Chapter 397. Side Story 3. The New Era (3)

The head butler of Azureocean Castle, Urhan, believed he was truly one lucky man.

Once, he'd been nothing more than a deserter from the Southern Kingdom who drifted into banditry. By sheer accident, he'd ended up inside Azureocean Castle, somehow becoming a butler.

Eventually, thanks to the favor of the former head butler Heinrich, Urhan had risen all the way to the position of head butler himself. To be honest, reaching that rank had been possible largely thanks to Caron's influence. After all, the very person who first dragged Urhan into this place had become Azureocean Castle's real power.

When he thought about it, he felt it was a miraculous rise. Caron was the most precious benefactor of his entire life. But he didn't think any of that mattered now.

"You did cut it off properly, right?" Seria asked.

"Guillotine got annoyed about it, but the priests couldn't reattach anything. He'll live as an eunuch for the rest of his life," Caron replied.

"Phew. Now that eases my anger a bit. I was truly about to declare a crusade. How dare some filthy worm lay a hand on our Aqua!" Seria growled.

Caron added, "Aqua did grumble that we were being too overprotective."

"...Is she going through puberty?" Seria asked.

"Well, it's past the usual age, but she's a dragon. Maybe it just comes late? Call it draco-puberty or something. It's our first time raising a dragon—how would we know? Anyway, Urhan, can you bring more liquor?" Caron requested.

"Already prepared it, sir!" Urhan answered proudly.

"As expected of Urhan. Best butler there is," Caron said.

Even after rising to the high position of head butler, Urhan still ended up working late nights like this. Such was life at Azureocean Castle. He had no choice but to serve Caron and Seria until late hours. Work had been tiring lately, but it was still rewarding.

The young master and little lady are adorable as well,

Urhan thought.

Caron—once a wild, uncontrollable brute—had married Seria and fathered two children. Naturally, caring for those children also fell to Urhan.

At least the kids didn't resemble their father. Unlike the devilish Caron, the children were genuinely sweet and lovable—so cute he could never get enough of them.

That he, someone who should have ended his life on the gallows, had come this far... It was an unbelievable fortune. Urhan felt grateful today as well.

"Hmm, Urhan," Seria said gently. "You've worked too late again. You can rest."

Unlike her monstrous husband, the lady of the castle was endlessly kind.

"Oh, I'm fine—" Urhan began.

"Of course you're fine. Honestly, you got away with plenty while I wasn't around, didn't you?" Caron interrupted.

"Arghk—That was fifteen years ago!" Urhan cried.

"You slacked enough back then, so now you can work a bit more. I raised a deserter to head butler—you should put in at least some effort," Caron said.

Smack.

Seria slapped Caron's back as she added, "Don't mind this man. Go on and rest."

"Thank you!" Urhan said, and he left with a light heart.

After all, between the two, Seria held the real authority. She was essentially the true power of the household.

Once Urhan stepped outside, Caron quietly sat beside Seria. He asked, "Hmph. Don't you trust that deserter-turned-butler a little too much?"

"So what? I married a devil knight. A former deserter is nothing," Seria replied with a smirk.

"You didn't have to bring up the past again. Tsk tsk," Caron clicked his tongue and downed a sip of whiskey.

Seria watched him, her expression softening. She gently leaned her head on his shoulder and said, "You worked hard today. The Peace Summit must be tiring, right?"

"Tiring, yes—but things get resolved quickly when I handle them myself. You remember last year's summit in the Holy Kingdom, don't you? Without me, they would've torn each other apart," Caron said.

Indeed, the Peace Summit held last year in the Holy Kingdom had been plagued with countless incidents—conflicts erupting between the Southern Kingdoms, and even disputes between the Free City Union and the Pajar Sultanate.

Rumor had it the Pope had nearly collapsed trying to keep everyone from killing each other.

Caron simply wanted this current system to last as long as possible. Regardless of development or politics, one thing had become certain—far fewer people were spilling blood now.

"Peace could never last forever," he murmured bitterly.

Seria nodded as if the statement were the most natural thing in the world. She said, "That's just how humans are."

"Thanks to Revelio building all those systems, things are holding together—barely—but I keep hearing discord everywhere," Caron said.

It was his role—his burden—to tune those discordant notes. At the very least, he wanted the world to remain peaceful until his children grew up.

A world where his kids wouldn't worry about the future, where they could simply be happy in the present. Working toward that future honestly didn't feel difficult at all.

"But lately I keep having these thoughts," Caron added.

"What kind of thoughts?" Seria asked.

"I wonder if what I'm doing is actually wrong," Caron answered.

That was the only thing that had changed from long ago. When he was younger, he could charge ahead without thinking. But now, not anymore. His choices could twist the fate of the entire continent.

He'd believed himself freed from responsibility, but a new, heavier kind had settled onto his shoulders.

"I'm a dad," Caron said.

Then with a smile, looking at him warmly, Seria said, "The only thing that's changed is that we now have three children. You're thinking about the future they'll live in—of course you'd feel responsible."

"...Is that so," Caron murmured.

"Feeling responsible is good, but don't doubt yourself. You are a Warrior. A true warrior, the savior of this continent. Do you know how many lives you've saved?" Seria said as she gently brushed her fingers through his hair.

Caron was undeniably the strongest man on the continent. People at the top rarely questioned their own actions; wielding overwhelming power usually removed the need for self-reflection.

This is why you're a Warrior,

Seria thought with a smile.

Caron always tried to reconsider his steps. He thought carefully about the consequences his actions would bring, and then walked toward what he believed to be the best course. That part of him was so admirable, and so lovable.

"Becoming a dad really made you mature," Seria teased. "Speaking of, should we have one more?"

"Hm, that might not be a bad idea. More kids would be fun. Besides, lately Luina keeps saying she wants a younger sibling. Reminds me of how Aqua used to be," Caron said.

"Aqua helping with the kids really makes parenting easier," Seria said. "We raised some very good children."

The couple enjoyed their night, sharing small stories back and forth.

"Oh, right. I was thinking we should go on a family trip soon," Caron said.

Seria smiled and nodded, then asked, "A family trip sounds perfect. Just us?"

"Turns out Revelio is taking a vacation soon. His Majesty said he wants to spend it with us—wouldn't it be nice to all go together? A joint trip with the Ducal Family of Leston and the imperial family."

There were political reasons mixed in, of course, but they could ignore that for now.

"We should bring Leo, and Hugo too. And my parents... Should we invite His Holiness the Pope?" Caron asked.

"No. He's extremely busy these days," Seria said.

"Well, can't be helped then," Caron said.

"Have you thought about the location?" Seria asked.

Caron nodded with a grin, then answered, "The New Continent."

"That's nice," Seria said.

"Our friends there have been working hard to make a fresh start. They've really turned their hearts around and are doing their best. If we can help, we should," Caron added.

"How kind of you," Seria said, amused.

"They keep calling me their king even when I tell them not to. Maybe when we retire, we should settle on the New Continent. It has its charm—it might be fun," Caron said.

"We'll think about it," Seria answered.

And so, the grand project known as the "Ducal Family of Leston & Imperial Family Joint Vacation" quietly began.

***

After the Peace Summit ended, Emperor Revelio stood before countless officials and made a bold declaration.

"I'm going on vacation. Nobody is to bother me. If anyone tries to stop me, I will not hold back."

Since ascending the throne, Revelio had never taken a single vacation. Naturally, he was seething.

Not one official dared to oppose the emperor's long-awaited break.

The moment the media learned that the notoriously work-obsessed emperor—famous enough to be called a workaholic—was taking time off, rumors about his failing health exploded.

"The emperor has an incurable disease? Who even writes this garbage?" Revelio complained.

"These days everything has to be sensational if they want to make money," Caron said.

"Should I drag the writers in and discipline them a little?" Revelio asked darkly.

"Press suppression? Are you planning to become a tyrant now?" Caron asked dryly.

Revelio, ironically, was the healthiest emperor in imperial history. Much of that was thanks to Halo relentlessly pushing his father's training regimen. Strong muscles, a clear complexion—constant exercise had kept Revelio running the empire without so much as a minor illness.

Revelio folded the newspaper and handed it to Sir Mason, then straightened the lapels of his black suit.

They were standing within the imperial cemetery located inside the palace grounds.

Caron and Revelio faced a single stone marker.

"Here rests the one who planted the seed of the empire's brilliant future, entombed in glory."

The epitaph had been carved by Revelio himself.

Caron looked at the inscription and let out a quiet, fond smile. He said, "To think Grandfather would enjoy the honor of the emperor visiting on every memorial day."

"I visit on your family's memorial days too, don't I?" Revelio said. "If they're your family, they're mine as well. Besides, you might not realize it, but that inscription isn't an exaggeration. Without Minister Gyle, we would never have come this far."

The grave belonged to Gyle, Caron's maternal grandfather.

Both of Caron's maternal grandparents rested here: Gyle Periton and Helena Periton. They were precious figures who had brightened Caron's childhood more than anyone.

"At least Grandfather got to see Luina before he passed," Caron said.

"And he went peacefully, didn't he?" Revelio asked.

"He drifted off as if falling asleep," Caron replied, smiling softly as old memories surfaced.

As a child, he had ridden on his grandfather's shoulders as they wandered everywhere together. Just like his parents, Gyle had taught him the value of family.

When Gyle passed away, Caron had truly grieved—almost as deeply as when he'd lost Halo.

Caron bowed his head toward the tombstone, thinking,

I will live happily.

For Gyle's sake as well, he would keep living joyfully—now and forever.

"You are my grandson, no matter what anyone says. My beloved grandson. I bless the path before you. I love you."

They were Gyle's final words.

Caron stared at the gravestone for a long, silent moment. Then he asked quietly, "Are you all packed for the vacation?"

"Of course I am," Revelio replied with excitement. "Just thinking about getting on a ship again is making me thrilled already. Do you know how long it's been since I had a real vacation? Honestly, life was easier back when I was a prince."

"Because all you had to think about was how to commit treason properly?" Caron teased.

"Exactly. These days I have to watch out for Halo and Leon... My life is pitiful. Hey, rumor has it you're being kept on a leash too?" Revelio replied with a smirk.

"Who said that?" Caron asked.

"Leon did," Revelio answered.

"That's a reliable source," Caron admitted.

The two men left the cemetery chatting casually.

Once they were gone, a young boy slipped quietly toward the gravestone.

It was Halo Karien. He sat comfortably in front of it and smiled.

"How have you been?" he asked, then pulled out a fine bottle of liquor and poured it over the grave as an offering.

"Every time I come, I feel embarrassed," Halo continued. "When you get old, you're supposed to die, and yet here I am, reincarnated and walking around young again. Feels strange, doesn't it?"

His voice was youthful, but his speech patterns were unmistakably those of an old man.

He gazed at the stone and smiled faintly, then added, "Truth is, I wanted to rest too. But that rascal wouldn't let me. As you know, Caron would absolutely cause trouble if left alone. So I chose to reincarnate—self-sacrifice, you see."

He continued his rambling soliloquy.

"You're probably sick of hearing me complain every memorial day, haha. But since you're resting comfortably, I hope you'll forgive me," he said.

He brushed his hand over the polished stone. Caron had to have cleaned it earlier—there wasn't a speck of dust left.

"To think Caron was my ancestor, then my friend, then my grandson, and now my uncle. Where else would you find a family tree this twisted?" Halo chuckled. "But to you, he was simply a beloved grandson."

He continued talking for a while. After about thirty minutes, he slowly rose, brushing the soil from his trousers.

"Well, at least with me talking your ear off every year, you're not lonely, right? I'll come again. We're going to the New Continent this time—I'll bring you another good bottle on the way back. Don't feel neglected. I'll be off now," Halo said.

He offered a polite bow to his former brother-in-law and walked away with light steps.

Warm sunlight settled gently upon the now-silent gravestone.

It was a truly gentle afternoon.