Chapter 125: Epilogue

Chapter 125: Epilogue

Creak-

The door opened.

As usual, I sat up abruptly.

“Unnie… I’m sorry. Are you awake?”

Lucy, with a slightly apologetic expression, entered the room.

I smiled faintly at Lucy,

And shook my head as if to say it was okay.

“It’s okay. I just… couldn’t sleep. Did you go for a walk?”

“Yeah. The night air is nice and cool.”

“It’s almost autumn now…”

“The fallen leaves are beautiful. Oli said she wanted to go on an outing tomorrow.”

“Oli? Didn’t she say she didn’t want to see ‘crunchy trash’?”

“She’s just saying that because she’s embarrassed. A fairy hating the forest. It’s unbelievable.”

That’s true.

I smiled faintly at Lucy’s words and spread my arms wide towards her.

Then Lucy, looking a little shy, approached me.

At her lovely sight, I was reminded of the Lucy from before.

“…You’ve grown so much since I first saw you. You were about one and a half heads shorter before.”

Lucy giggled and nestled into my embrace.

No, to be precise, Lucy hugged me.

Her short stature had now grown to just over 170 cm.

As I warmly embraced her, her soft and fluffy body boasted a large surface area against my chest.

The small and cute girl had now become a proper lady.

“Hmm… As expected, you seem to have grown too much…”

“I like it. I can hug you like this too.”

“Sometimes I miss the cute Lucy.”

“So, you don’t like it?”

“How could I not? Actually, I like it more.”

Chup. I gently kissed Lucy’s cheek and playfully pushed her onto the bed.

Lucy, letting out a small sound, lay down on the rumpled bedsheets.

Her bright blonde hair cascaded down, and her sharp features were striking.

Her navel, peeking out from her pajamas, was cute.

“Kyaa… If we do this from dawn, we’ll be exhausted…”

“…Is that so? Since Oli wanted to go on an outing, she’ll be really upset if I’m sick.”

I chuckled and naturally withdrew my hand from my clothes.

Then, lying on the bed, I faced Lucy.

Lucy’s eyes were shining softly.

“…What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

Then Lucy blushed slightly, as if embarrassed.

I hugged Lucy tightly and chuckled softly.

“No, it’s just… because you’re pretty.”

“What… so suddenly. If it were Oli, she would have cursed me for being disgusting.”

“She’s really eccentric.”

“But she likes it a lot deep down. She just can’t express it…”

Having spent so much time with Oli, I don’t really defend her.

I giggled and rubbed my face into Lucy’s embrace.

Her soft embrace had a strangely familiar scent.

The floral scent I always smelled at the mansion.

It hasn’t even been half a year since then.

The scent must not have faded yet.

“..Lucy.”

“Yes?”

“What do you think happened to the mansion after that incident?”

At my question, Lucy’s expression stiffened for a moment.

About 4 months had passed since we escaped the mansion.

After stabbing Scarlett in the chest, we rushed across the border and reached a forest.

It was vast and untouched by human hands.

‘When I first came here, I couldn’t get anything done.’

In the center of that forest, we settled down.

Settling down itself wasn’t too difficult.

Oli found a spot and built a house with Lucy’s help.

Fortunately, Aileen had knowledge of architecture and carpentry, so we avoided sleeping on the dirt floor.

For an ordinary person, this would have been unthinkable.

With Aileen’s supervision, Lucy’s strength,

And Chris’s magic, the house was completed in less than a day.

After all, there were trees everywhere, and we could make anything we needed by carving wood.

“…I don’t know either. Perhaps it was destroyed. The last time I saw it, the mansion’s roof was shattered.”

“As expected… it would be.”

I nodded at Lucy’s cautious reply.

After settling in the forest, we quickly adapted to the environment.

Food was abundant with fruits and animals,

And we could drink clear spring water.

Undoubtedly, finding such a forest was a miracle.

Moreover, about 20 minutes away from the forest, there was a village.

Although visiting the village was a recent occurrence,

Aileen was currently looking for work there, and life itself wasn’t too difficult.

If it weren’t for Oli, we would have wandered through unfamiliar lands and suffered misfortune.

That’s why I’m always grateful to Oli.

“Does the mansion… feel nostalgic?”

Lucy, stroking my hair, spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

After the day of escape, my condition was truly the worst.

I was constantly plagued by nightmares and couldn’t eat properly.

If I heard the sound of a door opening, I would burst into tears or scream.

Because of that, for a while, our house had a ‘no closing doors’ rule.

I also developed a phobia of sharp objects and couldn’t even look at anything pointy for about two months.

Occasionally, when Aileen, who was cooking, showed me a knife,

I would have a seizure and faint frequently.

Although I had escaped Scarlett’s grasp, her imprint on my mind was very deep.

Of course, recently my condition has improved significantly with the devoted care of my ‘family,’

But I remember Lucy’s face, crying as she watched me vomit everything I ate in the early days of settling down.

I really made people suffer a lot.

That’s why stories about the mansion were treated as taboo in this house.

“No. I don’t miss it. I’m just… a little curious.”

“Unnie. Don’t feel guilty. That woman just paid for her sins.”

“…I’m sorry for saying something unnecessary.”

“You don’t have to worry about it. Let’s only think about good things from now on…”

Lucy patted my back as if to comfort me.

Yes. That’s right. I should only think about good things.

I let out a small laugh and kissed Lucy’s collarbone.

“Shall we decide what to eat for tomorrow’s outing?”

“Okay. What do you want to eat, Unnie?”

“Honey berries and rabbit meat toast.”

“Hmm… We should also pack some flowers for Oli to eat… Aileen likes meat, so… maybe some jerky?”

“Ah, let’s add honey drinks too. With honey berries chopped in.”

“If you eat that much sweet stuff, your teeth will rot. Are you okay?”

“So what? Let’s enjoy the present.”

“Puhaha… Right. Let’s pack whatever we want to eat.”

At my words, Lucy smiled brightly and stroked my head.

I used to stroke her a lot before.

This isn’t bad either.

I closed my eyes gently in Lucy’s embrace.

In my dreams, I saw Scarlett again after a long time.

She was smiling as she watched me, who didn’t know what to do.

With a look of relief.

****

“Hey, you pig. Didn’t I tell you that if you eat all that, you’ll swell up like Lucy’s breasts?”

“Oli… Please don’t use strange comparisons.”

Flick!

“Aargh…!”

With a flick from Lucy, who sighed, Oli spun in mid-air and was sent flying.

I caught Oli and smiled faintly.

“So what? I’ll bring flowers that you like, so please forgive me.”

“Ahem, ahem. Well… if it’s like that… I might forgive you…”

“Sigh… We’re packing what we want to eat, so what’s there to forgive?”

“Puhahaha… Oli, don’t get stuck there and try this.”

Aileen offered a fragrant flower pancake, and Oli, seizing the opportunity, flew over.

The warm, small pancake went straight into Oli’s mouth,

And Oli’s expression melted.

“Uhehe… This is it…”

“…Wow. Your expression looks like a pervert…”

Aileen looked at him with a slightly creepy expression.

Oli looked at her with a sulky face.

“I can’t do anything about this… I’ll forgive you if you make it well.”

“Yoohoo~ Thanks~”

Aileen playfully responded to Oli’s half-joking teasing.

I chuckled while watching the two of them bicker.

Today, as Oli said, we were preparing food for an outing together.

Of course, Oli didn’t show it.

“Alright… everything is ready. We should probably leave soon.”

“Lucy. Did you pack the picnic blanket?”

“Yes. Food, drinks, fruits… Ah, I need to pack snacks too. Just a moment.”

After leisurely finishing our picnic preparations, we left the house.

Lucy went back inside, saying she had something to pack.

“Wow, the weather is great.”

“Indeed. The weather is getting cooler… It feels good to be alive.”

Oli was the happiest about the clear and cool weather.

Oli was very sensitive to heat, so in the summer, she wandered around roaring like a hungry zombie.

With autumn arriving, her suffering was over,

I waited for Lucy, with the door half-open.

Near the house, the flowers Oli had meticulously cultivated were in full bloom.

And in the center of it all, there was a small grave.

I stared blankly at the grave.

“…What are you doing?”

At the same time, Oli flew onto my shoulder and asked gruffly.

“Huh? Nothing. I was just looking.”

“Sigh… Get rid of that. Why keep something so hideous… I really don’t understand.”

“Hehe… I’m sorry.”

As I apologized with a smile, Oli sighed faintly with a prim expression.

That’s Scarlett’s grave.

Of course, there’s no body inside.

Inside are the ashes of the clothes she wore at the mansion, which were burned.

Should I call it a memorial?

Or perhaps, evidence of lingering feelings that couldn’t be let go of.

It’s unfortunate that this is the only trace of Scarlett left.

Creak-

“Did you wait long? I’m sorry. Come on, let’s go quickly.”

As I was lost in a strange mood looking at her grave,

Lucy came out with a basket, her face bright.

She glanced at my face for a moment, then her gaze shifted to the grave.

However, Lucy just smiled brighter.

“…The flowers have grown a lot. They’re pretty.”

“Of course, you brat. Who do you think grew them?”

“It would be even better if your mouth was pretty too.”

At Lucy’s mischievous joke, I burst into laughter.

“While we’re going on an outing, how about stopping by the village? I want to buy some clothes.”

“Hmm… That’s fine… but do you have money?”

“Of course. Look at this.”

When I asked, Aileen smiled and pulled out a thick pouch.

I widened my eyes at the unexpected appearance.

“Where did you get that…?”

“A little bit I snuck from the mansion, and a little bit I received as ‘tribute.'”

“Tribute?”

The wording sounds a bit strange.

Did she start some kind of cult activity when she went to the village looking for work before?

“A cult…?”

“No, no. It’s not like that. It’s just the blood and sweat of the young men who became Cecil’s believers.”

“No, that’s even weirder…”

I felt like something was wrong.

I frowned slightly and tilted my head.

Then Lucy giggled and hugged me tightly.

“Unnie. You know there are hunters who visit the forest sometimes, right?”

“Yeah… They look really scary, so I just stayed inside… Why?”

“That hunter saw you somehow. He was really surprised. He thought only the three of us lived in the forest.”

A sense of foreboding began to creep in.

“But why are they giving tribute…?”

“After that day, rumors spread throughout the village. They say a beautiful spirit lives in Kentucky Forest.”

“Spirit… Hmm… Sigh…”

I knew it.

I sighed with a dumbfounded expression at the absurd situation.

So that’s why they were giving tribute?

At the same time, I felt embarrassed. My face started to heat up.

“…I don’t want to go to the village.”

“Aww, why? The villagers there will like it too. ‘Oh my! A spirit has appeared in our village!'”

“Aileen…!”

At her sly teasing, I yelled back with a red face.

Aileen seemed to find my reaction quite amusing.

In any case, we all laughed and started walking.

There were many events, but that’s why the commotion was even more meaningful.

There is still much to do and much to learn.

When I was at the mansion, I had a much better environment and ate better food,

But I am much happier now.

I hugged Lucy’s arm tightly and smiled softly.

Even though this happiness was gained by stepping on Scarlett’s corpse.

Don’t I have the right to be happy?

Thinking so.

I felt the scent of fallen leaves and the gentle breeze.

****

“Hoo..”

The wind blew.

Rough and messy,

But Euston was used to this wind.

“…Knight Commander.”

“You’re here?”

At the voice from behind, Euston turned his head.

And there stood John, holding a single flower with a dark expression.

Wisps of cigarette smoke rose above the trees.

On the sunlit ground stood a neatly maintained grave.

John looked at Euston’s expression.

“You said you were going to quit smoking…”

“Ah, sorry. Was the smoke bothering you?”

“No. It’s not that. It’s just… *cough*. You look very tired.”

“I was harassed by the kingdom folks again today. Please understand.”

“Were you called in for interrogation again?”

“Yes. Well, this is the end of it today…”

“That’s why you called me here.”

Hoo. Euston exhaled smoke again, which disappeared into the sky.

He stared blankly at the grave.

It was Scarlett’s grave.

On top of it, there was a single flower.

A lily, still fresh.

“…It’s been 4 months already.”

“Time flies. When I found Young Lady’s body then…”

Euston, who was about to continue, lowered his head slightly.

He choked up thinking about that day.

He sighed faintly and extinguished the smoked cigarette with his hand.

“Knight Commander.”

“Why.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“What, kid? Just say it if you have something to say.”

“Our way of life. The kingdom can no longer… function, can it?”

“..You knew that all along. That the kingdom was corrupt.”

Euston said with a sigh.

After the kingdom’s mages died and the castle was partially destroyed,

Miraculously, the kingdom began to crumble.

After Scarlett died, the means to find the sacrifice disappeared.

The despairing king went half-mad,

And a month after her death, he took his own life.

And his only son succeeded the throne.

However, because the succession was so sudden,

The treacherous nobles were eager to exploit him.

Therefore, the kingdom is gradually losing everything like a leaky bucket.

Even now.

And in the future.

The mansion was completely destroyed, and the prisoners were all executed or scattered.

Only the head chef and the knights remained.

The days of seeing the kingdom’s proud flag will become fewer and fewer.

“Kid, and… what’s this about looking for a way to live without any flair? Not even seeking revenge…”

“Revenge… you say.”

John smiled wryly at his words.

When Carlson appeared in the kingdom, Euston fought with his life on the line.

But ironically, it was Scarlett who lost her life,

And he fell into despair for a while, unable to carry on with his daily life.

“What’s the point now, I wonder.”

“I know, kid. I was just saying.”

Euston waved his hand with a smile at John’s heavy words.

He seemed to have a lot on his mind.

“Hoo… Young Lady might have been destined to end up like this.”

Euston finally spoke calmly.

He had personally made Scarlett’s grave.

In a place more beautiful and sunny than any other.

“It’s quite surprising that Knight Commander would say something like that.”

“Don’t call me Knight Commander anymore. The knights’ order has been disbanded, hasn’t it?”

“Once a Commander, always a Commander. Didn’t you say that, Knight Commander?”

“You brat… You’re only loyal to things like this.”

Euston laughed heartily, put the cigarette butt in his pocket, and stood up.

“Ootcha… Let’s go eat.”

“Where are you going?”

“Blue Sunshine. You know that noodle shop with the amazing dark beer? I heard Henry got a job there recently.”

“Drinking in the middle of the day?”

“You always drink in the middle of the day. Let’s go.”

“Uh… Then, can I bring that Treasurer Young Lady?”

“That person who was recently unemployed? Why. Are you interested?”

“A little..? I find her drunken cursing incredibly sexy…”

“Ugh… Such a taste… Sure. Bring her. Let’s drink our hearts out for the first time in a while.”

Euston, laughing heartily, nodded.

He patted John on the shoulder and said softly, “Good luck.”

At first, it hurt as if my heart was being torn apart.

A sensation like being carved out with a sharp object.

Even now, my chest aches when I think of Scarlett,

But at least, I no longer feel any desire for revenge.

‘Am I disqualified as a knight?’

I don’t know about that.

However, Scarlett burned her own life to eliminate Carlson, who was a threat.

Perhaps she also wished for things to end this way.

Euston thought.

“You buy the drinks today.”

“Huh? You lost the bet last time. You should be buying the drinks this time…”

“I’ll put in a good word for you with that Young Lady. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Euston, playfully slinging an arm around John’s neck, laughed heartily.

The darkness in his face seemed to have lessened slightly.

He can’t forget Scarlett, but he can remember her and grieve.

It’s okay if the scars ache a little.

After all, she paid for her sins, no matter what happened.

Euston knew the weight of that sin very well,

And so the two of them headed to the bar, laughing cheerfully.