Episode 17 – The Capital, Shio Land

*

Before long, the carriage was scheduled to arrive in Shio Land, the capital of the Empire, tomorrow.

Lily, who had spent almost all of her time in the carriage for the past few days, was very uncomfortable throughout the journey.

The reason for her discomfort wasn’t the aftereffects of the poison, or the bumpy ride of the carriage.

“Wow! We’re arriving in the capital tomorrow. Lily, do you remember when you lived there as a kid? The forest was nice and peaceful, but it’s always more comfortable for the body where people have put their hands to work, right?”

It was because Lara’s tension, who had been in the carriage with her for the past few days, remained unnecessarily high.

She probably wasn’t genuinely looking forward to going to the capital.

This was Lara who had decided to leave the capital and live in the forest.

In Lily’s opinion, Shio Land wasn’t such a place of good memories for her mom.

After observing her closely for a few days, Lily realized that she was acting out exaggerated excitement to hide her feelings.

Lily had been a maid who had watched Edgar hide his feelings and thoughts for months, acting as Baron Salvie.

There was no way she wouldn’t notice Lara’s clumsy acting, which was worse than Edward’s.

The reason why Lara was acting out positive emotions was obvious.

Something bad must have happened during her date with Ed the day before they left.

“Mom.”

“Yes? What’s wrong, Lily? Are you excited too?”

“…Are you okay?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Maybe…”

“Yeah?”

“Did something happen with Ed?”

“…”

Lara froze, her smiling face still intact.

Lily didn’t press her and waited patiently for Lara to speak.

“…I can’t hide it, huh.”

“I’ve lived with you alone for most of my life, of course I’d know.”

“I see… I guess so. Yeah.”

“…”

“…Haha.”

“…Mom, if it’s hard to talk about…”

“Daughter, your mom got dumped.”

The cheerful look that Lara had been forcing on her face disappeared.

In its place, an expression that looked somewhat relieved yet sad emerged.

Lily held Lara’s hand tightly.

“Ah, Mom… he probably still needs time, someday…”

“No, I probably won’t ever get a chance. Ed made it very clear.”

Lara recalled Ed’s appearance, who had been kind to her while clearly drawing the line.

Perhaps, that was the maximum of their relationship.

No matter how much Lara burned with feelings for Ed, Ed would not be able to be more than a friend.

Lara realized that clearly on their date.

“Ah… but still, once Ed’s work is done and his mind is settled…”

“Ed’s mind won’t be settled as long as I’m around, Lily.”

“What does that mean?”

“Ed won’t accept Mela even if she comes. We can’t be. Maybe after a long time, someone who has nothing to do with Ed’s past will appear and take him?”

Lara’s voice was detached, unlike her expression. A voice that seemed to have given up on something.

That emotionless yet tearful voice sounded more heartbreaking than sobbing.

Lily, who knew all of Lara’s memories, felt sorry for her mom.

“For such a long time… Mom doesn’t have any chance at all? What should Mom have done?”

“Lily. Don’t do that.”

“Mom… are you okay with that?”

“…I don’t know.”

Lily hugged Lara gently.

Lara hugged her daughter without a word.

Lily thought of Ed and said.

“It’s a relief, Mom.”

“…What is?”

“…Huh?”

“…? Lily?”

‘Why did I say it’s a relief?’

Lily was surprised and puzzled by the emotion that suddenly came to her.

Lily was ‘relieved’ to realize that Lara’s love was not being accepted.

She was confused as to why such an emotion came to her.

She definitely used to resent Ed for not knowing Lara’s feelings,

But now, she felt somehow relieved when she thought about the fact that the two of them would not become lovers.

Lily recalled Lara’s words.

Someone who has nothing to do with Ed’s past, after a long time.

As a half-elf, Lily would also live for a very long time.

Besides, at least in Lily’s opinion, she was someone who had nothing to do with Ed’s past.

Ed still doesn’t look at her blue eyes, which are proof that she is Robin’s child… maybe,

Instantly, Lily realized what she was thinking and got goosebumps all over her body.

Oh my god, what am I even thinking right now.

Lily tightened her arms around Lara.

“No… it’s nothing.”

“…?”

*

The next day.

“Ha, we’ve arrived.”

I said lightly, as if exclaiming, as I saw the capital’s walls and huge gates.

The gates were still as huge as I had seen them when I was young.

Before I even turned nine, my hometown was attacked and destroyed by monsters.

I remember the first time I arrived at those gates after wandering around.

My childhood of making a living by pickpocketing.

The life I lived as a thief, hired by a criminal organization,

Mela’s salvation after our reunion.

The hellish training I endured to be of help to her.

And the adventures after becoming a member of the Hero’s party.

All those memories flashed by like a panorama.

‘It’s really… over,’

‘Yeah. It’s over.’

And that memory ends with the moment Robin’s holy sword flashes towards me.

“It’s been a while, Shio Land.”

The city that was the main stage of my life so far.

And, I have finally arrived at this place, which will also be the main stage of my revenge in the future.

Inside the gates of that city, there are Robin and Mela.

I pressed down on my mask even more firmly, wondering what kind of expression I was making right now.

Soon, the carriage reached the gate.

A soldier wearing shiny armor and holding a flag-tied spear approached the carriage.

Without a word, he raised his hand and ordered the carriage to stop.

Jennifer must have told them in advance, because when I said that I had brought the body of the Hero-nim’s son, the soldier saluted and easily let us pass through the gate.

I could hear the owners of other carriages, who were suffering from thorough inspections that suspected even the slightest scratch, protesting why we were being discriminated against.

After entering the high walls,

I paid the coachman who was driving the funeral carriage twice the amount of money I had promised.

The coachman bowed to me and left to take the body to the undertaker.

If the undertaker puts Daniel and Rose’s bodies in coffins and buries them in the cemetery today, the funeral service that people other than family members can attend will be held tomorrow morning.

On the first day of burial in the cemetery, funerals are not held, and only family members are allowed to visit to say a simple final goodbye.

Since the undertaker would inform Robin’s mansion after the burial anyway, there was no need to report to Jennifer that I had arrived.

We moved to find lodging where we could store the carriage and horses.

The city had changed a lot in 20 years, so I had quite a hard time finding my way around.

Lara, who had visited after 15 years, didn’t know the changed roads either, so we barely managed to ask around and narrow down a few candidates.

Among the several candidate accommodations, the one we chose was a luxury hotel in a neighborhood where the city’s wealthy people lived.

It was an expensive hotel that could show off Baron Salvie’s wealth, and it was not far from Robin’s mansion, so this place was the most suitable for my purpose.

When we arrived at the entrance of the luxury hotel, which definitely didn’t exist 20 years ago, a clean white stone building with large glass windows appeared.

The sign, which was cleaned without a speck of dust, read “White Glass Tower.”

The hotel, decorated entirely with marble from the floor to the exterior walls of the building, was spectacular.

I had stayed in a luxury accommodation built with marble in Flavis, but the scale was incomparable to this place.

As soon as the carriage stopped, an employee approached and bowed.

Lily and Lara put on hoods and got out of the carriage.

Carefully avoiding anyone who might recognize them, they followed the employee to the entrance of the building, where another employee appeared and drove the carriage out of the hotel.

When I asked where they were taking the carriage, the employee informed me that there was a carriage storage and stable next to the hotel.

I nodded as I listened to the employee’s explanation that they would also change the horses’ horseshoes and manage their manes while the guests stayed there.

As soon as I entered the hotel lobby, a chandelier boasting an unprecedented size and splendor was hanging.

The interior of the hotel was decorated with luxurious purple wallpaper and gold patterns and ornaments.

Lara and Lily looked around with their mouths open.

I didn’t show it, but I was actually quite surprised too.

I had never seen a building that had been plastered with so much money.

In the middle of the lobby, there were two female employees standing at the counter.

They bowed politely as I approached.

“Welcome.”

I thought I had become accustomed to pretending to be a rich man while living as Baron Salvie, but coming to a place like this still felt a bit awkward.

I lowered my voice and said.

“The most expensive room,”

“Yes, how long will you be staying?”

“I’m not sure, I’ll order a month for now.”

“…A month, you said?”

“Why?”

The female employee seemed surprised at the word “month.”

The other female employee next to her bowed her head and wrote something on a piece of paper.

She must have been calculating.

The female employee who was talking to me organized her surprised expression and said to me.

“We do have the most expensive room, but a month will be a very high price. With that much money, it would be better to rent a suitable building.”

The female employee who was diligently writing something on the paper next to her showed the paper to the female employee who was attending to me.

She must have been calculating.

The female employee told me the price written on the paper and told me to think again.

Indeed, it was an enormous amount.

A price that was slightly less than the money I had sponsored Aureo Academy.

“I’ll take it,”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing? Give me the key,”

“…I’m sorry, but since it’s such a large amount, we need a 20 percent deposit.”

The female employee said, trembling.

She wondered if there was really anyone who would pay that much money, and in the next moment, her eyes widened and she gasped.

“Instead of a deposit, I’ll pay in full.”

I took out a money pouch full of gold coins and, leaving behind the two female employees who couldn’t close their mouths, I took Lara and Lily and went up the stairs.

“Ah,”

“…Why… what’s wrong?”

“There will be some change, the one who brings room service to my room can take it,”

The two of them were stunned for a moment, then started bickering with each other, saying they would go up.

The rumor about the crazy rich man who appeared in the White Glass Tower spread throughout the city in less than an hour.

.