What is a 'Dad'?

The chairs were taken by one flower after another.

Ladies who boasted both beauty, grace, and riches can be seen side-by-side.

Looking at them, there was a total of fifteen ladies who are still currently joining the 'Spring Garden'

Last time I watched back at the introductory tea party by the queen and at the ball, there were still around twenty to twenty-five. It seems like they already weed out those who have different priorities in life.

It will only be more serious from here.

"Representative of Baron Calla, Lady Eustia Calla."

"Eustia?"

"Have you heard that name before?"

"It sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

I smiled at all the wondering gazes of the ladies in front of me. Familiar... they say.

If they heard of a fallen kingdom's name, then that name will certainly be familiar. But my family is not as important to other people as I deem it to be.

"This way... miss." I accepted the ushering of a maid at the side.

We arrived at a table filled with flowers, tea, and sweets.

Two people were already in there, 

I gently sat at the seats given to us.

Thankfully, I don't seem to forget the basic etiquette.

I pursed my lips into a smile and gracefully curtsied at the two people in front of me.

"Greetings, Lady Eris Lavigne and Lady Sierra Castor."

What a turnout of events.

The Austen Barony was made to sit near the two most prominent candidates, the host of this event was bolder than I thought.

They grouped the strong ones with the strong ones.

Lavigne, Castor, and Calla.

The three best contenders from the introductory ball.

"Lavigne greets the Calla lady."

"H-Hello... miss."

The two spoke in unison. They were both beautiful people but you can see clearly who was raised with wellness.

Lady Lavigne appeared to be used to such greetings, while Lady Castor seems to be more aloof and still learning.

I can't help but wonder if Lady Castor is the 'dark horse' of this Spring Garden.

"Please, take your seat." Lady Lavigne spoke first.

It was only natural since she was the one whose family ranks the highest on our table.

"Thank you, Lady Lavigne. You are kind."

"You praise me so fast Miss Calla." She laughed modestly and leaned towards me. "Now..." Her gorgeous mint eyes met with mine. "Pray tell why the merchant lady is not with us?"

Sharp and straight to the point.

Miss Eris seems to be perceptive about the other candidates, my lady, Lady Austen, naturally gathered attention during the ball and is considered among the top three best duchess candidates upon looking at the course of nature.

The Calla family, although only a baron in name, boasts the greatest merchant group in the whole empire.

Whether Lady Eris was showing me raw curiosity or whether she was curious of my lady as the 'daughter of the merchant', forming a relationship will be beneficial for her either way.

The same goes for me.

If I leave a great impression and become friends with the princess, it will elevate the status of Miss Austen and the flowers will not easily belittle me in this small garden.

In addition, it will be beneficial for the Calla family.

Eris Lavigne's family, after all, has the strongest knighthood in the empire.

"My cousin," For today's episode, I was to play as Austen's distant cousin who also serves her by her side. "Gave me her grace. I asked Austen if it was possible to experience tea with other ladies."

I need to paint my Lady in a better light.

"And though she knows that this is a great chance, she doesn't forget to share her heart with me."

"D-doesn't that mean the lady is gullible?"

"Gullible?" I pretended to gasp softly. "My.. lady, please," I looked around. "Lady Austen is definitely not gullible. She only allowed me to participate once and that's that."

"I-I..." Castor looked around, afraid that someone could have heard her.

I kept my sharp breaths calm.

I do know that this is a battlefield but... it's still too early for that.

From her uncultured actions, now I'm really sure that Castor is the dark horse.

Knowing about the culture of nobles is easy, but actually taking part in it is hard.

"I hope my lady doesn't misunderstand. My cousin is simply loving enough. I do not know if you know but someone like me can never experience such amazing things like this in the countryside."

"Is that so?" Lady Eris questioned, a prim smile on her lips. "I wonder if Miss Calla is telling the truth, you are quite well-versed in the arts of talking in my opinion."

"I'm really happy to hear the Princess say that. I did my best to practice." I touched my teacup. "To say that I'm well-versed is something I'll cherish forever knowing that it is from the princess of high society."

Proud but not boastful.

Defensive but not aggressive.

All the while accepting compliments and complimenting others.

The simple foundation of how you gain friends and influence people.

By following those three rules and seeing if the other person leans similarly towards those rules makes one identify whether to keep that person close or not.

I watched the uncomfortable Lady Castor.

She kept fiddling at her teacup.

This is how you talk, Castor.

I hope she learns something.

"You're too good at this, really."

Was it because I was already old enough with a lot of experience that the princess looked at me with awe? or was she playing with me as easy prey?

But looking at it, it seems like I made quite a good impression.

I'm doing my best here my lady!

So I hope you get over the lovesickness soon.

"Ah, now that we get to talk for awhile..." Lady Eris looked back and forth at Sierra Castor and me. "Don't you both look a bit similar?"

Similar?

Now... that's the second time someone pointed it out.

I stared at Sierra.

We are indeed similar.

But only in terms of the color of our features.

"Ha-Ha! How could that be?" Sierra decided to laugh it off waving her hand.

First was Luke, then Eris Lavigne.

And to think that I'm also convinced that me and Sierra look the same.

A coincidence?

*****

"Hey!" A little girl called Lucas who was sitting alone in the sandbox at school. "You do know that lying is bad right?"

"I don't lie."

"My mom told me the other day that the Duke is finding a mom for his family. We watch it on TV!"

"Finding a mom? But Duke told me he is my dad!"

"Liar! Liar!" The girl, angry that her words weren't accepted by Lucas threw sand all over the little boy's face. "If you keep saying lies, no one would want to be friends with you!"

Then the little girl ran away.

Lucas just watched the other kid disappear from his sight.

'Liar'

'Liar'

'Liar'

For some reason, he kept hearing those words these past few days.

Of course, Lucas knew what the word meant.

A 'liar' is someone who is not telling the truth.

But he is telling the truth.

And for some reason, the kids kept calling him that only when the word 'dad' was mentioned.

He slowly touched his small chest.

"Ouch." The little child muttered.

It was hurting, as if something was pinching on it.

Lucas's train of thought wandered about what he was feeling rather than the reason why the other kids called him a liar.

It felt heavy.

'Am I sick?'

He asked himself.

*kringggg!!!

Hearing the dismissal bell rang, the other kids ran away from the playground and towards the classroom. It seems like today has ended too.

He can't wait to see his Auntie Clora.

When he is with his Sister Clora and mom, the pinching feeling disappears.

He stood up from the sand and shook the remaining debris from him before walking slowly to the classroom.

The other kids were already wearing their backpacks, waiting for their parents.

"Oh! Dad, you're here today too!" The girl who threw sand at him earlier shouted as she saw a tall man at the classroom window.

The man was smaller than Mr. Erden, his dad.

But he was still towering over Lillia, and is a big man, so that must be why he must be called a 'dad'

But are dads supposed to come to school?

"Luke~" Sister Clora suddenly appeared at the door.

Like the other days, she was waiting for him with an apple candy.

"Alright children, class dismissed."

Everyone ran towards their guardians, but it was a different case for Lucas.

He just watched Little Lillia running towards her 'dad', she had her arms up, excited to be hugged and carried by the dad.

Upon noticing that Lucas was not moving, Clora walked towards the child.

"Are you okay Lucas?" She asked, gently sitting at the same level as his eyes so she could get Luke's attention.

"U-Uhm...." Lucas felt his mouth dry. Nevertheless, he was able to utter the words of curiosity. "What is a dad?"

If it was not for the Duke who is a big man.

Then...

What is a dad?