episode_0223

As the sun slowly began to set, we decided to finish exploring the main house and return.

Although I said we could come again tomorrow if needed, Lia looked thoroughly satisfied.

Rather, she said she wanted to explore Breezedon and the Dragonez Mountains tomorrow, hoping to see more traces of her mother.

Now, there was hardly anything left here that her mother had left behind.

However, the paths we always walked, the dirt ground where we trained and sweated, and the fields where we gathered medicinal herbs together remained just as they were.

It would probably be best to guide her there and talk.

Of course, our conversation hadn’t stopped yet.

“…So I pleaded with Grandfather Vincent-nim. I told him I wanted to go to Dragonez and asked him to speak to Mother for me. Grandfather Vincent-nim thought for a moment and then asked Mother if he could visit his hometown, Taeldon, one last time before he died, and she granted it.”

“How did you end up coming along?”

“I got on the ship with Grandfather Vincent-nim when he boarded! But I think Mother already knew and let me go. If it were such a big deal, Grandfather wouldn’t have helped me in the first place, right?”

“I suppose so.”

So Teacher Vincent-nim is doing well.

It seems he himself never knew that his only disciple would become queen and take on the role of Royal Knight Commander.

Moreover, in his later years, he even came back to his hometown to escort this stubborn princess.

If I get the chance, I should buy a bottle of liquor and go visit him.

“But, was the royal castle that stifling? Enough to make you think of running away.”

“Have you ever been to the castle, mister?”

I closed my eyes.

“…Yes, I have. Once. I didn’t see everything though.”

“Hmm, of course, our castle is huge. It’s hard to visit every room even if you run around all day. But think about it. That castle is my entire world. You can go to neighboring villages whenever you want, and travel far away as you please, can’t you, mister?”

“It’s something that’s hard to do even once or twice in a lifetime. Well, yes, I suppose so.”

“It’s incredibly difficult for me to leave the castle even once. I can’t even go out unless there’s a specific reason. If I want to go out, I have to wear a suffocating and heavy dress all day, and there’s a famous candy store right before my eyes, but I can’t even go look at it.”

“Oh dear. That’s quite sad.”

“Right?”

Am I not so different from Teacher Vincent-nim after all?

I never imagined that a day would come when an ordinary doctor from a mountain village would be nodding his head on his way home, listening to a princess’s sorrowful grievances.

Truly… the world is so unpredictable.

Before long, dinnertime was approaching.

Busy sounds could be heard from the restaurant below the hill.

Smoke billowed from the chimney. The sweet scent of meat stew drifted to my nose.

My mouth was already watering.

But there was still time left until dinner.

We had to gather the residents who had left for their respective tasks, perfectly set the large dining table with dishes, and finally, Elon had to shout, “Dinner is served!” before we could even pick up our spoons.

To wait until then, I sat down on the grassy slope, and the girl plopped down beside me.

I looked down at Breezedon’s evening, bathed in the twilight glow.

“Why don’t you ask your mother? Tell her you also want to play like an ordinary person.”

“But… Mother is so busy, she barely leaves the castle. I don’t want to make things harder for her too…”

“You’re already thinking about your mother. You have such a kind heart.”

“Oh, no, not at all!”

As if weak to compliments, Lia waved her hand, denying it.

“Haa—I wish my son would think of me as much as you do.”

“That Louis kid? He doesn’t seem like a bad kid… but when I teased him a little, he started to hate me.”

“Haha. He doesn’t hate you. He was just surprised because you were unfamiliar. He grew up only in this village, just like you. It must have been hard for him to deal with a girl from the city.”

“Is that so…”

Anyway, after hearing her story, the princess seemed to be in quite a pitiable situation, so I decided to tell her a good method.

“Let’s see—is Uncle Joseph still there?”

“Yes? Count Joseph-nim?”

“A Count, huh… Anyway, if you want to go out and play normally, try asking the Count. He absolutely loves pranks. As soon as you mention it, he’ll probably disguise himself as an old coachman and get ready to leave the castle with you.”

“Really? Was Count Joseph-nim that kind of person? I’ve seen him sad lately because his hemorrhoids aren’t healing well—.”

Unintentionally, I ended up hearing someone else’s secret in vivid detail.

Lia clapped her hands and rejoiced.

“Thank you! I’ll talk to him when I return to the castle!”

“Alright.”

And then, the conversation paused for a moment.

Lia looked down at the village and slowly hugged her knees.

Her quiet posture, with her red hair carelessly fluttering in the cool breeze — it truly felt like meeting a younger version of her again.

The girl, who had been like that for a long time, spoke.

“I think this is the first time I’ve talked this much. I’ve experienced so many amazing things that it still feels like I’m dreaming.”

I felt the same.

If this was a dream, it was the kind I wouldn’t want to wake up from.

“If I had a father… would he have been like you, mister?”

“…”

The wind whistled from afar.

It was a deep, cold wind that cast shadows over the mountains as night approached.

In truth, I knew nothing of the outside world.

Though I had often accidentally overheard stories from nearby cities and Deseo.

Most of them were trivial, and the only useful ones were rumors related to my pharmaceutical knowledge.

I hadn’t bothered to investigate further.

Because this country was too peaceful.

Normally, a Golden Age is a period defined by later generations, but people confidently called this era they were living in a Golden Age.

The Queen’s rule was impeccably excellent to that extent.

A happy nation where foreign invasions and internal enemies no longer existed.

Paradoxically, the more peaceful it was, the less anyone wondered about the Queen’s affairs.

What she did in the royal palace, what actions she took.

News rarely reached this distant place.

If everyone was like that, would I be any different?

As for the events that followed, I had long since completely forgotten them.

Her, too.

And that man’s affairs.

I opened my mouth with difficulty and asked.

“Is your father not around anymore?”

“Yes. He passed away early.”

Lia answered in a flat voice.

“They say he had a serious illness. He was living on a small island in the Central Sea, separated from Mother… He passed away when I was three. So I don’t know much about my father. All I do is visit his grave with Mother once a year to pay my respects.”

“…I see.”

“And there’s a portrait of my father in the basement, you know? Mother told me not to go there, but I secretly snuck out at night to peek at it once. But no matter how much I looked, I didn’t resemble him at all! My dad looked like a stern general. My lips aren’t as prominent as his, and my nose isn’t that big either… Isn’t it strange?”

“Ah, about that—from ancient times, royal painters would draw portraits very beautifully and magnificently. There was probably quite a bit of exaggeration in that portrait too. So you shouldn’t take it at face value.”

“That face wasn’t Dad’s real face? Why would they draw it like that?”

“Painters who drew things exactly as they were didn’t live long, you see.”

As if she didn’t understand, Lia looked my way and blinked her eyes.

Could I truly see anyone other than the Queen-nim in this innocent face?

But I could clearly see it.

That this girl was that man’s daughter.

From her hair to the color of her eyes, she perfectly resembled Tia’s beautiful appearance.

But her rounded jawline and thick eyebrows were unmistakably his.

The subtle sense of unfamiliarity I felt from the first time we met.

Feeling like her, yet at the same time, feeling an awkwardness…

It was probably because of that.

I said calmly.

“I… didn’t have a mother.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t even know who my birth parents were. My father found me when I was an orphan and took me in. So when I was young, I envied children who had mothers. But looking back now, I think my father gave me more love than he was capable of. So I wouldn’t be teased for not having a mother. So that even if I was, I wouldn’t feel sad.”

I looked back at Lia.

“So, how about you think of it this way: your mother loved you passionately and raised you so that you wouldn’t feel your father’s absence?”

“…”

Did my comfort help?

I wasn’t sure, but the girl’s eyes had become a little brighter than before.

“Yes, you’re right. Mother is… an excellent person.”

Rustle.

A rustle of someone climbing the hill could be heard.

From just the sound of her footsteps, I knew who it was and smiled.

“Was the conversation interesting?”

Her brilliant golden hair was visible even from afar.

And a voice that naturally warmed the heart.

It was Marie.

My wife asked with a smiling face.

“You left the pharmacy work to me and here you are, leisurely chatting. Is this really alright?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just…”

“Hehe. It’s fine. I was just joking. The pharmacy closed safely, I finished writing all the letter replies, and Louis and Latina are fine at home.”

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

Marie was always like that.

She understood me completely without me having to speak, and took care of every small detail I might miss.

That’s why I trusted Marie more firmly than anyone else in this world.

Just hearing her voice, I could feel an incomparable warmth.

“Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. This is Lia. She just came to visit Breezedon. And this is my wife, Marie.”

“Nice to meet you, Marie-ssi.”

“Hello, Lia.”

When the two faced each other and exchanged greetings.

I could see a hint of longing in Marie’s eye-smile.

It was natural.

Those of us who lived in Breezedon couldn’t be otherwise.

Because we all still remembered ‘her’.

Marie asked.

“How was Breezedon?”

“It was good. Much better than I expected—I want to stay longer.”

“Do you have a place to stay?”

“No! I need to find one now! I heard there’s an inn nearby.”

“I’m sorry, but there probably won’t be any rooms left. There were many group travelers today.”

“Oh, in that case…”

Marie smiled, looking at Lia, who seemed troubled.

And at the same time, she sent me a meaningful glance.

Aha. Message received.

“Hmm—Lia. If you don’t mind…”

I scratched my head.

“You can stay at our house.”

“What? Really? Is that alright?”

It was strange in itself that a princess, who could order these commoners to do anything just by speaking, was asking for permission.

Nonetheless, I nodded vigorously.

“Of course.”

This is our land and that of our children.

Which means—this child, too, is a resident of Breezedon.