Emotional Confrontation (2)

"Duchess…are you sure this is the right path?"

"I'm sure. Don't worry too much, Lisa. Let's just focus on surviving for now and make Tain's life a bit less tumultuous."

"If you say so…still, I'm sure Tain would be happy to see you again."

"Yes…I miss him as well but I don't want him to get dragged into this mess of mine. Until then…he will have to survive without me. I'm sure he will be fine. Dilet and Elena are by his side after all. They wouldn't leave him so easily."

…

"Hngh…Teacher…?" Tain mumbled as he woke up.

"Haha. I'm not Miss Elena. It's me, Alice."

"Oh, Alice…What happened?"

"I don't know. Miss Elena gave you to me when you were already unconscious. Are you alright now?"

"I…I think I am…Where is teacher right now…?"

"She said she was going out to hunt for food."

"But…weren't your father the one in charge of that?"

"Well, he was but he didn't manage to capture a single animal. So, the roles have been changed. Miss Elena will now be in charge of hunting for food, while my dad is now in charge of taking care of us."

"Oh…Do you mind…helping me get up."

"Not at all! Here you go." Alice said as she aided Tain to his feet.

"So, where do you want to go?" She inquired.

"I'm…not sure…For now…can you take me to your father?"

"Of course!" She responded enthusiastically.

As the both of them headed to Andre, Tain could not help but to feel a tinge of guilt in his heart for collapsing in front of Elena. Although he knew he himself had no control over his traumas, and that Elena also knew this—he still felt culpable for being unable to train with her as he had requested earlier that day.

By the time they both met Andre—his expression was a mixture of anxiety, uncertainty and perplexity. Sweat trickled down his neck as he stared up at the leaves swaying gently with the wind. He appeared almost as if…lost.

"Uhm…Mister Andre…?" Tain murmured slowly.

"...Ah? Oh, yes! Tain, Alice…do you need something?"

"W-Well…can I talk with you alone for some time…?"

"Ah…yes. Alice, if you don't mind…" Andre gestured at his daughter to stay out of their conversation. Reluctantly, she left the both of them alone—suppressing her curiosity underneath the guidance of her father.

"So…what is it that you want to talk about, Tain."

"I'm…just wondering how teacher has been doing ever since I…collapsed. Is she…alright?"

The mention of Elena's honorific made Andre wince. Even though Elena had already left the place for about an hour—he still could not bear the consequences of the dissatisfaction he expressed towards Elena, despite being clueless of her circumstances.

"Yes…Yes, she's alright." He lied with a smile. If what everything Elena had said turned out to be the truth—he at least did not want for Tain to worry about her.

「He…does not need to be hurt again.」

No matter how many times he tried—that phrase simply kept recurring in his mind again and again.

"Oh, okay…If you don't mind…When teacher comes back…Please tell her that I'm alright. I'm…going to sleep for a bit if that's alright…"

Afterwards, Tain laid under the same tree as Andre as he took a nap besides him. Andre let out an exasperated sigh as he could only theorize the tragedies both Tain and Elena had undergone, and how many years they had spent together for the both of them to worry more about one another rather than themselves.

'...If you were here…I wonder if I'm doing the correct thing…Our daughter…Tain…Elena…I wish I could meet you soon again…And when I do…I hope you will greet me with that same smile…and that our daughter will be alright…'

…

"...Alice…Alice…Alice. May you please wake up?"

"Huh!? W-What?" Alice's body shuddered as she aroused from her slumber. Quick, she wiped off the saliva dripping onto the ground due to unintentionally falling asleep.

As she turned her head upward, she was greeted by Elena carrying a deer on her back.

"Ah…welcome back, Miss Elena!" She hurriedly greeted her once she was aware of her surroundings.

"I appreciate your politeness, Alice. Now, answer me this. Just what exactly occurred over there?" Elena questioned as she stared into the distance.

Looking in the same direction—Alice was pleasantly surprised to see her father cradling Tain in his arms.

"I'm not sure…Earlier, dad said he wanted to speak with Tain privately. And while waiting…I fell asleep and uhm…here we are now, I guess?" She spoke skeptically, wondering how the both of them ended up in such a state.

"...I can only guess they were both exhausted. Regardless, your father must be awake and assess me in preparing our meal."

"Then, do you want me to wake him up now?"

"Certainly…But before that, may you tell me what your perspective of him is like?"

"What do I think of him? Shouldn't you know the answer already?"

"Oh, please. You know him far better than me and…I am absolutely sure you are much clever than what you comes off to be."

"...Well, I guess I can do that." Alice responded with a smug plastered onto her face.

"Back in the village he was…a comedian, I guess. Bad jokes, good jokes, he got it all. He isn't the most skilled lumberjack, but then again, he still did his job as efficiently as possible.

"He's also a bit gluttonous, and loves to tease me and mom. However, when danger struck, he was willing to take any risk as long as it meant that the both of us would be safe from the harm, even if he was going to end up hurt… or worse, dead in the process.

"He's very selfless, and kind. He can be ruthless at times, but only when he's absolutely distressed. So summarize it all, at least for me…he's the epitome of a perfect father. I'm not sure what you two talked about for you to go away looking somewhat angry earlier…

"But, I hope you can forgive him a bit, Miss Elena. It might be a selfish request, but I genuinely don't want you to hate him. Dad can be a bit clumsy at times and clueless…so if he has done any wrong to you, just this once, please forgive him."

"...I shall consider it. Now, wake him up, will you?"

"Of course!"

'...What a happy family…how envious.'

…