Chapter 181
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Father's Waiting (1)
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“Bee-bong-!”
Bangul’s vigorous cry echoed as always.
With that eco-friendly alarm, morning broke over Frontera County.
Baron Frontera’s heart beat a little faster than usual as he greeted the dawn.
It was finally the day he had been waiting for.
‘Today?’
The Count picked up the warm teacup brought by the maid.
He gazed out the window at the falling sleet.
From his bedroom window, he could clearly see not only the modest garden but also the hillside road leading up to the mansion, stretching far below.
The bare branches of the season made it all the more visible.
The Count was glad for that fact.
He could spot his son returning home that much sooner.
‘He’ll probably come back today.’
Suddenly, he recalled the messenger bird that had flown into the mansion a few days earlier.
It carried a letter from the Namaran Count.
The letter had informed him.
That Lloyd and Haviel had left Namaran City.
And approximately when they would arrive at his territory.
Along with heartfelt, profound thanks.
‘Who would have thought they went through something like that there.’
The Count’s eyes grew somber as he remembered the letter’s contents.
They had said it was just to secure a contract.
That they’d wrap up the work and return soon.
That’s what his son had said before leaving for Namaran City.
So he never imagined the boy would confront a band of black mages and face off against a hell knight in such dire straits.
‘Even Haviel struggled to handle it, clinging to the enemy’s leg... Hoo.’
What if something had gone wrong?
Just thinking about it made his heart sink.
Sure, his son had earned merits from it, but that meant nothing to him.
Merits or no merits.
Talents or no talents.
Because he was his son.
He just wanted him to come back safe and sound.
That alone was more than enough for him.
‘Once the boy gets here, I’ll give him a good scolding.’
No more throwing himself into danger like that.
If it looks risky, run first.
He planned to reprimand him sternly this time.
And so, the Frontera Count stood watch by his bedroom window.
His heart fluttering with anticipation, he skipped breakfast.
Instead, he had another cup of tea.
Still, his throat felt parched somehow.
He drank more tea.
And more.
Each time, the maid bustled in and out.
Brewing fresh tea, clearing empty cups.
In the meantime, morning passed, lunch flew by, and the short winter sun dipped toward the west.
Even then, the Frontera Count paced by the window.
What if he doesn’t come today?
Tomorrow, then?
Or did something happen on the way?
As the Count’s steps by the window grew anxious.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Then bolted forward.
He left his bedroom.
Leaped down the mansion stairs two at a time.
Passed through the first-floor parlor, flung open the door, and stepped outside.
He even refused the coat urged upon him by the maid who hurried after.
He crossed the garden.
And looked down at the hillside road leading to the mansion.
“Ah.”
A carriage was ascending.
Pushing through the now-thickening snowflakes.
Leaving long tracks on the snow-covered hillside.
Steadily, reliably climbing the hill.
Finally, it stopped before the mansion’s main gate.
At that moment, the Frontera Count unwittingly let out a dazed sound.
“Huh?”
His gaze turned to the carriage’s driver’s seat.
The driver seated there waved in greeting.
Clack!
Waving a bony hand cheerfully, rattling its lower jaw in a grin.
In other words, it was a skeleton soldier.
“Uwaaaah?”
No, they said his son was coming.
Lloyd was coming.
Why was a skeleton soldier in the driver’s seat of the returning carriage?
The Frontera Count nearly fell on his rear in shock.
If the carriage door hadn’t opened right then, he would have ended up with muddied snow all over his pants in an undignified heap.
Click!
“Huh? When did you come out?”
Lloyd peeked his face through the brightly opened carriage door.
He flashed a delighted smile toward the shocked man.
The Count barely gathered his wits to reply.
“Y-Yeah, just now.”
“You must’ve been startled. It’s cold, and you didn’t even wear a coat.”
“Uh. Well.”
Lloyd, now down from the carriage, approached.
He promptly took off his own coat and draped it over the Count’s shoulders.
That warmth soothed the Count’s startled heart.
“Truth be told, I came out to greet you happily, thinking you’d arrived, and nearly fainted. What in the world are those skeletons?”
The Count’s hand pointed to the skeleton in the driver’s seat.
And it wasn’t just one skeleton serving as driver.
Soon, more skeleton soldiers followed the carriage’s path up the hill, marching in two orderly columns like sausages in a line.
Lloyd shrugged.
“Hmm, the Namaran Count said he’d send a messenger bird explaining everything that happened. Guess he didn’t mention the skeleton squad?”
“S-Skeleton squad?”
“Yes.”
“What’s that?”
“Our new workers.”
“Those skeletons?”
“Yes.”
“......”
“They’re gentler than they look. Kinda creepy at first, but you get used to them quicker than you think if you hang around steadily. Especially since they don’t slack off and do great work. Oh, let me introduce them. The one in the driver’s seat is Turtle Neck, leader of the skeleton squad.”
Clack!
Turtle Neck, the skeleton squad leader in the driver’s seat, waved brightly at the Count.
Lloyd pointed to the rest.
“The two at the front of the column are Square Jaw, the first squad leader, and Fifty Shoulder, the second squad leader. The others, uh, their names get mixed up, so I haven’t memorized them all yet.”
“......”
“Anyway, no need to be scared. They don’t bite.”
“......”
They might not bite, but one slip and they’d bury you.
The Count shook off the eerie feeling as best he could.
But then.
Lloyd’s expression turned mischievous.
He glanced back at the carriage.
Surely he had more to show?
As the Count wondered, Lloyd grinned and called inside the carriage.
“Hey, isn’t it about time you came out?”
But no reply came from within.
Lloyd’s smile grew more teasing.
“Hey? Are you embarrassed or something?”
Was someone else inside?
Come to think of it, Haviel was nowhere to be seen.
The cloudy, snowy day made the carriage interior dim.
Hard to tell if anyone was there.
The Count narrowed his eyes.
At that instant, a cold retort flew from inside the carriage.
“Embarrassed? You misunderstand.”
“Then?”
“I was merely straightening my skirt hem.”
“To look pretty?”
“Heavens, no. It’s the bare minimum courtesy for seeing my liege after so long. I couldn’t very well appear disheveled.”
With those words, Haviel stepped out of the carriage.
The Frontera Count’s mouth fell wide open.
Nor was he alone.
The maids and servants who had followed him.
Even the Countess, who had been joyfully watching her son’s return from afar.
All felt their vision brighten the moment they laid eyes on Haviel.
Ah.
The world was this bright and beautiful.
Was today’s weather always this splendid?
She was that stunning.
Haviel, gracefully adjusting the hem of her simple dress as she alighted.
Even her posture as she knelt on one knee before the Count, offering a knight’s salute.
Be it wig.
Apron.
Worn slippers.
No matter how plain the attire.
It didn’t matter in the slightest.
She was simply, utterly beautiful.
Even the expression as she bowed to the Count shone radiantly.
Suddenly, an impulse surged to be crushed by that faintly furrowed brow.
In short, everyone gathered before the mansion lost their words at the unexpected unveiling of Lady Ella’s form.
“Knight Asrahan, greets my liege.”
“......Uh, um. Cough! Hack!”
The flustered Count choked.
Lady Ella—no, Haviel—rose after her salute.
She briskly crossed through the crowd’s shock and silence.
Before anyone could grab her.
Or ask questions.
She slipped away like the wind, through the main gate. Across the garden. Into her quarters in the mansion annex.
And the moment she entered her room, she tore off the wig and dress in one second flat. No, she crumpled them into the trash bin, never to wear again.
“Whew.”
A sigh escaped.
How did I end up doing something like this?
Suddenly, the morning’s events came to mind.
It had been the last morning of the journey from Namaran County to here.
She had been packing up camp as usual.
Then Lloyd had sneaked up.
With that deadpan look, asking if she’d forgotten anything.
Then he dangled that detestable wig and dress.
She couldn’t resist in front of him.
Because of the bet.
Promises must be kept.
‘I’ll never have to wear those clothes again.’
Absolutely not.
No, she’d make sure of it.
Haviel stared at the crumpled wig and dress in the trash, vowing firmly. And that entire day, she sulked in her room with a grumpy face, not poking even a toe outside.
♣
The next day dawned.
“Hey, Ella.”
“......”
“Ella?”
“......”
“Sir Asrahan?”
“Yes, speak.”
Haviel’s icy reply from the morning.
Lloyd grinned at the chill.
“You were pretty mad yesterday, huh?”
“Not at all. I wasn’t.”
“But you wouldn’t even open the door. I even went to sing you a lullaby last night for once.”
“I was asleep.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“But I heard you sighing from inside.”
“Must’ve been sleep-talking.”
“Nah. Sounded like you were trembling your nostrils, venting pent-up frustration with heavy sighs.”
“Guess I had a bad dream.”
“Like what?”
“Meeting you in a dream. Chatting with you in a dream. Eating with you. Being with you. Glimpsing you from afar. Hearing news of you by chance. Or spotting a dung pile that looks just like you.”
“......”
“Shall I go on?”
“Uh, fascinating. The vibe is you’d hate even the sound of me breathing.”
“You know it.”
“Yeah. That’s why teasing you is so fun.”
“Is it? You must be thrilled, Lord Lloyd.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re about to escape 27 years of singledom soon.”
“Huh? What’s that mean?”
Lloyd tilted his head.
He was still single.
No girlfriend, not even a flirtation.
Escaping singledom soon?
Haviel’s cold reply continued.
“The new year’s coming soon, and then you’ll hit 28 years solo.”
“......”
“Congratulations in advance.”
“Yeah, thanks. Makes me tear up.”
“You’re welcome.”
“......”
It felt like he’d tossed a rubber ball and gotten hit with a shot put to the solar plexus.
Lloyd forced a wry smile through the sting.
“Alright, feeling better now?”
“Yes. A little, thanks to you.”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“The construction sites.”
Lloyd raised his collar against the cold winter wind.
One day off was enough to shake off travel fatigue.
Now it was time for the work he’d put off.
“Apartment complex and main sewer lines. I got a report from Sir Bayern last night, but I need to check with my own eyes.”
While he’d been to Namaran.
Sir Bayern had accomplished much.
Construction of the apartment complex and main sewers.
He’d wrapped them up splendidly, or so he heard.
“So let’s go see for ourselves.”
That day marked the start.
Over the next five days, Lloyd inspected the apartment complex and sewers thoroughly.
Checking for any deviations from the original designs.
For construction flaws or defects.
Even deploying his surveying skill for meticulous review.
The results were overwhelmingly satisfactory.
‘Good. This deserves a solid 90 out of 100.’
The honeycomb apartments especially pleased him.
Higher floors might be inconvenient for daily up-and-down, but it was more than enough for refugees to shelter from wind and rain, living warmly.
And so, refugees began moving into the apartment complex.
Elderly or infirm prioritized for lower floors.
Younger, sturdier ones assigned to higher floors.
The homes weren’t luxurious or spacious.
No, truly bare-bones structures for sleeping.
Yet most refugees rejoiced anyway.
They were people swept up in the sudden monster domino crisis, losing their livelihoods without warning. Refugees who had endured over a year in poor camp conditions.
For them, this was a sturdy home shielding from the elements.
‘Sure, stairs are a hassle, but for now, this’ll do. Once their situations improve? They can build and move out on their own.’
Once the apartments filled up a bit?
Then whole blocks could become barracks for the engineering corps and guards.
‘Anyway, that’s for later. For now, we’ve cleared a major hurdle.’
The day he finished settling the refugees.
Lloyd collapsed exhausted onto his bed.
Body weary, but heart content.
The refugees rejoicing over their new homes.
Just the thanks he’d received in the past few days felt like thousands.
Never in his life had he heard so much praise and gratitude.
‘Makes sense, though.’
If, back when he lived in a tiny studio,
Someone had handed him a free one-room apartment?
Wouldn’t he have been just as grateful?
‘Did a good deed. One that’ll pay off later, too.’
The settled refugees were no longer refugees.
They’d become proper residents of Frontera County.
‘And that means taxes coming back around.’
His lifetime pension.
The thought alone tugged his lips into a grin.
‘Ahh, perfect. Refugee issue solved. Money and jewels from Namaran cover territory funds for a while. Now it’s just a sweet life ahead.’
No more big projects.
No more storms.
Just peaceful, prosperous days ahead.
Vowing so, Lloyd drifted into sweet sleep.
Dreamed happy dreams.
And the next morning.
He received the special envoy to the Sultanate dispatched by King Alicia Termina Magentano.