Chapter 581 – Thoughts on Family

After drinking tea and taking a breather, we all headed to the tomb of the former Baron Silun and his wife. Like Gartner County, the Barony of Silun had accumulated snow, but the servants seemed to be diligently clearing it. We wouldn’t have trouble moving around.

The tomb was located a short distance into the woods behind the baron’s residence. After walking a bit through the snow-covered grove, we soon arrived at the tomb site.

As the ancestral tomb of the noble family, the area was enclosed by a wall, with the graves of successive heads of the family and their wives lined up inside.

Each had the appearance of a stone shrine with a triangular roof, quite impressive structures. They had doors at the front, designed to contain coffins inside. The maintenance was thorough too… they were beautiful.

“This way,” Ashley guided us.

The newer gravestone was that of the former Baron Silun, and next to it was the gravestone of the former Baroness Silun. Ashley’s parents’ graves. Cleaning and snow removal had already been done, so we could pay our respects immediately.

The crisp winter air and the serene atmosphere of the orderly tomb site created a solemn feeling.

“Here you go, Ashley.”

“Thank you, Marie-sama.”

Rosemary handed a bouquet to Ashley. This too had been prepared in advance from Termwills.

Ashley accepted the bouquet, turned to face her parents’ graves, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She smiled wryly with a distant look in her eyes.

“In the past… this place felt so lonely to me. It felt like admitting that Father and Mother were really gone, so I avoided it. But now… even though nothing should have changed, it somehow feels like a warm place.”

That wry smile was probably directed at her past self. Ashley gently placed the bouquet before the gravestone, clasped her hands, closed her eyes, and offered a silent prayer.

Elliot and Camilla went together to stand beside Ashley. Elliot—while gazing at the gravestone—quietly spoke.

“…That’s probably because you’ve learned the warmth of being with people who are important to you, Ashley. This place is also where your father and mother, your grandfather and grandmother… where your family sleeps together through the generations.”

At Elliot’s words, Ashley nodded quietly with her eyes still closed.

Ashley’s silent prayer, as if offering her thoughts. Elliot and Camilla also closed their eyes quietly before the gravestone. The Silun baronial siblings and Camilla continued to offer their silent prayers in quiet. Camilla too… she probably knew the former Baron and Baroness Silun personally.

Eventually, the three finished their silent prayers.

“That might be true. It’s because Theodore-sama and everyone are here with me.”

Responding to Elliot’s earlier words, Ashley turned back to us with a blooming smile.

“…Yeah. I’m also being supported by Ashley and everyone.”

I too returned a quiet smile to Ashley. Taking turns with Ashley and the others, I stepped forward to the gravestone, placed a hand on my chest, closed my eyes as if bowing slightly.

Important people—as family, huh.

Thoughts about the engagement, daily life. About battles. As if telling the former Baron and Baroness Silun, I pictured various feelings and memories in my mind.

The former Baron and Baroness Silun also lost their lives protecting their subjects. So, surely like Mother… I think they were simply worried about their subjects and family.

If that’s the case, I want to protect the important people. I won’t let them be hurt or taken away ever again. I wonder if these feelings within me get through too.

So… I’ll protect Ashley as family, as my fiancée. So that we can all live happily together, laughing.

—After offering my silent prayer, I opened my eyes, raised my head, stepped back one step, and bowed.

I don’t know if sharing these thoughts and feelings of mine with Ashley’s parents will make them feel at ease… but I think I managed to convey what’s in my heart.

Taking turns with me, Grace and the others, and King Melvin offered silent prayers at the former Baron Silun’s tomb.

“…The former Baron Silun was a brave and noble man. He would personally take the lead in subjugating the monsters that appeared in the forest, boosting the soldiers’ morale.”

King Melvin narrowed his eyes after finishing his silent prayer.

I see… Kennel’s emphasis on the garrison probably had to do with troubles involving adventurers, but the former baron’s bravery and such were also related.

They were Ashley and Elliot’s parents after all. It wouldn’t be strange if they excelled in martial prowess or magical talent. While I haven’t heard rumors about Water Magic, they might have actually had an excellent affinity for it.

“The former baron always said that if the leader doesn’t take initiative, the retainers won’t follow.”

“Indeed. He was a splendid person.”

Not only Kennel and Donato, but Fritz also seemed to have known him directly. They took their time offering silent prayers at the former Baron Silun’s tomb.

“…He seemed like a proper noble.”

Claudia said with her eyes closed. If that’s the case, Claudia would be too, though.

Irmhild, perhaps thinking the same thing, nodded quietly at Claudia’s words.

“I’ll pay respects to my grandfathers too.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

After that, Ashley, Elliot, and Camilla went around to each of the baronial family’s ancestral tombs, carefully offering silent prayers. Family, huh. Then I should do the same too.

Thinking that, I followed along, and everyone else seemed to think the same. We went around offering silent prayers at every gravestone.

And so, having completed paying respects to the former Baron and Baroness Silun… we returned to the baronial residence, ate lunch, and then went to see Michelle and Fritz off.

We traveled by horse-drawn sleigh within the territory, heading to Michelle’s house. The Barony of Silun remained as peaceful as ever. Though covered in snow, crops grew lush and green inside the greenhouses, and the Noble Leaves looked healthy too.

“That Magic Tool for the greenhouse is truly well-made. When snow or rain falls and sunlight doesn’t reach, it adjusts the temperature and humidity to compensate.”

“Yeah. Theodore wrote the Spell Formula. The Magic Engineer who turned it into a Magic Tool is named Alfred.”

“I see. So it was based on Theodore-sama’s Spell Formula. No wonder.”

At Sheila’s words, Fritz nodded as if impressed.

“Making adjustments based on conditions means you had accumulated various other technologies too.”

Application technologies related to Communication Devices and Contract Magic were being utilized.

“That too. All the more remarkable.”

“I’m honored.”

Michelle went inside the greenhouse, checking various things. Ortona went along too, closely observing Michelle’s work. Eventually Michelle nodded and returned.

“Thank you, Grandfather. You’ve been a great help.”

“Not at all. If I’ve been useful, that’s what matters most.”

Fritz waved his hand and laughed. Then he shrugged his shoulders and asked Michelle.

“More importantly. While taking care of them, I’ve grown attached to the Noble Leaves, you see. If you have any extras, I’d like one plant. It would help at the shop. After all, I have plenty of free time. It would also be useful for Herb cultivation.”

“I don’t mind,” I said first.

“Oh! It pays to ask, doesn’t it?”

“Maybe the customers who come to the shop will grow familiar with them too.”

“Yeah. That’s one way to think about it.”

I laughed and nodded at Grace’s words.

Though it’s an experiment, if people become familiar with Noble Leaves and learn they’re harmless, it could help spread the farming method.

“Understood. Then I’ll select a calm one and transplant it into a pot.”

Michelle smiled and nodded.

“Ortona… how about it? Do you think you can manage here?”

When I asked Ortona, it nodded quite decisively without much hesitation. Since it’s a peaceful place, it seems like a good environment for Ortona too.

“Thank you for everything. Truly—visiting Termwills was such good learning. The greenhouse too… but the Royal Castle, the Airship… the theater was also wonderful.”

Michelle was probably recalling various things she saw in Termwills.

“I heard you rode an Airship. Quite enviable, I must say.”

“Then please come visit next time, Fritz-san.”

“Oh ho. That would be a nice perk. Then I shall visit you someday.”

“Yes. Together with Michelle-san.”

“Indeed.”

There’s the handover of reports and various other matters. Since we can contact Michelle via Communication Device, scheduling should be easier too.

We exchanged farewells with Michelle and Fritz. It was also a temporary parting with Ortona.

Ortona seemed to understand this too, hugging Lavigne, Belius, Corulis, Flamia, Ramriya and the others, showing reluctance to part.

Marlene and Sion also crouched down, lightly embracing Ortona’s body.

“Ortona… please come visit Termwills again too.”

Lasnote said, stroking Ortona, who nodded repeatedly.

“Hmm. Taking care of the greenhouse was quite enjoyable too. Dealing with regular customers wasn’t a problem either… though it might be putting the cart before the horse, I could continue taking care of the greenhouse in your place. That way Ortona could go visit Termwills with Michelle too.”

Fritz said after seeing the children like that.

“Well… let’s discuss the next visit separately.”

I nodded at Fritz’s words and replied like that.

Fritz seems to be quite doting on children, or rather, thoughtful of his grandchildren.

And so, though reluctant to part, we began our return journey to the baronial residence. Michelle and Fritz, along with Ortona, waved their hands seeing us off.