Chapter 548: Hes gone. (2/2)
”Igna,” said lady Leko, ”-can I have a moment?” her cheeks and nose reddened in woe.
”Ok,” they moved outside to a quieter area, ”-listen, I killed him.”
”What?” he halted under the tall foliage of trees.
”I killed him,” said she crying, ”-I killed my husband. I wasn't able to look after him, I wasn't here to take care of him, and I wasn't there to help. I killed him for being incompetent.”
”Please,” said he, ”-the circumstances of his death are…”
”I know,” she sniffled, ”-my husband worked hard to get where he was. He endorsed thee at Cle and left his legacy in thy hands.”
”I'm sorry,” back against a tree, ”-I can't carry on cooking anymore. He was the reason I cooked… I'm grateful for what he did, and I want to return, but I can't. The kitchen makes me sad, the scar left behind by the Lordon, and now the passing of my teacher, I don't think I'll ever be able to hold a knife like a chef. I lost the right to do so, my selfishness and cowardice drove me out of Hidros, I set out searching for another path and left Chef Leko alone. I should have been the one at his side, if only I was here, I could have done something to help. Don't you understand, lady Leko, I'm the one at fault,” he sunk to a crouch, ”-I've lost the right to cook, I can't… it's gone.”
”Don't say that,” she joined and crouched.
”I'm sorry, I should be the one consoling you…”
”Hey, it's fine,” she patted his shoulder, ”-I can't afford to be sad. He left me with two bundles of joy, I can't afford to give in to sorrow.”
”Can I ask a question?” the voice lingered between timidity and despair.
”Go on.”
”What's your name?”
”Linda Leko-Goodwin.”
”A compound name?”
”Yes,” said she softly.
”What's going to happen to the academy?”
”I'll take over as director. I might not look it, I'm a red-collared chef too. The burden left is heavy, a good thing my shoulders are strong. Igna, the reason I called you out here was to ask for help in readying the academy for a future without my husband. Sadly, by what you said, I can't do that anymore. I won't force anything. I'll try my hardest to make it work. Sorry for the trouble.”
”Lady Linda,” said he as she stood, ”-I'm sorry for being useless.”
”Don't worry,” she smiled, ”-I'll carry on with my husband's legacy. Tis the duty of the wife,” a forced smile ended in a solemn expression whilst facing away. ”See you around,” she scurried out of the garden.
'I'm such an idiot. She wanted a shoulder to lean on, she wanted for me to take over what he left, but I can't. It's beyond me, I'm sorry Chef Leko, your disciple is nothing but a weakling. I can't, I'm done, it's too painful.'
Ashes in an urn; the Leko family returned to Plaustan the same night. She couldn't care to stand still else grief would catch up. Instead, she ran far and focused on work and caring for the daughters.
Later that night, Igna took to staying alone in a pitch-black room. Weirds shapes formed out the darkness, an after-effect from drawing Orenmir was the partial capture of the restless souls.
*Knock, knock,* ”-I'm coming in,” heels walked to a stop, *flick,* ”-Igna,” said Courtney with crossed arms, ”-still grieving over the death?”
”No, not really,” he pulled to sit upright, ”-was just thinking about stuff. Can I help you, mother?”
”Yes, matter of fact,” the door shut, ”-I have something important to ask.”
”Which is?”
”It's concerning the realm,” she moved to stand at the window. The wind blew her hair out the visage, ”-I need you to capture someone. Alive or dead, doesn't matter.”
”An assassination, is this an order from the Godfather?”
”No, it's a request from your mother,” she turned to grab his palm, ”-it's a tall order. I don't want to impose this burden… I'm afraid it's more of a suicide job than anything.”
”Is the target strong?”
”Yes, a demi-goddess.”
”Who is it?”
”Your cousin, Eira.”
”Why?” the seriousness didn't leave space for expressions.
”She can potentially influence the Alphian leadership. Marrying the emperor would grant so much power to Arda. They could break the alliance and join with the Wracia Empire and lay catastrophe on Hidros. I'm sure Lucifer's thinking of such a possibility. There's much to do, staying out of politics isn't an option anymore.”
”Ok… how?”
”I don't know,” said she,”-this responsibility is too heavy to shoulder alone.”
”Let me guess, it's Queen Gallienne's idea?”
She nodded, ”-up to the task or shall I find another?”
”Is there a time limit?”
”Not really, as long as the alliance isn't formed.”
”Then it should be simple,” said he, ”-why go after Eira when we can go after the Alphian leadership.”
”The matter is in thy hands, dearest son. Also, lady Haru's leaving for the adventuring academy. Go with, you're still a student last I checked.”
”Yes, mother.”