Chapter 30 – I Love You (3)

“Congratulations, Luelde!”

“Felicitations! A joyous occasion!”

“Ah, well… thank you. But it’s getting late, so perhaps…”

“What do you mean?! You and Ermina have welcomed a son! We must celebrate!”

“His Majesty himself declared a feast for tomorrow!”

…Is all this truly necessary? Luelde flushed, trying to suppress his embarrassment as he pushed through the throng of well-wishers. Even in the darkness, his white hair shone brightly in the torchlight, making him a beacon in the crowd. The constant congratulations and greetings had delayed him considerably.

“Whew.” The estate, though modest for a count, was extravagant by capital standards. Ermina had initially balked at its opulence.

“…” A sudden anxiety gripped him, a heavy weight settling in his chest. The quiet stillness of the estate felt… unsettling. Just moments ago, he’d felt on top of the world. The human heart, he mused, was a fickle thing.

Still… I should show Cariel his new sibling.

While Ermina labored, Luelde paced anxiously in the cathedral’s waiting room. A booming voice startled him.

“Hahaha! A child after all these years! You’ve still got it, Luelde! A testament to your marital bliss!” A massive man with a scarred face clapped him heartily on the back, each thud like a blow from a bear’s paw. Beside him, Luelde felt almost diminutive.

“Bariel? When did you return?” Luelde asked, adjusting his Golden Dragon Knight uniform.

“Just now!”

“You seem remarkably… clean for someone just off the road.”

“I was on a journey with my wives! Heard the news and thought I’d freshen up for the occasion! Hahaha!”

“…Sounds like you’re the one enjoying marital bliss.”

“I’m just a happily married man!” he declared, unashamed. “Where’s Cariel?”

“…Home.”

“What? Why? His mother’s here, his new sibling’s about to arrive… you’re not going to let him witness this?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“I heard what happened with the prince. He really let him have it, didn’t he?”

“…” The news had traveled fast.

“Bah! Boys will be boys! It’s nothing. Didn’t we all get into scraps when we were young?”

“This… went a bit beyond a ‘scrap’.”

“And the prince, who’s been tormenting Cariel for years, is blameless? That boy’s usually so docile; something must have pushed him to the edge. When was the last time you had a real conversation with him?”

“A few… days ago?”

“About what? For how long? A few minutes, perhaps?”

“Well…” The most recent conversation he could recall…

“…”

“Come on, man! That hesitation speaks volumes! You can’t even remember!”

“Give me a break! I’m trying to focus on Ermina and the baby!”

“If you have to think that hard about it, then you’ve already failed as a father. You clueless knight.”

“…” Bariel was right. The most recent exchange he could remember…

…Thank you for the meal.

Cariel! Your father is speaking! Show some respect!

Now, now, dear. It’s alright. He’s just going through a phase.

…was hardly a meaningful conversation. Even in the carriage earlier, Cariel hadn’t spoken a word. And he, Luelde, had been too preoccupied with his own thoughts, planning to talk to Cariel later, more carefully…

What did I do wrong?

…What?

Was it my fault?

Are you serious right now?

What did Patina say?

….

“Judging by that face, you haven’t exactly been the most communicative father, have you? He’s a teenager, going through a rebellious phase, and you just brushed him off? You rarely see him, so it’s awkward to be affectionate. Am I right?”

“Not entirely…”

“You’re constantly traveling, busy with your duties. When have you had time for him?”

“…”

“Look, I respect you. Everyone knows you’re far more dedicated than I am. You’re a better man, always putting duty first.”

Luelde knew that if he took a single day off, someone, somewhere, would suffer. Someone would be orphaned, a child would lose a parent. Bloodshed was a constant threat. Property damage, crop failures… those could be recovered from. But the loss of life… that was always the hardest to bear.

The Empire might appear stable from the outside, but within, it was still riddled with corruption and unrest. Sometimes, drastic measures were necessary, like cutting away the rot.

“Everyone just wants to live a good life, to find happiness. Why are you and Ermina so obsessed with saving everyone?”

“We…” We have to. If we don’t, who will? If they relaxed their vigilance, even for a moment, tragedy would inevitably follow. A few seconds, a few minutes too late… and the consequences could be devastating. The images haunted him: a lifeless child, blood-soaked, the parents wailing in despair; a young child shaking their unresponsive parents, begging them to wake up…

“You can’t save everyone, you know.”

“…”

“I’m not asking you to slack off, but… you don’t drink, you don’t relax, your only form of stress relief is swinging a sword. And because of you, Cariel constantly hears how he’s not living up to your example. Do you think everyone can be like you? And the penance… you’ve taken it too far. Making him confess every little mistake, punishing him with fasting and prayer, sometimes even denying him sleep for days? He’s a growing boy; that’s too harsh.”

“What? He… he did what?”

“You didn’t know? Ermina’s always been strict about sin and guilt. She’s tough on all of us, but can you imagine how she is with Cariel? She’s not exactly known for her leniency. She’s kind to others, but harsh on herself, and on those closest to her.”

“…”

“I told you before, Ermina doesn’t know how to take it easy. If you’re not there to support her, she’ll just internalize everything.” So much for the perfect couple.

“Why don’t you take some time off? Spend it with your family? No, this isn’t a suggestion. It’s an order.”

Just then, a faint cry echoed through the halls. Both men, their hearing honed by years of training, immediately recognized the sound. Hurried footsteps followed, stumbling slightly.

“Sir Luelde! Congratulations! It’s a boy!”

Bariel clapped his hands. “Go see him! Then bring Cariel. He shouldn’t miss this.”

“Right… right.”

His Imperial Majesty has arrived!

Luelde was swept away in a flurry of activity—checking on Ermina, holding his newborn son, greeting the Emperor, acknowledging the well-wishers.

But as he held his second child, a memory surfaced: holding Cariel for the first time. The previous Pope, dying of illness, had made the arduous journey to the capital just to anoint the newborn Cariel, declaring him a child of prophecy, blessed by the gods. Praise and accolades had followed…

And yet…

“Where’s Cariel? We should send someone…”

“No. I’ll go.” He shook his head, interrupting the Emperor.

“Shall I teleport you?” Melineos offered.

“No. I’ll walk. I need… some time to think.”

“Hurry back. Ermina and the baby need their rest,” Bariel said, carefully handing the swaddled infant to a nurse.

“I’ll be back soon.”

The estate was quiet. The staff had gone home. Only one servant remained on duty, and the guards were stationed outside. An unsettling silence hung in the air.

Luelde paused, spreading his mana to sense any presence within the house.

“Silpia?”

“Oh, Sir Luelde. You’re back.”

He found her in the servants’ quarters. “Why are you still awake?”

“I…”

“Wait, were you on duty tonight? Even with the guards outside, it’s not safe to leave a child alone in the house…”

“…Sir Luelde.” She held out a folded piece of paper. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

“Young Master… asked me to give this to you.”

“…” A chill ran down his spine. A strange sense of foreboding, like he’d experienced this before. What had happened then…? He took the letter with trembling hands.