29 Lesson 29: Goodbye (1/2)
When the fight between me and Al ended and dawned overnight, we were all aligned and summoned to Father's office.
I can only keep my head down there, starting with my father, my mother and the Duke of Magenta. Uphilia and Raini also seemed uncomfortable, and it was Ilia who was unfaithful even on this occasion, and Al, who was supposed to be a party to things.
………………
Father holds on to his forehead like a headache, but he is drooling without words. I see all kinds of gritto there and it also looks like I'm not sure if I should yell or moan. No, your feelings are very conjectural.
The Duke of Magenta will look at us immovably, and my mother is just sitting quietly. Wow, I feel heavy. And my stomach is hurting. I want to truly go back to bed and sleep. I honestly have a pain in my body from last night's recoil, so I want you to give me a break.
”............ what do I ask the rest from?
”As for that, if I say something too...”
When I thought Father had finally spoken, I had trouble responding again.
Last night, after we settled on a fight with Al Kun, it seems that me and Al Kun lost consciousness at about the same time. The noise of the exhibition also passed on to Father, and Ilia reports that she and I were dazzled and about to fall to grasp the condition of Al Kun.
Fortunately, most of the nobles who attended the exhibition were not out of the venue, and since the quarrel between me and Al-kun ended while we were in turmoil, it seems that those who knew that we had fought were kept to a minimum. Still, the Knights and others have noticed that there was a battle beside the outhouse, and a decree has been laid.
I've asked Ilia since I woke up, so I don't have a clear idea of the details. Al-Kun was put out of the palace with me after he collapsed, so it's a similar situation to mine.
”... then report on Miss Raini and Algard's body first”
”Yes, first of all Raini, but consider it a completely vampired one. Unlike before, power came under control, flesh dying, and vampire survival instincts required human blood intake.”
Raini totally vampired. As I told my father, the good news is that the control of power can now be done by Leini's will. Instead, if I did not consume regular blood, I would fall into withdrawal symptoms. They also got blood from Ilia this morning.
I have to make a follow-up on how much blood Raini has to consume from now on. This is not a problem because they can also optionally choose Raini to vampire subjects they were concerned about.
Though I solved it when it came to unconscious honey traps, I guess it's good to say that an equally big problem has surfaced.
”Al Kun... I can't say as much as Raini, but he got the vampire trait. But the fact that the Demon Stone doesn't belong to him or that he robbed it from Raini doesn't seem as familiar or skillfully manipulative as Raini. You seem to have more of a demonic stone force in your survival instinct, or regeneration, than in your fascination aspects, if that's the effect of your quarrel with me. In the future, the progression of vampirization may strengthen your power, but when it comes to control, Ar-kun is better than Raini, so I was wondering if it would be an immediate problem...”
”It would be a problem in itself!...... ha”
It's the state I mentioned to my father about Al. Should I say half a vampire? Although it was close to Raini before, there was nothing like unconsciously attracting others like Raini. Although Al was laughing sarcastically when he found out about his condition.
If vampirization was going on there without my intervention, the Demon Stone could have also given power to the fascination aspect.
”Can you take out the demon stone?
”I can't. It's already completely taken in. Alkun's vampirization is inevitable.”
…………
My father brought me to the chair to look up to heaven silently. I was about to be summoned again. No, yeah. I really don't know what to say!?
”... you inherit vampirization, don't you?
”No certainty, but definitely first”
So Algard's kid's gonna be a vampire again?
”... there's a good chance that it will”
”Right...”
Father opens his eyes as he decides to be ready, and turns to Al.
Al also quietly returns his gaze to his father. For the time being, the two people who were facing each other in silence end with their father breaking the silence.
It's Algard.
”Yes, Father”
”... any explanation?
”Nothing. My sister is still talking.”
”Admit that you tried to rule this country with the power of charm.”
”That's all I had, and I thought so.”
”... you idiots”
The squeezing father's voice had no power. Father quietly continues his words with his fingers as he stretches a wrinkle that leaned between his eyebrows.
”... there is nothing else that will make you obsolete. I can't let you and your son inherit the throne.”
”Yes.”
Al also nodded quietly to accept everything without showing any emotional swings in his father's proclamation.
That's the only way. Al Kun's vampirization is inevitable. And if it's going to be hereditary, you can't let it inherit the country. That decision is legitimate, and I think this conclusion is a natural conclusion.
”... Anisphere. One, ask.”
”Why should I, Father?”
”To Algardo, is it worth using?
I couldn't answer your father's question right away. … is worth using.
”… it is urgent for us to know the ecology of vampires. And whatever information we get, we need to prioritize.”
”Right. Algard, then. … you will dedicate yourself to this country.”
Al-Kun laid his eyes down on his father's proclamation and pierced his immobility without saying anything.
Father was staring at Al like that. For a moment my clenched fist, I saw it tremble.
”... there is no freedom in your future. Skip your neck if you imitate inadvertently. Use it to atone for its sins until it becomes flesh and dust. That is the warmth from the rest. Good for you, Algard!
”Ha!” Your Majesty, thank you so much for your warmth!
His father was shuddering small at Al Kun, who bowed his head deeply and thanked him like a subordinate.
Is there no freedom? It's a killer, isn't it? Yeah, I would, too. There's still something to look into in vampire ecology. Al Kun is valuable in the sense that he can compare to Raini... and Al Kun is already a sinner. Even human experiments that Raini can't do can be done if Father commands them.
And that's what you have to decide as a king. I learned that a vampire existed. Then the threat must be accurately measured. People must know for that reason. Even if we dedicate Al Kun as its foundation.
”... it's Algard”
”Yes.”
”... do you resent the rest?
”No.”
Al, with his head up, shakes his head quietly to the side. With a face like a possession fell, smile.
”What I resented was everything in the world. Born, to this day… all of it.”
”... Ha ha. Right.... everything. Do you resent everything? It's a big one.”
Finally, Father distorts his expression and stains it with remorse. My mother also chewed off her lips, bleeding from the edge of her mouth. Still, I wipe away the tears with my hands.
”Our immorality is due to this deeply ingrained resentment. Who, not. Everything, for me... there was no salvation. That's what I admitted. That's everything to me. I resented you. I just resented him.”
Quiet everywhere to tell a grudge, but surely Al speaks in weighted terms. I can't measure that inside. The heat in the words hasn't gone away, but it doesn't get as violent as a flame. I still get the impression of smoking ash.
But why not? There is no fire in the ashes. I was so sure. It seemed like a hole in my heart, even though I was sure I thought to myself.
”Everything in the past. Running waterfalls never rise. Now...... I want to face this sin. We apologize for not meeting your expectations. Father, Mother.”
My mother couldn't bear to be called my mother, so I let out my breath and tears so that I could only gasp once. The tears that broke down did not stop, and Father laid his eyes down carelessly.
My mother, who was holding back next to my father, stands before Al. Tears don't stop anymore, and I still look up to Al with a motherly perseverance.
”... I regret it. I just regret it. Algard… Still, I meant to be your mother, even so”
Al-kun turns to her mother, who tells her in tears, to kneel down and look at her. The expression was too mild to my mother and was going to disappear now.
”You are the great one. Please don't confuse me. You were the country's beloved mother. Please don't be proud of that. It is the only filial piety that can be conveyed from me, who was an unfortunate son.”
”What is filial piety? I'm a very unfaithful man, you are.... oh, the color of my eyes is already like this... red...”
With his hands on Al Kun's cheek, he zeroes the exhalation of his mother trembling as he meets his forehead. All I can do is lay my eyes down, blocked by flowing tears, trying to stare at al-kun's face with unstoppable tears.
Al won't let his mother do what she wants and move from him. Though I closed my eyes to hide my eyes if they mentioned the color of my eyes.
”... Your Highness. May I?
”... Yep, Duke of Magenta. I'm sorry to disturb you.”
If Lord Grants ever spoke through silence, Mother stopped crying like a lie and went back next to Father. Although her eyes are bright red, she has returned to her normal mother's appearance.
Al also rises from the position he was on his knees and becomes upright immobile.... I wonder what it is. True, it's clumsy, isn't it? My mother, my father, and Al. I'm not going to say I'm clever, but I wonder what it really is.
”Prince Algard. Can I ask you a question?
”The Duke of Magenta.... Yeah, whatever.”
”Have you made your own plans from scratch from one case of this, no, Baroness Cyan?
I could see Raini bouncing his shoulder off the mosquito net. Yes, Al said it was fascinating, but there was something strangely calm about it. I wonder what the hell you were thinking there and it was working.
Once in Lord Grants' inquiry, Alkun breathes as if to prepare his breath, then tells him straight back in return for Lord Grants.
”No. Not everything is my idea. The Maurits of the Chartreuse family are involved.”
”He did? Or are you even involved in a case of divestiture?
Was it intentional, after all, to try to disturb me then? Or are you even involved in a case of divestiture? Wasn't that the enchanted surrounding B?
”Mauritz had a deep knowledge of magic. Enchanted by Raini, Mauritz felt unusual about his condition and came to know his vampire. And you brought it to me. I was wondering if you wanted to secure the throne.”
”... what? Guarantee the throne. I would have given up my right to inherit the throne if it had been before my engagement was broken, right?
I raise my doubts unexpectedly. Because only Al Kun has the right to inherit the throne at that time, it was decided that Al Kun would be king for sure and nothing. Something's wrong with Mauritz.
Al, who heard my questioning voice, distorts his expression into a grin just a little as troubled.
”Now that I think about it, it seems like a lot of it was blown in. Mauritz sees Uphilia in particular as a rival… I wonder if the King really thinks that Anisphere should take his son-in-law, too”
”No, sir.”
”I thought I'd say”
No. Do you want to be able to turn that kid's head into barren land?
”So we're the real allies,” he said. To be honest, I was halfway there... but I learned about Raini's power and was attracted to him. Vampires are one of the ultimate in magic. Who should truly sit on the throne, etc. ”
”... Sure, the Count Chartreuse family was bound by their magical faith, but they wanted to raise their vampires to you”
”Shouldn't we crush it?
You can't keep your mouth shut on a boulder, that's it. It's such a fanaticism to say magical faith.
Certainly vampires are the ultimate in magic and have many advantages if you meditate on the fact that you have to sip the blood of others. However, the disadvantages are as great as that. I don't know exactly how long a vampire can actually live, but it's also a headache to stay on the throne long enough.
”Perhaps he wanted to work in a magical exploration by repainting the country and becoming a vampire himself. If the country itself accepts vampires, the disadvantages of vampires can largely be eliminated”
”No guys!? That's totally no guys!?”
”... the princess says that?
”Ilia, I'm not studying because I want to annoy others!
I don't want you to come with me! Truth be told, my magic is academic, not religious!