The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 125

Chapter 125: Adolescence and the Stars in the Sky

When I entered the reception room, Roland and Sigmund stood up from the sofa and bowed deeply.

“Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule, Lady Melfina.”

“Thank you as well for keeping me waiting until the afternoon. I have tea being prepared, so please, have a seat.”

Although I had received a request for a meeting first thing in the morning, I had an unavoidable meeting with the governor in the morning, so I thought I would cut into lunchtime. However, Marie and Cedric opposed me from both sides, and it ended up being tea time in the afternoon.

Melfina also sat down on the upper seat of the sofa.

“I was told it wasn’t urgent, but has something happened?”

“Yes, actually, it’s about Prince Serleine. Since the martial arts tournament, he has been frequently visiting the barracks.”

Melfina had also heard about that.

The soldiers currently live in a facility that was originally repurposed from a servant dormitory built near the lord’s mansion last year.

It’s within walking distance from the lord’s mansion, and although the water moat is not currently flowing, it is being completed, so Serleine often walks around the grounds with his maid and the duty soldier, as well as Felice, Melfina’s pet dog.

It was reported that sometimes he leisurely walks around the grounds, while other times he goes to watch the soldiers’ training.

“Actually, yesterday, Prince Serleine personally expressed his desire to participate in the training.”

Roland said this awkwardly, and Melfina was surprised as well.

“We are very pleased to see that Prince Serleine, who had been so weak before last winter, is now able to walk around. We too admired knights and aspired for the future at Prince Serleine’s age, so we understand his feelings very well.”

“However, having us provide training for Prince Serleine, who is a prince from another country, presents various issues. We cannot make a decision on our own, so we came to consult with you, Lady Melfina.”

“Is that so…? No, I’m glad you brought it up. I’ll make sure to convey this to Prince Serleine, so don’t worry.”

Both of them, while not as expressive as Alexis, had a typically Northern stoicism, but at that moment, it was clear they were visibly relieved.

Originally, Serleine’s supervision had been entrusted to the duke’s household, and currently, it was fully under the jurisdiction of Melfina, the lord of the Enkar region. Although Roland and Sigmund could freely state that this was something they could not judge on their own, it was evident that the two knights were genuinely concerned for Serleine.

Apologizing for taking up their time, the two quickly finished their tea and left the lord’s mansion.

“Prince Serleine may be feeling better and wanting to try more things now.”

Cedric said with concern, and Melfina nodded lightly in agreement.

Indeed, from Melfina’s perspective, compared to when Serleine had just arrived in the Enkar region, he had gained considerable vitality. His complexion had improved, and the sight of his smiling with his pale cheeks flushed red looked like that of an ordinary child.

However, that was merely a comparison to when he first arrived; he still showed signs of being weaker than an average thirteen-year-old child.

He sometimes coughed at night and would have days when he ran a fever.

If it were a matter of going for a walk or having a picnic, Melfina wouldn’t oppose it, but training with the soldiers, regardless of other complications, was not something she could permit.

Moreover, Serleine was in the Enkar region under the pretense of recuperation. If he had become healthy enough to participate in knight training, it would be reasonable for him to return to his homeland and join his own country’s knight order.

Additionally, it was concerning that he had not asked Melfina directly but had approached Roland and Sigmund instead.

Serleine was a smart child; he must have understood that mentioning his desire to the knights would eventually reach Melfina’s ears sooner or later.

—Was he that anxious?

Once his health improved, it was natural for him to want to challenge the various things he had given up on until then.

However, it is common for someone to overexert themselves thinking they have recovered a little, only to worsen their condition.

“…Marie, could you send a messenger to have Lord Julius visit the lord’s mansion?”

“Yes, right away.”

Melfina had never experienced having too much magical power that affected her health. She was also concerned about Julius, who had not returned from Melto Village, and before talking to Serleine, it would be a good idea to hear from Julius, who similarly bore excessive magical power.

“I would like to support him if possible, but it’s quite difficult.”

“Regarding his health, it’s beyond our jurisdiction, so it will be challenging. However, I believe we can offer assistance in other areas.”

Cedric said, nodding.

Since there were now more things they could do, it would be best if they could support Serleine’s wishes without causing him any harm.

＊ ＊ ＊

The next day, Julius visited the lord’s mansion for the first time in a while, shortly after breakfast.

He was said to be in the dining hall, having hurriedly wrapped up his morning duties, so she went downstairs. In a corner of the dining hall, which had recently started to feel cramped, Julius was tilting a cup of milk tea, seemingly prepared by Ed, wearing a radiant smile.

“Lady, good morning!”

“Lord Julius, it’s been a little while. You look very well.”

“Yes! Every day is fun, and I’m really happy to be able to drink sweet milk tea again after so long.”

“Oh, they still can’t get sugar over there. I’d be happy if you came to drink milk tea once in a while.”

It was well-known that sugar could be used fairly freely within the lord’s mansion, but it was still not available in external circulation.

Once the duke’s household began large-scale sugar production, it should naturally spread, but that would be some time away.

“Are there any other issues with living in Melto Village?”

“Not at all. Every day, I have so much fun walking around the fields with Rena and running through the forest. Yesterday, we went to gather berries near the lake, and Rena is amazing! She’s really good at finding places where delicious berries grow. Oh, I shared some with the little chef, so you should definitely try them. By the way, we spotted a few small islands from the shore of the lake, and since no one has been there yet, we were talking about going on an adventure. There might be special creatures on those secluded islands, you know. I suggested freezing the water to make a bridge to the islands, but I was laughed at and told it would be better to borrow a small boat.”

It seemed he still had the habit of speaking passionately about things he was interested in, but now he appeared more carefree, with a boyish demeanor.

It strongly conveyed that meeting Rena was something very special for Julius.

“Rena is really an amazing girl. She wonders why there are bugs that walk on water, why sometimes bees come out of butterfly cocoons, whether snails have males and females, and what distinguishes rain clouds from non-rain clouds… She always thinks about so many things, and she seems so happy. Seeing the world through her eyes makes everything look different. She wants to be an adventurer in the future, and she told me she would take me along!”

After Julius began to recount how wonderful his adventures with Rena were, Cedric moved behind him and grasped both of his shoulders.

“Lady Melfina, you must be busy, so let’s get to the main topic.”

“Ah, yes, that’s right. Lord Julius, it’s actually about Prince Serleine.”

Perhaps due to the recent increase in stable days for Serleine’s health, he had been expressing a desire to train among the soldiers, but Melfina expressed her concerns about how to handle the situation for a child who had excessive magical power and was prone to breaking down physically and mentally.

“Oh, I see. Well, children tend to want to stretch themselves beyond their limits. It’s not something I can relate to personally, but I had a friend who aspired to be a knight, so I can somewhat understand that feeling. However, granting permission is difficult, isn’t it?”

Though he seemed to be enjoying himself running around the hills every day, Julius was fundamentally very intelligent, possessing considerable knowledge about politics as the top of the ivory tower.

It seemed Melfina understood, without needing any explanation, that it was her position to put a stop to that.

“Typically, the weakness derived from innate magical power is resolved as one grows and their body becomes larger. The more magical power you have, the more your body tries to adapt to it, leading to a tendency to grow tall. Just look at me; I’ve grown so tall and lanky!”

Julius, who stood out among people with his height, laughed cheerfully.

“It’s an extreme case to spend most of the growth period sleeping like I did, but using the nutrients needed for physical growth through training isn’t ideal. If you allow yourself to grow taller during this phase, you’ll stabilize once your growth stops, so it’s better to wait patiently for your height to increase right now.”

“I see…”

If that’s the case, persuading Serleine should be easier. Melfina let out a sigh of relief.

“The growth phase and strong magical power don’t mix well. During this already unstable period caused by growth, having powerful magic can easily lead to confusion or nightmares.”

“Then, could it be that Prince Serleine is also feeling anxious due to his unstable magical power?”

Serleine, although appearing to be a boy of tender age, had a very polite and modest personality. Since this behavior was uncharacteristic of Serleine, Melfina became worried, but Julius laughed heartily.

“Oh, lady! Even someone like me, who is said to be insensitive to people’s hearts, can understand that. Puberty is a rite of passage to adulthood. When a boy wants to grow up quickly, especially when there’s a lovely lady nearby, it’s only natural for him to feel that way!”

“Hmm? What’s wrong? It’s quite rare for you to leave the lady’s side.”

Julius said with a cheerful smile.

“I can see the door, and there’s no other exit to the dining room. I have a few questions.”

Cedric replied.

“That’s unusual.”

Julius remarked, still smiling.

Cedric closed his mouth, which had opened in surprise, and carefully chose his words before speaking.

“Have you noticed that you’re calling that girl by her name?”

Julius, his old friend, continued to laugh without responding.

He wasn’t a foolish boy acting impulsively; he should understand exactly why Cedric was asking such a question.

“If you seek her, you should follow the proper procedures. If something were to happen, it’s not you, a noble, who would get hurt, but her, a commoner.”

“Oh, come now, my friend. Rena is just a child. I’m not thinking about anything like that with such a little girl.”

Julius replied casually.

“Julius.”

“You’re worried that if I hurt Rena, the lady would be hurt, right? There’s no need to worry about that at all. I just want to spend the limited time I have by that child’s side, to see the things she sees. That’s all.”

With a carefree smile, just like when they were children, Julius spoke as if he had reached a level of enlightenment after seeing through everything.

“And besides, it’s a terrible thing to fall in love with that child; I couldn’t do such a thing.”

“…”

“Don’t worry so much. No matter how beautiful the stars are, it’s pointless to reach out to the night sky to grasp them. I understand that much. By the way, can I go back now? I promised Rena we’d plan our adventure to the small island tonight.”

“…Be careful out there. Regardless of you, make sure to take care of the girl’s safety.”

“I’ll make sure Rena returns safely, even if it costs me my life.”

“Julius.”

His friend waved his hand nonchalantly and left the lord’s residence without looking back.

He probably thought he had evaded the topic. However, after a long friendship, seeing his jaded childhood friend—who was usually so true to his own desires—avoid something like this was a first for Cedric.

Cedric didn’t believe that a romantic relationship could develop between Julius and the young girl, who had spoken so childishly until last year.

However, it was clear that Julius, who rarely called anyone by name, held a very special regard for her.

—He hasn’t forgotten, has he?

Long ago, while wearing the same smile he had now, it was this very friend who had admitted that calling someone by name would only deepen his regrets.

Taking a deep breath, Cedric pushed down the bitter, complicated feelings swelling within him. He then put on his usual expression and hurried back to the dining room where Melfina was waiting.