21 – 21. The Changing Flow of the Story
My son, Lepeti Gail. Her precious legacy.
As the days approached when I had to send away my most important son, I could only wipe my wrinkled eyes with my hands.
To dedicate my son to that dark and gloomy place.
The city may be well-organized and a prosperous place with a lot of money, but it is filled with the decadent scent of the nightlife and the nobles wearing masks.
What an ironic place of modest pleasure.
Even the Melbus family was one of the people I had to be most cautious of.
Eyes that cannot find any light. Those who harbor an endless darkness that cannot be read. I couldn’t trust such a person.
But based on what I have seen so far… At least on the surface, he was respectful to the royal family.
At times, he even issued stern warnings to some nobles who insulted the royal family along with me.
If it was a family of that level, I thought it would be good to establish a connection.
But when he proposed marriage, I couldn’t help but hesitate.
Of course, even though my son has reached a mature age, he has missed the timing to find a partner – I couldn’t deny that the proposal sounded enticing.
However, why did I not consider enough that day, even though it was the place where my son would be? Why did I make the decision to send my son to this place, where darkness was thickly spread?
Even though I knew all of that, why did I nod my head at him?
Therefore, as my son suggested… I planned to negotiate so that I could at least meet him frequently and confirm his condition.
If that was not possible, I thought it would be better to prevent the engagement from happening.
Passing through the clean, yet eerie, streets once again, I headed towards the main gate of the mansion.
“I greet the Lord of the Gail Family!”
…Was it something that the guards had already been informed about?
The guards, who had treated me so coldly, saluted me and opened the main gate, allowing me to enter the mansion as I got into the carriage.
After awkwardly bowing my head slightly to express my gratitude for their hospitality, I passed by the huge window grilles and stone walls that surrounded the mansion.
As I felt before, this place was excessively quiet.
Servants and maids who didn’t even show a smile. Knights who were uncommunicative. This mansion, without even a garden, felt overly strange and didn’t seem to suit my son.
Of course, I am not a leper, but could that child, who had grown up between smiles and nature his whole life, really endure such a confined place?
Finally, the carriage stopped, and I could finally feel my high heels hitting the stone floor.
…Is he actively pushing for the marriage?
The one who welcomed me with a maid was none other than his daughter, Irene.
Perhaps I was a little nervous about the changed reception. As she quietly lowered her head, I unconsciously swallowed my saliva and spoke.
But the words that followed completely blew away my thoughts that were focused on the changed reception.
“…As the Lady of Melbus, I greet you. I meet Lord Frederick Gail, the Lord of the Gail Family.”
*
It hasn’t been long since I last saw him.
The person who surrounded me with a cold atmosphere was nowhere to be found, and now, a lady who quietly handed me tea was in front of me.
“…I am still unfamiliar with entertaining guests, and I haven’t found a proper way to treat you. Even though I may be inexperienced, I ask for your understanding.”
Her face was so beautiful that it could turn a portrait into just an ordinary painting.
Although he was a son who did not know about women, he would surely fall for her if he saw her.
But that wasn’t important. What mattered was why she suddenly took the position to marry my son. I had to ask about that.
“…May I ask what happened to the previous Count Lamber? Is it alright to inquire?”
She slightly straightened her face at that question and calmly spoke to me.
“Due to the previous Count’s lack of ability, I inherited the position according to the family’s rules.”
“I… inherited it?”
“Yes. I inherited the position according to the rightful law.”
“In that case… your words – “
“I believe you are thinking what I am thinking.”
I couldn’t help but stand up abruptly.
A daughter who killed her own father. A person who calmly spoke about such things in front of others.
With the thought that my choice might truly have been wrong, I couldn’t contain the disappointment boiling within me.
However, she slightly brightened her eyes and calmly put down the tea she was holding, not quietly standing up from her seat.
“Sir Gail, please. Won’t you listen to my story?”
Her still composed voice as she spoke to me was so unfamiliar that it sent shivers down my spine, reminiscent of the eerie calmness I felt from my father. Overwhelmed, I expressed my refusal to her.
“There’s no need for a story… I came here because I had a promise with the previous Count, but considering the situation, it seems unnecessary. I’m sorry, but with you…”
But she suddenly interrupted my voice.
Has my voice quietly faded in the middle?
Or has her voice grown loud enough to fill the room?
She increased her presence in front of me and showed me her intentions.
“It would be better for you to listen to the story. I have invited you to this mansion to tell you that story,”
It had been a long time since I had the luxury of pointing out someone’s rudeness in interrupting another person’s words.
But I could barely hold onto the last thread of my sanity with her next words.
“Please, I ask you not to leave this place.”
*
Sitting back in my seat, I wiped away the cold sweat with a trembling handkerchief, gaining the courage to continue the story.
“…Thank you. Well, where should I start the story?”
She looked at the empty air for a moment and then began her story.
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The story of how she grew up, how she lost her mother to her father, and why she took her father’s place.
It was too cruel and dark for me to think of it as something a human would do, and I repeated several times that I couldn’t believe her story, shaking my head.
But every time, she just repeated that she was only telling the truth.
After finishing the story, she took a last sip of her tea without batting an eyebrow.
“But the important thing is not my story… The important thing is the story of the engagement my father made.”
“That… That’s alright. It was an oral agreement between the parties involved.”
“No, it’s not alright. I am here to fulfill that contract.”
Taking another sip of her tea, she calmly continued speaking.
“Please, won’t you continue the promise with Viscount Lambert?”
“…Why?”
“I have high expectations for your lordship. I have heard many stories… about who you are.”
She handed me a cup of hot tea, the steam rising, and looked directly into my eyes as she continued her story.
“It’s personal curiosity and a sign of goodwill. I want to establish a connection with your lordship for a different… purpose.”
She blushed slightly and pulled her empty cup towards me.
Personal curiosity, huh? So… she’s interested? In my son.
Could it be… a good thing? Unlike the ominous Count Lambert, she was approaching my son with kindness.
And she’s a landowner. The owner of the vast territory and power of the Melvus family, showing interest in my son because of her own ambition.
…Perhaps it could be a much better condition.
That’s what my logical sense said, but I still had my doubts.
Even though she lost her mother early… and her father wasn’t a good person either. Could she have grown up properly?
Although my son may have lost his mother at such a young age, I could swear that he was raised with love and care, at least to that extent.
To the point where it could be considered an achievement in my life.
Can I entrust such a child to this… unstable child?
She gazed into my eyes intently,
Snap.
“Lord Gail, I know very well what is so suspicious. However, I already know through my own experience what kind of responsibility and attitude are demanded by the emotions I feel. Even though I am speaking ill of my own family, I am not foolish enough to do so to just anyone. Above all else… as someone who has missed her chance, I understand that finding such a gem is as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. Honey…”
She carefully stood up from her seat and knelt down in front of me.
Even though she knew what it meant…!
“Please, get up!”
“If you do not permit it.”
“…In the first place, this engagement was not discussed with my son.”
“I feel the same way.”
“So, after talking about the changes, if he agrees.”
“…Would you do that for me?”
Her eyes, filled with anticipation, showed no signs of falsehood.
Even the slight tremor in the corners of her mouth hinted at the favor she held for my son.
“However, there is one final condition.”
“What…?”
“If he visits me at least once a month, and you approve of it.”
Upon hearing that, her expression darkened slightly, but…
“…It’s not a big problem, I will do that.”
She immediately nodded her head slightly, agreeing to my proposal.
And from then on, things went smoothly.
She asked me to sign for confirmation of the matters at hand, and by complying, today’s meeting came to an end.
It still bothered me that she showed such a great interest in my son, but perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
For a weak Duke, a reliable alliance, and for my son, a lovely wife.
…On the way back, riding in the carriage, I saw a flock of crows flying together.
They were birds that I rarely saw. They seem quite common in this territory.
They were occasionally perched on trees and along the road.
Since my son likes animals… perhaps he would also like these aspects?