Father and daughter.

She may have played with the count's sense of duty and used his affection for her benefit but the fact remained, this man was her father. Even though he sent her to the East and never visited her. James loved her and did everything he could to protect her. She couldn't be indifferent to him and that's the reason she will have to endure the most awkward carriage ride of her life.

"Please accept my gratitude for saving my life", Lilith bowed her head, showing how sincere she was. She didn't expect it to be this hard, conversing with the count that is.

"It's no problem", he responded before staring out the carriage window. Cold bastard.

'I guess only one of us feels anxious. Good to hear, you damn count", she internally cursed at him while trying her best to maintain a straight face and not give anything away.

"Do you not resent me Lilith?", he asked still looking out the window.

"Pardon"

"Do you not resent for sending you to the east and not raising you or not visiting you? For not playing my role as a father", he asked staring intently at her. If she were to forgive him, give him one more chance. He would surely treasure her.

"I don't. Sophie always told me that you did whatever you could to keep me safe and you treasure me.", she answered, staring back at him with her round light purple eyes. "Even if you never visited me, you're here now and you could always repay all the times you missed"

If he weren't his cold self, James would be crying his eyes out. The only other thing he wished for was for her to not address him by his formal title but call him father, but he knew he couldn't be that selfish. She would call him father when she feels like she is ready and he was willing to wait for her.

It was already nighttime when they reached the count's mansion and everyone had already gone to sleep. James escorted Lilith to her new room while Sophia and Clair took residence in the maid's quarters.

"Call Sebastian, Isaac, and Inez to my study", James instructed the butler.

"Father, your back already", a silver-haired woman said as she made herself comfortable in one of the sofas. A young man who looked similar to her sat next to her, he was groggily rubbing his eyes and trying his best to stay awake.

Sebastion handed some papers to the count before taking his seat.

"I just came back from the East and brought your younger sister with me", James started while curiously observing his children's reactions. "I'm tasking you three with her safety and making her feel at home"