Last Day in Pelgaroin (3)
After holding each other for a long time, Ashley and I talked about this and that until late into the night.
I returned to my room feeling lighter than I had in days and fell asleep.
By the time I awoke, the difference was unmistakable.
I'd never imagined how much comfort there could be in sharing a secret that I'd been suffering under alone.
And there was something else.
Ashley's confession in the courtyard—though she probably hadn't intended it as a confession—still made my heart beat faster.
I hadn't shown it at the time, but beneath the fading moonlight, speaking those tremulous words, Ashley had looked more beautiful than ever.
Please leave the first place in your heart for me.
Her voice still lingered in my ears.
The image of her, vulnerable and endearing yet unfailingly kind, returned to me again and again.
The more I thought about it, the more I wondered how a man like me could have been fortunate enough to win her affection.
I felt both grateful and sorry.
Before I knew it, I was smiling.
I don't want to leave.
If I could have had my way, I'd have stayed at the castle longer and spent every spare moment with Ashley.
But I couldn't.
It would be nearly impossible to keep meeting her privately while avoiding the elf roaming the castle. And I couldn't neglect my own duties as head of House Deharem indefinitely.
Havid, my chief steward, and Beynon, the household knight, would take care of the mansion. I trusted them, even if the thought of leaving everything in their hands wasn't entirely reassuring.
So I packed my belongings early that morning and went to bid the count farewell.
Standing before his office door, I took a deep breath and knocked.
Before I could announce myself, his solemn voice came from within.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me, Your Excellency.”
I opened the door.
The count sat at his desk, wearing a monocle and writing a letter in beautiful, measured strokes.
Even engaged in such an ordinary task, he possessed a dignity that was difficult to describe.
He spoke without looking up.
“You're leaving already? It's a little earlier than I expected. You could stay another day or two.”
“Thank you for offering, Your Excellency, but I can't remain away from my estate for too long.”
“That earnestness of yours is just like your father's. What a hopelessly stubborn quality to inherit.”
Silence followed.
A thread of smoke rose from a melting spoon held above a lit candle on the desk. The count continued writing.
“That was a compliment. Don't misunderstand me.”
“Of course, Your Excellency.”
“And when we're alone, there's no need to be so formal about how you address me.”
“…Pardon?”
“How can you hope to win my daughter's heart while being so obtuse? I'm telling you that you may call me Father-in-law.”
The warmth of his offer touched me.
Still, I didn't think I could accept it just yet.
“I'd like to wait until after the wedding ceremony. Before then, it would be premature. Please forgive me for keeping to the proper forms.”
“Tsk. There you go again, being stubborn over something that doesn't matter. You truly aren't like the young people these days.”
“May I take that as another compliment?”
“Not this time. Take it as a reprimand.”
Is he actually upset because I won't call him Father-in-law?
I watched him finish writing. He folded the letter in half, the edges meeting so neatly it might have been measured with a ruler, then folded it again.
“Theorad. I had intended to tell you this a little later, but since you're in such a hurry to leave, I may as well say it now.”
He slid the folded sheet into an envelope.
“There are people in the imperial family who have taken an interest in you.”
The imperial family? In me?
I stared at him, unable to find an answer.
The count picked up the spoon of melted sealing wax.
“A letter from the imperial family should have reached House Deharem by now. You'll learn who is interested in you when you get home. It's a rare opportunity to build connections at the imperial court. Don't waste it.”
“Is that really true? Who could possibly—no, why would people like that be interested in me?”
“You may ask your questions when you've read their letter. Theorad, I think highly of you. Unless you intend to remain an ordinary viscount for the rest of your life, you ought to grasp this chance.”
The count spoke as though he were offering perfectly straightforward advice.
To me, none of it made sense.
Could it be because of those reports on my magic research?
I'd submitted regular research reports to the imperial authorities. But I wasn't an exceptional magician, nor was I a brilliant scholar.
House Deharem enjoyed some standing in the county, certainly. Yet we were hardly important enough to attract attention from the imperial family itself.
Ah. I see.
The count must have spoken on my behalf to someone at court.
It was a generous favor. Whether I wanted the attention was another matter, especially when I already had so much work at home.
But I couldn't ignore the trouble he'd taken for me.
I bowed.
“Thank you for looking after me, Your Excellency.”
“Hmph? You seem to have misunderstood something. I've never spoken about you to the imperial family. They've noticed you entirely because of your own talent. Stop thanking me.”
His little finger twitched.
I'd come to recognize that habit. It was what the count did when he lied without quite realizing it.
So you did speak to them.
Of course I couldn't point that out. If he wished to keep his kindness a secret, I would respect his wishes.
Instead, I brought up the other matter I'd come here to discuss.
“Your Excellency.”
“Speak.”
“I realize this is presumptuous, but among the criminals we captured, there's a man named Murnon. Would you allow me to take responsibility for his punishment?”
The count poured a measured pool of sealing wax onto the center of his envelope and pressed a ring bearing the Pelgaroin crest into it.
“Why? Tell me whether this request is born of personal desire, resentment, public duty or honor.”
“None of those. I only want to give some comfort to the woman whose husband he murdered.”
The count lifted his signet ring away and cleaned his hands.
“So your reason is compassion. Trying to do good, are you? You're still young—and not nearly as shrewd as you might be.”
I lowered my head.
“Your Excellency…”
“But people like you are the salt and light this dark world needs. It's good to have capable young men of your kind in the county. Very well. I'll permit it.”
Relief swept through me.
I bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Your Excellency!”
“You thank people far too readily. If you go through life that way, you're going to exhaust yourself.”
The count smiled faintly, opened a drawer, and brought out a small box scarcely larger than his fist.
He placed it on the desk.
“That's enough talk. Take this and go. I have work to do.”
“What is it?”
“An engagement ring. I didn't want to interfere in your romance, but you've been engaged to my daughter for years without ever properly giving her one.”
“I'm sorry. We meant to exchange rings once we were certain of each other's feelings.”
“And now? Have you come to understand my daughter's heart?”
“Yes. I believe I finally have.”
For once, the count smiled openly.
“Good. She won't reject you if you speak sincerely.”
“I… But this ring was prepared by Your Excellency. I couldn't possibly tell her—”
“You boy. Are you planning to bring up my name when you present your fiancée with a ring? There's a time and a place for honesty. Say you bought it yourself.”
“But…”
“Enough. One more word and I'll take it to mean you're trying to sever our relationship.”
I shut my mouth.
There was no arguing with him when he spoke like that.
I accepted the ring case in silence.
For all his stern words, there was unmistakable warmth in the count's gaze.
After leaving his office, I asked one of the count's soldiers to arrange for Murnon to be brought along.
Then I went straight to the castle entrance. It wouldn't do to keep everyone who had come to see me off waiting.
I reached the hall beneath its enormous chandelier.
Of all the Pelgaroin family, only Ashley was there. The others were mostly household servants and knights of the count's retinue, including Marhan.
“Ah, Lord Theorad.”
Ashley saw me and came forward with a bright smile.
There was an apologetic look behind it.
“I'm sorry. Fred has vanished off somewhere again, and Maldon—that pig—refused to come because he doesn't want to see you. I don't know where the others are, either. Honestly, what am I supposed to do with my family? I'll complain to Father later and make sure they get a scolding.”
It was a little awkward, but I couldn't hold their absence against them.
In truth, I wasn't particularly eager to face every member of House Pelgaroin again.
“Don't worry. I'm quite happy with things as they are. Besides, Ashley, I have something for you.”
“For me?”
Her eyes widened in innocent surprise.
I checked that the elf was nowhere nearby, then took the ring case from inside my coat.
Ashley's shoulders gave a little jump.
“What's… that?”
“An engagement ring. I'm sorry I took so long.”
The color spread across her cheeks as though someone had dropped red ink onto paper.
Normally she was so quick to state her opinions. Seeing her suddenly at a loss for words was rather adorable.
I smiled, opened the case, and lifted out the ring.
Diamonds glittered on the band.
“Give me your left hand.”
“I-it's all right. I can put it on myself.”
“But I want to put it on for you. Come now.”
After a moment's hesitation, she offered me her hand.
I drew it gently toward me and slipped the ring onto her ring finger.
“Ashley. Yesterday, you asked me to make you a promise. I'd like one from you as well. May I ask?”
She nodded shyly.
“When we meet again, please greet me with the smile you always wear. Seeing you smile is one of the great pleasures of my life.”
Ashley turned so red it seemed she might start steaming.
Her whole body trembled.
“Th-th-that…”
“Was that too presumptuous of me?”
“N-no! Not in the slightest!”
“Then will you promise?”
She nodded vigorously.
“I'm glad. Until we meet again, then.”
I smiled at her and turned to go.
Even as I walked away, Ashley remained frozen in place. I wondered whether I'd said something strange.
Some women who had been watching reacted just as oddly.
“Did you see that?”
“I heard every word! I can't stand it…”
“Oh my…”
Why is everyone acting like this?
Back in her room after seeing Theorad off, Ashley couldn't calm her pounding heart.
He'd suddenly presented her with an engagement ring.
And then, as if that weren't enough, he'd followed it with a tender declaration.
Wh-why would he do all that so suddenly?
She'd always known he would give her a ring someday.
She simply hadn't expected it to happen like that.
Not that she disliked it.
Quite the opposite.
She was so happy that her mind kept going blank.
“Ahem. Ahem.”
She shouldn't let herself become so carried away. No one was there to see her, but that hardly meant she could abandon her composure.
Ashley took a deep breath and stood before her full-length mirror.
Theorad had asked to see her usual smile when they met again.
She would practice until she could give him the prettiest smile she knew how.
As graceful and lovely as possible…
She arranged her features into the dignified smile of a young noblewoman.
But every time her eyes strayed to the diamond ring reflected in the mirror, her carefully composed expression collapsed.
“Ehehe…”
An utterly foolish little laugh escaped her.
She tried again.
And again, she saw the ring.