Since Anthony was facing away from Elodie, Elodie couldn’t see Anthony’s face and expression now, only his indistinct silhouette under the candlelight.

Blinking at her grandfather’s silhouette, the smile on Elodie’s face deepened slightly.

She decided to share her big news of having grown taller with her grandfather as well.

So, after instructing Leroy to return to her bedroom first and wait for her, she quietly entered the hall.

"Grandfather..." Elodie called out sweetly to Anthony as she walked up to him.

Immediately afterward, Elodie stood frozen in place.

She saw her grandfather shrinking into the sofa with a face full of worry.

"Oh... Elodie." Seeing her, Anthony hurriedly forced a smile onto his face.

Although he changed his expression as quickly as he could, he was still a step too late, and Elodie had already seen his earlier look completely.

"Grandfather, what’s wrong?" Elodie rushed to Anthony’s knee, "Why do you look so worried, did something happen?"

Looking at the concerned Elodie, Anthony smiled, touched by her care. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He lifted his aged, rough big hand, gently stroked Elodie’s pale golden beautiful hair, and sighed heavily.

"... It’s nothing. I was just thinking... was it a mistake to decide to bring you to this Far East Island Country back then..."

After saying this, Anthony sighed heavily again.

"The ’Anti-foreigner Warriors’ in this country are far more xenophobic and radical than I had anticipated..."

"Last time, if we hadn’t been lucky and if Mr. Tachibana and Mr. Oomura hadn’t protected us, we might have already perished under the swords of those ’Anti-foreigner Warriors’."

"We’ve lived in this Far East Island Country for so long, and yet this country’s ’anti-foreigner sentiment’ hasn’t subsided, but is instead growing stronger..."

A bitter smile appeared on Anthony’s face.

"I feel so guilty... I clearly promised you that I’d take you to a safe place, far from that empire..."

"This place is indeed far from that empire... but it’s not safe at all."

Anthony sighed deeply again.

After his sigh, silence reigned over the hall for a moment.

It wasn’t until the night wind outside suddenly sent in a "whoosh" sound that Elodie’s young voice broke the silence in the hall.

"Grandfather, what are you talking about?"

Elodie gave Anthony a big smile.

Then... she raised her hand, gently caressing Anthony’s cheek as if to smooth out the wrinkles gathered due to his worried expression.

"There’s nothing for you to feel guilty about, is there?"

"Although some people in this country harbor a lot of hostility towards us foreigners, it doesn’t take away from my current happiness at all."

"Since fleeing with you to this country, I’ve been living happily every day."

"There are so many beautiful sights here that I had never seen before."

"There are so many delicious foods here."

"I’ve also made valuable friends here like Miss Wu."

"Most importantly—I can now play with you, grandfather, without a care in the world!"

Saying this, Elodie took a half step back, then extended her arms, pinching the sides of her white long dress, lifting it slightly, and bent down to bestow Anthony with an extremely elegant French curtsey.

"I am no longer the empire’s princess, I am the daughter of a mere French merchant—Elodie de Angoulême."

"For me, that’s enough to make me feel extraordinarily happy."

With that said, Elodie gave Anthony a radiant smile.

This was like a smile of an angel descending to earth.

*******

*******

Pleading for monthly votes once more! (Crying like a leopard head.jpg)

Thanks to the book friend ’Little Fishing Village of East Sea’ for the alliance leader’s reward! Thank you so much! QAQ, it’s been so long since I’ve seen an alliance leader.