Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: City of Heroes (3)
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Grain, who was coming from ahead, gave me a small wave, and I nodded back in greeting.
"Grain, what do you mean he's in pain?"
Grain reached out to me, and I quickly moved to his side.
He felt far more familiar and comfortable than Merian, who treated me like a doll.
Besides, as a water Arbat, Grain exuded a cozy, pristine aura.
"I was just about to mention it myself..."
Father cleared his throat lightly. Merian asked sharply.
"Is this related to the sudden move to Prion?"
"Yes. We'll talk over dinner."
Father said with a wry smile.
Merian and Collin exchanged greetings with Luwen and Erner as well. They all knew each other well.
In the spacious hall hung with a massive chandelier, a few more guests were present.
There were people in knight uniforms and young men too. I spotted Railin and Joel, just like I'd seen back at the house in our hometown. They must have been invited as well.
Shuren had already warmed up to them somehow and was chatting naturally among the group.
"Here you all are."
I turned at the heavy voice of a middle-aged man.
An elderly man with thick gray hair approached, cradling a silver-haired girl in one arm.
It was the very girl who'd been sitting beside me when I first opened my eyes at the medical center.
"Welcome, Sir Lesis."
"Petron, it's been a while."
Father, Erner, and Collin placed hands over their hearts and bowed in formal salute, while Luwen and Grain merely nodded slightly.
Amid all that, only Merian grinned mischievously like a child and waved her hand.
The man looked around at everyone and smiled warmly.
"Thanks for the invitation, Jayden. And it's been ages, Merian, Collin. Especially you, Merian—I figured you'd at least file a return report before showing up."
"Didn't I?"
Collin asked flatly, and Merian chuckled.
"It was urgent. Isn't seeing your face enough?"
"We'll discuss that later... First, greetings. Liberic?"
The man looked at me with a gentle smile.
I stepped forward in front of Father. His hand rested lightly on my head.
"Lib. This is White Guard Knight Sir Petron Lesis. Say hello."
I clasped my hands politely and bowed my head.
I recalled how Father had spoken of him with deep respect.
One of the heroes, and the eldest son of Allen Lesis—the crown prince of the Lesion Kingdom—who had inherited his noble legacy and devoted himself to Prius.
And the "White Guard Knight," the highest-ranking knight in Prius...
The White Guard Knight gazed down at me with eyes full of gravitas.
"You look much healthier than back then. That's a relief. Now, Clemence—you should greet him too."
The White Guard Knight set the girl down.
The girl, dressed in a white frock embroidered with golden thread, hesitated shyly.
Unable to look me straight in the eye, she bowed her head.
"Hello..."
After her greeting, the girl, face flushed red, slipped behind the White Guard Knight.
"She's shy with everyone watching. Liberic, this is my granddaughter, Clemence. She's a little younger than you, but since she's Denan, you two are about the same age. I'd like it if you got along like friends."
"Yes. Nice to meet you, Clemence."
I nodded and smiled.
Clemence just blinked her big eyes at me from behind the White Guard Knight.
Only after he said "Come on" and nudged her toward me did she finally speak in a tiny voice, her cheeks still pink.
"...Y-yeah. Nice to meet you."
"Oh my god, you two are just too cute!"
Merian let out a squeal like a shriek and pulled both me and Clemence into a hug.
Clemence jumped in surprise, and I was flustered too.
Only after Collin sighed deeply and restrained the excited Merian could Clemence and I escape her scorching embrace.
"Merian, let the kids play on their own. We should go eat. Something smells delicious from earlier."
"We've prepared the food in the dining room. Please, come this way."
Father smiled as he guided everyone toward the dining room.
He said he'd set up a separate spot for me and Clemence to eat and told us to play for a bit.
For Clemence, who looked anxious being away from her grandfather, I led her to a seat by the entrance hall window with a good view of the dining room.
Clemence sat obediently on the sofa, glancing furtively toward her grandfather in the dining room.
Once all the guests had gone in to eat, the hall grew quiet.
Only maids and servants bustled back and forth between the dining room and kitchen.
I gazed down at the Melgram hanging around my neck out of habit and fiddled with it.
The transparent Melgram rippled gently, emanating its usual warm energy.
"You're not hurting anymore?"
Clemence looked at me and spoke up.
I blinked.
I hadn't expected her to start the conversation. She seemed so nervous and awkward that I'd planned to wait a moment.
Clemence's face turned pink.
"A-at the medical center... you looked like you were in a lot of pain..."
"I'm okay now."
I smiled in reply. Her gentle kindness came through clearly.
"I'm much better. Thanks for worrying."
"That's good."
Only then did Clemence relax and flash a bright smile. Dimples formed at the corners of her mouth, and her kind eyes curved into gentle crescents.
Was it because of the dress embroidered with golden flowers? Clemence seemed to carry the scent of flowers.
Strange, since she's not Luar.
"Hey, Liberic—are you Luar?"
"Yeah."
"What's different about Luar?"
Clemence tilted her head slightly.
To answer, I scooted to the edge of the sofa and sat closer to her.
Clemence, sitting opposite, was so small that even on the sofa, her feet didn't touch the floor.
"Not much different. We just live a tiny bit longer than Denan. And our bodies give off scents like flowers or trees."
"What about Arbat?"
"They live a little longer than Luar. And they have special abilities."
"Hee," Clemence looked at me with curious eyes.
I had no idea why we were having this conversation, but teaching her something didn't feel bad at all.
"I know about Loran. Our nursemaid is Loran. She has this super fluffy tail, and she wags it sometimes and knocks stuff over."
Clemence giggled merrily.
"What about yours?"
"She was Denan... but she's gone now."
Thinking of Madam Amara made me feel a little down.
I hadn't noticed it back at the house in our hometown, but now her absence felt all too real.
Especially today, with so many guests and extra hands needed—watching Mother bustle about made it hit even harder.
Before Clemence could ask why, Shuren and Mother approached to say dinner was ready.
Clemence bowed politely to Mother in greeting, and Mother gazed at the little girl with eyes full of affection.
We moved to our seats and ate together.
With Mother and Shuren there, my worries about the unfamiliar place and people faded a lot.
Clemence felt the same. Before long, she sat primly and politely, enjoying the meal with us.
After dinner, Clemence and I toured the mansion's first floor.
We took care not to get in the maids' way as we peeked into large and small rooms like the drawing room, lounge, and guest rooms.
"It's similar to our house."
"Yeah?"
Clemence nodded, then dashed out of the room to the end of the corridor.
At the corridor's end was a small nook surrounded by windows.
Clemence clung to the windowsill and pointed outside.
"That's our house. Where I live with Grandpa and Grandma."
Following the tip of her finger, not far away, a grand mansion glowed brightly.
"What about your mom and dad?"
"I think they work abroad. I only see them sometimes."
"Ah."
I let out a soft sigh.
"That must be lonely."
"No, I've got Grandpa and Grandma. And the nursemaid too..."
Clemence glanced at me and smiled brightly.
"And now a new friend. You have to come play at my house later. We can play together."
"Yeah."
I smiled back and nodded.
We hung off the windowsill, chattering away without noticing the time pass.
In the process, I completely forgot about anything scary.
Clemence knew every flower blooming and every tree growing in her house's garden.
She said she followed the gardeners around every day, admiring the flowers.
I shared a few fun stories I'd read in books. She especially loved an old Cernian fairy tale full of Luar.
Chatting by the window made my throat tickle from the cool air.
It felt like a cough was coming on.
We returned to the warm hall.
The dining room was still lively. Dinner was nearly over, but the party continued with drinks.
We passed the dining room filled with nonstop laughter and returned to the sofa where we'd sat before.
"So, are you going to be a knight when you grow up?"
The moment we sat, Clemence brought up the topic we hadn't finished.
What did I want to be when I grew up.
Clemence had said she wanted to tend a pretty garden. It was a modest, pure dream for the granddaughter of the White Guard Knight.
"Not sure yet. Haven't really thought about it... *cough*."
I covered my mouth suddenly, but I couldn't stop the cough rising in my throat.
The small cough made my whole body shake.
Clemence's eyes went wide in alarm.
"Liberic? Are you okay?"
"...Y-yeah."
I barely managed to answer and tried to slow my breathing to calm down.
But the coughing wouldn't stop—it kept coming relentlessly.
I clutched my throbbing heart and curled up.
The startled Clemence jumped to her feet.
Someone called my name, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps... then suddenly, everything felt distant and faint.
My breathing grew ragged, and my consciousness dimmed as if scattering away.
"Lib, Lib. Open your eyes."
At Grain's voice, I barely managed to open my eyes.
Over his shoulder, I saw Father and Mother looking down at me with worried faces.
Clemence, held in her grandfather's arms, finally burst into tears.
I grabbed Grain's arm to sit up, but I had no strength at all.
I wanted to say I was fine, but my ragged breaths produced only harsh wheezes.
"Grain, mind if I take a look?"
Luwen popped up behind Grain. Grain hesitated but yielded his spot readily.
Luwen came close and placed his hand on my forehead without a moment's pause.
Hot mana flooded in like a wave.
I swallowed one labored breath... and then lost consciousness completely.