The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies - Chapter 115



114 – Reunion (06)

115.

Though he hadn’t witnessed Laris and Velvet’s reunion.

Kalen figured it must have been something like this.

While waiting for Runea in the reception room, the door opened not long after Desed had left.

A woman with the same ash-grey eyes as Laris and Velvet.

She looked more mature than Laris, with an aura of determination like Velvet’s.

Runea, the moment she stepped in, met her mother and sister.

At first, she stared at them, as if unable to believe it, then approached.

As if asking Laris what was going on.

Runea, who had settled in her seat relatively calmly, grew rigid the more she talked with Velvet.

It wasn’t discomfort.

Her expression tightened, as if suppressing some unbearable emotion rising up.

“Is it… really… Mother…”

Runea kept drinking tea, trying to calm herself.

Her hands had started trembling, making the teacup rattle, creating a small, quiet noise.

Though a hint of bewilderment lingered on her face, it seemed the joy of seeing Velvet again far outweighed it.

Kalen understood Runea without needing a word.

For the Laris and Runea sisters, Velvet was their dead mother.

It wasn’t every day that a dead person came back to life.

And at the same time, it was only possible *because* it was Velvet.

Velvet’s persistence had created a kind of mental image, a phantom space.

That place held Velvet’s soul and, at the same time, brought her to meet Kalen.

If even one thing had been missing or misaligned, the miracle of Velvet’s resurrection would never have happened.

It was, quite literally, nothing short of a miracle.

For Velvet to live, that was a miracle born from countless coincidences stacking up.

“Mother…!”

Laris and Velvet recounted what had happened.

Especially the miraculous things that had befallen Velvet, which Calen explained in a way that was easy for her to understand.

And Luneah, upon accepting those facts, burst into tears, unable to bear it, it seemed.

A side that a noble lady, one from the Garshe family, should never show.

A vulnerable, girl-like side she could only ever reveal before her mother.

Calen simply watched in silence.

Witnessing the three women’s sorrowful reunion.

*

“Haa… haa…”

How much time had passed like that?

Just as Luneah seemed to have regained her composure, catching her breath.

She looked at Calen with a gaze filled with sincere gratitude.

“Truly… thank you. For everything, from helping Laris…”

Laris, Velvet.

And even Luneah.

The trials these three women faced had finally reached a conclusion, one of a happy nature.

In Laris’s words, a third-rate play.

In short, this story, like a third-rate play, begins with Laris.

From noble mtl dot com

With what happened at the banquet.

Laris mustered the courage to speak to Calen.

And that connection, which led to the Ecclesia Salon, started with Calen granting Laris’s long-held wish.

Luneah is a kind and wise woman.

Being so intelligent, she knows who the creator of this miraculous ending is.

“…”

Calen met Luneah’s gaze, then slightly averted his eyes, glancing at Laris.

“There’s something the young lady was worried about.”

Laris flinched as her name was mentioned.

Kalen looked back at Lunea and continued,

“Is it right for us to come see Miss Lunea? Isn’t it just needlessly stirring up the heart of Miss Lunea, who is living well?”

“That’s…”

“Yes. That’s why I’m saying this, Miss Laris.”

Lunea’s voice held a clear hint of denial.

Kalen nodded as if he understood, and called for Laris.

“U-uh…?”

“I was right then.”

“…guess so.”

Lunea hadn’t forgotten Laris.

Knowing that she couldn’t contact her because of the existence of Flaver, Laris could finally feel at ease.

“So…”

Just as Laris’s last bit of anxiety faded away,

Belvet slowly opened her mouth.

“Your sister and I have completely left the family, Lunea. We’ve obtained a decent mansion to live in, and we even have servants, undeservingly so.”

She told Lunea everything that had happened.

Of course, including what had become of the Flache family and the Lyle trading company.

Everything Laris and Belvet had experienced there, and how it had finally ended.

Within that were the mansion Kalen had obtained from Flaver, and what Bellen had promised as their representative.

Belvet asked, careful not to put pressure on Lunea.

“Lunea. Are you happy here?”

“Mother…”

Lunea had promised Laris.

To gather ‘money’ and return, no matter what.

That probably meant the time when she could take Laris out of Flache, and the two sisters could live together.

It was a marriage forced by Flaver, one neither of them had wanted from the start.

Regardless of Lunea having tried her best, it was never going to be a good thing for either of them.

Belvet was pointing out that fact.

If Lunea wasn’t content with this political marriage, she wouldn’t have to be controlled by Flaver anymore, and they could live together.

Belvet waited for Lunea’s answer.

Lunea spoke slowly.

“Mother. You must be very tired, so you’ll be staying the night, yes?”

It wasn’t an answer.

Neither a yes, nor a no.

Depending on the listener, it could be taken as a refusal, but Lunea’s expression was utterly serene, making it seem far from a rejection.

As if proving that guess correct, Lunea rose, smiling as she continued.

“There’s something I need to show you, Mother.”

The smile Lunea had shown before leaving the reception room seemed more like that of someone who had accepted Belvet’s proposal.

*

Even if a count’s name wasn’t well-known, their rank didn’t diminish or fade.

A count is a count.

No matter how low in rank, they were incomparable to a baron or viscount.

The Claire Empire was so powerful that it was no exaggeration to say it was in its golden age.

Surrounding kingdoms were busy watching the Claire Empire’s every move, and the continued peaceful era was one reason why.

Therefore, countless nobles existed within the empire.

From barons to viscounts, counts, marquises, and dukes.

Grand Dukes were an exception, only bestowed upon Archmages or the heads of the Hiatt family.

In truth, a family of count-level didn’t have much to envy anywhere.

The way they received guests at their estates was no different.

The Garci Count family might have had some shortcomings, but the Claire Empire’s count families splendidly entertained guests.

Laris and Belvet were able to relax.

Now, after having dinner together, Kalen and the three women were gathered in the room Dessed had provided.

Having finished their refreshing baths.

After chatting about how the estate was and how delicious the dinner had been, for a while.

Just as the atmosphere, forcedly brightened, started to settle again.

Lunea, looking out the window, spoke quietly.

“The Garci family is a good place, Mother.”

“Is this what you wanted to show me?”

“Yes. To be a little more precise… I wanted to show you what this place looks like to me.”

Lunea smiled faintly, looking back at Belvet and Laris.

“You said earlier that we should live together. Mother.”

“…If you like it here, then of course…”

“No. I do like it here. But, setting aside that this place is nice and that you’ve been good to me, I’m much happier by you and my brother’s side.”

Velvet narrowed her brow slightly.

She couldn’t quite understand what Runea was saying.

That she liked it here, and yet she would still follow.

Runea smiled brightly, as if she had intended that reaction.

“Can you promise me one thing, Laris?”

“…Huh? Me?”

Laris, who had been quiet, was suddenly called by name.

Just as Laris was about to ask, confused.

“Someday. No, it wouldn’t be that far into the future. When Calen’s name shines throughout the Empire, could you help the Garshi family?”

The Garshi family had shown Runea selfless kindness.

Even though it was an unwanted political marriage, Jamilde Garshi, who married Runea, respected her.

Everyone in the Garshi family treated Runea warmly.

Runea couldn’t forget that kindness.

So, even if a miracle had happened, she didn’t want to just leave as if nothing had occurred.

In short, she wanted to repay the kindness they had shown her.

Though Desed Garshi and Jamilde Garshi were not without ambition, their kind nature prevented them from rising above the rank of a lower baron.

As mentioned, Runea was a kind and ‘wise’ woman.

Just from what she had heard from Laris and Velvet, she was certain that Calen would make a name for himself in the near future.

That was something Laris could also understand.

She had become one of the people who knew Calen’s abilities better than anyone.

Even though magic wasn’t used for combat in this era, it was a different story if one were to conquer even the realm of a Great Archmage.

However, Laris tilted her head.

If she had such things to say, she should say it directly to Calen, why was she saying it to her?

Laris questioned this, and Runea, rather confused, asked.

“Why are you saying that to me…”

“Huh…? Because the two of you are going to get married, right?”

A silence fell in response.

Lunea, and one other, were the only ones to immediately grasp her words.

*Whoosh-*!

“Wh, wh, what…? Sister…!”

“A-am I wrong…?”

Laris, her cheeks and ears instantly flushed crimson, leaped up, waving her arms in flustered chaos.

Lunea, too, was taken aback by the unexpected reaction, while Kallen, , blinked rapidly.

“S-sorry. It’s just…the look on your face, Laris, when you talk about Kallen…”

“What’s wrong with my face…!”

Belvet, however, was melting into the now softer, more natural atmosphere.

She gazed affectionately at her two bickering daughters.

She was the only one who wasn’t flustered by Lunea’s words.