Lucas’s eyes are blue. A very deep and beautiful azure blue.
Usually, his gaze is as gentle as a large dog looking up at its owner, but now, I’m not sure what emotion they hold.
Was he asking that question out of genuine concern for me?
Or was he testing whether I was the ‘real’ Ash?
“Uh, well…”
I broke out in a cold sweat and stammered.
There’s no way I’d know about Ash’s family history. I can guess that as the Emperor’s son, his family history wouldn’t be simple.
I was flustered by the attack that came from a completely unexpected direction, and I didn’t know how to respond.
“…”
Lucas, who had been silently watching me for a moment,
“I apologize. I touched on a part that my lord is uncomfortable with.”
He bowed his head and apologized.
I quickly waved my hands.
“No, no! It’s just that when I suddenly thought about it, I got a little dazed. Haha.”
“Both your family history and Miss Evangeline’s family history will all work out well.”
Lucas smiled brightly. It was his usual gentle, golden retriever smile.
Was I just being too sensitive? Maybe Lucas was just worried about me?
“U-uhm… Thanks, sleep well! See you tomorrow!”
I mumbled vaguely, waved my hand, and quickly ran to my bedroom.
‘Does this Ash bastard also have family issues?’
Well, he is a prince. The Emperor’s son.
Of course, there must be a lot of dirty and messy stuff. The problem is that I don’t know anything about it.
‘What kind of past are you hiding again?’
I should gather some information later. Sigh.
I was reminded again that this body isn’t mine. Geez, living as someone else is not easy…
***
The day after returning from the dungeon.
I dealt with the backlog of work and reinforced the defenses for the next stage.
[Enemy Information – STAGE 3]
– Lv.? ??? : 5 units
– Lv.20 Steam Golem : 152 units
– Lv.15 Rock Golem : 103 units
Especially since I knew that the opponent in this defense battle was a golem army, I had to change the defense facilities accordingly.
‘Large monsters, a small elite force. Adjust the tactics accordingly.’
There was a little over a week left until the next stage.
This time, I’ll prepare thoroughly.
So that I can respond perfectly to any variable that appears. No.
‘So that no matter what variable appears, I can crush it with overwhelming firepower…!’
I repeatedly placed orders and urged all the production facilities within the city, and I accelerated the preparations for the next stage.
***
And then, the day after that. Early morning.
Crossroad’s western field. The graveyard.
“…”
I stood silently in this place, which was bustling with preparations for the funeral.
There were several injured in Stage 2, but only one death.
‘The Margrave.’
I pressed my lips together as I looked at the list of names for this funeral. The name Charles Cross was written alone, forlornly.
“Your Highness, the coffin has departed.”
“Okay.”
Lucas whispered in my ear. I nodded.
The coffin, which had departed from the temple, was transported along the main street in the city and passed through the west gate.
Before I knew it, a long line of citizens followed the coffin.
It was the death of the former lord who had ruled this place for decades.
Even in a city that was numb to death, many people were expressing their condolences.
Soon, the coffin stopped in front of the cemetery.
Only the funeral would be held here, and the coffin would be buried in the orchard where the Margrave had lived.
Because the Margrave’s wife’s grave was also there.
Thud!
The coffin, which was carefully lowered to the ground, was covered with the flag of the Everblack Empire.
The priests surrounding the coffin offered prayers, and behind them, the choir sang a funeral song.
After a series of procedures were completed, it was time for me to give a brief speech.
I stepped onto the platform. I was now used to being the center of attention.
“Hoo.”
I took a breath. After organizing what I wanted to say in my head.
I spoke.
“I said before. Your deaths are expensive. Not as a metaphor, but actually expensive in terms of money.”
From funeral costs to compensation.
Frankly, without empty words, death is expensive in this city.
“But the death of Margrave Charles Cross goes beyond financial loss… it hurts deep in my heart.”
I pressed my hand firmly against my chest.
The people were still quiet.
I paused for a moment, then slowly spoke.
“…The Margrave told me. To bring joy to the people.”
I gave a faint smile.
“That the city wouldn’t move if we only mourned. That this is a fortress city, so death is always lurking. To rule with hope and joy instead of sorrow.”
Immediately, I shook my head slightly.
“But today, I will disobey the Margrave’s will. Today, I will mourn.”
“…”
The people were listening to my story, swallowing hard. I raised my voice.
“This front line is maintained by the sacrifice of precious lives. Not only the Margrave, but every life that perishes here hurts.”
I pressed my chest again.
“I hope you will always remember that the sacrifice is as valuable as it is painful. That the Empire, and the entire human world, is maintained by your sacrifices and dedication. I hope you will always remember that.”
I looked over everyone below the platform.
“Again, again, I will say it again and again. You will die on this front line in the future!”
I nodded heavily.
“And that is definitely a worthwhile thing.”
In front of the silent crowd, I slowly bowed my head.
“For those who have saved the world, let us observe a moment of silence.”
As I bowed my head first, the people who had gathered also bowed their heads one by one.
Even though thousands of people had gathered, the area in front of the cemetery became extremely quiet for a moment.
“Someday, I hope that the day will come when festivals are held every day in this city instead of funerals.”
Slowly raising my head again, I murmured quietly.
“Just like the Margrave wished.”
I stepped down from the platform, and Lucas waved his arm towards the artillerymen.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of cannons honoring the dead echoed.
The funeral ceremony ended there. The old soldiers who had been directly under the Margrave shouldered the coffin, and I mounted my horse.
We began to move to the place where the Margrave’s coffin would be buried.
***
About 30 minutes by horse to the southeast.
The Margrave’s orchard began to appear.
“Huh?”
I, who was leading the procession, noticed that someone was already in the orchard.
A small, platinum-blonde girl was standing in the backyard of the orchard. With her hands in her jacket pockets, her shoulders were hunched.
“…”
I slowly slowed my horse. The other old soldiers who were following the coffin procession also noticed the girl one by one.
“Oh? Isn’t that…”
“Miss Evangeline?”
“It’s the young lady.”
“The young lady has returned!”
Soon, the procession entered the orchard.
Evangeline was standing in front of a small tombstone in the backyard of the orchard. It seemed that it was her mother’s grave.
“…Ah.”
Evangeline, who turned to look at us, muttered indifferently.
“You’ve arrived.”
The old soldiers rushed to Evangeline and surrounded her, greeting her.
“Miss Evangeline, it’s been three years!”
“You’ve come a long way from the capital.”
“We are truly sorry about the Margrave. We should have protected him…”
“…”
Evangeline bowed her head silently instead of answering.
The old soldiers soon closed their mouths and bowed their heads to Evangeline.
“The coffin.”
Evangeline looked at the coffin that had been lowered to the ground and asked.
“May I check the coffin?”
The priests in charge of the funeral looked at me in confusion. I nodded.
“You have the right to do so. Check it.”
Evangeline came to the side of the coffin, and the priests carefully opened the lid of the head part of the coffin.
“…”
Evangeline pressed her lips together and looked at her father’s face.
The corpse, which had been preserved with temporary magic, was pale.
The only good thing was that while the body was severely damaged and gruesome, the face was relatively intact.
“…It’s real.”
Evangeline muttered slowly.
“He always fought at the front as if he would never die. In the end…”
Evangeline, biting her lip, turned away.
“…Thank you. That’s enough.”
The coffin was covered again.
Evangeline did not move, with her back turned, until the coffin was placed in the ground.
The coffin was placed in the deeply dug ground, and now only the work of covering it with soil remained.
At that time, one of the old soldiers carefully spoke to Evangeline.
“Miss.”
“Yes?”
“I think I should ask you one thing.”
The old soldier held out what he was holding to Evangeline. It was a battered cavalry spear and shield. Evangeline’s eyes widened.
“This is…”
“This is the weapon that the Margrave used, passed down through the Cross family. Originally, we were going to put it in the Margrave’s tomb with him. But just in case, I’m asking you.”
“…”
“It’s old and a little damaged, but if it’s repaired, it can be used again…”
“Bury it.”
Evangeline shook her head.
“Bury it with my father.”
“…I understand, Miss.”
The old soldiers dug a separate space next to the tomb, put a box in it, and then put the spear and shield in it.
The two weapons that had served the heads of the Cross family for generations disappeared into the pile of dirt.
I looked at the scene with a little regret.
Finally, the coffin was covered with soil.
The priests recited the final blessing, and with that, the funeral was over.
“Aigoo, my shoulders.”
I loosened my stiff shoulders. Even though it was only a few hours of schedule, I was so tired.
“Everyone, have a cool drink!”
Lucas offered drinks to everyone who had worked hard.
While everyone was having a drink, I stood in front of the tomb and looked down at the tombstone.
‘Many more people will die in the future.’
I thought of the fallen soldiers so far. Looking back, they were all vivid deaths that seemed within reach.
In the future, how many.
How many more.
Then, one of the words the Margrave had said came to mind.
– To protect this city, there will come a moment when you have to sacrifice your most precious thing.
“…”
What is the precious thing that I will lose?
Even if I lose it, will I still be able to be me?
While thinking, I recited a line of poetry in a low voice.
Walls built of ice and snow
Here on earth
The path of compassionate life
It was a line from a poem I liked on Earth.
I thought it was a poem that suited the Margrave, so I was originally going to recite it as a funeral tribute. But it didn’t fit the order of the ceremony, so I left it out.
While I was lost in thought, looking down at the tombstone.
That’s when it happened.
“I didn’t know you had such a refined hobby of reciting poetry.”
A young girl’s voice came from beside me.
When I turned around, it was Evangeline, as expected.