episode_0129

What is this? The girls I hadn’t seen in a really long time opened the door to the restaurant and came in, but as soon as they saw my face, they sat down and cried loudly.

“Ah… ah… am I dreaming..?”

“I…I guess I’ve gone crazy…”

Cale, the princess who will become the next emperor, and Fria, the only daughter of the Gold Rush merchant, the largest merchant in the empire.

Obviously… nothing has changed from the last time I saw them. They seemed like something.. had been very broken.

“…It’s been a while. Kale, Priah.”

“Eh…Eriel. You… now…”

“Are you smiling? Are you…?”

He looks at Ariel, who is shedding tears but smiling bitterly, with an expression of disbelief.

…Ariel, who was said to have been ruined after I left, must have been much more serious than Cale and Fria.

To be honest, as soon as they kicked in the door, my body flinched and I was a little out of breath…

Still, I didn’t want to see people whose faces I knew wailing in such pain.

“Hello…hello. It’s been a while…?”

“You…you…!”

“This is ridiculous… This is ridiculous…”

“Guys. Venice is right. Although it has become much smaller and cuter than before, it is certain. I can guarantee it.”

When I greeted them, their eyes widened, and as Ariel said a word, their eyes began to tremble like crazy.

“Really… Are you really my younger brother…?”

“Yes…yes. That’s right.”

“Huh…Huh… This…this is really ridiculous…”

The sight of them still shaking and shedding tears looked so pitiful and pitiful.

I approached the women who were sitting down and held their trembling hands.

“….It’s not your fault. So… don’t cry. Got it?”

“Do….younger brother….”

“Wha….!”

They sobbed, holding my hand tightly as if it were a cord extended by the savior.

I looked back to see if the ‘girls’, including Ariel, had seen my actions and were making a fuss.

“”……..””

Contrary to my expectations, they didn’t say or do anything.

Rather, their eyes were red and their expressions seemed as if they were looking at something from the past.

Because they looked too weak and pitiful to be considered women who would rule the empire and lead the entire empire in the not-too-distant future.

I patted their backs without saying a word and offered words of comfort.

***

After a while, as soon as they calmed down, Mrs. Frost, who had hurried into the room instead of taking care of business again, cried and said she was sorry, so she replied that it was okay again.

And, since the ties from the past still remained, I went down to the Frost territory where those people would be.

“…Are you really, really right…?”

“Yes. Sister… it’s me.”

“Black…ugh…Venice…”

I also said hello to the bakery woman who was doing business with empty eyes and a weak voice, not the lively woman I last saw.

“Since the day you… left behind that small coin and note… I haven’t been able to rest even for a moment. ”

“I’m sorry. Sister… the situation was not so good at that time.”

“Ugh… Ugh… Isn’t this a dream…? Really…?”

“Yes. So… please don’t hate Frost people too much. I’m… fine.”

Her eyes, which had been empty, returned with a faint sparkle as soon as I said hello, and she, who had been crying loudly, gave me a tight hug with a small smile and let me go.

“Venice… is that right?”

“I can’t believe this….sigh.”

“The kids… are they okay?”

“It’s really… sigh, yes. The fact that you left… I just told the kids that I got a job in a good place.”

“Then… I’m glad. In the future… please take care of your children.”

After that, I headed to the newly opened orphanage in the Frost Estate and said hello to Mr. Leni and Mr. Berry, who welcomed me with tears in their eyes, covering their mouths with both hands.

They say that after I left, they learned the truth, became disillusioned with the Frost family, and left on their own.

He also gave words of comfort to the women, who said that they lived each day wearing a mask of sadness, telling white lies to their children.

“The kids… they’re doing well. I hope you continue to grow well..”

“…Captain. In your second life… did you even take care of the children…?”

“Yes… Aren’t the kids so cute?”

“Oh my….! Seris, I was once again moved by the leader’s infinite generosity…!”

“You… don’t change no matter what the situation is.”

The girls, who had been silently watching my movements as if a little touched, started complimenting me one by one, and I felt embarrassed without realizing it.

“…So, have we all met now, Venice?”

“Yes… I think so. Now… what should I do?”

“What are you doing? I have to go back to my house. You haven’t received the ‘treat’ your father talked about yet, have you?”

aha…! Come to think of it, the meal the Northern Grand Duke had mentioned had not yet been served.

Now that I think about it… I feel like I’m a little hungry, no, I’m a lot hungry…

Gurgling-!

“……..! Well, this, that means…!”

“Puhuh… let’s go.”

“It’s okay, Captain!”

“Cute.”

“Hehe…”

So we tried to go back to Frost Fortress. But… wouldn’t it be a little sad to end the meeting like this?

“…….”

“Venice. What’s wrong?”

I stopped walking and stopped, and the girls looked at me quizzically.

“That’s… Ariel. Can I ask you a favor?”

“A favor?! Just say anything! Anything will come true!!”

“This is crazy…! A favor from Venice!”

“Damn… I shouldn’t be like this, but I’m jealous!”

“…I’m jealous.”

No, it’s not that big of a deal, but I’m not sure why I’m overreacting so much.

“So, what is your request!!”

Unlike her usual cold self, Ariel’s eyes seemed to be on fire with heightened emotions.

“Well, I was just wondering if they could eat together too…”

I just… I thought it would be a bit disappointing to end our meeting with them after such a short meeting.

Still, I made this suggestion because I thought that if we had a good meal and talked to each other, the emotions and sadness that had built up so far would be relieved a little more.

“Ah…I can’t help it if it doesn’t work out…but…”

“How could it not be possible?! Yes please!!”

“Are you sure…?”

“Isn’t that obvious, Captain! If it’s the leader’s request, I’ll offer you Seris, even the heart of a dragon!”

“Mmmmm. Of course it should be.”

“Please… This is really not an easy sight to see.”

Even if I said no, I wouldn’t have told Ariel what to do, but fortunately, Ariel willingly accepted.

“…me? Is this really okay?”

When I made the suggestion, the baker seemed really ecstatic and accepted it.

“Us…? My body has already come out, will it be okay..”

“I am very grateful for the offer, but… we have children, so it would be a bit difficult to go alone…”

“It’s okay. Just bring them all.”

Barry and Lennie seemed to refuse because they were worried about the children, but Ariel gave permission even for the children.

-Wow…! This is Frost Fortress!

-It’s so cool! It’s so big!!

-oh my god!

-Wow, I never thought it would be this big… It’s much bigger than it looks from the outside.

-…I didn’t know I’d come back.

In the end, we all entered Frost Castle together, and even though everyone took one seat, we sat around and talked in the restaurant, which still had a lot of space.

“Now. Thank you all for coming. We will present you with the best course meal prepared by our Frost Fortress’s proud chef, so we hope you will be satisfied.”

Clap clap-!

As soon as the Grand Duke of the North finished speaking, which drew everyone’s attention, the head maid with a familiar face clapped her hands twice. Immediately after, the door to the large dining room opened and numerous maids came to the huge table one by one, each holding a large plate in their hand. I started putting it down.

“Adults have a drink each. Kids, at least have a drink.”

Alcohol and beverages began to be placed along with the delicious food in front of everyone, but no one took the first step and stayed still.

And everyone’s looking at someone… Wait, it’s me?

“…Huh? Why is everyone calling me…”

“Venice. Today… you are the main character.”

Could it be…. Are you saying that I should at least say a toast? I’m really not good at that…

Still… I hated making so many people wait. I just need to close my eyes and do it!

“For everyone’s happy future!”

“”For!!!””

As soon as I finished speaking, a loud shout echoed throughout the restaurant. What’s surprising is that even the children followed suit.

“So… the five of you are planning to get married at the same time?”

“…I’m not sure yet. Shouldn’t that be the case? I don’t think these women will let go.”

“Se, vice-captain Seris… Are you in this group too…?”

“Yes. That’s how it happened.”

“Kyaha-! This really kills me!”

Soon the inside of the restaurant became noisy, and everyone was happily talking and smiling.

“Venice. Take a bite of this. Ah~?”

“Ah, ah…”

“And I should have a drink too. Get it wet!”

Gulp-gulp.

I took a bite of the meat that Royu handed me and took a sip of alcohol for the first time in a long time.

“Ugh, ugh… write…”

“Hehe… I guess I’m still not good at drinking here.”

And as I tried to answer the countless questions and stories that came my way, and over a drink or two, I became a little dizzy.

“Huh…hehe…I’m dizzy…”

In the end, I think I got drunk. Actually, I don’t even remember…

“Oh my. Are you drunk?”

“….is it an opportunity!”

“Today is….!”

“How dare you. This is my space.”

bean.

I fell asleep on my desk as if I had fainted, listening to a rumbling sound as if I was hearing something from outside under the water.