Chapter Eleven: Truth and...

"Lenka!" I ran from my room to the kitchen. "Yes, Dad." "I need your help today. Go ahead and grab that box and follow me." "Okay, Dad." As I grabbed the box, I looked into it. The box was full of cooking tools. "What's all of this for?" "To feed those who need it."

"Those who need it?" "There has been some conflict on the outskirts of Dustka, and it has caused many to flee here. Most of them are left with nothing, so we will help them by feeding them." "But, why us? Isn't there some outside group that does this?" "Lenka, if you're in the position to help someone, then help them. Just because others can help doesn't mean you shouldn't."

He's right. Despite our situation, we can, at the very least, cook some food for people. "I'm sorry, Dad. I wasn't thinking." "Don't worry about it." He petted my head as he said it. Then he walked over and grabbed the large pot off the counter. "We should hurry. When won't want the hungry people to see us as food." I chuckled and followed him out.

We arrived at market where many other families where setting up hand outs and food for the line of people waiting. I followed my dad to one of the empty tables and placed the box on it. We unloaded the gear and set up the soup in the pot. While setting up, my father stopped what he was doing and stared at something in anger. I looked over to where he was looking and saw a few men wearing camo and holding guns.

"Who are they, Dad?" "Lenka, whatever you do, never get involved with people like that. They are the reason there is conflict in Dustka." He said it with a stern tone that I had never heard before. If they are someone who makes Dad angry, then I should definitely stay away from them.

Dad went to light the portable stove, but it would not light. " It seems we're out of gas. Lenka, could you go back home and grab a gas canister?" "Yes, Dad." I left the table and started running back home. "Oh, and while you're at it, check on your brother!" my dad yelled. I turned around and gave him a thumbs-up, then continued to run back home.

I searched through the drawers in the cabinet until I found an extra gas canister. With it in my hand, I went to my brother's room. He was on his computer looking at some videos. "What you doing?" He turned around in his chair to look at me. "Watching some terrible show." "Then why watch it?" He let out a sigh. "Well, everyone online kept talking about it, so I had to see what the fuss was about."

"Why is it popular if it's bad?" "I don't know. Maybe other places have some degenerate values. I mean, the story is about some guy who dies and gets reborn into a fantasy world full of magic. The problem is he is just a pervert who goes after every girl. Heck, he eventually gets married and then cheats on his pregnant wife, and the worst part is his wife is okay with it because she knew he was a pervert that would cheat on him."

There he goes on another rant of his. "You should probably stick to videos of warships and architectural marvels." "Clearly. Hey Lenka, whatever you do, never become someone like that character." "Why would I? Do you really see me becoming a monster like that?" He laughed.

"Yeah, you're right. I doubt anyone would date a tomboy that's always covered in motor oil." I punched his arm. "Ow, Okay, I'm sorry." As much as I wanted to hit him again, I stopped and remembered what Dad had asked me to do. "Oh, right, Dad wanted me to see if you're okay." "Yeah, I'm fine today, and I still have some insulin left, so don't worry." "Okay. I should get back to him before he starts to worry." With that, I waved goodbye to him and left.

As I was running back to the market, I noticed something odd. A stray cat was meowing and clawing at a water tap. I walked over to it and turned the water on so it could drink. After a minute, the cat stopped drinking and started brushing itself on my leg. I turned the water off and started petting it. The cat was so cute. I wonder if my dad would allow me to keep it.

A large shadow flew past us, scared the cat, and made it run off. What was that? Was it some large bird? I reached up to scratch my head but realized I was still holding the gas canister. Crap dad's going to be worried if I don't return soon. I ran as fast as I could all the way to the market. When I finally reached the outside of the market, I stopped to catch my breath. After I caught my breath, I looked up to see my dad waving at me, so I waved back. I started to walk to him when I heard a loud sound.

My ears are ringing, and my whole body aches in pain, and I'm on the ground. What happened? I pushed myself up and grabbed my head. My hand felt damp, so I looked at it to see why. I took a few seconds for my blurry vision to focus and saw my hand was covered in blood. Why is there blood on my hand? Am I bleeding? My hearing slowly started to come back, and I heard people screaming. What's going on? I looked up and saw a giant smoldering crater where the market once was. "Dad?" I tried to get up and walk over, but I fell back down as soon as I stood up. "Dad! Dad!!!!"

I woke up completely drenched in sweat. I squeezed my blanket tightly out of frustration. I never want to experience that memory again. The more I thought about it, the more I wished I never stopped for that damn cat. If I didn't, then I would have died with my dad rather than have to suffer through everything.

"Yeah, I'm fine today, and I still have some insulin left, so don't worry." My brother's words echoed in my mind. If I had died, then what would have happened to him. Maybe he wouldn't have... I shook my head. Thinking about what-ifs won't change the past.

*Knock* * Knock* Kate entered the room. "Lenka breakfast is ready." Kate was dressed in all black, and from the tone of her voice and the way her tail and ears were drooping, I could tell that she was depressed about my dad... my father of this world passing. "Okay, Kate, I will be down after I get dressed." She bowed and was about to leave but stopped and looked back at me. It looked like she wanted to say something but decided not to say anything. I would say that it was odd, but everyone does odd things on the day of a funeral.

We were all gathered around the grave of my father of this world. He was buried next to his wife, and there was a nice display of blue roses around the grave. All of us were wearing black clothes that matched the darkness of the rain clouds that were approaching. Some people, like Godfrey and Annabelle, gave speeches about him.

Most cried and mourned their loss, except for me. Sadness is something that I had tossed aside a long ago. They can call me cold and heartless, but that man was not my father. I already had a great dad. This man was nothing more than a placeholder made by that so-called god.

"Lenka, are you okay?" Kate asked. I looked over at her, and her eyes were red from crying. "I'm fine, Kate. Don't worry about me." I reached up to pet her head. That man wasn't my dad, but he was a well-loved person.

I always felt indifferent to him. He would casually go along with whatever my plans were without asking too many questions. Maybe he had his reasons, or perhaps someone was controlling him from the background. Either way, I'm the new lord of this place, and I have a feeling that his death was not natural.

He was healthy and wasn't sick, so it is possible that his death was planned. If it was planned, that means someone is making their moves, and I'm completely unprepared for it. I don't even have weapons yet. What the hell have I been doing these last few years. Have I been too caught up in the building and reforming these people to notice? I need to...

"Lenka, are you sure you're okay?" This time, it was Leon who asked. "I'm fine, Leon; you should worry more about yourself." He was clearly trying to hold back tears and, at the same time, holding back anger. "But... I..." "Leon, you should cry if you need to and be angry if you want to. We can not change the past. We can only push forward to the future." He turned around so that he wasn't facing me. "You're right, like always, Lenka," Leon said as he walked away. I don't know what kind of relationship he had with my father, but it's clear that he deeply respected him.

"Shouldn't you go after him?" Kate asked. "No, everyone mourns differently. He just needs some time alone to collect his thoughts." It's odd that Kate would want me to help Leon. She tends to be annoyed anytime I'm with him. "But..." "Come on, Kate, we should go too before it rains."

We started to head back to the manor, but Annabelle stopped us. "What is it, Annabelle?" I asked. "Let's have a little chat together." She said it in a serious tone and not her normal mocking tone. "That's fine, but we should do it inside." As soon as I said it, rain started to drop.

"Fine, but..." Annabelle looked right at Kate. "I would like to talk with you alone if you don't mind." Kate looked at me like she was waiting for my approval. "That's fine, Kate. Can you give us some privacy?" She bowed to me. "I... understand." As she left, she looked worried for some reason.

Annabelle and I were sitting in the living room. The rain outside started to pick up and hit the windows. "Lenka, there are a few things I want to tell you now that our lord is gone." "Go ahead, Annabelle." I am curious what she has to say, but at the same time, this doesn't seem like it's going to be a normal conversation, so I should not let my guard down.

"Your father made me swear not to tell you anything, but now that he's gone and our situation is starting to look bleak, I think it's best that I tell you everything." She took a deep breath. "You see, the Bluerose house used to have much more land and influence. It used to be one of the biggest noble families until..."

She took another deep breath, clearly trying to hold back her emotions. "Until someone chosen by the gods destroyed everything." "Chosen by the gods?" I did my best to hide my surprise, but Annabelle is smart, and I have no doubt that she noticed it. "Yes, that person was born into a high position and used their position to ruin not only our family but this entire kingdom."

"Our family?" I always had my suspicions about Annabelle but could never find information about her. "Yes, our family. I am your mother's older sister. That man... " Annabelle took a long pause to hold back her emotions. "Let's just say his actions destroyed our house and caused us to lose all but one of our territories. I was disowned, and then my father left our house for another."

"I was lucky that my sister was kind enough to let me serve her as a servant. However, the other nobles didn't take it too well and would try to subjugate us. That's where your father came in. Despite his looks, he was a well-loved knight who had a lot of influence inside the ranks of the kingdom's military. That and..."

Annabelle stood up, walked over to me, and whispered into my ear. "This stays between us. The nobles think that Mary is the daughter of the king." She walked back over to the sofa and sat down. "Is that true?" I asked. She shook her head. "No, but as long as they believe that, then their actions will be limited."

There was quite a bit to unpack, and I had so many questions. "Annabelle, what do you..." The front door slammed open, and loud footsteps rushed towards the living room. Then, the door to the living room slammed open, and Godfrey walked in. He was dripping wet from the rain and out of breath from running. "There's... There's an army outside!"