Chapter 570 – The Circumstances of King Melvin

“Hmm… It seems it’s started snowing.”

I looked up at Rosemary’s words and glanced out the window. While we were preparing for the journey, white snowflakes had begun dancing outside the window without us noticing.

Ah… It’s started falling.

“I thought there was less snow this year,” Grace said with slight disappointment.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about the weather. I just hope it clears up when we go to Silvatoria.”

It’s true that I don’t particularly like winter, but it happens every year. I don’t want everyone to worry about me because of it, so I answered lightly with a laugh, and everyone else smiled and nodded.

We continued preparing for the return to my hometown at a somewhat leisurely pace.

“Um. We don’t particularly need bedding, right?”

“Well, the number of people has increased, but Father said he’d prepare and transport it for us.”

I answered Claudia’s question.

As we were gathering various belongings, the sound of knocking echoed from the room door. When I responded, Cecilia appeared, bowed toward us, and said, “Lady Rosetta, Lord Elliot, and Lady Camilla have arrived.”

“Understood. I’ll be right there. Please show them to the reception room.”

“As you wish.”

“Lord Theodore, I’ll accompany you as well.”

“Mm.”

I nodded at Ashley’s words. Since it was Rosetta and Elliot, Ashley seemed to want to greet them too.

For this homecoming, Old Sigmund and his group, Forset and his group, Rosetta, Elliot and Camilla, Michelle and Lasnote, King Melvin and his group, and the Grantios members would be accompanying us… making for an even larger party than before.

Hmm. Someone might need to stay at Father’s place. I should discuss it with him later.

Well, as for luggage, it’s mainly just changes of clothes, so I’ll wrap things up at an appropriate point and head to the reception room.

“Good morning.”

I knocked on the reception room door and entered, greeting Rosetta, Elliot, and Camilla together with Ashley. Each of them had brought travel bags. They seemed fully prepared.

“Yes, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

“Please wait a little longer. This time, His Majesty Melvin is also coming incognito.”

When I said this, all three of them widened their eyes.

“That… Lisa might be surprised too.”

“If anything, Father seems more likely to be surprised.”

I answered Rosetta’s wry smile. In Mother’s case… I somehow feel she’d handle it normally.

“Ah. You might be right. Henry will… probably be surprised.”

Saying this, Rosetta showed a mischievous smile. …Somehow, perhaps because of what happened with Mother and me, she tends to be quite strict with Father.

Still, her attitude toward Father seems to have softened compared to before. Since I came to Termwills, my interactions with Father have increased, and the lingering resentment seems to be resolving, I suppose.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

A while later, King Melvin and his group appeared at the house with their escort.

His appearance was different from when he came wearing the Disguise Ring before. Apparently, the appearance changes depending on adjustments to the Spell Formula engraved on the ring… Still, the overall impression retained King Melvin’s aura.

Queen Eldorene had also changed her clothing. Princess Stephania and the others too. Since they were prepared at the Royal Castle, the tailoring was excellent, but at least they didn’t give off the feeling of being a queen or princess.

“What should we call you when you’re in that form?”

I asked King Melvin.

“Hmm. You can call me Memphis. If it’s too grandiose, the disguise loses its meaning.”

“Lord Memphis then. Understood.”

When I answered with a wry smile, King Melvin grinned broadly. This aspect is quite like King Melvin. Then, Grace tilted her head upon seeing his appearance.

“I feel like… I might have seen you before, long ago, at Lord Henry’s mansion.”

At Grace’s casually spoken words—King Melvin slightly widened his eyes.

“You have… good memory. Indeed, I once visited the Count’s territory in this form. There are rules – this form for domestic travel, and another for when I’m in Termwills.”

“Could it be… at Mother’s funeral?”

When I asked, having vaguely sensed it, King Melvin closed his eyes as if resigning himself.

“I didn’t make it to the funeral in time. Perhaps I should have attended as the king, but I thought the Count’s territory wouldn’t be able to remain calm if I did. Besides, since I couldn’t do anything back then, it felt awkward to show up now.”

He shook his head as he said this.

I see. Come to think of it, when we first met, he seemed to know about Grace too. That must have been because he’d visited the Count’s territory before and knew about her.

Anyway, if he had attended as King Melvin to offer condolences, he would naturally have to make various statements as the king. Praising Mother’s achievements would have been difficult without thorough understanding of the Count family’s circumstances. If she were enshrined as a hero or something, various nobles would approach the Count family, and moreover, I was an Illegitimate Child.

If I were noticed as the child of a hero, it could potentially become a seed for family disputes later. Neither King Melvin nor Father would want that. At that time, I was too depressed to care about such things, but I think I would have disliked the surrounding commotion.

He must have considered various things and been considerate. As King Melvin, it would probably be awkward to tell me about it later. Even if he had attended the funeral back then… he probably wouldn’t want it to be misunderstood as having ulterior motives.

Mother is Mother, and I am me. Moreover, we hadn’t met face to face at that time, and considerable time had passed. Before he could judge whether I was trustworthy or not, incidents involving Demons occurred, making him even more hesitant to convey such things, I suppose.

“There are various things… that make sense to me now. That you’ve been considerate since long ago too.”

When I bowed my head and said this, King Melvin closed his eyes again.

“It’s nothing worthy of thanks.”

“Even so.”

Even if the consideration was more about aspects related to noble families rather than specifically for me. Still, he maintained principles in doing so.

There was consideration in leaving things undisturbed to avoid making the fundamental aspects noisy, and for me, that’s something to be grateful for. So regardless of King Melvin’s circumstances, I think I should express my thanks.

Anyway, the members for departure have gathered, and preparations are mostly complete. Though we’ll be heading to the house in a large group, since we’re using Teleportation Magic via the stone monument, there shouldn’t be much burden.

I looked at Claudia and nodded, and she also closed her eyes and nodded back.

“Well then… shall we depart from the courtyard? Make sure to hold your luggage properly so you don’t forget anything.”

So we all headed to the courtyard covered with a thin layer of snow.

Prince Josiah would be staying behind to manage affairs during King Melvin’s absence, so he came to see us off. Similarly, Cecilia and Mihaela would also stay behind, waiting with everyone from the Labyrinth Village.

“Sir Theodore.”

Prince Josiah, who had come to see us off, presented a bouquet of flowers.

“I can’t go with you since I must guard the place in absence… but at least please place this at your Mother’s tomb.”

“Thank you.”

“Mm. Please take care of Father and my sisters too.”

Saying this, Prince Josiah narrowed his eyes gently.

“Well then, we’ll be going.”

Princess Stephania returned a smile. At Prince Josiah’s words, Rosemary hid her face with her feather fan and shrugged her shoulders slightly, while Marlene returned a carefree, cheerful smile.

“Then—let’s go. Those seeing us off, please step back outside the Magic Circle.”

A Magic Circle spread from Claudia’s feet.

“Take care, Master.”

Prince Josiah and the servants like Cecilia who were seeing us off complied with Claudia’s words. After confirming this, Claudia activated the Teleportation Magic.

Our surroundings were enveloped in light, and then—when it subsided, we had moved to the stone monument created in the basement of Mother’s house.

Well… First, we should probably do some light cleaning of the house, I suppose. It’s not particularly messy, though.

We all headed to the upper floor, placing our luggage while opening the windows—and as expected, it seemed to be snowing here too, as the outside scenery was pure white.

“Hmm. We might need to clear the snow later.”

Since Harold and Cynthia, the sibling tomb keepers, usually keep Mother’s Tomb clean, it probably won’t require much work.

In any case, the anniversary is tomorrow… and we might need to clear the snow early in the morning too.