Chapter 159. Epilogue: Camellia (1)

The child was born in the cold season when red camellias bloom profusely.

Ellen named the child ‘Camellia’, inspired by a dream she once had, or perhaps by the camellias blooming abundantly in the snow-covered white garden.

Camellia was a girl with jet-black hair just like Enoch’s and water-colored eyes like Ellen’s.

It wasn’t clear when she was a newborn, but as she grew, her face became a spitting image of her mother, and her personality was cheerful and playful, though it was unclear whom she took after.

Perhaps because of this, she got along exceptionally well with Penelope, whom she affectionately called ‘Auntie’, and she adored and followed her mother immensely.

Of course, she was always a sweet daughter to her father too, but when someone playfully asked, ‘Do you like Mom more, or Dad more?’, she would answer without hesitation that she liked Mom more.

Not that Enoch felt hurt by this fact. He, too, cherished Ellen more than himself.

“Dad, please read me a picture book.”

Camellia was now six years old and could easily read simple words. But rather than reading aloud herself, she preferred an adult to read to her in a calm voice. So she would carry storybooks around and pester anyone she saw to read to her.

“Alright, come here and sit down.”

Enoch sat on the living room sofa and patted his lap. Camellia excitedly ran over and quickly sat on Enoch’s lap.

Enoch looked lovingly at the child and checked the cover of the storybook. 《The Cat Knight with Twin Pistols》… What kind of storybook is this?

“Daughter, you have quite an unusual taste in storybooks.”

The storybooks Camellia chose were generally this strange. It was hard to tell whether to be amazed that even a child has preferences, or to worry about Camellia’s peculiar taste. Today too, Enoch’s parental concerns deepened.

“Read it quickly! Hurry!”

“Okay, okay, calm down.”

Enoch soothed the impatient Camellia and began to read the storybook he was holding. His pleasant baritone voice blended softly into the warm living room air, heated by the fireplace.

“The cat knight had two pistols. There was no villain in the world who could defeat the cat knight with twin pistols.”

“I like the cat knight.”

“…The cat knight liked Camellia too.”

“That’s not in the book though?”

“I asked the cat knight yesterday, and he said so.”

“Aw, you’re lying.”

“……”

Sometimes I wonder if this child has innocence or not. Enoch silently continued reading the next part, refraining from comment.

“But one day, a very bad villain appeared…”

“I like the bad villain too. He’s cool because he’s a dragon.”

“…and kidnapped the cat princess. The cat knight set out to rescue the princess…”

About 5 minutes into reading the storybook, the living room door opened and someone entered. It was Ellen, who had been away at the Mage’s Tower for a while.

“Mom!”

Camellia, who had sprung up from her seat, scurried towards Ellen. Even though it was Dad who had been playing with her and reading her stories, the child’s first priority was always Mom. Enoch got up from his seat with a resigned smile, putting down the storybook. He was so used to this situation now that he didn’t even feel hurt anymore.

“Mom! I missed you!”

“Yes, I missed you too. Have you been good and listening to Dad?”

“Dad read me a storybook.”

“What kind of storybook?”

“The Cat Knight with Twin Pistols.”

“……”

Ellen looked at Enoch with an expression that seemed to ask if it was true. Enoch nodded calmly, glancing sideways at the storybook left on the table.

What’s new about that?

His eyes seemed to say.

It’s not like our daughter being extraordinary is anything new.

Just as Ellen was about to let out a chuckle, Camellia clung to her dress hem and whined.

“Mom, I’m hungry.”

“Didn’t you have lunch?”

“I did, but I’m hungry again.”

Camellia had a very good appetite. Ellen thought it was really fortunate that she didn’t take after herself in this aspect. It would surely be worrying to see the child picking at her food, saying she had no appetite.

“Shall we have a snack? Something you like, Camellia.”

“Strawberry cake!”

“Alright, the chef should have some prepared.”

The cooks at Evitern Castle would prepare various snacks every day for the young miss who was at an age of hearty eating. Any leftover snacks were shared among the servants.

“Mom, I want strawberry cake.”

“Okay, let’s sit here and wait a little bit.”

Soothing the fussy child, Ellen called a maid and sent her to the kitchen. When the maid returned shortly after and set the tea table, Camellia was overjoyed as if she could fly.

“Is eating snacks that enjoyable?”

“Yes! It’s the best thing in the world.”

These days, Camellia had learned the expression ‘the best thing in the world’ and would use it frequently. Not long ago, she had shocked Enoch by saying ‘You’re the best thing in the world!’ to Marquis Norbert’s son. Of course, she hesitated right after and corrected herself with a sheepish expression, saying ‘No, actually Mom is the best,’ but still.

Come to think of it, Marquis Norbert and his wife were scheduled to visit Evitern Castle tomorrow, Friday, with their young son.

Camellia will be happy. Ellen thought with a slight smile as she wiped the cream off the child’s mouth with a napkin. The fact that Marquis Norbert’s son got along well with Camellia was — certainly a challenge for Enoch.

Undoubtedly, Enoch Bayern was a jealous husband, and father.

* * *

“Mom, Ransel is coming.”

The next morning, Camellia, who was eating freshly baked bread, said while staring blankly into space. The child’s blue eyes were unfocused, as if she was looking at a place other than here.

Camellia’s ability was still difficult to get used to even after seeing it several times.

Like Ellen’s foresight, it was an ancient magic that manifested through alternate generation inheritance, allowing the possessor to peek into someone’s present.

This magic, which the Mage’s Tower named ‘Clairvoyance’, was a violent power that manifested randomly regardless of time and place, allowing Camellia to peek into the lives of strangers she didn’t know.

Enoch and Ellen were extremely worried that Camellia might see things she shouldn’t, and whenever the child’s eyes became vacant, their hearts would sink with tension.

Fortunately, there hadn’t been any incidents where Camellia witnessed something that a young child shouldn’t see… but the couple could never put their worries aside.

“…I see, where is Ransel now?”

Ellen asked in a voice that tried to feign calmness. Though her hand holding the tableware was trembling slightly.

“Now… he’s on a train. Marquis Norbert and his wife are with him.”

Camellia answered in a dreamy voice and blinked her eyes a couple of times. The focus in her blue eyes soon became clear. Camellia’s consciousness, which had been far away for a moment, had returned here, to her family.

The child, unaware of any worry or fear, smiled innocently and exclaimed happily.

“We can see them later today! Ransel and Marquis Norbert and his wife!”

“…Yes, it would be nice to see them soon.”

Ellen smiled at the child as usual, but the gaze she exchanged with Enoch was trembling with anxiety.

Camellia’s magic had manifested far too early. That was always a concern.

Marquis Norbert, his wife, and their young son, Ransel, arrived at Evitern Castle around 2 PM.

The boy with honey-blonde hair and green eyes, who had inherited his mother’s face of exceptional beauty, was actually quite shy.

“Ransel! Welcome!”

“Yeah…”

That’s why it was always Camellia who led their relationship. While Ransel didn’t get along well with his peers, he had a very good relationship with Camellia.

“Let’s play with the train toys today!”

“Okay, sure.”

“And then let’s have snacks!”

“Okay.”

“And then, let’s go to the forest secretly without Mom and Dad knowing!”

“Uh… okay.”

Ransel would agree to anything Camellia suggested. Since it wasn’t the first time Camellia had caused trouble with Ransel in tow, Ellen made sure to warn them in advance.

“You can’t go to the forest secretly. If you want to go, go with Mom and Dad.”

“But it’s not fun if we go with Mom and Dad…”

“Camellia.”

When Ellen called her name firmly, Camellia pouted and made a ‘Hmph’ sound. With a look full of dissatisfaction, the child nodded as if she had no choice.

“I’ll specially allow Mom and Dad to join our exploration.”

Enoch chuckled at that, saying how grateful he was, and ruffled his cute daughter’s hair. But he ended up getting scolded by Camellia, who protested that a lady’s hair shouldn’t be messed with carelessly.

The children went up to the playroom with two maids, while the adults gathered in the reception room to engage in various conversations.

“It seems the existing order in Atreos is crumbling due to the repeated failures of the regency. There’s talk of establishing a republic, but well, who knows.”

“Couldn’t the Monotheistic Church seize power? They might put up a figurehead as the outward leader.”

“That’s a possibility too. The Monotheistic Church can’t give up on Atreos.”

Even amidst such serious conversations, the atmosphere remained cordial. Perhaps because there was confidence that Atreos could no longer wage war using the Mage Corps as they had in the past.

“Ceres has now completely turned its back too.”

Ceres, which had long been an ally of Atreos, declared a complete severance of ties with Atreos this March. No exchanges between countries, no trade, no peddlers, no travelers, nothing passes between them.

As a result, Atreos became increasingly isolated in Europia, and currently, the very foundations of the country were shaking.

It wouldn’t be strange if a completely new country were to be born.

The problem always lies with the Atreos upper class and the Monotheistic Church, who are obsessed with magical power and want to continue enjoying that privilege.

“Well… even if they establish a new system after overcoming that chaos, it won’t pose a threat to Freuden.”

Enoch, who had emptied his whiskey glass, glanced at the clock and stood up. It was already 4 o’clock. The time they had promised the children.

Forest exploration, huh. I don’t know why they like it so much when it’s the same forest they always go to.

But there’s no reason not to grant his cute daughter’s wish. Enoch held out his hand to Ellen, who was also getting up. The Norbert couple had already left their seats, apparently intending to join.

“Well then, shall we go? To play with our cute daughter.”

“And with the Norbert couple’s cute son too.”

Ellen corrected, but Enoch just nodded indifferently.

Seeing his unchanged demeanor of caring about no one but his wife and daughter, Warren Norbert quietly clicked his tongue. That guy never changes, even as he gets older.