Episode 97. Duel (9)

I organized the belongings in the room I had used for three weeks. After packing everything into my bag, the empty room came into view, just like when I first returned. I slung the bag, which was no different from when I arrived, over my shoulder, strapped on the sword that looked as clean as if it had never tasted blood, and left the room. Like this clean room, my identity as a Mountberne was long over.

I left the main building and walked towards the carriage that would take me away. As I looked back at the castle, filled with strange emotions, it was hard to believe that a battle had taken place within its walls; it looked so peaceful. Seeing the estate looking exactly the same as it did a week ago, and considering my carefree departure, it almost felt like nothing had happened.

But there was definitely a big change, and the proof was waiting for me in the middle of the road, her skirt fluttering in the wind. She wore a long-sleeved coat to match the increasingly chilly weather.

“Eddie, you’re out now?”

Marie-nuna greeted me, holding her hat tightly so it wouldn’t blow away in the wind. Instead of words, I replied with a gentle hug. Perhaps because Allen’s injuries hadn’t fully healed, or perhaps because she thought there were no more dangers.

“What are you doing here without a single escort knight, Nuna?”

“I can’t do this with Eddie in front of anyone else but Allen, you know.”

“Still, you have a child to think about, you should be careful…”

“I have the most reliable escort knight here, what’s there to worry about?”

It was certainly hard to find someone stronger than me. Wielding the skills I used in my old age with a young body, the combination was more powerful than I imagined. Franchello and those other losers were no match for me. Allen was the only one who could withstand my sword to some extent. Although Allen’s balance of offense and defense was quite skewed.

Led by Marie-nuna, who clung to my arm as if she regretted something, I naturally turned onto the walking path at the fork in the road. I didn’t have to 맞춰야 to anyone else’s schedule, and I had some time to spare before the promised departure time, so I didn’t bother to stop her. We walked along the walking path filled with red maple leaves, stepping on them with a rustling sound.

“…Aren’t you being too irresponsible?”

“Huh?”

“How important is a father’s presence to a child, and you’re just leaving after getting me pregnant.”

But it couldn’t be helped. I had to go back, and Marie-nuna had to stay here. It was ridiculous for the husband’s younger brother, who had even changed his name to that of another Family as a son-in-law, to take the husband’s place after he died, and it was also ridiculous for a woman with the sole heir of the Count Family to leave the County. We had already talked about it, and Marie-nuna knew it too. So, without saying anything more, I hugged her tightly.

“…Trying to get away with it like this.”

She said that, but she hugged me back. She was just being petulant. If I thought of it as possibly the last time I would see her face, there was no reason not to indulge her. Naturally, she demanded a kiss with those lips, and I lowered my head to meet them.

“I’ll raise him to be a child who isn’t ashamed of the Mountberne name.”

“You can do it. Who’s his father?”

“If the child is to know who his father is, please come back at least once a year.”

Once a year? Considering the time it takes to travel back and forth and the length of stay, it meant investing one month out of the year for Marie-nuna. Thinking about my child and Nuna, I felt like I could do it, but…

“I’ll try.”

I couldn’t make a definite promise. Considering the worst-case scenario, it was best to answer vaguely to a promise I couldn’t keep. Who knew what might happen every year? Even just the things that might happen this winter…

“Not try, you must come.”

Marie-nuna, who seemed dejected by my answer, buried her face in my chest and muttered.

“In ten months, I’ll be producing breast milk.”

Ujil-

Ahem, ahem.

I tried to calm my mind and hide my wavering heart, but I couldn’t hide the fact that I was already shaken. Marie-nuna began to attack me relentlessly.

“It seems like there will be too much breast milk for the baby to eat alone.”

“I’ll definitely come next year.”

Nuna smiled as if she was satisfied. She looked weak, but I didn’t dislike the way she was like a fox, always getting what she wanted in these situations. As we talked and walked, we reached the end of the walking path before I knew it.

“I’ll stop here. Take care on your way, Eddie.”

“Aren’t you coming to the carriage with me?”

“I came this far already prepared to be scolded. I’ll probably get an earful when I get back, but Eddie is worth it?

“…Thank you, Nuna.”

“You’re welcome. Come see my face every year.”

“I will.”

I turned towards the main gate, leaving behind her figure turning away without any regrets. I felt Nuna’s face, which was tearful before she turned around, and the sobbing sounds that gradually entered my ears, but I tried to ignore them. Soon, I passed through the main gate on foot. As I approached the only carriage, as if it was waiting just for me, the coachman and ‘Baron Constantine’, who was currently governing this County on behalf of the Head of the Family, welcomed me.

“There was no need for such a distinguished person to come out this far…”

“I cannot simply stand by as the benefactor of the Family departs.”

A stubborn old man. I didn’t like him very much in the past, but now he even handed me a rather large sum of money, saying it contained his feelings of comfort and gratitude. Baron Constantine’s words, ‘benefactor of the Family’, were his own way of expressing gratitude to me.

The night before yesterday, I had suppressed the terrorist forces that were trying to attack Marie-nuna and her husband. The losers survived, and only Franchello, their leader, died instantly in the process. If the terrorism had succeeded, the Mountberne Family would have been cut off, so it was a great relief for the Family. For Baron Constantine, who lived a loyal and ascetic life without an heir, the Mountberne Count Family was an object to be protected at the cost of his life.

Of course, in the process, Count Henry Mountberne, who had miraculously recovered, blocked the attack of the villain Franchello, who was trying to harm his wife, and lost his life. However, Baron Constantine was already performing all the functions of the Head of the Family, and only a few people had supported Franchello, so there was no administrative vacuum.

…I didn’t know I was going to die too. I just thought that even an adult man would be heavy enough, so I thought I would faithfully play the role of an obstacle. I didn’t know that Franchello would do such a thing because he was blinded by power. Constantine, who valued legitimacy, recalled Henry’s death and made a regretful expression, but quickly erased it from his face and said to me.

“I am ashamed that I have nothing but this syrup to offer.”

“No, this is enough. It’s okay.”

Baron Constantine filled the luggage compartment of the carriage with maple syrup, saying it was a reward. How precious sweet food was, and this amount was enough for the entire County to eat without being 부족하지.

After packing everything I needed, I got into the carriage. Seeing the loyal Baron Constantine’s attitude, I felt like I could trust him to take care of the County. Above all, there was no heir to pass it on to who looked like he was about to die soon, and he was someone I had known for a long time and could trust.

Soon, as I watched the Mountberne castle move away from me, I looked back on what had happened to me in the past few weeks. By chance, out of a whim, I went to pay my respects at my mother’s grave at a different time than usual, and it grew and grew, changing the Head of the Count Family. If the events up to now were existing events that appeared in different forms, this time an event that had never existed before had occurred.

I thought I had forgotten something, and then Vera’s letter, which I had read once and forgotten, came to mind. The letter, delivered through a nun named Dorothy, contained a reply and a few lines of greeting, saying that things were boring because I was gone and nothing had changed. It also said that there was no one to deliver the letter, so she was sending it with the help of the nun, who was heading to Mountberne.

As my thoughts went on and on, I remembered the letter Winnie had sent. I had forgotten about it. This was a big deal? Had Monica found out about it? If Winnie, who always pretended to be calm, said it was a big deal, what kind of event was it? I felt like I was shrinking in fear.

“Eh, whatever. It’ll work out somehow.”

Ah, I want to see Vera and Winnie.

“Winnie, is this all done?”

“Yes, yes. It seems to be done well.”

Winnie began to explain the function to Vera, who was looking at her suspiciously.

“…So, if you do this, Edward will lose his mind?”

“Yes, I’m sure of it.”

The day when their man, Edward, would return was not far off.