Chapter 31
Chapter 31: Luke’s Feelings (Otou-sama’s POV)
“The Academy contacted me and reported that Luke-sama has fainted again,” Jude reported as soon as I got back home .
“Seriously? Did he practice his magic again?”
“He did . He’s also pushing himself and practising his sword at the same time . ”
“Luke……”
Two months have already passed since Lei got kidnapped . The magic stones that the Four Marquises were in charge of were usually filled once every five days . It is said that the barrier wouldn’t hold if more than 10 days past, even though we have enough magic for it . I had barely made it back to the Royal Capital last time, so even if I wanted to make my move, I couldn’t because there were guards everywhere .
The only things I could do was hire someone to search for Lei all the way until Wester and secretly search for the culprits who had kidnapped Lei . I also focused on the magic stone business that I had . Lei is in Frontier . The only thing that connects Kingdom and Frontier are the magic stones .
The Four Marquises didn’t have anything they particularly had to do except to fill magic stones and aid in politics . Incidentally, they also didn’t have fiefs . The fiefs were distributed and entrusted to those who had statuses up to Earl . The Royal family and Four Marquis Houses live lavishly by collecting tax revenue from those fiefs .
There were some who used that as funds for commerce like my Albans House, but that was due to our ancestor’s quick eye for opportunity . Also, they had stated that we should be free to do what we want with our money because we are bound to this Kingdom and the Royal Capital . I inherited this business without care, but I’m grateful for it now .
“I’ll try to talk to Luke . ”
“Please do so . ”
Jude bowed . I felt terrible for Jude since he was managing everything now that Sebas was gone . But I still didn’t feel like hiring a new butler . Mainly because of trust .
The weekend came quickly, so I went to get Luke .
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“Otou-sama!”
My precious son lit up when he saw me . He used to be so expressionless . But, I knew that his face was thin and worn out for a growing boy . He’s probably pushing himself .
“Otou-sama, you’re one to talk . ”
“About what?”
“You’ve gotten skinnier, and your clothes are a little big for you now . ”
“Hmph, it’s fine for adults . You’re still growing . ”
We quarrelled about foolish things while joking and being serious .
“But how many times have you fainted now? Luke, if you don’t grow up healthily, then Lei would worry and cry when she gets back . ”
“And she’ll probably say, ‘Ninii, no!’”
Luke was smiling, but his lips trembled, “But Lei’s still a baby . I don’t know if she’ll remember us even if she does come back . ” That’s right, a baby’s memory doesn’t last for long . She’ll forget about us even if we’re only apart for a few months . This also made me feel uneasy .
“Please, she’s our Lei . She’s smart . She’s that small, but she’s independent, energetic, and talkative and she loves us so much, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, yes . Therefore-,”
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Luke looked up .
“The Marquises and Lords learn the same thing . They learn how to channel their magic into the magic stones without fainting . So, they don’t get taught how to maliciously circulate their magic and increase their magic power . ”
“Increase magic power…… Luke, you already have enough magic for someone from the Albans House . It rivaled that of mine when I was your age . What are you aiming for?
“Freedom, Otou-sama . I’m aiming for freedom . ”
Luke said freedom .
“The problem is we can’t leave the Royal Capital for more than 10 days . If I can’t escape from my duty as a Marquis, then I should at least increase how much magic I have so that I can fill it every 15 or 20 days . If I can fill enough for a whole month, then I can go look for her myself in Frontier!”
“Luke . ”
“The only method written in the academy and Royal Palace to achieve this is by releasing your magic until you have barely any left . How much is barely any left? Just a little more, I feel like I can understand it if I try a few more times!”
He’s only 11, I can’t believe he’s thought about it that much .
“When I turn 18, I won’t be able to leave Kingdom like you Otou-sama . I only have a little over six years . I don’t think we can get Lei back right away . If so, then I need to get stronger before I turn 18 and search for her . And even if I turn 18, I have to be strong enough so that I can go out to the border to look for her . ”
“So you’re saying you’re going to be reckless?”
“…… Yes . ”
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How promising .
“Even if you say that, if you harm your health and shortened your life, you won’t be able to protect Lei when she comes back now can you?”
“…… I know . ”
Luke looked down in shame . He knows this, but he can’t sit around and do nothing . Isn’t there anything I can do for him so that he doesn’t harm his health? Perhaps…
“Luke, it’s nearly summer holidays . ”
“Yes, it is . ”
Luke looked at me questioningly .
“Shall we go to Claire’s fief for summer?”
“Okasama’s?”
My mind was swirling around hectically . Increasing magic was dangerous . Luke was struggling with how to do this . He’ll become reckless if I leave him to do this on his own . So I should help him .
“Claire’s fief borders Frontier’s Farland . I’ve only been there a few times . ”
Claire was from an Earl house, but she never attended the academy because her body was frail . So, I met her when I went to the northern fief on a whim . It was when I stayed at Earl Neville’s mansion in the north . I went back to take her as my bride, and once again to return her body to her family after she’d passed away .
The Four Marquises couldn’t leave Kingdom . But, there wasn’t a rule stating that they couldn’t leave before 18 .
“If we go to Wester, then they’ll be on alert and obstruct us . But if we go in the opposite direction to Farland, then we can say that we’re visiting your mother . Listen, Luke . Go to Frontier after you’ve talked to Earl Neville . ”
“Can I?”
Luke’s eyes sparkled .
“What are Hollows? I believe that we should see the true appearances of Hollows at least once because we’re bound by the magic stones . If Otou-sama proposes this-!”
“I have some good negotiation materials in my collection . I’ll make up more if I need them . I’ll be going back to the Royal Capital, but I’ll ask him if you could stay there for the summer holidays . I’m sure the heir there also practices the sword . You should learn from him if an opportunity shows itself . ”
“I will!”
Luke’s real mother is Diana, and her house’s fief was Lazuli right next to the Royal Capital . But, it was bad to go south now . And, she didn’t contact Luke even at a time like this .
“Listen . For that reason, don’t push yourself and it’s also important to build up your physique . Do you understand?”
“I do!”
I think we both know without me saying, that we might not find Lei until then and it might become a long battle for Luke until he reaches adulthood if we were unlucky . So we should think about what’s ahead and do what we can . Luke and I were one .
Translator: Blushy
Editor: HSM