episode_0519

“It looks like it’s slowly coming to an end.”

The head deacon, who noticed that the number of documents filling Benedick’s desk had decreased significantly, spoke with a smile, but Benedick’s expression showed no signs of calming down.

The chief deacon, who saw Benedick’s mouth stiffer than any enemy walking around the battlefield, realized what he was worried about.

“Are you worried about the lady?”

“…Okay.”

Information given by Caria’s subordinate who visited the Aln family not long ago. An attack on Soul Academy by followers of the Void.

When Benedick heard the whole story, he abandoned everything he had planned to do and tried to run to the academy, but when he belatedly heard that everything was over, he collapsed into a chair as if collapsing.

“Didn’t the person who told us the story also say that? Not only is the young lady in good health, but there are no casualties at the academy. It is said that the Sword Saint and the Saint have resolved everything.”

“I know. This news came from the guy that Caria is working under, so it can’t be wrong.”

Benedick, who had experienced first-hand how vicious a person named Caria was in her field, did not doubt her abilities.

I’m sure Lucy is healthy according to the news from her subordinate.

“But I don’t think it’s right to say that the Saint and the Sword Saint solved everything.”

Almost a year had passed since that day, but Benedick still remembered the scene where Lucy performed a miracle.

The divinity of the Lord dwells in her tiny body. The sun rose above the mace she was holding. All the darkness beneath the cave recedes. The scene at that time, when even the evil spirit of fire could not withstand it and was trapped in a seal, was not something that could be told in a simple adventure story.

It was a myth, a story of heroism, and a miracle that would take a place in the Bible.

Lucy was the one whom the Lord Himself entrusted with such a task. But could Lucy have anything to do with this?

That’s nonsense. Lucy is definitely involved in this matter.

Considering that the saintess did not show up during the fight against the evil spirit of fire, there is a high possibility that Lucy took the lead in this incident, just as she took me with her last time.

“But our cute, fragile, kind, pretty, jewel-like daughter didn’t even look for this father!”

“….Yes?”

“Deacon Chief. What do you think is the problem? Why didn’t Lucy even discuss it with me? Have I shown something unreliable to Lucy?”

If Lucy was the one who led the fight against the Void Followers, then it was our daughter who brought in the Sword Saint.

So does that mean our cute Lucy thinks the Sword Saint is stronger and more trustworthy than me!?

It’s true that I’ve neglected my training for quite a long time, but even so, I don’t think I’ll be defeated by the swordsman just now?!

“…I think this situation is causing distrust.”

“Indeed. Is it a problem to show too much love for your daughter? But it can’t be helped. When you look at our Lucy, she is so cute and adorable that your mouth melts. How can you not be a fool!”

“I said this as a joke, so please don’t take it too seriously. You have long since resigned yourself to seeing the matriarch like this.”

“…Isn’t that more serious?”

Benedick, who was hurt by the deacon’s calm words, slumped his shoulders, but regardless, the deacon continued to say what he wanted to say.

“Rather, it may be that the head of the family has been so busy lately that he could not bear to ask for help.”

“Because I’m busy?”

“Yes. Haven’t you had such a hectic time since the beginning of the year that you’ve spent less time at the mansion?”

Since the start of this year, Benedick has been busy with problems within the Arn family.

The process of mending the rift in the family that arose when he got married while ignoring the family’s opinion was just as difficult.

Elders who still show discomfort can be cajoled or, in some cases, used force to suppress them.

Refreshing the ledgers of the estate where various corruptions are rampant due to lack of management.

Creating discipline.

Planning a link between families.

In the meantime, he physically smashes the heads of crazy people who want to strengthen the family relationship by marrying Lucy.

In addition, Benedick, who did everything he could to restore the family that had been cut off for decades to its original state, is not joking, and has continued to force himself to the point where he really has to sleep for an hour a month.

After all, Benedick, who said he couldn’t live without hearing Lucy’s voice every day, would have found it difficult to make time to contact Lucy once a week.

“As you are a young lady who knows the head of the household on a daily basis, you must have known what a difficult time the head of the household is going through right now. So, out of consideration for the head of the family, he probably didn’t share his thoughts.”

“My wonderful daughter was worried about me?”

“If it were a recent girl, she would have paid attention even if she didn’t say anything.”

The head deacon thought that if Lucy really knew about the plans of the followers of the Void, this explanation would be more likely. I don’t understand why this assumption was made.

“Lucy. My good daughter. Because I’m worried about this ugly father!”

I wonder if my emotional level has been lowered because I have been practicing asceticism that even the word ‘overwork’ cannot describe. Benedick shed tears and then began to sob.

Seeing this, the head deacon realized that today’s work was not going to end, and with a sigh he went outside the door and greeted the person approaching the office.

“Ah. Deacon!”

“What’s going on?”

“I have a letter to give to the head of the family.”

“The head of the family does not have time to check this right now. For now… just for a moment. Is this the seal of the royal family?”

“Yes. Yes.”

Thanks to the matriarch who has become very sensitive, there is no sign of the workload decreasing, but I never thought the royal family would add more work.

I really appreciate these people. It’s tempting to show loyalty by swinging a sword.

The deacon, who had been busy accompanying Benedick’s forced march, accepted the letter with a frown and returned to the office again.

Benedick, who seemed to have calmed down a bit after crying, was wiping his eyes with a handkerchief smaller than his fingers. He cleared his throat when he saw the letter in the deacon’s hand.

“What is that?”

“This is a letter sent from the royal family to the head of the family. Please check.”

“In the royal family?”

Benedick received the letter with an indescribably ominous feeling and looked at the contents written in it with swollen eyes.

The letter, written in the archaic language unique to the royal palace, was of very simple content, except for various rhetoric.

We are grateful to Lucy Alln, who played a key role in resolving the problems that arose at the Academy.

The palace will compensate you for this later, so please let us know if you have any wishes.

However, the story about the new criminal who led this incident is separate from this. I would like to discuss this, so I would be grateful if you could let me know a possible date.

“Hmm.”

Benedick hadn’t heard anything from Lucy, but instead of feeling embarrassed, he lifted his lips as if everything had gone well.

“What is written?”

“It looks like our Lucy has been rude to the first queen.”

“…Yes?”

Although only polite words are written in the letter, considering Lucy’s usual attitude toward others, it is clear what happened.

Didn’t the second queen, with whom she had a conversation to hear her apology not long ago, call her an old queen when she first saw her?

Lucy must have committed a similar or even worse act of disrespect.

“Right now, I can’t say anything because you have made a contribution, but I’m sure you’re looking at it unfavorably.”

Benedick, who recalled the very embarrassing experience of Lucy’s verbal abuse against the king and first queen when she was young, stood up with a lively laugh.

“Deacon.”

“Yes. The head of the family.”

“I think I have handled most of the urgent matters.”

“I think so too. The remaining things can be resolved slowly without any problems.”

“Now, it is difficult for me to take care of all the work that the collateral relatives who will come to work at the main house need to do. Let’s leave this document as is.”

“You’re saying you’ll do it in your spare time.”

“Isn’t this a great plan?”

“I think this is an exciting decision worthy of a count who protects the frontier.”

The two people, who had lost half their brains due to overwork, looked at each other and laughed.

“Go to Soul Academy.”

“Am I going with you?”

“Okay. Let Pocell take care of the rest. He’s a knight commander, and I really didn’t want to see him taking his hands off paperwork and being polite.”

“It’s not that Lord Porcell didn’t do the paperwork, but I agree. Anyway, it’s not my job.”

The plan of the two, who had a bloody smile like when they ran rampant together on the battlefield in the past, was shattered by the appearance of the head maid.

However, it was only the head deacon who was caught by the strong hands of the head maid and dragged to work.

Benedick escaped from the mansion and visited the Soul Academy, despite feeling guilty due to the head maid’s nagging question about whether it was sense for someone who was supposed to be an example to be setting an example to have fun.

Under the pretense of discussing things with Lucy, he talked to her and was healed of his past hardships, while at the same time expressing his gratitude and words of praise to his wonderful daughter.

Arriving at Academy Street, Benedick told himself several times that he should refrain from attacking his father as soon as he met him in order to protect his father’s prestige, but his self-suggestion was meaningless.

“Stupid Papa?”

The moment I encountered Lucy wearing new everyday clothes at Caria’s hideout. Because Benedick’s huge body collapsed along with his happy face.