Chapter 23

This is the conclusion. Thank you for the bookmarks and evaluations. It was very encouraging.

This is the second part of today's story.

I am delighted that you read it to the end. Thank you very much.

---

One month later.

Sariel was harvesting vegetables, which had grown well thanks to the earth magic, while looking at the sprouts.

"Sure enough, it makes a difference when you give them earth magic.

Since we have a lot, let's go to the nearby ranch and exchange them for meat," Heine said, looking pleased with the bountiful harvest.

"Can we do that?"

"If there's no fresh meat, they'll exchange it for sausages.

When you were working in the mountains and were alone, I took the vegetables that you couldn't eat and they exchanged them for me."

"You're tough, Heine."

Heine says "working in the mountains," but in fact, he was sent to the mines as a convict, a one-way trip for work.

"That's right.

This mansion was as dangerous as a dungeon.

There were floors that would collapse when you stepped on them, stairs that would crumble, and ceilings that would suddenly start leaking."

"Now we can live here in peace."

"That's a relief."

On this day, Sariel and Heine ate a hearty stew with plenty of meat for the first time in a long time.

When the carpenter's repairs were finished, Sariel was asked by Heine as usual.

First, he mowed the weeds in the garden with a sickle.

Drying the weeds with wind magic was also done quickly.

He was also made to set fire to the dried weeds.

Finally, he cast the earth magic "Solidify" on the ground to make it harder for weeds to grow.

The weeds that had grown to chest height were now a beautiful black soil garden as far as the eye could see.

Then, Sariel and Heine worked together to redesign the garden and relaid the stepping stones.

The next day, they used the old red bricks from the fireplace repairs to create a path.

The garden was transformed into a magnificent one that was unrecognizable.

The stones that were not needed were crushed into gravel and spread in the front garden except for the path.

"I didn't know you could crush stones with earth magic."

Heine was impressed.

"Earth and stone are friends, you see."

"That's a poetic expression, 'earth and stone are friends.'

Thanks to you, the garden has become very impressive.

It seems like the Vionne family from 1000 years ago has been revived."

"Has it been that long since it was abandoned?"

"Magicians can't manage a territory."

"...You're being blunt."

Life here became quite familiar.

Sariel also started the "job of applying earth magic to the fields" that Heine had found.

It was a fulfilling and enjoyable job to pour his specialty, earth magic, into the fields and be thanked.

Heine was embarrassed, saying, "I just told the neighboring farmers a little about Master Sariel, and they asked me to do it."

The farmer said, "Sir Heine praised Master Sariel as an expert in earth magic."

It seems that our butler has a habit of exaggerating, which is a bit worrying.

Perhaps because of the earth magic work, Sariel felt his magic power had increased compared to when he lived in the palace.

Around this time, Sariel received a secret message from the palace.

"Heine.

I heard a baby was born, so I want to go and pick it up."

"Understood.

I've already asked Mrs. Marie next door to take care of the chickens, so let's go."

"...Are you planning to come too, Heine?"

"Of course.

It's a ten-day journey by carriage to the mines.

Can Sariel take care of a baby while traveling for ten days?"

Sariel immediately realized it was impossible.

"Heine, please come with me."

"Of course, I will."

While Sariel and Heine were preparing for the journey, there was a knock on the door of the mansion.

When Heine opened it, a knight was standing there.

"Jesse! What's the matter?"

Sariel hurried over.

"Do you know him?

Please, this way to the parlor..."

Heine tried to lead him inside, but Jesse stopped him.

"No, please don't trouble yourself."

"Heine.

Jesse used to be my guard.

Wasn't he chosen to be the king's guard?"

Sariel looked at Jesse suspiciously.

"Thanks to your recommendation, I am serving as the king's guard.

Sariel, I heard you're going to the mining town.

I will accompany you."

"Is the king's guard taking a break?"

"The king said to accompany you.

The road to the mines is dangerous.

With a baby, there will be times when you can't move.

Please, let me accompany you."

"That... I appreciate it, but...

Because of my mistake, I caused Jesse serious injuries..."

"It wasn't a mistake at all.

I think it was the right decision.

If I had stayed by your side, I would have died instantly.

I would have definitely stepped in front of you."

Sariel thought that was true.

Because of the positioning, Jesse had avoided instant death.

But he only survived because his brother had healed him.

I should have done something earlier.

I underestimated the girls' conflict.

I didn't realize how vicious Zeraphi was.

If he started to regret, he wouldn't be able to stop.

Sariel stopped his thoughts.

"I can't pay you enough for the guard's fee."

"I understand that."

Jesse smiled.

Sariel's mother's family had long since fallen into ruin.

There were no assets.

The queen meddled in personnel matters and was disliked in the palace.

The king had settled all the damages caused by the queen before he died.

These instructions were given on his deathbed, and the queen was already under house arrest by then.

Because of these circumstances, the Vionne family's recovery had to be done with a minimal budget.

Sariel could use offensive magic, but he wasn't particularly good at it. Heine was elderly, and on the way back, there would be a baby.

There was no choice.

In the end, Sariel decided to ask Jesse to be his guard.

The ten-day journey to the mines went smoothly.

The three of them seemed to get along quite well.

Heine, having served as a butler in the Vionne family for many years, was a butler who didn't worry about small things, which was unusual for a butler.

Moreover, he was reliable.

Jesse, chosen by the king for Sariel, was a skilled knight, not one of the queen's uncle's guards.

He looked strong and more like a tough guy than a handsome one, and thanks to his appearance, he could ensure safety with just a glance.

"He can complete 80% of his guard duties just with his face," Heine praised, though Jesse had a slightly awkward expression at Heine's compliment.

They arrived at the mining town as scheduled, ten days later.

There were several mines, but the convicts were used in the worst conditions.

The office for the mine officials was off-limits to non-officials, so only Sariel and his guard Jesse went there.

Heine stayed at the inn.

Since it wasn't a particularly safe town, they planned to complete their business as quickly as possible and leave.

They were led to the reception room of the healing clinic in the office.

After waiting for a while, a female healer brought in the baby.

She was a middle-aged woman with a calm demeanor.

Seeing the healer carefully holding the baby, Sariel felt relieved that the baby was being well taken care of, despite the environment.

"Actually, I would have liked to keep the baby with its mother for a little longer," the healer said to Sariel and Jesse, who were waiting in the reception room, with a slight hesitation.

"Is there a problem?

Is the mother not well?"

Sariel, despite what had happened, couldn't simply dismiss the baby's mother. It was an emotional thing, or perhaps an instinctive reaction due to the blood connection.

Giving birth must be a difficult thing.

When Sariel asked, the healer frowned.

"Let me be honest with you.

Zeraphi is fine.

There's no need to worry."

Sariel felt relieved at the healer's response.

The healer continued.

"When I tried to let the mother hold this cute little baby, she saw the baby's brown hair and shouted, 'This is not my child.'

She kept saying, 'There's no way it could have brown hair.'

It's definitely Zeraphi's child.

There are no other newborns here.

I told her many times that it was definitely her child, but in the end, she tried to throw the baby away, so I couldn't keep it with her."

Sariel and Jesse were speechless.

Sariel's mind went blank for a moment, and he couldn't think of anything.

While they were stunned and couldn't respond, the healer continued.

"I only know Zeraphi's name.

According to the rules here, I don't know her crimes or her sentence.

It's to allow me to focus on healing without bias.

But if Zeraphi completes her sentence and meets her child, please be careful.

Don't leave them alone together right away. Observe the situation."

Sariel understood what the healer was concerned about.

"I understand.

Thank you for your concern.

I will be careful."

Sariel bowed slightly, and the healer finally looked relieved.

Then, Sariel and Jesse received the baby's swaddling clothes, changes of clothes, towels, and diapers from the healer. They were blue and light blue, chosen for a boy.

They were prepared for the baby.

Since Sariel's arrival time was unknown, there were enough supplies to last for a while.

Sariel and Jesse learned how to hold the baby and what to be careful about before leaving the healing clinic.

When they returned to the inn, Heine was waiting.

"Welcome back."

The door opened as soon as there was a knock.

When Sariel handed the baby to Heine,

"Oh, what a bright and intelligent child.

Is it a boy?

Very cute. He looks like you, sir."

Heine smiled broadly.

"Can you tell that at such a young age?"

Sariel couldn't help but smile.

"Of course.

He has a clear face and a good forehead.

He has a promising future.

It will be rewarding to raise him.

Even if he's a poor student, it will be even more rewarding to raise him.

Boys need to be disciplined while retaining their mischief.

Of course, as a Vionne, he will need to practice magic."

Seeing Heine's happy expression, Sariel and Jesse's gloomy moods lifted.

They prepared dinner.

The three of them ate the food they had bought, and the baby had goat's milk.

At first, Heine stubbornly refused to eat with them, but Sariel insisted that they needed to exchange information while eating together, and now Heine didn't resist much.

After all, living alone, eating separately would mean being alone.

Sariel thought it was lonely.

He had already experienced such a life during his time as a prince.

Sariel wanted Heine to be part of his family.

Before the meal, Heine used a purification spell to clean the baby's bottom and changed the diaper with practiced hands.

"You're used to it."

Jesse was impressed.

"I took care of the young ladies."

"Did a butler?"

"In the Vionne family. There were many things.

I had to be able to do this.

By the way, have you decided on a name for the young master?"

"I want to name him Lucian."

"The name of the first king."

Jesse said with a sense of nostalgia.

"I thought it would be a good omen because it sounds powerful."

"That's wonderful."

Heine smiled and finished taking care of the baby.

After the meal, Sariel told Heine about what he had heard from the healer about Zeraphi.

"That sounds like Zeraphi."

Heine looked sad.

"I see."

Sariel felt exasperated, thinking it was just like her.

"The reason Zeraphi bullied Noelle was because Noelle's hair was more noticeable and cheeky than her own.

It was a kind of bullying that could have led to murder.

Noelle had lovely golden curls."

Sariel and Jesse were speechless again.

"To explain, Zeraphi was raised by the master and mistress.

As the heir, she was pampered.

Noelle, on the other hand, was considered a burden because daughters required a dowry.

When Noelle was young, she was assigned to an incompetent maid, so I also took care of her.

But sometimes, it's better not to have a bad parent.

Zeraphi was spoiled by the couple and had a naturally bad temper.

Children learn from their parents.

There's nothing to worry about with Sariel."

Heine smiled.

---

Four years later.

"Lucian, you need to be gentler with the vegetables."

Heine gently stopped Lucian, who was trying to pull the eggplant off forcefully.

"Heine, then, scissors, cut."

"Field scissors are dangerous, so you can't use them until you're five.

Lucian, please pick these fruits. They're ready to eat."

Heine walked over to the small fruit trees that Lucian could harvest.

"Is daddy coming back soon?"

"He's working in a field a bit further away today.

But he might be back soon.

Listen carefully."

"Okay."

Lucian focused on his ears.

Then, the sound of hooves could be heard faintly from a distance.

The sound of a fast horse quickly grew louder.

Soon, Sariel appeared.

"Lucian, have you been good?"

"Daddy, welcome back."

Sariel picked up the running Lucian with ease.

"Heine, I keep telling you to stop the field work because it's bad for your back."

"It's much better now.

Your earth magic vegetables are rejuvenating me."

"You say that and then overdo it."

Sariel smiled wryly.

"No, really.

Since I ate those millets, my aching joints have been completely healed.

They might sell for a high price."

"If they're good for you, Heine should eat them.

We don't need the money anymore."

Sariel was called to nearby fields to apply earth magic.

Since it became famous that Sariel's earth magic could double the harvest, he was called to different places almost every day.

Thanks to this, life had become much easier.

He could even afford a tutor for Lucian.

Heine could teach manners, and Sariel planned to teach elementary studies and magic, but swordsmanship was a concern.

Next year, Lucian's magic power would be tested, and Sariel was looking forward to the results.

As they walked back to the mansion, Sariel noticed the millet field that Heine had said was good for the body.

—The vegetables are glowing?

They faintly twinkled, a warm, soft light.

—Is it magic?

A memory flashed through his mind.

About half a month ago.

When Heine was bedridden with neuralgia.

Lucian was worried.

Is Heine going to die? He cried, so Sariel reassured him that he would get better soon.

He said Heine would be fine by the time the millet was ready.

Lucian, wanting the millet to be ready sooner, said "grow quickly and heal Heine" to the millet every day.

Sariel recalled this while looking at the back of Heine, who had fully recovered, and his own child.

(The End)