56 – The play comes to an end
In the end, Yulken apologized and returned to his seat with a new wine glass.
Edgar’s glass was about to run empty, so I offered him another glass, but he refused and munched on the salty biscuits that had been placed as snacks.
‘He must have a strong heart.’
Usually, those who come face-to-face with him fail to act normally, either for good or for bad.
It was often that I couldn’t even touch the chews that were served for refreshments.
In that respect, Edgar was truly a man of great liver.
It’s not that I’m excessively polite, but it’s not to the point of feeling frivolous, but I do everything I have to do.
Yulken really liked that.
‘That’ll be something to talk about later.’
His wife seemed to like this boy very much, and it wasn’t a bad impression to Yulken, but it wasn’t a topic to think about now.
After clearing the thought of this from his head, Yulken spoke again to the boy sitting across from him.
“Ariel is said to be your best friend. Then wouldn’t it be right for you to express your anger at me?”
“Yes, if I had anything in my hand, I would like to stand up and wield it right away.”
Indeed, even Yulken’s eyes could see Edgar’s hand resting on his thigh faintly trembling.
It must mean holding back really sincere anger.
However, Yulken’s reaction to this was extremely cold.
“You are honest. Do you know who your opponent is?”
“Even if you are the owner of the Grand Duchy, do you think that will change the fact that you are the one who brought tears to my friend’s eyes?”
It was an encouraging answer, but it wasn’t enough to reach Yulken’s heart.
He was a man who had seen dozens or hundreds of silent kids on the battlefield or in the political arena.
“A word from me would blow your throat.”
“Yes, that is why I am controlling my anger.”
“under.”
life is not worth it
In the end, Yulken let out a breath as if he was full of energy, thinking that he was a small person with only a mouth, and Edgar, who was watching this, opened his mouth again.
“Because if I die, that guy will definitely feel guilty, saying it’s his fault.”
That said, it must mean that the action was for Ariel’s sake, not because his life was precious.
Yulken felt shaken for a moment, but quickly controlled his emotions and smiled.
At this time, Edgar’s comments continued.
“I came to you to make my ex laugh again, not to guilt him.
“Even if I’m not there, it won’t have a big impact on that child’s life. You are well aware of that.”
“… Are you saying that because you really don’t know?”
It was Yulken who flinched at his reply, which was so cold that he couldn’t even feel the pitch of his voice.
“If you were irrelevant to Ariel, why would she react like that in the morning?”
“It would be just a whim. It’s a normal thing at that age.”
“Your Highness seems to be talking to stones rolling by the roadside on a whim.”
“… … .”
Yulken took a sip of the wine without saying a word and munched on the biscuit, feeling the acidity in his mouth.
Edgar, watching this, let out a small sigh and opened his mouth again.
“I don’t want anything big. As I said, please don’t throw Ariel away.”
“Please don’t throw me down? That alone is already an unreasonable demand.”
“Did I ask for an apology? Or did you want her to walk up to Ariel first and give her a hug?”
That’s not wrong. However, that is not the right word.
Because Yulken’s acceptance of this offer meant, in effect, that he would restore his relationship with Ariel.
That will soon serve as an opportunity to tell Ariel the truth.
Yulken did not want this.
“… The child should remain unaware. A foolish and resentful father, a caring and warm mother. You just have to live remembering those two.”
At his answer that followed, Edgar widened his eyes.
Could it be that this man thought that Ariel had asked for alone time from her father, who hadn’t known anything about it and hadn’t had a proper conversation in years?
“Your Highness, I was wondering just in case… Do you really think that Ariel doesn’t know anything?”
“Are you here? no way… … .”
To Yulken’s ears, somehow the nuances of the boy’s words sounded as if Ariel knew the whole story.
“Yes, Ariel knows everything. Of course, this is just a story based on my reasoning and Madame Helene’s words.”
Belatedly, Yulken’s red eyes widened.
That’s something I haven’t heard from my wife.
In the first place, she only told me what kind of conversation she had with a boy named Edgar, and that he asked for a face-to-face meeting.
Edgar’s meaning of Ariel was also assumed to mean the child’s actions while ignorant of this matter.
But did you know all the inside stories? Did you commit the same act as morning even knowing that?
“Why did you do that?”
“I just gave the truth to those who needed to know the truth. Could it be a problem?”
“I’d rather not know! Have you even guessed how the child is feeling right now!”
For Ariel, the only person she could trust was her mother.
However, if they heard the whole story, they would think that even their mothers were united and alienated her.
That was the worst scenario Yulken could have imagined.
On the other hand, Edgar’s expression was calm despite hearing his screams in his face.
He’s a really honest guy. But that’s why I can’t seem to see it.
If so, you should point it out. The child’s feelings now.
“Your Highness, haven’t you met today?
“What do you mean?”
“I will answer the previous question again. What Ariel did this morning was not caused by a push from me and Madame Helene.”
thud.
As Edgar repeated the words he had spoken earlier, the sound of something sinking in Yulken’s chest was heard.
At the same time, his eyes, which seemed to always be firm, shook.
Come to think of it, he obviously said that.
The way Ariel suddenly recommended going hunting, and even the way she wanted to go alone with her father without even having a friend. It’s all her will.
‘Is this the meaning of asking to respect the will of that child?’
Yulken, who got up from his seat, sat down and trembled.
It must have been the same situation, but with just one condition that the daughter knew the whole truth and did it, the meaning could change so much.
If this happens, the side of the question and the side of the answer must change along with the direction of the story.
Why? Why?
“Do you really want that child to face me after knowing the whole truth?”
“Didn’t His Highness face him directly?”
“No, it can’t be. Even knowing that much, why the hell… … .”
It’s not a truth that a 15-year-old can handle.
Even if it collapsed as it was, it wouldn’t have been enough to pour out resentment against the father and spit out curses at the mother.
But why do you want to look straight at such an ugly father again?
Why can’t I feel anger, sadness, or at least a sense of collapse?
It wasn’t a matter of being upright or mentally strong.
“… This?”
“Please open it.”
An envelope of letters held out in front of him in confusion.
As Yulken looked at Edgar questioningly, he placed it directly in his hand and sat back on the sofa.
The words written on the envelope are ‘Dear Father’.
The moment he saw that phrase, Yulken had to barely hold back the tears that seemed like they would spill out any moment.
I finally found out who the owner of this letter was.
“How am I supposed to read this?”
“His Highness asked me to read it myself if he couldn’t read it. Would you like that?”
In the end, there was no option not to listen to what was written in this letter.
Yulken opened the envelope containing the letter with trembling hands and took out the letter contained in it.
The text of the letter was not very long.
No, rather, it was so short and concise that I wondered if I had to write these words in a letter.
However, even so, Yulken couldn’t hold back the tears that burst out the moment he saw the brief sentence written in the letter.
‘I love you, father.’
How much did you want to hear? However, it was also something I didn’t want.
The choice my daughter made after learning all the inside stories was sincere. All of that was put into this one sentence.
He must have been thinking about how to convey it to his father, whom he had never had a conversation with.
Even if I put some rhetoric on it and pretended to understand my father’s heart, something would have been undesirable.
so it was told I say I love you.
Even if I resented you, even if you were afraid to face me.
Nonetheless, I will come and see you.
The noble meaning is conveyed in these short words.
“Originally, I wanted to negotiate with you. But when I told Ariel about it yesterday, she told me that she had to end it.”
“… … .”
“And after giving me this letter and making a request, I made that offer to you in the morning.”
Yulken tried to control his emotions somehow.
so as not to wet the letter. So that this precious sincerity conveyed by my daughter does not spread and disappear.
Edgar carefully took out a handkerchief and held it out to him.
It was his conviction that tears should be completely emptied when they should be shed, but today there was a reason not to do that.
“Can you tell this to your daughter?”
“I don’t know what you mean, but please tell me directly.”
“Directly… … ?”
It is impossible to visit her daughter at this late hour.
Does it mean that we will go hunting together tomorrow and talk?
smart.
As if to put Yulken’s doubts to rest, a knocking sound came from beyond the study’s door.
Edgar smiled at him, got up from his seat, slowly headed towards the door, and carefully opened it.
“Ah, Riel… … ?”
“Did you read the letter? father.”
The one who appeared from beyond was none other than the owner of the brief letter, Ariel.
“Ariel, Ariel… … !”
“father… … .”
Raising his head and facing the face of the daughter he had longed to see, Yulken stood up and shouted her name.
Ariel was not to be outdone by this, so she walked quickly to her father’s side and hugged him.
The arms of a big and strong father who seemed to be forgotten even in memory.
Feeling the touch, Ariel shed tears along with her father.
‘After all, a father is a father, and a daughter is a daughter.’
Edgar, who had been watching this from a distance, laughed a little and left the study, carefully closing the door to make as little noise as possible.
In the end, he didn’t get anything right.
Ariel wanted to stand up on her own and face her father without being pushed back by anyone.
It just gave a small opportunity to those who couldn’t dare to take the first step in the middle.
But maybe this is the best ending.
People who wished to choose their own path gathered together, held hands, and finally walked the brightest path.
Still, wouldn’t this be enough to be a memorable supporting role in a beautiful story?
‘I’m looking forward to tomorrow.’
That father and daughter go hunting together for the first time, what kind of conversation will they have and how will they convey their sincerity?
Perhaps, of all the endings of any day he had ever experienced, he assured that there would be no day he looked forward to tomorrow so much.