Home Post 1545-chapter-185

1545-chapter-185

Having planned to stay just for the night, we decided to extend our visit for a few days to explore the new village.

“Luci, are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Shall we go then?”

“Sure.”

After changing into a new riding outfit, I used my illusion skills to alter it into a plain dress. I borrowed a hat from the former Duchess and checked my appearance in the mirror. As an illusionist, I could see both the illusion and the actual state.

The sight of me in a riding outfit topped with a fancy dress hat was ludicrous.

“Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Well, a riding outfit with a dress hat is just too funny, don’t you think?”

“Is that so?”

Lucian looked me up and down slowly, then murmured softly,

“To my eyes, you look like you’re dressed in a gown. You’re simply beautiful…”

“…Shall we go?”

I was still not used to such expressions of affection. Despite knowing I just needed to accept them, I felt awkward. He gave me a quick look and chuckled lightly.

‘No, not that charming smile.’

No matter the expression, his face was simply beautiful.

As we stepped outside the mansion, Oscar and Damian were waiting for us. They seemed well-cared for here, their faces bright and smooth.

“Master! We’re going to the seaside today, right?”

Despite his halved speech in the absence of others, Lucian made no comment.

I believe these moments are one of the perks of being married.

“Master, we’ll head out first.”

“All right. You guys go ahead. I’ll ride there with Luci.”

“Yes, master.”

After politely bidding me farewell, Damian turned to Oscar with a gruff tone.

“Turn into a fox.”

“…Tch.”

Knowing it was more convenient to transform into a fox and be carried by Damian than run on his own, Oscar chose comfort over pride. With a flip, he transformed into a brilliant white fox, and Damian grabbed Oscar by the scruff as he unfurled his large wings before they took off.

“It’s always such a sight to see.”

“Isn’t it?”

I laughed, filled with warmth just seeing how well Lucian regarded Oscar and Damian.

“…If you’re happy, then I’m happy too.”

Lucian watched me with a persistent gaze, but he had changed in some ways.

Like this.

Now, he didn’t show jealousy towards the people around me as much. Of course, he occasionally displayed his old habits.

Today, our plan wasn’t about work but simply to check on the relocated villagers to see if they were settling well. We decided to ride to the village without any attendants. I was happy enjoying the sunshine and breeze along the way.

The village was bustling with construction. The new villagers were rolling up their sleeves and helping out. Under temporary tents, the expressions on the people’s faces were fortunately cheerful.

Relieved, Lucian and I left our horses at a stable.

We walked around the outskirts of the village unnoticed, checking the exteriors of the houses to ensure they were well-constructed.

“So, this village will focus on fishing?”

“Yes, it makes sense since it’s close to the sea. If needed, they can also trade with farming villages to help them out.”

“Leon Estate is really big. I can’t believe I never thought of the village being in Leon Estate. It sounds silly now. I think Amber mentioned it, but why did I completely forget?”

Haha.”

We reached the outskirts and found a path leading out. We walked along the road leading to the beach. The moist wind seemed to carry a taste of salt.

“Wow.”

I exclaimed in amazement at the mysterious beach of Leon Territory, which was unlike any other. The unique black sand that can only be seen here shone gray under the sunlight. The black sand and emerald sea combine oddly well, like a painting.

“Isn’t it fascinating?”

“What?”

“Is there another beach with black sand in the empire?”

“Not that I know of.”

“This place is unique and mystical.”

I walked along the beach. I marveled at how the fine black sand felt softer than regular sand, making it soft to walk on. Each step I took made me sink a little, adding to the amusement.

“It’s really amazing.”

All I could say was that it was amazing.

The beach near the villa wasn’t covered in black sand like this one.

“Why didn’t I find this place when I was younger?”

“The beach is small. Besides, this spot is at the very edge of Leon Estate, and there was nothing here back then.”

“That makes sense.”

Children were already playing on the beach, one of them strikingly familiar. It was the son of the man who had been possessed by the priest. To protect the boy, the priest had sacrificed his own body, plunging into the rift.

The boy blended in well with the other children, yet occasionally, he glanced around as if hoping for his father’s return.

A sight that pained me deeply.

I could relate more than anyone to the boy’s feelings, so my gaze lingered on him.

“Ray?”

Lucian’s call snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see him approaching. His golden eyes looked at me with concern.

“Why that look?”

He asked.

“What’s my expression like?”

I touched my face, though that wouldn’t help me discern my expression.

“You look like a lost child. Why?”

“Just… old memories surfacing?”

“….”

Lucian stared at me for a while, his gaze fixed but seemingly lost in thought about something else.

“Luci?”

“…I remembered something from the past.”

“Oh? When?”

“When Enzo took over my body. There was a girl I met then. You’re making the same face she did, Ray.”

“…Who is she?”

The mention of a girl sparked a flare of jealousy in me. Who was this girl Lucian met? How could he see a girl when he was possessed by Enzo? Was it a spirit?

As I looked at him with a worried expression, Lucian let out a small laugh.

“Yes. A girl as pretty as you.”

Even if it was a ghost, that was surely crossing a line. I made no effort to hide my displeasure, but just then, a loud noise came from nearby.

“Are you okay?”

“Tommy, are you okay?”

The children all rushed towards someone.

The boy I was watching had apparently fallen. It seemed that he had cut his leg on a seashell buried in the sand. From a distance, I could see the blood staining the sand a vivid red, so I hurried over to the children.

“What happened here?”

“Uh?”

The children, who were unfamiliar with me, panicked and ran off, leaving the injured boy behind. Given what had happened recently, their reaction was understandable.

“Guys!”

Tommy tried to stand on his injured leg.

“Your name’s Tommy, right?”

“…Who are you? I heard this place is off-limits! There are supposed to be guards!”

The boy’s response was admirably assertive.

I admired his spirit briefly before I turned my attention to his wound. It looked like the seashell had cut deep before being dislodged, and there was a significant amount of blood flowing from just below his knee.

“If you move too hastily, it could worsen the injury. Can you stay still for me?”

I knelt down and quickly blew on his wound. With a single breath, the bleeding stopped, and the wound began to close.

The boy watched the miraculous healing with wide, astonished eyes.

“Um, I’d like this to be our little secret…”

I felt it was better not to draw attention to such abilities. I didn’t have the courage to reveal it, at least not yet.

“…You’re just like Dad. Waaaah!”

Suddenly, the boy burst into tears, loudly calling ‘Dad.’ Knowing what had happened to his father, I couldn’t offer any real consolation.

“Dad! I miss you!”

I was moved by the child’s attempt to stay strong, and I gently stroked his head.

“Shh, don’t cry.”

“Huhng…”

The child was wary at first but suddenly came into my arms and started sobbing even louder.

At the same time, I felt Lucian’s presence as he approached. His shadow fell over us both.

Worried he might be jealous even of a child, I looked up to see him bending down. Without a word, he scooped up the child and set him on his shoulders.

“Oh?”

“Your father did everything for you.”

“….”

“If you cry like this, your father would be sad, wouldn’t he?”

“…I wasn’t crying!”

“Wipe your tears, and then we can talk.”

Sniff…”

I couldn’t hide my surprise at Lucian’s gentle handling of the situation. It was unlike him to comfort someone else, especially a child.

As the strange sight of the black sand around us blended with the even stranger scene of Lucian comforting a child, I couldn’t help but fix my gaze.

“As long as you remember your father, he is with you in some way.”

Lucian’s gruff attempt at consolation was briefly interrupted as he glanced at me, his eyes carrying a hint of reminiscence.

“Kid.”

“I’m not a kid! I told you, my name is Tommy!”

Tommy responded with a huff. Most adults might shrink slightly in Lucian’s presence, but Tommy seemed exceptionally bold.

“Right, Tommy. Are there many other children who have lost their parents like you?”

“…Yeah.”

“And where do you live?”

“I stay with Uncle John for now, but…”

“But?”

“I’ll be living on my own soon when I turn one year old. I’m going to ask the lord of this land for a job next year.”

“Why? Does this Uncle John mistreat you?”

“…No, it’s not that.”

Even without Tommy finishing his thoughts, I could understand. No matter how kind a person was, there was often an inherent bias towards their own family.

At that moment, an idea sparked in my mind.

 

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