Chapter 74
Chapter 74: Belonging
***
The three of them headed in the direction of the battlefield.
The goat cheese probably felt a bit bored and flapped its wings to fly into the sky.
At this moment, the Duke had just finished talking with Lafayette and stepped forward towards me and Madam.
“Peipei, why are you standing here eating? Let’s go sit in the carriage.”
I nodded.
“Okay.”
After getting into the horned carriage together, Madam came to my side, still holding desserts to feed me, then took out a water flask from the carriage, opened the lid and handed it to me. I happened to be a bit thirsty, so I reached out to take it and gulped down several big mouthfuls.
Across from me, the Duke sat with a serious expression, hands clasped in his robes, while Count Lafayette sitting beside him appeared somewhat nervous.
“Peipei, we were so fortunate to have you here, otherwise…” he didn’t finish the sentence, letting out a light sigh with light flickering in his eyes, “It was supposed to be a rare reunion… Really, I feel quite ashamed as a brother.”
He seemed somewhat dejected, and I didn’t know what the Duke had just said to him. I quickly waved my little hands at him.
“Mmm, mmm——”
I wanted to say it’s okay, I’m happy to see you, but since my mouth was full of food, what came out were just meaningless mumbling sounds, and then I got scolded by Madam.
“Don’t talk when you have food in your mouth.”
“Alright, thanks to Peipei this time, everything turned out fine despite the danger. Let’s not mention the past anymore, now that Lafayette has returned,” the Duke patted Lafayette’s shoulder, “These 3 years… Shanter Castle hasn’t properly celebrated any festivals. It’s rare to have everyone gathered together this year. Peipei, why don’t you leave after the Divine Birth Day?”
I tilted my head and swallowed the food in my mouth.
“Divine Birth Day?”
I haven’t heard of this, what kind of festival is it?
“The 16th day of January is the birthday of the God. According to the customs of the Valen Empire, families should reunite at this time… This silly child, you don’t even remember Divine Birth Day?”
I understood, it’s like New Year.
I remembered Carlos saying that the Royal Academy starts classes in mid-February, and it takes about a month to travel there. If I leave after Divine Birth Day… there should be enough time.
The first new year in another world…
My gaze swept across the faces of the Duke, Madam, and Lafayette. They looked at me, and in their eager eyes, I could detect their earnest wishes.
Actually, I’ve been quite uneasy all along.
This uneasiness comes from this unfamiliar world, from the completely unfamiliar people and life, from the evil power within my body that no one understands. Like people who have been drifting away from home for a long time, no matter what appearance they present to the world during the day, at night, they always silently endure loneliness and anxiety unknown to others.
With such feelings, even at Grandma Claire’s place, they didn’t diminish much. At that time, I had just arrived in this world, and everything around me seemed so strange. Although the villagers were all very friendly to me, although grandma took meticulous care of me and treated me as family, and although I tried very hard to integrate into that small family, trying to view that house as home, it couldn’t dispel the uneasiness in my heart.
[I’m different from them.]
Sometimes in the dead of night, such thoughts would linger in my mind like a persistent disease, impossible to shake off.
However, at this moment, I looked at the people before me.
I looked at the Duke and Lafayette who had the same black hair and black eyes as me, I looked at Madam who resembled me and had the same scent as me.
Ah, these are my family in this world.
Warm liquid flowed from my heart, quickly flowing through my blood vessels to my whole body, warming my fingertips and my hair.
Something called “belonging” settled in my heart.
The corners of my mouth turned up, my eyes curved like crescents.
“Okay.”
A gentle nod.
“Then it’s settled.” The Duke also smiled, then looked at Madam, “Catherine, thank you for your hard work, the banquet must be grand.”
“It’s nothing for me, I’m happy to do such things, it’s just…” she hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke the rest, “it’s just that now Edward has died by our hands, His Majesty… surely the palace will take action soon? We probably won’t have it so easy…”
The Duke understood her concerns and held Madam’s hand.
“They won’t know so soon, you don’t need to worry about these things, leave them to me and Lafayette.”
“Mother, Edward deserved to die.”
“I know… he dared to harm Peipei, of course he deserved to die, but… so many people died today… such things…”
“Don’t think too much.” The Duke looked into her eyes, “I’ll handle everything.”
I thought for a moment, then asked: “Will there be war?”
“Not for now. However, no one can predict what will happen in the future, we need to be fully prepared.” The Duke released Madam’s hand, then turned his head to look at me seriously, “Peipei, this might be unnecessary to say, but I still want to remind you, after going to Isenbell, be careful of your personal safety.”
“Mm.” I nodded again, then asked: “Will the Church intervene?”
“They will. But… you saw the situation today, they’re on Shanter Castle’s side, and moreover, now traces of heretics have appeared. That fool Edward, actually choosing to cooperate with the Gate of Truth, really… doesn’t know what’s good for him, this is what the Holy Church cannot tolerate most. Just based on this point alone, my royal brother’s side is already in a precarious position.”
“Then, there won’t be war?”
The Duke smiled and stroked my head.
“Peipei, are you worried about war?”
“Mm, many people will die.”
Looking at my serious little face, something flickered in the Duke’s eyes, then he let out a long breath.
“I really want to tell you there won’t be. But things have reached this point, it’s hard to resolve peacefully anymore. So, perhaps…”
My heart sank.
The meaning in the Duke’s words was very clear, how could I not understand. Next, war is very likely to happen.
Are things ultimately going to develop in the worst direction?
“Once war breaks out, the longer it drags on, the more disastrous it will be for this country. I don’t want to see such a situation either… Peipei, you’re a kind child, always have been, I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry, things might not be as bad as you imagine, trust your father. I promise you, if war really breaks out, I will end it in the shortest time possible, it won’t affect innocent civilians.”
These words, the Duke didn’t say them particularly passionately, they were even somewhat plain. But in my eyes, his already imposing figure suddenly showed its sharp edge, full of confidence, that commanding presence that intimidated without anger was displayed perfectly at this moment, making people can’t help but trust him.
“What do you need, me to do?”
The soft, tender words from my mouth made the Duke laugh.
“After going to the Royal Academy, write at least one letter home every month.”
I shook my head at this and looked at the Duke with determined eyes.
“Let me, do something.”