Volume 5 Chapter 7 Part 2
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Translation and editing: Team Foxsunes
To say the reason for my visit in one go, how should I express it but nonetheless expected of him. I observed him without uttering a word, while he tried to hold back his laughter.
「Even though I am a shut-in, the things regarding him reach my ears. I had suspected during the ceremony, but I have also heard about his half brother, the youth that came from Nerogrant.」
「…..I see.」
If that’s the case then we can solve the matter rather quickly. I looked away from father, who was having the cheese cookie, focused on my knees and little by little started speaking about what had happened the previous night. Since I was looking down, I didn’t know what kind of expression father had on his face. I felt my heart start to hurt as I continued speaking. Surely though, that man was hurting more than I. Maybe he hadn’t even realized that he was hurt. Thinking so made my heart ache even more, but somehow I stopped my voice from trembling.
After a great amount of pain, I had finished telling him everything. I took the cup, pressed against it, and moistened my throat, which had dried up without me noticing. I felt father gazing at me. I thought of speaking up but I couldn’t find any words. This gentleman raised that man since his childhood with unparalleled love and care. It wouldn’t be strange if he was angry at me. Despite that, father let out a sigh and with a bitter smile he said:
「That boy is truly a handful.」
I looked up spontaneously and saw him looking at me with a bitter smile, similar to the expression from his voice. His kind, light purple eyes had neither anger nor annoyance but it was only filled with light, light that worried for me. That light made me realize that I wanted father to be mad at me. I wanted to be punished by no other than this person for hurting his son. Yet, even so, father is looking at me in a way opposite to my selfish desire. Suddenly tears began to fill my eyes, and I had to cover my mouth to stop the words I wanted to express from coming out as sobs.
Why don’t you blame me, if you blame me then even I would. ….. 「Even I would」? What am I even thinking? I got angry at my cunningness. In the end, I wanted to repent by getting condemned by someone.
「You haven’t changed since all that time ago. You don’t usually cry but when it comes to that boy, you shed tears immediately.」
Father tilted his body off the sofa and wiped the tears off my face. The warmth of his hands made me start crying even harder, and he looked at me with his lovely light purple eyes, and he gently smiled again.
「Please don’t hate him. His words are definitely not worth praise, but he said them so you wouldn’t hate him.」
「It- it would be impossible for me to hate Edi. It is just that, he had good intentions… no, that’s why I was sad and felt mortified.」
He jokingly said「Yes, definitely. It is as you say. I should scold him for making such an attractive lady cry.」and then he took his hand off my cheeks, and put them over my hand which was on my knee.
「His half brother’s name was Lucius, right? He got his father’s name passed on to him, he was definitely raised with a lot of affection.」
I blinked my eyes in surprise to hear sarcasm from father, which was very unlikely of him.
「Do you know who Lucius’ father is?」
If I remember it right, Lucius’ father’s name was Lucion. I was told that when Lucious arrived at our mansion. It’s obvious that both names do rhyme but father said it in such a manner, that it showed he knew something. Father laughed a little and shrugged his shoulders.
「The answer would be yes, he was the one who came to me crying when Agedilius’ magical powers went out of control」
「…..!」
A tear from the corner of my eye rolled down my cheek as I opened my eyes wide with surprise. Waiting for me, who didn’t know what to say, he took another sip. His light purpose eyes grew thin, as if to remember things from more than 10 years ago.
「He should’ve relied on me before doing something like sealing. He probably did it out of pride, not out of parently love. It is quite disappointing.」
「Were you on good terms with Edi’s father?」
「To be precise, I was on good terms with his wife. My wife, Mirabel, was friends with Edi’s mother. She helped me a lot, along with the people from the Adina family when I lost Mirabel. I helped her out to my utmost extent when she decided to marry Lucion and I swore on her deathbed to help out in the matters regarding Edi…..but who would’ve thought that I’d be asked to dispose of his own child.」
Father didn’t sound like he was missing the good old days but rather, he sounded as if he was trying to suppress a grudge that kept haunting him. Dispose, the cold meaning of that word sent chills up my spine. Edi’s mother who gave birth to him in exchange for her own life wouldn’t be in peace after seeing how he is being treated. 「For me, it was a wonderful harvest since I got an adorable son. It was just about me gladly taking the boy in when Lucion didn’t want him. I’d probably need to thank Lucion properly, now that I think about it.」 said father and, even though he had his usual smile plastered on his face, something about the way he said it sent chills down my spine. Aah, I remember now. I had almost forgotten but everyone, including that man, agrees that he has a father complex and like him, this gentleman also loves Edi deeply. So, the current situation revolving around Lucius and his objective must be very unpleasant for father. My speculations were all bare in front of this sharp gentleman, even without me saying them out loud. He laughed a little and glanced at me, tilting his neck.
「No need to worry. I am willing to support his choice no matter what the outcome is.」
「Even if Edi decides to leave the country?」
Father further deepened his smile at my query and didn’t say anything. Above all, that was the answer. If this gentleman stops that man, then he would decide to stay in this country no matter what, and there is no way this gentleman doesn’t know that. Thus, he isn’t uttering a word on purpose. He understands what kind of person he is to that man. Such a difference in comparison to me who is stuck, and can’t even communicate properly. Looking at me not being able to say anything, father frowned worriedly. He stood up off the sofa and kneeled before me. Father extended his hands and began to gently brush my head. I lost track of words even more with his gentle, warm hands. He peered into my face and spoke to me, as if to a child.
「Filmina, it is okay for both of you to be more selfish.」
His gentle voice made my body and mind flutter.
I saw a reflection of me in his wisteria coloured pupils, and I looked as if I was about to cry. In desperation, I struggled and kept opening and closing my mouth, but the words would not come out. Although he didn’t blame me for this, he gently urged me to speak.
「 Well, Filmina. Try speaking. What do you wish for?」
「I…」
I wonder what I wish for? Do I wish to remain with that man together in this country? Do I wish to go to the neighboring country? Between the two options, I only have one simple criterion, that the man needs to be happy. That is all. His answer to this was quite similar too. He said it in an obvious manner that fulfilling my desires was his wish.
That man-made that dream come true, suddenly that’s what I wanted to say. However, that isn’t what I wish for. I, I…
「I wish to become happy with Edi.」
I just want him to be happy at all costs, and that’s neither false nor a lie. However, that’s not all, I want to be with him and be happy together.
Aah, that’s right. After all, that’s the way things should be, since my happiness is his happiness, and his happiness is my happiness. If our wishes can be fulfilled, then it doesn’t matter if it’s this country or another country. I honestly don’t care about our whereabouts anymore, as long as we can stay happy together.
But I want that man to realize this. I don’t want him to decide things while being oblivious of the people and their warmth surrounding him. Of course, our happiness won’t be complete with just the two of us, the true happiness is being surrounded by people we love, father, relatives from House of Adina, hero and his companions. I really want Edi to realize this. Nanny did.
「 I want him to notice that you and I aren’t the only people that can make him happy」
「…True. You are completely right.」
At my words, my father gave one slow nod, and as he stood up, he pointed his line of sight behind me…that is, towards the living room’s door.
「 Well then, Agedilus. You heard the story. How about you come on in?」
「ーーHuh?」
Wait a minute, father. What on earth are you talking about? I wanted to ask, but the words weren’t coming out. I was certainly displaying a foolish face then. With a vacant, widemouthed expression, I followed my father-in-law’s line of vision and looked behind me. Just then, the door slowly opened. There stood-
「Edi?! Y-you, when did you….?!」
There stood my husband, who I saw off this morning, Agedilus Van Lancent, the Head Magician of the palace, adopted son of my father-in-law, with an awkward expression on his tender, pale face. I stared at him with a dumbfounded expression and our gaze met, but I immediately averted my gaze.
No, no, no, wait, wait, wait, what is going on here?
Nonononono, I looked up at my father with a broken, vacant, doll-like expression. Father smiled at me mischievously and gave me a wink. Aah, so cool! I love you… – but, now isn’t the time to be saying such things.
「Sorry about this Filmina. Actually, this boy came to visit me before you came here. 」
「 Ah, um… That is to say…」
「… I heard all of it..」
「That’s right.」
「Edi! Father!」
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