episode_0097
by fnovelpiaMaximilian von Adelheid, he remembers.
There was a time in his life that was like a dry desert.
The Adelheid Dukes. A founding family of the Empire, and a renowned magical family that has produced countless of the most outstanding great magicians since the founding of the Empire.
In the Adelheid duchy, Maximilian was born and raised as an only child.
A child who inherited Adelheid’s golden magical talent and knows how to use his brilliant mind. A nobleman with a glimpse of outstanding talent.
These were assessments aimed at Maximilian. And, to Maximilian as a child, they felt so natural.
While bearing the brunt of everyone’s expectations, Maximilian felt bored. It was a bonus that his emotional development was slower than that of other children.
He just kept saying, “It worked when I tried it,” and he didn’t understand the love and empathy for others that welled up deep in his heart.
The society of the nobles is cold and indifferent. Although the authority of the nobles is not as high as in the Middle Ages, they still make up the majority of the upper class in society.
Born as the eldest son of a ducal family at the top of their game, Maximilian’s future was decided before he was even born.
Maximilian was engaged to the daughter of a famous marquis. What she liked, what she looked like, what her hobbies were, what she usually did.
Although he knew nothing about her, Maximilian followed the words of the previous head of the family. He foolishly thought that since he was the only son who would continue the line of the Duke of Adelheid, she would take care of him.
And then, the year he became an adult. That is, the year he graduated from the academy.
Maximilian’s grand wedding took place.
And on that day, Maximilian was able to face his future spouse.
The person who would become his wife, Emma. Emma von Paltz.
It was not that I had never encountered her before at the academy, but that day was the first time I had seen her face to face at close range.
Even while the parish priest of the institution was giving a congratulatory speech, even while kissing Emma and promising to spend the rest of his life with her.
Maximilian felt nothing. He just thought it was like that.
After the wedding, Maximilian immediately assumed the position of head of the household. This was inevitable, as Maximilian was born quite late.
He took care of the estate. He had to take care of what was going on in the palace, and he also had to take care of his duties in the defense force where he had been serving after graduating from the academy.
And, there is also the issue of succession.
Maximilian felt the need for a successor. He had not particularly hoped to have children.
However, it was necessary. That was all.
So, among those who had children out of necessity, when their first child was born into the world.
Emma, who had lived a life of obligation like his, shed tears in front of him for the first time.
So, with an exhausted face, holding the child in her arms. With a blank expression, tears welling up in her eyes. With that face, looking at Maximilian.
Those bright red eyes. He inherited Adelheid’s blood, and his eyes sparkled like Maximilian’s.
“Ah, ah… .”
As if Maximilian’s eyes and Emma’s facial features were mixed together… . Even though she cried so loudly, she soon stopped crying as she looked at Maximilian’s face.
“Your name is Laura. Laura von Adelheid… .”
That was, the feeling Maximilian felt at that time… . It was something so distant that it was indescribable. It was the complete opposite of the bleak feelings he always carried around.
The moment when Maximilian’s trembling hand held my hand, so small and cute, like a fern.
“That name sounds good… .”
Maximilian will probably never forget that memory for the rest of his life.
* * * * *
“Father… . What you did was really the worst… .”
Maximilian von Adelheid doubted his ears. The corners of his mouth and his eyes trembled without mercy.
“La, Laura… .”
As if he had heard something he shouldn’t have. As if he couldn’t believe the situation.
In fact, there were plenty of counterarguments to Cesar’s words, including the scars of war that he claimed had caused irreparable damage.
If you try to have a calm conversation, you might be able to come up with something that will convince Laura.
But, but… .
“Why this father… . With such, eyes… .”
The way Laura looked at him. Those eyes.
Her facial expressions, her tone of voice, and the subtle movements of her facial muscles… .
Bright red eyes that looked just like Maximilian’s. Those beautiful and captivating eyes of Adelheid, those eyes that were as red and dark as blood.
“Seeing, is it… .”
Because those eyes, burning with the spark of resentment, were directed at Maximilian.
Maximilian, on the contrary, was speechless. He was speechless when he saw those eyes that he had never imagined seeing from his precious and beloved daughter.
Maximilian opened his mouth, but no words came out. Laura’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Maximilian with resentment.
“Really, this is the worst… .”
Finally, it ran down her cheek. One stream, two streams, and it finally became rain. Laura’s eyes were filled with dark clouds.
I didn’t know that losing the love I received from others, losing that warm feeling of coming and going, would be so painful.
Maximilian clutched his chest at the sharp pain. It felt like the cold, bitter winter wind was blowing into his chest, like the cold magic he loved to use.
“Kuhehehe… .”
It was at that moment that Maximilian heard a sinister laugh. Maximilian unconsciously raised his head.
“Now, do you understand my feelings even a little? Maximilian von Adelheid.”
The one who told Laura that fact. The worst man who cleverly moved his tongue to sow discord between Laura and Maximilian.
And the man still holding the gun to Laura’s temple. Cesar Lee.
Maximilian’s lips trembled at the sight of Cesar looking at him with a sour look on his face.
“… Me, what the heck.”
It wasn’t a remark made out of anger. It wasn’t a remark made out of a sense of loss.
“What on earth did I do wrong to deserve this?”
Rather, it was closer to a tantrum. Maximilian continued speaking, his red eyes turned to Cesar.
“I… . I did my best. I just worked day and night to do everything I could to achieve the maximum effect with the minimum damage… .”
Days on the battlefield. They were hard for Maximilian too.
“The death of soldiers, was that the problem? Was that the problem? Do you really think I was just playing soldier, treating you like numbers? Not at all… .”
“You have a pierced mouth, how good… .”
“That was, that was war! You idiot!”
Cesar’s mouth closed. His only remaining right eye twitched slightly.
Laura was the same. The Maximilian she saw in her eyes was not the kind, warm, sometimes strict, but wise father who always showed her the way.
“Cesar Lee! You, don’t you really know the weight of the word war?! What more should I have tried!”
Maximilian’s shout echoed through the rooftop. Everyone standing there was looking at Maximilian with surprised eyes.
Maximilian was used to being the center of attention, but this was the first time he had been the center of attention.
“I was a soldier of this empire, and I was a commander of not a few dozen or a few hundred soldiers, but thousands! I wasn’t a nanny who took care of the whining of soldiers or non-commissioned officers like you! I was a commander who had to think only about how to end this war as quickly as possible while minimizing your sacrifices!!”
There was a deep appeal in Maximilian’s eyes. It was an appeal against resentment, against the hatred that had returned to him like a boomerang.
“And I finally did it! Minimizing the casualties of my soldiers, I broke the enemy’s offensive and played a crucial role in ending that damned war! What more could I have done!”
There was a complex emotion in Cesar’s eyes as he looked at Maximilian. Maximilian thought that he was confused by what he said and pressed him even harder.
“Yes! After the Great War, I received all sorts of honors and medals, just as you said! I even had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, and was even honored with a promotion to Major General! Why? Because I was in a position to take responsibility!!”
A position of responsibility. It was not a light word that could be said so easily. Maximilian’s words were full of weight.
“What if that operation had failed?! What if the enemy had used that offensive as a springboard to turn the tide of the battle?! Who do you think would have been responsible for that!”
The horribly cruel weight that rests on the shoulders of those responsible.
“I planned a plan to achieve maximum effect with minimum damage as ordered by the headquarters, and yes! I took responsibility! How can I take care of each and every soldier’s life after the war is over?! I endured everything and took responsibility, but should I also guarantee your old age?! Why don’t you understand that everyone has their own role on the battlefield!”
“… … .”
“What the hell! Try to answer me…!”
“… Hehe.”
Suddenly, Cesar burst into laughter. Everyone, including Maximilian, looked at him with bewildered eyes.
“Chae, you took responsibility…? Hehe, hehehe…! Ew, euhha…! Euhahahahah—!”
Caesar’s mouth opened wide. His hideously distorted face looked up at the sky, and the sky, thick with dark clouds, looked down at his face.
May that madness and resentment continue for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds…
“Heh heh heh… ! Heh heh… . Eh heh heh… . Heh… .”
The laughter that had been bursting out to the point of taking one’s breath away gradually died down, and soon it transformed into a howling scream.
“If you took responsibility… . Because of the decisions you made in a split second, you want me to return everything I lost—!!!”
Status, fame, wealth, power—.
Those things are all unnecessary.
Me, who was torn apart on the battlefield. Me, who died three years ago. Me, who still lingers in the old wounds torn from the past.
Because of your trickery, our hopes were extinguished in the hot flames.
“Give it all back… .”
“… … .”
Maximilian’s mouth was tightly shut. Cesar was so shocked by the sight that he burst out laughing in a ridiculous way.
A hollow laugh. A breathless laugh, that was it.
The past was a puddle. A murky puddle whose depth was unknown.
The inescapable reality of his past helplessness, like being tied up and slowly sinking into a puddle. That was what drove Cesar crazy.
Revenge? That was a fantasy from the start. A very persistent and tiresome fantasy.
“Ha, haha… .”
Cesar continued to laugh heartily. Well, actually, it was funny. Since when did he have a choice?
Choice. It was not by Cesar’s side from the moment he realized it. Cesar did not know it, and when he realized it too late, it was already out of his hands. In the abyss of the past, the only path given to Cesar was to go straight.
The moment he realized it. The moment it occurred to Cesar.
“… Ah.”
Soon, I realized the cruel reality.
What more did I have to lose?
The corners of his lips, which had been torn apart so fiercely, lowered, and his mouth was tightly shut in an evil expression.
“Yeah. There’s no way they can come back. There’s no way you can turn them back.”
So, that’s why….
“The responsibility you were carrying was never there in the first place… .”
Caesar’s teeth clenched as if they would crumble. Because of that hateful look, because of his sorrow that showed sharp thorns more than anything else.
Maximilian simply kept his mouth shut.
For Cesar, it was almost a comedy.
… tragically.
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