103 – 44. Father (2)
Kilaine, who was about to start her duties as the head of the family shortly after waking up.
She couldn’t understand the current situation at all.
‘I have nothing to do….’
She wasn’t a remarkable person herself, but she thought that the impact of the head of the family collapsing was by no means small.
Volkhanov is not only a count with many territories, but also has an obligation to stand against enemies over a mountain range.
Of course, it wouldn’t collapse. But she thought that there would be considerable confusion.
While she was collapsed, she couldn’t hide her astonishment after seeing and receiving the events that happened in the family.
“An unprecedented prosperity….”
No matter who came, Bolkanov, once known as the land of relentless cold where no one could survive, had turned into a land flowing with milk and honey.
The inhabitants, who were once full of worries, all had a radiant expression on their faces.
“What on earth is this…?”
Despite frequently leaving the place for expeditions, the thought of wanting to save Bolkanov had always accompanied Kilaine.
Even though he hadn’t done anything himself, the fact that the family had revived was truly a joyous occasion.
That’s why Kilaine began to investigate who had accomplished such a feat.
And that was when.
“Ian… in my place.”
As the head of the family, Kilaine couldn’t help but be lost in contemplation even with the report that made the corners of his mouth involuntarily rise.
The main actor of the revival was his son Ian, and Kilaine didn’t know how to handle it.
“Even if I just watch the family collapse, there’s nothing I can do. To think that I did so much for Bolkanov…”
It might be hard to believe, but Kilaine always felt sorry for Ian.
Not only because of the frequent expeditions that kept them from spending time together, but above all, he couldn’t give affection as a father.
As someone commanded by the royal family, he inevitably had to leave, but even then, Kilaine always had pictures of his children, one by one, in his embrace.
Whenever it felt like everything was falling apart, he would gently stroke those pictures and regain his composure.
They were precious. Even if it meant exchanging his life, he could confidently choose his children without a moment’s hesitation.
“After this is over, I promised to spend time with the children whom I couldn’t send off.”
However, for some reason, as soon as he entered the mansion, the existence of Ian began to blur in his mind.
At first, he thought it was because he was tired, but he realized it wasn’t a problem caused by fatigue after facing Ian.
It wasn’t an issue born from exhaustion like fatigue.
“I may not understand English, but just by looking at it, it twisted my insides and seemed to boil with anger.”
There was a time when Kilian had drawn his sword because of Letitia’s words about Ian’s difficulties.
Of course, it wasn’t Ian’s fault, but Letitia’s one-sided neglect that was the problem. Kilian realized this and went to apologize in the middle of the night.
But when he saw Ian sleeping, his emotions twisted again.
Not only did the desire to apologize disappear, but it was replaced with hatred towards his son.
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The reason he had stood in the dark hallway, staring at his son’s door, was also because of that.
“Should I go in…? At least I thought it would be right to apologize, since I did something that should never be done to a child as a father.”
But Kilian couldn’t bring himself to turn the doorknob.
If he saw the face of his sleeping child, he felt like he wouldn’t be able to control his emotions.
That’s why he chose to leave him alone.
That was also the reason why he thought his child might be in danger just by being noticeable.
Until he figured out why his emotions were fluctuating, there was a need to keep a distance for his son’s safety.
“For now, even if it’s difficult… if I can somehow find out…”
If he could control those damn emotions, he would be able to give the love he couldn’t give in his childhood.
He knew that neglecting him was never the best solution.
He also knew that it was something he should never do to a child in the developmental stage who needed the help of an adult.
But in a situation where he couldn’t control his own body and emotions, it was inevitable.
The only thing Kilian could do at that moment was to find the solution to this puzzle as quickly as possible.
It would be difficult to find the answer, as it was something he had never experienced before in his life. But he was Volkanov, a count by name.
In the empire, being a prominent family, there should be someone around who could help if one were to inquire.
Kilrain, who had distanced himself from Ian and surveyed the surroundings with such thoughts, was met with disappointment.
“…I apologize. Regarding the curse you mentioned, it seems to be something we have never encountered before, and we have no appropriate solution.”
“What on earth are you talking about! If even the exceptional Myles is unaware of the curse! Who on this continent could possibly know about it!”
“I truly apologize. However, after searching through various documents, we found no curse exhibiting symptoms similar to what you described. Moreover, there is no curse affecting Kilrain himself.”
“Hmm… What in the world should I do about this….”
It wasn’t until Kilrain saw the sorcerer dispatched from Myles continually shaking his head that he realized.
‘Is it just about witnessing it being left alone, knowing that it’s all there is….’
Knowing that it wasn’t a problem that could be resolved quickly.
Being a father, distancing himself from his son was all there was to it.
He couldn’t give up. Kilrain couldn’t accept the shameful fact, and he desperately sought a solution.
Myles was not enough, so he sought someone knowledgeable about seals and even went to Edenia to meet with high-ranking priests.
However… no one knew about the curse Kilrain was talking about.
‘Is it really true that some existence like a god is playing with our family….’
He tried every possible method, but nothing changed.
He tossed and turned in agony at night, and the atmosphere at home began to deteriorate rapidly from that point on.
One day, there was such an incident.
In an attempt to erase the overwhelming distractions, Kilrain wielded his sword towards the training ground from early morning.
After finishing a simple meal, he took a moment to rest and absentmindedly gazed at the view of the mansion.
Starting from the entrance where he walked with a smile after Letitia’s wedding, to the space where he held the succession ceremony to become the head of the family. And even to the children’s rooms.
‘Occasionally, on a sunny day, you could see the faces of children gazing at the sky outside the window.’
They must be sleeping now. Nevertheless, my gaze shifted towards the children’s room.
‘Having glanced at Ariel’s room filled with dolls, I turned away.’
But when his eyes were fixed on Ian’s room, Kilaine couldn’t help but be surprised.
‘Ian was looking down at the training ground…’
Thinking that I might have seen it wrong, I tried to sense the mana. However, faced with the sight of my son lying under the window, hiding his body under a long branch spread on the floor, Kilaine finally bowed deeply.
Certainly, Ian must have wanted to learn swordsmanship by watching himself wield a sword.
‘Why is the sky so indifferent?’
It was frustrating that I couldn’t go directly to see what my son was doing and had to use mana.
Feeling the bitterness of the reality that, despite being called the Empire’s best swordsman, I couldn’t teach my son a single swordsmanship skill, Kilaine involuntarily clenched his fists.
‘All he’s good at is swinging a sword… Is that even being taken away from him?’
Becoming a father and realizing that there was nothing he could do for his child, Kilaine was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness.
‘If I’m like this, maybe Leticia…’
The moment when the thought that this curse might not only befall him crossed his mind.
After all, Leticia also seemed to have refused to ignore Ian consistently.
There were times when he raised his voice, praising the decision to confine Ian to the storage room, unlike Ariel, who cherished love.
‘I will soon have to go on another expedition… Unlike me, Leticia will mostly stay at the mansion…’
If she had to endure this curse alone, it might be something that could make her collapse.
Of course, the damage would be fully borne by Ian.
‘If I turn away from this situation, it will only worsen.’
In the end, Kilian stood at the crossroads of choice.
Should he watch as the family collapsed into ruin? Or should he send Ian far away?
Both options were dreadful, but ultimately, Kilian chose the latter.
“Sending my son, who hasn’t even shed his blood yet, far away is a mad act, but…”
It couldn’t be helped. Even if it meant neglecting the family. Leaving Ian alone in the mansion in this state would be an even more unthinkable deed…
In the end, Kilian made his choice.
The next day, Ian had no choice but to pack his bags and head to Asherlan’s Cheongwol Pavilion.
After that, sporadically receiving news of Ian, he set out on a expedition and fell victim to an unknown curse shortly after his return. Rumor had it that he faced numerous hardships and that the family was truly in crisis.
“Awakening is a miracle…”
The priest who spoke while tightly holding Kilian’s hand still had a sincere expression, but Kilian sincerely wished for his own death.
What right did he have to live as a father? He even entrusted a heavy task, acting as a substitute for the family, to his son whom he hadn’t taken good care of.
As a father, he truly had no dignity.
“I heard it from Shulkin Jajak. He said I led the family well in your absence. I’m truly grateful.”
“It was something I had to do. So, please don’t worry too much.”
“I heard a lot of news as soon as I woke up. That we saved our territory and even defeated six Demon Kings.”
Moreover, Ian, who was still in his twenties, had not yet ascended to the rank of a master.
Compared to himself, who considered neglecting the family and focusing on blocking enemies, his son had created a much better Volcanov.
In other words, Ian had become someone more suited for the position of family head than he was.
How did this beloved child become such an admirable adult without receiving proper love?
“I’m sorry for all this time. It was the best choice back then. There was nothing else I could do. Don’t say the same thing. I can’t try to understand the wounds you received with petty words.”
If Ian understands, this matter should not be concluded with a simple apology.
As a guardian and father, if I made the wrong choice, it’s only right to take responsibility for it.
“Soon, I am thinking of stepping down from the position of guardian. Will you take over that vacant position?”
“Are you talking about becoming the guardian?”
Ian’s eyes widened at the cautious proposal.
***
He just sought the authority to enter and exit the mansion.
Suddenly promised the position of the guardian, Ian’s expression was filled with confusion.
‘I accepted it just because I could…’
Even after saying he would do it, he wondered if it was the right thing to do.
The guardian… well, it’s not bad. It would mean becoming the true master of Volkanov. If it had been an ordinary household, he might have aimed for a higher position, holding onto the reins, but becoming the guardian of Volkanov held no regrets.
‘And it’s a bit of a waste if everything I’ve done so far falls into someone else’s hands, right?’
From being called the potato through viral marketing to revitalizing the territory through a simple tournament.
It wasn’t fair, but since he had worked hard for it, he had no intention of letting it go.
‘Moreover, Erina Bedon, who will ascend to the throne of the Emperor in the future, supports me. If I take over Volkanov, it’s not a bad thing.’
Since he had already decided to accept it, there was no way to refuse. As it was not a bad proposal, Ian accepted it humbly.
‘Now, the remaining task is to go to the family’s archives and bring back items that Ariane can use.’
The history of Volkanov, items and spoils used by ancestors and those who sacrificed for Volkanov were all stored there.
As long as one didn’t have permission or approval, it was a place one couldn’t dare to go, even if they were a direct relative. But now, officially recognized, it was completely different.
Who would dare to stop him? He wasn’t just acknowledged by his father; he had become the heir.
Ian, with a wry smile, followed Shulkin’s guidance and headed to report.
“Now that I think about it… it’s unusually quiet. Mother hasn’t come by either.”
Thinking that, since her husband had awakened, they would naturally be together, he didn’t bother to inform her.
His mother seemed to be completely invisible.
“Perhaps something happened….”
Ian quietly muttered to himself about the strange situation.
“May I inquire as to what you are referring to?”
Shulkin didn’t miss even those trivial words. Listening to the heir’s concerns was also part of his role as the butler.
Suspecting that it might be a serious matter, Shulkin cautiously asked.
“If you have worries, please feel free to tell me. I will do my best within my capabilities to help.”
“It’s nothing. I just wondered if something was wrong since I couldn’t see Mother.”
“…So it’s the Lady’s concern.”
“What’s bothering you? Normally, you would have heard the news and rushed here by now….”
Why is it so quiet? Ian wondered and looked at Shulkin.
After a moment of hesitation to an unexpected question, he opened his mouth.
“I should have told you this. Where should I start? What happened while I was away?”
“…Please come in without being surprised. The mistress collapsed a few days ago and is currently unconscious.”
“What?”
Leticia Volkhanov. The news of her losing consciousness made Ian’s shoulders tremble.
Parents are falling like dominos. We can’t have them both awake at the same time