episode_0216

After leaving the castle with Grace, I walked.

Quite warm weather.

We walked hand in hand and talked about various things.

“I’ll make you dinner tonight to cheer you up!”

“I’m not that powerless, but I won’t decline.”

“Actually, I’m doing it because I want to do it for you!”

“Isn’t it difficult for Grace? You have more work than me.”

“I can’t help it! Just helping Ian with his work makes me happy.”

Grace pulled their joined hands closer and pressed them closer.

She smiled happily and rubbed her arm on his shoulder.

“Still, I feel good that you are worried. Thank you.”

“Well, something like that… . If there’s anything I can do for you… .”

Grace looks up while holding his arm.

I stopped speaking and looked down.

She made eye contact and grinned like a devil.

“There is only one thing you can do for me.”

“… … .”

“I’m looking forward to tonight too.”

“… … .”

These days, Grace has two main states.

Work mode and daily mode.

Actually, there is one more thing besides those two.

The mode that switches on only when the two are sleeping… , it’s like that.

Sometimes I’m scared to handle it too.

It’s been like that since our first night together.

Originally, Grace had an honest, bold, and charming personality.

The appearance at night doubles and gives off a sprite-like atmosphere.

When I think about it, even in broad daylight, it sends shivers down my spine and makes my palms itch… .

“Ugh! No, why are you tickling my palm!”

“What do you think? Are you and I now married? We’ve been sharing things worse than this for a long time, right?”

“Well, even so… .”

“And no one is watching? I hope you like it.”

“Hmm… .”

You cowardly stab me with facts.

I can’t refute it.

As we chatted about trivial things, Julianus’ field came into view in the distance.

A golden creature came running towards me along the roadside.

“Eddie!”

Grace shouted happily.

It was a dog that approached with its ears folded down and its tongue hanging out.

A hunting dog with golden fur.

“Ugh, Eddie! long time no see. How have you been?”

Grace knelt down, hugged the dog, and petted it.

The female dog, who was almost as big as Grace, was wagging her tail as if she was about to fly.

This dog, which mainly eats harmful birds and pests, was brought in by Julianus for farming.

The name Eddie is a nickname for his son and current emperor, Edipus.

When Edipus first heard the name of this dog, he was so disgusted.

However, it did not break Julianus’ will.

Edipus did not know what it meant to give a dog a nickname for a son he did not see often.

“How’s your dad?”

Even though Eddie can’t answer, Grace continues to talk to him.

At first, Grace was embarrassed to call the dog Eddie, but not anymore.

“I guess Eddie will guide you.”

Grace took my hand and led me.

Eddie really went a few steps ahead and guided us.

Suddenly, an old man wearing a straw hat appeared working in the field.

“Dad-!”

Grace shouted loudly.

Only then did the old man straighten his bent back.

The previous emperor was Julianus, who currently uses the pseudonym ‘Janus’.

“Oh, it’s Grace!”

“Daddy!”

Grace held my hand and ran to me.

I let go just before I was hugged by Julianus.

“Dad! I missed you!”

“Oh my, if I hug you now, you’ll get dirt on me… .”

“How about asking?”

“Hehe. Yes, yes, my daughter. I missed you a lot too. You must be busy. What’s going on?”

“I came because I missed my dad, do you need a reason?”

Julianus smiled brightly at Grace’s honest charm.

The wrinkles around the eyes were nicely folded.

He belatedly saw me and said hello.

“Ian. Thank you for coming.”

“Ah, yes… . I’m just sorry for not being able to visit you often.”

“That’s it. I know you’re going to be very busy these days. I have to work when I can.”

When he was emperor, he had a tense expression, as if he was always worried somewhere.

But while he was here, his face became much softer.

There is no stiff or formal speaking tone.

“Dad, was you working too?”

“Then. Isn’t it time to harvest potatoes? The potatoes I planted last time grew just right for digging.”

“Wow! Are you going to send it to me again?”

“Hehe. of course. If my daughter wants, I can send her everything she harvests.”

“Then Dad has nothing to eat. Dad, did you eat lunch?”

“Now that I think about it, I missed lunch.”

“You can’t do that! Do you have something to eat at home? I’ll bring it to you. Even if you work, you have to eat, really… .”

Grace slapped Julian’s forearm and grumbled.

Still, he smiled happily and happily.

“Daughter, please bring some beer when you come… .”

“Uu, okay. Eddie, let’s go together!”

Grace left with Eddie to a small tree house in the distance.

At once, only me and Julianus remained.

“… … .”

It is awkward.

I find him difficult.

It is much more difficult now that he is dethroned than when he was emperor.

When Grace is there, we can at least talk, but it’s uncomfortable when we’re alone.

“Hmm. that. Well, you seem to be doing well. Same with Grace.”

And, he feels awkward too.

“Ah, yes… .”

“Okay, um… .”

“… … .”

As I scratched the back of my neck in embarrassment, Julianus looked down at the field.

“You… . Since you’re a superhuman, you probably need to use some strength, right?”

“It’s not at a level that I can brag about anywhere… . Yes.”

“Please help me with the field work.”

“Yes? Ah, yes… . What can I do?”

So, I, the one who killed the former Emperor Julian and the Demon King, started digging up potatoes.

He demonstrated first, holding a pitchfork.

I also picked up the same pitchfork.

I’ve come here a few times to carry goods, but this is my first time touching the crops myself.

“Now, it’s not difficult. Can you see the potato stalks here? Like this below.”

Sigh, he jabbed the pitchfork under the potato stalk.

“Poke it in and lift it. Then, potato eggs come in between these spaces.”

When he lifted the pitchfork as if scooping out dirt, potatoes came up through the sharp bars.

Although it is dark with dirt, the bright ocher-colored skin appears to be well-ripened.

“This is how you harvest, can you do it?”

“Hmm… . It doesn’t look difficult, but I’ll give it a try.”

“Good.”

I stuck the pitchfork under the potato stalk next to me.

It went pretty deep.

‘If you lift it with all your might in this state… .’

The moment you press the handle and lift the potato.

There was an ominous popping sound.

“… … .”

“… Ah.”

The pitchfork was broken.

“Well, I’m sorry… . This thing breaks so easily… . No, no.”

“Phew… .”

He closed his eyes tightly and sighed deeply.

“No, it’s okay. hmm. Yes, it is very powerful. hmm… . There isn’t just one farm tool… .”

He smiled and handed me his pitchfork.

“Okay, try again. Be careful.”

“Yes. yes… .”

This time I adjusted my strength more carefully.

I carefully put it under the stem and scooped it up.

… I definitely used force to scoop it up.

But the pitchfork stuck in the dirt didn’t budge.

‘How carefully do you have to control your strength… .’

Do you think it will break if I give it more?

I was so worried that I gave it a little more strength.

Then the feeling of scooping up dirt and lifting it reached my fingertips.

“Oh!”

The moment I scooped up the pitchfork.

Soil and potatoes rose high.

It’s not just the land I chose.

The surrounding land was also caught up in the force, spitting potatoes and dirt high into the sky.

This time too, I failed to control my strength.

Julianus looked up at the flying dirt and potatoes with wide eyes.

Soon dirt and potatoes were pouring down on him and my head.

Tap, tap.

A small potato hit Julianus on the head.

The fallen potatoes collided with each other and several were scratched or broken.

“… Sorry, sorry.”

“… … .”

He silently shook the dirt off his body.

“I really got it this time.”

To make up for my mistake, I quickly stabbed the bottom of the next potato stem.

The power control is perfect compared to before.

Both stabbing and releasing.

But it felt a bit strange when I stabbed it?

“This time for sure… .”

It was more perfect than before… .

“Ah.”

A potato was stuck on the end of a pitchfork.

“Wow, I’m so real! Aren’t all the potatoes spoiled?”

He couldn’t bear it anymore and became angry.

“… Sorry.”

“I can’t even dig up a single potato properly, what is this?”

“… No shame.”

“I’m really, really upset… . Ugh.”

“… … .”

“The surrounding land is also like this! I spent several months trying to grow this… ! Everything falls down, oh my, it’s so real!”

Grace… miss you… .

“Dad? What’s going on?”

oh.

“Why are you harassing my husband!”

“Ah, no, that’s right, daughter. Listen. Well this guy… .”

father. Since when did you call me this guy?

“This guy?”

Grace looked up with raised eyes.

“… No, it’s Ian. When I told them to dig up potatoes, they turned the whole field over… .”

“My love said that?”

“Yes, yes. I don’t mean to harass you, but I did something wrong, so I’m admonishing you… .”

“It may be a bit difficult since it’s my first time. What if I scream like that?”

Grace protested, hugging me and patting me.

“It could be because my love is a bit strong.”

“Well, even so… .”

I didn’t bother to intervene.

Instead, he showed a slightly downcast expression so that only Grace could be seen.

“Oh my! You’re already tired because you have a lot of work to do these days! It’s okay, it’s okay. Yep. You might not be able to do it. Oh my, that was it~”

Grace patted me.

As if to comfort me, he lifted me up on tiptoe and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“… … .”

Julianus clenched his fists and glared, shaking.

“Kuhm… .”

I deliberately avoided eye contact.

I did it on purpose because it makes me feel better to be comforted, but I also wonder if I provoked it for no reason… .

To be honest, I also had a little desire to make fun of Julianus.

Eddie, who returned with Grace, picked up the fallen potatoes and ate them.

“You can give Eddie the scratched one. Right, Dad?”

“Okay… . That will do it.”

In the end, Julian cannot defeat Grace.

He squatted down and gave Eddie the potato that had become broken and ugly because of me.

Eddie excitedly took the dirt-covered potato and ate it.

“Dad, eat some of what I brought too.”

“Yes, yes, I guess so.”

What Grace brought was dry bread, sausage, milk, and beer.

I sat on one side of the field for a while and had a snack.

It might be lunch for Julianus.

“Hmm… . Drinking while looking at my fields is the best.”

“You shouldn’t drink too much, Dad.”

“Hehe. Okay, okay. From what my daughter says, you should eat it in moderation.”

Grace said that and fed me bread or sausage.

“I also have hands… .”

“It was covered in dirt. I will feed you.”

“… … .”

Julianus, who was sitting opposite me, stopped drinking and glared at me.

I looked somewhere else and calmly took what Grace gave me.

At my feet, Eddie picked up a broken potato and ate it.

“Daughter, this father too… .”

“Ugh. Yes!”

Grace obediently fed bread and sausage to her father as well.

It was a peaceful scene.

After eating everything, Grace also participated in the potato harvest.

“I want to try it too!”

“Daughter. You don’t have to do that… .”

“No. As a wife, I can’t stand by while my husband is working hard!”

“… … .”

Grace declared boldly, rolled up her sleeves and grabbed the pitchfork.

As a result, she was more capable than me.

He didn’t stab the potatoes or upset the fields arbitrarily.

“Is it worth doing more than I thought?”

“You’re better than me.”

“Hehe, really? I’m happy if you praise me!”

Instead of digging up potatoes, Grace jumped up and smacked her lips.

Julianus glared at me from a distance, but I pretended not to notice.

As I dug, I quickly got used to controlling my strength.

So I’m digging one line at a time… .

“Aaaak-!”

Grace let out a loud scream.

My body reacted before my head.

I reflexively pulled her with one arm and hid her behind.

At the same time, he held the pitchfork like a spear and aimed it at the surrounding area.

“Huh, huh… .”

“What’s going on?”

“There, bug, bug… .”

“… Bugs?”

My tense nerves quickly calmed down.

I saw the spot where Grace was digging.

A centipede the size of a finger was crawling, wriggling its numerous legs.

“… … .”

As I put it away, Eddie quickly ran over and chewed it up.

“Ugh! Eddie! no! It’s bad for your body! Spit it out!”

Grace was startled.

He tried to make me spit it out, so I stopped him.

“It’s okay. This is a dog that even eats bugs in the fields.”

“Ah, aha… . Now that I think about it, I guess so.”

Grace’s complexion turned blue as she watched Eddie enjoy the centipede.

“In the future… I’m thinking about keeping some distance from Eddie… .”

“Hmm… .”

Eddie will be disappointed.

*

Before dinner time, it was time to head back.

“Daughter. Do you mind if I talk to Ian for a moment before I go?”

“Are you going to scold me again?”

“Uhm. I wonder if this father would do that. Absolutely not.”

“Hmm… . Good!”

Grace told me.

“If dad scolds you, tell me. Got it?”

“I will definitely tell you.”

“… … .”

Grace nodded reassuringly.

She took a leisurely walk around the area with Eddie.

“That… . It’s a joke. Father.”

“Hmm. That’s it. it’s okay. Please sit next to me.”

He sat down on the ground first.

I also sat next to him.

I said I would talk, but he didn’t say anything for a while.

I was just fiddling with the envelope of the letter I had just received from Grace.

A letter with the imperial seal.

Sent by his son, Edipus.

He looked alternately at the envelope and at Eddie and Grace walking in the distance.

Under the dusky evening.

Grace’s clear blonde hair sparkled like starlight in the early hours of the morning.

He and I were silent for quite a while.

Finally he spoke.

“… You look happy. My daughter.”

I had nothing to say in return.

Are you waiting for an answer?

Or is it just choosing what to say next?

He was silent again and then spoke.

“… thanks. For showing me this scenery. I love Grace, and I may have tried to make her happy, but I wonder if I can really make her happy. I wasn’t confident. Because loving someone and making them happy are two different things.”

He nodded slowly.

“You made that happen. Really, I’m grateful.”

“Nothing to say. I also receive a lot from Grace.”

“Cluck. It seemed like it. It’s a good relationship, giving and receiving from each other. A one-sided relationship cannot be healthy.”

Julianus let out a long breath as if relieved.

“I just wanted to say thank you. I don’t think I did it. Just go in now. You shouldn’t be late for dinner.”

“Yes. I will come again next time.”

“Yes. You don’t have to come often.”

“… … .”

“Just kidding, kidding. Can’t you even tell a joke to your son-in-law? I will send you my reply and the potatoes separately later.”

“Yes. Stay healthy.”

“Okay… .”

I left him sitting and got up first.

As I was walking towards Grace, he called from behind.

“Ian.”

He turned around and smiled.

The wrinkles around the eyes were nicely folded.

“I’m glad to see you happy too.”

“… thank you Your father also looks comfortable and happy.”

“Then. If my daughter is that happy, there’s no reason for me not to be happy.”

Emperor and Prophet.

As time went by and they joined hands for the common good, they became a strange relationship: father-in-law and son-in-law.

Weird, but not bad.

Unlike before, we can purely wish each other happiness.

I smiled at her and then walked towards Grace.

When she saw me, she raised her hand and waved.

***

Ian and Grace left, and Julian entered the treehouse alone.

It was a little hot in the house where the stove was lit.

He sat down by the window, taking off his straw hat.

I opened the envelope of a letter from the imperial family.

Luxurious envelopes and letterhead that do not match his current appearance.

[father. This is Edipus.]

He read the letter with sunken eyes.

[I am in good health. It’s a lot of work, but that’s what this job is all about, so it’s not difficult. However, I am sorry that I cannot come to see you because I have had a lot of work to do recently.]

[How is your father doing? Last time you said you were going to plant potatoes, it will be harvest time by the time this letter arrives. I enjoyed the vegetables you gave me last time, but I wonder what the potatoes are like.]

“Hehe… . It may be shabby compared to what you eat there, but eating well… .”

[I’m glad Grace seems to be happy too. Well, my father, who is closer to me, probably knows better than me. My younger sister, who used to be young, is getting married. It’s still amazing these days. What a sweet kid. Although he is a brother who has not done anything particularly good to him, it is surprising that he always calls me brother and treats me so friendly. When I work, I feel like a different person… .]

[I’m so busy that I can’t even go see my family, but paradoxically, I think about my family even more. Now I feel like I know my father’s heart. What does the person holding this position have to handle? How difficult it is to sit here and give love.]

Before dying in front of Edipus.

Julianus said he was sorry for being the father who could not love him.

[I think I can vaguely understand now what kind of weight you have been carrying all this time. Looking back, my father was not a kind and gentle person. Sometimes he treated his children harshly and indifferently – although Grace was an exception. When I was young, I was afraid of my father and even hated him a little. It didn’t bother me later, but it was like that when I was immature.]

[Now I understand that feeling a little bit. You loved us. It’s just that I couldn’t figure out how to love the children who would one day have to pass this position on to me. Human life is very interesting. He sits in a position where he can control everyone, but it is difficult to know and gain even the hearts of blood relatives. You apologized then, but there’s no need to. This may be a consequential statement, but I think I got to this position because I was loved by you. So don’t worry, I hope you’ll be happy there in peace.]

“… … .”

[and… .]

As if he hesitated to write, the ink smudged darkly.

[i love you. father.]

“… … .”

[I will definitely see you next time. And please don’t talk about marriage for a while. I have received several offers for contract marriage, but I am not in the mood to get married right now. Then, this concludes the letter.]

“Ugh… .”

Julianus sent down a letter.

My eyes were hot and I rubbed them with my hands.

“It’s a habit because I’m old… .”

After wiping away the tears, I looked out the window for a moment.

Far away.

Under the dusky evening sky, two shadows walked as one.

Grace and Ian.

Julianus watched them until they disappeared, then took out stationery and a pen.

Eddie took a seat at his feet.

Square, square.

Write a reply.

The pen nib walked across the paper.

***

“You were cool earlier.”

Grace walking next to me whispered.

“Are you sure?”

“When the centipede came out.”

“Hmm. Something new.”

“Hee hee. I also like shameless things.”

Grace briefly kissed the back of my hand.

“Let’s come together next time. We.”

“That’s right.”

She squeezed my hand tighter.

“I’m happy. It is a much more satisfying and happy married life than the life I expected.”

“Then I’m glad… .”

“Isn’t it because I have too many wives…? .”

“… … .”

“Just kidding, kidding. I’m really happy. Sometimes I wonder if I could be happier than this. From the time when I was almost assassinated until now. I have so many things to be grateful to you for. I love that kind of person, and I am loved by that kind of person. It’s impossible not to be happy, right?”

“Hmm… . Well, I’m grateful to have received so much.”

“I’m really glad I could give it to you.”

She stopped walking and blocked my path.

Naturally, he wraps his arms around his neck and stands on tiptoe.

I also hugged her waist.

The kiss continued for a long time.

“I love you, you.”

“I love you too. Grace.”

Grace stood next to me again.

Under the dusky evening sky.

went back home

Even though I walked in silence, I just felt comfortable.