Chapter 44
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Chapter 44
'Even if Claude possesses monstrous recovery, he's still human after all.'
Such a serious accident had occurred. The original work must have exaggerated certain aspects.
I suppressed my doubts with a resigned acceptance.
"Well then, since the examination is complete, shall we head back?"
"Yes, of course."
I linked my arm through Claude's as he rose from his seat. Claude, by now, naturally leaned his weight against me.
"Should I take you to Amelia?"
"No. I'll return to my room. I have matters that require my attention."
I nodded and guided Claude toward his room.
"Then I'll go check on the children. Work at your leisure."
"You've supported me all this way—at least stay for a cup of tea."
"But you have work to do."
"It's only minor matters, so it's fine. Besides, I'd feel uncomfortable if you left like this."
"Well then...."
I turned from where I'd been hovering uncertainly at the threshold and stepped into his room.
Claude, having instructed a maid to bring tea, offered me a seat.
While I settled in, Claude gathered a parcel and letters from atop his desk, moving them to the tea table. It seemed he intended to attend to his duties while taking tea.
"Is that correspondence from the Marquis?"
"No. It's from the Imperial Capital."
"From the Imperial Capital?"
"Yes. I still have duties I'm responsible for, after all."
Before the carriage accident involving the previous Marquis Agris and his wife, Claude had served with distinction in the Monster Subjugation Unit.
As commander of the Monster Subjugation Unit, he had been tasked with defending the Western Border of the Empire, where monster appearances were particularly frequent. His natural martial prowess, monstrous physical endurance, and five senses acutely attuned to magical presence had made him invaluable.
"News of finding Amelia seems to have reached the Imperial Capital. Now that his niece has been found, pressure is mounting for him to return to active duty."
Claude's reason for leaving the Monster Subjugation Unit was singular.
To find his niece, Amelia.
The Emperor, who had held the previous Marquis Agris in great esteem, had readily granted Claude an extended leave of absence.
Of course, not because he truly believed Claude would find Amelia. It was meant as permission to compose himself during that time.
"But your body hasn't fully recovered yet."
"True. Yet seeing how urgently His Majesty presses the matter, it seems he's quite anxious."
As I sipped the tea the maid had brought, Claude opened the parcel.
The moment he opened it, a foul stench wafted out forcefully.
"Ugh."
I instinctively pinched my nose shut.
"What's wrong?"
"There's a strange smell coming from the parcel."
"A smell?"
Claude brought his nose close to the parcel and sniffed.
"I don't smell anything unusual."
"What? That can't be right."
A stench so acrid it made my head throb pierced through my nostrils.
Claude regarded me with bewilderment as I clutched my nose, then withdrew the contents from the package.
Inside the parcel lay a black wooden box.
As if to vindicate my sense of smell, a nauseating odor seeped through the cracks.
"What on earth is that?"
"I'm not entirely certain, but let me open it and see."
Claude, at a loss for how to respond, opened the box.
Within lay a black crystal no larger than a thumbnail, accompanied by a note containing an explanation of the object.
Claude's eyes raced across the written explanation.
"According to the enclosed letter, this is...."
"Mana Crystal."
Yet I required no explanation.
"The crystal contains Mana Crystal, doesn't it?"
* * *
"I'm all done!"
"...What exactly did you make?"
"Can't you tell just by looking? It's a cake."
Amelia announced this with her hands planted firmly on her hips. Before the child lay an amorphous lump of clay.
"No matter how I look at it, it resembles...."
"What did you say, Lucian?"
"I, I think you did a wonderful job!"
Amelia's creation hardly qualified as a cake, but Lucian feigned ignorance.
"Lia truly is remarkable."
Edwin even offered applause toward the clay lump.
"Heh."
Buoyed by the praise from both children, Amelia's shoulders soared with pride.
"What should I create next?"
To allow my uncle and sister their private moment, I needed to keep these troublemakers occupied.
Amelia's contemplation deepened.
"There you are."
A low voice cut through the children's space. It was the Duke of Bellomen's voice.
"Father."
Lucian sprang to his feet and hastily brushed the dirt from his clothes.
He attempted to erase all traces of their messy play, but the clay clinging to his hands proved beyond redemption. In the end, Lucian hid his soiled hands behind his back.
'I'm going to be scolded again.'
He would surely hear a lecture about playing in an unbecoming manner. Perhaps his father would simply sigh without a word.
'That's what I hate most.'
Lucian fidgeted with his dirty hands and hung his head low. Standing before his father always felt like receiving punishment.
Yet the Duke's gaze did not fall upon Lucian.
"Edwin."
"Yes."
"Let's talk for a moment."
The Duke's golden eyes, so reminiscent of Lucian, held only Edwin in their gaze.
As if Lucian had never existed in his sight from the very beginning.
"But my hands are dirty...."
"It doesn't matter. Hands can be washed clean."
The Duke grasped Edwin's clay-covered hands without hesitation.
Not a trace of displeasure crossed his features.
Even as Edwin's words trailed off, the Duke offered no reproach.
"I'll be back soon."
"Okay."
Lucian held his father's hand while waving goodbye to Edwin as he receded into the distance.
It was then that Lucian first understood—that indifference could wound far deeper than any words.
* * *
The Duke of Bellomen led Edwin toward the Study.
"Edwin."
"Yes, Father."
"How would you feel about coming to the Capital with me?"
Edwin's lips parted at the sudden proposal.
"It's difficult to explain, but I spend most of my time in the Capital rather than at the Mansion. And now it's time for me to return there."
The Duke of Bellomen knelt to meet Edwin's eyes.
"Will you come to the Capital with me?"
"Will Lucian and Sister Lucella come too?"
"No."
The Duke shook his head.
"I'm going to the Capital alone. Lucian and Lucella will remain here at the Mansion."
"Hmm...."
Edwin deliberated.
They were the true family he had longed for. He didn't want to part with them like this.
Yet he couldn't bear to separate from Lucella and Lucian either.
They were his benefactors, after all.
Edwin's life had transformed since meeting Lucella. He couldn't abandon the miracle that had come into his existence and leave them behind.
"For what it's worth, Amelia will be returning to her own home before long."
The implication was clear—there was no need to hesitate.
Yet Edwin gave an answer contrary to what the Duke desired.
"I'll stay here."
"That means you'll be apart from me. Are you certain?"
"Yes. I'll be fine as long as Sister and Lucian are here. I'll wait for Father with Lucella and Lucian."
"Hm...."
The Duke felt deflated.
He had naturally assumed Edwin would follow him without question.
'Perhaps I'm still uncomfortable to him.'
While disappointment washed over him, he also felt oddly reassured.
At least Lucella didn't seem to be tormenting Edwin.
The way the boy spoke suggested he relied on Lucella quite heavily.
'Come to think of it, he was playing with Lucian earlier too.'
Lucian was a child with a rough nature and strong possessive instincts. I had assumed he would torment Edwin for taking what was his.
Yet my expectations proved unfounded. The Edwin I'd seen moments ago was getting along well with Lucian.
Perhaps Lucian was a better child than I'd given him credit for.
The Duke of Bellomen remained unaware that Lucian had never possessed a father from the beginning.
"If that is your wish, then so be it."
In truth, the Duke had wrestled greatly with the question of where Edwin should stay.
The years he'd missed with the boy weighed heavily on him, and his desire to keep Edwin close and care for him burned fiercely.
Yet for the sake of Edwin's future, he could not indulge such sentiment.
The core power of House of Bellomen resided not in the Capital, but in the Duke's Territory.
For Edwin to inherit the dukedom in the future, he would need their support.
To secure this, it was far better for him to remain in the Duke's Territory and strengthen his bonds with the retainers.
'How reassuring that Edwin would say such a thing.'
The Duke gently stroked Edwin's head.
"I shall respect your wishes."
"Thank you."
Edwin didn't truly understand what "wishes" or "respect" meant, but he nodded along nonetheless.
He was simply grateful to remain in this warm home with such kind people.
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