Chapter 72: The Steel-Willed Princess in Azure 1

The future is inherently uncertain in many ways.

The chaotic result of countless variables and causes moving in disorder is unpredictable.

Thus, when faced with unanticipated situations, people cannot help but feel profound bewilderment.

And that was true even for me, despite knowing the overall flow through the ‘original story’.

Of course, as an entity, I had certain advantages over others in this world when it came to foreseeing events.

For instance, I knew about the dense morning-to-afternoon fog during the recent war…

Or the pathetic conduct of Anhalt, who fled in defeat to the Kalmar Union before hurriedly returning upon hearing of our belated victory.

I could more easily predict people’s movements and actions based on natural phenomena beyond human control, or the characters, situations, and psyches depicted in the original.

However, even I could not fully foresee the future’s divergences caused by the far-from-trivial variable of my own existence as Santana and the changes to my path.

And this ‘uncertainty of the future’ was currently making me deeply regret my actions from a few days prior.

‘This fucking shit…’

The words that perfectly encapsulated the emotions filling my mind at this moment.

Swallowing them back repeatedly, I inwardly lamented and reproached my past actions, wishing I could undo them if possible.

“So… you wish to return to your hometown, is what you’re saying?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Cazeros sat across from me, speaking in a calm voice.

Her unexpected request, after mentioning she had something to ask, automatically filled me with bewilderment.

With the war victoriously concluded and everyone catching their breath, her request was to visit her nearby hometown since she had already come this far from Milan.

Of course, at face value, I had no real grounds to object from my position.

Cazeros was not bound to me, and we were merely close comrades at most.

For her to express a desire to visit home, not some other place, I had no reason to stop her.

In fact, she was not even seeking my permission, simply informing me as a colleague.

Yet, despite the formalities, I desperately wished to halt her if I could.

Our relationship had grown considerably closer after that kiss following the recent banquet.

Though our circumstances still prevented publicly acknowledging our courtship, I harbored hopes of swiftly progressing our relationship if she agreed.

To be truthful, if she consented, I even wished to formally propose and pursue marriage.

Of course, to overcome this, we would need to surmount the considerable barrier of our differing statuses. But from my perspective, unconcerned with such trivialities, I was prepared to endure any hardship willingly.

However, at this juncture, she was making an earnest request of me.

To allow her to return home and finally meet her parents again after so long.

Hearing this request, I felt an urge to deny it, and cautiously asked:

“Must you… go? What I mean is… couldn’t you go some other time, not now? At least after our relationship has progressed a bit further…”

“…Forgive me… but… if not now, I may never find the courage again.”

“…Huh?”

Cazeros spoke with an unexpected solemnity beyond my expectations.

Automatically expressing my puzzlement, she then looked me in the eye, a small smile tinged with melancholy gracing her lips, and said:

“To be honest… I too wish to continue living like this. To keep living by your side like this, Lord Santana. To remain by your side no matter what…”

“Then… by all means…”

As I tried to dissuade her again, she raised her hand to stop me and continued:

“But I cannot do that now. Like you in the past, I have unresolved matters to attend to.”

“Like me in the past… you mean?”

Her words automatically raised questions in my mind, as I could not immediately recall any such unresolved matters from my own past.

Then, suddenly, one fact associated with the keywords ‘family’ and ‘hometown’ surfaced in my thoughts.

‘Ah… Could it be? Could Cazeros have also run away from home like me…?’

Recalling her apparent aversion towards the Dragonian Empire, I began piecing things together, feeling like the puzzle was taking shape.

Though unintended, my actions until now could be seen as returning home to reconcile with my parents after a long period of wandering.

I had no idea about such a backstory myself, let alone that the subject was supposedly the eminent lord of Bohemia – something I never could have imagined.

In any case, likely inspired by my example, Cazeros, having similarly run away in the past, must have felt a sense of realization… a need to meet her parents again and reconcile.

And she was now acting on that.

From my perspective, I could not bear to stop her path after inadvertently providing this ‘realization’ to the woman I loved.

I needed to support her decision for personal growth.

“How long will this return home take, approximately?”

“That… will likely take some time. There are many matters to resolve.”

“…I see.”

With those words, I slowly rose with a wistful smile.

Then, tightly embracing her, my voice laced with longing yet encouragement, I spoke to the woman I truly loved:

“Take care on your journey… And if possible… return as swiftly as you can.”

“…Yes. I will do so. As swiftly as I am able…”

Her voice tinged with the hint of tears in response to my words.

For a while, we simply held each other in silence, savoring one another’s warmth.

If only to etch the sensation into our beings a bit longer.

As night fell and the veil of darkness descended, the stars twinkled in the sky, and the moonlight gently illuminated the world – an unusually ethereal atmosphere.

Bathed in that moonlight, she slowly gazed upon the sight before her eyes.

At this late hour, guided by the escorts assigned to her, a woman’s figure departed the city.

Though her steps were heavy with evident longing… nonetheless, she did not falter, continuing onward.

Towards that place she had to go…

To where the optimal path lay for her sake in this moment…

And for his…

And watching her, a serene smile gradually formed on that person’s lips.

‘So she’s leaving after all… No, to be precise, ‘returning’ would be the apt term.’

Considering who she was, the latter seemed more accurate.

Yet, that person also knew about the events soon to unfold in the wake of her departure…

The situation that would arise immediately after she left…

And the ‘interesting’ occurrence when she returned.

“…Huh? That… What did you just say?”

Hearing something utterly unexpected, I stared blankly in bewilderment.

And seeing my reaction, my father Count Turen spoke with a deep smile:

“Hahaha, no need to be so bashful. Are you not of an age to consider marriage yourself now? That is why your sister has already sent letters to several noble maidens, so news should arrive within a few days.”

This bombshell declaration dropped mere days after Cazeros’s departure left me in such shock that I momentarily could not formulate a response.

After finally regaining my composure, one thought automatically crossed my mind:

‘This fucking shit…’