Volume 6 Chapter 40 Edelstein's Castle And Monster
I'm running up some spiral stairs towards the upper part of Edelstein town.
Thoughts of my conversations with Rosamia and my mom keep swirling in my head.
Edelstein is a beautiful town with white square buildings and gems buried here and there.
Even though Rosamia and her mom look different from humans, they can talk, and their bodies are warm.
Why do people attack this town? And why is Sir Galeon trying to destroy it?.
"...Lydia, my father and I are responsible for this town. You should just focus on saving Ciel. Everything else is something I have to handle."
Sir Stefan said while running beside me.
Elder Brother Chrisrain and the others are holding back the Wisteria army.
I feel like I need to hurry, but just running a little makes me out of breath.
"Under King Zeere's orders, Leonsroar knights was also cracking down on merchants secretly trading gems made by Gem's People and the poachers connected to them, but they couldn't protect Gem's People stationed in Edelstein."
Mr. Lucian said with a gloomy expression.
"Gem's People are afraid of humans and fear that people will come to the town. Even if we protect them and place knights here, they will reject us. And..."
Mr. Lucian glanced at Sir Stefan and swallowed his words.
"My father has been ill for a long time. The invasion of Kirschtein and then losing my mother. It's probably the same for Edelstein. The stress piled up, and he became mentally unwell. As a king, my father couldn't fulfill his duties for a long time."
Sir Stefan continued painfully.
"I should have been supporting my father and making the right decisions instead of... oppressing Lydia, discriminating against Ciel and Gem's People, and mocking the Kirschtein people. I had become the worst kind of man. At this rate, I couldn't protect Edelstein at all. With me in charge, Leonsroar and Saintwise were in a terrible state..."
"I... don't know what to do, but... Rosamia accepted candy from me. So maybe... it's okay, Sir Stefan."
"...Thank you, Lydia."
"What was taken from me, I resent and hate those who took it. I can't say that feeling is wrong. To quietly accept it and forgive the usurpers is just pretty talk."
Mr. Lucian probably understands the feelings of Gem's People much better than I do.
Kirschtein has been destroyed and has suffered for a long time.
I tightly held Mr. Lucian's hand.
I couldn't think of anything else to do.
Mr. Lucian's hand was big and warm.
He gripped back firmly, smiling with a slightly sad expression.
"But I know now that there's something more important. Protecting our beloved daily life is much more important to me than spilling new blood... I once wished for revenge, but unlike me and the Moon Soul Cult, Gem's People don't have the heart to fight."
At the top of the spiral staircase, there was a wide, flat space made of white stone tiles.
Beyond that space stood a castle resembling a temple.
In front of the magnificent castle, beasts resembling lions cloaked in darkness glared at us with red eyes, as if guarding the temple.
"They can't fight for themselves but lament their difficult situation. I don't think that's a bad thing. But... that's why they accept the Witch's daughter and look up to Ciel as their king."
"Lydia, stay back. Eiris, Famine, and Dad are by your side."
Mr. Lucian drew his sword, and as Sir Stefan grasped the empty space, a shining holy sword appeared in his hand.
I push Eir-Eir against my chest and grip tightly onto Ms. Famine and my dad with both hands.
Mr. Lucian and Sir Stefan easily slash through the attacking monsters with their swords, making them disappear.
"Pumpkin pudding!"
"Tarte Tatin...!"
Eir-Eir and Ms. Famine call out, sounding a bit panicked.
"Lydia, run!"
"Eh...?"
At my dad's voice, I look around.
At my feet, a black puddle has formed without me noticing.
A black arm stretches out from that puddle, and a black hand carelessly grabs my ankle.
I hear Mr. Lucian and the others calling for me.
Ms. Famine, my dad, and Eir-Eir are grabbed by the black hand and tossed away.
I am──pulled down into the black puddle, as if being dragged in.
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