Chapter 52: Behind the scenes of the beastman’s visit

　After reading the letter, Henry waited for the end of the school day and rode his horse to the girls’ school dormitory where his mother lived.

　When she was summoned, Carlotta came running with a smile on her face, as if she were crying. To make sure no one could hear what he was saying, Henry pulled his mother’s hand to the shade of the plantings and asked in a low voice.

“Mom, are you serious?”

“I’m serious. I’ve stayed in this royal capital for the past twenty-five years because of you, but I think I’m going to leave this country. I know it’s selfish of me to say this, since I gave birth to you, but I’m already forty-three years old. Even if I stay healthy, I only have ten or fifteen years left to live. I want to live the rest of my life in the country of the beastmen.”

“There are other beastmen living in here in the royal capital besides you, mother, right?　Wouldn’t it be better If you socialized with them? I still haven’t repaid you for anything yet.  We haven’t even had our tenth conversation yet.”

　Carlotta looked down and kept silent.

“Mom, say what you are thinking. I want you to tell me how you really feel, Mom, and don’t hide it.”

“My parents were married and supported each other, but I’m alone. As I get older, the loneliness becomes more and more unbearable.”

“I see…that’s true. It’s lonely being alone.”

(I have Mai-san. Also, I was raised with the love of my adoptive parents.  I don’t have the right to hold back my mother, who has lived alone all her life. She has the right and freedom to live her own life.)

　Henry tried to keep a gentle smile on his face so his mother wouldn’t feel guilty.

“I’ll be sad if we can’t see each other anymore, but if you can live happily, then I’ll be happy too.”

“I am truly grateful to the Viscount and his wife for raising you. Hey, Henry, what happened with that young lady who came with you the other day?”

“She’s a good friend of mine. She’s a very nice person.”

“That’s right… Living with someone you love is a truly happy miracle. Don’t forget that.”

　Henry smiled silently.

“Henry?　Things are going well with that woman, aren’t they?”

“It’s going well. We’re just being careful.”

“Yes. That’s so like you. I’m really sorry for everything you’ve been through. But I really wanted to have you.”

　His mother, who had only ever smiled up until then, repeatedly apologized with large tears in her eyes. Henry’s heart ached at the sight of her.

“I’m glad I was born, Mom. Thank you for giving birth to me.”

　Carlotta covered her face with her hands.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m always causing you trouble. And yet you’re still so kind to me. Thank you so much.”

“I’ve been happy ever since I can remember. Since I met Mai, I enjoy every day. I’m really glad I was born. So mom, please don’t apologize for giving birth to me.”

　Blessed with good looks, a sharp intellect, a successful career, and the son of a viscount.  Despite all these favourable conditions, Henry never had any relations with women. Carlotta is convinced that the reason for this is because he is a half-breed. So now her heart aches for her son, who tells her a gentle lie.

“Thank you. My son has grown up to be a very gentle man.”

“Don’t cry. I’m sure you’ll be happy.”

　Carlotta hugged Henry and cried again. And Henry comforted her until she stopped crying, then returned to the castle.

　Currently, the civil servants, including Henry, are busy running around doing their jobs.

　The military and civil servants of the kingdom of Arcetheus were staying in the guest room of the castle, while the crew is staying in an inn rented by the state. They have made it known to any place they might go during the day that they are guests of the king, and that they must not offend or harm the beastmen in any way.

　The final confirmation of these various arrangements was the job of Henry, the head Civil servant. Henry stays overnight at the castle and works from morning to night.

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

　The day after Henry and Carlotta met.

　Viscount Mitchell Howler met with Henry’s biological father.

　Henry’s father and Mitchell Howler had met at a gathering of children of the nobility and hit it off because of their mutual love of horseback riding. From there, they have known each other for more than thirty years.

“Carlotta and Henry seem to meet up every now and then. Last night, too, we received a report from the girls’ dormitory.”

“I see. I’m sure they’re being cautious because it’s Henry, but ……. I hope Carlotta is as well as ever?”

“Yes, she is. She seems to be enjoying her work at the  girls’ academy. However, she still refuses to accept my financial support.”

“She knows it’s me where that support money is coming from. She doesn’t want anything to do with me for Henry’s sake.”

　With that, the man looked out the window with a blank expression on his face. Viscount Mitchell Howler knows how much emotion is hidden behind that blank expression.

“I am very sorry to tell you this, but Carlotta has told her boss at work that she will be quitting her job and leaving the country soon. Maybe…”

“Does she intend to board that ship?”

“Well, given the timing, I think she probably is.”

　For a brief moment, a shadow fell over the often expressionless face of the man.

“If that incident had never happened, I would be living a carefree life as a country lord with my wife and son.”

“It was a really unfortunate event that happened at that time.”

　Viscount Howler knew everything that had happened twenty-five years ago, so he felt bad that he could only offer a few words of comfort.

“The epidemic spread throughout the country just after you had been given permission to leave the registry and live with Carlotta.”

　A thin smile appears on the man’s handsome face.

“My elder brothers had withdrawn to avoid contact with people from the outside world. I was surprised when they fell ill, but when the potion didn’t work at all and they died so quickly ……. I had no time to grieve the loss of my two older brothers, and everything just came crashing down on me.”

“It was unexpected that the special grade potion had been replaced by a different one by a servant.”

“I felt as if someone was whispering to me, ‘I won’t let you have your way.’”

　Henry’s real father is telling a story from the past. This has never happened before. Viscount Howler sympathizes with him  (he must be enduring the fact that Carlotta is going away).

 “It was a wise decision for Ms. Carlotta to disappear at that time. If people found out who was with her now that she was pregnant, they would have been furious and would have tried to kill her.”

“When my two brothers died, I immediately thought the same thing. Even if she had raised Henry in hiding in the city, he would have surely been targeted. There was only one path that Carlotta and I could have chosen at that time.”

　The man’s eldest brother had a fiancée and a marriage date had been set. It was under these circumstances that the eldest and second eldest brothers died.

　The eldest brother’s fiancée was a princess from a neighboring country. The background to their marriage is a long-standing border dispute with the neighboring country.

　Since a mutual non-aggression pact was established on the condition that they accept the princess of a neighboring country, it was the man’s duty to marry the princess in his brother’s place.

“If Carlotta decides to leave this country, I would like you to help her to start her life safely in her country. I would also like to give her enough money to move there. I hope she will accept that at the end.”

“Let’s bring an escort aboard discreetly. I’ll give the captain a reason for the discreetness. As for the funds, I’ll use someone to persuade her.”

“I won’t keep bothering you forever. I’m truly sorry.”

“Please don’t say you’re a bother. It’s been a pleasure raising clever Henry.”

　After Mitchell Howler left the room, the man stood by the window. Watching the windowpane as the Howler family carriage left and thinking of the woman he had not seen In twenty-five years.

　Her beautiful posture, her elegant appearance. I see the same thing in Henry. Whenever I see Henry, I feel  a surge of emotion for him, but I have never let them show on my face.

　The baby boy that he and his current wife finally have is only ten years old. If Henry’s existence were known, he would definitely be considered a risk factor. To protect Henry, he has decided that he will take his fatherhood to his grave.

　Fortunately, Henry has become the head civil servant on his own. He is grateful just to be able to see his face at meetings.

(I was stupid and caused Henry and Carlotta unnecessary hardship.)

　The regrets I have repeated thousands or tens of thousands of times have become a part of me and will never go away.

(Carlotta, I hope you find a partner in your new place and are happy. And live your life with a smile.)

　There was a gentle knock at the door, and when the man answered, “Come in,” all sadness and regret had vanished from his face.

“Your Majesty, the meeting is about to begin.”

“All right. Let’s go.”

　Throwing his luxurious cloak around him, Eldor VIII headed for the door with a blank look on his face.

TL Note:

Me: Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God 🤯

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