episode_0007

Cold dawn.

I took one last walk around the mansion, breathing in the refreshing air that is unique to dawn. It wasn’t that I suddenly turned into an emotional person. I just wanted to check for one last time what the place where I was born and raised was like.

The more people take things for granted, the less they realize their value. Ironically, what is familiar is what is most ignorant.

“The preparations for the matriarch’s carriage have been completed.”

Lastly, as we were looking around the garden, the butler announced the end of the walk in a more gloomy voice than usual.

I stretched out my hand toward the flower growing on the crape myrtle tree.

“Deacon.”

“Yes, matriarch.”

“When I was very young, I asked you for a wooden horse because I wanted to give this flower to my younger sister.”

“Yes. Didn’t you say you would bring it to the sick lady?”

“Branches that were out of reach back then are so easy to reach now.”

I turned my head towards the mansion.

“Things that were reachable back then are no longer reachable.”

“Matriarch…”

I decided to live by looking only at what I could reach, not at what I could not reach, but people tend to focus on things they cannot reach.

“Do you know the language of this flower?”

“Unfortunately, this old man has no such knowledge.”

“I see.”

I decided to break a branch of the tree and smell the flowers. In fact, I wasn’t familiar enough with the scent of flowers to be able to distinguish them, and I wasn’t the type of person who liked the scent of flowers. It was just something I did without my knowledge.

“Can I take this flower?”

“Doesn’t anything in this mansion belong to the matriarch?”

“It won’t be like that from the moment you get on the carriage.”

I patted the tearful butler on the shoulder.

“Please take good care of Liesel.”

“… Yes. If that is the matriarch’s order.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as we finished our last conversation, we headed to the front gate of the mansion. Since it was my last step with the person who had helped me since childhood, I wanted to enjoy that time a little more.

However, my adult pace did not allow me to enjoy that time for long. What I could have reached became impossible to reach, and the time I wanted to enjoy became shortened to the point of regret. But the only reward I received was the flower branch in my arms.

I turned my head to get one last look at the mansion.

The place where I was born and raised was like that. That was it, but I couldn’t take my eyes off it. What is the reason? It was something I couldn’t figure out.

“It looks like your mother and Liesel are not planning on coming out until the end.”

I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t sad or disappointed. My eyes kept wandering to the tightly closed door. I felt some kind of emotion, but I couldn’t tell its name.

“Liesel’s bedroom window is open. Have a maid close it. The morning air is cold today.”

“As instructed.”

The fact that her window was open made me delude myself without realizing it. And even though I knew it was just wishful thinking, it made me feel a little better.

Because the picture I got through that vain delusion was so satisfying that it was worth it. That’s how the child tried to get into the carriage at this early morning, with an insignificant picture of him secretly opening the window in the back of his mind.

“Wait a minute!!!”

When I heard a girl’s voice coming from far away, I unconsciously turned my back to check the cause of the sound.

Pointed ears, bronze skin, silver hair, red eyes.

A little maid with all the characteristics of a dark elf was running towards me, whining, carrying a baggage half as big as her own body.

“That child is a maid who will assist the head of the family from now on. Even though I told you to wake up early, haha…”

“… You are very young.”

“There will be no problem doing housework.”

I approached the girl, picked up her luggage and put it on the carriage.

“Thank you.”

“What is your name?”

“My name is Betty, matriarch.”

“Okay. Just don’t call me matriarch from now on.”

“Then what should I call you…”

“Raul. Call me Raoul.”

From the moment I get on this carriage, I will no longer be the head of the family or Bergé.

I felt like I could breathe if I left the place, the castle, and the traces all here.

I was thinking of leaving it all here and leaving.

“Hurry up and get on the carriage. Because there is a long way to go.”

“Yes, yes!”

I realized this just now, but this child was still scared of me.

Considering my notoriety, it was natural, but there was nothing I could do now.

So I picked Betty up first and then loaded my body into the carriage.

“Let’s go.”

Then the driver started driving the carriage without the slightest hesitation.

Leaning my head against the carriage window, I decided to capture the sights of the capital city that I would never see again. Even though it is clear that I will soon forget it.

There was no such grand reason. Just before I die, I thought, ‘I should have seen what the capital looked like at that time one more time.’ I just didn’t want to leave behind any regrets. Of course, I didn’t feel anything special. As always, I just thought it happened that way.

The carriage, which was no different from a hearse, crossed the capital city gate carrying my body, and as soon as it crossed the gate, quite familiar faces were waiting to block the carriage.

“No matter what, there would be no more disloyalty than this for not finding us before leaving. Isn’t it?”

“I feel sad, Raoul. Were you confident that you wouldn’t regret leaving like this?”

“She was trembling and leaning her face against the window, as if she were a young girl who was secretly being sold as a concubine to some rich family.”

As soon as I saw that face, a sigh escaped me.

“Can’t we just hit them and pass by?”

Of course, as soon as the driver saw the emperor, empress, and duke’s daughter, he got off the carriage and bowed down, so he was in no condition to answer my question.

“… That’s annoying.”

I had no choice but to get off the carriage and make eye contact with those faces. It was a face I had seen for a long time to the point where I was sick of it.

Nevertheless, they came out of the wee hours of the morning to see that disgusted face, waiting for me, who was no longer a count.

“Was it worth it to see this face so much that I got sick of it?”

“It may not be worth it for your face, but isn’t it worth it for the time we spent?”

“… It’s a little cringy.”

His Majesty closed his eyes for a moment, smiled, and then patted my shoulder.

“Be healthy and be careful not to catch a cold.”

“… Yes.”

“Friendship between men is nice to see, but could you please look at this too?”

The Empress held my hand tightly.

“Is it okay for the Empress to hold the hand of a stranger like this?”

“It’s between you and me. It’s a much deeper and stronger relationship than that kind of scandal, so who can say anything?”

“You don’t hesitate to say things that could cause misunderstanding.”

The Empress held my hand tightly and cast some kind of spell or magic.

“If someone is bothering you, tell them.”

“Are you planning on killing me?”

“Wouldn’t that be too merciful? I dared to touch the Empress’s friend.”

Then Camilla and Her Majesty, who were watching the scene, started giggling and teasing us.

“Hey, your wife is cheating on you. The technical term for this is Netora…”

“Empress. Isn’t it quite bold to dare to have an affair in front of my eyes?”

Both of them almost had their lower and upper bodies separated by the Empress’s slash, but they did not stop teasing the Empress. The Empress was angry and chased after the two people in a wheelchair, but the two colts managed to escape and taunted the Empress.

“There are no colts with their reins loose.”

What is so enjoyable? I didn’t know, but I also didn’t hate the pony’s play. Even if it was just a little bit, it felt like I went back to the old days.

“Camilla.”

I held Camilla’s wrist as she sat and stood up next to Her Majesty’s wheelchair.

“… Return invoice.”

“I will ask for my fiancee. No, she’s not my fiancee anymore.”

“I’m the bitch who only caused you trouble, so why am I? Considering how rude that bitch was to you, I wouldn’t mind breaking her legs with the shaft of her spear…”

“Because he is the younger sister of the girl who was our friend.”

“… Shameless bastard.”

Then Camilla suddenly hugged me.

I was embarrassed. Although she often used joint techniques, she rarely hugged someone like this.

“… A bastard like no other in the world. You frustrated bastard. A bastard who drains everything, including the liver and gallbladder.”

“It would be an appropriate figure to be a friend of a battle enthusiast.”

“I’ll visit you later.”

“Yes.”

Even though I said goodbye, she didn’t let me go.

“Your body has become much lighter.”

It was a small voice that was not typical of her, who usually causes noise pollution with her thunderous voice.

“I’ve had no appetite lately.”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll do that.”

“Okay. And give my regards to Master.”

“Okay.”

“… I wish they would let go soon.”

“I want to stay like this just a little longer.”

Just like that, the reward of starting early in the morning disappeared.

Because Camilla didn’t let me go until the morning sun came up.

After much effort, the emperor was able to separate Camilla, and she was dragged somewhere by the empress’ hand.

“… You will go to the lord of that small country, at least in name.”

“Yes.”

“There will be a lot of discord and territoriality, but you will do well.”

The emperor was staring at me with eyes filled with unknown emotions.

“And don’t worry, we will take responsibility for those who hurt you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I wonder if I should say that I am glad that she is so tactless… Well, at least it would be unfortunate for the young lady.”

“That sounds incomprehensible. I would like you to solve it and explain it.”

“…… Wow, you frustrating bastard.”

The emperor even sighed and was worried about me.

I had no way of understanding what that meant.