Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Conversation (2)
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On the way back, they ran into the Paladin Order.
Riki and Anna, along with Ras, joined them and returned to the temple.
Beryl was in their care as well. It was deemed more efficient for him to move with the Paladins while receiving healing.
Jamie's group headed straight for the Marquis's residence. A memorial service for Archbishop Sephira and the fallen was scheduled for tomorrow, but first, their weary bodies needed rest.
"Jamie! My son!"
No sooner had they arrived than Sears rushed out and enveloped Jamie in a tight embrace.
Jamie had half-expected a slap or two. Not only had he ignored her words and gone to Mirene Forest on his own, but he'd nearly died in the process.
Yet Sears didn't scold him—instead, she just held him close and sobbed.
"I'm so glad... truly."
Jamie was quite flustered, having never imagined she'd worry this much. And it made him realize, regrettably, how little empathy he had for others.
After a moment's hesitation, Jamie raised his arms and tentatively hugged her back.
"Jamie?"
Sears looked at him in surprise.
Her son, who had never returned an embrace even when she hugged him, was acting out of character.
Jamie smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes.
As he examined his mother's face up close, a familiar visage overlapped in his mind.
His smiling grandmother.
He couldn't recall her features clearly, but seeing Sears brought them vividly to mind.
She looks just like her.
Mother and daughter were spitting images of each other.
Just then, Jamie spotted Sara fidgeting restlessly in the distance, waving her hands.
When he beckoned her, Sara beamed and threw herself into her mother and brother's arms.
"Sa-Sara!"
"Hee hee hee!"
For whatever reason, Sara giggled delightedly, nestled between the two.
"If you ever do that again, even I won't hold back."
"Hold back mo-tay!"
"I'm sorry..."
Jamie bowed his head in apology to Sears, who was finally scolding him, and Sara mimicking her.
He'd thought he'd gotten off scot-free, but his mother was thorough in such matters.
Even so, Sara parroting her was utterly adorable.
"Who does she take after, I wonder."
"Who doo she take after, I won-der!"
No one in temperament, so Jamie could only laugh.
"That's enough now."
The Marquis, who had been watching awkwardly with a smile, intervened.
Sears let out a short sigh, apparently not intending to lecture further.
"Go get some proper rest. You must be exhausted today."
Sears planted a light kiss on her son's forehead.
Her son, who would usually make a big show of hating it, quietly accepted today. A mischievous glint appeared on her face.
"It's nice when my son causes a little trouble now and then. Lets me show affection without reservation."
You always did that anyway...
Jamie couldn't bring himself to say it.
He headed to his room, patting his mother's back as she saw him off. Sara, looking drowsy, clung to Sears's skirt and blinked sleepily.
She was still at an age where she slept the day away, so staying up had tired her out.
Sears scooped up her daughter and said to the Marquis,
"We'll head up and rest now too."
"You stay. We need to talk."
"Talk? It's late—can't it wait until tomorrow...?"
"Nanny. Take Sara, please."
"Yes."
The nanny carefully took Sara and returned to the room.
Sears watched the Marquis head to his study.
For some reason, his shoulders looked heavy.
"Is something wrong?"
Sears tensed slightly at the Marquis's darkened expression.
She couldn't fathom what he wanted to say. Had something bad happened to Jamie?
He looked fine on the surface.
As she pondered alone, the Marquis spoke.
"You've heard about Beryl?"
"Yes. That he brought Jamie out of the forest."
"He's in critical condition now."
"...I see."
"Aren't you worried?"
"Father. I..."
"Yes. I know. I know full well."
The Marquis was aware of what had transpired between Sears and Beryl in the past.
He had been furious at the time.
Sears was his precious daughter, and Beryl the one who had tried to force her.
But over time, Beryl had changed, bit by bit.
"Have you heard the rumors about him?"
"Yes. Nothing good."
The rumors trailing Beryl were always grim: 'malevolent spirit,' 'butcher,' and the like.
Nicknames earned from his merciless brutality toward enemies.
Sears had seen those actions as born of anger toward her—and to some extent, she was right.
"Do you have no intention of forgiving him?"
"What's there to forgive? We're already..."
"I'm not saying take him back. Beryl regrets it deeply. He feels tremendous remorse toward you and your husband."
"..."
"Protecting Jamie with his life today might have been atonement for that day."
As Sears merely bowed her head without responding, the Marquis sighed briefly.
"If you can, visit him later. Regardless, he's Jamie's benefactor. Without Beryl, we might never have seen Jamie again."
"I understand."
Her feelings were complicated, but Beryl had saved Jamie's life, just as the Marquis said.
To Sears, that made him a benefactor too, so she'd visit if possible.
Though returning to how things once were was impossible.
Beryl knew that well.
They had drifted too far apart to ever go back.
Knowing this, the Marquis didn't press her.
"And... your mother appeared before Jamie."
The Marquis relayed exactly what Jamie had told him.
Sears's darkened expression brightened slightly.
"I knew."
"You knew?"
"Yes. She appeared before me too. So I had a feeling. Father, you gave Jamie Mother's keepsakes, and you told me as well."
-Everything's fine. So don't worry, dear.
No sound, but the moving lips clearly formed those words.
"Hah."
The Marquis let out a short sigh, then a hollow chuckle.
"She's too much. Appears to her daughter and grandson, but not to me? I was waiting too."
Regret tinged his voice, but joy softened his features.
His long-deceased wife still watched over the family.
The Marquis leaned back over the sofa, recalling his wife's now-fuzzy face.
"Thinking back, your mother was truly remarkable."
"I think so too."
"Marrying such a wonderful woman made me truly happy."
"No thoughts of remarrying?"
The Marquis had lived alone for so long.
Sears hoped her father would let go of her mother and start anew.
He was the head of the great Bell family, after all.
It pained her to see him remain solitary—not for the children's sake.
But the Marquis shook his head.
"No such plans. For me, there's only Tina. And at my age, remarriage? Ridiculous."
"You should enjoy your twilight years."
"Enough. Your eldest brother will inherit the family in a few years anyway. Then I'll wander freely on my own."
"Father."
"That's enough of that."
The warm conversation turned icy in an instant.
Sears was bewildered.
Why had her father suddenly changed amid their pleasant talk?
The Marquis paused before speaking.
"Prepare your heart for this."
What could it be, to set such a grave mood?
Sears swallowed dryly, a touch of fear rising.
At last, the Marquis spoke.
"Archbishop Sephira passed away today."
"...What?"
"According to the executor, he was murdered by that bastard Savl."
"N-No... that's a lie."
Sears shook her head, unable to accept it.
Archbishop Sephira, murdered?
She thought it a cruel joke from her father.
But the Marquis only shook his head silently.
"Don't lie. Someone everyone respected like the Archbishop—why would he be murdered... murdered...!"
"I have no face to show. It was my failing to take him in. If only I'd seen through his true nature from the start..."
The Marquis closed his eyes and bowed his head.
Sears's mind went blank.
She couldn't believe Archbishop Sephira was gone.
What kind of man he had been to her.
He wasn't one to depart so vainly.
-Kya! Lady Sears, you're a genius! How do you come up with such clever ideas!
-Don't run off alone—you'll get hurt~! Ouch! I told you it'd hurt, Lady Sears!
-Lady Sears. To be a fine adult, you must eat even what's distasteful.
-I said that was dangerous! Why did you climb up there! Are you a naughty child, Lady Sears? Why won't you listen! Look, your beautiful skin is ruined!
-Lady Sears. I was too harsh earlier. Candy? Let's make up.
-Our lovely Lady Sears. Wherever you go, live happily. Promise!
To Sears, Archbishop Sephira had been a mentor in life, a friend, another parent, a blood-bound sibling.
The days praised by him, playing in the fields together, caught for being picky, scolded harshly after falling from a high fence, offered candy to reconcile after a spat, up to the day she married into the Welton family—all of it.
Sears wept as memories flooded back.
"We said... we'd meet again..."
Just days ago, she'd thought they'd meet again soon.
Never dreaming it would be their last.
"The memorial is tomorrow, so rest your eyes until then. You haven't slept a wink."
The Marquis summoned a maid to escort Sears to her room.
Then he took out a cigar and lit it.
"What cruelty."
Archbishop Sephira had left the Pyro Church to become a man respected as a person.
Having known him so long, the Marquis knew better than anyone how extraordinary he was.
Not a man to rest eternally here.
Yet now, he was gone from the world.
"I will avenge you."
If alive, Sephira would have replied instantly, 'Don't. Vengeance only begets more vengeance.'
"You fool."
Had he lived more ruthlessly, he wouldn't have died so pointlessly.
That he hadn't was why the Marquis admired him.
"This time, I won't do as you say."
The Zenith Church had crossed the line.
Though his personal power might fall short, Marquis Bell wielded immense influence in the Kingdom of Selden.
"I'll mobilize everything at my disposal. No holds barred until every worshipper of that evil god kneels."
The Marquis drew deeply on the cigar.
Smoke filled his lungs until his head ached, but he exhaled indifferently.
"So watch from heaven without needless worry—joyfully."
What a day it had been.
His body wasn't what it used to be; holding on was hard.
"I've grown old."
Perfect timing to burn his final years brightly.
The Marquis extinguished the cigar and rose.
He'd told Sears to sleep, but he had no such luxury.
To topple the Zenith Church, he needed to start now.
Sitting at his desk, the Marquis began drafting a petition to the king.