Volume 8
Chapter 10
"A portrait of the newborn Irisdina and Filana. Victor wanted to preserve the image of the two and drew it himself."
Madam Parline picked
up a single mother-daughter painting.
Nozomu didn't know how
artistically superior the painting was.
But it was a painting
that strangely drew the eye, one that made him smile just by looking at it.
For a while, Nozomu
was captivated by the held-up portrait, as if he had been struck by a fever.
"She's a
beautiful person... And she looks so happy..."
"She was happy.
Without a doubt... But she couldn't live long."
While muttering
meaningful words, the madam drained the wine in her cup at once. At her voice,
which seemed to echo in the core of his chest, Nozomu couldn't help but hold
his breath.
Nozomu knew the ending
that would follow. Because he had heard the general story from Somia before.
However, the words
spoken by the person involved came crashing down on Nozomu with a weight that
was suffocating.
"A while after
Lady Irisdina was born, Lady Filana became pregnant with her second
child."
As if to follow Madam
Parline's words, this time Mena opened her mouth.
Perhaps remembering
that time, the head maid had a tragic expression on her face.
"However, due to
her original frail constitution, my lady's health gradually began to
decline."
Filana, who had always
been weak, had gradually lost her strength due to her pregnancy, and she had
become bedridden more and more often.
Still, Filana, as a mother,
would smile so as not to worry her daughter or her husband, and her daughter
would also return a smile so as not to make her mother worry.
"Unlike the child
in her womb, who was growing up smoothly, my lady gradually became emaciated,
and eventually, she couldn't even stand."
The mother, who was
weakening in contrast to the smooth growth of the fetus. That sight was as if
the mother were giving her own life to her child, Mena said.
Nozomu let his
thoughts wander, wondering what kind of feelings Irisdina must have been
experiencing while constantly watching her mother grow weaker up close, but no
words came to him. Instead, an indescribable bitterness simply spread deep
within his chest.
"Although the
young lady thought about whether she could do something for her mother, at that
time, there was nothing the young lady could do, and my master had already
called for a skilled doctor from all over the country and had gathered rare
medicines, but my lady's body was already at its limit."
The burden that had
drastically increased due to her pregnancy was too heavy for Filana's
originally weak body.
It was very similar to
a hole opening up in a rotten ship's bottom.
No matter how many
stakes you drove in to plug the hole, it would only widen the hole in the
rotten ship's bottom. Even if you tried to bail out the water, the collapsed
bottom plates could not withstand the water pressure, and holes would open up
one after another.
The treatment that
Victor had desperately administered, and Irisdina's earnest wish, had only been
able to extend Filana's fading time by a little.
"And Filana,
after giving birth to Somilliana in front of Irisdina, left this world..."
The sorrowful words of
Mazarinette melted into the air as if they were seeping in.
"In front of my
lady's remains, while holding Lady Somilliana, who was letting out her first
cry, Lady Irisdina swore.
In place of her
deceased mother, she would protect this small life..."
A younger sister born
at the cost of her mother's life, and a young older sister who had etched a vow
in her heart while hugging that small life.
The beginning of the
event that had set Irisdina's own path.
Even though it was not
something he had experienced himself, Nozomu was clenching his fist with a pain
that was squeezing his chest.
"The reason
Irisdina decided to become the head of the family was also to protect
Somilliana."
Although she was now
called the next head of the family, according to Mena and the others, it seemed
that she had not been named as the next head of the family from birth.
At that time, the
person who was said to be closest to that name was Irisdina's uncle, Victor's
younger brother.
As for Victor, he had
had no intention of having Irisdina succeed him from the beginning.
When one considered
the responsibilities that the head of the family shouldered, it was not hard to
understand.
However, Irisdina,
after undergoing a grueling training, had made her father acknowledge her worth
as the next head of the family.
"Could it be that
joining the Silver Rainbow Knights is also..."
"To become the
head of the family, a conspicuous achievement is also necessary. In that sense,
joining the Silver Rainbow Knights would be a great plus for her to become the
head of the family."
The fame of the Silver
Rainbow Knights, which had been established after the great invasion, was
abnormally high in contrast to its scale and short history.
It was said that a
single knight could cut down over a hundred demonic beasts, and that if three
knights were to gather, they could easily slay a dragon.
What was particularly
famous was their breakthrough of the valley city.
The anecdote was that
they had broken through the valley city, which had become a den of demonic
beasts, with just ten knights and had opened a path of blood.
Such a story was so
widely spread that its ability and fame were renowned throughout this Arkmel
continent.
"Of course,
Irisdina must have also had the wish to protect many people. It wasn't just her
father who supported her sickly mother. It was also the people who served the
Francilt family, and there were the citizens of the domain as well. Even though
she was young at the time, she understood that."
The nobles are
supported by the people, and the people make the nobles' way of life one of
their spiritual supports.
Nobles and commoners
have a relationship where each supports the other, just as the kanji for
"person" (人) illustrates.
Mazarinette stated
that Irisdina learned this truth and what it means to be a noble from her
father and mother from a young age.
"After deciding
to protect Lady Somilliana, the young lady devoted herself to her training and
studies as if she were literally carving her own body."
The resolve she had
sworn to her deceased mother. With that feeling in her heart, Irisdina
continued to strive to become a full-fledged noble who would stand above
others.
She learned how to use
a sword and magic from Mena, and she learned how to behave in high society from
Mazarinette and Victor.
"That sight was
truly like that of a swift that cannot live unless it continues to fly."
As she said that, she
took out from the scattered furnishings a small rapier, about the length from
Nozomu's elbow to his fingertips.
It had almost no
decoration and was an item that had been designed for practical use only.
"What is
this?"
"It is a practice
rapier that the young lady used at that time."
As Nozomu was
examining the handed-over rapier, he noticed something.
A black mark that was
stuck to the slender hilt. At the stain, which was clearly different from the
marks of dirt or sweat, and was like that of rusted iron, Nozomu's eyes
sharpened.
"Is this a
bloodstain?"
"Yes..."
At the words that
Nozomu had let slip, Mena nodded with her eyes downcast.
A bloodstain that made
one see that it had been dropped and stained many, many times, from the fact
that its shades were varied, being dark in some places and light in others.
Furthermore, when he
looked closely at the stuck bloodstain, the faint mark of a small hand appeared
on the hilt. That affirmed Nozomu's prediction.
The girl who had been
using this rapier had probably continued to swing this rapier without a care,
even if her blood blisters had burst. For many, many years.
"The young lady's
wish is the happiness of Lady Somilliana. And to fulfill her own responsibilities
and to protect many people. For that, she will spare no effort."
"The way I put it
may be bad, but if necessary, the current Irisdina might even fully exploit
those wily, old nobles. It's probably a feeling that a boy like you can't quite
understand yet..."
At Mazarinette's
words, Nozomu couldn't help but widen his eyes.
As if his heart had
been squeezed, his chest became tight with pain.
As she said, Nozomu
had no sense of being a noble at all, and he did not feel any more than the
words themselves about the responsibilities that Irisdina shouldered.
But still, Nozomu was
not so foolish as to be unable to imagine the pressure that Irisdina had
shouldered.
The current Irisdina
was seventeen. She had long since made up her mind to shoulder something that
was far too great for her back to bear.
"In a sense, it
can be called her dream."
"...A
dream?"
"That's right. A
dream is a desire to 'become a certain kind of person.' Practice and training
are the means to that end.
For Irisdina, her
dream is probably to 'become a person who can protect her relatives to the end'
and 'to become a person who can fulfill her own responsibilities and protect
many people'."
"..."
At the shape of
Irisdina's dream, Nozomu couldn't help but fall silent.
Nozomu gently placed
his hand over the bloodstain on the hilt of the rapier.
"What's
wrong?"
"No, I just have
some thoughts..."
Nozomu had known that
Irisdina's goal was to join the Silver Rainbow Knights, and he also remembered
her saying that she wanted to save many people. But he had hardly ever thought
about what was behind that.
The size of the stuck
bloodstain was about half of Nozomu's hand. At its smallness, Nozomu's chest
tightened in spite of himself.
Now, Nozomu was
feeling a part of the responsibilities that Irisdina had shouldered.
(She's so far away...)
An indescribable
bitter feeling welled up to his throat.
What came back to
Nozomu's mind was Irisdina's smile. The person who had accepted him, the person
he didn't want to lose.
While picturing her,
who was looking forward and walking on, while shouldering many things he
couldn't even imagine, Nozomu was feeling an unbearable sense of distance and
desolation.
***
"So, how long are
you going to play dead?"
In the study after
Nozomu had left, when Mazarinette poked Victor, who was still slumped over his
desk, his body, which had not moved an inch until now, sat up.
"I can't drink
with that brat..."
While adjusting his
wrinkled collar, Victor let out a dissatisfied voice.
While looking at the
angry Victor, Mazarinette was waving her hand with an exasperated look. It
seemed she was dissatisfied with Victor's current answer.
"For all that,
you didn't interrupt Irisdina's story. You were planning on letting him hear
it, weren't you?"
"..."
The silent Victor.
That attitude affirmed Madam Parline's words.
Originally, Victor had
also intended to check Nozomu.
Nozomu and Irisdina.
The status of the two was separated by as much as heaven and earth.
The reason Nozomu had
had little sense of that until now was because the place where he had met
Irisdina was, in a word, this Arcazam.
This Arcazam did not
receive interference from any country. The status of a noble or royalty was an
object of respect here, but it was not directly linked to power.
In a sense, a blank
space in the world's power structure. Precisely because they had met in this
place, the two had been able to advance their relationship to the point of
becoming friends so smoothly.
Of course, as for
Victor, he also thought it was a good thing that his daughter's circle of
friends was expanding, and he did not particularly interfere.
However, if this were
to become "something more," then it would be a different story.
Whether it was to just
use each other, or to have a relationship where feelings were exchanged, if
they were to shorten their distance by a certain amount, it was a fact that
they absolutely had to know.
Victor looked out the
window and let out a sigh.
"You also came to
this mansion with a hidden agenda, didn't you?"
As if to say, "I
know," at Victor's line, which was spoken with conviction, Madam Parline
only shrugged her shoulders.
To the noblewoman, who
was showing a vague expression, neither affirming nor denying, Victor also
continued to direct a hard gaze.
The one who spoke on
behalf of her master was Mena, who was watching the two from the side.
"So, why did
Mazarie decide to listen to the young lady's request?"
"You wouldn't be
satisfied with just 'I'm curious about Nozomu Bountis,' would you?"
"Yes, although
you said you were free, as a businesswoman, you should hardly ever have free
time. Perhaps there was another reason?"
"Well,
yes..."
As Mena said,
Mazarinette, who was a businesswoman, was always busy.
She herself would not
push her own work onto others, and her decisive personality would not allow her
to postpone problems.
Therefore, she
originally should not have had time to do something like being a dance
instructor.
"It's true that I
was curious about that boy. I also witnessed his mock battle with Jihad-dono.
To be frank, a shiver ran down my spine."
To confirm the
character of Nozomu Bountis was also, of course, one of her objectives.
Having seen the match
in the Martial Arts Garden where he had held his own against Jihad, there was
no one who would not be interested.
In fact, under the
surface, many scouts from various countries were competing to see how they
could sell themselves to Nozomu. The battle would probably begin at the
upcoming opening festival.
But what Mazarinette
had wanted to confirm was the shadow that was surrounding her old friends,
which had become visible in the process of investigating him.
"So, in the
process of investigating, I came across some various stories.
Apparently, your house
has been rather noisy lately, hasn't it? I just wanted to confirm that a
little."
Although the Francilt
family had been moving in secret recently, even from Mazarinette's point of
view, their movements seemed a little unsteady.
And what had become
visible in the process of investigating that was the connection between the
Francilt family and the neighboring Dizard Empire.
A secret pact with a
country with which they had not established diplomatic relations was a story
that could be taken as plotting a rebellion, depending on the circumstances.
Of course, as for
Mazarinette, she was well aware that Victor was not the kind of person who
would plot a rebellion.
If Victor were to plot
a rebellion, he would begin to act in earnest after completely making
arrangements with his relatives. There would be no such thing as being
unsteady.
In other words, the
fact that the Francilt family had been in a temporary state of confusion was proof
that something unexpected had also happened to this family.
"I've taken
measures. I've already spoken to the king."
Concisely, Victor
stated only a fragmentary result.
The establishment of
diplomatic relations with the Dizard Empire. That was Victor's countermeasure.
In other words, he was
thinking of covering up the secret pact, which was a stain on the Francilt
family's past, with the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Dizard
Empire.
The secret pact from
about three hundred years ago had already lost its effect.
Furthermore, since the
contract on the Wajiart family's side had been cut off by Nozomu, and the one
on the Francilt family's side had been disposed of by Victor, it was impossible
to prove the specific content of it.
As for the rest, if he
could convince the Wajiart family's side and change this secret pact itself
into a request for the dispatch of a diplomatic mission before diplomatic
relations were established, the content of the secret pact would be completely
buried in darkness.
To the Victor who was
only speaking of a fragmentary content, Mazarinette showed no sign of pursuing
it.
Because she had also
guessed to some extent about Victor's plan. The fact that there was also the
king's approval was also a big reason.
There was no way that
the King of Forsina, who had approved the establishment of diplomatic
relations, would not know of the Francilt family's current situation.
It was precisely
because he was aware of it that the King must have stamped his seal of approval
only after carefully assessing the domestic and foreign situation.
"But it seems the
'tyrant' is coming to this city soon, doesn't it?"
"You mean
Egurodo..."
The two's concern was
about the political enemy who would be coming to this city soon.
Egurodo Fabran.
He ruled the Fabran
family, which had a power and status comparable to the Francilt family, and was
a great noble who was in direct opposition to Victor in every way.
In fact, the Fabran
family had been on a path of decline because the previous head of the family
had repeated political failures.
However, when Egurodo
had taken the position of the head of the family about eight years ago, he had
quickly regained his power, and now he had regained enough power to stand
shoulder to shoulder with the Francilt family.
Especially in the
military, he had a stronger voice than Victor.
Perhaps remembering
the figure of the person in question, Victor frowned with a disgusted look and
snatched a nearby glass, pouring all the remaining wine from the bottle.
"That brute is
still targeting you. The previous generation was a fool, but that guy is quite
clever, and above all, he has a right-hand man who is too competent. He's
probably also heard of the commotion at your place."
"Still, he
probably can't do more than harass me. If he makes a mistake, it will be a
rebellion against the king. And I told you before, didn't I? I've taken
measures..."
"Well, if that's
the case..."
Along with a silence,
Victor and Mazarie, both, ended their conversation.
As if there was no
need to exchange any more words, Victor drained the wine he had poured into his
glass at once.
"By the way, is
it okay about Irisdina?"
"Ah, you mean her
saying that she's joining the Silver Rainbow Knights?"
"That too,
but..."
Mazarinette had also
taken a liking to Irisdina and had doted on her.
It was also because
she was her best friend's daughter, and she had even been impressed by the
sight of the girl who had not lost herself even when she had been exposed to
the dirty desires of people.
That was precisely why
she was worried about her.
Although her position
as the next head of the family was almost certain, the path she had chosen for
herself was extremely harsh.
If she were to join the
Silver Rainbow Knights and fulfill her duty, there was no doubt that Irisdina
would become the head of the Francilt family. Somilliana's safety would also be
secured.
While inheriting the
direct bloodline of the Francilt family, the second daughter, Somilliana, was a
prey that would make the hyenas who pursued power drool. Irisdina herself would
be able to eliminate the interference of such people.
However, at the same
time, the danger that would befall Irisdina herself would increase by an order
of magnitude.
It would probably
continue to beat down her slender body, without a break, just like the rain in
the rainy season.
To be in the Silver
Rainbow Knights, which prided itself on being an elite few, was to be in such a
position.
"There's nothing
I can do. My wishes aside, if that girl has decided so, then I want to let her
fulfill it to the best of my ability."
Victor, knowing the
danger that would befall such an Irisdina, affirmed her dream.
Of course, as a
father, he would rather die than send his daughter to such a dangerous place.
But still, he would
not stop his daughter. Because that was what Irisdina had thought and had
chosen from the bottom of her heart, in front of her deceased mother.
"And besides,
when a person lives, there is no way to escape from entanglements. Me,
Irisdina, and that brat too."
The shackle known as
the Francilt family. However, precisely because of that shackle, it could also
be said that Irisdina had been able to raise herself to that extent.
Because a shackle, for
the one who wears it, does not necessarily bring only negative aspects.
Irisdina had, on the
contrary, turned the shackle she had been born with into her own weapon. With
her vow to her crying mother and her father's back as her nourishment.
That could also be
said for Nozomu Bountis. He was also one of the people who had been caught in a
large shackle.
Unlike Irisdina, he
had not yet found that answer, but the time to choose would eventually come.
"To help as many
people as she can..."
Victor nodded at the words
that Mazarinette had murmured.
"To have lost her
mother, to have been exposed to a great deal of malice in the world of nobles
where demons and evil spirits wriggle, and to have still grown up straight,
that was truly a blessing."
"Well, I think your
influence was also great, you know."
"...Hmph."
At the sight of
Victor, who was turning away with an embarrassed look, Mazarinette's cheeks
relaxed.
Victor, while feeling
the lukewarm gaze of his friend who was sending him a look from his back, once
again made a vow to himself.
"I am the head of
the Francilt family. To fulfill my duty as the head of the family, and my
responsibility as a parent, I will resort to any means."
"Even if
it means brushing aside the hand of my daughter's beloved..."
While swallowing his
last words, Victor turned his eyes out the window.
Before he knew it,
snow was falling outside.
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