Chapter 218 – Longing

“First… allow me to apologize for my numerous past acts of disrespect.”

As he said this, Daryl bowed his head. Rather than resolute, his expression showed signs of tension.

He’d probably heard that I’m the Otherworld Ambassador and treated as King Melvin’s direct retainer…

“Um. Why don’t we sit down and talk first?”

If I didn’t say something like that, the conversation didn’t seem like it would progress.

Since he was quite different from my previous impression of Daryl, before even considering whether to forgive him or not, I needed to hear what had happened and how he’d ended up like this to make any judgment about the current Daryl.

As for what Daryl had done… well, it was unpleasant, but that was about it. If he had the will to apologize, there was no reason not to forgive him.

After sitting facing Daryl, a servant brought tea. While tilting my teacup, I waited for the servant to leave before asking.

“…You’ve changed quite a bit. What kind of life have you been living since I left here?”

Father had said he would reeducate him, but I hadn’t heard the specific details.

“Father… Father said I should first learn about the lives of the people in our territory. Until winter came, I helped with land clearing and farm work.”

I could still see he was forcing himself regarding his speech patterns. Well, that might be a minor issue. But land clearing, of all things.

“Cutting down trees, digging up roots?”

“I helped with thinner trees. Cutting felled trees into smaller pieces and carrying them, then making them into firewood. After that, removing stones from land to be made into fields, tilling, scattering seed rice, pulling weeds, exterminating insects… basically everything until harvest. …I don’t think I was much help though.”

…I see. No wonder he lost weight.

“It was hard work… but they let me eat bread baked with the harvested wheat. That was delicious.”

Daryl smiled proudly, happily. For Daryl… farm work might have been more enjoyable than expected.

Certainly… if he’s to become the Count of this territory, he should probably know about the lives of the people.

“But… that…”

Daryl seemed to have difficulty speaking, his gaze wandering as he hesitated.

“…What is it?”

When I urged him to continue, Daryl still seemed uncertain, but eventually spoke as if he’d made up his mind.

“I… had something I wanted to say to you, Theodore.”

Daryl took a deep breath and spoke. Traces of his former self overlapped with him now. With a somewhat desperate appearance, his true face was showing, not that of a noble.

“Since long ago, I’ve always been protected by my brother. Since other people listen to what my brother says too, I think I got carried away with that.”

That’s right. Daryl used to follow behind Byron. That was the impression I had. When they did something to me, Byron was the main instigator and Daryl was the follower. He often went along with Byron.

“But you… even when my brother and I did various things to you, you somehow didn’t seem to take us seriously, which was a bit different from how you were with others. That… how should I put it?”

Daryl chose his words carefully.

“That made me… envious, I guess… I—might have wanted strength like yours.”

“That is…”

Strength like mine?

Was that referring to the current me, or the old me who couldn’t do anything…?

…The old me hated my own powerlessness. That’s why I read magic-related books in the study, hoping to be able to use magic and leave home someday.

That was because of Mother and Grace. Ah… yes, indeed.

Kathryn, Byron, and Daryl. They might have been reasons that motivated me to learn magic, but they probably weren’t the fundamental reason.

No matter what my relationship with those three had been, I would have still learned magic—hoped to gain greater power someday, and left home.

“You’re overestimating me. I was just—completely preoccupied with my own affairs.”

No matter how Daryl perceived me, it wasn’t that I wasn’t taking him seriously—I just didn’t have the capacity to do so.

“But you’re producing results now, aren’t you? Even when Father told me you’re working as His Majesty’s direct retainer, I wasn’t that surprised. I thought, of course you would. When you became able to use magic and left home, I hated myself for being someone who couldn’t do anything without my brother. So… I think that’s why I was able to work hard at farm work and such.”

“I see.”

“Yeah.”

Daryl laughed self-deprecatingly.

“Well—I understand now.”

“Ah, no. That’s not what I meant to talk about. I went off on a tangent, but the reason I asked Father to let me meet you was different.”

Daryl shook his head.

“Huh?”

“It’s… about Mother.”

…Ah. That’s what it is. Even without him elaborating, I understand well enough now.

“You saved Mother. So I absolutely wanted to thank you for that.”

Nodding at his words, I extended my right hand.

“I’ll forget about the past. Please become a good lord.”

“…Thank you.”

After that exchange, Daryl and I shook hands.

“Would you like to make an appearance at the banquet too?”

“Is that alright?”

“Well… Father was probably being considerate of me. I’ll ask Father about it a bit.”

Since we’ve let bygones be bygones, I don’t see any reason to refuse Daryl attending the banquet.

“How was it?”

Daryl had returned to his room until called. When I went to Father’s room next door, he asked me about my impression of Daryl.

“He’s changed quite a bit from before, I’m surprised.”

Or perhaps—his inner self hasn’t changed dramatically, but only a little. Father’s treatment of Daryl. The influence of being separated from Kathryn and Byron. His perspective on me.

“It might be more due to Theo’s influence than any achievement of mine.”

“I wasn’t conscious of anything like that. Perhaps I became a trigger for change, but Father created the environment for it, and Daryl was the one who continued.”

My influence from just leaving home… probably wasn’t that significant.

“Maybe so. Surprisingly, it might have suited Daryl.”

If he learned about the lives of the people after I left, there must have been a period when Byron was doing farm work too… but that guy prefers things that look impressive. He probably hated that kind of work.

As for Daryl, it seems Father’s intended effect worked as planned.

“About Daryl and your wife attending the banquet…”

“Are you fine with Kathryn being there too?”

“Even if I reconcile with that person, you’re not going to revoke her previous treatment, are you? In that case, having such breaks occasionally might be good. Daryl… probably hasn’t seen your wife for a while either.”

When I said this, Father smiled somewhat troubled.

“That’s… true. If I’m present, having them visit Kathryn’s separate residence together… might be fine occasionally.”

“Ah. That’s right. I have a small proposal regarding this house and the separate residence.”

“What is it?”

“I imagine you’ll be strengthening security from now on, but could you let me create hidden doors and connecting underground passages? I’ve learned Magic Construction.”

Father blinked. It would be similar to the Revolving Concealment doors and underground shelter room I made at the Orphanage.

Yeah. I’ll send Father an Alarm Device magic tool later too. Combined with increased security, I think it will be quite effective.

“Well then, Father.”

“Ah. You said you’ll be staying at Lisa’s house for two more days?”

As the banquet ended and it was time to leave the Count’s residence… Father came to see me off all the way to the entrance hall.

At the banquet, Irmhild performed singing while playing an instrument, and it was quite lively. Kathryn and Daryl also seemed happy to reunite after so long.

“Yes. I think we’ll probably spend tomorrow at the lake. We plan to depart around noon the day after tomorrow, but regarding the Magic Construction, I thought I’d do it all on the final day, going over first thing in the morning.”

Creating an underground passage connecting the Count’s residence and the separate residence… and making a shelter room along the way with locked hidden doors should serve various functions when combined with the Alarm Device.

“…Can you complete it that quickly?”

“Well, yes. It’s just digging and hardening.”

It’s not like I’m adding decorations. As long as it’s sturdy, that’s good enough.

“I keep imposing on you for everything.”

“Not at all. Well, if you have anything to discuss or need anything, please come visit anytime.”

“Even though you’ve come here with everyone for summer retreat, it would be bad if I disturbed you. I’ll just come to see you off before you leave.”

Father said with a wry smile.

Hmm. Well, if that’s the case. I’ll relax with everyone tomorrow then.