Around early afternoon, after having lunch together, my music instructor and I returned to our room to continue practice. She was supposed to leave around noon. However, she asked that we practice for a little while.

Well, who was I to refuse that? So, along with a permission from Mother, we were back here. I was actually getting better, I have familiarized a lot of chords and memorized a few. As for the plucking, come on, I played guitar, so not much of an issue for that.

As for my instructor, she had also learned some chords used in the song I played earlier. However, she still needed to practice on the song itself. But I should say, I was impressed, as expected from a professional musician, she was learning fast.

Later on, a servant came to the room bearing the message that my father had arrived and was now at the gates.

“Excuse me Madame Lanivia, I have to greet Father for his return.”

I was planning to go out by myself, but Lanivia also rose from her seat and gently placed her instrument down.

“I will also be going. It would be impudent of me if I do not greet the King.”

She was a noble, so as one, she must greet the King of this country if she was in the palace. I guess it would be informal and inappropriate to not greet him.

Lanivia, Urys, and I headed straight to the front of the palace where Father’s convoy was expected to come. Upon reaching the front doors and stepping outside, I saw several carriages pulled by horses coming in. Some were open and had knights riding upon them, while some were closed, which I imagine were occupied by other knights. At the center was a more impressively designed carriage, colored in gold and red, with an emblem in the shape of a wisteria emblazoned on its doors.

My mother and brother were already waiting and standing. I could see my mother rubbing her thumb, she seemed to be uneasy and impatient. While my brother turned around to face me, as though sensing my presence. He smiled.

“Brother, Mother.”

“Hey, dear sister.”

“Estelia…”

I stood with them. I had an expression of utter concern and fright as I waited for my father.

“E-Everything’s fine, right?” I asked with a slightly trembling voice.

Estevan chuckled for a moment. “You see how the knights look?” he asked.

I looked at the knights closely from where I was standing as they headed towards us. I returned my gaze to my brother and nodded.

“Those expressions are not entirely grim. So it is safe to assume that Father is alive.”

“Really?” I smiled brightly, with joy lighting up my eyes. “Thank goodness.” I sighed in relief.

Before long, the convoys stopped, and the King’s carriage stopped in front of us. In that instant, the door charged open. A man in purple, white, and golden armor emerged from the carriage. His smile widened as he approached us with rushed steps.

“Greetings, my family! I am alright, as you can see!”

I smiled with happiness when I saw how energetic Father was. I stepped forward as though to make sure that my eyes didn’t deceive me.

“F-Father, are you sure you’re fine?”

Well, to be honest, that didn’t look to be the complete case. I looked at every part of his armor. The plate by the breast was scratched, and the trace was as large as two of my fingers stuck together. Then his left shoulder armor was torn apart, as though something clawed it off.

Just how much strength did a creature have to cause that?

“Daughter~! I’m not bleeding, am I? Healing magic has its charms, so any injuries are treated. Are you scared for me? Aaaw~. Come, give me a hug.”

He spread his arms, but before all else, I held out my hands.

“Please don’t, Father, your armor will hurt me.”

“I suppose…” He sounded disappointed.

“Welcome back, dear,” said my mother with a relieved smile.

“Yes, I’m back.”

They smiled at each other, followed by a moment of silence when they just stared at each other quietly. Their eyes seemed to be full of fondness and happiness that they saw each other once again. I could imagine countless flowers in the background, blossoming for the sake of these two lovebirds.

Ain’t that sweet.

Seeing people act like this was a bit entertaining.

“Father,” Estevan chimed in, breaking their moment. “It is truly a great thing that you have returned alive and well.”

“Indeed, but I don’t know if the same could be said for those who had severe injuries that may as well be called… permanent.”

We turned our eyes towards the soldiers hopping off the carriages. Armors damaged and torn, some by the shoulders, and some by their waist, and some others. Others carried their damaged helms in their hands.

I saw one knight had a bandage covering half his face, blood at the part of his eye. I think he lost his eye. However, I could still see him smile as he conversed with the other knights.

In contrast, I saw one knight that had lost two of his fingers on his right hand, the pinky and the ring fingers. But he didn’t seem to think a lot about it. Then there was one who had lost his hand from the wrist. He was not like the other aforementioned knights, he looked like he was in despair. His face was completely devoid of any form of joy or relief. It sucks to lose a hand.

Healing spells were a thing. However, seeing this scene, I was convinced that healing spells can’t heal everything. If the wound was fatally severe, like those injuries, they couldn’t be healed. That being said, all I have seen for the moment were some body parts that were cut off.

That means that healing spells couldn’t regrow those body parts. But what if you were cut severely in the guts, organs threatening to come out and blood spilling out, can that be healed? After all, there was no need to regrow but only sealing the wound or something. I had no definite answer yet. But I was sure that healing spells couldn’t regrow limbs or such.

I wonder if there were other kinds of healing spells or magic that can help with those. Now why was I pondering about this too much? Of course it’s for me. What if in the future my precious fingers were cut, or my delicate hands, or what if my eyes were gouged out? I don’t want to be like that permanently. I want to at least ensure that I could regrow those just in case something bad as that happens to me.

I love my body, thank you very much.

“H-How terrible…” I said quietly, my hands trembling as I did.

“Estel, should we enter?” Estevan said.

“Um, t-there’s no need to rush.”

“There’s no need to force yourself if you can’t bear to watch.”

“But they are our soldiers, aren’t they? I couldn’t just simply walk out knowing that they fought for the nation and were injured in the process.”

My family looked at me with wide eyes. A few knights in close proximity were also able to hear me and looked at me with surprised expressions. Receiving their gazes, I flinched and lowered my head while avoiding their eyes.

My words also seemed to move my father’s heart as he looked around at his knights. “... My Estelia is so kind…”

“N-No, I’m… Is there something we can do for them? At least treat them to an elaborate feast or anything…?” I quietly said that only my family could hear.

“Well, we can do a feast. I was planning to give them some expensive alcohol at first to serve as a celebration for our success and survival. But since you suggested it, we can maybe do it tomorrow, around mid-morning. And no one died, so that’s a plus and cause for celebration.”

“No one died? Truly?” Estevan asked.

“Indeed, even if the battle was hard, we suffered no deaths.”

“That’s amazing.”

“Well, I ordered them to prioritize their lives and don’t foolishly charge in.”

I recalled the mock battles of the knights I witnessed. They were stupidly strong. Now I dread to imagine just what kind of creatures gave trouble to these knights, and especially Father. I wouldn’t want to face those kinds of creatures. Those so-called monsters.

I looked again at the knights who battled those creatures. I tried to imagine those monsters’ strengths. I wouldn’t be able to win if I faced such things. Amidst my observation, I saw Elson. He appeared to be completely fine, though some torn armor in a few spots. There was a holster strapped across his waist, hung upon them were daggers, and some were already empty.

Daggers worked on those things? Hm.

I doubt plain daggers could cause a light of damage. Elson must have used some Armament Magic or something to those daggers.

“Let’s talk inside for the time being,” my Mother suggested.

We, of course, agreed.

On the way, Father encountered Lanivia.

“Greetings, my King. It is a pleasure to meet you again. May our hallowed Lord and Lady bless the moment of our delightful meeting.” Lanivia performed the traditional noble greeting and curtsied formally.

“Lanivia, a surprise to meet you here. May we receive the resplendent blessing from our illustrious Lord and Lady.” My father placed his palm on the left side of his chest and bowed a little. “I thought you would have left by now.”

Lanivia smiled. “I was supposed to. But I was awed by your daughter. I was tremendously surprised and amazed. Therefore, I wanted to take this opportunity to spend a little more time with Her Highness.”

“You mean that involves music, right?”

“It is as you say, Your Majesty.”

“This is the first. What happened?”

“I imagine you will be surprised if you learned of it.”

“Really now?”

Father looked at me in puzzlement but also a bit of curiosity and interest. Well, I would be glad to show off the skills I was so proud of. But I was not completely confident with the current instrument just yet.

I acted all embarrassed and avoided his gaze.

“I wonder what that could be.”

“I’m interested.”

“I also am.”

Mother and Brother added.

“Um… I’m…”

I looked at Lanivia as though asking for help. 

She answered my plea. “Ah, it is not ready yet. It is far from perfection since Princess Estelia is still practicing the liathre.”

“Is that so? Then I will look forward to the fruits of your labor, dear daughter,” Father said.

“Y-Yes.”

“Let’s return inside. I still need to change out of this armor.”

We agreed, and all of us entered.

“You can return to your practice for the time being, we’ll meet again later in dinner,” Father said. “And also, your suggestion of a feast for the knights, we’ll talk about that.”

“O-Okay.”