Brooke's Priority
Chapter 12's

Shin Yoo Ri for twenty-eight years of her life has never been interested in a serious relationship with the opposite sex after being betrayed by her ex-boyfriend.

I didn't know Alex could express himself like that.

I thought Alex was cute. Alex made me realize something I'd often forgotten. Things change very quickly as long as we live. That is, there are many possibilities. Many things can happen and change our lives in one second. As with Alex, her feelings began to change for me.

Hmm, he won't admit it if I ask him directly.

I laughed in my heart. I consider Alex the same as Kim In Ho. They are annoying but their presence is like their own family.

I subconsciously smiled to the point of forgetting the reason why I was in front of my father's entrance. I walked around, knowing there was a storm ahead of me.

“Haley, don't break down the door even if you hear my father's noise.”

I intend to riot in order to be allowed to study at the academy.

“You definitely get permission,” Haley said.

I knocked on the door a few times after taking a deep breath. There's no other way to get a study permit than to have a one-on-one conversation with my father. Mom said you already knew my wishes from Lucas who revealed them when they were eating this morning. I didn't join them because I was busy looking for a journal that Brooke might have left in a secret place.

“Good day, Father.”

I glanced at the father who was not looking at me and still had not returned my greeting. He made the atmosphere in the room unpleasant. From the beginning, I felt like my father was a cold, boring man. He did not know to use words to express affection for his daughter. Placing many guards from a distance was one form of that affection. I just hope he says ‘Dad acted like this because it doesn't want you guys to get hurt.’

“There are some things I want to talk about, Father.”

“Academy?”

This time he put the files in his hand and looked at me from behind his work glasses.

“About the academy,” I said.

“What is your goal to enter the academy?”

I didn't know you were gonna ask me about my purpose. I felt like I was being interviewed.

“Something changes very quickly during our lifetime,” I remember my reflection while walking here. “If yesterday I was poisoned, tomorrow no one knows there is a sword slashing my neck.”

“You want to learn to be able to protect yourself?”

“Ya,” I said with full confidence. “I should be able to protect myself before protecting others.”

Dad looked at me long enough then stood up and picked up a sword.

“If I used to have a choice, then I wouldn't choose this sword,” Dad showed me a sword wrapped in a dark black sheath. I just saw the black sword sheath for the first time. Most of them make it brown to match the ingredients that come from animal skin.

“Take. I give this sword to you.”

I received the sword and noticed my father's flat face. I didn't know I'd get a sword when I just hoped to be allowed to study in the academy.

“What is the reason? I thought Dad would challenge me. Dad is so angry because I practiced sword.” Back then, I was more angry about sword practice than I was about to kick Alex in the face.

“Look Lucas managed to convince me to give you permission.”

“What did Lucas say?”

Ah, really.

Why do I feel angry. It's not that I'm not happy that Lucas helped me, it's just that it's not what I expected. I didn't expect to get permission because of someone else. I want to get it because of my efforts. Trying to make someone sure of me. I want to get permission because of a trust. And until when will you think girls can't be as good as boys?

“This sword, why did Dad give it to me?”

I waited for my father to answer me.

But he seemed to have no intention of answering me.

“Should I sell this sword?”

I'm sure this sword was important until he gave it to me. So, please just tell me the reason.

“My daughter already knows how to threaten me?” I saw the corner of my lips lifted. I don't know if I sound funny to him.

“Something changes very fast as long as we live.” I said that word a second time.

With a serious face, father thought back to the meaning of the sentence I said. After a while, he said, “I used that sword when war broke out for the first time.”

This is the story of a father struggling to survive on the battlefield.

“The sword has killed many people. That sword killed my best friend. I was forced to kill him because he was a spy.”

Dad looks sad. “You open up many avenues to meet new people while holding a sword. Unfortunately, the decision you face is to protect or kill them. You could have made a wrong decision.”

I remember Lucas once told me about swords. He said I should be ready to see blood. I have to get used to that.

“Dad regretted meeting Dad's friend?”

“I regret it.”

I saw eyes full of regret.

“I shouldn't have let him die just because of one mistake.”

The friend had helped the father who was living in poverty. I can understand why Shaeviro hates fathers who are not born with noble blood. He was envious because the father was a successful person forming a new noble family. Break all the idealism that has been formed so far.

“Dad, we all miss a lot of things,” I said as I clasped the sword tightly in my hand. “I'm sure Dad must have missed the happy moments when holding this sword. When Dad and Dad's friend train together. When you imagine what kind of life awaits in the years to come.”

I looked at Dad with soft eyes. When I came here I intended to make a noise if I didn't get permission. In the end I was just a bad boy who made his parents worry. I thank my father in my heart because he just wants me not to go through what he's been through.

“I will keep his sword well.”

I promised myself to use it for good purposes. If I used to hold a gun to prevent evil, now I hold a sword to prevent bad luck in this family.

Now I'm part of the Cohenherb family.

“And Dad, I hope you live with happy memories. We all have regrets and will continue to regret our actions after.”

*****