T/N: Before we start the chapter, apparently, the Wyvern family is actually a Viscount family. All previous ntions of it being a baron family have been changed.
We arrived at a hill overlooking the city of Wevin.
The grass was green and lush even though it was fall, the trees that blocked the view of the city had been removed, and there were only small bushes here and there at regular intervals for landscaping.
The tombstone was in the middle of it all.
[Hoven Portman rests here.]
It was a short phrase.
Elric smiled bitterly and sat down in front of the tombstone.
This is all very like you.
The choice of location, overlooking the land hed worked so hard to build up, the neatness of the landscaping, the terseness of the inscription on the headstone it all reflected the man he rembered.
Given his personality, he would have taken care of all these matters himself before he died.
Just looking at the tombstone, Elric felt that he could picture his fathers final monts in his head.
Since you liked perfection so much, you must have really pushed the tradesn.
He was a man who would not tolerate even the smallest imperfections, so it was likely that many laborers had worked hard to prepare this burial site. They probably suffered from many injuries as well. He must have known about it well, but just didnt care.
It was no wonder that he had been nicknad, The Coldblooded, for it.
I didnt expect to et you again like this. Honestly, my idea of our reunion was a bit different.
Elric pursed his lips, not sure about what to say now, but eventually gave up trying to make head of the situation.
It would be a futile endeavor.
His outstretched hand brushed against the tombstone.
The stone was smooth, even after a year of use.
And, as expected, it was cold.
In this coldness, Elric summoned up his mories of his father.
He was a prominent figure who had raised the Portman Family, a small rchant family, to the top of Wevins ranks.
He was also an evil man who had created nurous enemies with his ruthless personality.
A lonely man who had never shown a smile, not even to his own children.
As he reminisced about all of these things, Elric realized sothing.
I dont resent you as much as I used to.
Facing the man he had once hated to the point of crying tears of blood, he felt no emotions in him.
He had been busy with life, busy rolling on the battlefield, and eventually, that resentnt had been diluted down.
It was a ridiculous thing.
Once he had shed his childish thoughts and let the man go, all that was left was a sense of regret.
What were his final monts like?
How did he live through those nine years without him?
Lost in thought, Elric stared at the na on the tombstone for a long ti.
He was a purely rational person until the mont he closed his eyes.
It was Aldio, who had left the wagon tied up sowhere.
Elric looked at him.
Aldios face was lost in his mories.
He had a heart disease. Only the two of us, the family doctor and I, know about the lords illness because he kept it secret until the end.
Is that so?
From the day that he learned that his days were numbered, he focused on organizing and liquidating all his businesses. I had a hard ti because of that too.
Aldio laughed heartily.
Elric let out a wry chuckle.
What a strange butler you are. What makes you think that this cold-blooded man was such a good person?
Co to think of it, it was true.
Aldio had been by his fathers side during every mont that Elric could rember.
He had worked tirelessly to fix things that Elrics father had overlooked and had taken care of Elric in ways that he hadnt even noticed until now.
Because of this, Aldio remained unmarried to this age. He had no siblings, no family, and was living as a part of the mansion itself.
And, Aldio must have known that his fathers wishes were not to be absent from his life, but he had just always seed indifferent.
He left plenty of money. What other reason could there be?
Even his shrug was almost smug-looking.
Again, a dry chuckle escaped Elrics lips.
Oh, youre not asking about it?
Hmm?
Its about the masters estate. Didnt I tell you? Weve liquidated everything possible.
Aldio laughed as Elric furrowed his brow and frowned in puzzlent.
All that money was inherited by you, sir.
Flinch-
Elrics fingertips trembled.
His gaze turned to the gravestone.
His face was filled with an unmistakable expression of surprise.
?
Yes, its what the master wanted.
The bewildernt he felt shook him.
He couldnt understand why the man had left him an inheritance.
Otherwise, if it was because he had wanted to see him, he was more than capable of doing so without leaving him an inheritance. And if he was sorry, he would have left an apology, not a legacy.
Elric opened his mouth blankly and then stamred, asking slowly.
Was there a will or sothing like that?
Although he questioned if his father had left so words to him in writing,
I dont think thats his style. There are no written instructions except for those related to inheritance. If you are curious about those docunts, I can show you, but
His father was not a man who changed like the wind, after all.
A sigh escaped his lips.
Feeling a little frustrated inside, he looked at Aldio with a longing for answers, but Aldio just shook his head.
I did not know Milords inner thoughts. You should know best that he would have been especially cold on that subject, he said.
Elrics lips were tightly sealed.
Why did he do such a thing, leaving only this much distress at the end, making Elric look so cruel?
What will you do with your inheritance?
Elric didnt answer the question.
A question he hadnt thought about since he was a boy turned over and over in his mind again.
As he exhaled a long breath and postponed his answer, Aldio lowered his head.
Take your ti and think about it.
Elric nodded his head.
He could only start to head back to the mansion with a vague feeling in his heart. As he gazed absentmindedly at the passing scenery, a question suddenly ca to mind.
Co to think of it.
Hmm?
My
He paused, the word caught in his throat.
For so reason, the word wife felt foreign to him.
Eventually, Elric glossed over it and skirted around the issue.
Why is she still in the manor? Because I left, the marriage should have been annulled.
The question was not answered imdiately.
Aldeo remained silent while driving the carriage, and then gave the answer belatedly.
It was an arranged marriage, wasnt it? A deal under the guise of a marriage, and so she was forced to stay married to you even though you were gone.
His voice was filled with bitterness.
Is that the reason?
Yes, it is. Although, Im sorry I didnt ntion this earlier.
About what?
Mr. Portman beca an eligible heir to the Viscounty.
Elrics jaw dropped.
Aldio turned his head and looked at Elric with a sowhat cautious expression.
My lordship obtained this title before he died. If you inherit the estate, that title will pass on to you. And, you may not rember, but.
Only then did Elric rember one fact that he had forgotten.
Sothing he had heard on the day of the wedding ceremony.
Viscount Wyvern was poor.
The Wyverns were a noble family so poor that they were forced to marry into the Portmans, a rchant family. In the arranged marriage, Tyria Wyvern had been put up as collateral, whilst they received money. The Portmans must have also received the title from the exchange.
Elric finally understood the causes and effects of his marriage.
I suppose I still owe you a favor.
It left a slightly bitter taste in his mouth.
If he were to be critical, he would call it pity.
The one thing he didnt understand was why she was still here, a year after his fathers death.
The heir to the mansion hadnt shown up at the funeral.
Thus, if she had wanted, Tyria could have taken over the inheritance as a proxy and returned to her family, but why didnt she do so?
When he asked Aldio about this, the answer that ca back was as followed:
It was Madams will.
Did she say why?
No.
Do you know why?
She wasnt a talkative person. In fact, its embarrassing for to say this, but we couldnt really develop a close relationship.
Aldio said, apologetically.
But Elric understood.
After all, her aura had an unapproachable noble quality to it.
Besides, even if one asked her sothing, she generally ended the conversation with short answers, so Aldio, being a servant, wouldnt have been able to force a conversation.
Elric laughed awkwardly.
Hmm, she seems like a difficult person.
But she is your wife, isnt she?
By na only. Ive only seen her face once.
Thats how it is for everyone in the beginning.
Although Aldios words were of a joking manner, it was really awkward from Elrics perspective.
Just this morning, he had felt so uncomfortable at the dining table that he had to force himself to swallow all his food quickly, just so that he could escape.
How could he face her now?
As he felt increasingly uneasy, he rubbed his nape again.
He started chatting with Aldio for a while, and before he knew it, they were back at the mansion.
Why dont you go in first, I will tidy up the carriage and co in later.
Alright.
Aldio moved away along with the carriage.
Thus, Elric entered the mansion with his cane in his hand again, running into another person almost imdiately.
A curious encounter indeed.
Ah, youre back?
Yes.
It was Tyria.
She had just co back from the wheat field, hugging a few stalks of wheat whilst wearing a straw hat. Her attire was simple enough to look like a laborers, but there was sothing noble about the atmosphere around her that made her look aristocratic even in a farrs clothes.
Ah, what could he do about this awkwardness?
A small smile tugged at the corners of Elrics mouth.
Uh umm.
Please, just speak clearly to .
Shall we go inside?
Tyria stared at Elrics face for a while before nodding her head.
Yes.
Elric regretted it again.
He hadnt ant to perpetuate the awkwardness, but he realized that his damn awkwardness had tried to keep the conversation going again.
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