Chapter 144 – Count Ferdinand’s Regret

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Translated by Sylph

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About an hour after the barbecue began. His Majesty and the others too were enjoying the meat, holding wine and beer in their hands. The soldiers, who had been devouring the meat like starving beasts, were still eating with no loss of momentum.

“…Even with alcohol, they can sure eat a lot.”

Muttering that, I too was sitting off to one side eating meat together with Arte. Just as I was thinking that it was about time to finish with the meat and bread and maybe eat some cookies or the like, someone thin came out from the group of nobles.

That somewhat hunched figure came straight toward us. It was Count Ferdinand, a man whose eyes looked a little lacking in confidence.

Since Arte is such a delicate beautiful girl, her father Count Ferdinand is handsome middle-aged man material too.

“…Good evening. May I have a moment?”

Glancing toward Arte, Ferdinand said that to me.

“Yes. Do you need something?”

When I answered that while standing up, Ferdinand raised one hand and nodded apologetically.

“No, well… to Arte.”

Murmuring that, Ferdinand looked at Arte. Arte, whose relationship with her own father had become very complicated, involuntarily stiffened. She had originally been sitting with her face already somewhat lowered, but when Ferdinand said her name, she lowered it even more.

Watching that state of hers sorrowfully, Ferdinand looked at me.

“…It may be something I ought not say to Baron Van, but I would like you to hear me out a little.”

With that preface, Ferdinand began to speak as if making a confession.

“I was unable to do anything fatherly for Arte… It was just when my own father had collapsed and I had only just become head of the house, and it was also when Count Fertio, your father, became marquis, and part of our count house’s territory was taken away.”

After saying that, he glanced once at Arte, who did not stir even a little, and continued.

“…Nobles appear to live glamorous lives, but within that they also harbor very ugly parts. To a noble house on the rise, not only other nobles but merchants and mercenary bands gather as if to flatter them. On the other hand, a house thought to be in decline is a miserable thing. In noble factions, they are pushed to the edge and removed from important posts; merchants and mercenary bands too grow harsher in their dealings. Worse still, retainers who had supported the house for years may even leave.”

And Ferdinand spoke of his painful circumstances. Overflowing there were various negative emotions: his own inadequacy, anger toward others, jealousy, and more.

He must have had an extremely hard time. From the way he was talking now, perhaps the previous head of the house had died suddenly. The weight of becoming the head of a high-ranking noble house must be immeasurable.

As a noble, he must have had to assert the house’s presence in war, high society, and the management of the territory so that it would not decline. That surely was not an ordinary hardship, and he probably wanted to remove negative factors as much as possible. One of those was Arte, who had ended up with magical aptitude unbefitting a noble.

But Arte is not at fault.

Feeling that, I could not hold myself back.

“…I offer my sympathies for your hardships. However, just because you were busy, just because things were hard, that does not mean you may ignore your daughter. Even if you excuse yourself by saying it was painful or difficult, neglecting the precious family you should have protected was your sin, and it was an irreparable failure.”

Even for me, my voice had turned unusually stern. Not only Ferdinand but even Arte looked shocked, but I had no intention of stopping now.

“Lord Ferdinand. You may think, what could a mere youth know, but please listen to me as one human being who cares about family. The wound carved into Arte’s heart will never be completely healed now. She will absolutely never be able to forget it. But it should be possible to soothe it, even a little. It should be possible to lessen the pain.”

After saying that, I looked at Arte’s condition. She wore an uneasy face. Had I taken the wrong approach? Even while thinking that, I continued speaking.

“As a father, there is one thing you can do. It can start now. Please look directly at Arte and listen to her. Even if she lacks confidence, Arte is a wonderful person, gentle and considerate of others. Please acknowledge that.”

Saying that, I closed my mouth, took a deep breath, and then looked at Ferdinand. Ferdinand’s face, which had been wide-eyed, was now dyed in deep regret.

“…Certainly, those are not words a child who has only just become a baron ought to say. However, they were points I cannot complain about. Truly… I was a fool.”

Saying only that, Ferdinand turned to face Arte.

“…Arte, if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to say anything. A little while ago, when my territory was invaded by Yerinetta, I heard there was a group that saved it. I heard that group routed the Yerinetta forces by means of long-range bows like those developed by Baron Van, and two knights who moved in ways impossible for humans.”

At those words, Arte looked this way with a complicated expression. However, I deliberately said nothing and remained silent. Then Ferdinand shook his head to either side and lowered it to Arte.

“I heard that group was flying the banner of my Ferdinand count house. No one but someone from the count house would do such a thing… Thank you, Arte. And I am sorry.”

When Ferdinand sincerely conveyed gratitude and apology at the same time, Arte covered her mouth with her hand as if to block it and began to cry.

After looking at Arte, who could not get words out through her sobs, Ferdinand turned his face toward me.

“Just as with Marquis Fertio, because I became bound by conventional wisdom regarding magical aptitude and by noble appearances, I dealt cruelly with my child. And yet afterward I was saved by that very child. It is a bitter irony…”

He let out a deep, deep sigh, paused, and then opened his mouth again.

“…If Baron Van should ask my aid in the future, I promise I will certainly lend a hand. This is a pledge made as the head of House Ferdinand. Even if you and Arte are unable to marry, it shall not be broken.”

At those words, Arte gave a tiny start. She looked at me still half in tears, so I returned a wry smile and lightly put a hand on her back.

“It’s all right. So long as Arte doesn’t reject me.”

“I-I would never do that!”

At my words, Arte answered in a flustered manner. Perhaps surprised by that, Ferdinand too widened his eyes.

“…Fuh, ha-ha-ha! I see. You two already seem to have a very fine relationship of trust. I am relieved.”

Laughing as he said that, he looked at Arte with gentle eyes.

“If it is not too late, let us talk. It can be resentment, complaints, anything at all. Let me hear your voice.”

When Ferdinand said that, Arte nodded through her tears.

“Yes…!”

Seeing that, I felt for the first time that the two had become parent and child.