Chapter 295 – Father and Grandfather

In the dragon palanquin were Father, Kennel, Camilla and her father, plus the minimum necessary servants. And there were others who had boarded as well – Daryl and Kathryn.

“Theodore-sama.”

When Daryl called out to me and our eyes met, the two of them bowed their heads to me quietly.

“Good day to you both.”

“It’s been a while.”

Regarding Kathryn going out – I had given my consent when Father asked for my opinion.

According to Father’s communication, since Mother’s blood relatives had come to Termwills, Kathryn said she wanted to go and bow her head to them. As for Daryl, he might be accompanying Kathryn…

There are parts about Mother’s background that I haven’t explained in detail and can’t explain… but Kathryn wanting to apologize might mean that her feelings have changed even more since then.

While we were exchanging greetings, the sun set and the surroundings rapidly grew dark.

Noticing the change around us, Camilla nodded to Elliot. I suppose that means it’s alright now.

“Then let’s go. I’ll escort you.”

Once everyone had boarded the dragon palanquin, I began escorting it alongside Elliot.

We would escort them to Termwills while using Night Vision Magic to survey our surroundings.

“Father, I’d like to discuss our plans after arriving in Termwills.”

Flying beside Father’s dragon palanquin, I spoke through the window.

“Hmm.”

“I’ve renovated the house and hired people. Dinner preparations are underway, and it’s possible for everyone to stay over. I think heading straight to the annex would be too rushed.”

“Renovation… Understood. I’ll inform the servants that we’ll be heading to the annex tomorrow or later.”

When Father visited Termwills last time, he saw my house briefly… well, its appearance might have changed quite a bit.

“We were… planning to find lodging in town,”

said Camilla.

“Right now, Lord Elliot is staying with us as well. The main building we use and the guest wing are separate… so if it’s not an inconvenience, please feel free to stay. Dinner preparations are also underway.”

When I said that, Camilla and her father smiled.

“Thank you very much. We’ll gladly accept your kind offer.”

“…Before dinner, might I be able to meet with Lord Siegmund? I’d like to meet with him alone first.”

Father inquired. Regardless of what Kathryn thought, Father probably felt the responsibility lay with himself.

“Understood. I’ll prepare a place to talk here.”

“My apologies, Theo.”

I contacted Cecilia and Mihaela via communication device and made arrangements so that we could talk immediately upon arriving home.

The journey to Termwills went smoothly. After greeting the watchtower, I guided them directly to my house.

“Renovation… It’s become almost unrecognizable…”

“I’d say we bought the neighboring house and incorporated it. The interior of that wing preserves the old house.”

Seeing my house from above, Father looked puzzled as he spoke, so I explained about the house while landing the dragon palanquin in the courtyard.

“Well then, Lindwurm. Until tomorrow.”

After everyone had disembarked, I said that, and Lindwurm let out a cry before withdrawing with the dragon palanquin back to the Royal Castle. Then Cecilia arrived.

“Welcome home, Master.”

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes. Everything is perfectly prepared.”

Cecilia nodded quietly.

“Then… Father. This way.”

I had Old Sigmund waiting in the reception room. Father nodded and followed behind me.

“Everyone else, this way please. There’s still some time before dinner, so please wait a little while.”

Cecilia guided Kennel, Kathryn and the others into the house. Well… I’ll leave that to her. Kathryn seemed quite tense and didn’t appear to be in any state to relax…

Entering the house from the courtyard, I guided Father to the reception room near the entrance hall.

“Grandfather, are you there?”

“Hmm…”

When I knocked on the door, Old Sigmund’s response came from inside. When we entered, Old Sigmund stood up and cleared his throat.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Henry Verdim Gartner.”

Seeing Old Sigmund, Father introduced himself with a deep bow.

“…I have come from Silvatoria. I am Siegmund Willcloud. Patricia… she went by Lisa here. I am Lisa’s father.”

Both voices… held tension.

“There is one other person who came, someone Patricia treated like a younger sister and cherished. Would it be alright if I explained the circumstances of this matter only to that person?”

“Of course.”

Saying that, Father slowly knelt on the floor and bowed his head to Old Sigmund.

“Truly – I am sorry. Today’s situation is entirely the result of my own inadequacies. I cannot face either Patricia or you.”

Receiving those words, Old Sigmund remained silent for a while, but eventually closed his eyes, let out a breath, and spoke gravely.

“Please raise your head, Count. A father should not show such a appearance before his son.”

“…But…”

“I say it is fine.”

Old Sigmund’s words. After a silence, Father spoke.

“…I… couldn’t I have done something more before things turned out that way, for Lisa… for Patricia… couldn’t I have done more for her… That day, I cannot forgive myself more than anything else for not even being able to raise my sword against the demon. Why… couldn’t I have been there…”

Hearing Father’s words, I too closed my eyes. Father’s monologue and remorse. These were words he hadn’t even revealed to me.

But I knew. I understood that Father was regretful.

Silence fell. Just as Old Sigmund was about to speak, a knock sounded.

“Please, I beg you… let me speak too. Regarding that person, I too bear responsibility.”

It was Kathryn’s voice.

“Kathryn bears no responsibility… All responsibility lies with me.”

Father said that, but Old Sigmund quietly replied.

“I understand your desire to protect your wife. I don’t consider it either of your responsibilities, but let’s hear what she has to say.”

Kathryn entered the room and, like Father, bowed her head to Old Sigmund. And so they spoke about House Gartner and House Broderick.

“In the end, it was… myself and my father who broke the promise.”

…It was about an arranged marriage from the time of the previous Marquis Broderick.

Mother met Father during her adventurer days… then the arranged marriage agreement between the previous Count and the previous Marquis was exchanged. And so Father ended up marrying Kathryn.

The promise. It was probably about welcoming Mother into the Count’s residence later.

“I… from the beginning, found that person dazzling and frightening. I was afraid to acknowledge that she possessed everything I lacked…”

Dazzling and frightening… This might be the first time I’ve heard from Kathryn’s own mouth how she felt about Mother.

That Mother was dazzling. So she clung to her status. Clinging to her status, she worked to prevent someone who wasn’t nobility from entering the residence. That… must be what breaking the promise meant.

After that, the previous Marquis Broderick tried to manipulate Kathryn.

Wanting to escape the guilt of betraying Father and her self-reproach toward Mother… I suppose it was because of that weakness that she became distorted.

“So… regarding that person, I bear responsibility… I… not only that, but I even treated Theodore terribly…”

“But… you now regret that, do you not? …Regretting that if only you had done things differently, being unable to forgive yourself – I am the same.”

In response to Kathryn’s words, Old Sigmund shook his head, then looked up to the heavens and laughed self-deprecatingly.

“Had we welcomed Patricia into the residence as wife rather than concubine… or perhaps she would have been in Termwills. If so, she might not have known about the demon’s attack, or if not… she would have fought the King of Deathly Slumber with you all in tow… but that’s not how it turned out.”

Even if Father had been there, it probably wouldn’t have changed anything. Even if Kathryn had kept the promise, there’s no way to know if that day’s battle wouldn’t have occurred.

“If I said I bear no resentment, that would be a lie. However… after speaking with Theodore, I thought that blaming someone for Patricia, who fought demons and protected her loved ones, would be disregarding that girl’s heart.”

After saying that, Old Sigmund narrowed his eyes.

“Therefore, I do not blame you two. Both of you, please raise your heads and stand.”

At Old Sigmund’s words, Father and Kathryn hesitantly stood up.

“I shall ask no more. I have indeed heard your words. Those words alone are sufficient for me.”

Perhaps because he too carries regrets? Looking into Old Sigmund’s eyes, Father and Kathryn nodded.

Father and the others left… then headed to where Valentina was waiting in a nearby room.

To explain the circumstances of this matter from Old Sigmund’s and my own mouths. When I conveyed their words, Valentina quietly spoke.

“…I understand. If Lord Siegmund and Theodore-kun don’t blame them, then neither will I say this or that. If we’re speaking of regrets, I have them too.”

…That’s right. I’m the same too, but… Maybe I should change the direction of the conversation a bit.

“I know one of Mother’s friends from her adventurer days… apparently that person complained to Father about Mother once.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. That person also said it was meaningless since she could tell he was already regretful.”

“…I see. It’s almost as if she said it on my behalf.”

Valentina gave a small, wry smile.

I tried contacting Rosetta herself via communication device. When I told her about Valentina, she replied asking if she could come now. Of course that’s fine. I heard dinner was being prepared with some extra time.

“That person too… will probably appear during tonight’s dinner.”

“Will she tell us stories about Patricia too?”

“That’s right. Shall we share memories and such later?”

“To learn what each other doesn’t know, is that it?”

“–Yes.”

Mother didn’t dislike lively gatherings either, and having stories blossom about the past… would surely make her happy.