RTPM 20

Chapter – 20

“When choosing good land, you’ll know just by waiting a half-day there.”

Whenever they stepped onto a new continent, her father would have her feel the soil with her hands—checking if it received enough sunlight, how well it retained moisture. At the time, it had seemed meaningless, a mere formality, yet now, for some reason, those moments stuck in her heart.

“Lady, have you brought the items?”

“Yes.”

Though there wasn’t a soul around, Philip moved hurriedly, as if being chased. As soon as he received the box she handed him, he lowered it into the dirt pit. Just before he could cover it with soil, Evangeline brushed his hand aside.

“Wait a moment.”

“It looks like it will rain soon. You should hurry, or you won’t even be able to bury it properly.”

“It will only take a moment.”

She, too, had known from feeling the soil that rain was coming. She quickly opened the black box and untied the mottled shoelaces inside.

“…Miss.”

“I wanted to leave at least this behind.”

Ignoring Philip’s troubled gaze, she wound the shoelaces around her wrist. Her fair, delicate wrist had never worn anything but jewelry, yet the shoelaces fit her surprisingly well. She was sending her father off, but this was the last trace of him she could keep for herself. Forcing a small smile, she nodded at Philip.

“Go ahead. I think it’s alright now.”

“Very well. Step back.”

No sooner had she spoken than Philip began shoveling the soil. He might have been worried she would change her mind, but that wouldn’t happen. Both of them knew that if they hesitated at this moment, the opportunity would never come again.

Layer by layer, the dark red soil grew thicker. Once the box was fully buried, Philip placed a small marker above it. Instead of her father’s name, the inscription she had requested shone softly.

1077~1128
To the best father in the world,
With love and respect.

All traces of their status were erased, leaving her as good as a person with no family. No, even an orphan would at least receive the customary blessing of a bishop, but her father could not. Instead, the time and care devoted to this task meant that his daughter would guard this place for a long time.

“…Perhaps it would be better if it poured. Father liked traveling by ship, after all. Maybe tonight he can go very far.”

“Lady.”

Philip’s voice caught; no words of comfort could come easily. Yet she could not fully grieve. Looking up at the darkening sky, he urged her forward.

“You should head back. It’s cold. What if you catch a cold?”

“I’ll stay a little longer.”

“Eh? Then you…”

“I’ll just stay a little.”

Still kneeling, she shook her head weakly. Philip knew her stubbornness but could not leave her here alone. Biting his lip, he tried to assert himself.

“That cannot happen. Leaving you here—if our master knew, I wouldn’t survive it.”

“Then shouldn’t Father be alive first?”

“Ah… I-I didn’t mean it like that…”

“I know. You’re worried about me.”

A dimple formed on her cheek as she smiled first. Seeing her smile, Philip felt a little relieved, but leaving her among the homeless was a different matter entirely.

“Then I’ll stay with you. I won’t get in your way,”

“You don’t need to. Philip, you still have the rest of the caravan to finish.”

“But…”

“Father always said things must be done properly. I hope you’ll honor his last wish.”

She had spoken words Philip could not defy, but he knew it still wasn’t enough. After a few more moments of hesitation, Evangeline finally gave him a meaningful smile.

“Actually, someone’s coming.”

“What? Who’s coming here… Ah! I see now!”

Philip’s eyes went wide in sudden realization. No sane noble would come here, except for one person. Perhaps the one who truly needed to be here.

“That’s a relief, Lady.”

“Then don’t worry and go.”

Evangeline urged him to leave. Philip’s relieved expression made her feel even more sorrowful, but now was not the time to show it.

No crying. No grief.

“…Father.”

Until she was truly alone.

“Why are you here?”

For the first time, when no one could read her heart, Evangeline’s lips moved. Her eyes, brushing the gravestone, welled with tears for the first time.

“Ah… why…?”

Before she could even let them rest, the tears slid down her cheeks. Since the accident, she had never cried freely. She had always hidden the rotting pain of her heart from those who might turn on her.

“Sniff…”

As if fortunate, the falling rain masked her tears. Like her restrained grief, the raindrops soaking the earth swelled quickly.

“I’ll protect you now.”

Evangeline, soaked in the cold rain, embraced the gravestone instead of her own chilled body.

“And I’m okay. That person will come to get me soon.”

Clinging to the cold stone, she whispered words no one had asked for. She wanted to reassure her father, though perhaps she herself was seeking comfort.

“They’ll definitely come. I asked them to. Even the Duke heard my request… so…”

Drip, drip—whether tears or raindrops, she closed her eyes. Time passed without her noticing. The late afternoon sun was completely hidden behind clouds.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to stay here with her father.

Rain soaked through her dress, stealing her warmth. Her consciousness blurred, and her eyes twisted. For a moment, she thought of closing her eyes forever with her father, yet she did not want to let everything go.

Just as she considered letting go of something else, she heard unfamiliar footsteps.

“Ah…”

Someone approached through the muddy ground, stepping decisively. Evangeline’s head snapped up in surprise. Through the gray rain, the man’s figure was clear. Unable to believe it, she wiped away the tears swelling again.

◇ ◆ ◇

Tunberg was a small mining town in the far north of the east. The town’s lord, Duke Wandel, had been exceptionally busy for the past few days. Not only had a gemstone mine suddenly opened, but even the Emperor himself had come to inspect it. Such honor, unheard of in a border town, kept a broad smile on the Duke’s face.

“I can hardly believe it’s real. His Majesty has come here.”

“Well… it seems he’s more pleased to see Duke Teze than me,” the Emperor said, rolling his wine cup lazily. He wasn’t really angry; he was just teasing the Duke.

“Oh, not at all. I could never be so disrespectful…”

“Does it matter? It’s enough if one person is happy.”

With a meaningful glance, the Emperor looked at the pretty young lady seated next to Duke Wandel. She was the Duke’s only daughter, sitting shyly and demurely. She had accompanied her father everywhere during the inspection, never leaving his side. Though she likely had no special interest or knowledge in this area, her enthusiasm was apparent.

“Why not give her a glance, too? It must be hard on her, poor thing.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

Leaning toward Decarno, the Emperor chuckled and waved. Already half drunk, his laughter came easily.

“See? Still less bothersome than Bellona, right?”

“Not amusing, Your Majesty.”

“That’s not really for you to say, is it?”

“…”

“In any case, everywhere we go, there’s a fuss. At least it’s the last one today.”

Thinking back on the past week’s journey, the Emperor shivered lightly. Although the trip was officially to inspect the eastern industries, the local lords had focused only on showing off their daughters. Those already married and expecting heirs would never be interested, so naturally they aimed for Duke Teze, who was back on the marriage market.

“It seems my empire is smaller than I thought. No one here seems unaware that your engagement fell through.”

“Fell through?”

“Hm… isn’t that right? You were really going to do it?”

“…”

“Exactly. That’s for the parties involved to decide.”