Ten Years Have Passed Since I Was Reincarnated. I Have Become the Father of a Villainous Noble Lady - Chapter 4

At last, my daughter was turning five.

Tomorrow would mark both Alize’s fifth birthday and her debut in noble society. Leading up to it, she had spent her days diligently learning etiquette and manners.

Because of that, we hadn’t had time to play together for about a week.

I’d been busy as well, overwhelmed with preparations as the host of the debut event.

Bothered by a lingering sense of guilt over neglecting her, I found myself standing in front of Alize’s bedroom door the moment the grandfather clock struck midnight.

It was a full moon tonight, and the moonlight spilled across the halls with an almost silver glow.

I figured she’d already be asleep by now, but when I opened the door, I saw her wide awake, staring up at the ceiling.

When she noticed me enter, she sat up in bed, blinking in surprise.

“Father?”

“So you’re still awake.”

“…I’m too nervous to sleep.”

That was understandable.

Despite being surrounded by maids and living a comfortable life, Alize had never stepped beyond the estate walls.

She didn’t know the outside world.

I’d been planning to take her into town for a stroll after the debut, but until then, tradition wouldn’t allow her to leave the grounds. It was one of those outdated customs among the nobility—unfortunately not one I could do much about.

“What brings you here, Father?”

She asked curiously as I stepped further into the room.

I approached her bed, pulled out the gift I had been hiding behind my back, and held it out to her.

“…What’s this?”

“A present. Happy fifth birthday, Alize.”

Her face lit up, and she bowed her head deeply with a bright smile.

“Thank you so much! I’m really, really happy!”

“Go on, open it.”

“Really? May I?”

“Of course.”

At my nod, she began carefully unwrapping the gift. With delicate fingers, she undid the latch on the wooden box and opened it.

Inside was a beautiful pendant, set with a vibrant green gem.

“Wow…! It’s so pretty!”

Alize’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the pendant.

Seeing that expression made all the effort worthwhile.

She gently lifted it from the box and looked up at me.

“Um… This gem, could it be…?”

“That’s right. It’s a crystallized drop of sap from the World Tree, refined over thousands of years and embedded with magic by dwarven hands. It’s an ultra-premium artifact known as the Jewel of the World Tree.”

Wearing it would activate a powerful protective spell—it would break in place of the wearer, taking a fatal blow only once.

Of course, something like this wasn’t normally available on the open market.

I’d managed to obtain it through connections left behind by my late wife.

It had cost a small fortune… but if it could protect Alize, no price was too high.

“Father… Would you put it on me?”

She held out the pendant with both hands.

I nodded, took it gently, and reached around to fasten it around her small neck.

“Does it suit me, Father?”

“It suits you perfectly. You look beautiful.”

She beamed from ear to ear when I said that.

“Well then, good night, Alize.”

“Yes. Good night, Father.”

I stepped out of her room, closed the door quietly behind me, and returned to my own bedroom to rest.

＊ ＊ ＊

The day of the debut had arrived.

As the host, I was overseeing the event at our estate.

The grand hall, designed specifically for occasions like this, was now bustling with servants making their final preparations.

With just about two hours to go before the ceremony began, things were moving into their final stages. Everything was going smoothly so far—no issues to report.

Naturally. After all, this was all for the most adorable daughter in the entire world.

It was only right to prepare the event with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring it would be perfect.

Alize, the star of the day, was currently in the dressing room being attended to by the maids.

It would be my first time seeing her fully dressed up like this, and I couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

I was also a bit nervous—wondering whether the dress I had commissioned just for her would suit her the way I imagined.

By now, the carriages carrying the other nobles should be arriving.

I entrusted the remaining preparations to my butler, Sebas, and headed out to greet the guests.

Stepping into the garden, I didn’t have to wait long. The first carriage soon appeared.

Judging by the noble crest on the side, it belonged to the Viscount Adan family.

The carriage rolled smoothly along the stone path through the garden and came to a stop at the estate entrance. My maids promptly approached and opened the door.

The first to emerge—with the help of a maid—was a boy about Alize’s age, with short, shining golden hair and a refined air about him.

“Jin! Long time no see!”

“Hey, Dennis! It has been a while! …Wait, have you gotten older or something?”

“Look who’s talking—you’re looking pretty aged yourself.”

His name was Jin Adan.

He was one of my old classmates and friends back in Witchcraft Academia—the name of both the game and the magic academy within it.

“So, you and Leia had a daughter, huh… If she takes after her mother, I bet she’s a real beauty.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Haha, sorry, sorry. It’s just… it feels great to finally have someone to joke around with again.”

Well, I couldn’t blame him.

Once you become an adult, there aren’t many chances to joke and tease like this anymore.

You start to miss that carefree school camaraderie.

“Still, I’m happy to say my daughter did take after her mother. She’s growing up to be a real beauty.”

“That so? I look forward to seeing her. Leia’s face was… well, something you can’t see anymore, no matter how much you wish you could.”

“…Yeah. That’s true.”

I nodded quietly.

“Well, one of our maids will show you where to wait. Just relax until the ceremony begins.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

With that, I handed my old friend over to the maids for guidance, then turned back to welcome the steady stream of noble guests still arriving.

And before long… he arrived.

“It’s been a while, Marquis Bataille.”

“Yes, it has. We haven’t spoken face to face in quite some time, Duke Berger.”

That’s right.

This imposing, ruggedly handsome man was none other than the father of my daughter’s prospective fiancé.

A man second in rank only to the royal family—Duke Berger himself.