Episode 142
"Father, if you keep crying like this, you'll harm your health. I understand how you feel, but Nersha wouldn't want you to shed tears like this either."
"I know, you rascal."
Grand Marquis Eisollen wiped his tears with a handkerchief and let out a deep sigh.
For the eldest in the family, his tears flowed too easily, leaving him with no face to show the children.
The Marquis looked at his father with a pitying face, then plopped down opposite him and asked.
"……Father, aren't you concerned about the oracle concerning Flora?"
"I am not."
At the firm reply, the Marquis grinned as if he had expected it.
"That's admirable. To be honest, I was a little afraid at first."
He had briefly entertained the absurd thought that perhaps Flora's existence might bring a bad outco to the family, and that was why Nersha had left like that.
'Maybe I just wanted to bla everything on soone.'
But after hearing Nersha's will, he realized how foolish all those thoughts were.
No one had the right to judge the harsh and cruel fate decreed upon Flora, the ultimate maternal love that wanted to free her from that fate, or her subli death.
The only thing those left behind could do was rember Nersha's final words, respect her wishes and will, and cherish her mory.
"Given the matter with the cane as well, it seems wise to distance ourselves from the Temple."
At the Marquis's sudden statent, the Grand Marquis looked quite surprised.
"……Didn't you say you needed ti to think?"
No matter that the Grand Marquis was the elder of the Eisollen Marquisate, the one who currently held the real authority of the Marquisate was the Marquis.
The conversation he had with Basilian had been relayed to the Marquis through the Grand Marquis, but he had not yet settled on a definitive course of action.
He was afraid of the neutral family establishing a clear political stance starting from his generation.
He too had much to protect, and no matter how reasonable his father's words were, he needed ti to think for himself.
But now, he had to firmly decide the path to take.
"I will accept what you said, Father. From today, Eisollen will beco the sword and shield of His Highness the Crown Prince."
At the Marquis's firm declaration, the Grand Marquis struggled to hold back his tear-filled eyes and nodded.
"This decision will be a heavy burden for you. Others will point fingers at us and heap much criticism upon us. Don't think you have to bear it all alone. I won't just stand by and watch from the sidelines either."
Surprised by the resolute voice, the Marquis asked,
"……Surely you aren't thinking of intervening directly?"
"How could I send the young Crown Prince alone into that murderous Imperial Palace? If I discover him and wish to beco his teacher, I can stay by his side."
He hadn't been negligent in his studies in the past, so it wasn't a bad pretext.
"……While we might be his only allies for now, if the Crown Prince gains power later, we might be cast aside. Shouldn't we prepare counterasures for that in advance?"
"Don't worry about that. Children are more honest than adults."
"Pardon?"
Not understanding what he ant, the Marquis asked again, but the Grand Marquis gave a vague answer, saying it was just how things were, and omitted a detailed explanation.
"Once the family in the Imperial Capital returns, we will begin moving in earnest, so make preparations bit by bit."
As he even changed the subject, telling him to stop ntioning it, the Marquis had no choice but to end the conversation with a lingering sense of regret.
'A new wind will blow through the Imperial Palace.'
The Crown Prince returning with the Holy Sword would surely cause a great stir throughout the empire, beyond just the Imperial Palace.
To make this a success, they had to move without rest.
'First, I must et the Crown Prince.'
The Marquis stood up from his seat with a faint smile.
It was the beginning of a new alliance.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
Four days had already passed since Athanas arrived in Eisollen territory.
"It's a sha you're leaving so soon."
It was a late departure for having decided to return imdiately after seeing the will. But partings always brought regret.
Hiding her mixed feelings of relief and sadness at the Grand Marquis's words, Flora smiled brightly.
"Grandfather, co visit us in Lucifer territory later. It's beco incredibly better than before."
"Yes, I'll definitely co visit. Don't say you're bothered when I do. This old man would be hurt."
At the playful words, Benio and Flora laughed out loud.
'I disliked him so much at first, who knew we'd beco this comfortable.'
The human heart was truly unknowable.
The luggage was quickly loaded. Since Athanas planned to depart a little later to relocate Nersha's grave, all that was left was for the two of them to board the carriage.
"Oh, Grandfather. Here, a present."
What Flora took out was a small gift box. Seemingly having expected nothing like this, the Grand Marquis's eyes widened.
When he opened the box, several small ointnt jars were neatly arranged inside.
"W-what is this?"
So flustered by the surprise that he even stamred, Flora grinned, and Benio explained as if he had been waiting.
"It's an ointnt currently being distributed in Lucifer. Made from dicinal herb fruits with excellent healing properties, it should be effective for reducing pain. So even say it's like a panacea."
"Grandfather, your knees hurt a lot, so you must use it generously, don't save it. One jar lasts about a month, so when you finish it, I'll send you more."
Just as the knee pain had started again since the Temple-given cane disappeared, becoming a headache, he never expected to receive such a gift.
Touched by his grandchildren's warm hearts, the Grand Marquis felt his eyes grow hot again.
But he couldn't show tears until the final farewell mont, so he smiled brightly, the wrinkles smoothing out.
"Thank you. I'll use it well."
"The matching bracelets have the power to ward off magical beasts. There's one for Uncle, as well as for Aunt and Cousin, so please rember to give them theirs."
No sooner had Flora's words ended than the Marquis subtly approached and peeked into the box the Grand Marquis held.
"So this is the famous Lur Bracelet I've only heard about."
Seeing his unusually sparkling, covetous eyes, Athanas, who had been standing quietly nearby, stepped forward and subtly asked,
"Are you interested in investing? We were planning to expand the business to other territories, and if it's Eisollen, I think we could trust and work together."
"It seems we have even more to discuss!"
At the Marquis's eager agreent, laughter spread among the gathered people.
"You've certainly aged for the better. You've beco quite the noble, different from before."
"I'll take that as a complint."
Amid the cheerful atmosphere, Flora was laughing along, but her gaze kept scanning the surroundings.
'Is he not coming?'
No matter how much he was hiding his presence, it was the mont for final goodbyes, and Basilian showed no sign of appearing.
'When I went to the cabin yesterday, he wasn't there either......'
Just as she thought they might part without even seeing his face, the sound of running footsteps ca from sowhere, and soone appeared before them.
"Basil!"
Identifying the figure, Flora ran over without looking back and hugged the person who had appeared.
"Why are you only coming now! I thought I wouldn't get to see you!"
"Sorry. I wanted to be as punctual as possible, but......"
At her upset, grumbling words, Basilian apologized repeatedly and hugged Flora back just as tightly.
"I thought it wasn't my place to intrude, but thinking we won't see each other for a long ti, I still wanted to see you off."
"It's okay. I'm glad you ca. I would have been really sad if you hadn't. I'm so happy you ca."
No matter how much they were accommodating him, it must have been difficult to appear during a family mont.
She was grateful to Basilian for coming, prepared to be driven away, and she really didn't want to part.
'What do I do? I feel like I'm going to cry.'
She didn't usually cry this easily, but it seed partings were an exception.
As Flora sniffled, holding back tears, Basilian looked at her face carefully.
"Don't cry. Why are you crying?"
"I don't want to say goodbye. Are you really not allowed to stay by my side?"
Knowing it was an unreasonable, childish tantrum, Flora wanted to grab the hem of his clothes and beg him not to leave.
"……I'm sorry."
Yet, the reason he couldn't was that Basilian didn't wish for it either.
"……No. I'm sorry for being clingy. It's not like we'll never see each other again; we can et later, right?"
"Of course, definitely. I'll write and send you letters."
"You promise?"
When Flora suddenly thrust out her pinky finger, Basilian smiled and hooked his finger with hers.
Only after their firm promise was made did Flora's eyes calm down a little.
"By the way, where were you yesterday? I couldn't find you anywhere."
"Ah, I went out for a bit yesterday. You see......"
With a shy face, Basilian pulled sothing out from his pocket.
It was a small box. When opened, a single hairpin with a small floral engraving lay neatly inside.
"I wanted to give you a present before you left. But when I rushed to buy one, I couldn't find anything I liked, and by the ti I found a good one, I returned ho too late."
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