Ch.62Chapter 62. Airan Dekarun Loves His Family

The Great Lords each have their own villa on the island of Caulan.

Among these villas, if one were to name the most magnificent, people would point to Duke Decarrun’s mansion.

Though naturally smaller than the imperial palace, the interior filled with luxurious items leaves everyone speechless.

However, Ravin was the exception, keeping his mouth shut and busy swallowing his saliva at the sight of those luxuries.

“Thank you for waiting. This way.”

The butler respectfully escorted Ravin.

Following the wide and complex corridors, Ravin was eventually guided to a small garden.

“Mmm, ahh…”

Obscene sounds were coming from the garden.

A woman lying on a sunbed had half-raised her waist and was kissing a middle-aged man.

“Shall we continue?”

“Your Grace, I believe you have a visitor?”

“Hmm, but we’re doing it in the daytime for once… You know we always conceive when we do it during the day.”

The butler deliberately cleared his throat loudly for the sake of his master’s dignity.

Noticing the presence, the woman tapped the middle-aged man’s thigh and regretfully licked her lips.

“It seems our guest has arrived.”

“I’ll take my leave.”

“You! Don’t you think you’ve been lacking enthusiasm lately? During our honeymoon, you wouldn’t even let me walk.”

Surprisingly vulnerable to such matters, Ravin blushed.

The butler, also embarrassed, cleared his throat even louder.

“I’ll let you go for now. But be prepared for tonight, my husband.”

Duke Decarrun’s husband, Garin, nodded to the butler and Ravin as he left the garden.

The Duke watched his firm, solid buttocks with honey-dripping eyes.

“You’re still passionate, I see.”

“You should find a partner soon too. Marriage is truly wonderful.”

Eight years ago, anyone who knew her as a fervent anti-marriage advocate would have been shocked.

Sitting in the seat offered by the Duke, Ravin carefully observed her.

The long platinum blonde hair given to those with imperial blood.

A voluptuous yet toned figure, though not as much as Lucy’s.

The purple dress that wrapped her body.

The fact that she wore a color only the Emperor could don revealed what kind of ambition the Duke harbored.

What was chilling was that this Duke was publicly known as a pro-imperial faction member and, along with Rainpold, a staunch supporter of Rinasien Carrun.

Airan Decarrun.

A collateral family of the Carrun imperial clan, she was a general and duke who had been in charge of the demon army front for over ten years.

“Weren’t you against marriage?”

“I happened to meet a man who made my heart race.”

The outstanding general, who fought against the demon army with powerful martial prowess and leadership, sometimes winning, sometimes losing but never making critical mistakes, fell for a mere soldier who silently served by her side.

Despite everyone’s opposition, and even the soldier’s refusal due to the burden, the tale of how she successfully pursued him became one of the most famous stories alongside the Bard’s Song of the City of Heroes.

When she threatened to abandon her position as general and the frontline, and even commit suicide if she couldn’t marry him, even the Emperor at the time was alarmed and pressured Garin into the wedding.

In truth, there was also the judgment that if the powerful Decarrun family wanted to marry an insignificant soldier, it was better than them forming ties with the imperial family.

As a result, she became a woman who bore two sons and a daughter, and actively encouraged marriage to those around her.

And she was known as an aunt who fervently supported Rinasien, the successor to the Emperor who had permitted her marriage, out of loyalty.

“So, Ravin the Thief. What news do you bring to make my heart race?”

But in reality, she was an ambitious woman who had her eye on the imperial throne.

Ironically, that ambition was born after seeing the behavior of Rinasien, who had become the Imperial Princess.

And it wasn’t strange that Ravin, who harbored resentment against Rinasien, would secretly work with the Duke.

The thief was truly a busy person in many ways.

“Let me tell you what happened after the imperial palace attack.”

On the day Tigria took Rin away, Ravin immediately fabricated evidence to make it appear as if the captain of the imperial guard, bribed by demons, had caused the incident.

When he placed the orb he had received from the illusionist on the bodies, the imperial guards turned black and disappeared into smoke.

With the excessive imagination of those who witnessed it, the story became distorted: the captain of the imperial guard and the demons had targeted the carrier, the medium for the Demon King’s revival, and the hero, shield knight, and mage had fought against them.

The shield knight was defeated, the mage escaped with the most important person, and the hero was left crying after failing to catch the demons.

That was the version known to the public.

“I heard Rainpold is leaving for the Zramun Archipelago for recovery?”

“Ah, yes, and the Imperial Princess is going with him.”

“What?!”

Airan sat up in great surprise.

“Then who will handle the state affairs?”

“Perhaps… you, Your Grace?”

For some reason, Rainpold’s wounds could not be healed by the Saint’s divine power.

A black energy embedded in the wounds was preventing healing.

Not demonic energy, just some kind of black force.

Nevertheless, Rainpold, with his abnormal recovery ability, quickly regained consciousness even if he couldn’t move his body.

When even the Saint’s treatment proved ineffective, he decided to go to the Zramun Archipelago, where many mysteries slumbered, to seek a remedy.

‘I’ll be able to see Lady Ganal there.’

Seeing the anticipation in his eyes, the Imperial Princess activated her female intuition and insisted on going with him.

“Who will handle state affairs if not Your Highness?!”

“Isn’t Duke Decarrun available? I cannot become a widow without even having an engagement ceremony!”

Ravin relayed her exact words that had dismissed the protesting ministers, and Airan was dumbfounded.

“Wait, if they’re not even engaged, she wouldn’t be a widow if Rainpold died. They’re not even related!”

“I suppose she likes him that much.”

“That crazy woman.”

“Says the one who threatened suicide if she couldn’t get married.”

“I would have really died if they hadn’t let me.”

“Anyway, she chose you as a comrade in love and romance, Your Grace.”

“Well, I suppose I am a comrade in love in the grand scheme of things…”

Somehow, being treated the same way made her feel uncomfortable.

“Sigh, I had just started to see my husband and children now that the frontline has stabilized.”

With a headache forming, Airan signaled for Ravin to withdraw.

After bowing, as Ravin was about to leave the garden, Airan asked:

“Hey, thief. If everything you’ve told me is true, with the world in this state, why does the Goddess remain silent?”

“Well, even during the time of the 2nd Hero, She only descended after the traitors had children and grandchildren. I guess it just takes time.”

Feeling it would be awkward to just leave after such a question, Ravin also posed a question to Airan.

“But why did you start wanting to become Emperor?”

Airan lay back on the sunbed and answered languidly.

“Because at this rate, I think the Goddess will get angry and overturn everything. Then my husband and children would have to die for others’ sins.”

She moves solely out of love for her family.

A simple but powerful motivation.

Perhaps this was what Ravin had expected from Arsil.

With a bitter feeling, Ravin left Duke Decarrun’s villa.

—

After the imperial palace attack was settled, Lucy had not left her room.

To escape from the nightmares and auditory hallucinations that tormented her, she sat blankly wrapped in a blanket that carried Rin’s scent.

The hero ate nothing and was desperately trying to recall memories with Rin.

“You look terrible.”

Ravin, who had just returned from visiting the Decarrun villa, sighed at the sight of Lucy silently shedding tears.

He wanted to slap her and tell her to snap out of it, but seeing her like a puppet with cut strings, he couldn’t be that harsh.

“Hey, this is all according to Rin’s plan. What are you so worried about?”

“…If I had been a better hero, it wouldn’t have come to this.”

“How? By capturing both the shield knight and the mage? Wasn’t it Rin’s plan for the mage to defect?”

“If I hadn’t treated Rin carelessly from the beginning, if I hadn’t looked at other men, Rin wouldn’t have had to sacrifice like this.”

“Oh, come on!”

Finally losing his temper, Ravin shouted.

“Is it because Rin is a carrier? Stop treating him like baggage!”

“Baggage…?”

“Yes, baggage! You don’t think for yourself, you just watch Rin’s reactions and try to do what he tells you, and you can’t even do that properly!”

“Think for myself and act on my own initiative? That’s possible for you! I’m a sinner! How can a sinner act out?”

“So is it better to just cling and obsess? That’s what makes Rin suffer!”

At the words that she was making Rin suffer, Lucy swallowed her tears.

“I really don’t understand. Should I act casual and friendly? That would be too shameless.”

“This is so frustrating! What have you actually done?”

Ravin grabbed Lucy by the collar.

Even her limp response was infuriating.

“You’ve just been showing how sorry and dejected you are. You haven’t even paid attention to what’s happening around you, just wanting to be close to Rin. What have you done for Rin? Killing the imperial guards? Yes, I’ll give you that. But what else? Have you made his bed? Set his table at mealtime? Fed him? You haven’t done anything a woman would do for the man she loves except obsess.”

“…What if Rin doesn’t like it? If someone like me does such things.”

“Have you tried?”

She hadn’t.

“Staying still while knowing things can’t go on like this is deception. Be honest. You believe that if you just stick around looking pitiful, Rin will feel sorry for you and warm up to you, right?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Yeah, right. I can see right through you. I’ve seen many passive people like you. When asked to do something, they’re quick to say they’re not qualified or not ready.”

Lucy fell silent.

She could no longer lie to Ravin or herself.

She had thought that staying submissive until forgiven was the best approach.

“If staying still could solve anything, why did Rin take action to save you? Wasn’t it that rescue that made you see Rin differently and fall in love?”

“I’m scared, scared of hurting Rin again.”

“Who gets hurt when someone makes their bed and takes care of them? I’m not asking you to do anything grand!”

Ravin embraced Lucy.

Her eyes widened at the unexpected action.

“Make an effort… Don’t get trapped in your own thoughts. It won’t be easy. There’s no guarantee it will work out. But you have to try to know whether Rin likes it or not.”

Her arms, which had been flailing in the air, trembled anxiously as they hugged Ravin’s back.

“Is it okay for me to do that?”

“I don’t know, Rin will be the judge of that.”

“Will Rin like it?”

“Didn’t you see in Valtercrois? Rin immediately kicked me out when I gave you a hard time. Not everything will please Rin. It’s about getting to know each other. You demand that he understand your feelings, so why aren’t you trying to understand his?”

“…I’ll try. I’ll try to understand Rin’s feelings.”

Ravin sighed and stepped back.

The hero was still crying, but she seemed calmer.

“I don’t know why I’m doing this.”

I hope you, at least, don’t go down the irreversible path like Arsil.

Ravin was also not very honest.

“…Thank you.”

“Shut up. Don’t cause any trouble until Rin returns.”

“Thank you, really.”

“Save those words for Rin. Nothing in this world is a given.”

It was a resonant statement.

Ravin departed swiftly through the window.

Lucy had a feeling she wouldn’t see him for a while.

After he left, the nightmares and hallucinations returned.

But this time, Lucy was different.

She would wait for Rin.

Wait for Rin without causing trouble.

“What should I do for Rin when he returns?”

She deliberately talked to herself and pondered what to do.

Negative hallucinations whispered in her ears, but Lucy ignored them and continued her deliberations.

Yes.

“I’ll say thank you. When Rin does even small things for me, I’ll thank him sincerely.”

Because nothing in this world is a given.

Lucy was becoming more stable.

However, there was someone who didn’t like this version of the hero.

[Hmm.]

It was the temporary holy sword, Abyss.

[Well, just throwing tantrums is amateur-level yandere behavior. It’s good to be twisted inside while not showing it outwardly, but this seems too much like becoming normal?]

So let’s shake things up a bit.

[When the time is right, I’ll have to show her fragments of this world’s truth.]

What the Goddess has done.

And what Rin means to you.

When you know that,

Lucy, Estel, you’ll fall for Rin even more than the demon heroes.

I guarantee it.

[Ahhh!!! How long do I have to wait! If it’s not satisfying later, I’ll destroy everything, demons and humans alike!]