Chapter 10

Antoinette Vanessa8-10 minutes

“My Dear Husband, please… Please make Daisy, our beloved daughter, the happiest person in this kingdom…”

—Such was the will of my wife.

My one and only irreplaceable wife in the world.

On the morning of that day, I was informed that my wife, who’d seen me off with a smile like usual, had suddenly gotten into an accident. Thus, I abandoned all my work and went to see her.

Those were her last words.

When my beloved wife passed away, Daisy was only five years old.

Until then, I had entrusted all of the child-rearing to my wife, and I was still overwhelmed by the loss.

If it was a matter of raising a child, it could simply be left to the servants.

However, my wife’s last wish couldn’t be fulfilled by just that.

Daisy had to be the happiest in that kingdom.

I loved my wife dearly to the extent that I fully believed I didn’t need anything else. While the child my wife gave birth to was certainly adorable, my wife was still more important to me. Surely, I was missing something important as a father.

As such, there was no way I could know would make Daisy happy.

However, I couldn’t move on from the passing of my dear wife. I was growing more impatient as time passed by.

For the time being, in order to make Daisy happy, I thought that she’d require proper education and manners to keep from being ashamed regardless of where she went. Thus, I arranged for a famous tutor and prepared the best educational environment.

It was worth it, and as a result, Daisy received an engagement offer with the first prince.

At that time, I felt like I finally understood my wife’s wish.

I see.

When Daisy became the queen of our kingdom, she’d surely be the happiest.

After all, the queen was the highest-positioned woman in the entire kingdom.

My wife must’ve wished for Daisy to become queen.

Therefore, Daisy had to become the queen for my wife’s sake.

From the on, my only goal was to make Daisy the queen.

“What’ll happen to the Marquis Astor family if I marry His Highness Freddie?”

Yet, when her engagement to Prince Freddie was announced, Daisy said that instead of being happy.

How unthinkable.

Even though she should’ve rejoiced.

Even though she should’ve said, “For me to be chosen as the fiancée of the first prince, I’m very happy!”

“…Don’t think about unnecessary things. Just think about what you can do for His Highness Freddie.”

For the sake of Daisy’s happiness, it was necessary for her to devote everything to Prince Freddie. After all, that was the most effective way to become a queen.

I didn’t even see what kind of expression Daisy was making at that time.

Then, the Marquis Astor family decided to allow a distant relative—a fine young lad, become the next marquis. Inherently, the Marquis Astor family should’ve educated the successor, but in the unlikely event that the man and Daisy would begin to develop feelings for each other, I dispatched a tutor to his house. Only once Daisy graduated from the academy and moved into the royal palace would I welcome him to our house.

I didn’t even bother to explain the existence of the successor to Daisy, much else introduce her.

Everything was for the sake of Daisy’s happiness.

I was merely making sure that Daisy could focus on her princess education without any useless distractions.

“—His Highness Freddie has Tiarz disease.”

Even when I heard that, I was unfazed.

After all, there was still the second prince, Prince Jake. Not to mention, he still didn’t have a fiancée.

Even if something happened to Prince Freddie, Daisy had almost completed her princess education. Therefore, she’d surely be appointed as Prince Jake’s fiancée and become the queen.

I didn’t care which man Daisy married, as long as she became queen—as long as I could fulfill my wife’s last wish.

However, I was in despair when the saint appeared. Prince Freddie intended to have her as his fiancée.

…No matter how good Daisy is, a mere human can’t compete against a saint.

Then, if that’s the case… then at the very least, Daisy should become his concubine…

Regardless of the connotation, a concubine had the highest status after the queen. Assuming that there was nothing we could do about the saint, wouldn’t it be fair to say that Daisy would be the happiest of all people in this kingdom if she became a concubine?

I clung to the hope I found in the middle of despair.

In order to fulfill my late wife’s wish, Daisy had to become Prince Freddie’s concubine.

For my wife, Daisy had to be the happiest person in the kingdom, which made it her obligation to become the first prince’s concubine.

Surely, even Daisy would be happy.

…Hence why, when Daisy expressed her anxiety towards the future, all I said was, “Well, isn’t that an honor?”

Again, I didn’t even see what kind of expression she was making.

***

Just like that, two months had passed since Daisy fell into a coma.

I felt both helpless and frustrated.

At this rate, she won’t get the chance to become Prince Freddie’s concubine…!

Furthermore, I had been very unwell for the past few weeks.

“Serve me that medicinal soup again.”

I summoned the chef to the dinner table and ordered him.

A few years ago, medicinal soup was always be served with dinner. I didn’t like the way it looked or tasted, but Daisy always said—

“—Father, medicinal soup is very beneficent for the body, so please eat it.”

I reluctantly drank it because it was troublesome to argue back.

However, after Daisy fell into a coma, the medicinal soup was no longer served, and my physical condition worsened. Thus, I sought it out as a solution.

“Without Lady Daisy, I can’t serve the medicinal soup.”

The chef said something preposterous.

“Lady Daisy came up with all the recipes for that medicinal soup. Without her instructions, I can’t possibly make it on my own.”

That was my first time  hearing that.

…Daisy came up with that medicinal soup?

“Lady Daisy has always been concerned about my lord’s poor health. For that reason, she used to study medicinal dishes from books in her spare time.”

Did Daisy worry about my health?

How unexpected.

No, even if that were true, it was nigh unnecessary.

After all, it had nothing to do with the queen’s education.

If she had that much free time, then she should’ve studied something more useful for her own happiness…

“Then, we can go without the medicinal soup.”

“…Understood…”

“Also, I’d like to ask about the menu, why hasn’t the roasted chicken been served lately?”

The roasted chicken was my late wife’s favorite. Hence why I came to love it as well. Whenever I ate roasted chicken, I’d remember my late wife’s smile.

Until now, roasted chicken was served several times a month, but after Daisy fell asleep, it hadn’t been served even once.

“Is it truly alright to serve roasted chicken?”

“What do you mean?”

“Roasted chicken is Lady Daisy’s favorite food. I removed it from the menu so that I could serve it once she awakens.”

“…Roasted chicken is Daisy’s favorite food?”

That was also my first time hearing that.

“Indeed. Once, the lady said, ‘Whenever roasted chicken is served, my father eats it with gusto. He must loved it very much. That’s why, I love roasted chicken, too.’ with a smile…”

Did Daisy come to like it because of me?

What’s that…?

Doesn’t it sound like a normal parent and child…?

But that was too trivial and was in no way the greatest happiness in this kingdom. The only way that could happen was if Daisy was better than everyone else and held a position of power.

That was also why I believed that arranging a tutor for her was more important than interacting with her as her father.

That way, I’d be securing a path for her in the future instead of coddling her.

I truly believed that.

…Even if in reality, I wasn’t doing it for Daisy, but for my late wife…