I felt sorry for the man, but Caitel wasn’t. With a serious look on his face, he looked down upon the man and replied back at me.

  “Taking out the trash.”


  Oh…… father.

  I didn’t know what expression I should make. As I stared at my father with a doubtful face, it seemed like Caitel started acting embarrassed.

  “Daddy.”


  I called him in a calm voice, but there was no response from my father, who avoided my eyes.

  Did my dad think I would just let that go?

  “My dear daddy.”


  “.……”


  “Dad.”


  “.……”


  “Father.”


  How many more times should I call him to make him turn his head? Huh?

  I was even willing to call him all day if I needed to, but I guessed my father didn’t want that. After ignoring my call, he sighed and handed over the man that he dragged out of the attendants.

  “Get rid of him, and make sure I don’t see him again.”


  “Yes, Your Majesty.”


  Looking at the attendants disappearing with a look of relief, I stared at my father in silence.

  Caitel kept avoiding my eyes, perhaps because he still didn’t have enough courage to face me. There was an awkward and uncomfortable silence between us as if we were alone in an elevator with a friend who barely knew us.

  It felt like that uncomfortable silence that came after saying hi.

  “.……”


  “.……”


  Alright, I’d yield.

  I had decided to stop staring at him without saying anything with teary eyes.

  “Daddy, didn’t I tell you last time that violence is not the best solution?”


  This wasn’t something I said ten years ago, not even a year ago. I told this to him just last week.

  I wouldn’t say anything if I told him before last week. I said the exact same thing the week before, and two weeks before too.

  Now my father was coughing in vain, maybe he’s getting a little guilty.

  Some said his temper got much better now, but I thought my dad’s rage remained the same. Honestly, he’s not a teenager anymore. When would he learn to calm that temper of his?

  I began to pretend like I was about to cry.

  “I would hope my father would take care of everything with grace and mercy…… Really, I wish for nothing more but for you to become someone better. That would make me so happy……”


  “Should we have dinner now?”


  This old geezer!

  “It’s still lunch now!”


  Caitel looked somewhat disappointed.

  This was not the right time to make that face, Dad!