episode_0123

The situation ended with the mansion’s butler breaking in.

That’s exactly what it was.

“Count, your wife is waiting for you.”

It would be correct to say that the story ended with Henry shrinking in surprise at the words.

At that scene, Deltan thought something like, ‘He’s still being captured.’

Countess Carogos, Henry’s wife who is four years older than him.

She was a very strong woman who, through the foresight of her ancestor Kargos, married Henry when he was 10 years old and trained him.

From what I heard, they said they really disapproved of Henry’s hobby.

“, let’s go! Finish… okay! meal! Butler, have you prepared a meal?!”

“Yes, just go and take a seat.”

“Good! Come on, Count Hebron! Princess Levadeine! Let’s go!”

Henry’s expression widened.

When Agnes looked puzzled at that, Deltan spoke.

“That guy got caught and lives.”

“Aha?”

Agnes finally understood and added another word.

“When I asked him why he liked dining places like that, he said he was afraid he would get scolded if he was left alone with his wife.”

It is a very noticeable sandalwood.

Deltan chuckled and started walking with Agnes.

And at the restaurant they arrived at after passing through the old-fashioned lobby and hallway of the mansion they entered, they were able to meet Countess Cargos.

“It’s been a while since I saw you. Count of Hebron.”

Black hair and brown eyes.

Her skin is a little dark, but she has a solid physique that feels healthy.

And the corners of the eyes rise upward.

A woman who looked more like a knight than someone’s wife greeted her according to etiquette.

Deltan bowed his head.

“Yes, it’s been 4 years.”

“That’s right. I haven’t seen him once since I introduced him to those strange pieces of scrap metal.”

He flinched and Deltan’s shoulders trembled.

‘Is it still like that?’

Countess Cargos was very displeased with Deltan, the inventor of the automobile and the lump of scrap metal that drove Henry crazy.

As a Delta person, it’s unfair, but what can you do?

The human mind is not that simple.

Since Deltan understood that, he didn’t bother to say anything more.

Meanwhile, Countess Cargos’ eyes turned to Agnes.

“It’s my first time seeing you. Nice to meet you, princess.”

The difference in temperature within the words was stark.

The Countess facing Agnes was truly soft, and even Henry had a look of astonishment on his face, as if it was his first time seeing her like that.

While Deltan was trying to suppress the pity that was rising, Agnes answered.

“Hello.”

He smiles and speaks in the same way as usual.

However, the countess facing it had a very satisfied face.

“Good. Ah, that’s a compliment. I really love pretty and cute things.”

The Countess said, hugged Agnes once and then guided her to her seat.

“You said you were doing magic math, right? I prepared it accordingly, but I’m not sure if it will suit my taste.”

“Thank you for your kindness. I feel like I’m full just from the attention you paid to me.”

“Nothing to say.”

Suddenly, a friendly atmosphere emerged.

Deltan briefly made eye contact with Henry, then quietly went to his seat and sat down.

The meal started like that, with the Countess speaking and Agnes answering.

The meal, which started with appetizers, did not change until it reached the main meal, and Delta Inn opened its mouth, thinking that it could not be put off any longer.

Since we didn’t come here to have fun, we started talking about work.

“Henry, you probably received the letter, right?”

“Hmm? ah! I heard you’re entering the East! His Majesty asked me for help!”

“Yes, I want to leave within three days.”

“Where do you plan on going?”

“Place of exile of the Phantom Beast.”

Suddenly, Henry and the Countess froze.

In fact, it was a natural reaction.

Why not? Isn’t this something that would be banned on the continent and not anywhere else?

The burden of risk would be burdensome for Henry, and it would be even more burdensome for the Countess, who had to send him to such a dangerous place alone.

So Deltan added.

“I am the only one entering the place of exile. I’m going to separate my soul from my body and go in, and I want to entrust you with my escort for the time being.”

“Ah… ! If that’s the case… !”

“So, Countess. Don’t stare at me like that.”

“Excuse me.”

Deltan spoke and the Countess shrugged.

“There has been no conflict with other races for the past 5 years. Still, I have some concerns. I guess Kargos has a very bad relationship with other races, right?”

“I’m going in to improve that. After I finish my business, I plan to sign a railroad agreement with them.”

“That damn piece of scrap metal ended up here.”

“Railway!!!”

Henry’s eyes sparkled, and the Countess’s expression distorted.

There was something very funny about the sight of love for all the automated vehicles in the world and anger toward them coming together.

Deltan said with a grin.

“Anyway, let me know and prepare for you.”

“Hmm! I understand! I guess I should send an envoy to the border!”

Henry, who was excited by the word railroad, immediately ordered the butler to do the work.

And by the time the meal was over.

“Oh, would you like to take a look at my child? It’s almost time for us to be together.”

said the countess.

Only then did Deltan remember that they now had a one-year-old son together.

So, looking at Agnes, she also looked interested, so Deltan nodded.

We arrived at an outdoor garden.

It was a refreshing day with cool weather and warm sun, and there was a baby being held in the arms of a maid.

“This is our son! The name is Potter!”

Henry said with an unusually fatherly smile.

At that, Deltan looked at the child who was suddenly delivered into the countess’s arms.

His skin is white, just like Henry’s.

The hair was the Countess’s black, and the buzzy eyes were Henry’s black.

Black hair and black eyes.

Even as a Delta person, it was a color that I was quite familiar with and felt very fond of.

“Isn’t it pretty?”

said the countess.

Deltan nodded, and Agnes just stared at the baby in wonder.

“I’m currently practicing to crawl by myself. He was so curious and strong that I thought he would become a great knight when he grows up.”

Deltan nodded again to the countess’s chatter.

Meanwhile, the Countess recommended Agnes.

“Do you want to touch it?”

“… Yes?”

Agnes rarely showed embarrassment.

Deltan felt surprised by that.

It was natural. I couldn’t help but be surprised that she, who had never been embarrassed unless it was Elina’s business, suddenly showed herself like that.

The Countess, who didn’t know much about Agnes, just thought it was cute and laughed.

“Touch it. Would you like to poke me in the cheek just once? The kid really liked it.”

Deltan just looked at Agnes.

Agnes looked embarrassed, but soon showed hesitation, and only after the Countess encouraged her again did she slowly extend her index finger in a nervous movement.

Afterwards, I placed my index finger on the baby’s cheek so carefully that I didn’t know if I was pressing it or putting it on top.

Then the baby laughed.

“Ah… .”

Agnes let out a small sigh.

His eyes became rabbit eyes and his mouth opened blankly.

“Isn’t it interesting?”

said the countess.

Agnes just nodded absentmindedly.

‘I thought you didn’t like babies.’

Isn’t that what it was?

Deltan looked back on Agnes’ words and actions, but could not find a plausible answer.

Agnes was harassed by the Countess for a long time, showing obvious embarrassment unlike usual as to what was so awkward.

To put it mildly, it was like that.

Even that appearance was so beautiful to the eyes of Deltans.

*

After finishing the meal and tea, Deltan and Agnes went for a walk as promised.

A huge wheat field straight across the fortress.

Even in broad daylight, the scenery, which was shimmering golden light, was now illuminated by the glow of the sunset, and it seemed to be vaguely vague.

Deltan was holding hands with Agnes.

I walked along the road at a slow pace and just looked around in silence.

Then suddenly he opened his mouth.

“I thought babies didn’t like it.”

“Huh?”

Agnes, who had been staring blankly into the distance, looked at Deltan.

Deltan glanced at her and then continued.

“I thought you hated it. baby. But I don’t think that’s the case.”

“Ah… .”

Agnes nodded and then spoke.

“I don’t know.”

“What else do you not know?”

“I thought you hated it, but I don’t think that’s true. But if you say it’s good, it doesn’t mean it’s good either.”

“What on earth do you mean?”

“It was just amazing.”

Agnes clasped her hands.

“How can such a small child grow up? I had a thought.”

“You were that small too.”

“Yeah, but knowing it and feeling it are different.”

Agnes chuckled.

Then I asked a question.

“And you? You don’t like children.”

“It’s okay as long as it’s not my child. Raising… .”

Because I don’t have confidence.

Deltan couldn’t bear to say those words.

This is because my pride prevented me from saying with my own mouth that I was not good at something.

Even apart from that, it was like that.

Delta people do not know the affection they should give as parents.

Deltan, who was an orphan to begin with and ran away even after being adopted, knew of two of the many types of bad parents.

How should I give love?

What should I do for my children?

Deltan felt a headache just thinking about such an idea.

What comes together is anxiety.

If I can’t be a good parent, if I end up creating another child who ends up in the same situation as me.

The kind of anxiety that you can’t help but increase every time you think about your child.

“I think I know what you’re trying to say.”

Agnes, who was quick-witted, smiled and said that.

Deltan kept his mouth shut.

“The Countess said that. There are things you naturally learn when you become a parent. But I also can’t understand that at all.”

“Me too.”

“We are similar.”

Agnes came closer.

When Deltan looked at her like that, a thought occurred to him.

What if, in the scene where she and Agnes are standing together, there was something else caught between their joined hands?

What would it be like if one more tiny life was added?

Even though it was a truly meaningless assumption, Deltans could not easily escape from that thought.

When I think of the concept of family, what comes to mind is the image of the previous Count Carogos.

The small child between the two, who made even the stoic Henry smile reassuringly and turned the Countess de Sene into a kind person. And the scene where the three were together.

Eventually, Deltan replaced himself and Agnes with the scene.

‘… ‘That’s crazy.’

In the end, he said that and looked ahead again.

It was clear that he was crazy.

If you don’t do that, you won’t think that the scenery isn’t that bad.

Deltan walked away with his mouth shut.