Chapter 8 – Goodbye, The One Who Was My Father
Farewell, Dad.
After passing through the gate, I saw a face familiar to Lunaria, with a quirked smile.
Mithos Van von Astoria.
The only child of the Duke of Astoria and the commander of the Royal Knights. As a father and leader, Duke Astoria is strict but also shows a cheerful side to his family, and plays an important role in protecting the country, the Royal Palace, and the people every day.
The word “gorgeous” is an appropriate description of his blonde hair. Her hair, which is so short it’s almost a very short cut, is carefully combed and trimmed to match his knight’s uniform.
Similarly, clear blue eyes.
With both of these features, he looks like a prince, at least in appearance. His personality is another matter.
His competitive nature often leads him to speak harshly.
From a young age, Mithos learned various martial arts from his father, including swordsmanship, guarding procedures, and basic magic for simple healing.
Lunaria’s mother served as a magic teacher for the Duke of Astoria family.
Solfege is magic.
Astoria is swordsmanship.
Both houses have served the Royal Family for generations, complementing each other’s shortcomings and occasionally assisting one another, aspiring to further the prosperity of the country.
Mithos and Lunaria, being of similar age, spent their days peacefully playing in the garden, reading books in the library, or drawing in Mithos’s room while Lunaria’s mother taught magic.
Through an unexpected turn of events, the two got along, and by the time they entered elementary school they had discovered each other’s dark sides and had done all sorts of mischief (almost destroying family heirlooms and scribbling on the portraits of previous heads of the family), earning them severe scoldings from both sets of parents and even their grandparents.
Despite their close bond, neither of them ever viewed the other as a potential romantic partner.
They were bad friends, best friends, and precious beings who trusted each other. Their relationship defies description.
The four Great Duke Families work together, help each other, and sometimes even clash, but they are all dedicated to the development of the country.
Because they were in a cooperative relationship, even if children of similar ages were born into each other’s families, they would not be engaged to each other.
They understood this and fulfilled their duties.
What is a noble? How should a noble behave? They are different from ordinary children.
Things began to go awry around the time Lunaria’s mother passed away.
The Solfege household fell into disarray, particularly with regard to family relations.
Lunaria’s mother was strict and noble, but had one sole indulgence. To marry someone she loved. Lunaria’s grandfather, the head of the family two generations ago, granted her wish.
That was a mistake.
For some reason, Lunaria’s father, the adopted son-in-law, completely misunderstood his own position and caused a series of scandals in society.
He nearly did things too shameful to mention, but the worst thing of all was inviting that step-mother into their home without Lunaria’s permission.
Her grandparents regretted their decision at the time. But by then, it was too late.
Although the father had committed such acts, he had been a very dutiful man up until that point. He had even assisted the Duke in his duties. He had been kind and fair to Lunaria and her brother Randolph, sometimes strict.
Because she knew of such times, she had endured, endured, endured, and endured, and as a result, we have reached the present.
However, those that have already been cast out are no longer of concern. They’ve simply been returned—no, forced—back to where they belong.
Mithos was aware of Lunaria’s state of mind, her fixation on family ties.
Sadly, he didn’t know how to comfort her, how to truly help.
He had never seen his childhood friend, fellow troublemaker, and dearest companion, look so utterly exhausted.
But here she is, walking with unwavering poise and a composed expression.
When his father sent him to escort Lunaria to the throne room, he had feared her eyes would be as lifeless as before, but he was completely wrong.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say she had been “reborn”.
The sparkle in her eyes, her confident demeanor.
This was the Lunaria he knew.
“Lady Lunaria, how are you?”
“I’m fine now. It’s been a while, Mithos.”
“I have questions, but never mind. Come, take my hand.”
I took the offered hand without hesitation, and we naturally fell into step together, walking toward the audience chamber.
“As expected of a butler. Before we knew it, he had sent his familiar and informed us of the current situation of Solfege. My father was furious.”
“I suppose so.”
We continued our conversation in hushed tones as we walked.
“Finally resolved yourself, I see.”
“… Well, the only one left is the man who was my father. It’ll only be a matter of time before he comes running to the castle, brandishing the Solfege name.”
Our expressions did not change at all.
Our words were deadly serious.
Yet the air between us was a little softer.
“Will you dispose of him?”
“Even family must be discarded if they prove unnecessary. That’s the noble way of thinking, isn’t it?”
“Well, that’s true. Only superior bloodline survives, and the rest are weeded out. That’s what we’ve learned, and that’s how we’ve lived.”
“…… Indeed.”
The two who had been walking in front stopped.
The audience chamber.
When Lunaria was nominated as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, when Lunaria’s mother passed away, and when the four Great Dukes gathered to pay their respects to the king on New Year’s Day.
Numerous memories resurfaced and swirled around.
A little more strength was put into the joined hands.
It felt like he was telling me that everything would be okay and that I shouldn’t worry. It warmed my heart.
I took a quiet, deep breath and straightened my back.
When I signaled with my eyes, the waiting soldier nodded and knocked on the door, and an imposing voice came from inside saying “Come in”.
The heavy door opened, revealing a straight red carpet.
The King and Queen sat on their thrones.
Catching sight of me, the Queen nodded gently with a soft smile.
As if it were a signal, my feet naturally took a step forward.
One step, then another.
With each step, the distance between us closed.
Perhaps because her mother and the Queen had been very close during their days as students at the Royal Academy, Lunaria was greatly cherished.
The Queen – Lumiere Livy von Ixis.
Her lustrous emerald hair was elegantly tied up, adorned with pearls to frame her face in both brilliance and grace.
Her soft gaze was just like the one Lunaria had seen as a child.
She truly cherished and took good care of Lunaria.
“My… how lovely you’ve become….”
Her soft voice is the same as before.
After her mother’s death, all the responsibilities of a Duke fell on Lunaria’s shoulders. She was unable to properly attend to the Crown Princess’s education. The Queen was the only kind person who told her, “Don’t push yourself too hard”.
As the mother of the nation, the queen, the mother of the princes, the king’s wife, and my mother’s friend, Lumière had many facets, and Lunaria respected her deeply.
“Your Majesties, the King and the Queen. Following in my late mother’s footsteps and carrying on her will, though it is belated and sudden… I have decided to take the first step as a Duke, and I hereby report this to you.”
“…………… Hmm.”
“Originally, I had thought about waiting until I came of age, but given the special circumstances of our family, I have come to this decision. I would appreciate your understanding.”
“I have heard of the circumstances since your mother’s passing. Lunaria, you have made a wise decision. The path you will walk from now on will by no means be an easy one. However, among the Four Great Duke Houses, the nobles who walk alongside you, and the people who reside in the duke’s domain… discern those you can rely on, and borrow their wisdom and experience. What you lack is experience. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I bow deeply as a vassal would.
Mithos’ hand was naturally parted from mine, so he took a step back, bowing his head as well.
Surely, once Mithos comes of age, he will be the next to give his greetings in this manner.
“I am still young and inexperienced, so I believe I may need to rely on your strength at times. I will always think about what it means to be a noble, and act accordingly, for the peace and prosperity of the people of my duchy, and ultimately the prosperity of this country….with all of this, I will serve the Royal Family.”
For a moment, the King’s eyebrows seemed to rise.
It was the King who strongly desired the engagement between Lunaria and the Crown Prince. He probably didn’t like the phrase “serve the Royal Family”.
If this continues, a catastrophe will ensue, and that must be avoided.
As I pondered how to proceed, there was a commotion outside the door.
“… What’s going on?”
Without hiding his displeasure, the King glared in the direction of the door.
“I dare to report! That… Duke Solfege…”
“Are you a fool? Standing before me in this magical garment, the only daughter of my beloved Queen’s friend, is the rightful Duke of Solfege……… Bring that scoundrel before me! Let me see what his face looks like.”
At the King’s words, the door opened and Lunaria’s father was dragged in.
Mithos looked at the man who was his friend’s father with a quizzical expression, devoid of any dignity. Of course, there was also pity in his eyes.
“Lunaria, you fool!! Have you lost your mind?!”
“…… Please be quiet, Father. We are in the presence of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen.”
“Enough! Because of you, my beloved wife is gone! My daughter too! My son as well! What are you going to do about it!!”
The father was panting and yelling, but deep down I couldn’t care less.
I thought it was astonishing that he could utter such insults to Lunaria, now a Duke, in front of the King.
“You have quite the nerve to say such things in front of me and the Queen.”
A cold voice fell.
“Sir, your existence has no meaning other than being the father of Solfege…… how dare you insult this talented woman, the daughter of the Queen’s best friend, who became the Duke of Solfege?”
I had been prepared to be punished by the King in order to take this opportunity to condemn the father, but I suddenly felt the weight relax from my shoulders.
It seems that the King recognized the Queen as a wife and loved her more than I had expected.
Until now, Lunaria had shielded the father.
From relatives, from the people of the domain, from everyone.
But I don’t have to do that anymore.
There will be time later to consider how to preserve the Solfege ducal line.
Adopt and raise an heir, or quickly find a partner to marry and have a child of my own. There are options. However, they certainly won’t involve the Crown Prince.
“Your wife—the late Duchess Solfege—begged me to grant one request. I indulged her, just this once. Yet you became the sole regret of both me and the last two generations of House Solfege. Even my Queen has expressed her great resentment toward me.”
“Y, Your Majesty?”
“Did you truly believe a wretch like you deserved an audience with me?”
“Wh, what?”
“Lunaria is now the ‘Duke of Solfege’. You’re nothing more than a nuisance and an outsider—a fool who overstayed his welcome. A mere adopted son-in-law!”
“Your Majesty, I humbly request your permission to speak.”
“What is it?”
“Please allow me to say my final farewell to my father. Afterwards, I would like to request further permission.”
“Hmm.”
“Permission to remove my father and my older brother from the family registry, and expel them from the duchy.”
“Such things need no permission from me! Well done, Solfege! You have recovered and reclaimed your resolve so swiftly! You are truly a ‘noble’!”
I bowed to the King, whose mood immediately improved, and to the Queen, who was still smiling next to him. Then, I turned to the father.
“Father, goodbye. I no longer need you. You invited those people into our home, and now we find ourselves in this situation. To top it all off, you’ve committed the ultimate folly by barging into the audience chamber in this manner. There is no saving you. As of this moment, I hereby expel you from the Duke of Solfege family. The same goes for my brother. In the first place, you were never worthy enough to call yourself Solfege… you never even had the right to bear the name.”
When I said it with a pitiful look, the father collapsed on the spot.
Mithos, the King, the Queen, and even the Royal Guards and Royal Knights present all looked at him with pity.
He finally realized that everyone in this room was an enemy.
His mouth was dry and burning. He tried to swallow his saliva, but it wouldn’t go down.
He had made a mistake, a terrible one.
This girl—his daughter—had inherited everything from her mother.
He should have stayed as he was.
He should have protected Lunaria, guided her. Then, once she came of age, retired quietly to some distant corner of the estate. He could have spent the rest of his days in leisure, and that would have been enough.
But, he had lost everything.
He had made a grave error.
Everything had slipped through his fingers.
“Your Majesty, I have heard that there is a labor shortage at the mines in the far north. What do you think? They would be valuable workers… Ah, there’s another one.”
“And if they are of no use?”
“Discard them. They are unnecessary.”
“Very well.”
“Also, if necessary, two women…”
“Ah, now that’s just perfect.”
He likely doesn’t want to believe what he’s hearing. But it’s the truth.
He abandoned Lunaria.
He also betrayed his late wife in the worst way possible.
And now, his daughter has abandoned him, too.
“As for the two women, I believe arrangements can be made immediately. Please leave it to the Solfege family.”
“I entrust this to you today, new Duke.”
“… understood.”
Calmly, elegantly, ruthlessly.
I bowed my head and ordered the knights who were waiting nearby to take the father to the mines in the far north.
Without even having the energy to scream, the man who had been my father was dragged away.
“… Lunaria.”
As I exited the audience room, Mithos called out in a firm voice.
“What?”
“……… as I said, I had something I wanted to ask you.”
“Huh.”
“Tomorrow…… No, I’ll also bring the other three Duke Families with me, so next week. Please make time.”
“… of course.”
My eyes widened slightly at the cold words that followed.
“Tell me… what you really are.”
Sads Translates 