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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: A Father's Choice
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‘Is he really going to let me ride because I said I've never ridden a horse before?’
It seemed that way.
The grandfather, holding me almost in an embrace, began to walk around the riding arena next to the stables.
“Whoa, wow.”
One lap, two laps… As if to give me, a first-time rider, time to adjust, my grandfather slowly picked up the pace.
‘My butt doesn't hurt at all! It's not even bumpy!’
Chessier told me it would make my bottom really sore.
For some reason, I felt as comfortable as if I were sitting on a plush mattress, and I wasn't being jostled around.
‘Am I better at this than I thought? Maybe I have a knack for it?’
“I've placed a temporary spell on the saddle to make it easier to ride. When you ride alone later, you'll have to get used to the posture becoming tiring.”
…Ugh, of course.
As if he could read his granddaughter's mind, who was excitedly getting ahead of herself thinking, *Am I a riding prodigy?!*, my grandfather stated it coolly.
“Oh, so that's what it was. Thank you. Hehe…”
My spirits lifted. Horseback riding was more fun than I'd expected.
After circling the arena for a while, my grandfather turned the reins and headed toward the back of the mansion.
The area behind the mansion connected to a low mountain. The horse began to pick up speed as it entered a gently sloping trail.
“Whoaaaa.”
With the refreshing dawn breeze, the beautiful scenery of the mansion came into view as our altitude gradually increased.
My heart pounded in my chest.
“G-Grandfather! I can see all the way to the town!”
From our suddenly elevated vantage point, the distant capital came into view at a glance.
The magnificent imperial palace, standing tall in the center.
The sacred and grand white temple.
The elegant townhouses of the nobles, like works of art, and the commercial district with its tightly packed buildings, large and small…
“It's so beautiful!”
My grandfather stopped the horse for me, as I was lost in taking in the beautiful scenery.
I stood there for a long while, feeling the cool breeze, before asking.
“Grandfather, weren't you supposed to come back with Dad tomorrow?”
“The banquet for the nobles was yesterday. The official reinstatement ceremony is today. But what's the point of me staying there until today?”
My grandfather clicked his tongue and added.
“There's no greater torment than having to stare at my tiresome son's face for over half a day, a face I already see at home all the time. I came back as soon as I could.”
“I see.”
I turned around and peeked at my grandfather, giggling.
Even as he said that, an undeniable affection showed on his face.
“What are you smiling at?”
“You look happy, Grandfather. That makes me happy too.”
“You think I look happy?”
“Yes. You're happy Dad is back, right? You must have missed him.”
“…Not at all. It was peaceful without that troublemaker around.”
“Oh, really? When we were in Zenon, Dad often said he missed you.”
“……”
“He said he was sorry for leaving without a word… He was heartbroken, saying you'd be so worried.”
I remembered what Dad had said when I once asked him, “Do you have a dad too?” as he thought of Grandfather.
“I get sad even when I'm away from Dad for a little while… But Dad was separated from you for so long… I thought he must be incredibly sad, and miss you so much.”
As I spoke, I looked up at my grandfather again.
“So, I was the one who insisted we return to the capital. I know why Dad wanted to keep living in hiding… but if we came to the capital, he could see you, and he could see Auntie…”
“Is that so.”
My grandfather chuckled and patted my head.
“I know Dad and you were separated for a long time because of me. I'm sorry for that…”
“That word 'sorry' seems to be stuck to your lips. Your father is the one who caused all the trouble, so why are you always the one apologizing?”
“But it's all because of me… The reason Dad left this place, and, and… the reason he has to go back to the battlefield now.”
I lowered my gaze. I could feel my grandfather tense up.
“Dad wouldn't want to fight in a bad war that hurts people from other countries… But he might have to because of me, right?”
“My child, Lilis.”
“Grandfather, I'm really okay. So please, can you tell Dad not to go to a bad war? Please?”
The grandfather looked at me for a long time with an unreadable expression before letting out a long sigh.
“This might be difficult for you to understand yet, but life doesn't always go as you wish. If you gain something, you lose something. If there's something you want to protect, there's something you must give up.”
“……”
“Your father never hesitated to lose or give things up. When he was young, I had to stop him several times from going to the emperor to make the ridiculous demand of abolishing the class system.”
That was so like Dad. Despite my gloomy mood, I couldn't help but smile.
“But in the end, he conformed, suppressing his own nature. It was because of me. Because he believed it was his duty not to go against his parent's wishes.”
“……”
“It won't be any different this time. At the moment of choice, that boy has always abandoned his own beliefs. He endured for my sake, his father, and now, for you, his daughter… he will make the choice that allows you to be happiest.”
Grandfather knew it too.
That to let me live as an ordinary noble lady, not a soldier…
Dad had taken up his sword, prepared to fight a battle that went against his own convictions.
“I am truly sorry that you have to live in a world like this. And that I cannot grant your request.”
My grandfather rested his hand gently on my head and added.
“I, too, could not bear to see you walk the line between life and death every day. Your father must feel it even more strongly than I do.”
“……”
“We can only hope that one day, this world will change.”
With those words, my grandfather fell silent.
The dawn breeze felt colder than before.
* * *
The Pavilion Empire's Imperial Palace.
Enoch stood blankly amidst the solemn atmosphere, taking in the magnificent grand hall.
At the end of the hall, laid with a red velvet carpet.
A dazzling golden throne.
On that seat of absolute power sat the emperor, looking as young and healthy as ever, as if the seven years had never passed.
Enoch began to walk slowly toward the throne.
On the day of the reinstatement ceremony, which had been quietly prepared according to Enoch's wishes, only a few familiar faces were present.
The Emperor, Nicholas von Pavilion.
And the members of the Paladin Order, prostrated before him.
Enoch stood tall in their midst and looked up at the Emperor.
“Your subject, Enoch Rubinstein, greets the Sun of Pavilion, the great Primera.”
“Welcome back. The great sword of the Empire, my loyal subject.”
The emperor, a gentle smile on his handsome face, descended from his seat.
“To see my subject, who has ended his long wandering and returned to dedicate himself to the Empire, fills me with indescribable joy.”
“I am sorry to have caused you concern.”
“Why would I question the past transgressions of my loyal subject? I simply hope that you will once again take up your sword for the duty of a paladin—for peace—according to my will.”
Peace.
Swallowing a scoff, Enoch knelt and prostrated himself before the emperor.
“Everything will be as the great Primera wills.”
* * *
The Emperor's chambers.
The emperor, who had been standing with his hands behind his back looking at a map on the wall, turned around.
“You should have brought your daughter. I was looking forward to seeing her today.”
A faint crack appeared on the face of Enoch, who had been sitting as still as a statue.
At that small change, the emperor inwardly swallowed a laugh.
“Being of Rubinstein blood, there's no need to verify her abilities. I cannot tell you how pleased I am to have one more talent willing to shed blood for the Empire.”
Enoch clenched his fists tightly. The first thing he talks about is conscripting his daughter…
Despite reading the anger behind the expressionless face, the emperor merely smiled.
“Come over here.”
Enoch rose slowly, approached the emperor's side, and looked at the same thing.
A map of the Empire, which had all but swallowed the continent.
The emperor whisked away a cloth covering something next to it.
“……!”
Enoch's eyes widened.
They were portraits of his fallen comrades.
“Many familiar faces, are there not? How could I not honor the patriots who willingly sacrificed themselves for the Empire?”
A terrible shock washed over Enoch.
The many moments spent recovering the bodies of comrades with whom he had laughed and cried.
Horrific memories that hadn't faded at all with the passage of time.
“I, too, am saddened. Although it is for the well-being of the Empire, it is I who sends my subjects to their deaths.”
“……”
“War is atrocious. In the pandemonium, no one can guarantee they will live or die.”
Enoch’s breath grew ragged as he scanned each of his comrades' portraits.
“Nevertheless, it is something that must not be stopped, for the sake of this country, for my imperial subjects.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes, Enoch.”
The emperor replied gently.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
His voice was sharp, guessing the vile intention behind the emperor's words.
The reason the emperor had dredged up the horrific images of war from Enoch's memory was obvious.
“Is she not a daughter so precious, you’re afraid to even breathe on her for fear she might break?”
“……”
“How could you possibly send such a daughter to her death?”
Enoch slowly closed his eyes.
The emperor watched him, then placed a friendly hand on his shoulder.
“If it were up to me, I would wish for your daughter to simply grow up in peace. I would even like to use my power to grant her special treatment. But, you know.”
“……”
“You are not the only parent. The countless parents of this land would cry foul. Who would want to send their child to a battlefield?”
Even the emperor's own children were no exception.
Lilis was no different.
The blood of Rubinstein, and both parents of the highest class, Dos.
For a daughter who was undoubtedly a high-level ability user, there was an unavoidable duty.
“But you have power. The power to protect your daughter. The power to ensure no one could voice a complaint, should you offer to bear your child's duty in her stead.”
A snake-like voice seeped into Enoch's ear.
“From long ago, there have always been wars where your will and mine did not align.”
Meaningless wars of invasion, fueled only by a beast-like desire for conquest to expand territory.
“You always said that ruling the continent was a futile endeavor, but well.”
“……”
“Everything is for my precious imperial subjects. I will make this empire stronger, so that no one can dare to challenge it.”
“Are you preparing for an invasion?”
Enoch asked, feeling as if his throat were tightening.
He had anticipated what kind of demand the emperor would make, using his daughter as leverage.
He had even resolved to hand his own leash to the emperor for his daughter's sake.
But, even so.
This moment, where he had to turn his back on his own convictions while being pushed to the edge of a cliff, was excruciating.
“Yes. You have always been steadfast, but this time, I expect a different answer. Just as the Empire of today is different from seven years ago…”
“……”
“…you must have changed as well.”
The emperor whispered into Enoch's ear with a vile smile.
“Now that you are a father.”
