"Anne, while Abel is helping load the carriage, let`s go by my office and then Ludwig`s. I have a few things that I want to drop off with him."

　　Anne just silently nodded, which was a little strange, since Anne wasn`t the silently nodding type. The silence continued as the pair walked the halls of Whitemoon Palace. Mia tried to engage in a conversation, but Anne would have no part of it, mostly nodding, or giving the most minimal of responses. Finally, Mia took three quick steps, turned around, and looked straight at Anne`s face. Anne was always pretty easy to read, and in Anne`s eyes, Mia saw a look of extreme concern, or maybe even disappointment!

　　"Anne, are you upset? What`s wrong? Did I do something?"

　　"It`s just that you could have been a little nicer to His Majesty."

　　Mia turned and laughed, "Oh, I thought it was something serious."Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

　　"I am being serious! He`s your father, and..."

　　"I just spent three whole weeks with him. I think that`s plenty nice."

　　"Yes, you were with him, but you spent the whole time acting like you wanted to be somewhere else. Mia, your father loves you so much, but I`ve seen you make more of an effort with suspected Chaos Serpents!"

　　"Well, that`s work! My father, he`s a sweet man—but sometimes he`s just too much. Well, not really sometimes, pretty much all of the time..."

　　"Just try a little harder. Please!"

　　"Okay, I will —when we get back."

　　"Promise!"

　　 "I promise!", and then Mia let out an exasperated sigh of her own—which she immediately felt guilty about. She knew that Anne was a better person than she was. Anne loved her unconditionally through two lifetimes—she had seen all of Mia`s ugliness, and yet was still there to comfort and hold her during her darkest days. So how could she just dismiss Anne`s concerns? Am I really being unkind to my own father? Why is it so hard to be nice to him? As Mia was contemplating filial piety, the pair arrived at Mia`s office.