IF Side Story. Claude (1)

It seemed peace had truly arrived.

Claude began to accept this fact a little later than others as he felt the sharply decreased frequency of undead appearances.

Right.

This was how things should normally be.

Long ago, when Leah was still alive, the undead appeared so rarely that they only went on hunts once a year as an annual event. Creatures that came down as far as Hilton territory were even more uncommon.

Was it already 20 years ago……

No. Perhaps not quite that long yet.

After counting the years internally, Claude let out a long sigh.

It didn’t feel real.

Even though he had clearly seen with his own eyes Seraphina holding Johann’s hand at their wedding, debuting in society wearing an elegant dress, and suffering from morning sickness during her pregnancy……

Why didn’t it feel real?

“D*mn it.”

His heart ached as if it were being squeezed. It felt like someone was gripping it with both hands and wringing it out.

He thought he’d had enough time to say goodbye.

He thought seeing Seraphina living happily would be enough.

Was that a hasty misconception?

Just earlier, he had heard news from the south through Kiel. Among the unremarkable information was one surprising piece:

Seraphina had given birth to a prince.

Considering the time it took for news to reach Hilton, she had probably given birth more than a month ago.

Claude ordered Kiel to select an appropriate congratulatory gift to send to the imperial palace, then left his office. And now he was wandering aimlessly around the castle.

What was it?

What was this pathetic lingering attachment that wouldn’t go away no matter how hard he tried to remove it, like a sticky leech?

Though he pretended to have moved on externally, deep inside Claude’s heart, Seraphina still remained unforgotten.

She would probably stay with him for life. Just as Leah had.

Why did all the people most precious to him leave his side?

While thinking these bitter thoughts, Claude soon let out a wry laugh.

Still, it was better than what happened with Leah. At least Seraphina was alive and well.

If she could just live happily for a long time by that damned Johann’s side, he couldn’t ask for more.

As Claude walked along the corridor, his steps gradually slowed. Though he thought he was walking aimlessly, it seemed his subconscious had a destination in mind.

His red eyes lowered.

“……How pathetic.”

It was the room Seraphina had used.

Standing rooted in front of the closed door, Claude briefly considered whether to grab the doorknob. He would have opened it without hesitation if it were empty, but it now had a new occupant.

Aveline was adapting well to life in Hilton. She had become quite friendly with the northern knights and, though not as much as the knights, she also trained regularly at the training grounds.

Compared to her courage in fearlessly wielding her wand like a sword, her fundamentals were terrible. It was obvious she had learned without systematic instruction.

Didn’t she say she grew up running through mountains and fields?

Anyway, quite a few knights had taken interest in teaching her effective postures and techniques.

Everything was going smoothly.

Knock knock.

His hesitant fist finally knocked on the door. Claude gazed at the closed door with eyes lost in memories.

<Come in.>

He almost heard Seraphina’s voice. She used to make such a fuss about knocking being mandatory. Who knew he would miss that so much?

Even now, if he opened this door, he felt he might find her lying in bed, complaining that she wanted to sleep a little longer with her unwashed, grubby appearance.

To think that immature woman had become a mother.

“Yes.”

Click, the door opened, and a voice different from the one in his imagination pierced his ears. It was Aveline.

She looked up at Claude with a puzzled expression.

“What brings you here?”

“……Just.”

What should he say?

Claude moved his lips like a slow-witted person, then blinked with a troubled face. Where on earth had he left his wits? To knock on an occupied room without preparing a plausible reason.

Claude looked at Aveline with wavering eyes.

He couldn’t honestly say that he missed Seraphina so much that he wanted to immerse himself in memories in this room she once used.

“Um, are there any problems?”

In the end, he said something pathetic.

What kind of question was that to someone who was obviously doing well?

Feeling this wasn’t right, Claude avoided her gaze and irritably scratched his head.

After staring at him for a while, Aveline spoke.

“Your Grace, should I move to another room?”

“……?”

“I think it might be better to leave this room empty. You know, like the other room……”

Trailing off, Aveline lowered her gaze.

The other room, meaning Lea’s room—she was suggesting that Seraphina’s room should also be left empty. So he could remember and commemorate Seraphina anytime.

Claude was silent for a moment.

Honestly, he was tempted.

But if this place were left empty, he would pathetically wander in and out at all hours. It was only because Aveline was using it that he was showing restraint.

“No need.”

Claude replied curtly and turned to leave. Aveline’s voice stopped him.

“Then at least stay for a moment. I’ll give you some privacy.”

“……”

She had quite a talent for making tempting offers.

Thinking this, Claude turned back. Despite having just made the difficult decision to leave, he was persuaded surprisingly easily.

Seeing Claude quietly keeping his mouth shut, Aveline tactfully bowed and stepped aside.

After watching Aveline’s retreating figure along the long corridor, Claude turned back to Seraphina’s former room.

Haah.

What a pathetic sight he was.

He couldn’t help but sigh. His chest felt tight at all hours.

Well, for now……

Since she had given him space, should he go in?

Entering Seraphina’s former room after a long time, he felt strange. Though it was clearly the same space, it had a different atmosphere now that the occupant had changed.

However, beyond the current appearance, Claude could easily picture how it used to look.

<Let me sleep a little more. Mmm.>

<I’ll wash tomorrow, tomorrow.>

<Did you knock before coming in? Hmph. I didn’t hear it.>

It felt as if Seraphina was still living and breathing here.

If.

Just if……

<Will you come with me to the Grodes Mountains?>

<……>

<……I see.>

If he hadn’t left her with such a disappointed face in Ponitan. If Seraphina had accepted his confession. If after the dragon subjugation was over, her choice had been this place.

If right now, they were living together in this Hilton Castle……

Just a moment ago, he said he couldn’t ask for more as long as she lived happily by Johan’s side for a long time, yet now Claude began to imagine Seraphina by his side.

The sky visible through the window was high and blue. The sunlight flowing through it was as bright and beautiful as Seraphina’s smile.

* * *

The sound of a chisel hammering to create an ice sculpture echoed through the air. Seraphina’s eyes sparkled with curiosity at what some might consider noise.

“Claude, what’s that?”

Walking through the square, Claude stopped. A woman wearing a cute fur hat and even cuter gloves was pointing to one side.

Claude took in the sight of Seraphina, who looked quite good in winter clothes, before looking in the direction her index finger was pointing.

Someone was working on a large block of ice, perhaps just starting to carve.

Tap tap tap tap.

As the hammer struck rhythmically, the steel chisel left marks on the hard ice.

“They’re sculpting.”

“Sculpting? Ah! Like those beautiful sculptures in the garden!”

Seraphina clasped her hands together, recalling the numerous ice sculptures throughout Hilton Castle’s garden. Her cheeks flushed pink with delight over something so simple.

He watched her with affectionate eyes as she continued in an excited voice.

“To think such a block of ice can be transformed into a work of art! It’s truly amazing!”

“Those things are everywhere, it’s nothing special.”

Claude responded gruffly, but secretly felt his shoulders rise with pride.

Hilton, where such amazing works of art were everywhere.

Not bad at all.

That’s when Seraphina voiced a thought that Claude had never considered.

“Isn’t it a shame to keep them just for ourselves?”

“……?”

What was this woman trying to say?

He wondered what thoughts had entered that small head of hers. And before long, Claude could understand Seraphina’s thinking.

“I want to show them off to the people in the south too.”

It was an admirable thought.

But Claude was skeptical.

“They’d all melt on the way.”

“Then we could invite people to come to Hilton to see the ice sculptures.”

“As if people would come to a territory known to be dangerous……”

Smooch.

Claude stopped speaking as he felt something soft touch his lips. Seraphina was looking at him with a bright smile.

This charming woman was bewitching people again.

Despite thinking this way, Claude could do nothing about it. His heart melted softly.

“Let’s hold an ice festival. Please?”

To her question mixed with sweet charm, Claude answered with a reddened face while looking elsewhere.

“Do whatever you want. It’s up to you.”