then it's not my place to say."
Her father begins scolding Lucy so I quickly step in, trying to smooth things over, but the atmosphere turns rather awkward again.
Ugh, this is why I didn't approve of her nickname at the start. Other nobles can be so particular about all those formal rules of address, but with my position I should be able to shut most of those people up so in the end I just let her do what she wants. But I didn't expect her father of all people to have a problem with it.
Well, maybe if this was the only thing, it wouldn't be a big deal, but even in this short time I already feel a distinct indifference mixed with hostility from her father towards Lucy.
"Dinner is ready to serve."
The head butler's words break the silence, followed by a procession of maids pushing food carts into the room and setting the table in front of us with numerous appetizing dishes on the table. I even notice a familiar head peeking out among all the servants, but she quickly looks away and focuses on her job.
"I hope this is to your taste."
"Hm, thank you. They all look really good."
Following Lord Cedric's words, I maintain my polite demeanor and respond courteously. Even though I've had a bad first impression of him, I shouldn't jump to conclusions too quickly. And Lucy still seems intent on getting her father's attention as well.
During the next few minutes Lord Cedric keeps up the usual polite inquiries expected of a host and Lucy keeps trying to enter the conversation, but her words either get dismissed or answered only by a few perfunctory words. If I wasn't sure of his intentions before, now I know for sure he dislikes Lucy. So I'm planning on bringing this up to her after the dinner has ended, but right before that Lord Cedric brings up a new topic.
"Lady Lazarius, I know our families haven't really been close in the past. However, seeing how well you've gotten along with that girl, I believe this might be a good opportunity for our families to become a little better acquainted. Perhaps we might even find some interests that are mutually beneficial?"
Ah… Is that what all of this was for? Creating a trade deal between the Lazarius and Castille family? From an objective point of view, a deal like that would be a pretty good chance to build connections. The Castille family doesn't have many trade agreements with other territories either so it could open up a new market that would be profitable for both sides.
But if I take everything into account… Did he really invite Lucy and me back here just to discuss this business deal? And considering everything else that happened, it is probably the case.
"Ah, it does sound nice. But I think I'd need to discuss that with my family first."
"Of course, it was just a casual suggestion."
I quickly give a noncomitial answer and then glance over at Lucy. I kind of hope she hasn't put everything together, but seeing the glimmer in her eyes slightly dim and her posture slightly change… she has probably realized as well.
But after this the dinner is soon over and I only exchange a few more words with Lord Cedric before the dinner is officially over and I leave the dining hall with Lucy.
"Um, Lucy, about the-"
"Hmh, it's okay Hina. You don't need to say anything. And about that proposition, don't think too much about it either. If your family decides to go along with it, it's fine, if not, that's fine too."
"But I…"
"Sorry, I think I'll go to bed a bit early, I'm still tired from the carriage ride over. Goodnight Hina."
"...Goodnight Lucy."
In the end I can't find the right words and just let Lucy walk away.
Should I have spoken up against her father after all? I really wanted to, but I was afraid that doing so might make things even worse for her. Maybe I should have said something anyway.
Ugh, I'll try to make it up to her tomorrow.
***
Lucy POV
Okay, it turns out the situation is different from what I thought, but it's not over yet!
I try to mentally hype myself up as I walk back and forth in front of a certain office room while I nervously fidget with the pot in my hands.
About an hour ago, during dinner, I finally realized that my… that Lucy's father only asked me to come back with Hina to discuss a trade deal between the two families. Other than that, he is still acting in the same cold and uninterested manner towards me as I've seen in Lucy's memories.
But he still reached out to me! That's already more than what happened in the game, so I still believe there must be at least a little chance that he might still hold some affection towards Lucy so I shouldn't give up just yet. I'm sure if I talk to him about it I can still improve things, at least a little. Though I am sorry for dragging Hina into this too…
"Haah."
I let out a deep breath and prepare myself. Then I reach out and knock on the door.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
"...Hi, f-father…"
I enter the room nervously, but he barely glances up at me before looking back down on the documents in front of him.
"What do you want?"
"Ah, I won't take up much of your time. I just wanted to give you this. I chose the best looking one among my flowers."
"...? I don't need it."
I present the small white rose bush I've brought from the academy and put it down at the edge of the desk, however it's only met with the same dismissive tone I've quickly grown familiar with. But I don't let it affect me too much and press on.
"White roses represent new beginnings, so I thought it would make a good present for you. I've thought about it a lot, and I think that the two of us are too distant. A father and daughter should have a better relationship than this. So I hope that with this we can work to mend this bond. Or at least start working towards that?"
"..."
I try my best to express my feelings but it feels kind of ironic…
In my past life I was too afraid to ever reach out to my own parents and I just let them drift away from me. And now here I am trying to do the opposite for someone else, whose life I stole away.
But it's exactly because I know how much Lucy would regret never reaching out to her father in the future that I feel like I have to try my best. Even if it's a little too much meddling in someone else's life.
"I also tried my best at the academy, I got the first place in our grade multiple times in the monthly exams and I'm getting more and more proficient at using light magic. Soon I'll be able to use even more high-tier magic as well."
I try to list all of Lucy's good qualities, if nothing else he should find some value in having such a talented daughter. That much would be enough to start with. But…
"So?"
"So…? Um, I'm trying my best to improve myself?"
But Cedric doesn't seem affected by it at all. He just looks at me with contempt, as if I don't have anything to do with him at all, making it hard for me to come up with any better responses.
"What does that have to do with me? Why did you even come to me?"
"That… because you're my father? I thought you'd want to hear more about me."
"Just because I put up with you for sixteen years doesn't mean I hold any sort of affection towards you."
This conversation has been going much worse than what I expected. I would be lying if I said that I initiated this whole heart-to-heart just for Lucy's sake, a part of me also wanted to make up for what I never took the chance to do in my past life. But seeing Lucy's father be so unresponsive to my attempts, I can't help but think that this would have been the same outcome if I ever approached my real parents. I should have retreated a few exchanges ago, but my emotions get the better of me, and I speak up once more, my voice slightly raised.
"Why…? I don't understand. I know that we haven't had the best relationship until now, but I thought that family should always be there for each other. And even after everything I still care about you. I've been trying my best all this time, but you never looked at me no matter what happened. Am I really that bad of a daughter that I don't deserve any attention at all and you'd rather act like I don't even exist?"
"Haah, that's where you're wrong. You're no daughter of mine to begin with. Now, will you stop bothering me already? I still have a lot to take care of."
"Ah… I… I guess you're right…"
I pour out my built-up feelings of two lifetimes, but Cedric's response is like a bucket of cold water being dumped over me, and the fire within me is snuffed out instantly.
"...sorry. I'll leave."
I barely mumble out those words and then stumble out of the room, keeping my eyes on the ground.
Right, what was I thinking? I'm not even the real Lucy, just some random useless soul. If even the in-game Lucy never managed to reconnect with her father, who do I think I am?
Coming back here was a mistake from the start. I should have just waited until the real Lucy came back and let the true protagonist take care of everything properly.
I aimlessly wander around the mansion, my thoughts a complete mess as I feel something warm stream down on the sides of my face.
So stupid…