HFMD - Chapter 15 < Unexpected Things >


“Oh my, Madam! I’m glad you’re safe!”

The workers were so relieved that they even shed tears when Sylvia got up from her seat. Sylvia was a little embarrassed by their reaction. It is true that she suffered a serious injury, but she recovered very easily thanks to Auston treating her trauma with his magic.

'Yeah, there's nothing wrong with looking weak. If I show myself like this on a daily basis, even if I suddenly die one day, it will be easy for them to understand.'

Thinking like that, Sylvia laughed off the fuss of the employees. However, in the morning, when she saw the table filled with numerous herbal medicines and healthy foods, she immediately looked at it with a straight face.

“I’m all better.”

“There is a long way to go before full recovery. You must eat it.”

"No, I do not want to."

“...From now on, you can hug me when you fall asleep without covering yourself with a blanket.”

“...Give me the fork.”

Sylvia held back tears and swallowed all the medicine with the sole intention of deceiving God. Randall, who saw her and burst out laughing, continued to smile even as he was kicked out of the restaurant by Sylvia. After a rather eventful meal, Randall went outside to install the barrier stone and Sylvia went for her walk. She seemed to have been pushed because the doctor had recommended that she take a walk around the mansion as exercise. 

Whenever the people of the Duchy of Belfort looked teary-eyed, it was somehow difficult to say no. If she said no, she would feel like she was the biggest piece of trash in the world. In the end, Sylvia, who had finished walking around the garden for the second time, muttered dissatisfiedly.

“...Everyone thought it was a dog, but was it a fox?”

“What did you say, Ma’am?”

"Ah. Nothing. Thank you for your concern, Thelma.”

Sylvia politely hesitated. Tilting her head, Thelma handed her a thick shawl with a kind smile and took a step back. The days had become quite chilly during the few days she had been staying in the mansion. Sylvia did not hesitate and wrapped herself in a shawl.

'Hmm.'

Sylvia, who had been unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her shawl, quietly fell into thought.

'They said it was the Lady of Marquis of Glever who gave first aid to my wounds.'

After coming to her senses, Sylvia heard from Randall. Rubia Glover quickly provided first aid at the time, and in the ensuing investigation, she opened her mouth at the risk of her own, making it possible to easily identify the culprit.

'Honestly, I'm surprised.'

Sylvia clicked her tongue inwardly. Her golden eyes took on a cold glow. Rubia provided first aid, even if it was out of inertia since she lived in the northern part of the country where there were so many accidents. She is telling the truth even when she could be pointed out as the mastermind behind this incident.

'I guess it's because she's afraid that if she keeps her mouth shut, things will get complicated later.'

Sylvia, who was looking back on the memories of that time with such understanding, soon stopped walking.

'...Come to think of it, back then.'

"Damn, how on earth should I handle this?"

A time when Sylvia was losing her mind due to pain. A low-pitched curse fell into her ear. The owner of that voice was clearly Marquis Glever.

'I don't feel good.'

It was an instinctive reluctance. Sylvia was standing there with her brows narrowed, and she was about to ask Thelma what he was saying.

“...Ah."

Rubia turned a corner of the garden and flinched when she saw Sylvia. She looked embarrassed for a moment, but soon shook off her embarrassment and greeted Sylvia with an expressionless face.

"Princess."

" Lady of the Marquis of Glever.”

“I’m glad you’re feeling well.”

“...I heard that my recovery was easy thanks to the Lady's quick treatment. Thank you."

In fact, Sylvia was not thankful at all because she thought that she may have lost her chance to die due to Rubia's treatment. However, Sylvia did not show any such sign and smiled innocently. Even though she clearly knew that God's eyes were on her, she was not stupid enough to show her discomfort. On the other hand, Rubia, who did not know that fact, made an uncomfortable face as if she had been stabbed by Sylvia's laughter.

"Oh, that...”

She pursed her lips several times as if she was unwilling to do something, but finally started pouring out words as if she was reciting a book.

“I was truly grateful that you saved me. Now that I see that you are in good health, I will take my leave. I hope Madam enjoys good days for a long time before she passes away.”

"Uh? Uh...”

While Sylvia was taken aback by the unexpected words, Rubia, who was so perfectly polite that she laughed, turned and walked away. Sylvia, who stood there in bewilderment for a moment, soon regained her senses and spoke in confusion.

“Thelma.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Is the daughter of the Marquis Glever a wizard? It felt like time passed a little quickly just now.”

“I guess she is embarrassed.”

“... Embarrassed? Are you serious?”

Rubia Glever and shame. It didn't fit together, like two opposite words put together. In fact, he would have been disgusted if he had heard that himself. But Thelma just smiled happily, as if she truly thought so. It's like the face of a big adult watching the cousins ​​fight each other. Sylvia shook her head helplessly, then remembered her original purpose and made a sound.

"Now that I think about it, I have something to ask you.”

“Let's go in and talk. You took a long time to get some fresh air.”

Thelma recommended with a kind smile. Sylvia did not hesitate and moved into the warm room. She was able to resume the conversation only after sitting on the sofa and wrapping herself in a blanket. Sylvia asked with a serious face.

“It seems like Marquis Glever is quite close to Randall. Was there anything else that could have been an opportunity?”

"Ah...”

Thelma couldn't hide her embarrassed face for a moment. Sylvia pretended not to see that and quietly waited for her answer. Thelma, who had been contemplating something for a while, finally cautiously opened her mouth.

“Ma’am, do you know why the previous Duke settled in the north?”

“...No."

Sylvia responded appropriately. She has lived for a long time and has long since ceased to be interested in the royal family or politics. She remembers being surprised by the news that the royal family had voluntarily settled in the north, which was virtually an abandoned area, but that was it. Thelma chose her words more carefully than usual.

“The late Duke and the late King were special brothers. Therefore, the previous Duke came to the north thinking that if he remained in the royal family, he would become a threat to his only brother.”

No matter how friendly the brothers were, there was no way there would be any friction since they were born as royals with the right to succession. The brothers truly cared for each other, but the people around them did not leave them alone.

"It is natural for a more capable person to ascend to the throne."

"King, if you only make up your mind, we will gladly become your hands and feet
."

The previous Duke of Belfort, the second Prince at the time, was a talented person with both civil and military skills. In particular, his military power surpassed that of his first Prince. As a result, some people arose who attempted to enthrone the second Prince among his subjects as King. They constantly tried to cajole the second Prince, who said he was not interested in the throne, and he eventually decided to leave the royal family to end the conflict. The first Prince held on desperately, but he was stubborn.

"I don't want to harm you."

The second Prince eventually abandoned the castle of Lochlen and took on the new castle of 'Belfort' and settled in the north. From then on, he crossed the line of fire every day and focused only on driving out the demons. Confirming that the Duke of Belfort's will was firm, the subjects supported the first Prince one by one, and he easily ascended to the throne. 

The brothers were happy in their respective places. They got married and had a child. And when Randall Belfort, the only son of the Duke and Duchess of Belfort, turned 8 years old. The Duke and Duchess died in battle with the demons.

“The North was turned upside down. Before they became one under the name of Belfort, the families that ruled the North began to speak out one by one, saying that they could not recognize their master.”

Before the previous Duke of Belfort settled in the north. In the North, each family was busy protecting its territory. It was the previous Duke of Belfort who united them. It was indisputable that the North became a much more habitable place after he brought his clans together. But where the tiger disappears, the fox runs rampant. 

When the previous Duke and Duchess of Belfort died suddenly, leaving behind only one heir, the owners of the family, which had originally been rooted in the north, revealed this.

"Young Master is too young."

"It is said that there is a law to have a proxy until the child becomes an adult, but it is impossible to leave the position of a proper owner empty when every day is difficult."

"Young Master can't go to the front right away, right?"

Because he is young. Because he is weak. He don't have the ability to lead the North right now. 

People constantly attacked Randall by wrapping their greed with glowing excuses.

“Then... There was an incident where the owner disappeared. Everyone went out to look for the owner, wondering if he had been harmed by those with bad intentions.”

Thelma quietly closed her eyes. The events of that time were still vivid in her mind.

"Young Master!"

"Master, where are you!"


When the servants of the Duke of Belfort heard that Randall had disappeared, they blamed themselves greatly and searched for him all day until their feet bled. An eight-year-old child who could not fully accept the death of his parents. 

Thelma felt like her heart was burning at the thought of not being able to properly serve her Master. She could not find Randall until the sunset and deep into the night. However, the workers could not give up their search for him, saying that they should at least find his body. They were about to stop by the castle to take care of the situation and begin the search again.

"... Young Master?"


Someone muttered, looking through the open door. Everyone who turned their head toward the door stiffened as if struck by lightning. It would be accurate to say that they couldn't even think about breathing or moving their body.

"Hey, isn't that Young Master?"

"What? Young Master?"

"Oh my god, how good...
"

In the middle of the road leading straight to the castle gate. Among the people who had retreated to both sides and were whispering, as if clearing a path, a child covered in blood walked, almost limping.

More than half of Randall's face was covered in blood, and he couldn't even open his eyes. In his right hand, he held a sword with half of its blade blown off, and in his left hand, he held what appeared to be the corpse of a monster. 

In their head, everyone, both the people and the employees, thought that they should rush to help Randall right away. However, it was too ferocious to be a child of only eight years old, and it took their breath away.

"This..."

Randall eventually walked to the front of the workers under his own power and held out his left hand forward.

"I caught it."

"Me too...To show that I am someone who can help the North right now..."

Randall continued speaking with difficulty and then collapsed. Thelma, who was standing in front of the workers, reflexively accepted the body. The feeling of that moment, that feeling cannot possibly be expressed in words.

“...As soon as the situation of that day became known, the citizens rose up. They raised their voice to criticize the owners who only wanted to satisfy their own greed and to support the Young Master.”

People who were normally busy leading their own lives, without any interest in politics or who was in charge, stood up in anger. The call to recognize Randall's succession to the dukedom grew louder day by day, and eventually reached the ears of the current King. The current King was wary of Randall, but he could not overcome public opinion and acknowledged him.

"I recognize Randall Belfort's succession to the dukedom. Also, I will make him my son's younger brother and keep him in the palace until he is ten years old, and in the meantime, I will provide soldiers in the north."

The king kept Randall in the palace and watched over him under the excuse that he would protect him until he was ten years old. While Randall was staying in the palace, he hoped that the remaining forces in the north would plot something again, but unfortunately, that did not happen.

“Even though the Master took over the commission, the northerners stepped in to deal with those who were still unable to let go of their attachments. One of those who took the lead in uniting the nobles at that time was Marquis Glever.”

Thelma finished speaking and smiled slightly as if she was grateful.

“...Thank you for talking to me, Thelma.”

But Sylvia couldn't help but laugh along.


Previous            Next


        Buy Me A Coffee

Comments