[Epilogue 01]
As the year changed and March began, Vintergar was alive with the faint scent of spring. The same was true of Severin's sprawling mansion, located a short distance from the Citadel.
Thanks to the lively voices and laughter of the children, it was always noisier than usual this morning. The owner and his wife were planning to have a dinner party to welcome guests from the capital for the first time in a long time. It was time for a few new housemaids from the village to hang new curtains on the windows, change the flowers in the vases, and take a short break.
“Look at that, how can it be so lovely?”
The maid points out a child running to the swing outside the window. As Annette, the second sitter, sits down on the swing holding the baby Patricia, Noah grabs the rope and gently pushes her from behind. Patty laughs and the four-year-old boy laughs along with her.
“What beautiful children they are. You know, I’ve worked in most bourgeois families, but I’ve never seen such angelic children.”
“Isn’t it just the kids who are like that? Our Master and Madam were so surprised when we first met. I’m over forty years old, and this is the first time I’ve seen such picturesque people.”
“That’s what I thought. Master, he's the Duke of Blackwell of Trieste that I’ve only heard about. I was surprised at how young he was. Of course, his looks too...”
The young maid also chimed in. The sunlight streaming through the window was growing stronger. The remaining snow scattered throughout the garden seemed like it would all melt away by tomorrow.
Not far from the swing, in the conservatory garden, under the pavilion, sat the Armitage family and their wife, who had arrived early from Rue de Rubenville, drinking tea. The wife, with her lovely blond hair tied up in a bun and falling over one shoulder, seemed to be listening to the conversation.
Madam was also very young and beautiful. She still had a girlish air about her, so she didn't seem out of place wearing the uniform of the new private girls' school in the capital.
“That’s right. They are truly like a painting. I can’t even begin to tell you how gentle their hearts are. The Duke is still a bit scary, but he is so affectionate. When he is with the Madam, he seems like a completely different person!”
“What if you still call him Duke, Cecil? My lord, he is now a citizen of Vintergar. Of course, he is also a consul of Trieste until the official merger with Trieste.”
“That’s right. I keep calling him Duke without realizing it. Don’t you think that’s the way it should be? And it’s not just me. It seems like a lot of people still call him Duke Blackwell in the capital.”
“That’s true. No matter how much the nobility disappears as a relic of the past, I somehow feel like our master is the only noble who will remain until the very end. He is the epitome of elegance from head to toe.”
The maid burst into laughter, embarrassed even at their words. As far as they knew, Kyle Rodan Blackwell was no longer a Duke.
However, thanks to the vast fortune he brought with him through exile, he was now the wealthiest man in Vintergar, far ahead of the wealth of the Armitage family or the Tbilisi family, who represented the so-called new bourgeoisie that emerged with industrialization.
Times were changing rapidly. Vintergar, who had been at the forefront of change after the war, was riding the rapid flow. As the caste system was becoming a nominal thing and the foundation of capitalism was being laid, the fact that he was no longer a duke was actually meaningless.
“By the way, is the Trieste royal family really going to disappear? It’s hard to believe that they’re going to merge with Vintergar in the next half year.”
“That’s right. The result of the referendum was overwhelming. Originally, it was one country until a few centuries ago. My family says it’s strictly unification. The language is the same, the culture is the same... When those cute kids grow up, it’ll be like it was one country from the beginning.”
No matter how long it took, eventually, it would be merged into one, riding the wave of Vintergar. Vintergar also had its parliament reorganized late last year, and two weeks ago, Walter Jurgen, a member of the middle class, was nominated as its first chancellor. A bill on women's suffrage and voting rights had recently been passed, and a bill on children's rights was also on the table.
“Oh my. The Duke, no, the Master is coming. Let’s stop resting and finish up quickly!”
The maid stood up, pointing out the window. The car circled the rose bed and the gravel road and stopped in front of the fountain. Soon the car door opened and a tall, muscular man stepped out onto the flat ground. The lapels of his dark gray frock coat, combined with the collar of his jacket and the yellow-green muffler, looked stylish.
“Dad! Aaaah, Daddy-”
“Noah.”
Noah, who had been sitting quietly next to Patty, ran to him and hugged him as soon as he saw him. The man looked too young to be a father of a child. However, his face right before he saw the child was beautiful yet sharp, and the difference between his smile now and that was huge.
“Be careful. You might fall.”
Kyle held the child tightly in his arms and lifted him up. The breath of his running breath felt good under his chin. He smoothed back the child’s messy hair and kissed his round forehead.
Noah hugged his father's neck with his two adorable arms and smiled bashfully. At times like this, his bright smile was exactly like his mother's.
The servants stopped their work and looked at the scene. They all smiled happily, their eyes fixed on the window as if they had made a promise. Kyle, holding the child, headed toward the guests sitting under the pavilion. His face was completely different from when he first approached his wife and kissed her cheek, and his eyes when he looked around the room and greeted her.
Soon, Willem van Armitage, Martin, and Bryn, along with the city councilors of the Citadel who arrived on time and several key figures who would form the new cabinet, headed to the banquet hall. The guests were so lively that the table that could seat twenty people seemed to be full with only ten or so guests.
While the six-course meal was served, Consul Kyle Rodan Blackwell was calmly engaged in conversation, but he also seemed to be paying attention to his wife sitting next to him. Every time his wife’s glass was empty, he would look at the maid, or he would call the butler close and give instructions when he noticed her needs, or he would take care of her nonchalantly and calmly, and everyone was secretly amazed. It wasn’t just a day or two, but it was hard to get used to that strange gap whenever they saw him.
“How about the new medicine from the Vicentine Pharmaceuticals, Consul? I heard that you are planning to acquire the pharmaceutical company in Vintergar and form an alliance with them soon.”
The city council member suddenly spoke up. Everyone there knew that Kyle had chronic conditions, including anemia and heart problems, and had been receiving occasional blood transfusions and prescriptions from the Vicentine Hospital since his exile.
“Fortunately, it seems to work well. And there are no side effects.”
At the flat answer, he seemed relieved that everything was fine. Fortunately, he had not had a single seizure since leaving Trieste. Angie reached under the tablecloth and gently touched her husband's thigh. She wanted to give him a little warmth and cheer him up.
Kyle put down his wine glass, lowered his arm, and took her hand. The body temperature that had been mixed as one penetrated their palms, passed through each of their finger joints and permeated their entire bodies. Even their pupils, looking into each other's eyes, were filled with a passionate desire that seemed like it would melt.
He firmly held his wife's hand and then slowly let go. He wanted to hold on to it more, but he didn't think he could endure the passion if he did. Just looking at it made him feel a sinister heat, and when their skins were in contact like this, his body would react immediately. It was a dangerous and precarious moment.
“Oh, by the way, I heard that Mrs. Blackwell has officially opened her boutique. I also heard that a textile factory will be opening soon on the outskirts. Congratulations in advance.”
“That’s not all. We will also establish a publishing company in conjunction with the newly established public schools.”
Bryn interjected on behalf of the party. She continued to speak fluently as if she was too proud of her cousin. Angie pursed her lips in embarrassment and eventually looked down shyly. One of Kyle’s arms reached over the back of the chair and gently stroked her shoulder.
“I didn’t know you could write fairy tales and books for children. You say you’ve been creating stories as a hobby since you were young.”
“Bryn is also co-authoring the book.”
Bryn shook her head as Angie intervened.
“It’s called joint authorship. In reality, it’s just sharing opinions.”
The city councilman tugged at his mustache and burst into laughter.
“You are both so talented! As women’s social activities become more active, you two will be great role models.”
After a hearty dinner, the men headed to the smoking room. Kyle and Martin, who had young children, stood in the lounge in front of the chamber and talked for a while. They would go into the smoking room after the members had puffed their pipes.
Angie was also glad that the two men were maintaining a somewhat good relationship. It was hard to say that they were close yet since Kyle was the type of person who didn't spend much time with anyone other than her and Noah.
Even though Martin was a few years older, he didn't treat him so comfortably. It was because of his past on Cullinan Island and his family's history, but Kyle himself was far from being the type of person who put people at ease.
Still, when they went to see Grandma Catherine last week, he tried his best...
He did his best to be polite to the old lady. He also bought some land nearby through Jerome so that she could live in a more spacious and comfortable space. Grandma's new house was under construction.
"Lady!"
Annette approached the two women still at the table and spoke cheerfully.
“I’ll take the kids with Emily and give them a bath. Are you two going to sleep in today? I’ll prepare a guest room in the West Wing for you!”
“Thank you, Annette. It’s good to see you looking healthy.”
Bryn patted her back affectionately. Annette, whom Angie had brought home from Trieste, was very affectionate and showed great skill in raising children despite her young age. Angie heard that she had been stabbed in the back while helping her escape from Te Deum, but Annette had now completely recovered with almost no scar.
Only after Annette had disappeared with the children did Bryn look back at Angie. Angie looked so bright and healthy, which was fortunate. Her deep eyes, reminiscent of the vast green sea, were full of life, and her cheeks were rosy. Just looking at her from the still desolate garden outside made it seem like spring was just around the corner.
“Angie. The Duke... I’m glad to see that the Consul is in good health now.”
“Yeah. The new medicine seems to be working well. I’m glad that it’ll get better in the future.”
“Seeing Angie safe like this, I suddenly feel deeply moved... I feel anew that God really exists. I can’t tell you how thankful I am.”
“It’s all thanks to Bryn, Martin, and Uncle Willem. Without you, I don’t know how I would have gotten through this... I would never have the peace I have now.”
Bryn didn't answer. Instead, she moved to sit next to Angie. She wrapped her arms around her waist and sat next to her. There was a comfortable silence for a moment. They could feel each other's feelings just by looking at each other's eyes, so no more words were needed.
Bryn rested his head on Angie's shoulder and then jerked it away, her face a reminder of something she had forgotten.
“Oh my, it’s so heavy for someone who isn’t even single...! Sorry, Angie.”
“No, it’s not heavy at all! My stomach isn’t even out yet.”
“A daughter or a son? This time, I hope it’s a girl who looks just like Angie. The consul also wants a daughter. Of course, it would be very pretty whether it’s a daughter or a son. We also need to have a little sister, Patty...”
“The baby will be born soon. Kyle was already saying yesterday why I kept laughing to myself. Just imagining Noah, Patty, and our children all together makes me laugh...”
“Really! How cute would it be to wriggle like a rabbit?”
The two women laughed out loud. It was an overwhelming and happy moment just thinking about it.
As the year changed and March began, Vintergar was alive with the faint scent of spring. The same was true of Severin's sprawling mansion, located a short distance from the Citadel.
Thanks to the lively voices and laughter of the children, it was always noisier than usual this morning. The owner and his wife were planning to have a dinner party to welcome guests from the capital for the first time in a long time. It was time for a few new housemaids from the village to hang new curtains on the windows, change the flowers in the vases, and take a short break.
“Look at that, how can it be so lovely?”
The maid points out a child running to the swing outside the window. As Annette, the second sitter, sits down on the swing holding the baby Patricia, Noah grabs the rope and gently pushes her from behind. Patty laughs and the four-year-old boy laughs along with her.
“What beautiful children they are. You know, I’ve worked in most bourgeois families, but I’ve never seen such angelic children.”
“Isn’t it just the kids who are like that? Our Master and Madam were so surprised when we first met. I’m over forty years old, and this is the first time I’ve seen such picturesque people.”
“That’s what I thought. Master, he's the Duke of Blackwell of Trieste that I’ve only heard about. I was surprised at how young he was. Of course, his looks too...”
The young maid also chimed in. The sunlight streaming through the window was growing stronger. The remaining snow scattered throughout the garden seemed like it would all melt away by tomorrow.
Not far from the swing, in the conservatory garden, under the pavilion, sat the Armitage family and their wife, who had arrived early from Rue de Rubenville, drinking tea. The wife, with her lovely blond hair tied up in a bun and falling over one shoulder, seemed to be listening to the conversation.
Madam was also very young and beautiful. She still had a girlish air about her, so she didn't seem out of place wearing the uniform of the new private girls' school in the capital.
“That’s right. They are truly like a painting. I can’t even begin to tell you how gentle their hearts are. The Duke is still a bit scary, but he is so affectionate. When he is with the Madam, he seems like a completely different person!”
“What if you still call him Duke, Cecil? My lord, he is now a citizen of Vintergar. Of course, he is also a consul of Trieste until the official merger with Trieste.”
“That’s right. I keep calling him Duke without realizing it. Don’t you think that’s the way it should be? And it’s not just me. It seems like a lot of people still call him Duke Blackwell in the capital.”
“That’s true. No matter how much the nobility disappears as a relic of the past, I somehow feel like our master is the only noble who will remain until the very end. He is the epitome of elegance from head to toe.”
The maid burst into laughter, embarrassed even at their words. As far as they knew, Kyle Rodan Blackwell was no longer a Duke.
However, thanks to the vast fortune he brought with him through exile, he was now the wealthiest man in Vintergar, far ahead of the wealth of the Armitage family or the Tbilisi family, who represented the so-called new bourgeoisie that emerged with industrialization.
Times were changing rapidly. Vintergar, who had been at the forefront of change after the war, was riding the rapid flow. As the caste system was becoming a nominal thing and the foundation of capitalism was being laid, the fact that he was no longer a duke was actually meaningless.
“By the way, is the Trieste royal family really going to disappear? It’s hard to believe that they’re going to merge with Vintergar in the next half year.”
“That’s right. The result of the referendum was overwhelming. Originally, it was one country until a few centuries ago. My family says it’s strictly unification. The language is the same, the culture is the same... When those cute kids grow up, it’ll be like it was one country from the beginning.”
No matter how long it took, eventually, it would be merged into one, riding the wave of Vintergar. Vintergar also had its parliament reorganized late last year, and two weeks ago, Walter Jurgen, a member of the middle class, was nominated as its first chancellor. A bill on women's suffrage and voting rights had recently been passed, and a bill on children's rights was also on the table.
“Oh my. The Duke, no, the Master is coming. Let’s stop resting and finish up quickly!”
The maid stood up, pointing out the window. The car circled the rose bed and the gravel road and stopped in front of the fountain. Soon the car door opened and a tall, muscular man stepped out onto the flat ground. The lapels of his dark gray frock coat, combined with the collar of his jacket and the yellow-green muffler, looked stylish.
“Dad! Aaaah, Daddy-”
“Noah.”
Noah, who had been sitting quietly next to Patty, ran to him and hugged him as soon as he saw him. The man looked too young to be a father of a child. However, his face right before he saw the child was beautiful yet sharp, and the difference between his smile now and that was huge.
“Be careful. You might fall.”
Kyle held the child tightly in his arms and lifted him up. The breath of his running breath felt good under his chin. He smoothed back the child’s messy hair and kissed his round forehead.
Noah hugged his father's neck with his two adorable arms and smiled bashfully. At times like this, his bright smile was exactly like his mother's.
The servants stopped their work and looked at the scene. They all smiled happily, their eyes fixed on the window as if they had made a promise. Kyle, holding the child, headed toward the guests sitting under the pavilion. His face was completely different from when he first approached his wife and kissed her cheek, and his eyes when he looked around the room and greeted her.
Soon, Willem van Armitage, Martin, and Bryn, along with the city councilors of the Citadel who arrived on time and several key figures who would form the new cabinet, headed to the banquet hall. The guests were so lively that the table that could seat twenty people seemed to be full with only ten or so guests.
While the six-course meal was served, Consul Kyle Rodan Blackwell was calmly engaged in conversation, but he also seemed to be paying attention to his wife sitting next to him. Every time his wife’s glass was empty, he would look at the maid, or he would call the butler close and give instructions when he noticed her needs, or he would take care of her nonchalantly and calmly, and everyone was secretly amazed. It wasn’t just a day or two, but it was hard to get used to that strange gap whenever they saw him.
“How about the new medicine from the Vicentine Pharmaceuticals, Consul? I heard that you are planning to acquire the pharmaceutical company in Vintergar and form an alliance with them soon.”
The city council member suddenly spoke up. Everyone there knew that Kyle had chronic conditions, including anemia and heart problems, and had been receiving occasional blood transfusions and prescriptions from the Vicentine Hospital since his exile.
“Fortunately, it seems to work well. And there are no side effects.”
At the flat answer, he seemed relieved that everything was fine. Fortunately, he had not had a single seizure since leaving Trieste. Angie reached under the tablecloth and gently touched her husband's thigh. She wanted to give him a little warmth and cheer him up.
Kyle put down his wine glass, lowered his arm, and took her hand. The body temperature that had been mixed as one penetrated their palms, passed through each of their finger joints and permeated their entire bodies. Even their pupils, looking into each other's eyes, were filled with a passionate desire that seemed like it would melt.
He firmly held his wife's hand and then slowly let go. He wanted to hold on to it more, but he didn't think he could endure the passion if he did. Just looking at it made him feel a sinister heat, and when their skins were in contact like this, his body would react immediately. It was a dangerous and precarious moment.
“Oh, by the way, I heard that Mrs. Blackwell has officially opened her boutique. I also heard that a textile factory will be opening soon on the outskirts. Congratulations in advance.”
“That’s not all. We will also establish a publishing company in conjunction with the newly established public schools.”
Bryn interjected on behalf of the party. She continued to speak fluently as if she was too proud of her cousin. Angie pursed her lips in embarrassment and eventually looked down shyly. One of Kyle’s arms reached over the back of the chair and gently stroked her shoulder.
“I didn’t know you could write fairy tales and books for children. You say you’ve been creating stories as a hobby since you were young.”
“Bryn is also co-authoring the book.”
Bryn shook her head as Angie intervened.
“It’s called joint authorship. In reality, it’s just sharing opinions.”
The city councilman tugged at his mustache and burst into laughter.
“You are both so talented! As women’s social activities become more active, you two will be great role models.”
After a hearty dinner, the men headed to the smoking room. Kyle and Martin, who had young children, stood in the lounge in front of the chamber and talked for a while. They would go into the smoking room after the members had puffed their pipes.
Angie was also glad that the two men were maintaining a somewhat good relationship. It was hard to say that they were close yet since Kyle was the type of person who didn't spend much time with anyone other than her and Noah.
Even though Martin was a few years older, he didn't treat him so comfortably. It was because of his past on Cullinan Island and his family's history, but Kyle himself was far from being the type of person who put people at ease.
Still, when they went to see Grandma Catherine last week, he tried his best...
He did his best to be polite to the old lady. He also bought some land nearby through Jerome so that she could live in a more spacious and comfortable space. Grandma's new house was under construction.
"Lady!"
Annette approached the two women still at the table and spoke cheerfully.
“I’ll take the kids with Emily and give them a bath. Are you two going to sleep in today? I’ll prepare a guest room in the West Wing for you!”
“Thank you, Annette. It’s good to see you looking healthy.”
Bryn patted her back affectionately. Annette, whom Angie had brought home from Trieste, was very affectionate and showed great skill in raising children despite her young age. Angie heard that she had been stabbed in the back while helping her escape from Te Deum, but Annette had now completely recovered with almost no scar.
Only after Annette had disappeared with the children did Bryn look back at Angie. Angie looked so bright and healthy, which was fortunate. Her deep eyes, reminiscent of the vast green sea, were full of life, and her cheeks were rosy. Just looking at her from the still desolate garden outside made it seem like spring was just around the corner.
“Angie. The Duke... I’m glad to see that the Consul is in good health now.”
“Yeah. The new medicine seems to be working well. I’m glad that it’ll get better in the future.”
“Seeing Angie safe like this, I suddenly feel deeply moved... I feel anew that God really exists. I can’t tell you how thankful I am.”
“It’s all thanks to Bryn, Martin, and Uncle Willem. Without you, I don’t know how I would have gotten through this... I would never have the peace I have now.”
Bryn didn't answer. Instead, she moved to sit next to Angie. She wrapped her arms around her waist and sat next to her. There was a comfortable silence for a moment. They could feel each other's feelings just by looking at each other's eyes, so no more words were needed.
Bryn rested his head on Angie's shoulder and then jerked it away, her face a reminder of something she had forgotten.
“Oh my, it’s so heavy for someone who isn’t even single...! Sorry, Angie.”
“No, it’s not heavy at all! My stomach isn’t even out yet.”
“A daughter or a son? This time, I hope it’s a girl who looks just like Angie. The consul also wants a daughter. Of course, it would be very pretty whether it’s a daughter or a son. We also need to have a little sister, Patty...”
“The baby will be born soon. Kyle was already saying yesterday why I kept laughing to myself. Just imagining Noah, Patty, and our children all together makes me laugh...”
“Really! How cute would it be to wriggle like a rabbit?”
The two women laughed out loud. It was an overwhelming and happy moment just thinking about it.
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