ARCHDEUS

FUNCTION HANDKERCHIEF(1)

The plot of the story retreats before Alex goes hunting.

Merry sat dazedly in the chair he used to use often. It was in the backyard of the mansion in the middle of a group of merry people. He sat alone, accompanied only by his father's loyal servant, Justin. By the way Alex was going with Harol to pick the weapon they would use at the time of hunting. Alex has no magic sword or magic armor. It was not because Harol was favoritism, but Alex himself was too lazy to ask for it. This is very different from Jared and Hazel who even still have 1 set of High Class weapons. Even the plan when Jared was officially 15 years old, he would ask for another High Class Item type accessory that was used as a buff item. Alex did not get the offer when he was 15 but instead of a weapon, he preferred to ask Harol to give him 200 gold coins.

Alex wouldn't let Merry come. Moreover, Harol's expression showed that he did not want this girl to come along. As a result, Merry just sat quietly and was accompanied by Justin who stood like a statue.

Usually he will probably fill the time by going around and looking for buffet food. But now, he was already full as he ate too many cookies and fruit at the party along with Alex.

Merry just sat down with a sigh. Justin standing next to her could not help. He had never taken care of children and had no experience entertaining anyone. After all, he was a servant of a lazy, emotionless young master, so when he saw Merry was sad, he did not know what to do.

"Hey, you ... What's your name?"

Suddenly a blonde girl came to him. He was the same age as Merry and looked very cheerful.

Merry barely ever talks to anyone but Alex and Erline and occasionally with Justin and Clara so he gets nervous. She timidly mentioned his name.

"M-merry."

"What a name! I'm Emily. Let's be friends."

Emily smiled brightly as she spread her right hand to Merry.

Merry just nodded and shook hands with Emily.

"You're bored, right? Let's play together."

"But."

Merry who knew nothing tried to resist. But he hesitated so he looked at Justin as if he wanted to ask for help.

"It's best that Young Miss and Young Miss Emily play together while waiting for Mr. Alex to return."

Justin is certainly taking advantage of this momentum. He could not bear to see his master's son feeling upset and sad. Obviously playing with friends will take away the burden of his mind.

Without waiting for Merry's response, Emily pulls and guides him.

They went to where the other girls were gathered. This place is like a picnic location with a variety of pastries and juices provided.

This place was still in the territory of the mansion but only a few adults were here. They were servants assigned to look after these children. After all they had to keep the count's guests, if until there was an unexpected incident to happen to these noble children it would obviously tarnish the image of the House of Fertiphile in the eyes of the nobles.

"Emily, where have you been? Uh... Who is it, Emily?"

Emily who was still holding Merry's hand and pulling him stopped. He then introduced Merry to the others.

All the children here were still innocent especially they were the girls so they were completely ignorant of the intricacies and conflicts on the other noble houses. The patriarchal view of society towards almost all activities greatly influences the role of women. That's why even noble women have limitations to rights and they are heavily discriminated against in political circles. For the people of the Kingdom of Arthania, women were only children who had adult bodies so there was no need for women to have equal education and rights with men.

The noble ladies only need to have a good body, be able to dance, be able to read, and be able to sing need no other. Implicitly the noble women were simply political objects used to gain power through marriage.

That's why even if these girls knew that Merry had a different surname than Alex, they wouldn't care much. Unless they knew that this girl used to be a slave obviously they would give a look of disdain. It was because they had been educated since childhood that the nobility was a noble class above other factions. So as long as Merry's old identity isn't discovered, then he won't be bullied.

Emily and Merry join the children's society. There are at least six children. They were all girls aged 6 to 8. All of them were children of low nobility and only Merry was the son of a grand noble.

At first they were still discussing trivial matters and Merry looked quite able to blend in. The girls begin to ask Merry about the Alex they met while in the party room.

"So, is your father that tall?"

"really? That handsome one? My mom said she'd only seen the first man that quiet."

"Really! Aye! Compared to my smelly and dirty older brother, your father is like a prince riding a white horse. When I grow up, I want to marry her."

Merry is shocked by all the judgments his new friends have of his father. He can only be proud that his father's charm is indeed very strong but at the same time he feels afraid because with the charm of his great father, sooner or later his father will be very easy to marry. Doesn't that mean Merry will no longer be loved by his father?

But Merry covered her anxiety with a smile so that no one noticed.

"Ah ... right, are you done with the handkerchief?" ask Emily.

" i gave it to my father."

"My grandmother and I made it for Grandpa."

"I'm done too. I want to give this to grandpa and dad."

"No, I don't want to. Why give to that stinky person. Obviously I don't want to."

Almost everyone looks enthusiastic. But Merry did not answer. He had absolutely no idea what all these people meant.

"Merry, did you do it too?" ask Emily.

"Handcloth. You haven't made it?"

Merry shook his head innocently. He's never heard of this before.

"Gosh, why don't you do it? If you don't give it to your father, then your father could be lost in the woods. And it'll never show up again."

"Well! Really?!"

Merry panicked, her mouth and body trembling at the thought that her father would get lost in the forest and never return.

"Yes, right. You have to make a handkerchief so your father is okay" Emily said.

Emily's explanation makes Merry as if he was hit by a cold water flush. His body trembled in fear. His face became very pale and he almost cried.

"But, t-but, why hix why no one told me .. hiks ...."

Suddenly Merry stood up and ran away screaming.

"DAD!!"

All his friends were shocked by Merry's panic. They also followed Merry.

Whereabouts? Where's Dad?!

In the crowd, Merry just stood still. His eyes were trying to find his father's location among everyone. But he found nothing.

"Dad ... Hiks .. hiks ... father .. hiks ...."

Merry was desperate and she then squatted down crying. His tears kept roaring. He kept saying "dad, dad, where are you?". Everyone who saw him was confused and one by one began to swarm over Merry to calm him down.

"Merry, what's wrong with you?!"

Emily and the other children soon catch up with Merry. Especially Emily, she was very worried about Merry suddenly crying.

Merry did not answer. He continued to cry while hiding his face between his knees.

"Emily, what are you doing?"

Ryan appeared among the crowd.

"Sister, I don't know. He suddenly cried."

Emily and Ryan are sisters. They are both from the House of Rayself. Emily Viontince Rayself is Emily's full name.

Just once, Ryana was able to tell that the crying little girl was Merry.

"Merry, what's wrong with you?"

Merry heard a familiar voice. He raised his gaze and looked at the figure of Ryana standing in front of him.

"Sister!"

Merry got up and immediately hugged Ryana while still crying.

Ryana calms Merry. He patted Merry's back. It lasted for quite a while until Merry finally became calmer.

After Merry is more stable, Ryana and Emily take her to a quieter place. Merry told the burden in her heart to the two men.

"So you haven't made a handkerchief for your father yet?" ask Ryana.

"Yes.".

"Don't worry, we'll make it together. You want?"

Merry felt he found a glimmer of light that was able to make up for his mistake. Of course he was very happy to think of a solution so that his father would not get lost in the forest.

"good. Amel, call Lacey. If it's not wrong he still has the materials to sew."

"Good, Brother. Merry, don't worry, my brother is very good at sewing. Your father must have survived!"

Merry nodded and thanked me.

Emily left and some time later, she returned with Lacey who was carrying a few rolls of thread and needles. Lacey's heard all that stuff from Emily. So he brought all his materials.

Merry in the depths of his heart felt deeply touched. His procession to his father loosened slightly to these two women. Lacey and Ryana were good people and were willing to help her even when she was a slave until now. He thought that if Lacey or Ryana were to marry his father, it might not matter.