Chapter 77: End of Volume 3

77.

The study room was imbued with the glow of the sunset.

Vicente put the book in his hand on the shelf and headed to the second floor. Ercella naturally followed him. The stairs made an old creaking sound when she stepped on them.

When she went up to the second floor, she saw Vicente flipping through the pages in an insincere manner. He was scanning through the text at such a high speed that she couldn't tell if he was looking at it; after rapidly going through the books, he would put them back onto the bookshelf. Seeing him pull out the next book, it seemed that he was looking for something.

Though it was unlikely, Ercella still peaked at the book wondering if she could be of any help.

"You said you had a business here," Vicente said, without even pretending to turn his head. To translate it directly, it meant for her to scram away without disturbing him. As if pretending, Ercella immediately picked a seemingly thick book.

"Business, yes." She slyly pulled out a book. Dust rose and spread to her face. Coughing, Ercella hurriedly put the book back in place.

Unfortunately. she touched an old book that had not been touched by anyone in ages, or the servants had done the job half-heartedly. Vicente looked dumbfounded at Ercella having a fit of dry coughs. His temples were throbbing because it was his first time seeing a person being so clumsy at everything they did. She wasn't a kid thrown by the water1.

'I'm worried about the internal affairs.'

At this point, he was getting worried about the co-managed internal affairs that his mother had resumed to take over. Looking at her antics so far, we'd be lucky if she doesn't destroy the family.

"Just say it."

"..."

"I know you have something to do, just not in the study."

He had no intention of caring for his grown-up mother. It would be better to hear what she wanted to say and send her off.

Ercella's face lit up at his words. "Oh, I'm going downtown tomorrow, together with you."

"I'm not going."

"...You come to decisions so quickly, I guess it's a given since you're an heir to the Dukedom — very well," she mumbled at his knife-like sharp refusal while appearing like a poor puppy drenched in the rain.

"Don't you feel bored at home?""

"No."

It's not boring. Ercella rebuked saying he was being stingy even about spouting these three words. However, her voice carried the extent of her timidness, unable to bear criticism.

I must say that her courage is admirable because she tries to talk to me regularly despite her submissive attitude, thought Vicente.

"It can't be helped then."

Suddenly, Ercella changed her attitude and shrugged coolly. What are you up to? The way she spoke without a hint of regret made him uncomfortable, but Vicente was reluctant to let it go, so he scrunched his brows.

"I hope you have a good time with Lady Garten."

"Me?"

"Actually, the lady sent a letter asking if she could pay a visit. But if you're here, there's no reason to refuse. You two are even engaged."

"..."

"Please serve her well."

"The knight test—"

"Oh, this is just my opinion, but I don't think it would be good to give the impression that you're already neglecting your fiancée. She's an only child, how sad would she be. You should also consider your father's position."

He had felt this last time too — she had a habit of slyly mentioning Harsen whenever necessary. As if she knew I wouldn't follow otherwise. Vicente found it a little annoying. She'd corner him to induce a reaction out of him instead of persuading him with words.

What can she really do alone? Nothing, it seems. She has always been someone who lived by borrowing other people's hands.

"I'll accompany you."

"Huh?"

"So please refuse her from visiting."

Clearly, he was also completely insane, being swayed by such a person.

The next day.

Vicente witnessed a not-so quarrel-like quarrel at the doorstep of the mansion.

"My son will be accompanying me today. My lady-in-waiting will also be there, so I don't need many people escorting me," Ercella was requesting Kyron.

"Then at least two people—"

"I think one person would do, but it's also crowded today."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. His Excellency... Greetings, Young Lord." Kyron bowed to Vicente, who was approaching. Vicente's gaze went over those who were lined up behind him from one side to another.

He looked at Ercella as if he understood. I know she never complained, but she seems to have gotten uncomfortable after going out alone once. At least, she didn't say that she doesn't want to be escorted like before. Organizing his thoughts roughly, he said to Kyron, "I will be escorting her, so order them to go back."

"Pardon me but His Excellency won't allow it."

"I'll take responsibility in case anything unpleasant happens."

Kyron looked at Vicente as if pleading, but he had no intention of letting a string of people to tag along like hangers-on.

Kyron sank into silence as Vicente didn't seem to budge at all. For him, his lord's command took the first priority, but it was difficult to disobey Vicente's orders since he had all the authority after him. Especially when he said he'd take responsibility. Kyron, who had suddenly become a shrimp in a whale fight2, looked at Ercella with a weary expression.

'How come she's getting increasingly deviant?'

She used to obey all orders, but from a certain moment of time, she's been awfully demanding. At this rate, I fear she might broaden her horizon/ so much so that she would later start going out as she pleases without permission. Besides...

'Juan Robert.'

Kyron was extremely worried about him. He couldn't let her go see other men behind his lord.

Whenever I see that there might be even a shred of possibility of the beginning of her deviance being due to an affair with another man, I get a brain-splitting headache. It's too early to jump to conclusions, but if I'm right...

'It'll be the love of the century.'

He mocked inwardly. What did this Visaride do when she met the Robert? He was nervous, but his lord ignored his thoughts.

"Your answer?"

"...I understand." Kyron sighed, reciting an answer that was almost set. He may become the future lord; thus even if the Duchess's request could be rejected, Vicente's order could not be rejected.

Nothing will happen, with that he tried to think optimistically.

Adora looked back at Vicente and revealed her doubts, "There's something I've been curious about for a while now, may I ask?"

"You may."

"Does Her Grace need to get permission from 'only' a subordinate even when escorted?"

The gazes of those there poured on Adora. For the first time ever, someone raised a question about a scene running as naturally as an engaging cogwheel.

Vicente looked at Adora. Is it just my feeling that she emphasized the word 'only'? However, looking at Kyron's expression that was frozen in displeasure, it didn't seem to be just him. Feeling annoyed, Vicente uttered, "The permission may be given by Sir Kyron, but he essentially follows the instructions given by Father."

"Why?"

I answered, but she followed it back with a question. While living in the mansion, she had been inconspicuously serving only Ercella. It was safe to say that she was a bit eccentric too.

"Is there a problem with that?"

"Usually, married ladies take an attendant when they go out, but they do it purely at their 'will'. If they want to go out alone, they go out alone, and if they need someone, they choose a few people to go out with. If she's going to the capital during the daytime, she doesn't even need an escort. A lady-in-waiting or a maid would be enough. This is too—"

"But in the end, she'll still be accompanied by an attendant, so I see no point in arguing about this."

Adora clenched her teeth in annoyance, "Fine."

Vicente was slightly offended by her reluctant answer as if she didn't want to deal with him anymore. The person involved was not doing anything in the first place, but others were arguing about it. He looked at Ercella; she seemed to be deep in thought and spoke as if they should not delay further, "Let's get going."

As a result, the trip to the city was a rough time just because of the stiff atmosphere. Adora had her head turned away as if she was dissatisfied with something, and Vicente was maintaining his regular posture with a cold face like an ice cube.

Ercella sighed again as she touched her forehead. It's hard to bridge the gap when you're not surrounded by young children for a long time. She had no choice but to coax Adora to soothe the cold air.

"Adora, the journey is boring, can you tell me how life at a theology school is?"

"...Your Grace."

"I'm just curious about it."

"...Okay."

Perhaps she could not ignore the Duchess's request, Adora did not refuse Ercella's words even though she expressed displeasure. Vicente watched Adora clear her throat.

"First of all...as you know, the place where the Lafern Theological School was built on was a piece of land that Ludelsia presented to Grania. It was a token of appreciation to Grania for defeating the Idurs who regularly plundered their lands. Furthermore, the knight that conquered the Idurs was, His Excellency, the former Duke Bernhardt."

"I know."

Vicente paid attention when the story of the previous Duke was mentioned.

"But it's not much of a story." Adora quickly skipped over the story and went to the main point. "Theological schools essentially teach theology and doctrines based on Ludelsian religion."

Vicente looked somewhat sullen, but Adora continued explaining, unaware of it, "Basically, anyone can enter because there are no age or status restrictions. Classes are divided into lower class, intermediate class, and upper class, in which each studies theology and chooses a career path. There aren't that many options. Usually, the goal is to either become a theologian or go to Ludelsia to become a priest."

"Fascinating! Most Granians don't believe in a god, but I guess there are still some people who want to become priests."

"There are quite a few orphans at the school, so frankly, some develop a faith out of prospects of food and shelter."

"..."

"...But of course, that alone won't make them priests."

Adora, who accidentally made a disparaging remark about the faith of her peers, added lamely. She decided to add a little more weight to the story she started with. "In fact, there are a lot of students who are very interested in Ludelsian mythology. It's been dramatized and tampered with a lot by now, but as they say, Ludelsia is a holy country with many mystical things. For example, there's the 'Atinel Holy Stone', which is called the Wish Stone. According to the legend, it was made when someone extracted the heart of their deceased lover and added his own blood to it. It answers only to those who have god's blood running through their veins and grants their wish. Some say the reason why Ludelsia was able to flourish for a thousand years is that the Holy Stone protected it."

"Then there would be no need for them to borrow Grania's power to drive out Idurs," Vicente cynically pointed out the loophole in the lore. Ludelsia's military might not have been so weak if there really was a Holy Stone that could grant everything.

They wouldn't be invaded by Idur, and if any king of Ludelsia desperately wanted eternal life, he would have continued his reign without ever dying. Adora humbly accepted Vicente's point and added her thoughts, "Right, but that makes it more interesting."

"All myths are nonsense."

Adora smiled gently at him. Vicente felt strange when her eyes, which seemed to rip apart just by looking at him, suddenly became gentle. However, the feeling was brief when he heard the words that followed.

"You say that despite having such a name."

"My name?"

"Yes, Vicente. It means 'lovely child' in Ludelsian."

His stomach churned for an instant.

His expression, which rarely changed, became crumpled like a piece of paper. Adora unconsciously brought her hand to her mouth. I was only reciting the meaning of his name, why would he react so sensitively? Her purple pair of eyes turned to the Duchess, pleading for help. But something was strange.

"Didn't Your Grace give him that name?"

Since it's a Ludelsian word, Adora thought that the Duchess gave him that name, but the Duchess seemed to be completely unaware of it.

"No. It was..." Ercella was perplexed. She had an inkling that it wasn't a word of Granian origin, but she never expected it to be a Ludelsian word. Therefore, her words could not be continued immediately and came out with a breath. "...Harsen who named him."

"His Excellency the Duke?!" Adora asked back, not expecting it. Vicente also looked surprised.

"I'm surprised that His Excellency knows Ludelsian. It's even an archaic word!"

"Archaic?"

"Yes, it's an archaic word that is no longer used even among the Ludelsians. Unless you're a royalty, a high-ranking aristocrat, or a priest, there's no need to learn it. It's also so difficult that even I don't know but a few words."

"I see," Ercella replied speechlessly. If so, it was likely for her not to know that 'Vicente' was in Ludelsian. The matter was how did Harsen know such an archaic word, which even she did not know.

Even Ercella's mother, a princess of Ludelsia, never remarked about it. Is it simply a coincidence? Doubt began clouding her mind. Did Eshahilde and Caron know?

She unconsciously interlocked her fingers and made eye contact with Vicente. She immediately made a conscious attempt not to fall into a trance and said what she wanted to hear the most at this moment, "Harsen must love you very much."

She wanted Vicente to know that his father loved him even if he appeared cold. That he was loved.

"...No." Thinking it was unlikely, Vicente avoided Ercella's gaze. He didn't seem to believe that Harsen loved him. But he did love his son. If he didn't love him, he wouldn't have gotten mad at her regarding Vicente's affairs.

"I don't think he gave you a meaningless name."

"That's right. Milord must've looked very lovely in His Excellency's eyes."

"...My Lady," Vicente called Adora quietly. Obviously, she did not know. That obedient response is agitating me inside.

'Father...'

He didn't have motion sickness, but he felt his stomach churn.

The tormentful time finally came to an end after a few miscellaneous private conversations.

"We're here!"

As if waiting, Vicente got out of the carriage and raised his arm, "The ground is low."

"Yes."

He carefully pulled Ercella out of the carriage. He followed suit when he tried to escort Adora. Remembering something, Vicente lowered his arm slightly, causing Adora's hand to remain suspended in the air.

"Milord?"

"I'm aware you've been through a terrible experience in the social world."

The reason she was entrusted to Ercella, as he was told, was due to being harassed by men. Maybe that's why, for a moment, he thought that she would be reluctant to give her hand. In spite of his worries, Adora merely smiled blandly, "You did an excellent job at Lady Garten's Coming-of-Age party."

"At that time..."

At that time, I couldn't afford to even consider anything secondary to my mother's matter. However, it was not appropriate to expose Ercella, so he remained silent. Adora gently lowered the hand suspended in the air as if she understood everything. Vicente stared at the hand resting on his hand.

"Milord, you don't treat me like them, and I don't wish to treat you on the same level as those jerks."

"In that case..." He tightened his grip on Adora; while being gently led, her outstretched foot stepped on the ground.

With this volume 3 ends and so will my translation of this novel. I know some of you said no but I just don't find the novel with my time and effort anymore. I thought I could do 7 volumes... How presumptuous of me, heh. In any case, I learned a lot while working on this novel I had the kindest readers who remained with me till now despite my messy work and irregular updates. I'm very grateful to you all 💕

I'd also like to thank lil-valley for her constant help throughout the series. Go check her work if you haven't yet.

Anyway, I'll still be around and if you still want me to continue you can support me on kofi and I might consider another volume if I get enough incentive.