Chapter 117………………………………………………..
“What is it?”
Ron pouted, his lips pushed out, and asked, “What is it?”
I let go of his cheek and exhaled quietly, trying to ease the tension.
“Grandfather.”
“Hm?”
“He said he wants to sincerely apologize to you.”
After Ron had been purified, one day, Grandfather came to me and asked how he could approach Ron.
I decided to help him.
“Actually, a while back… before you went missing, Grandfather went to the temple… because he wanted to save his grandchild— you.”
“…”
“But at that time, there was no one with enough sacred power, so it seems it didn’t work out.”
Ron’s eyes slowly dropped downward.
Watching him, I continued.
“But Ron, I think you don’t have to meet Grandfather if you don’t want to. Your feelings are always the most important.”
After a long moment of thought, Ron moistened his dry lips and met my gaze again.
“Where is he now?”
The door to where Veil had been staying opened.
Marianne, who went in first, signaled with her eyes that Ron was coming soon.
He seemed nervous, gripping his staff and then putting it down repeatedly, until finally, he placed it aside and clasped his hands together.
Eventually, Ron entered.
“…Ron.”
Marianne stepped aside for a moment, giving them space.
The door closed, and silence settled.
Veil’s gaze fell directly on his grandson.
The hair, the deepest blue among their bloodline.
Ron was a short, small boy.
Veil stared at him silently, recalling the time he had hidden this child in the forest.
He had been much younger then.
A heavy stone seemed to settle in his chest.
He had known that the choice he made to protect the family would eventually bring bitter pain—but it hurt more than he expected.
“Ron… Ron Keraise… it’s all my fault.”
“You know that well.”
“I’m sorry… really… I’m sorry.”
Ron swallowed his rising emotions and pressed his lips together.
Whenever he faced his grandfather, memories of the past inevitably came back.
The days he had lived as a slave.
Those events were etched vividly in his mind.
And then…
“…Mother. Because of me, Mother died. Father spent each day in grief and pain, not even knowing why he went missing.”
Resentment mingled in Ron’s red eyes.
“Without realizing that his son had been sacrificed for the family, Father… he clung to the family day and night. It was the only way to forget the emptiness of losing his son and wife.”
Tears flowed from Veil’s eyes.
He lowered his head helplessly, unable to stop crying.
“…This wretched… grandfather will disappear. But before I die, I wanted to apologize to you.”
“I have no intention of forgiving you. Yet you die as you please?”
“…”
“Please live long. And see clearly how my future unfolds. I was born under the fate of being a seed of disaster—so see what kind of life I will eventually lead.”
Veil buried his face in his wrinkled hands.
Ron never forgave him.
It was an outcome Veil had long expected.
It was a sin he himself could not bear.
Lowering his trembling hands, he slowly lifted his head.
“…Yes… I will do that… I will live long, carrying guilt for those hurt by me.”
Veil met Ron’s gaze, his tear-stained eyes locked with the boy’s for a long while.
Watching him struggle to speak, Ron felt a piercing pain in his chest.
At the same time, there was emptiness.
As if all emotions had poured out with his ragged breathing.
Ron stood up.
He bowed gently and left the room.
“Ron!”
Seeing Marianne waiting outside, Ron felt a surge of emotion.
He forced a smile, holding back his tears.
Seeing her smile, he said,
“Let’s go, Ann.”
“Mm.”
Ron and Ann sat facing each other in the garden, eating meringue cookies handed to them by the chef, Puree.
They didn’t speak.
Whenever they finished a cookie, they took another; when their throats felt dry, they drank warm milk.
After finishing the plate, Ron finally spoke.
“…Ann. Am I a bad person?”
“Hm?”
“I didn’t accept Grandfather’s apology.”
Ann’s heart ached seeing Ron’s sadly lowered eyes.
“No. You’re not a bad person. You’re just Ron. And I think it’s good that you can be honest with your own feelings.”
Ron lifted his gaze.
“Really?”
“Yeah. So Ron, if you’re sad, it’s okay to be sad. If it hurts, it’s okay to be honest about that too. Afterward, I’ll be here to comfort you.”
“Thank you, Ann.”
Ron smiled faintly at her, a soft and beautiful smile, as if returning the favor.
Several days passed.
Ron left with Gurter.
We parted with smiles, thinking we would meet again soon.
Of course, at that time, we didn’t know how long it would really be.
After Chevert, Ron, and Gurter left, there was a long period of boredom.
The sudden absence of the people who had been nearby left a bigger void.
It wasn’t just me who felt it.
The Duke sometimes spent tender moments with me and Krimu, but at times he looked distant, staring at the horizon with a sad expression, probably thinking of his sons.
Cauts prayed daily for the safety of his destined other half, whom he missed.
The youngest, Krimu, was the most cheerful.
He could hold a sword properly now and was learning etiquette well.
Of course, that was partly because of what I had said:
“Krimu, Elizabeth likes amazing people. So you have to eat well and study hard, right?”
“Mm!”
Elizabeth had been the second daughter of the Sergia family, whom I met years ago at my first tea party.
Krimu became close friends with her because he often visited the Sergia household afterward.
The effect of Krimu’s first crush was incredible.
Seeing healthy Krimu today, I suddenly thought of Ron and Chevert.
I wondered what they were doing now.
It was already summer here.
But Loudne was on the northern border, so it was still a little cold.
I took out a letter Ron had sent in the past to soothe my melancholy.
[Ann, are you well? You’re not sick, right? As soon as I arrived, I met Brother Chevert. He scolded me, asking why I came. But when he realized I had been purified, he suddenly hugged me. Now, he gives me warm soup every day in his share.]
The Duke was very disappointed that his name was never mentioned in the letter.
He was furious, saying raising sons was useless and wanted to storm over.
He was barely restrained.
I replied to Ron’s letter, asking him to inquire about my father next time so he wouldn’t get sulky.
Later, a letter arrived from Chevert.
[Pa, you don’t know how many times Ron tore the paper I wrote ‘In’ on. Only when he fell asleep could I finally write a letter. So I won, in the end. Hahaha.]
Chevert’s letters were always so Chevert-like.
The funny thing was that from the beginning to the end, it was all about Ron.
[Now that Ron has been completely purified… hmm, I don’t know what to do with this little guy, so I just feed him a lot. He keeps insisting on fighting monsters, which is annoying.]
Even though he was bothered by his younger brother Ron, he seemed to care for him a lot.
Reading the brothers’ letters warmed my heart.
Of course, not including the Duke.
Chevert, too, omitted any greetings about the Duke.
Truly, the sons of the Keraise family!
Time passed quickly.
Then suddenly, I snapped back to reality.
Ah, right—I need to leave.
This would be the best time, with Chevert and Ron gone.
I hurriedly packed my bag.
Though I wanted to stay at the Duke’s mansion, once Chevert returned, I would have no choice but to marry him.
Right now, Chevert would never allow a breakup, and the Duke had long regarded me as his future daughter-in-law.
So, leaving far away was the only option.
‘I’ll notify him of the breakup later.’
I checked all the money I had saved.
With this amount, I could live freely for life.
I only shared my escape plan with Cauts.
Though I would miss many people at the Duke’s mansion, this plan had to remain secret.
I planned to write letters to them later.
Cauts readily agreed to accompany me.
“You’re leaving with me?”
“Yes, Miss. Who else gave me a chance to be reborn like this? It’s you, Miss.”
“What about your little deer, Cauts?”
“…Huh, Miss… did you know?”
“Mm. In this mansion, no one doesn’t know about the black bear and the little deer.”
Cauts’ pupils shook violently.
Wiping his reddened cheeks, I spoke firmly.
“Anyway, I chose you. When the little deer returns to Loudne, then they can choose—Keraise family or me.”
Of course, he would choose me.
Leaving that unsaid, Cauts placed his jeweled hand on his chin and gave a charming smile.
“Cauts, you’re amazing!”
“Miss, you gave me confidence. Taught me how precious and beautiful I am. By the way, where will you go?”
“Hmm… still thinking.”
A lukewarm breeze blew through the open window.
My eyes naturally drifted to a blossoming tree, and suddenly, my uncle’s words came to mind.
‘Ann, the Delve family also has a guardian deity.’
“Right! Guardian deity!”
