Ch.123Damn, the stars are really twinkling tonight.

“Selden Alphonse, I greet you, Father.”

“Enough, sit here.”

Just as I was about to unpack after being directly assigned a sleeping space by Elina, Baron Byron had promptly visited.

I sat down on the chair prepared in the room and opened my mouth.

“Have you been well lately?”

“Well? Don’t you know that the state of our household is beyond words?”

That’s certainly true.

While Jason Alphonse was a hundred times in the wrong, it’s still a father who essentially killed his own son.

Even without being there, the atmosphere in the family would be painfully obvious.

Coming to find me before I could even unpack probably means he hasn’t had anyone suitable to confide in until now.

“…You must be going through a lot.”

“Selden Alphonse.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you also think that my killing Jason Alphonse was too harsh a measure?”

“To be honest, no. It happened in front of the kidnapped estate people. If I were in your position, I would have made the same choice.”

“But Ellaria seems to think differently.”

“Mother will understand intellectually. If you hadn’t done what you did, regaining the people’s trust would have been impossible for a lifetime.”

At my words, Baron Byron’s furrowed brow gradually relaxed, as if his troubled mind had eased somewhat.

“Yes, I believed you would understand this father’s heart.”

“Mother will be alright with time.”

“But there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Please speak.”

“Why didn’t you report Jason Alphonse’s atrocities to me first?”

It was a question I had anticipated.

If I had consulted with Baron Byron about Jason Alphonse’s case in advance, there’s a high probability he wouldn’t have killed him with his own hands.

Just the fact that a father rescued people kidnapped by his son and exposed the crime would have helped public sentiment to some extent.

However.

The person who rescued the kidnapped people and exposed the crime was entirely me.

Meaning Baron Byron, as the head of the family, did nothing.

It’s almost like he had already decided on the answer and was just informing me.

So now he’s asking out of regret.

I adjusted my posture and continued with a serious attitude.

“It would have been impossible to silence the kidnapped people. And who are their families? They are knights of the Alphonse family. Even if I had given you advance notice, the situation wouldn’t have changed much.”

“…Did you want Jason Alphonse to die?”

Truthfully, I wanted to lock him up and pull out his teeth one by one to relieve stress, but another part of me did want him dead.

Although I still haven’t figured out Evander Alphonse, it was obvious that if Jason Alphonse became the head of the family, he would constantly be at my throat.

But.

Now that Jason Alphonse is actually dead, I can’t hide my discomfort.

Although I’ve been reincarnated as ‘Selden Alphonse,’ I was still a member of this family.

The expression on Baron Byron’s face as he killed his son and looked at me.

The scene is still vivid in my mind, as if deeply etched there.

“Rather than wanting him dead, I wanted him to be punished for his wrongdoings.”

“Leonard has entered the succession dispute. What do you think about that?”

“It was a natural procedure. I thought it was better than Evander Alphonse’s monopoly.”

“I heard Evander visited Lake Estate?”

“Yes, he said he would stay for a few days. Since I’ve come to the Parseche estate, he’ll probably be gone by the time I return.”

Baron Byron shook his head.

“You must be having a hard time caught between Evander and Leonard.”

“As I told you, Father, I will maintain neutrality. I’ve already made up my mind.”

“Haa… somehow, talking with you always makes me sigh more.”

“I apologize. It must be because I’m still lacking in many ways.”

Perhaps trying to change the gloomy atmosphere, Baron Byron pointed to the window outside with drowsy eyes.

“Do you see out there?”

“Outside? What do you mean…?”

When I stuck my head out the window, I saw men following Elina gathered boisterously.

Baron Byron continued immediately.

“Though she’s veiled now, rumors of Elina Parseche’s beauty being unmatched in the Eastern Continent are widespread. You can tell by the noble sons who’ve visited under the pretext of attending the funeral.”

“Her beauty is indeed remarkable.”

At my words, Baron Byron twitched his eyebrows.

“Are you saying you’ve seen Elina Parseche’s face?”

“…Yes, I have.”

And that’s not all.

The memory of Elina pressing her cherry-like lips to my cheek and saying, “I gave my first to you, Lord Selden,” is still vivid in my ears.

When my face reddened at the memory, Baron Byron leaned his face toward me.

“But why is your face turning red?”

“R-red? You’re mistaken.”

“…Are you regretting it? If so, we could talk to Lord Roden again after the funeral, if not right now.”

“No. I believe people have their destined connections, and I think Elina and I don’t have that connection. If we were meant to be together, we would connect someday, even if not now.”

Baron Byron clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, why does a young man like you have so many calculations?”

It’s not calculation, but having the decency not to go back on your word if you’ve hurt someone.

Honestly, the one who caused the hurt was ‘Selden Alphonse’ before I reincarnated into him, but what can I do?

Even if I said it wasn’t me, no one would believe me.

Besides.

While Elina Parseche’s beauty was truly stunning, the monster wave is already approaching.

First, that needs to end before I can think about anything else.

“I’ll handle my own marriage.”

When I spoke with a firm expression, Baron Byron clicked his tongue again and stood up.

“Tsk, I think we should pay our respects first.”

*

“Sob, sob…”

Sounds of weeping could be heard everywhere.

I had attended many funerals even before reincarnating as ‘Selden Alphonse.’

This place was no different.

People wailing and sobbing loudly.

People trying hard to hold back tears while greeting mourners.

Baron Byron took a few steps forward, placed a flower, and then stood beside me and Pedericks.

Then we observed a moment of silence together.

‘By the way, where is Elina?’

After finishing the moment of silence, just as I was about to offer some comfort, I saw Elina surrounded by numerous men, expressing her gratitude.

Having no choice, I offered brief condolences to Lord Roden and returned to the room, followed by Pedericks who spoke up.

“When do you plan to depart?”

“I think I need to look around the Parseche estate tomorrow, so probably the day after?”

“Ah… I see.”

I tilted my head toward Pedericks, who seemed to have something to say as he fidgeted with his mouth.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“After paying respects earlier, I spoke briefly with Baron Byron, and it seems I need to return to the Alphonse estate for a while.”

“Huh? You’re suddenly returning to the Alphonse estate?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What’s the reason?”

Pedericks then carefully scanned the room despite there being no one to hear, and cautiously continued.

“You know that Lord Jason Alphonse’s knighthood has been disbanded, right?”

“Yes, I heard that all the knights involved in the incident were retired, and the rest were given to Leonard, who will continue the succession dispute?”

“That’s right. And Lord Jason Alphonse apparently owned quite a lot of assets.”

“I’m sure he did. Bad deeds often accumulate money.”

Pedericks took a deep breath and continued the conversation.

“Baron Byron has transferred all of Lord Jason Alphonse’s assets to Lord Selden Alphonse’s name.”

“W-what? All of it to me?”

“Yes, Baron Byron has separately provided compensation to the kidnapped estate people, and it seems he will transfer all of Lord Jason Alphonse’s assets to us without touching a single penny.”

At first, I was dumbfounded, but after thinking about it, I vaguely understood Baron Byron’s feelings.

He killed his son with his own hands; he couldn’t also take his property.

If he had taken that too, he would have put himself under even more mental stress.

“How much is the total asset?”

“I’ll need to return and check that.”

By the way.

Does this mean I won’t have to hear Pedericks’ nagging anymore?

It was because he was so upset about the possibility of bankruptcy due to the mercenaries’ wages that I ordered Castleton to buy monster blood.

Combining the funds we’ll receive from Baron Byron with purchasing monster blood? That would secure an enormous financial base.

“Hmm, so that’s why Father called for you.”

“Yes, and Baron Byron added one last thing.”

“What did he say?”

I tilted my head.

Pedericks cleared his throat a few times, covering his mouth, and then continued.

“…’What I’m giving you is a reward for setting things right. And… thank you for stopping Jason Alphonse.'”

“…”

Silence settled in the room.

Have I truly come to regard Baron Byron as a father now?

For reasons I couldn’t quite understand, I felt a surge of emotion.

Turning my gaze toward the window to cool the tears welling up in my eyes, I forced out words mixed with laughter.

“…The stars are shining brilliantly tonight.”