"That day was the last time that I saw him shed a tear… I served him since we were children and knew that he is not used to carrying a tough façade. Yet once everything seemed to be lost for all of us, he stood to protect us just as master Joseph did before."
- Martha Fumiko I. Robinson, third child of Knightly House Robinson and head maid of Bougainvillea manor
An excerpt from her book "Thorns and thistles of the Noble Blossoms"
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"Uuuuurgh…"
Feeling numerous places in my body aching terribly, I opened my eyes and saw an unfamiliar ceiling. Strangely enough, it seemed too shabby in comparison to how those priests described the afterlife to be…
No… hold on… what is happening…?
Am I… alive?
"S-Spica-sama! He is awake!" suddenly, I heard the voice of a woman coming from my side and I turned to see one dressed as a usual village girl before a tall woman dressed in a maid uniform came in and greeted me.
"Good day, my liege. I am pleased to know that you have regained consciousness. That should mean that the treatment worked and you're no longer in mortal danger.
"W-W-What…?"
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Spica Dahlia, my liege… and I am glad to be of service."
I don't understand… I… I should be dead. I bled out in the treasure room, and I had no one there with me who can save me.
"H-How on… W-What?" I spoke, utterly confused about what is happening right now. I sat up to see that my wounds are gone to the point that there weren't even any scars.
"A-Are you still confused, my liege? If you wish, I can introduce myself again and who-"
"I-I am not talking about that! I-I-It's… how did I survive? How did am I still alive?!"
I shouted, thoroughly confused about how I managed to survive from that situation where my death was certain. Finally understanding the reason for my confusion, the woman in front of me gave an apt yet still quite unbelievable answer.
"The direwolves brought you to the "Spring waters of Life", the place in the middle of the woods which happens to be the center of our small village."
"Village… W-wait! Are you saying that I'm back in Stella again?" faced with my question, her eyes trailed away as she heaved out a brief sigh before telling me what happened to the town.
"…Apologies for being the herald of unfortunate news, my liege. But the town… Stella village and its inhabitants were wiped out by the Giant Grizzlies."
"What…?"
"…If you have the strength to stand, my liege, please follow me."
She took me by the hand and slowly, I stood up to follow her outside where I saw the destruction faced by the town that was at the foot of the hills where we are in.
"W-What the…" I mumbled helplessly after seeing the rising smoke from the town that was utterly destroyed.
"The monsters were merciless. They ravaged every home and ate the villagers as brutally as possible. Chief Marc and the trained men tried their best to fend off the monsters, but their plan ended up being crushed by the monsters before they turned towards the mountains where you were in… I believe you faced against their pack leader, right?"
"Y-Yes… It showed up all of the sudden when we destroyed the dungeon core. B-But I don't understand… how… how did they get here and why didn't they disappear when the core was already gone!?"
"What was that, my liege? Y-You… you destroyed the dungeon core…?" carrying a shocked expression, she asked that, and I answered promptly.
"We did! Together with Anthony-san and the others, we destroyed the core so that dungeon's magical mechanisms would be deactivated, and the monsters would be wiped out."
"M-My liege, I implore you to stay calm after I say this, but… what you did to the core led to this." After she said that, I realized that I have made a miscalculation.
When we destroyed the core, the reason was simply to wipe out the monsters and finally open up the path leading to the outside world which would free all of us from this place.
What I didn't consider was that the magic that secluded Stella village and protected it from the Dungeon's monsters would be included in that.
"T-then… the town and the villagers… D-Did I… Did I really-"
I killed them… I killed them…!
"M-My liege! Please don't blame yourself over this! You didn't know that this would happen! You---"
"That changes nothing! I did this… I killed them… I killed them!!!"
Overwhelmed by the unintended consequences of my actions, my chest hurt as I became swallowed by my sense of grief.
I did this… this is all my fault!
First, I let Anthony-san and the others die… and now, even the innocent people of Stella… why… why does Death follow me and instead of rightfully taking me, it takes those around me…?
"…Kill me." I whispered beneath my breath out of utter hopelessness.
"M-my liege! Don't say that! This is not your-"
"THIS IS ALL MY FAULT! I DID THIS!"
There's no other way around it. This is entirely my fault. This all happened because of me.
"I AM THE ONE THAT CAN'T ACCEPT THAT I AM IMPRISONED HERE! I'M THE ONE WHO WAS READY TO DO EVERYTHING JUST TO GET HOME!"
All of this loss… just because of me… just because I want to leave this place!
"KILL ME! LET ME ATONE FOR THIS! I BROUGHT THIS UPON THEM SO LET ME SHARE THEIR FATE---"
*PIYAK!*
Before I can end my words, a sharp slap hit my face and I recoiled from its force. It was only after I looked up that I saw this woman bearing an indescribable expression on her face as if grief, annoyance and worry mixed and appeared like this.
"My liege… Jonathan-sama. I request that you calm down first and hear me out. Their fate wasn't your fault… Even if you didn't break the Dungeon core and it didn't affect the village's barrier, they would have still died."
"W-what…?"
"The Giant Grizzlies are monsters that do not naturally exist in this dungeon. They belong out there in Mt. Akira's forest and they entered here through the same series of tunnels that got you here. Against their pack, the barrier would still be broken with ease, and this would still be their fate." She tried to reason out to me, but that only convinced me further that it was I who brought them here.
"T-Then that just means that I brought them here! If I didn't fall off that ravine… if I just didn't venture this far off into the forest---!"
"Again, your presence wouldn't have changed anything for the better, my liege… I say this not because I wish to simply calm you down, but because it is the truth for those that live in Stella village."
Hearing that, I looked up as she told me something that I didn't learn after my mere 1 day of staying and knowing the town and its populace.
"The people in this dungeon all belong to the Deprived… but the people of Stella village are those who have abandoned the last task that was handed to us by Lord Gerald who ordered us to seek shelter in this place 500 years ago and do something to overcome our situation as among the Deprived."
After I heard that name, my mind raced to remember where I heard that name and I remembered it from a tale that my father read to me and my brother long ago when we were children. I cannot forget that… after all, that story was our shared goal that pushed us three to attain more ambitions in life.
"Gerald… wait, I know that name! Isn't he supposed to be-"
"He is, my liege…"
I knew that name… it was my ancestor, the greatest conqueror of all in our genealogy… and also, the one that brought us to near ruin.
"Imperial Duke Gerald Renval E. Bougainvillea. Conqueror of the redeemed colonies and uniter of the Ostadonia… and "he who debased himself in the name of a selfish wish"…" I spoke his name and how much he contributed to the empire that he later on betrayed for the sake of a single wish.
"Lord Gerald brought us to this dungeon when the Lunarian Apostolic Sect declared a "war against the heathens" during the time 500 years ago when the moon Gobor plagued the skies for 6 months straight." After she mentioned that, I remembered it to be an event of a certain importance in history.
"Are you talking about the "Lightless months" that preceded the "Green Plague"? Did that really happen?"
"It is, my liege. Our records say that the Lunarian Sect ordered for both the demi-human and Deprived races to be put to the blade or drowned head-first to a deep well in order to appease the moons Idyia and Shisen to return to the sky and vanquish Gobor… which brings us back to the task given to us by Lord Gerald."
"…What is it after all?"
My question was promptly met by her reply that told me that the villagers' fates really were sealed the moment the monsters entered this place.
"Lord Gerald told us to study the unique materials and environment of this dungeon. He told us that there must be a way to overcome our circumstances as people born without the capacity to hold magic power in our bodies nor make use of it… and he was right." After she said that, she raised her hands and earned my shock as the stones nearby levitated around her.
"W-What…?!"
"This is the product of our 500 years of effort and ingenuity. A way to allow us to use magic without containing the required magic power inside ourselves."
As she said that, I noticed that the necklace she was wearing is glowing with a bluish sheen, it would've looked like nothing more than a gemstone held inside a metal frame, if not for the fact that I can see magic emanating from within it.
"I-Is that…"
"We have come to name it as "Soul Core" because one of the processes to create it requires high-quality manastones from monsters. In a way, this tool contains the remnants of the souls of those monsters."
If it is made of manastones, maybe it's close to the Combat Computation Units of aerial combat wizards. I've only seen a few of them and learned the basics of how they work from an elective MagiTech class, but it seems like this Soul Core of theirs works in the same way.
"Hold on… when you said that the villagers abandoned this task given by my ancestor, are you saying that there are more settlements here?"
"Yes, my liege. There are three other villages, or should I say very small settlements in here that was driven out from Stella village 300 years ago when the people of that time viewed the task to be no longer needed… After all, this dungeon and the barrier around the town protected us from every danger and to them, there is no need to leave this place anymore… but to us, it wasn't the case." She paused for a moment to deactivate her magic before continuing her story.
"Some among our people, after we were exiled from the town and the protection of its barrier, settled in the forest and valleys where the resources that we needed to further our research are located. We fought against monsters without magic to help us and it ended up with some of us dying… but in the end, we learned about how magic works and how even us, the Deprived, can use it too using this tool… In a way, their sacrifices laid down the foundations of this success and their wish to leave this place is not for naught."
Once she said that, I remembered those four who came with me to leave this place and how they ended up dying for it… while I cannot do anything anymore for them, I knew that there must be a reason why I was allowed to live.
"Now that the dungeon is cleared, we can leave this place now… You said that there are three settlements here. Can we contact them and tell them to come with us?"
"We can, my liege. I will gather all of them near the springs."
Once I confirmed her word on that, I looked at the mountain where the exit is located and steeled my resolve to finally leave this place.
"What was it again? Spica?"
"Yes, my lord. My name is Spica Dahlia, 19th generation daughter of the Dahlia family promised by late Lord Gerald Bougainvillea of knighthood once we complete the task that he has assigned. I am at your service."
"Is that so… Well then, give me my sword."
After a moment, the girl from before that called her after she saw that I was awake, appeared with my saber and I unsheathed it as Spica knelt on one knee in front of me. Softly, while I was giving out the dubbing vows, I tapped her shoulders and the top of her head with the flat of the blade.
"I, Jonathan Hakuryuu H. Bougainvillea, second son of the 279th generation of House Bougainvillea, honor the promise given by my ancestor to you. I pronounce you a knight of my family and your kin will bear your peerage from henceforth and till you stay loyal to your service." After that short ceremony, I gave her my first order as her master.
"I wish to address how we are going to continue from here onwards. Tell them to meet me at the spring where I was brought by the Direwolves."
While I was waiting for them at the springs, I approached the Direwolves and tried to make sense of what happened back there in the treasure room.
"Hyuuu…" a few of the young ones, who were just as tall as an adult dog, rolled over and showed me their bellies as if wanting to have it petted.
"Aren't you guys too docile for your own good? Why did you save me back there anyway? Did you somehow view me as part of your pack?"
I thought back on what could've led to that until I realized something from back then when I encountered the Direwolf alpha.
"Is it really the case…? If so, that theory would basically overturn the doctrines of both the Lunarian Sect and the established hypotheses of the current scientific community."
I read a newsletter publication in the academy's library that a certain scientist in the Kleif Czardom has created a theory regarding the shared behaviors of animals and monsters. One of the tenets of this new theory says that certain animals and monsters that operate in a pack system would only honor a new leader if it dealt an "honorable" death to the present one. Given that I did deal an honorable mercy killing to their pack leader, that must mean that they view me now as their pack leader.
Half an hour later, a mass of people, many of which are women and children, came from the direction of the village and sat on the ground a distance away from me. Given the fact that they've lived harsh lives outside the protection of the village's barrier, and I am not like them, they must be cautious of why they were brought here. After a while, Spica arrived with the last batch of villagers and told me that this was all of the remaining people in the dungeon.
"That is all of them, my liege."
"Mm. Good. I'll address them now." I stood up and walked into the midst so that all of them can hear me. "People of this dungeon, I'm glad that even if you do not know who I am, you still came here at my behest… My name is Jonathan Bougainvillea, descendant of Gerald Bougainvillea, the Imperial Duke who brought you to this place to save you from the chaos of the outside world."
As soon as I said my name, whispers began to spread among them and from what I heard, they were surprised that a kin of the man that saved them by sealing them off in this place is here now. With that, I continued with my statement.
"I have heard from Spica about your story and how even after being exiled from Stella, you continued with the task you were given and were able to create that tool which allowed you to wield magic and survive in the outside world despite turning into Invalids after centuries of being isolated with natural magic particles… As his descendant, I thank your dedication and free you from that task."
What I said next made many of them shed tears of joy.
"I'm here to bring you back to the surface world… everyone will come, no one will be left."
"Khh…"
"Finally… we can finally leave…"
I looked at them and I saw genuine relief about finally leaving the dungeon. With that, I told them to prepare everything they have since we would be leaving in that very afternoon.
While I was preparing my own belongings, Spica approached me with the glass bottle that was empty before. Once she told me what it contained, it became something which I staked all of the effort and pain that I went through to its value.
"Jonathan-sama, here it is. The purest of waters from the Spring of Life…" she passed the bottle to me, and I took it carefully, placing it on a part of my bag that is padded with cloth and other soft materials. After that, she added something that she told me already before.
"M-My liege, I wish to remind you that while it may have brought you back from the brink of death due to injuries, if the illness that Lord Joseph is suffering is really as you have described it, the spring water may not heal him after all… at best, it could alleviate some of its symptoms and extend his life a little bit, and at worst, it would only make experiencing the rest of it less painful."
"…Even so, I will hope for the best and maybe even beyond… and if it's not permitted by the heavens, I will make sure it wouldn't be so agonizing for father."
"Jonathan-sama…"
Thinking back now, it may already have been a week since I left home. Mother would no doubt scold me, and brother would probably beat me up for worrying our family… but at least, I can bring this to father along with any semblance of hope that it may entail.
"It's time. Call for everyone and let's leave this place already."
"Yes, my liege!"
As we passed through the town of Stella, some of the villagers began to throw flowers towards the ruins, while some placed stones on the doorstep or windowsills of the houses. Apparently, it was a unique custom within this place to offer flowers to the dead and placing stones around where said deaths occurred.
Once we entered the forest and valley, I ordered the Direwolves to flank our trail of villagers, protecting them in case there are monsters that suddenly appear for some reason. In no time, we arrived inside the tunnels and into the place where we destroyed the dungeon core. After that, we arrived in the treasure room where everyone helped in cleaning out the contents of the place.
"Gather it up and separate it from your own precious belongings! All of you will get your own fair share of it, so don't you dare slip in anything for yourself or you won't get any after all!"
Since most of it were nuggets of precious metals and precious jewels, it was very heavy. It was good that while its not so big, some of the villagers had carts that made transporting it safe and easy.
Soon, we got out of the dungeon and another scene of genuine tears of joy being shed played out in front of me. While I wanted to tell them to quit it and to hurry up, I understood how much of a big deal it was for them to see a proper sky above their heads. By nightfall, we got out of Mt. Akira's Forest and we arrived at the outskirts of Paddleton village.
"Halt! Who goes there!?"
"It's me, Chief! This is Jonathan!"
"B-Bocchan! It really is you!"
As I expected, we came across the village chief's horse-mounted patrol group and told me how everyone has been looking for me for the past week. This is when he realized that there are strangers behind me and questioned me about it.
"Y-Young lord, who are these people? Why are they following you?"
"It's a long story, chief. I don't have much time on my hand to tell you all about it right now."
"…I see. But whether they are with you or not, you know the rules about those that pass through into our territory, young master." The village chief calmly extended out his arm with his hand open and demanded it from Spica and the others. "Pay the toll fee. You are outsiders crossing into a noble's territory."
As he said that, the other riders behind him took out their magic muskets and other weapons in order to intimidate them. However, there are other beings behind me who viewed that not as intimidation but as danger to their pack leader.
"GROOOOOOOAAAAAR-!!!"
"W-W-WAAAAAHHHH!!!"
"D-Direwolf! DIREWOLVES!!!"
"R-R-RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!"
Upon seeing the enormous wolf monsters galloping out from the shadows, his men escaped with their steeds, leaving him and his son trembling there in their saddles.
"I apologize, chief… But let go of the toll for now and avoid showing any signs of aggression. You see, some of these bad boys haven't eaten yet and they don't really know how to distinguish between beast and human flesh."
"GRRRRRRR!!!"
""EEEEEKKKKK-!!!""
"Well then, if you have nothing else to talk about, we're taking our leave."
From Paddleton, it didn't even take an hour before we arrived within the view of the manor. Here, our long trail of people carrying torches and mana lamps to light our way quickly gathered the attention of the mansion's staff, and by the time I was able to see the gates swinging open, my elder brother has already rode out with the mansion's men to confront a potential intruder.
"Y-You---?!"
"Heyo, Joshua! Been a while, huh?"
Good thing that my elder brother easily recognized me or else, he would've ordered a cavalry charge towards us.
"W-Wha… You f****** dunce! Where were you all this time?!!"
"It's a long story, one that I can't say for now. The point is, I've found something that can potentially help fa---" Before I can end my words, Joshua dismounted from his horse and hugged me tightly, earning my surprise. "J-Joshua… what is this-"
"You idiot… hic! We were all worried for you, you know!?"
"…Yeah. I'm gonna have to apologize for the rest of my life about that."
"Kih! Hik-!"
"Come on, Joshua… No need to bawl your eyes out like this." Although I said that, I let out some tears too after seeing that I really made them worry so much.
It took a few minutes before he let me go and addressed the fact that there are people and even some monsters behind me.
"W-what on promethea happened here? These people are one thing, but direwolves? And you're telling me that they're viewing you as their pack leader?!"
"Like I said before, it's a long story. The gist of it is that these people used to serve our family back on our golden age and these direwolves began to obey me after I gave their late pack leader a good death… The point is, I've went through a lot, but I found this water that may cure father." After I said those words, Joshua's face became a bit glum and pale, which I asked him about. "What's with that change in your expression?"
"J-Jonathan… about father…" when he started out his words like that, I knew that it must be something very severe.
And the truth was, although it wasn't the worst, it isn't the best either…
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"You're all set, young lady."
"Mm. Thankies, Martha."
"It's my pleasure."
The morning after Jonathan-sama came home, the manor was so silent. There weren't any noises made by the maids attending to their duties or conversing during their free time. After all, they were told to go back to their villages for a day off, leaving no one in the manor other than the Bougainvillea family and me, who insisted to be there to attend to them. I have just finished dressing up young lady Syrene and now, I am helping Jonathan-sama with tidying his clothes.
"…You really should've went home too, Martha."
"Oh please, young master. Our house is too far from here for me to get there, spend enough time to rest and get back here tomorrow. Besides, are you telling me that you don't need me anymore… after I served you since we were but wee, little children?"
"Don't be absurd, Martha. You know that this house won't get anything done without you."
"…Thank you for the compliment, young master."
After he wore his cloth gloves and looked at himself one last time on the mirror, he gestured to lady Syrene to come with him as they left his room.
"Martha, did you make him drink it?"
"Yes, young master. Master Joseph drank the springwater you brought, and he didn't have any flare ups last night nor did he complain about any pain. He seems to have had the most peaceful sleep last night because of it."
"Good… then maybe there is still a chance. If there is anything left, let him drink the rest of it. I can always go back to where it came from."
"Understood, young master."
After that exchange, we arrived at the doorway of the master's bedroom where Joshua-sama was already standing at. With a respectful bow, I turned on my heels and left the family to talk in private for what might be the last time.
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"Jonathan… you're finally here, huh?"
"Father…"
The hope that I was holding on from earlier immediately melted as soon as I saw my father's face again. While his pain is gone, that aura was still present around him. Perhaps because I had narrow run-ins with death that I recognized that presence that covered my father.
He is still in the grip of death. The miraculous water I brought only gave him comfort.
"…and that's why I was away for a week, and I brought those people and monsters with me on my way back."
"A-A-A…" Suddenly, father opened his mouth as if there was something stuck in his throat.
"F-Father…!"
"J-Joseph! Darling! What is happening to you!?"
Joshua and mother noticed and was bothered about it until his stuttering ended and he sprung up in excitement.
"AMAZING!!! That adventure of yours was amazing, son!"
Turns out, he was just lost for words about all of it. He even sprang out of his bed out of his sheer excitement, much to the annoyance of mother.
"It's not like I'm not believing you, Jonathan, but are you sure that they're really who they say they are? Claiming that they were servants of our family during the Age of the Ostadonian Uprising and Unification is too much of a bold claim." Joshua, still rightfully skeptical of Spica and the villagers, asked about the authenticity of their claims which I properly answered to.
"Don't worry, brother. I've looked into it last night on our ancient record books with the help of Martha and there was indeed, several mentions of Deprived humans under the Dahlia family serving Imperial Duke Gerald during his reign. And just like they said, there were no more mentions of them after his betrayal of the empire."
"I see… that must mean that they're the real deal. In any case, its good that they've returned to our fold. Not only bringing ancient knowledge to us but also the technologies they've developed down there. You said that they've created something similar to a Combat Computation Unit used by Aerial wizards?"
"Yes, father. Here it is..." after father mentioned that, I opened the small box I handed to Syrene earlier and within it was one of the "Soul Cores" that I borrowed from Spica.
"Oh ho! It really is similar to a Logic Calculator orb, but the structure is…"
"That's right, father. It's beyond even the most advanced ones in the imperial capital. Not only does it process more computations and outputs more power than CCUs and LogiCals, it absorbs magic particles in the surroundings instead of drawing it from your body, which means that-"
"You can use it without fearing Mana Rapture Syndrome…"
"Yes, and if Spica is to be believed, it can do more things as soon as we find out how to utilize it for such functions."
After I explained that, Joshua's face lit up. I knew from that reaction that he understood how great this new technology is that we now have on our hands. Father knew that too and commanded us on how to handle it.
"Joshua. Have these people form their own village in Mt. Akira after it is cleared. Jonathan, you said that you have a pack of about 121 Direwolves under your command, right?"
"Yes, father. Many of them are still young, but the adult ones are more than a match for any of the monsters that roam the forest."
"Good. Alongside the knights of House Elliot and House Robinson, clear out Mt. Akira and have them work there away from the prying eyes of the neighboring lands. This Soul Core may just be the thing that would help us rise again."
"Yes, father!"
After that discussion, it was mother's turn to tell us something that she did during the time when I was away. To put it simply, it wasn't the best, but we can't blame her for choosing that decision.
"I've written to my elder half-brother, Hoshimiya Midora, to vouch for Joshua's exemption from military service to the ministry of war."
"Selena, you didn't have to-"
"I know about that, darling… but you must understand, with your ever failing health and Joshua still being seen as too inexperienced to take our imperial peerage, it would be better for him to stay here and run things."
"I know that, but you didn't have to beg him to do it… You of all people should know how they've belittled you when we got marr-"
"You have to understand, Joseph… you are my family and between making sure that you will be safe and sound or keeping my pride, I will always choose what is for your good."
"Selena…"
After that, we talked more and more, reminiscing on past memories and talking about simple things. Before long, it was already early evening and mother, brother and Syrene went down to help Martha set up the dinner table so that we can have dinner. That left me alone with father in the bedroom where we talked about my adventure in the dungeon again.
"Jonathan… I heard that the Springwater that I drank last night was from that dungeon."
"Yes, it saved me twice from death, you know. First, I lost my arm and dislocated my foot and a villager there said that I may have fallen on one of those springs before he found me… and then the next time I was saved by it was when I was brought there by the Direwolves after I fought against a Giant Grizzly. To be honest, it felt like every time I inched towards death, it saved me."
"Is that the reason why you brought some for me?" he asked softly as I turned around to hide my face from his view.
"…Yes. I was hoping you see… hoping that that it could somehow cure you and let you stay beside us for a bit longer."
"Why would you want that? Are you going to miss me when I'm gone?"
After he asked that, my chest tightened with a sense of grief. I didn't want to be taken over by my emotions but given the circumstance and the truth that all of us know that the spring water did nothing but to alleviate his pain, I can't help but just turn away to hide it.
"Well… there's that and there's also the fact that both elder brother and I still know very little about how to properly run our territory. Joshua may already have some experienced, but as mother said earlier, he's being forced into the war in Irma Island." I sighed for a moment before continuing my words. "There's also mother too, she'd probably never get over losing you, and even if her family orders her to remarry, she'd just cut her ties with them even if it destroys her standing amongst the other noble families."
"Heh, you really know your mother. She'd really do what she says she will do. How about Syrene? Any idea how our little bundle of joy would take it?"
"For Syrene… she might be too young to understand things, but I know you've doted on her so much that she'd probably miss you so much that it may upset her."
"Right, it seems like there really is too many things that would go wrong once I'm gone."
For a moment, father went silent while I was calming myself to avoid crying out loud. This is when a question popped in my mind which I then asked to him after facing him again.
"Father, do you still believe that we can go back to those days? You know, that so called "Golden age" of our family."
"Of course, we can. While there is life, there is hope and where there is hope, there is progress. Nothing is impossible so long as you have the will, power and faith to do what you wish."
"Do you think that… we can achieve that? That somehow, someway, Joshua and I can reach it and it for us, our descendants can?"
"Hehe… Don't underestimate yourselves, Jonathan. While I can't say that I've helped out much with bringing us there, I'm sure that your mother and I raised the three of you well that you'd be able to achieve that which you set yourself to do… You will do many great things, Jonathan. Some of it you may look back to with a sense of pride, and some of it you will regret… but never turn back nor stop."
After saying that, father looked out of the window where he basked on the soft sunrays of the afternoon dusk.
"I will always be with you, son… every step of the way."
.
.
.
.
.
"Father…?"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Martha, can you help me bring this to the table?"
"Yes, madame. Lady Syrene, be careful with the cutlery, okay?"
"M'kay! Syrene will be careful!"
Because the other maids are still away, it fell on me and some of the family to prepare the dinner table. It has been a while since the manor was this silent and while it was quite eerie, it was also peaceful.
After we placed the bowl of soup and the breadbasket on the table, Madame sent Joshua-sama to help bring down Lord Joseph downstairs.
"Alright, that seems to be all of it… Joshua, can you go and fetch Jonathan and your father upstairs so we can finally have dinner?"
"Okay, just let me finish up setting the glasses… aaand we're done! I'm heading up then to-"
Just as he is about to leave the dining hall, Jonathan-sama entered and told us what happened between his stifled sobs.
"There's no need, brother…"
"J-Jonathan…"
"Father… Father is gone."