“Are you the one who conquered the Tower of Tarros?”
Mary’s father, Raymond, already knew about my conquest of the tower. That’s why he looked at me with a strange glimmer in his eyes upon hearing my name.
“…May I ask how you know this?”
What I was curious about was how news of my conquest had spread.
“It’s a tale of conquering the legendary tower. The high-ranking nobles of the kingdom are well aware of it. And you did it alone, which makes it even more remarkable.”
Well, before the changes, my name had been shouted in pubs right after I conquered the tower. It seemed my name spread easily.
Moreover, I must have made a name for myself through weapon repairs and crafting along the border.
Seeing that I was indeed the subject of the rumors, Raymond looked at me with satisfaction, even sporting a faint smile.
‘No wonder he resembles Mary.’
A nonchalant expression with a light smile. Mary used to have that smile sometimes.
“Indeed, I heard you are my daughter’s friend from the Epiris Academy.”
Just a moment ago, Mary had introduced me to her father as a friend. Of course, judging by her hesitation right before the introduction, it seemed she struggled with how to label me.
Perhaps she thought to make me a friend in her strict father’s eyes.
Raymond, as if knowing this, followed up with a remark.
“But by the looks of the atmosphere, it seems you’re more than just friends.”
“……”
At his question, I couldn’t answer and subtly diverted my gaze. I wondered if it was alright for me to correct Mary’s introduction.
“Actually…”
Still, I decided to answer honestly.
The way Raymond looked at me was precarious, almost as if he were about to extinguish. I thought I shouldn’t lie until the very end.
“I proposed to Mary.”
At my answer, Raymond showed surprise for the first time.
However, he soon had a look of understanding as a small smile crept onto his face.
“I thought it wasn’t an ordinary relationship. So, a proposal, huh?”
He laughed as if it were amusing.
I had worried he might get angry, but there were no signs of that at all.
Mary had told me that he was a strict man who insisted on noble lineage, so I thought he wouldn’t recognize someone like me.
That’s likely why Mary introduced me as a friend.
But contrary to our expectations, he was smiling.
And he seemed satisfied with my answer as he continued speaking.
“I asked you to stay behind for a moment because I have a request to make.”
“A request?”
“Yes, it’s nothing difficult, so don’t worry.”
He briefly turned his gaze to the ceiling before lightly opening his mouth.
“I will convert all my assets into cash. And I’d like you to take care of that.”
“……Huh?”
His request, which he claimed was not difficult, was surprisingly overwhelming. Just considering the sheer size of the mansion and the staff, I could only imagine how enormous that sum would be.
I thought I must be mishearing. The fact that he intended to entrust his wealth to someone he was just meeting struck me as absurd.
“I-I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that.”
I naturally shook my head and rejected the offer. There was no way I could accept such money.
However, Raymond looked at me with a piercing gaze that seemed to say it wasn’t an option.
“Take it. If my daughter refuses to accept my wealth, I was planning to bestow it upon Albus and distribute it to her over time.”
He was serious.
This wasn’t a test or anything of the sort.
He genuinely seemed intent on passing his wealth to me.
“Why is that?”
It was a valid question.
After all, Raymond had only known me for a mere few minutes.
We had only exchanged a few casual words.
Given such circumstances, why would he declare that he would hand over the wealth he had inherited and accumulated over the years?
It was hard not to wonder.
In response to my question, Raymond closed his eyes, looking drained as he answered.
“I have seen countless people while working at the royal palace over the years. So, I’ve learned to judge a person.”
His reason for wanting to give me his wealth was surprisingly simple.
“Mary cares about you. And if you proposed to my daughter, that’s reason enough.”
He was merely trusting his instincts.
Thinking about my future with Mary, he decided to will his wealth to me.
“After all, that child won’t accept the wealth I leave behind. Instead of it falling into the hands of the wrong person, I felt it was right to trust you.”
Rather than genuinely trusting me, it felt like he wanted to avoid the worst scenario.
He had chosen the highest probability by excluding the possibility of Mary ending up with the wealth.
But then, I had to wonder.
“…If there’s no need to pass on the family line… Why have you treated your daughter so harshly?”
I couldn’t fathom it.
He had put Mary through tough training so she could inherit the family name.
Without even so much as a doll or toy.
Without fairy tale books.
He turned a blind eye to her suffering in order to raise her as someone worthy of the family line.
“To leave it as cash wouldn’t matter…”
It was an impertinent question.
Only having known Mary for a few days, and with just a few exchanged words, it was a question far beyond my place to ask.
Yet this question seemed to echo something Mary had wanted to ask but couldn’t.
“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to show some kindness to Mary?”
At my inquiry, Raymond opened his previously closed eyes.
He quietly gazed at the empty ceiling.
What could he be thinking?
Is he recalling the image of Mary crying during her harsh childhood?
Or is he coming up with excuses for his actions?
After a moment, he finally spoke.
“Ten years ago, a doctor at the palace told me I’d struggle to survive ten more winters.”
What he recounted were neither apologies, regrets, nor excuses.
It was a tale from the past.
“It’s an incurable disease. A sickness that corrupts your body from deep within due to corrupted magic.”
His eyes, recounting the day he was given a death sentence, showed no tremor.
He gazed at the empty ceiling but had a direct line of sight beyond it.
“Do you know what came to my mind the moment I heard that?”
He turned his head to look at me.
And I couldn’t answer.
Understanding the feelings of someone faced with a terminal sentence is incredibly difficult.
“Oddly enough, thoughts of the branch family came immediately to mind. Those who would rejoice at my death.”
He chuckled hollowly as he closed his eyes.
“And afterwards, I imagined my daughter sitting all alone in the dirt, crying after losing her mother. Because if I’m gone, there will be no one left for that child.”
With his eyes open again, he looked at me with an unwavering gaze.
Even if his body stood on the threshold of death, his eyes were vibrant.
From his gaze, I could tell how resolute his decision was.
“After I’m gone, the branch family will strip the clothes off that child and fill their own bellies. That’s why she must be prepared. In just ten years, she should be ready to fight against those who smile while hiding daggers.”
That was the answer to my question.
It was about creating a person worthy of the family’s name.
Raising Mary so that no one could challenge her claim to the inheritance.
To ensure she could protect herself even when there is no one else to guard her.
But then…
“Then Mary loses ten happy years with her father, doesn’t she?”
There must have been other ways.
Could there truly be no way to protect her while leaving her with memories of joy?
“You’re still so young.”
Raymond sharply countered, as if rejecting my thoughts outright.
“The world doesn’t indulge you as much as you think.”
He vehemently denied my words.
“Adults are those who trample crying children as they move forward. The world is filled with dirty and ugly people far worse than you imagine.”
Raymond’s eyes harbored anger as he perhaps envisioned the dark hands that could reach for his daughter someday.
“That child would be left all alone among such people. For the rest of her life.”
He then slowly closed his eyes and took a moment to gather his breath before turning to look up at the ceiling.
“What that child needs isn’t ten years of happiness but the strength to survive a harsh fifty.”
Then, the calm returned to his gaze, now directed toward the clear window.
I gazed at his back, unable to comprehend.
“But is that truly for Mary’s sake?”
Why was it that between ten years of happiness and fifty years of misery, Mary couldn’t make a choice?
Was it that she shouldn’t have the right to decide or choose?
“…For Mary’s sake?”
At my question, Raymond didn’t even turn to look at me.
“Such foolishness… All of this is for my own sake, my own greed.”
“……”
“The conversation is over. The wealth is to be entrusted to you, Ken. I trust you’ll fulfill the last request of this dying man.”
And he didn’t look in my direction anymore.
All that remained was the sound of his peaceful breathing.
Finally, with the calm that settled around him, I couldn’t bring myself to ask him anything more.
“…I’m sorry for the intrusion.”
Creeeak.
I eventually turned away from his bed and opened the door to exit.
“…Mary?”
Just outside the door was Mary, arms crossed behind her back, leaning against the wall and waiting for me.
She met my gaze and smiled softly.
“…Shall we go?”
“…Yes.”
.
.
.
After that, Mary guided me to the guest room and then went to Raymond’s chamber, not coming out afterwards.
Worried that a big noise might arise, I quietly approached the door to peek inside, but Mary was simply sitting silently beside her father.
Raymond lay on the bed with his eyes closed, saying nothing.
And as if he had withheld himself for this moment, Raymond passed away before noon the next day.
After the funeral was held and matters were settled, we sat in the carriage headed back to the Epiris Academy.
Mary leaned her head against my shoulder, closing her eyes for a moment, seemingly sniffling, before soon settling into a restful sleep.
We made our way to the Academy without further conversation.
Only once did Mary firmly grasp my hand and say,
“Funerals… are really tough.”
I recalled how she had cried when sending her father off.
Though he had been harsh with her, he was still a valuable person.
I had no idea how to comfort her as she parted with such a father.
All I could do was hold her hand tightly beside her.
“I never expected it to be harder than Ken’s funeral.”
Understanding my sentiments, Mary looked at me with a smile, almost as if joking.
“Mary…”
Was she trying to lighten the somber mood by bringing a little humor in light of her father’s death?
Mary seemed to be attempting to share some good news to change the atmosphere.
She intended to bury her sorrow in her heart and go back to her usual routine at the Academy.
And that way, she let me know that her memories were returning.
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