“Mommy—!!”
Isabelle ran towards a woman’s arms, shouting loudly. A gentle, warm-looking woman with soft blonde hair embraced Isabelle.
“Oh my child, you’ve grown up but still act like a little kid.”
“Mom, how have you been?”
“I’m fine as usual.”
Isabelle’s mother, and the wife of the Hero Maximilian. Maria de Ituale appeared as if she were ten years older than Isabelle.
She looked to be in her early thirties, and could have been Isabelle’s older sister. Ecdysis stared blankly, wondering if Tylesse cosmetics would help with skincare.
“Mrs. Etualle, have you been well?” (Oscar)
“Oh, Etacrique. Please, speak comfortably.” (Maria)
“How could I? Mrs. Etualle is like a grandmother to me.” (Oscar)
“Doesn’t calling me a grandmother make me seem distant? Haha. It feels like time has passed so quickly.” (Maria)
Maria warmly responded to Oscar’s greeting and quickly opened the door, gesturing inside.
“Please, come in. It just so happens I was preparing dinner.”
“I apologize for the intrusion!!”
While the maid was setting up the dining cart, Maria, who was smiling at the group, suddenly spoke up.
“So, Bella. What’s been going on during the semester? Did you decide to drop out of school in the end?”
“Drop out! Mom, I’m an excellent student!”
“Why didn’t you bring your last semester’s report card?”
“Since when do college students have to have their grades checked by their moms?!”
Isabelle grumbled as she stirred her tea. As Ecdysis reached for the finger food, Elpheira lightly slapped her hand and whispered quietly.
“Eat moderately, aren’t you a lady?” (Elpheira)
“I can eat all of it!” (Ecdysis)
“When pigs walk on two legs, they’re kind of like humans.” (Elpheira)
“I’m sorry, but I only gain weight in specific places. See?” (Ecdysis)
“Y-you! Don’t you have any shame?!” (Elpheira)
Elpheira looked at Ecdysis’s ‘specific places’ before reflexively lowering her gaze and biting her lip tightly.
“Isn’t shape more important than size?” (Isabelle)
“Oh my, were you sleeping during the economics theory class? You seem to not understand the economy of scale. It’s usually small countries with inadequate scale that say such things. Haha.” (Ecdysis)
“I apologize for interrupting, but I’m feeling embarrassed right now.” (Eugene)
Eugene’s words were ignored. As Ecdysis and Elpheira began to growl, Eugene sighed and glanced around.
‘Maria de Etualle. Wife of the Hero.’
She was born a commoner in a small rural village. Known for aiding the ‘hero’ who appeared from the heavens’ by teaching language and culture, and helping him realize his mission.
After removing some propaganda, well, it’s like an advertising tower.
Four years have passed since the hero disappeared.
The vanished hero now remains not as an individual named Maximilian, but as a symbol, as all symbols tend to be treated more as concepts than realities.
The hero is a symbol of the end of an era. Now more of an abstract notion than a person.
Therefore, in the Tylesse royal family’s perspective, they would have entrusted that position to a commoner instead of the vanished hero. It would have been marketed as the hero’s existence, being a Tylesse citizen, and having the hero’s residence and estate in the capital city.
It would have a powerful advertising effect. Both in terms of prestige and monarchy.
‘So they must have built a mansion in this area exposed to ordinary citizens, rather than in the prosperous area.’
There would have been no place for that woman in the palace. In the midst of this bustling town, such a splendid mansion would inevitably attract attention.
It’s too heavy a burden for that ordinary woman who quietly wants to forget her vanished husband and live an ordinary life. Eugene inwardly clicked his tongue.
‘I’ve been incarnated into a world tangled from its roots.’
Was there really a need for a world so meticulously constructed? Due to being thrown into the midst of the power struggles of political creatures, thoughts gradually become similar to the lord’s.
That’s why such thoughts arise.
‘In a world like this, living for thirty years, especially in the midst of a battlefield, it’s no wonder that person turned out like that. And then.’
The hero only saved the world for a mere four years. It’s only been that short amount of time. For someone like a hero, it’s a good time to consider they’ve just taken a brief vacation rather than disappeared.
In just that short time, the hero’s wife has become an advertising board for the monarchy, and the nations the hero protected are now tearing apart peace for their own greater interests.
It’s a pleasant neighborhood to live in. Whether there’s a demon king or not. Perhaps that’s human nature.
With that thought in mind, she sipped her tea.
“So, why did you come to Tylesse?” (Maria)
“Oh, we’re not entirely sure ourselves. The one who knows hasn’t arrived yet.” (Isabelle)
“Who? Are you expecting trouble?” (Maria)
“…Let’s just say, whether trouble finds us or we seek it out, remains to be seen.” (Isabelle)
Isabelle furrowed her brow and tilted her head. It seems like there might be some involvement, but she hasn’t heard exactly what’s going on.
Maria’s expression hardened as she looked at that face. It was a peaceful study abroad she had sent her to, where she could study and socialize with her peers. If this is how it’s going to be when she returns in the middle of the semester, there’s reason to worry.
“Who is it, Count d’Orleans, Count de Grandmartel, or Baron de Gramont?” (Maria)
“…I think I know who’s been bothering mom lately.” (Isabelle)
“Or is it the Krasilov nobles? They say those nobles are all thugs, so if there’s any problem, it’s okay to come back anytime.” (Maria)
“That’s actually a good point.” (Isabelle)
Isabelle chuckled and spoke.
“Even though they’re from the noble family of Krasilov, mom probably knows them?”
“There are no known nobles in Krasilov… Who could it be?”
“Dad’s friend. Oh, I hope it’s not boring if I tell you now. He’s supposed to come by until dinner. Just a moment.”
Your dad didn’t have many friends.
As Maria was about to force herself to swallow those words, a maid approached her and whispered.
“A guest has arrived, madam. Shall I escort them?”
“Who is it?”
“Mr. Yeremov, he said. Do you know him…?”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard that name.”
Maria’s complexion turned cold. A scoundrel who approached her daughter pretending to be her father’s friend. And yet dared to come directly to her house? She gestured to wait for a moment, then quietly got up from her seat and followed the maid to the reception room.
*
On one side of the splendid reception room hung a large portrait of Maximilian, Maria, and Isabelle.
Sir Yermov, as he was called, stood at the entrance of the reception room, gazing at the portrait.
He had broad shoulders and a sturdy physique. That of a soldier. A strong scent of iron permeated the air. As it often did with soldiers who had been through battles.
Maria quietly closed the door and stood facing him. This was her home. Regardless of who the man was who deceived Isabelle, she couldn’t show weakness.
“You’ve come.”
His voice was low, resonating like the grinding of rough steel. For some reason, Maria tilted her head at the strangely familiar voice.
Soon, the man slowly turned around.
– Bruak!
A frame fell to the floor. Maria staggered, grasping the shelf as she slipped.
With trembling eyes, Maria stared directly at the man standing in front of her.
“Sir Petrovich…?”
“Maria.”
He didn’t resemble the youth she remembered, but she could still recognize him from his ever-present blue eyes.
The youth from her memories, always wearing a cold expression, now stood before her as a man with eyes as dry as the winter sky.
“I heard you were dead…”
“It was necessary.”
“Krasilov isn’t any different from this country.”
“Everywhere people live is probably the same.”
Ivan approached heavily and supported Maria. It was a careful and courteous gesture. Trembling, Maria rested her hand on Ivan’s thin cheek.
“I’m glad you’re safe. I was worried after hearing from Bella. Who dares to claim to be Max’s friend…”
“If such a person exists, they’ll die.”
Maria chuckled at Ivan’s words. Even the humorless jokes were just like those days.
It had been about ten years. Maybe a little less. The memories weren’t clear, but it must have been around that time.
They say she cried for two days after hearing he had died. Because now there was hardly anyone left who could see that brilliant man as a ‘person’, hardly anyone left to remember Max as a person with her.
And in the peace that finally came, it seemed that even he would eventually succumb to the hands of the nobles who were eager to bury the heroes of the past in history.
“You’ve been taking care of my daughter.”
“It was my duty, madam.”
“Thank you very much. I’ve always felt a sense of indebtedness to those who were friends with him, like Sir Etacrique, and now you too.”
“It’s simply the right thing to do, Madam.”
Maximilian saved the world. So everyone who has a stake in this world owes him a debt.
At Ivan’s words, Maria smiled weakly.
“It’s a world where the obvious isn’t always obvious.”
Reflecting on the implications of her words, Ivan spoke softly.
“That’s why I’m here. Madam, what is Duke Jill Ber doing right now? While you’re being treated like this in such a house?”
“Duke Etarique has done his best. But, as you know, he’s also part of the royal family. It’s unavoidable.” (Maria)
“Jill Ber is a patriot. The opinions of the royal family can’t force him. If he didn’t do it, it’s simply because he didn’t do it.” (Ivan)
“No. That’s not true. Sir Petrovich.”
Maria sadly chuckled.
“There have been many things in the past four years. Tylesse now is not just one country. The royal family is trembling in fear to the extent that they need the power of someone like me, a common noblewoman.”
She gestured towards the reception room door. The fragrant smell of food wafted through the hallway.
“Shall we eat? It’s not a good story to hear before a meal. And there will be too many stories to tell before dinner.”
“Willingly.”
As Ivan nodded quietly, a maid approached and took his coat.
Maria stopped walking and glanced back at Ivan.
As their eyes met for a moment, Maria smiled quietly and asked.
“Will you help?”
With no context or missing words, it was a question without a clear meaning of what or how. But Ivan nodded as soon as he heard Maria’s words.
“Willingly.”
After all, that’s why he came from Krasilov.
