5

"Thank you for the condolences. I have no doubts that the young lady has found peace by the side of the goddess Gaia. It is just that it is difficult for the rest of us to live and rejuvenate the pain."

"You were close."

"Yes, we were close like sisters. Still, I'm trying to bury my heart little by little. The real concern is what I'm worried about. Her father hasn't accepted his only daughter's death for over three months."

Chesana nodded with a sad heart.

"That's what every parent would be like. If it was our Elena, we would have been the same."

At his wife's words, Baron Frederick's expression hardened, as if he didn't want to even think about it. For a parent, the pain of losing a child is incomparable to the pain of having all five organs cut off.

"The one who said there was nothing in this world that he couldn't have, and nothing that he couldn't try to get, cried. He said that if he could see his daughter just once, there was nothing more he could wish for."

"I'm afraid that's..."

"I know it's a wish that will never come true. It's impossible to bring a dead person back to life. I thought so too. I couldn't believe it when I heard the story of the merchant who saw your daughter on the other side of the continent."

Leabrick's eyes were fixed to Elena. It was the moment when the spinning story finally reached its essence.

"Miss Elena, will you be his daughter?

"...!"

Surprised by the shocking suggestion, Elena couldn't speak with her eyes wide open. It was the same with Chesana. As if only Baron Frederick had been told beforehand, there was no reaction. Elena put her hand on her chest and replied with a deep breath.

"I don't know how to take this."

"I know it's sudden."

Leabrick admitted frankly. At the same time, she also did not forget to skillfully push Elena to urge her to make a choice.

"I know, but I'm offering you this because I don't want you to be a concubine and be unhappy."

"Concubine..."

Elena moved low. Her expression naturally darkened with the heavy words.

"I've seen countless times how miserable the end of a nobleman's concubine is. I don't want Miss Elena to follow the same footsteps as them."

"..."

Elena lowered her gaze with her lips clenched. She also did not forget to show signs of conflict with complex expressions.

"Follow her."

"H-honey?"

Elena raised her head and stared at Baron Frederick. The father's expression was already determined for his daughter.

"I've seen the pattern before. A ruined noble family like us can't even dare to speak. It would be better than now, nothing would be lacking."

"Father."

"Go. Go and live a new life, Elena."

Chesana, who was embarrassed by the sudden development, also changed her mind about Baron Frederick's active attitude.

"Yes, dear. Do as you please."

"Mom."

Chesana pretended to be calm, clenched her teeth and worried that Elena wouldn't go if she saw her tears.

'Mom and Dad.'

Elena also bit her lips hard.

She was heartbroken at the sincerity of the two telling her to leave because they couldn't protect their child.

"... I thought being a concubine wasn't bad either. If I couldn't change it anyway, just give up. That way I could barely endure it."

"Elena."

Elena's heartbreak, which carefully shed out, broke the couple's heart once more. They thought the reason she matured more recently was because she accepted the reality that she could not change, so she felt so pitiful and hurt that they could not stand it.

"... I'll go."

There was hope in Elena's eyes that she could escape the sick reality.

"How will I live if I become his daughter?"

"It's a life that can't be defined in a word. But I can tell you this for sure. That the world will revolve around Miss Elena. You can achieve anything, you can have anything."

"Anything?"

"Anything."

Elena had a puzzled look on her face.

"You can wear the finest dresses a few times a day, and you can make and wear jewelry every day with rare gems from the north. And balls, tea time, banquets... It's a very different life, so it's difficult to list them individually. Let me assure you one thing. Whatever you imagine, it's more than that."

Leabrick deliberately brought out fantasies that young minds of that time might have had. It was based on the judgment that Elena, who had a poor childhood, would have admired the life of this aristocratic spirit.

"Beyond imagination..."

Elena, who had been speechless for a while, pretended to be careful and took out the words that she was looking for a chance.

"May I then take an oath with a knight?"

"A vow of oath?"

The corners of Leabrick's mouth went up in a smile. The presence of an honorable article among the ladies of society was an ornament that made them stand out and an object of shared love. They often accompanied prestigious knights to gatherings, and the emotional strife among the ladies led to duels among the knights, who sometimes questioned their superiority.

"I think I know what Miss Elena wants. You want to keep a noble knight from the literature <Roland's Song> by your side. Is that right?"

"Yes, that's true."

Facing Elena's eyes, Leabrick smiled graciously.

"It's the right of Miss Elena to elect a noble knight to protect the lady."

"Wait, really?"

Elena opened her eyes wide. She looked surprised and delighted as if she had never expected such a favor. At the same time, she gave strength to her hand, which was grasping the hem of her skirt under the table.

'Watch. How the promise of leaving me to choose a knight will hold you back.'

She didn't think Leabrick would keep this promise. Nevertheless, the reason why she received such a definite answer was for the sake of her. To have just cause.

"Really. The greatest knight in the family will have the glory to serve Miss Elena."

"I'm so happy that I can't speak."

Elena was overwhelmed with joy. It was a snobbish smile in Leabrick's eyes, but Elena had no intention of hiding the joy of this moment now. It was Elena's wish to destroy them.

"But what happens to my parents after I leave? I'm worried that the Viscount might harm them..."

Elena's concern was justified by common sense. It was extremely likely that the Viscount, who was broken up with, would lose his pride, and get angry.

"You'll be hurt because of me... I can't leave."

The expression of Baron Frederick who was listening quietly, suddenly hardened.

"It's a useless worry. Your father will take care of the rest."

"We're fine. Just take care of yourself."

Elena ignored both of their words.

With eyes only on Leabrick, she hoped that she would come up with a solution one way or another. Leabrick smiled as if there was nothing to worry about.

"I've already set up a place to take them."

"Really? Ha, I'm finally relieved."

Elena felt a wave of relief sweep over her chest. Although she was acting, she must have been seen as a daughter of filial piety. Perhaps because of such a habit, Leabrick took out a high-end silk pouch that looked heavy from her arms and placed it on the table. When Chesana opened the pouch, she was surprised.

"T-this is gold, isn't it?"

"We'll serve you without shortage, but I'm giving this to you for the sake of Miss Elena, who is worried about the two of you. Think of it as a little sincerity and keep it."

Leabrick smiled. She smiled as if she was appealing to a family that she cared so much about.

Elena, who was puzzled, bowed lightly and thanked her for her consideration. She also never forgot how to express her gratitude with a smile. However, her mouth smiled but her eyes did not. Leabrick was a woman who would put a sword through her back as soon as she turned away from her family.

"No, we don't deserve this. Take it back."

"I can't take this. No, I'm not going to take it."

The couple waved their hands with a serious look.

"Why don't you take it for Miss Elena?"

"Please."

When Elena begged with earnest eyes, Baron Frederick reluctantly accepted it.

"... I'll take it."

Only then did Elena really feel relieved. It will be a necessary seed for her parents, who will live far away from the empire.

Once the conversation had ended to some extent, Leabrick pulled out a watch from her sleeve and checked it.

"It's time to leave."

"We're leaving? Now?"

Leabrick calmly replied to Elena's embarrassed reply.

"The lord will move when dawn comes. Now that you've accepted the proposal, there's no reason to drag on. We have to leave tonight. That's the only way to avoid tracking off the border."

"It's so sudden."

The moment she faced Leabrick, she had a faint intuition that she might have to leave today. Even so, knowing with the head and accepting with the heart were a separate matter. How much more is the feeling of parents having to let their children go without time to prepare?

"Just one day, can't we spend just one day with our daughter? Until dawn..."

Chesana also pleaded with desperation that she was not ready to say goodbye.

"Miss."

"I know, I know... But I'm not sure I can let her go."

'Mommy.'

The moment she heard it, Elena went down in tears. After returning, she expected this day to come one day. So she wanted to share many moments with her family so that there would be no regrets left. She wanted to have a nice and happy time, go for a walk, and drink tea. She thought it all would be fine, but it wasn't. She couldn't remove her lingering feelings.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. We're leaving tonight."

Leabrick refused at once, not giving a single inch of room. She made an excuse that she didn't want the lord to make a move, but the truth was that the situation with the Grand Duke was not as good as she thought. Even in such a situation, unfounded rumors were stirring up Veronica's reputation. In the rush of the moment, Leabrick could not afford to leave Elena unattended.