Father’s words left me and Louis in disbelief. He might have been a fool for his children, but the Archduke really valued his work. He’s a virtuous man who takes his duties seriously and was hailed as a Hero who protects the Holy Empire. Yet he’s saying that his duties as the protector of the people weren’t important. Louis and I had nothing to say.
The two of us, dare not imagine what Father felt when he made this decision. He was a kind man after all, it couldn’t have been easy. What he was sacrificing to be with his children were the lives of hundreds of people who relied and believed in him.
Louis and I understood this fact. It filled us with guilt, and warmth at the same time.
Father put me down on a sofa in his study. The Pope who came with us was escorted to another room to rest after a long journey. He will return to the church sometime tomorrow.
“Hmm…Chris, I’d like all documents about the Imperial Palace to be cleaned out and brought back to where they belong tomorrow.”
Father spoke after a quick look around.
“I still need to manage the Archduchy, but this is enough for now.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Whoever would take over your work back in the Imperial Palace would be crying about why you left.”
He didn’t reply immediately and smiled. He kneeled on the floor which was unbefitting of his title, and then opened his mouth.
“I found something else much more important. So much that I wouldn’t mind giving up all that I had for it.”
I was reminded of that time after Louis’s passing. Father quit all his job at the Imperial Palace, and decided to stay with me. Since then, he never left my side till he was forced to go to the battlefield. The current situation at this moment was similar, just that, Father actually seemed happy with it.
“I don’t want to live another life full of regrets.”
Regrets…
He must be talking about his absences in our lives. We never really blamed him for that though. We understood that he also had his own duties outside the family, and that they’re important as they’re regarding the livelihood of so many people.
Yet Father decided to abandon all that…
It’s such a big sacrifice.
Louis and I thought.
Seeing as Louis and I remained quiet, Father smiled and tousled our hair. Then, he turned back to the elderly butler.
“Chris, how is Esen?”
“He said he’ll be back tonight, Your Highness.”
“I see. Louis, I heard you quit school?”
Father asked, which Louis immediately answered.
“I had no reason to stay.”
“Right. I’m glad. Home is nicer isn’t it?”
“Yup!”
Father and Louis both had bright smiles on their faces. They are such carbon copies of each other they seem as if they’re looking at the mirror.
“In any case, I believe you two still have questions for me?”
Breaking me out of my thoughts, Father sat down while Chris went out to fetch some tea. Louis and I looked at each other. After a silent agreement, I opened my mouth.
“Then, father, are you also one of us?”
“By that you mean?”
My question is vague but Father seemed to pick it up quickly as understanding flashed in his eyes.
“...I see. As expected, though I was hoping otherwise.” He sighed. “But well, this is precisely why I asked the Pope to come here.”
“It seems that there’s a lot more people involved than expected…for you to need the assistance of the Pope…”
Louis spoke beside me.
“The Goddess chose to do something rather uncharacteristically of her. We’ve been able to find at least a handful of people who, if not fully, have a vague remembrance of the time before she turned it back.”
Father had a grim look on his face while Louis and I quietly listened. Chris just continued to serve the tea without a change in his expression.
“My investigation showed that over time, more and more people are starting to recover their memories. It wouldn’t be much of a problem if that’s all it was, however, knowing the future…”
It’s dangerous.
The future that people would remember is full of death, despair, and destruction. If we let it be for everyone to remember those said events, it would only cause mass panic. Moreso, it’s dangerous for people who are heavily involved in whatever happens in the future, as we could be targets of anyone wanting to change fate.
“But it’s not like we can do anything about it.”
I said dejectedly and Father answered with a sigh.
“Certainly. Only the Goddess has power to do something about this situation. We don’t have much time.”
Louis, who had been quiet, suddenly asked.
“You mentioned that some only have vague remembrance, while some others only remembered after sometime. Is there a pattern to it?”
“About that…well, my investigation showed that it has something to do with you.”
“”Huh?””
Father paused for a moment and spoke carefully
“Among those who only have a vague remembrance of the future before the Goddess turned back time, the memory that is most prevalent among them is an event about the two of you that left a big impression on them.”
He meant events like the passing of the Goddess’s Blessing. Since the Blessing is a symbol of the people’s hopes and dreams, the news of his death is enough to bring despair to most, and no doubt would leave a lasting impression in their memories.
Knowing that, the people who remember more, probably have some relationship with us; good or bad. Because then, they would have more memories about us that could leave a lasting impression, as compared to common people who only knew of us through rumors and newspapers.
“And the people who remember clearly?” I asked.
“Just us three and the Pope so far. I suspect the Witch and the First Imperial Prince know everything as well.” He said then looked at Chris.
The old man bowed and opened his mouth for the first time in the entire conversation.
“My memories aren’t complete and they are mostly about their Highnesses. As you had said, events that left a deep impression on me.”
“I see.”
There wasn’t a need to ask why it’s about us, as our titles are more than enough as an explanation.
“Well, things would get difficult from now on, but it’s not without any good things.” Father said with a smile on his face as he sipped on his tea. “Both my children are alive and well, and my daughter doesn’t need to marry at such a young age anymore.”
I choked on my tea after hearing what my father was saying.
“Cena, my dear, are you alright?”
“Marriage? Who?”
Louis spoke ominously from beside me while Father tilted his head at his question.
“Hmm? You didn’t tell your brother–”
“Ahem!”
I coughed loudly to prevent Father from saying anything more.
“A-Anyways, it seems like the Goddess doesn’t want to make our lives any easier. We already have the witch to worry about, then now we have this ticking time bomb as well!”
There was a moment of silence which caused me to break out in cold sweat. Fortunately, Father just silently smiled to himself while Louis grumbled a bit but relented.
“Fine…I’ll let you off this time. But next time…”
Louis whispered and I just smiled stiffly.
“Speaking of ticking time bombs…my daughter, are you alright?”
“Ah…”
I was hoping no one would point it out, but it seems that I wasn’t doing a great job at hiding it.
“W-well…it’s still manageable.”
“Liar.”
My efforts of hiding it seemed to have completely failed since it seemed like Louis also already knew. Though, I should’ve expected it, knowing both my father and brother are Ether sensitive people. I smiled awkwardly .
I wasn’t in pain. But if I exert my body, even for just a little bit, I would be. The biggest problem though, was that I’m absolutely vulnerable, and a little cold could kill me. It doesn’t help that we live in the north.
“Do you want to move to the capital?”
As I was thinking that, Father asked, which made me look at him in confusion. Father doesn’t like noise in the capital.
“We would be able to find better doctors for you there, and you wouldn’t have to worry so much about the cold either.” He explained.
Father didn’t say it, but dealing with the current situation relating to the witch and all that, would be easier to do in the capital where most of the major events had taken place. Of course, we can’t expect the same events to happen again but that doesn't change the fact that the main players of the future mostly live in the capital.
However, while it’s convenient, it’s also dangerous.
Louis seemed to be thinking the same thing as he asked.
“Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”
Aris is a bustling city for a city so far in the north. The population is so concentrated of Priests and Holy Knights as Aris is where the Holy spring is located, as well as the main church of the Goddess Aritia. As such, it was a natural fortress on its own. Aris is really peaceful and quiet, mostly because the people who live here are devoted worshippers, or have a great respect for the Archduke.
But even then, Louis died here in Aris.
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