“…….”
“…….”
Padrid came to Solden, where Temer’s mansion was located, for the first time in 15 years.
To finally put the past to rest.
He quietly gazed at the mansion, which hadn’t changed at all since then.
Beside him stood Darka, also looking at the mansion.
“Thank you. For listening to me.”
“It’s nothing.”
It was still awkward, but at least it wasn’t the sharp response from yesterday.
A middle-aged man came out of the mansion.
After looking around, he soon spotted the two and hurried over.
“Young Master, Little Young Master!”
Coming right up to them, he dropped his umbrella and bowed deeply at 110 degrees to both of them.
Darka smiled bitterly at the sight of him nearly touching the ground.
“Use your umbrella, Robert.”
Robert was the head butler who had been in charge of the family since they were young.
At first, the moisture on his face made it seem like he had been caught in the rain, but the man was actually streaming with tears.
“Thank you for coming. Thank you. Young Master, Little Young Master…”
“How are they?”
When Padrid, who had kept his mouth firmly shut, spoke, both Darka and Robert tensed.
Robert bowed deeply.
“Now, now they don’t seem to have much time left.”
*** 
Robert was right.
As soon as Padrid and Darka crossed the threshold, their parents noticed them, showed visible surprise, and their breathing became labored.
Then, as their gasping breaths began to slow, in less than a few minutes, they closed their eyes simultaneously, resembling some strange illusion.
Both had suffered such severe injuries in an accident that their faces were in a miserable state, but since they had already breathed their last, that wasn’t important.
Padrid and Darka kept vigil there for a long time.
And the next day.
The funeral was held quickly.
Padrid, who had said he would return around lunchtime yesterday, couldn’t keep his promise.
Many people from collateral branches came to the funeral, but since access to the mansion was blocked, no one could enter.
Despite the rain that fell throughout the ceremony, it was a lonelier and more barren end than anyone else’s.
After the funeral was over.
“They left everything entirely to both of you. They kept saying they were sorry, that they had done wrong.”
Robert handed them a letter their parents had left behind.
Perhaps their parents had hoped to receive forgiveness belatedly by leaving this letter.
But for some reason, neither of them was accepting it.
“I’m not asking you to forgive our parents. I can’t. But I’d like you to do whatever you want with this.”
I’ll handle the collateral branches and any troublesome matters.
Darka said this and took a step back.
Though he had revitalized the family and brought them enormous wealth, Darka didn’t show any greed at all.
“I might… burn all of this.”
“Yes. If that makes you feel better, I think that would be good too.”
Padrid reluctantly accepted the letter, the key, and the family seal.
Robert bowed respectfully and withdrew from them.
He knew better than anyone that there was no place for him to step in.
Padrid, who had been fingering the sealed envelope with his thumb, suddenly held it out to Darka.
“I want to burn this.”
At those words, Darka casually accepted it.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
It meant that while he had confirmed his parents’ end, he would only bury the past, not forgive or want to forgive.
Just as it had been until now.
For Padrid, it was as if he had no parents going forward.
That was Padrid’s answer.
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, and without even uttering a spell, the letter was engulfed in flames.
A flame so blue it was almost white disappeared along with the letter, leaving not even a tiny bit of ash.
“…….”
“…….”
Eventually, Padrid turned around.
“I should return to work.”
“Shall I take you?”
“I’d like to go alone.”
“Ah, is… is that so? But it’s raining.”
Darka looked out the window, carefully watching Padrid’s reaction.
Even after the funeral, the rain hadn’t stopped.
“It’s fine.”
At the firm refusal, Darka finally backed down.
“Alright. Take care.”
“Goodbye.”
Padrid turned quickly and headed for the door.
“Hey.”
Darka’s cautious voice momentarily stopped Padrid’s feet.
“Can I… come see you sometimes?”
Facing Padrid’s back, which had somehow grown broader, Darka waited anxiously.
His face, which resembled Padrid’s greatly but had slightly finer and more delicate features, was tinged with tension.
Padrid, who had paused, crossed the threshold.
“The rookie likes food a lot.”
Darka’s face brightened like never before, but Padrid left without looking back, without any lingering attachment.
Just before getting into the carriage outside.
Padrid looked up at the mansion one last time.
“…….”
Darka hadn’t properly answered Padrid’s question yesterday.
Today too.
“It’s nothing special. I just agreed to hand over one small thing. What do I have anyway?”
Since he said it was nothing special, Padrid would probably find out someday.
Padrid got into the carriage with a much lighter heart.
*** 
Swish-swish!
“Right side clear.”
Swish-swish!
“Left side also clear! Good.”
As soon as she woke up, Rodi looked outside through the window she had opened for ventilation.
After several days of rain, the top of the clock tower, which had been a bit grimy, was now clean.
Rodi smiled broadly with her chin resting on the windowsill.
She could see guild members arriving early.
Some went straight to the training ground, while others were returning home exhausted after finishing their night duties.
“Huh? Rookie, what are you doing there?”
Courtney, who was on her way to work, waved at Rodi in the second-floor window.
“Courtney!”
Rodi leaned her body a little further out.
“You woke up early, huh?”
“Yes! I’m about to go to work.”
Courtney laughed cheerfully.
“Great. I’m counting on you today, too. See you later!”
Rodi watched Courtney’s back as she waved again and entered the east wing, then decided to prepare for work.
“The weather is really nice.”
I hope something good happens today.
Rodi thought.
“That’s dangerous, Lady Rodi.”
Bender, who had brought freshly laundered sheets to change the bedding, gave a small warning.
“I’m holding the windowsill tightly!”
“Still…”
“Bender, you know what?”
“Yes?”
“I think he’s coming today.”
“Who?”
“Padrid!”
Somehow, she had that feeling.
*** 
“What are you doing, rookie?”
“Organizing documents.”
“Isn’t that Padrid’s job?”
“Yes. I want to organize them in advance. That way it’ll be easier for Padrid to see.”
By now, Rodi could tell just by looking at the document names which ones needed to be checked first, so she was diligently sorting them for Padrid, who would soon return.
“My, is even Lord Lexiard working?”
“Lexiard, put this on the temporary desk over there!”
“Got it.”
A black shadow approached swiftly and took the document Rodi handed out.
With Rodi moving busily, Lexiard had also been summoned to the general affairs office to assist.
“This is truly a rare sight.”
Horas shook his head, watching the two busy people.
Padrid had been absent for several days now.
The boss seemed to have received advance notice the night Padrid left, but Rodi and the executives only heard through the boss the next day that Padrid had held a funeral for his parents.
So Rodi and the executives were quietly waiting for Padrid.
“But rookie, we don’t know when Padrid will come back. Won’t he come back after the weekend anyway?”
“I just feel like he’s coming today.”
“Oh, really? Rookie, want to make a bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
“Whether Padrid comes today or not?”
Rodi rolled her eyes.
“What should we bet?”
It was out of curiosity.
“Let’s see. Food? Or granting a wish?”
“The winner gets a wish granted!”
“Good. Would you like to join, Lord Lexiard?”
Rodi immediately whispered to Lexiard.
“Lexiard, let’s say he’s coming today.”
“I also say today.”
Hearing Lexiard’s voice, Horas grinned and plopped down on the sofa.
The regular work hours had long since begun.
Padrid, who would never be late, would surely come to work on time tomorrow even if he returned today.
“Fine. Both of you had better be ready to grant my wish.”
Just as he finished speaking, the door clicked open.
The man who entered paused when he saw people inside and spoke.
“It’s been a while.”
All three people’s gazes turned to the door at once.
Soon, each of their faces changed differently.
“Padrid!”
See! I knew he would come today!
Rodi smiled brightly and ran to Padrid, clinging to his legs.
“Welcome back! Did everything go well?”
“Welcome back.”
“Ugh, I thought you’d come tomorrow.”
Beside her, Lexiard and a very disappointed Horas also welcomed Padrid.
“Well, welcome back. You’ve been through a lot.”
They all welcomed Padrid.
Padrid, who had entered with his usual cold expression, smiled slightly.
“Yes, I’m back.”