Chapter 39: To preserve human dignity, to destruction

“Mm~ So, do you want to have one son and one daughter, like that?”

Luckily, the boyfriend investigation was more or less concluded, and as Sillia resumed her reading of the diary, she noticed a section about future children plans toward the end.

She looked at Esil again.

Having already read through Sillia’s entire diary, Esil closed it with a soft snap.

“Yes. I suppose that’s the most ideal…?”

“Hmm, really? Most people want a son,” Sillia said, her voice thoughtful.

Because of the male-preference ideology brought on by the tyrant Brikal, the Elond Kingdom had a stronger preference for sons compared to other kingdoms.

It was said that there were even noble families who would resort to abortion if the child turned out to be a daughter.

Of course, there were powerful women as well.

Duchess Lusilan of the Northern Duchy was one such example.

She was also a woman, as was the Saint who listened to the divine message.

And even the warrior party member, Biella.

While there were indeed powerful women, due to the King’s ideology, they were often subtly disrespected and ridiculed.

Duchess Lusilan was a representative example.

A powerful sword mage, she had made great contributions during the First Royal City War forty years ago alongside the previous King, Hyrion.

For her achievements, she was promoted from Countess to Duchess.

According to historical records, it was said that without her, the Royal Castle would have fallen, so the granting of the Duke title was seen as a deserved reward.

But that honor didn’t last long.

Her territory was located in the southeastern fertile lands of the capital, but after the accident that led to King Hyrion’s death, Brikal ascended to the throne and exiled Lusilan to the harsh northern lands.

Normally, when a new ruler takes power, they attempt to form a loyal following by recruiting their own supporters.

However, Lusilan, who was far too wise, avoided falling for such schemes and was ultimately exiled.

If she had been a man, she would not have been exiled to such a harsh northern land.

Brikal, who had never been fond of a female Duke, seized the opportunity to expel her under the guise of “Northern Defense,” though many nobles viewed Lusilan as a victim of his sexist tendencies.

In fact, it was widely known that Brikal’s actions were aimed at removing her, not supporting her.

And then there was the issue with Biella, another female warrior in the party.

She received only half of the promised reward for her services due to Brikal’s male-preference ideology, which caused many noble families to suffer as a result.

Thus, the preference for sons became ingrained in the nobility, and daughters were often seen as pitiable creatures, born only out of the bare minimum of human compassion.

Esil smiled warmly as she looked at Sillia.

“I like both a son and a daughter. I’d love to have a daughter just like you, Lady Sillia.”

“Wh-what?!” Sillia exclaimed, blushing in surprise.

For the hero, who she admired so much, to say they wanted a daughter just like her was the highest form of praise.

“A daughter like me..? No, that’s such a joke…” Sillia stammered, flustered.

“Hehe, I’m serious,” Esil chuckled, covering her mouth as she laughed gently.

She truly meant it. Sillia was exactly the kind of daughter she had always dreamed of.

In fact, it was clear to anyone who looked at her that Sillia was the perfect image of someone deserving of love.

Both in appearance and personality.

It felt almost too much for Esil, as though Sillia was too good to be true.

“Hehe… It feels good. I want to have a wonderful mom like you, Hero…” Sillia replied, her voice soft.

“Y-yeah?” Esil replied, surprised by her statement.

Sillia, never one to let a conversation pass by easily, turned the situation around with a cheeky remark.

Seeing Esil’s stunned reaction, Sillia cautiously asked, “D-Don’t you want that?”

“N-no… it’s just… it was sudden,” Esil stammered.

“I’m sure you would make an amazing mom, Hero,” Sillia continued, her voice sincere.

“T-thank you… really,” Esil responded, feeling a deep sense of gratitude.

It was one of the highest compliments she could receive as a former female s*ave.

A calm, peaceful atmosphere enveloped them both.

They both felt the desire to say something more, but understood that there were things that couldn’t be easily spoken.

As an awkward yet pleasant silence lingered, Esil finally broke it by speaking first.

“Did you say you want to fall in love?”

“Yeah. I want to officially debut at the social club and fall in love with a handsome young master!”

“Then, what is your ideal type? I think knowing that would help you meet someone more suitable for you.”

“Hmm… my ideal type?”

Sillia puckered her lips playfully and tapped them with her index finger.

Although she didn’t have a specific ideal type, there were vague qualities that came to mind.

“I don’t really know about looks… But, someone who has loyalty, is manly, willing to give up his life for me, strong… A cool guy like that…?”

As Esil listened to Sillia’s description, she rested her chin in her hand and smiled warmly.

And then, she stared intently at Sillia.

Loyalty, manliness, life devotion, strength, coolness—these five categories, and the man who met them, was ironically right next to her.

How could she not smile?

Sillia wiped her mouth with her hand, wondering if there was something on her lips, and asked,

“Why, why? Is something on my face?”

“No. I was just thinking of someone who fits your ideal type.”

“Really?! Who is it? Is he from some noble family? How old is he?!”

“He’s the same age as you, Lady Sillia.”

“Eek, if he’s someone you like, then he must be an amazing man! Please tell me more!”

Esil paused for a moment.

She didn’t mean to tease Sillia too much, but Sillia was much more excited than she expected, and the name was already on the tip of her tongue.

But, feeling that Sillia’s expectations were rising, Esil finally spoke.

“Roden. Deloden Roden.”

As expected, Sillia’s bright smile immediately faded.

She made a disgusted face, as though hearing the name of a repulsive brother.

“…Ugh, that messy-haired guy?”

“…Loyalty, manliness, life devotion, strength, coolness… well, we’ll have to see about that, but I believe Roden can become strong enough. He seems to match

your ideal type quite well… Hehe.”

Esil laughed awkwardly at Sillia’s reaction.

She was sincere, but it seemed like she may have said something she shouldn’t have.

She had thought that the two of them would make a great pair.

“…Roden is just a friend. A somewhat annoying friend.”

However, Esil didn’t know.

Though Sillia maintained a poker face from years of training, she had felt a strange flutter in her heart when she suddenly heard Roden’s name.

Roden… is… my ideal type…?

The name, which she had never expected to hear, gave her a confusing yet fresh shock.

Roden had been a friend she grew up with, always bickering and spending time together.

They had always been close, especially since their commoner status

meant they didn’t need to observe formalities.

Their relationship had been comfortable, more so than with anyone else.

So, Sillia had never once considered Roden as a potential partner.

That fresh shock transformed into a strange excitement that tickled her heart.

“Dubel…”

Roden, alone in the infirmary, looked down at the sword. It felt like a dream.

To receive such a sword from his eternal idol, Dubel, was beyond anything he had

imagined.

Moreover, it was the sword that Dubel had personally worn.

Roden gently stroked the scabbard, feeling deeply moved.

Was this a gift?

It felt like a reward for the choice he had made to dedicate his life for his master, for Sillia.

The commander of the Royal Guard.

Even just the name carried a sacred and brilliant stature. Only the best of the best could occupy such a glorious position.

The sword, bestowed by Dubel, who held that esteemed position, was something beyond value to Roden.

He was grateful.

Grateful to him for giving such a sword to someone as inexperienced as himself.

And moreover, the sword that had been gifted by the late King Huryon.

It was a treasure that should be preserved for future generations, passed down as a family heirloom.

“What could have happened…”

However, the face of Dubel, which had previously shown resignation and optimism, now appeared sadder than any face he had seen before.

Dubel, who had once expressed envy for him serving Duke Rosel, had lamented like a soldier serving an evil ruler.

The bitterness in his voice, for some reason,

had a deep impact on his chest.

Serving the rightful ruler should have been embarrassing, but Dubel’s complaints felt like the lament of someone pushed to the edge.

Because of that, he felt somewhat worried.

What if something happened to his idol?

Of course, Roden’s intention, recognizing Esil as the hero, was to turn Dubel into a criminal who harmed the hero.

But a 13-year-old boy found it hard to make such deep connections.

The matters of the past and his idol were separate.

“…I just hope nothing happens…”

With a quiet sigh, Roden drew the sword.

The hilt had a red jewel embedded in it, and the guard was exquisitely carved.

And in the center of the blade, an inscription was engraved in relief.

“The virtuous sword divides water with life; the cruel sword divides water with death.”

The meaning of the inscription was clear.

The ceremonial sword was a non-lethal sword that forbade killing, meant to divide water with life. However, for a 13-

year-old boy, this inscription was still difficult to understand.

To Roden’s eyes, it was simply…

“…Incredibly cool.”

It was just a beautiful phrase.

Meanwhile, after finishing his conversation with Esil and Roden, Dubel returned to Rosel’s office.

“Did you convey everything, Sir Dubel?”

Temid asked Dubel.

He, too, had once pointed his sword at Emilia along with members of the party, including Biela.

However, Rosel did not show hostility.

Had he not intervened, Emilia would have gone on a rampage, and the situation could have escalated further into disaster.

That didn’t mean Rosel would forgive Dubel’s sword.

The responsibility for that would lie entirely with Emilia.

Rosel simply sought to understand Dubel. After all, showing hostility toward a royal guard knight was foolish.

Most importantly, Dubel was the first person to step forward and apologize for what had happened that day.

In response to Rosel’s question, Dubel shook his head with a grim expression.

“I wasn’t able to convey everything. It was embarrassing… That day, I saw Emilia as a traitor.

But… today, Emilia sees me as her teacher.”

In Esil’s room, Dubel had felt too ashamed to offer a proper apology.

Though he had said sorry, it was more of an escape than a genuine apology.

Even today, the look in Emilia’s eyes as she saw him as her teacher was as if she had encountered an all-powerful goddess, making him feel utterly ashamed.

Not a single word of blame or accusation was visible in her eyes. It was as if her gaze was scraping away the filth in his heart.

That was why he had left the room in a rush.

Rosel smiled warmly.

“Emilia is that kind of woman.”

“…Did you buy Emilia for 500 gold to follow your ideals, Duke Rosel?”

“To follow my ideals… I’m not a person with such grand reasons. I simply… wanted to atone to Emilia.”

Dubel looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Atone… you say? Why would Duke Rosel…?”

“Haha, just as you had your reasons for pointing your sword at Emilia, I too have my own reasons.”

He was curious about those reasons, but Dubel did not ask any further.

At this point, his reasons no longer mattered.

If he could bring peace to Emilia, that would be more than enough.

It was the last wish he, as a poor teacher and an inept bystander, could make.

“…I understand. Then, please take good care of Emilia.”

Dubel bowed respectfully, as if offering his loyalty to the King.

A knight of the royal guard would usually just nod to nobles as a greeting, but Dubel bowed deeply.

In response, Rosel stood up and approached Dubel.

“Are you leaving for good? It sounds almost like a farewell.”

“…Isn’t it true that fate is something we can’t predict, not even a moment ahead? Just like Emilia and I. I don’t know when the next time will be.”

Rosel noticed the empty space at Dubel’s waist and asked,

“Where did you put the sword?”

Rosel knew Dubel well. He was someone who maintained a delicate balance between faith and oath, trying to convey his beliefs.

That he had removed Huryon’s sword, except for bathing and sleeping, was quite surprising to Rosel, and thus, he found it puzzling.

“Ah.”

Dubel awkwardly smiled as he looked at the now empty side of his waist.

It was simply that the sword had finally found its rightful place.

Roden, the 13-year-old boy, was more than capable of becoming a fine swordsman who could uphold the sword’s ideals.

“It has simply found its rightful place. It was a sword far too heavy for me to wield.”

“…Heavy, you say?”

“Haha, don’t mind me. Well, I’ll take my leave now.”

With that, Dubel gave his final farewell and turned to leave. Just before he reached the door, Rosel’s words stopped him in his tracks.

“Emilia will not hold a grudge against you, Sir Dubel. Nor will I blame you.”

“…!”

At Rosel’s words, which seemed to pierce his very soul, Dubel’s pupils trembled.

He was a royal guard.

He had no reason or position to be blamed by a duke, but Duke Rosel spoke to him as if granting mercy.

Realizing what the mercy was meant to convey, Dubel’s hand, which had been gripping the door handle, began to shake.

“…Emilia is truly fortunate to have met a righteous ruler like you, Duke Rosel. Then, I will take my leave.”

After giving Rosel one last look, Dubel opened the door and left.

Rosel watched his retreating figure, offering him a farewell.

It was the back of Dubel, dignified as never before.

“Safe travels, Sir Dubel.”