Chapter 181 (1/2)

It was a good idea for Lysia to go west. As Lysia said, the beginning of the harvest was an important time.

It is as important to fill the warehouse as it is to distribute grain. Now is the time for the real work to begin, so it would be better to have someone trusted watching over.

Nevertheless, Artizea could not easily say so.

Lawrence was expected to leave the capital. So she didn't have to let Lysia go.

But Cedric looked at Lysia and said.

“You think you should?”

“…… Yes.”

“You are not someone who does meaningless things.”

Having said that, Cedric looked at Artizea again.

When he said that, Artizea couldn't say no.

As Cedric had said, there was no way that Lysia would have said such a thing for nothing.

And if Lysia thinks that's a worthwhile job, she deserves to be let go.

“Do that.”

Artizea took a deep breath and answered.

“Take about anything you need. You can come back whenever you want.”

“I am not going anywhere forever, I am going to do the work entrusted to me. As soon as I get there, I'll figure out the situation and report back to you.”

“Alright.”

Artizea nodded her head.

After a moment's hesitation, Lysia looked at Cedric. Cedric waved his palm lightly.

That meant she didn't have to return the gun.

Lysia understood the meaning and nodded her head. And she bowed again and withdrew.

She closed the door and let out a long sigh.

In time, everything will be fine. But for now, she wanted to rest her mind a little, leaving everything to Cedric and doing what she wanted.

＊＊＊

Artizea did not understand Cedric's gesture. She glanced, wondering what that meant, but Cedric said something else.

“Lysia will do well.”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t she sent because she is needed in order to maintain the hospitality of the West?”

“Yes……. It is highly likely that next year will be dry, so I want to stock up on grain this year and read through it before the public sentiment becomes atrocious.”

“Lysia is the right fit. It’s something she wanted to do for herself.”

Cedric put down the pen he was holding and turned towards Artizea.

And he said,

“It’s something we’ve been working on together, and I’ll thank you for giving me the opportunity to prepare for a disaster.”

“…….”

Artizea did not readily answer. And she hesitated, and she looked down at only her fingers.

Cedric wiped his face once with his palm.

And opened his mouth.

But Artizea spoke first. She had her head down, so she didn't see what Cedric had on his face.

“I have to tell you, there is something I haven’t told you yet.”

“Tell me.”

“It was Lysia’s will. …… She wants me to tell you that she lived with no regrets…….”

Her breathing was shaky and she could hardly speak.

It was almost 10 years ago. And now it is gone.

Still, that day's voice resounded in his ears.

[“Subtract as much weight as mine from the burden you are carrying.”]

Had Lysia known how heavy it was, she wouldn't have said that.

At first she was just a saint to be exploited. She was just like everyone else.

Once her outer shell was peeled off, she thought that beneath the shell would be nothing more than an ugly, ordinary human.

But after she got to know Lysia, her days grew heavier.

After Lysia’s death, it became such a burden that she could not escape.

Nothing like her own life could have been able to replace Lysia's life.

In the first place, Lysia's death and her own death had never been at a crossroads.

But she never escaped from the thought that she should have died, not Lysia.

Cedric pulled Artizea's wrist. Artizea was taken helplessly and put in his arms.

“Did you still have that in your heart?”

“However…….”

“Lysia is alive.”

Cedric lightly stroked her hair.

“And she wouldn't have really regretted it. I know, apart from the grief and sorrow I felt at losing that child……, that, no matter how hard it was, no matter how painful it was, even if she did not achieve what she wanted, she would have thrown her whole life away so that she would not have any regrets in her life.”

And Lysia did not fail.

When Artizea wept, Cedric knew it.

She must have had no regrets when she closed her eyes.

Artizea held her breath.

She was comforted to the point of tears. But at the same time, the warm affection in Cedric's voice made her heart pound and beat.

Cedric placed his hand on Artizea's chin. Her head, which had been bowed down, naturally lifted upwards.

Cedric sighed a little.