Chapter: 695
I had my final conversation with Hecate.
Maybe a miracle like this could come back someday. Maybe we could have conversations through pure dreams rather than just this. Or perhaps an unexpected third option might arise.
But I didn’t want to give up on such slim odds. I didn’t want to stake this moment on what felt like a gamble.
So, this is it. The last moment where Hecate and I can smile and chat in this life.
“Isn’t anyone else coming?”
“They let me have you all to myself. They said it’s enough to have the kids interrupting our couple time, and they’re not kids anymore.”
“Yet some of them act worse than kids!”
“Are you including yourself in that?”
I sheepishly raised my lips in a grin. According to Hecate, I was just a big kid too.
“And they said they’ve already said everything they wanted to in life. They did everything they wanted to do together. They figured going beyond that would only create regrets, so they just want you to pass on their regards.”
“What about you?”
Looking at Hecate’s beaming smile, I tentatively opened my mouth.
If they truly expressed everything they wanted and did all they wished in life, then that’s probably spot on. They aren’t the sort to say things they don’t mean just to spare my feelings.
But if they’re trying to smoothly exit so they don’t have regrets, then what about Hecate who’s still here with me until the end? Isn’t it a bit harsh on her, even if it brings me joy?
“I didn’t get to do what I wanted before I died. Honestly, I’d hate leaving now.”
“…I see.”
It wasn’t entirely comforting, but I forced a smile.
Dying without achieving my desires was gut-wrenching, but at least knowing I could resolve those regrets was a blessing.
“Carl.”
“Yeah?”
“You’ve really shot up the ranks these past few years, haven’t you? I bet you can’t even show off that you’re the heir of the Imperial Count anymore?”
“Of course not. I soloed what should’ve been shared with seven others.”
As soon as those words left my mouth, Hecate lightly flicked my nose.
“You can’t say that. What you’ve taken on is what we had to bear together.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
This time, without responding, she flicked my nose again.
This actually stung a bit! You wouldn’t expect it, but it hurts when a magician like Hecate gives you a smack, even if it’s light.
“Take pride in what you’ve accomplished. It’s not because we weren’t there that you made it this far, but rather, it’s remarkable that you got this far without us.”
With that sweet smile on her face, her underlying resolve was undeniable.
I couldn’t argue against her words, so I nodded silently. It would’ve been rude to say otherwise when she was the one living it.
“And you’ve built a big family, the one you always wanted.”
“Right? I had no idea it would end up this big.”
A laugh escaped me at her next words.
Six wives and seven kids. That’s an enormous family! And if you include the one in the oven, it’s actually eight!
“Is that all? There must be more!”
“Huh?”
But I cocked my head in confusion at her prompting tone.
What? Are there more family members aside from my wives and kids?
‘Oh.’
I guess I should also include Teresa. And if we think broader, Zenobia, my sister-in-law, and Sera, my sister-in-law, are family, too. And if I’m greedy, the Crown Princess, my niece, also counts…
“Your in-laws and brother-in-law. They’re family now, right?”
…Ah.
“Yeah, that’s correct.”
“Good job! Would’ve been great if you’d come to that conclusion sooner.”
A wave of embarrassment washed over me as I caught Hecate softly petting my head.
The fact that even Hecate, who left seven years ago, remembers my awkwardness with family is utterly mortifying. I couldn’t even lift my head in shame.
If I had opened my heart earlier, if I had seen my father and mother as parents and treated Erich as my brother, how wonderful that would have been. Even though we live as a happily normal family now, it would be a lie to say I don’t have regrets.
“Anyway, I’m glad my husband is doing well and has a big family now, and it seems like people hold him in high regard… but there’s just one thing that’s bothering me.”
Hecate continued her speech without skipping a beat, despite my lingering embarrassment.
Although the awkwardness still lingered, I listened quietly. I had to hear everything Hecate wanted to leave me with.
“My husband. You don’t have any friends, do you?”
“What?!”
I never saw that coming.
Who would ever imagine a wife delivering a piercing jab to her husband’s gut like that?
“You have a big family, you’re trusted by your boss, and you lead your subordinates well and get along with your colleagues… but it seems like you don’t have friends.”
Hecate’s gaze shifted to a mix of affection and pity.
“And all those pets you have? That just means you’re lonely without friends.”
“Oh, no…!”
I instinctively opened my mouth to deny it, but soon I fell silent.
There’s so much I wanted to say. I didn’t adopt those pets because I was lonely, they were given to me! They’re playmates for my kids, not just lonely companions for me! The pets are more like friends for my kids than for me!
But no matter what I argue, the reply would still be, “So, do you have friends?”
It’s true I’m an awkward loner when it comes to friends.
“Originally, nobles are supposed to be lonely without friends…”
“But your brother married his friend, didn’t he?”
“…Making friends at this point is tough.”
“It’s tough? There’s a good person right next to you.”
Her incredibly confident statement made me cock my head in confusion.
There’s a good person right next to me? Given my age and position, making friends should be impossible. I could easily recruit 100 subordinates faster than I could make a friend.
“Your Majesty is right there.”
“That’s a terrible thing to say!”
Even though it was Hecate saying it, I couldn’t let that one pass.
Me? Friends with the Emperor? I can totally comprehend the idea of being enemies, but “friend” isn’t a word that fits at all. I’d rather be friends with a squirrel than that jerk!
“You’ll remember what I said over time. Ah~ My wife indeed has an eye for people~”
Still, her firm conviction left me unable to retort actively.
We exchanged all sorts of topics after that.
“Be sure to eat well, no matter how busy you are. Cutting back on sleep isn’t good for your health, so get plenty of rest! Just because you’re okay now doesn’t mean you won’t face health issues later, so take care! Though I know you’ll be fine, stick to good company,” all that jazz.
Small, warm, and seemingly insignificant conversations flowed back and forth like a mother advising her son who just moved out.
“It’s so strange.”
It really is odd. I thought I’d unleash a flood of words upon meeting Hecate again, expecting to dive deep into serious topics, but when the chance finally came, we ended up having this kind of gentle chat.
I thought I’d throw a tantrum about never wanting to part ways again. I imagined I’d cry about it being tough to endure alone.
Of course, I did grumble about it, but that only lasted a moment in the beginning.
“Oh, wow. Time’s flown by already.”
After a while of tender exchanges, Hecate turned to the window and made a pensive expression.
What’s up? The night looks no different to me than it did a moment ago. Does it look different to her?
“Then! For the final time, I mean it this time—last thing I want to say!”
“Okay, Mama.”
I wanted to tell her that she could stay a little longer, but I held back. Hecate wouldn’t want to leave just because I did.
“I’m sorry.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone and cowardly going ahead of you.”
With those words, Hecate pulled me into an embrace.
“I said we should be happy together, that we’d be lifelong partners. Yet even after five of us left, I’m sorry for making you remember them on your own.”
“Hecate…”
“I’m sorry I fled, leaving only hurt behind you…”
My shoulders grew damp as her tears soaked through.
Her arms around me began to tremble.
“And thank you.”
Yet her trembling was short-lived. Once Hecate let go of the embrace, placing her hands on my shoulders, she looked at me with a bright smile.
“Thank you for not forgetting me. Thank you for continuing to love me.”
Though she had tears in her eyes, that very tear made her smile shine even brighter.
I guess I’m a bit of a weirdo. I find my wife’s tears beautiful.
“So, this is cowardly, but… can I ask just one last thing?”
“Anything you want.”
While I wiped Hecate’s tears, her smile grew brighter than the sun.
Indeed, it’s the genuine smiles that are the most beautiful.
“Think of me as your seventh.”
“…Seventh?”
“Yeah. The seventh.”
I blinked in surprise at her unexpected request.
Seventh. It was a somewhat random statement but one I could understand. I only had one family member who was in the first six.
“I know I’m unqualified after running away cowardly… but I want to be with you, even if it’s at the end…”
“No backing out, okay?”
“Uh, yeah?”
This time, I pulled Hecate into an embrace.
I was thrilled. It meant Hecate still loved me. It meant she still wished to be my wife.
Even if she left my side first, it wasn’t because she hated me.
“Our wedding may have just been the two of us, but the gods will be watching over us. We wouldn’t lie in front of them, would we?”
With that, Hecate silently embraced me back.
That was enough.
I opened my eyes.
I woke from the dream and opened my eyes to reality.
“Carl, are you awake?”
“Mar?”
And upon opening my eyes, I was greeted by Mar, who was combing her hair.
Right. I had slept in the same room as Mar. Had I spent several days in the dream, the memory of it felt hazy for a moment.
“Did you have a nice dream? You were smiling in your sleep.”
“Was I?”
“Yes. I felt bad to wake you up.”
With Mar’s chuckle, I subtly adjusted my lips into a smile.
Looks like I still have a grin on my face even now.
“It was a good dream… one I’d hate to wake from.”
“There are times like that. You have those incredible dreams that make you wish you could keep dreaming.”
She empathized with me, but I couldn’t nod in agreement.
If this dream continued, it would imply that it was merely a manifestation of my desires, not the visit from Hecate and the others.
In that case, it might be better not to dream it again. That way, I could think of dreams as something not just ephemeral but a new reality instead.
“Still, I woke up because reality is better than a dream.”
“Phew, thank you! I almost lost Carl to a dream!”
I just let out a laugh at that line.
– You all dreamed a living dream. It felt like I was going mad with all those seven troublemakers.
Until the Minister called me early in the morning with a haggard look on his face, I kept smiling.
‘Looks like they’ve been busy.’
They made their rounds with me and the Minister.
Guess that’s our Livnoman Count being impressive as usual.
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