Our vacation continued for another week.

  I have never felt that liberated.

  All those heavy burdens were lifted from my shoulders.

  Prince?

  Throne?

  Empire?

  The conflict between the imperial and the clergy factions?

  I left everything behind.

  I am no longer a prince.

  Yes.

  I am nothing but a man without a surname.

  I am just Robert.

  Yes.

  At first, I thought that I would panic.

  I would feel empty

  But I did not.

  Instead, I felt relaxed and liberated.

  Perhaps this is the best for me.

  … for a week, I could enjoy my time with Lilia wholeheartedly.

  Luke and Rick tried to hinder us from everything.

  But I did not mind it.

  Actually, I welcome it.

  I enjoyed those little quarrels.

  Each of their attempts to meddle with my time with Liliia reinforced my commitment.

  They strengthened my resolution to walk down this path.

  It made me feel that my time with Lilia was well earned.

  As for Duke Willow and Lady Iris…

  After that day, we were left alone by ourselves.

  Duke Willow was accompanied by Lady Iris.

  They were living in the small cabin beside the villa.

  It was whispered that Lilia may get a younger sibling soon.

  Today is a rest day.

  We are resting for today.

  Tomorrow, we will return to the mansion.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  That is why I got the time to organize my thoughts.

  That is why I got the courage to open the box and the letters from my family.

  I have been putting it on hold for this whole time.

  I was really afraid of the things inside them.

  I tried to focus on living a life that felt like a dream for now.

  I instinctively knew that the moment I opened them, my life would never be the same again.

  The peace I so treasured will no longer exist.

  My peace with Lilia….

  So that was why I was procrastinating it.

  And today, I decided to face it.

  And today, I decided to open the box.

  Inside was leather armor made of monster materials and a steel sword.

  It came with instructions.

  How to use it… How to maintain it… That was what was written inside the letter placed in the box with the leather armor.

  It was truly state-of-the-art.

  There has never been anyone capable of refining monster materials, let alone crafting them as tools.

  The toxicity and the corruption that those materials carried never allowed anyone to use them.

  They were nothing but trash; no, it was a burden, the liability.

  And now, someone could do it.

  They turned something like that into treasure.

  Duke Larose is really a capable man.

  I am really glad that he is on our side.

  Just imagine it was Duke Ellon who achieved it; it sent a shiver down my spine.

  Truly, truly fortunate.

  However, something was bothering me about it.

  I could not help but ponder the last sentence at the end of the instruction…

  I was instructed to carry them at all times, even when I have the option to upgrade my gear.

  The instruction prohibited me from throwing them away.

  It was as if it were our heirloom.

  I also have to point out something more.

  Inside the box were other letters from Mother and Big Sister.

  There were dozens of them.

  Unlike the other letters, they were 'family' letters.

  Each letter was over ten pages.

  Yes, they were the usual letters from my gentle sister and mother.

  It was like all the letters they had been writing but could not send me were crammed into that box.

  I spent the whole day running through all the letters.

  Oh, I found the need to mention something, too.

  The most recent letter from my sister told me something important.

  My sister said that she would confess to that person.

  Judging from the time she wrote that letter, by the time I read her letter, she might have confessed to him.

  I truly wish that her confession had gone well.

  I hope he accepted her confession.

  I really want my sister to find her happiness.

  She has been through many hardships because of me.

  So, the least I could do for her was pray that she succeeded in finding her own happiness.

  On this note ….

  The moment I read about it, I wanted to do it too.

  There was nothing to hold me back.

  I am no longer bound by my duty.

  So, I also want to confess to Lilia.

  However, I already missed a great opportunity.

  I could not build the momentum, and the atmosphere was not great.

  I know that I should not do it recklessly.

  I needed to prepare it carefully.

  I need to build the atmosphere first.

  So, today is not a good time.

  However, I will confess to Lilia after we return to the mansion.

  I will make preparations and finish them as soon as possible.

  After that, I will confess to her.

  I needed to do it without delay.

  After all, Lilia is all that I have left.

  Hmm, should I also talk about the ‘Valor’ imperial seal letter from my father and the ‘Florence’ imperial seal letter from my mother?

  There was nothing much about it.

  Just a couple of simple sentences

  My mother asked me to return to her.

  ‘You must return.’

  That was the only comment in my mother's letter.

  She was waiting for me.

  I have to return to her after I finish my duty.

  It was as if she had anticipated this outcome.

  As for my father’s letter…

  ‘Do as you see fit.’

  It was as if he had had enough of me.

  It was as if he had given up on me.

  It was as if he had left me with my own device.

  Yet, I know.

  I know the real implication of that sentence.

  He had acknowledged my independence.

  That was his real message to me.

  He has finally entrusted me with this responsibility.

  He has finally accepted my relationship with Lilia.

  Ah, the sun has risen.

  This is the end of our vacation.

  The maid had knocked on my door, signaling that we would depart soon.

  I am leaving.