>>6293623“I- Thank you, father.” You say, to which he nods.
“But still, I wish to request that for the next month, you do not return to the Inquisition.”
“But you just-!” Again, he forces you to stop.
“I request you do not return, Lorina, I do not demand.’
You blink. “What do you mean?”
“He means He’s worried about your health. It’s not hard to see you’ve been running yourself ragged ever since the honor duel.”
“I am perfectly capable of speaking for myself, boy.” Your father says with any real heat. “But yes, I wish for you to rest for at least a month. I will not bar your movement once the healers have said you’re in condition to do so, but I request you do not take on any more quests and have instructed the Lord Inquisitor to not dangle any more in front of you. I believe it is about time you enjoy the summer break that you have been missing until now.”
“So I may return to the Cathedral should I wish?”
“Once you are healthy enough to do so. Though I will not be happy for it.”
“I see. Thank you again, father.”
He shakes his head, “It was Arthur who convinced me of this, any thanks should go to him.”
Your brother obnoxiously scratches the back of his head and a dopey smile, “Aw shucks, dad, well if my little sis wishes to-” You throw a pillow at his face, knocking him off his chair. Though you suspect the action hurt you more than him. Goddess, why did you have to make mana exhaustion so painful?
“And what of the people I know in the Inquisition? My friend, Marie, was able to stay with me earlier. Did you know of that?”
Your father merely closes his eyes and sighs, “And as long as I do not need to personally see them, you may invite any of your friends to the palace, no matter their origin. That is all I will relent for now.” It’s not perfect, but it is far more than you were hoping.
You spend more time speaking with father or brother about many less important topics, such as what working with the Inquisition was like or how the garden fares. Though it is not long until your brother is forced to leave to attend to his familial duties, but before your father departs as well, you manage to ask him one final question that weighed on your mind.
“No, I’ve never heard of a book titled ‘Alice in Wonderland’”
But the answer you receive is not the one you were hoping for.
