Episode 43. The Wisest Choice
“Let’s stop this pointless debate.”
Gerard stood up, seemingly fed up.
“No matter what happens, my opinion remains unchanged: we must open the portal and capture Bercheria. Do you understand what I mean?”
The officials, who had been eager to express their thoughts just moments before, fell silent.
Gerard waved his hand in the air, seemingly annoyed.
“Then let’s have a vote. We must use that child to invade the north immediately. Hands up.”
Gerard raised his hand, showing it kindly to the officials. He then met their eyes one by one.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about what I think. Come on.”
Every time Gerard’s gaze met, the old officials raised their hands one by one.
When he finally made a full circle and met their eyes,
“Unanimous.”
Gerard said with great satisfaction.
All preparations for the north were complete.
“I visited a village near the border this morning. First, I handed over enough food to last about two weeks.”
“Hmm.”
Lacrahan, who had been away all morning, was caught by Timothy, catching up on some pending work.
He glanced towards the bedroom where Bercheria was waiting, then returned his attention to Timothy.
“How are the people there?”
Timothy shook his head, his face hard.
“It’s miserable. News of Bercheria’s return has already reached them, so there’s a lot of anticipation, but the people are still starving.”
“Was the land dry this morning?”
“Yes. It’s still not raining there.”
Lacrahan wiped his tired face.
“What on earth is the reason?”
Was it because Bercheria hadn’t fully recovered its strength?
Or was it simply because the land was so isolated and remote?
He had never been to a small village on the border except when he first settled in the north.
“It wasn’t very populated, and it didn’t look particularly special. Everyone was ordinary, and there weren’t any great nobles living there.”
“Schedule it for me as soon as you have time.”
“Would you like to go in person?”
“I think that would be better. There are some things on my mind. How are the wedding preparations?”
Timothy looked out the window as if checking.
“It’s going smoothly. As long as the Knight Commander doesn’t cause any trouble.”
Lacrahan laughed, his voice cracking.
“That’s fortunate.”
Timothy hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.
“Um, Your Highness.”
The voice calling him sounded a little more serious than usual, causing Lacrahan to put down his pen and look at Timothy.
“Tell me. Anything.”
“I understand your thoughts, but I’m also a bit concerned. Not only has no human ever married a goddess, but that goddess is still unstable.”
“It’s wrong to call Bercheria unstable. She holds on resolutely, even in situations where anyone could despair. It’s people who are truly unstable. They can’t tell what to trust and what not to trust.”
“Do you truly have no regrets about this marriage?”
“When have I ever made a choice I’d regret? Or have I made a choice and regretted it?”
“No. Of course not.”
Of course, he understood Timothy’s concerns.
Objectively, it was true that Kelita, the Princess of the empire, was a much more stable marriage partner.
By marrying Kelita, he could forge a more amicable relationship with both the Emperor and the people of the north.
Personally, it would be deeply painful, though.
Lacrahan chuckled lightly.
“Is there such a thing as a choice you won’t regret?”
“Perhaps, it could be.”
“Timothy.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Nothing is normal in this world anyway. Even if I act for others, it will ultimately come back to bite me. To overcome this chaotic era, wouldn’t it be meaningful to make a choice that suits them?”
Bercheria had done nothing wrong.
The world began to change after her disappearance, because human greed grew endlessly.
She had suffered the most in that world, yet now people were even shifting the blame for war and poverty onto her.
Lacrahan was sick and tired of the duplicity of humanity. He had once believed he would do anything to protect his people, but after meeting Bercheria, his world began to change little by little.
Timothy suddenly smiled.
“Looking at Your Highness like this, I’m reminded of something from the past.”
“What?”
“When I was young, I hosted a famous musician. He was so famous that even the royal family had to make an appointment beforehand to invite him.”
Lacrahan must have been very young then.
Even Timothy was a vibrant young man, not a grandfather like he is now.
“But then he suddenly fell in love and said he was quitting music altogether. And he was in the prime of his career.”
“Yes.”
“So I asked, wouldn’t it be better to be loved by the public?”
The musician replied,
“They give me money, they give me love, and they go crazy even when I play with my feet. But Timothy, the public’s love is always ready to betray me. It’s as easy for people to love and then turn away as it is to skip breakfast.”
It was a story similar to what Lacrahan was feeling now.
He loved his people, and he believed that if he just protected that love, his own shortcomings and wounds would be filled. I had mistakenly thought I wouldn't have any regrets living for that.
"But when one person loves another, that is, when love is between two people, it's not easy to betray. They said that becoming a spouse and finding someone who will be by your side for the rest of your life is more important in your life."
Lacrahan narrowed his eyes and slowly tilted his head to ask.
"So what happened next?"
"He passed away not long after they got married. He got sick."
"Oh."
"I happened to see him a few days before he passed away..."
Lacrahan unconsciously leaned forward slightly.
"He said at the end of his life that he had made the wisest choice for once."
"I guess his end wasn't lonely."
"Yes, it seemed so."
Lacrahan nodded slightly and drew his gaze out.
"Thank you for the story, Timothy."
"Yes, Your Highness. If you have any requests, please call me."
A sudden thought struck Lacrahan, and he called back to Timothy, who was about to leave.
“If you happen to see Tatiana, would you please tell her I’m looking for her?”
“The little one?”
He lowered his head and answered casually.
“Yeah. I have something to ask her.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Timothy quietly closed the door and left, walking quietly down the hallway before pausing to gaze at Lacrahan’s study for a moment.
Bercheria was walking with Laurent along the river as the sun set.
The sky across the river was a crimson sunset, elegantly framing them both.
Laurent, with his hair the same color as the sunset, walking there was truly captivating.
Uncharacteristically, Laurent couldn’t bring himself to say what he needed to say, just watching Bercheria’s expression.
“Bercheria. Were you offended by my giving you the rope?”
Bercheria’s eyes, hidden behind her wide, round eyelids, shone softly, like gold dust.
Who wouldn’t fall in love with eyes like these at first sight?
“If it weren’t for that rope, I would still be trapped in the tower.”
“Then do you remember what you asked me back then?”
“Yes, I remember.”
Bercheria had asked back.
Was his goal to take her to Derence?
Or was it to take away her power like her mother?
“You didn’t even give me a chance to explain that question, did you know that?”
Bercheria was in a situation where she couldn’t help but be wary.
The will to escape the tower had clearly been hers, but now, hearing that everything had been intentional, made her reflect.
But more than that, she knew that without that rope, she wouldn’t have been able to escape.
Bercheria stopped walking and turned to Laurent.
In fact, she should have said this to him first.
“Thank you so much for getting me out of the tower, Prince Laurent.”
She lifted her dress slightly and bowed, and Owl, who was sitting on Bercheria’s shoulder, nodded.
Laurent, his cheeks flushed, placed a hand on his chest in response.
"Don't be so kind, my lady."
Bercheria straightened her back and asked again the question she had been waiting for.
"Then will you answer now?"
She still hadn't heard the true reason for it.
When he suggested they go for a walk, she followed him without hesitation, precisely to hear the reason.
"Ask me anything. What can I tell you?"
"About why you tried to rescue me from the tower. You didn't know anything about me, did you?"
"Ah. There's a reason for that, Bercheria."
When Laurent first heard about Bercheria from Beloveye, the sea guardian deity of Der'Ansis, he hadn't been as serious as he was now.
A goddess imprisoned in a tower by humans.
A pitiful deity stripped of her power and forgotten who she was.
How many people could truly respect or revere such a deity?
Even Laurent, the prince of the empire, had underestimated Bercheria before meeting her in person.
"Bercheria. Have you ever thought about that? Why did the Supreme God send three gods to this continent to protect it?"
People never questioned the existence of things from the beginning.
All they cared about was whether it would benefit them or harm them.
“Look at this.”
Laurent squatted on the floor like a child, drawing a triangle at a precise angle.
“For a very long time, these three gods have maintained the balance of this continent. Each with the same intensity, without any deviation. So, these three are a kind of team.”
Laurent smiled.
When this continent was first created, the Supreme Being hid a secret somewhere within it that the world should not know.
And to protect that secret, he sent down three gods.
As long as they faithfully fulfilled their roles in their respective positions, everything on this land would be protected and survive.
“The humans who imprisoned you probably didn’t think of this. They probably focused only on what was immediately visible.”
It was a story Bercheria had no idea about.
It wasn’t even in her memory.
Laurent smiled, as if he already knew what Bercheria was thinking.
“Let’s stop this pointless debate.”
Gerard stood up, seemingly fed up.
“No matter what happens, my opinion remains unchanged: we must open the portal and capture Bercheria. Do you understand what I mean?”
The officials, who had been eager to express their thoughts just moments before, fell silent.
Gerard waved his hand in the air, seemingly annoyed.
“Then let’s have a vote. We must use that child to invade the north immediately. Hands up.”
Gerard raised his hand, showing it kindly to the officials. He then met their eyes one by one.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about what I think. Come on.”
Every time Gerard’s gaze met, the old officials raised their hands one by one.
When he finally made a full circle and met their eyes,
“Unanimous.”
Gerard said with great satisfaction.
All preparations for the north were complete.
***
“I visited a village near the border this morning. First, I handed over enough food to last about two weeks.”
“Hmm.”
Lacrahan, who had been away all morning, was caught by Timothy, catching up on some pending work.
He glanced towards the bedroom where Bercheria was waiting, then returned his attention to Timothy.
“How are the people there?”
Timothy shook his head, his face hard.
“It’s miserable. News of Bercheria’s return has already reached them, so there’s a lot of anticipation, but the people are still starving.”
“Was the land dry this morning?”
“Yes. It’s still not raining there.”
Lacrahan wiped his tired face.
“What on earth is the reason?”
Was it because Bercheria hadn’t fully recovered its strength?
Or was it simply because the land was so isolated and remote?
He had never been to a small village on the border except when he first settled in the north.
“It wasn’t very populated, and it didn’t look particularly special. Everyone was ordinary, and there weren’t any great nobles living there.”
“Schedule it for me as soon as you have time.”
“Would you like to go in person?”
“I think that would be better. There are some things on my mind. How are the wedding preparations?”
Timothy looked out the window as if checking.
“It’s going smoothly. As long as the Knight Commander doesn’t cause any trouble.”
Lacrahan laughed, his voice cracking.
“That’s fortunate.”
Timothy hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.
“Um, Your Highness.”
The voice calling him sounded a little more serious than usual, causing Lacrahan to put down his pen and look at Timothy.
“Tell me. Anything.”
“I understand your thoughts, but I’m also a bit concerned. Not only has no human ever married a goddess, but that goddess is still unstable.”
“It’s wrong to call Bercheria unstable. She holds on resolutely, even in situations where anyone could despair. It’s people who are truly unstable. They can’t tell what to trust and what not to trust.”
“Do you truly have no regrets about this marriage?”
“When have I ever made a choice I’d regret? Or have I made a choice and regretted it?”
“No. Of course not.”
Of course, he understood Timothy’s concerns.
Objectively, it was true that Kelita, the Princess of the empire, was a much more stable marriage partner.
By marrying Kelita, he could forge a more amicable relationship with both the Emperor and the people of the north.
Personally, it would be deeply painful, though.
Lacrahan chuckled lightly.
“Is there such a thing as a choice you won’t regret?”
“Perhaps, it could be.”
“Timothy.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Nothing is normal in this world anyway. Even if I act for others, it will ultimately come back to bite me. To overcome this chaotic era, wouldn’t it be meaningful to make a choice that suits them?”
Bercheria had done nothing wrong.
The world began to change after her disappearance, because human greed grew endlessly.
She had suffered the most in that world, yet now people were even shifting the blame for war and poverty onto her.
Lacrahan was sick and tired of the duplicity of humanity. He had once believed he would do anything to protect his people, but after meeting Bercheria, his world began to change little by little.
Timothy suddenly smiled.
“Looking at Your Highness like this, I’m reminded of something from the past.”
“What?”
“When I was young, I hosted a famous musician. He was so famous that even the royal family had to make an appointment beforehand to invite him.”
Lacrahan must have been very young then.
Even Timothy was a vibrant young man, not a grandfather like he is now.
“But then he suddenly fell in love and said he was quitting music altogether. And he was in the prime of his career.”
“Yes.”
“So I asked, wouldn’t it be better to be loved by the public?”
The musician replied,
“They give me money, they give me love, and they go crazy even when I play with my feet. But Timothy, the public’s love is always ready to betray me. It’s as easy for people to love and then turn away as it is to skip breakfast.”
It was a story similar to what Lacrahan was feeling now.
He loved his people, and he believed that if he just protected that love, his own shortcomings and wounds would be filled. I had mistakenly thought I wouldn't have any regrets living for that.
"But when one person loves another, that is, when love is between two people, it's not easy to betray. They said that becoming a spouse and finding someone who will be by your side for the rest of your life is more important in your life."
Lacrahan narrowed his eyes and slowly tilted his head to ask.
"So what happened next?"
"He passed away not long after they got married. He got sick."
"Oh."
"I happened to see him a few days before he passed away..."
Lacrahan unconsciously leaned forward slightly.
"He said at the end of his life that he had made the wisest choice for once."
"I guess his end wasn't lonely."
"Yes, it seemed so."
Lacrahan nodded slightly and drew his gaze out.
"Thank you for the story, Timothy."
"Yes, Your Highness. If you have any requests, please call me."
A sudden thought struck Lacrahan, and he called back to Timothy, who was about to leave.
“If you happen to see Tatiana, would you please tell her I’m looking for her?”
“The little one?”
He lowered his head and answered casually.
“Yeah. I have something to ask her.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Timothy quietly closed the door and left, walking quietly down the hallway before pausing to gaze at Lacrahan’s study for a moment.
***
Bercheria was walking with Laurent along the river as the sun set.
The sky across the river was a crimson sunset, elegantly framing them both.
Laurent, with his hair the same color as the sunset, walking there was truly captivating.
Uncharacteristically, Laurent couldn’t bring himself to say what he needed to say, just watching Bercheria’s expression.
“Bercheria. Were you offended by my giving you the rope?”
Bercheria’s eyes, hidden behind her wide, round eyelids, shone softly, like gold dust.
Who wouldn’t fall in love with eyes like these at first sight?
“If it weren’t for that rope, I would still be trapped in the tower.”
“Then do you remember what you asked me back then?”
“Yes, I remember.”
Bercheria had asked back.
Was his goal to take her to Derence?
Or was it to take away her power like her mother?
“You didn’t even give me a chance to explain that question, did you know that?”
Bercheria was in a situation where she couldn’t help but be wary.
The will to escape the tower had clearly been hers, but now, hearing that everything had been intentional, made her reflect.
But more than that, she knew that without that rope, she wouldn’t have been able to escape.
Bercheria stopped walking and turned to Laurent.
In fact, she should have said this to him first.
“Thank you so much for getting me out of the tower, Prince Laurent.”
She lifted her dress slightly and bowed, and Owl, who was sitting on Bercheria’s shoulder, nodded.
Laurent, his cheeks flushed, placed a hand on his chest in response.
"Don't be so kind, my lady."
Bercheria straightened her back and asked again the question she had been waiting for.
"Then will you answer now?"
She still hadn't heard the true reason for it.
When he suggested they go for a walk, she followed him without hesitation, precisely to hear the reason.
"Ask me anything. What can I tell you?"
"About why you tried to rescue me from the tower. You didn't know anything about me, did you?"
"Ah. There's a reason for that, Bercheria."
When Laurent first heard about Bercheria from Beloveye, the sea guardian deity of Der'Ansis, he hadn't been as serious as he was now.
A goddess imprisoned in a tower by humans.
A pitiful deity stripped of her power and forgotten who she was.
How many people could truly respect or revere such a deity?
Even Laurent, the prince of the empire, had underestimated Bercheria before meeting her in person.
"Bercheria. Have you ever thought about that? Why did the Supreme God send three gods to this continent to protect it?"
People never questioned the existence of things from the beginning.
All they cared about was whether it would benefit them or harm them.
“Look at this.”
Laurent squatted on the floor like a child, drawing a triangle at a precise angle.
“For a very long time, these three gods have maintained the balance of this continent. Each with the same intensity, without any deviation. So, these three are a kind of team.”
Laurent smiled.
When this continent was first created, the Supreme Being hid a secret somewhere within it that the world should not know.
And to protect that secret, he sent down three gods.
As long as they faithfully fulfilled their roles in their respective positions, everything on this land would be protected and survive.
“The humans who imprisoned you probably didn’t think of this. They probably focused only on what was immediately visible.”
It was a story Bercheria had no idea about.
It wasn’t even in her memory.
Laurent smiled, as if he already knew what Bercheria was thinking.
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