Chapter 47
It had been a week since leaving Malpren Mountain when the expedition finally arrived in Spellwood.
Saint Irene, Hamilton, and the clergy returned to the Grand Temple, the imperial troops went back to their respective brigades, and the rest of the expedition headed to the Bernstein Duke’s residence for the time being.
Spellwood remained as quiet and peaceful as ever.
People continued their daily lives without knowing what had happened at Malpren Castle.
Some had lost their lives, and others had lost comrades they cherished as dearly as life itself—but nobody seemed to notice.
Other people could be excused.
But what about the emperor, who had pushed Castian’s back, or the Grand Minister, who had stood idly by even when the saint was kidnapped? Shouldn’t they have at least said something, like acknowledging the hardships endured during the expedition?
Those in high positions had no conscience at all.
Complaining to myself in the carriage did nothing, yet I couldn’t help mentally cursing both the emperor and the Grand Minister, wishing my words could somehow sting their ears.
When we finally arrived at the Bernstein Duke’s residence, Elisia was again waiting at the door.
It struck me that family was the only one who could welcome us like this.
Castian dismounted and bowed his head to Elisia.
“Mother, I have returned.”
“I heard the expedition was successful. You must be tired.”
“Did His Majesty say so? That the expedition was successful?”
“…Didn’t he?”
When Castian asked coldly, Elisia’s expression stiffened.
Though it was unclear what report had reached the emperor between Malpren Mountain and here, he seemed to have decided the expedition was a success since Castian had stopped the Demon Lord’s descent and rescued the saint.
Still, the thought that he was sitting comfortably in the palace without lifting a finger made me even more annoyed.
From one perspective, the expedition could indeed be called a success: the saint had been saved, and the Demon Lord’s descent had been stopped. The true mastermind, John, however, was still only a claim by Hamilton.
Castian gave a noncommittal answer to Elisia’s question.
“For now, yes.”
Though Elisia didn’t look entirely convinced, she didn’t make her son stand at attention any longer after such a long expedition.
“I’ve prepared a meal. Let’s go inside.”
As she turned, Elisia casually scanned around Castian. When our eyes met, she paused briefly and nodded in acknowledgment. Then she spotted someone and stopped.
It was a familiar yet unfamiliar face: Eden of the Bernstein Knights, returned as a soldier of death.
Having met her deceased husband, she immediately recognized Eden’s condition.
I bowed my head in apology, and Elisia’s gaze shifted back to Castian.
Though regret flickered in her amber eyes as she observed her son who had lost his most treasured subordinate, she still turned her body away, clumsy as ever.
The expedition members enjoyed a grand feast prepared by the Duchess of Bernstein, followed by a brief dismissal ceremony.
Although it was only brief—since all the knights belonged to the Bernstein order and the mages, including Ralph, were sponsored by the Duke—they were granted a short leave.
The issue remained, however, for those who could not attend either the feast or the ceremony.
Even those who had stayed by Castian’s side until the end—no longer members of the Bernstein Knights, or those deceived by the illusion, like Hamilton and the knights—began preparing to leave as soon as they returned to the Duke’s residence.
It was frustrating and saddening, but I couldn’t interfere with the affairs of the Bernstein Knights.
I had no choice but to return to my room and collapse onto the bed, exhausted from the long journey.
My body felt like waterlogged cotton, yet my heart felt even heavier.
On top of that, another issue had been gnawing at me relentlessly.
Burying my face in the pillow, I finally sprang upright.
Whether it concerned me or not, I couldn’t just stay still.
“Sir Eden.”
I decided I needed to discuss something with Eden and called his name toward the door.
From the shadows, Eden suddenly appeared.
“You startled me. Couldn’t you just open the door and come in?”
「It was to promptly carry out the master’s orders, but I will use the door from now on.」
“Please do.”
「Do you have an order for me?」
“I have something I want to ask.”
「Ask anything, my lord.」
“It’s about our knights… What happens to those who died while under the illusion?”
「What do you mean, what happens?」
I tried to phrase it delicately, but Eden tilted his head in confusion.
I couldn’t contain my frustration and raised my voice.
“The corpses! I mean, what about their funerals?”
The corpses of the knights, including those who had become my own, had returned with us to the Bernstein Duke’s residence, but nobody spoke about the deceased.
While Hamilton and the other knights’ positions mattered, my own knights mattered even more.
In this world, funerals were extremely costly.
Burial in family plots was reserved for nobles, and even commoners could hardly access public cemeteries.
So the general funeral custom in the Heimnad Empire was cremation.
If a Bernstein Knight died, Castian would arrange a plot in a public cemetery unless their family requested otherwise.
It was Castian’s consideration for those who had protected him and Bernstein.
Thus, the eight who died fighting the illusion and the Basilisk beasts would be buried in the cemetery, with a solemn ceremony hosted by the Bernstein family.
But what about the four knights who died while under the illusion?
「They will be handed over to their families or sent to the crematorium.」
Eden answered as if it were trivial.
Perhaps I was being overly sensitive compared to the previous world, where death was less common.
Those who had passed might not even care.
Still, ignoring their final moments weighed heavily on me.
If I could, I would bury all the imperial soldiers who had already found rest in a sunny place and offer grand memorial services!
Clenching my fists, I got up and flung open the drawer, taking out a small box wrapped in velvet.
Inside, a diamond necklace given by Elisia shimmered brilliantly.
Holding the necklace, I stood and spoke to Eden.
“Let’s go.”
「Where are we going?」
“To borrow money.”
I flung open the door, strode confidently down the hallway, and stopped after exactly ten steps.
I was at Castian’s door.
Knock. Knock.
Before he could speak, the door opened.
“Lydia, what is it?”
Seeing my solemn face, he exchanged a glance with Eden.
Eden shrugged in confusion, and Castian led me toward the sofa.
I didn’t sit and instead extended the box.
“What’s this?”
“Duke, I’ll give you this, so please lend me some money.”
It was a little embarrassing to use a gift from his mother as collateral, but it was the most valuable thing I had.
Castian blinked in astonishment.
“Money?”
“Yes. I want to buy something.”
“If it’s something you need, tell me. I’ll get it for you.”
“I want to buy land, Duke.”
“…Land?”
“Yes, land. Sunny, well-drained land.”
Castian stared at me, even more bewildered.
A few hours later, I was in a carriage with Castian heading toward the outskirts of Spellwood.
Even before my possession, I had never owned a house, so the thought of looking at land made me inexplicably excited.
Seeing me peering out the window, Castian gave a hollow laugh and muttered:
“I never imagined the first gift I’d give a woman would be a cemetery plot.”
I had never imagined receiving a cemetery as a gift from a man I liked.
And all I had asked was to borrow money—why did he insist on buying it?
I carefully controlled my expression to hide my excitement and deflected the topic.
“Your first gift to me was a dress. Don’t you remember?”
Castian paused, then asked:
“The one bought near Anga?”
“No, the cream-colored dress. The one you buttoned up for me.”
Thinking he didn’t remember, I explained eagerly. He furrowed his right eyebrow and shook his head.
“That wasn’t a gift. Surely you haven’t kept it?”
“It was from you, so of course I have.”
“I’ll buy you a better one. Throw that away.”
“No. It was my first gift from you, so I won’t.”
I turned my gaze out the window to avoid his insistence.
I couldn’t throw away anything I received from him, even if it was the wrong size.
I would save them carefully and one day, when I had to reminisce about him alone, I would take them out one by one.
That made this moment even more thrilling.
Even if it was a space for the knights who had become soldiers of death, it was now a place I could visit while thinking of Castian.
