Chapter 83

"Please come in."

I invite Father into the house. I would like to say that he looks the same as always, but he seems a bit thinner than I remember. Hmm. Has his hair turned whiter?

Has he been having a hard time with Catherine and the others since I left?

...Perhaps it's because I've been doing as I please in the capital. If that's the case, I feel a bit guilty. But I won't hold back because of that.

"Quite a nice house, isn't it? The rent must be high, I suppose?"

"100 Kirig per month. It's not much of a burden."

"100, huh. Hmm."

He doesn't dive straight into the main topic but starts with small talk. I should also ask about something that's been on my mind.

"Um. What about Byron and the others?"

"They insisted on coming to Termwillis. I haven't told them where you live, nor that they should visit you."

...So they are here. Well, I'll have Caduceus keep watch at night.

As I lead Father into the living room and chat about trivial matters, Grace brings in the tea.

"It's been a while, Lord Henry."

Grace bows her head quietly.

"Yes. It's good to see that both of you are well. And those young ladies—"

Father turns his gaze to Ashley.

"Nice to meet you, Lord Gartner. I am Ashley Rhodias Silun, the head of the Silun Baron family."

"I am Henry Berdym Gartner, the head of the Gartner Baron family."

After Ashley and Father introduce themselves, I introduce Sheila and Ilmhirld.

"And these two are my dungeon exploration companions, Sheila and Ilmhirld."

"Nice to meet you."

"Always a pleasure to work with you."

"Umm, yes."

Father looks taken aback by the all-female household. Well, it seems we've set the pace.

"...This area has changed quite a bit, hasn't it? The rumors I've heard are so unbelievable that I'm having trouble believing them."

"For example?"

"Like how you defeated the demons twice, and that you have a close relationship with Lady Ashley. Ah, and that you played a role in the reform of the knights and the decline of the Cardiff family. I've also heard that you are on good terms with His Majesty—though, no, that can't be true."

The rumors are surprisingly accurate. He must have been gathering information.

"Well... most of it is true."

Father shakes his head as if trying to relieve a headache.

"...I don't know where to start. Theo, what do you usually do around here?"

"I've learned the necessary magic, so now I explore the dungeon—"

"I get it. No need to finish."

Father stops me with a hand, but I want to say what I need to say. This is something I want to make clear.

"I can manage here, so I don't need any more help and I have no intention of returning—"

"No, no. I'm not saying you should hurry. That's not what I mean. If I tried to bring you back home or make you obey, it would only bring shame upon me."

"...What do you mean?"

I stop, and Father lets out a small sigh. He seems tired.

"I can see that you will resist. If that happens, the Gartner Baron will be called a fool for exiling a prodigy. I can't argue with the truth... But now, I'm riding the wave of the rumors and answering that I let you go independent because you were too outstanding and might cause trouble later."

...I see.

Because I don't have the right of inheritance, even if I were to become Byron's guardian... If the vassals were to push me forward, there's a possibility that I could take over the family, and he's hinting at that.

Considering the actual discord within the family, some of this information might leak out. If Father hadn't let me out, a child who can use magic without incantation and who had stopped enduring, accidents could happen at any time.

...Actually, I was in danger once with Cardiff. Father couldn't predict how I would react to Catherine and the others, so he asked Rosetta to send me away from home. He probably thought I could be taken care of in a distant place. But the outcome was unexpected.

In any case, as long as the rumors are plausible and the story holds up, no one will directly challenge it. The reason Father let me go is a bit different, but it's not entirely wrong.

But then, why did he come to see me? Looking at Father's face, he gives a wry smile and answers my question.

"I came here... just to see how you're doing."

"That's—"

If Father thought I would listen to him, I had plans to send him away, even if he is my father.

"Too late for that. When Lisa was alive, I couldn't call you home, and when you were having the hardest time, I wasn't there. After I brought you home— I didn't realize the treatment you were receiving. Honestly, I wouldn't blame you if you were fed up."

Not really.

I'm not fed up with Father.

I'm fed up with the barony. I don't care what happens to it.

Even if I reconciled with the barony, there's no reason for me to return. I can't do anything for the barony's people, and staying there as a member of the barony would be a disaster. I would probably just rot, and if I did, it would be even worse. It wouldn't be a good outcome for either of us.

Then, what about Father? Do I resent him?

To be honest, Father was just absent... He didn't let Mother die.

What happened to Catherine and the others.

He didn't know, so he couldn't do anything. After he found out, he tried to solve it.

If Mother had gone to battle and Father knew... Would he have tried to solve it if he had been there?

...I have no interest in such hypotheticals; they have no meaning.

Then, why did he choose Byron as the heir instead of keeping me close?

I understand that as the head of a noble family, it was inevitable.

Most importantly, I wanted it that way. I have no complaints about it.

No, that's not it. My past situation doesn't matter.

What matters is how Father felt about Mother.

I remember... Yes. After Mother died.

He showed his back to me at her grave. At that moment, Father—

Yes, I remember now.

I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and then look straight at Father, who is watching me intently, and say:

"...I probably don't resent you. If you just came to see me, that's fine."

"Yes, I see."

"Yes."

Father leans back in his chair and finally takes a sip of his tea.

"It's understandable that you don't rely on me. It's my own doing."

He gives a wistful smile.

"It's not that I don't rely on you at all. When I left home, you helped me a lot."

"Even if that hadn't happened, I think you would have been fine. The more I hear about what happened afterward, the more I think so. The fact that we can talk like this now is thanks to that."

Father says something similar to what Rosetta once said.

"Perhaps it's because you freed Grace."

"I received her from Lisa. Since she wanted to stay with Theo, I couldn't refuse her wish."

Grace smiles at me and bows her head.

"...Again. Lady Ashley."

"Yes, Lord Henry. I am deeply sorry for not greeting you earlier."

"...Given the delicate relationship between Theo and our family, it's understandable."

Father gives a wry smile.

Ashley... knew that my future was uncertain and that I had a strained relationship with my family, so she was cautious in her actions. On my part, I wanted to establish a significant achievement before informing my family, to ensure they wouldn't interfere.

Father didn't leave the barony during the off-season after Mother died... I think he should have acknowledged the letter before coming at this time.

"As the head of the Gartner family, I have no right to say anything. But as your father, I will bless you."

"Thank you."

As Ashley bows deeply, Sheila tenses up.

The door opens, and someone enters the house without knocking, scanning the room with bloodshot eyes. When our eyes meet, he points at me and shouts.

"Theodore! You!"

...Byron.

Why is he here? What did he come for?

I look at Father, who shakes his head, indicating he doesn't know, with a slightly puzzled expression.