novelraw Chapter 135
Chapter 135
Episode 135
Flora's voice trembled as if she were about to cry, and her body shook slightly.
"I thought I was too rude during dinner and wanted to apologize to Grandfather. I didn't want to worry you, brother, so I came out secretly..."
Benio said nothing and simply watched Flora, who was hesitantly looking for his reaction.
'Ah, right. I also need to explain how I found this place.'
Fortunately, she had a witness right beside her.
"Actually, I met Basil, and while we were walking around together, we found this place by chance... I knew I should have told you, brother..."
It started to feel like she was just making excuses, so Flora stopped her drawn-out explanation and let her shoulders slump heavily.
"I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner."
Even after her honest apology, there was no response. Cold sweat began to trickle down Flora's back, and her thoughts spiraled into absurdity.
'Am I going to get scolded?'
It started as an act, but her brother's silence made Flora's shoulders hunch.
"The world is harsh, but my sister is so kind… what am I to do?"
But the answer that finally came wasn't anger, but a voice tinged with emotion directed at her.
Benio bent down to hug her, reaching out his hands, and Flora naturally released the Grand Marquis's hand and spread her arms for him.
"It's okay! If I'm in danger, Dad and you will protect me! In return, I'll protect both of you!"
Lifted into his embrace, her confident, laughter-filled voice spread around them.
The siblings, smiling at each other, shone brightly as if sprinkled with glittering light-dust.
The Grand Marquis looked at his now-empty hand with a somewhat forlorn gaze, but at the sight of the affectionate siblings, he ended up smiling sadly.
"Don't just stand there like that. Come and smile for your mother too."
With those words, the Grand Marquis moved his body, which had been blocking the gravestone, to the side.
Although he had heard the conversation from outside, Benio's eyes widened, seemingly surprised that permission was granted so easily.
As Benio passed by, holding Flora, all the Grand Marquis could offer him was an apology.
"I'm sorry for everything until now."
Faced with a direct, unabashed apology, Benio simply smiled.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
It was a simple statement, but the weighty sincerity within it made the Grand Marquis regret his past actions once more.
Benio, who had every right to feel wronged by his past treatment, showed no sign of it, expressing only the gratitude he felt now.
Seeing his grandson, whom he had always thought of as just a child, now grown into a dignified adult, made his eyes redden again.
"Mother, it's me. Your son, Benio. My sister Flora is here with me too."
"Hello, Mother. This is our first proper greeting..."
Watching the siblings speaking softly to the gravestone, the Grand Marquis smiled bitterly.
'How wonderful it would have been if you could see this with your own eyes.'
Why did you leave this world so early, hurting your father's heart like this?
'I don't know if I deserve it, but I miss you so much today.'
The Grand Marquis quietly looked up at the night sky.
He earnestly wished that among the brightly shining stars announcing their presence, one was his daughter.
'Please let her see her children, who have grown up healthy, from there. So she doesn't feel wronged for leaving the world so soon.'
Even after staring at the sky for a long while, the whispered conversation in front of the gravestone showed no sign of stopping.
Then, a boy standing quietly in the back, watching him, caught the Grand Marquis Eisollen's eye.
'His name is Basilian, I believe.'
Although he had retired from political life, he was once the one who led the Eisollen Marquisate, representing the neutral families.
'Indeed, he resembles the original owner of that name. No, it's more than just a resemblance, isn't it?'
Even though age had made his body inconvenient, his mind hadn't aged, allowing him to quickly recall a pitiful child he had seen in the past.
'No wonder he looked familiar when we met last time.'
Having instantly discerned Basilian's true identity, the Grand Marquis Eisollen couldn't help but feel troubled.
"Basil, come here! It's time to introduce my friend to Mother!"
Hearing the familiar nickname for him come from Flora's mouth, now smiling brightly instead of looking sullen, he felt a sigh escape him.
'Of all people, she had to befriend the Crown Prince. This is troublesome, very troublesome.'
Basilian, looking cautious, approached with quick steps and sat beside Flora.
"Mother, this is my friend. His name is Basilian. He's very kind and a good person."
"Hello, Mother. My name is Basilian. My life changed after meeting Flora. Thank you for giving birth to Flora, who is so precious to me."
"Basil, why are you so serious? Mother will be surprised, wondering if you're really a child."
Hearing her playful tone, the boy gave an embarrassed, youthful smile. It was a face the Grand Marquis had never once seen during his time frequenting the Imperial Palace.
Watching the three of them so warm and cheerful, the Grand Marquis finally let out a small sigh, quiet enough for them not to hear.
'Enduring this alone must be reaching its limit.'
Following the Crown Prince's disappearance and the Holy Sword that vanished with him, and with the Imperial family turning the empire upside down to find them, the end was surely near.
'It seems Flora doesn't know.'
The Grand Marquis's gaze naturally shifted to Benio. He looked comfortable, smiling contentedly, but his attitude wasn't that of a subordinate.
'Benio knows. Then the Duke Lucifer must know too... Are they protecting him knowingly? Even if they are an isolated family, they wouldn't be unaware of the political situation...'
Hiding him from high-ranking nobles is risky enough, but bringing him here might mean they want something special from Eisollen.
'Such as protection, or perhaps a request for backing.'
It seemed necessary to meet and talk with him directly.
"Grandfather! Grandfather, come here and say something nice to Mother too!"
Perhaps bothered by the Grand Marquis standing apart, Flora raised her hand high and called out to him.
Before he could even answer, his granddaughter ran over, *dododo*, grabbed his hand, and said she would help him. Her appearance was utterly adorable.
'For now, it's best to enjoy this atmosphere.'
He had a bad feeling he would be saddled with complicated problems, but for now, he wanted to think only of good things.
"Alright, let's go."
He didn't want to erase the genuine heart and smile he had found after so long.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
It seemed the Grand Marquis Eisollen wanted to express his apology on a grand scale.
Flora looked with weary eyes at the pile of gifts accumulating in her room.
"The Grand Marquis has sent you some adorable autumn dresses that would suit you, Young Lady. It would be so nice to wear them during your stay here."
Summer was just passing, and he was giving autumn clothes as a gift?
'This is just him telling us to stay until autumn.'
At first, the gifts were nice, but realizing the ulterior motives packed within them started to make her uncomfortable.
"Autumn in the Eisollen Marquisate is truly beautiful. With the cool autumn breeze, the surrounding mountains are dyed in pretty leaf colors, and the streets are overflowing with food, always filled with delicious smells that excite everyone. It's truly a season of peace and abundance."
The head maid joined in, tempting Flora like this, saying she would surely be satisfied if she stayed.
The Grand Marquis was grumpy but affectionate, and the Marquis also regarded Benio and Flora with a gentle, admiring face.
Was that all? Everyone in the Marquis's household cherished the two of them.
Their first meal together had ended in disaster, but the following week was always enjoyable.
'But I can't stay here forever.'
When Benio subtly inquired about the will, he was met with smiling faces saying there was no hurry and to take their time, so the day of their return home kept getting postponed indefinitely.
'This can't go on.'
Honestly, the Eisollen Marquisate was a comfortable place to stay.
'If I leave here, I'll have to part with Basilian too.'
Basilian had said he would see Flora off when she returned home and then return to his own home, and he was still staying alone in that lodge.
'He seemed to be getting more comfortable handling demonic energy lately.'
Since it was a place people rarely visited, it was a great spot to practice demonic energy together.
'If I stay longer, I'm sure I'll be able to part with Basilian properly later.'
But right now, wasn't there a pitiful, gentle bear waiting for Benio and Flora to return in the distant north?
'Our dad... What if he gets depressed because he misses me?'
Flora leaned her upper body against the windowsill, using the excuse of getting some air, and let out deep sighs.
'If I'd known it would be like this, I should have at least said goodbye before leaving.'
She had put it off because she was leaving secretly, and had ended up forgetting without realizing it, but now she regretted it.
'I should have sent a letter earlier. A letter? Why didn't I think of that?'
A good idea suddenly occurred to her, and she smiled brightly.
'Wait, I can just tell Dad to come here instead!'