Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Her Father (3)
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The Haidia family mansion was as impeccably neat and luxurious on the inside as it appeared from the outside.
The interior seemed to reflect the personality of its master.
Moreover, there were high-end paintings and sculptures, including a portrait of the family.
It depicted a noble lady with a young Mary on her lap and a stern-looking nobleman.
'Those must be Mary's parents.'
The mother's eyes had the same languid shape as Mary's, but her lips curved gently, giving her a soft and kind appearance.
And her father... he looked as strict as I'd heard.
True to his reputation as a renowned mage in the kingdom, he had the rugged look of a man who had weathered countless storms.
At a glance, his face even resembled the expression Mary wore when she was on guard.
"Albus, where is Father?"
"The master is still sleeping. I'll inform him when he wakes."
"Then I'll wait in my room."
"...And the guest who came with you?"
The seasoned butler called Albus glanced subtly at me.
He seemed to be asking Mary where to escort me.
"Ken is my guest. He'll wait with me in my room."
"......Understood."
At Mary's firm response, Albus hesitated for a moment before bowing and stepping back.
'He's wary because I'm a stranger...'
Even in an ordinary household, parents would be concerned if an unfamiliar young man wanted to be alone in their daughter's room.
Especially here in the prestigious Haidia family.
Normally, permission wouldn't come so easily.
But with the family head in critical condition, no one would override his daughter's wishes.
━Kiiiek.
And so, I followed Mary past the bowing servants and up to a room on the second floor.
'This is Mary's room.'
The interior was incredibly tidy.
Not that I'd ever been in another young lady's room, of course.
━Unusually so.
"...This is the room I've lived in since I was little?"
"Yes, since the day I was born."
Mary shyly showed me around the room.
Normally, I'd feel excited peeking into the room full of memories from the girl I like.
But instead, my heart grew cold.
Mary's room showed no trace of such memories.
That was why it was so unnaturally pristine.
'It feels like a hotel room...'
You'd expect a girl's room, especially one she's had since childhood, to have cute, whimsical touches.
Even Rapne's tower had dolls and novels as decorations.
But Mary's room had none of that.
Just thick, boring-looking books, a large bed, and a table and chairs for receiving guests.
It didn't feel like a girl's room at all.
"Oh, please sit... Shall I have some tea brought?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Hehe, it's strange being in my childhood room with you, Ken."
"Haha..."
That might be how it felt to Mary.
But to me, it was like stepping into a film set—I couldn't share the sentiment.
"Don't you have any toys from when you were little? Or a favorite fairy tale book?"
"No, nothing like that..."
"So what did you do in your room mostly?"
"Hmm... Before the academy, I mainly did etiquette training and basic studies."
"I see..."
I wanted to hear about fun times, what brought her joy.
But it seemed those stories wouldn't come easily.
This gave me a sudden glimpse into how she'd grown up.
I wondered if all noble ladies endured similar upbringings.
But thinking of Rapne, whose hobby was reading romance novels, made me realize Mary's environment was special.
The Martinezes were just as prestigious as the Haidias.
"Oh, but when I was little, I did enjoy drawing."
As if suddenly remembering, Mary stood and headed somewhere.
She pulled out an old box from a shelf.
Inside were stacks of faded papers.
They held sketches of surprisingly high quality for a child.
"Wow... How old were you when you drew these?"
"I think up to age seven... It's a bit embarrassing."
Mary pulled them out one by one, reminiscing.
'Good. At least she had some hobbies.'
Seeing that eased my tension, and I finally relaxed my stiff expression with a sigh of relief.
"This is a rabbit I saw on a walk. It had just woken from hibernation, so it was adorable."
"Ooh, you were really talented even as a kid."
"Don't flatter me too much..."
I wasn't just saying it—they were lively and impressive sketches, even without knowing a child drew them.
"Are there more? What about other drawings?"
"Hmm, let me see..."
A faint smile played on Mary's face as she sifted through the papers, lost in memories of drawing.
"......Ah."
Then her hand froze on one sheet.
It showed a man and woman drinking tea at a table.
The same pair from the mansion's portrait.
Mary's parents.
Her gaze fixed on it, the faint smile vanishing as she stared silently.
"S-Sorry. With your father ill, I shouldn't have..."
I realized this wasn't the time for nostalgia and apologized hastily.
The stark room had shocked me a little.
I'd wanted to uncover happy childhood memories for her.
It was selfish.
I should have been more careful given her situation.
"No, actually, thanks to you, I feel more composed. I'm glad."
"Mary..."
"Really. If I'd come alone, I'd be more confused and anxious. So don't apologize."
Mary smiled softly at me.
But her trembling hand clutching the paper kept me from smiling back.
I simply placed my hand on her shoulder and drew her close.
She overlaid her hand on mine.
"Mother passed when I was young. This was right before... I was just looking at it for a moment."
I had no words for her explanation.
A mother lost in childhood.
Now her father's condition critical.
I didn't know what her father meant to her.
But it had to be hard to accept.
So all I could do was stay by her side, sharing warmth.
No words of comfort would help.
I just held her hand so she wouldn't feel alone.
And after a while.
━Knock, knock.
"Miss, the master is asking for you."
Albus, who had greeted us earlier, informed us her father had awakened.
"Ken, come with me."
"Me? But shouldn't you go alone first...?"
"No, please come."
Mary shook her head stubbornly, her face set.
Was it okay for me to intrude on their reunion?
But her resolve was firm.
So I followed her tensely.
Albus led the way naturally, as if he'd expected this.
Knock, knock.
"Master, Miss Mary and her friend have arrived."
"......Very well."
A room in the mansion.
I hadn't seen inside yet, but the door bore the family crest prominently, exuding luxury.
From behind that dignified door came the frail voice of a fading man.
Albus opened it at his response.
The first thing visible was a massive bed.
Sunlight poured through large windows, illuminating it brightly.
On it lay a gaunt man, flickering like a dying candle.
'That's him...'
Mary's father.
Raymon Haidia.
Current head of the prestigious Haidia family and one of the Lillias Kingdom's top mages.
But he looked far more fragile than in the entrance portrait.
His sunken cheeks and sallow skin.
Yet his eyes remained sharp.
His body seemed too weak to lift a spoon.
But his gaze on Mary was intense and unwavering.
"You're here."
"......Yes."
"Who is with you?"
"A... friend from the academy."
"I'm Ken Fineschtaim."
At Mary's hesitant introduction, I bowed tensely.
"...Ken... Fineschtaim?"
Raymon's gaze fixed on me oddly upon hearing my name.
'...Does he know me?'
This was my first time visiting the Haidias.
Even in the original game, there was no special connection.
His enigmatic stare made me shrink back.
I couldn't read it.
But soon his eyes left me and turned to Mary.
"How is the academy?"
"...Going well."
"You placed second in the recent exam for your year."
"......Yes."
"Good work."
"......"
The words were ordinary father-daughter small talk.
Yet the mood was oppressively heavy and dark.
Even I, just listening, felt tense in the cold air.
But they conversed as if accustomed to it.
"How is your health?"
"As you see. The doctor says I haven't long."
"......"
"That's why I summoned you urgently."
After brief pleasantries, Raymon cut to the chase.
This was likely why he'd called her.
Not just to watch him die.
Mary had explained on the carriage ride.
Why her father summoned her.
"I leave you my last will. Regarding this family and all my assets."
"......"
Mary said nothing, as if expecting it.
Raymon continued matter-of-factly.
"Upon my death, Mary Haidia will succeed as head of the Haidia family. All my assets will transfer to her as well... Albus."
"Yes, the will has been drafted identically and sent to the royal family."
The parchment Albus presented bore the royal seal and the same terms.
"All this has the Lillias royal family's approval, with them as witnesses. That's all."
He ended concisely, as if done.
Mary bowed her head and spoke.
"Is that everything?"
Raymon turned slowly to gaze out the bright window.
"Yes, my business is concluded."
Her shoulders trembled slightly at his words.
She glanced cautiously at me.
'...Mary.'
Her fearful eyes sought courage from me.
Like a scared child grasping for strength.
That's why she'd brought me here.
Wanting me by her side for this moment.
To draw courage from my presence.
Meeting her gaze, I smiled reassuringly.
She relaxed, returning a faint smile.
"Father."
With renewed resolve, she faced him again.
"I renounce the inheritance."
Her short declaration echoed softly in the quiet room.
She'd forced those words out with great difficulty.
"I will not succeed the Haidia family."
On the way here, Mary had shared her upbringing in detail.
'Become someone worthy of the family!'
Her father had rigorously trained her from childhood to inherit.
If she faltered, he'd douse her with water to push her.
That left her with a trauma of water—she couldn't go out in the rain.
The root of it all: family succession.
She'd come here with me to reject that unwanted future.
'I've never defied Father once.'
In the carriage, gripping my hand tightly, she'd confessed.
'But now I want to say it. That the future he wants isn't mine. That I'll refuse.'
Trembling with fear, she'd pleaded desperately.
'So Ken, stay by my side. With you... I know I can do it.'
That's why we'd come together.
"......"
Having finally voiced her lifelong wish, Mary trembled.
For defying the man who'd driven her mercilessly toward his desires.
Knowing what reaction that might provoke.
That's why she'd come relying on me to face that fear.
Alone, she couldn't endure it.
And to her resolute words.
Raymon replied calmly, without turning.
"Do as you like."
Short and curt.
But it stilled Mary's shaking.
Her tense face filled with bewilderment as she stared at him.
"......Pardon?"
"Do as you like."
Only then did Raymon turn from the window to face his daughter.
"Cancel the inheritance of family and assets. Instead, liquidate everything into cash. That's all I'll leave you."
Even after his daughter betrayed his expectations, Raymon showed no anger—his face colder than hers.
Unable to comprehend, Mary spoke.
"...I-I don't need the money either. I won't inherit anything."
"......Foolish child."
He gazed at her pityingly.
"Throwing away all that wealth over petty emotions?"
"......Yes, I don't want it."
Mary's resolved response was unwavering.
But her eyes wavered at his unexpected reply.
Raymon sighed softly.
"Then take nothing. ...Leave now."
"F-Father...!"
"We're done. Go."
Mary had more to say, but his turned back silenced her.
She clenched her fists, eyes welling with injustice, staring at his back.
Then she whirled toward the door.
"......"
I followed to leave.
"You stay."
Raymon's voice stopped me.
"...Me?"
"Father, why Ken...?"
"Don't make me repeat myself."
His firm tone left Mary speechless.
She glanced anxiously at me.
Seeing my smile, she bowed and exited.
"......Ken Fineschtaim."
"Yes... Yes."
Once Mary left, Raymon faced me squarely.
His eyes sharp, resolute, stubborn.
"Are you the one who conquered Tarros Tower?"
"......"
His unforeseen words explained his reaction to my name.