Chapter 66: I Tried Consulting Liese.
《Serios’s Side》
Amidst the rhythmic swaying of the carriage, I gazed at the scenery flowing past the window in front of me. The road to the Aegrid Territory was quiet, and a cold wind blew in.
Liese was sitting beside me. Her small frame couldn’t seem to hide her exhaustion, but she still wore a gentle smile.
“Thank you so much, Lord Serios. For doing so much for me…”
I gave a slightly bitter smile at her words. Her gratitude was so sincere it made my chest ache. What kind of expression would she make if I told her I was keeping her by my side to avoid my own Judgment?
I’m afraid of her hating me, so I can’t say such a thing.
If I could honestly say I liked her, and easily embrace her, how much Happiness would that bring me?
“Protecting you is my duty. I don’t need any thanks.”
As I replied, Kyl’s words echoed repeatedly in my mind.
“Duke Everett said this. ‘You still haven’t shown your resolve’…”
Haven’t shown my resolve, huh…
The meaning of those words has been stuck in my chest. What is this “resolve” the Duke is demanding of me? Could it be related to Claris’s matter?
“Lord Serios, is something wrong?”
Liese asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. She must have noticed I’d fallen silent.
“No, it’s nothing serious. I was just… lost in thought a little.”
“Lost in thought… you say?”
She tilted her head. I took a deep breath and then turned to face her, sitting beside me.
“Liese, there’s something I want to consult you about.”
“With me…?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. It was probably because it was rare for me to ask her for advice.
However, as the protagonist of this world, she might be able to come up with some solution.
I was grasping at straws.
“This is something I heard from Kyl. It seems he was being supported by Duke Everett. And through him, the Duke left a message for me.”
“A message, you say?”
Liese asked quietly. Her expression was dead serious.
“The Duke apparently said, ‘Serios von Aegrid, you still haven’t shown your resolve’…”
“Resolve, you say?”
Liese muttered softly and cast her eyes down. I wanted to think about the meaning of those words with her. She might come up with an idea I couldn’t.
“Liese, what do you think? What could this ‘resolve’ be that the Duke is demanding of me?”
After thinking for a moment, she slowly raised her face.
“Could it be… the resolve to bear the Dukedom on your shoulders?”
“The resolve to bear the Dukedom?”
At those words, I couldn’t help but frown. I felt that her words held a deeper meaning than I had considered.
“Lord Serios, I believe Duke Everett is surely thinking and acting entirely for the sake of his House.”
“For the sake of his House…”
“Yes. Regarding Lady Claris as well, rather than immediately proceeding with her Disinheritance, isn’t he perhaps arranging for her to marry into the royalty of another country?”
My eyes widened at her words. Making it seem like he’s disinheriting Claris, but in reality, he’s preparing her for the next stage…?
“Certainly, I can’t imagine the Duke would simply cast Claris aside. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for her benefit, does it?”
“Even so, for the Duke, isn’t it perhaps the best choice? To protect Lady Claris, and to ensure the continuation of the Everett House.”
Liese’s words held a conviction, as if she understood the Duke’s actions. While surprised by her perspective, I couldn’t help but be convinced.
“If that’s the case, then the ‘resolve’ the Duke demands of me is…”
“Isn’t it for Lord Serios to discern what you truly must do for your own territory and House?”
Liese answered quietly. Her eyes were direct, and a sense of trust in me emanated from them.
“…What I must do?”
“Yes. I’m sure the Duke is also watching to see what kind of resolve Lord Serios will act with.”
I gasped at her words. The Duke is giving me a trial.
Thinking about it that way, I felt like all the circumstances were gradually starting to connect.
“Liese, your words always help me.”
“That’s not true. I simply want to be of help to Lord Serios.”
At her smile, I felt like the fog that had been weighing on my chest cleared a little.
“Thank you, Liese. After I see you to the Aegrid Territory, I’ll resolve myself to face the Duke once more.”
“Lord Serios… please be careful.”
Her gentle voice resonated in my chest. In that moment, my heart felt a little lighter.
Amidst the swaying of the carriage, I gently gazed at her profile while pondering the path ahead.
(Resolve, huh… Duke Everett, I’ll show you the answer you’re looking for.)
And so, to save Claris, and to protect my own territory and future, I solidified my determination to fight once more.
The resolve I can show for Claris’s sake, and to make Duke Everett acknowledge me…