Chapter 433 – Family Bonds

When I looked at the Dullahan, it quietly nodded its head up and down. Yeah. It seems we were able to completely destroy Glazheim. As I delivered the finishing blow, the turbulent emotions swirling deep in my chest gradually began to settle.

“Theodore-sama…!”

As I descended into the garden, Ashley came running over.

“Please let me see your injuries…!”

“…Mm. Thank you.”

I had injured my palm when I blocked Glazheim’s horn. I dispelled the now-unnecessary disguise and showed her the wound. Ashley took my hand in hers and used Healing Magic on me.

The pain quickly subsided under the light of the Healing Magic. A circle of light spread out from Ashley’s feet, and as I was enveloped in the faint light rising from it, I could feel the damage to my arm from blocking the hand strike and the impact from stopping the giant tree being healed simultaneously.

She even checked with her Magical Sonar to make sure there was no remaining damage inside my body. I could tell Ashley’s Healing Magic had become more thorough than before.

“How does it feel?”

“Mm… The pain is gone. You’re getting better and better.”

I made a fist and opened it repeatedly to check how it felt, then smiled back at her. Ashley nodded quietly and gently leaned against me. When I put my arm around Ashley’s shoulder, she spoke in a small voice.

“…The last… of Theodore-sama’s memories… We could see them too.”

“…Ah.”

As for that final Illusion Magic… given how it pierced through all my various countermeasures, it must have been some kind of special technique unique to Nightmares. It might also be related to the fact that we were inside that creature’s Barrier. Or maybe it was only that bad because of all the countermeasures I had in place.

If everyone else saw that scene too, then I must have worried them.

“Thank you, Ashley. That… while I was brought back to how I felt back then… were you okay, Ashley?”

“…Yes. I think we… only saw it.”

Saying this, Ashley nodded slightly in my embrace and closed her eyes as she pressed her cheek against me. Then Grace approached as well.

“Theo…”

Grace’s expression as she called my name was sorrowful… Yeah… Ashley, who adored Mother, must have felt that way, and even for Grace, just seeing that scene must have been painful. I nodded and returned to my Sealed State, then she hugged me tightly. With one arm still around Ashley’s shoulder, I wrapped my other arm around Grace’s waist, and the three of us held each other close.

“…Grace. I’m sorry for worrying you at the end.”

“Yes… I’m glad, that you’re safe, Theo…”

We held each other for a long moment before separating. Then Marlene clung to me, burying her face in my chest.

“Theodore… cheer up.”

Her voice was like tinkling bells. Then she looked up at me, her slightly moist eyes peering at me with concern.

“Mm. Marlene.”

I gave her a small smile in return and stroked Marlene’s hair. That scene might have made Marlene think about her own mother too. As I hugged Marlene with her face buried in my chest, Claudia suddenly embraced my head.

“Theodore… there are times when I worry precisely because you never complain.”

“…Is that so? If that’s the case… I think it’s because I have all of you.”

After all, Claudia doesn’t complain either. And I truly believe that having everyone here is what gives me strength.

“I can’t lightly say I understand how you feel… but yes, I can be by your side.”

With that, Rosemary came and hugged both me and Marlene together.

“Ah. Marie.”

I placed my hand over Rosemary’s as she held us and answered. She in turn tightened her grip slightly. When I tried to look at her face, she closed her eyes.

“Theodore, I’m glad your injuries are healed.”

“That’s right. I’m glad you’re safe, Theodore-kun.”

“Ah, Seraphina, Irmhild.”

Seraphina hugged me from a slight distance, and then Sheila and Irmhilt started stroking my hair too.

“Theodore, thank you for your hard work.”

“Yeah. Sheila.”

Illusion-based attacks like that one always make people worry more than usual. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and reset my feelings. Then I turned my gaze toward Elliot and Forset who were watching with concern, and also toward Princess Stephania and the others, nodding to show I was okay.

“…My apologies, Ambassador. Our house… no, our family’s Failure has caused you trouble. That you would risk your very life to protect us…”

The Duke quietly bowed his head as he spoke.

“Not at all. If we had left that Demon running wild, it would have become a serious situation for Verdgar as well. More importantly, is Lord Leslie alright?”

“It appears he has no noticeable injuries. Thanks to you, not just Leslie but all of us and the servants seem to be uninjured.”

“That’s good to hear.”

I nodded at the Duke’s words.

Leslie was lying on the ground supported by Oscar and Vanessa holding his upper body and head… Just to be sure, I took his hand and used Circulating Ki to check the state of his Magical Power.

…There doesn’t seem to be any major disturbance in his Magical Power. His Vitality is somewhat depleted, but… that’s probably within the normal range of Vitality consumption.

From his condition, it just looks like he’s sleeping, but… things like emotional wounds can’t be seen with Circulating Ki, so I still don’t know.

“Ugh…”

“Ah, Uncle!”

Vanessa cried out as Leslie weakly opened his eyes. Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Leslie looked around at his surroundings, then painfully lowered his eyes and shook his head.

“Ah, so it was… It wasn’t a dream after all…”

His voice was quiet. While Leslie seems to be in distress, meaning we can’t simply rejoice, the fact that his rationality and consciousness are intact is a reassuring response.

“Uncle, you shouldn’t move yet.”

“I-I’m fine. Oscar. I… must speak no matter what. Y-you are the Otherworld Ambassador, correct?”

Leslie staggered to his feet and looked at me.

“Yes.”

“My apologies. Please, take me to His Majesty Melvin. I must receive punishment for disturbing the kingdom’s peace.”

“…Given that a special race like Nightmares was involved, whether that’s the right course of action is something I can’t really judge.”

When I answered this way, Leslie exhaled roughly and dropped to his knees. I used Vitality recovery Magic on him while speaking.

“You appear to be severely exhausted… I think it wouldn’t be too late to rest your body first and hear your story afterwards. I don’t believe someone with feelings of atonement would try to run away.”

“I was… weak. If only I hadn’t envied my brother… surely that Nightmare wouldn’t have found an opening to exploit.”

Is that… really a sin? There’s a huge gap between just thinking something internally and actually acting on it. Normally, reason, conscience, and emotions act as brakes.

Especially if it was that kind of malicious Nightmare that had attached itself to him. In fact, now that the Nightmare is gone, this is his state. More than Vitality depletion, he seems to be tormented by what he’s done.

“Where did you get that Necklace?”

“…In the hidden study of the old Castle. I had forgotten how I found the Necklace until now… I found it somewhere, liked it, and after putting it on, I had pleasant dreams, my anxieties and worries lessened… in any case, I felt better.”

So it started with appeasement. It doesn’t seem like it was a case of trying to control him and failing. If he was made to forget even how he obtained it, that would be difficult to deal with.

“What state were you in when you acted as Curtis?”

“…The whole time… I thought I was dreaming. I think I just vaguely accepted that was how things were supposed to be and acted accordingly.”

It’s hard to put into words, but… dreams are indeed like that sometimes. Even actions you would never normally consider, you just vaguely accept that’s how it should be and go along with it.

The creature said it was synchronization. But that didn’t mean Glazheim was synchronizing with Leslie. It was actually the complete opposite.

Since Glazheim was the one in control, it was guiding Leslie’s emotions to synchronize with its own objectives.

If Lord Leslie’s feelings of envy… or admiration for the Duke were exploited and manipulated. And if he thought it was all a dream. There’s nothing that could be done.

“…That’s all I need to ask.”

I looked at the Duke and nodded. From my perspective, I should just report what I heard now truthfully to King Melvin. Not just for Leslie, but perhaps even the actual perpetrators of the attack will receive merciful judgment. After all, they were literally tempted by a Demon.

“…Envy, huh. If I may say so, I was the one who envied you – your ability to work steadily and diligently through anything.”

When the Duke spoke with a self-deprecating tone, Leslie looked up with a surprised expression.

“That’s right. I’ve always been fickle and insincere. There were times I had to tell myself ‘I should try harder too, since my younger brother is working so hard.'”

“Brother… I-I… envied how everyone adored you, Brother. I certainly admired you, but… in the end, I couldn’t become as capable as you…”

“But weren’t you adored? By Oscar.”

Leslie looked at Oscar, who nodded. Seeing Oscar’s expression, Leslie quietly closed his eyes. He probably remembers the words Oscar shouted earlier.

“…So that’s how it is after all. If I had found that Necklace first, I would have been the one harming you.”

“Not just Father and Uncle… I think I would have been the same.”

“…Vanessa”

The Duke put his arm around Leslie’s shoulder, lightly patted his back, and said.

“I’m glad you returned safely. I understand you’re tormented by guilt… but I believe your words now, and for the sake of us all laughing together again, I’ll even plead with His Majesty.”

“…Brother”

A single tear traced its way from Leslie’s closed eyes. Oscar and Vanessa also hugged the Duke and Leslie as they leaned against each other. The Duchess was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, and Clark was crying along with them.

…I had been concerned about how Leslie would feel about the actions he took while possessed by the Nightmare, and how the Duke and others would receive him, but… at this rate, the ducal family will surely be alright.