Chapter 56: Side Story The Funeral

55: [Side Story] The Funeral

Lucas's eyes are blue. They are an intense, and beautiful cerulean color.

His gentle gaze is like a big dog looking up at its owner, but I'm not sure what his intention is right now.

Is he asking because of his genuine concern for me?

Or is he asking to test if I am the ‘real’ Ash.

“Uh, well…”

I stuttered as I shed cold sweat.

There’s no way I’d know anything about Ash’s family affairs. I could imagine it to be not so simple since he is the son of the Emperor.

I struggled, not knowing how to respond to this sudden question from a blind spot.

“......”

Lucas gazed at me silently for a while, then—

“Forgive me, Master. I brought up an issue you would not like to discuss.”

He apologized with his head bowed.

I hurriedly shook my hands.

“No, not at all! It’s just that, my mind went blank for a moment ‘cause it was so sudden. Haha.”

“I hope everything goes well for Miss Evangeline, and you too, Master.”

Lucas put a bright smile on his face. It was the usual pure Golden Retriever smile.

Was I just too sensitive? Maybe Lucas was simply worried for me.

“Uh, yeah… Thanks. Have a good night, and see ya tomorrow!”

After saying goodnight, I waved my hand and hurriedly ran into the bedroom.

‘Ash, this asshole also has a problem with his family?’

I mean, he is an imperial prince, the son of the Emperor.

Obviously, there should be some dirty and grimy matters related in the back. The problem is that I have no idea about those matters.

‘What kind of past is he hiding?’

I’ll have to dig up some information regarding this later. Sigh.

I had the realization that this body belonged to someone else. Man, living as someone else sure is a difficult task…

* * *

On the next day of our return,

I took care of the overdue work and expanded the defenses for the next stage.

[Enemy Information - STAGE 3]

- Lv.? ???: 5

- Lv.20 Steam Golem: 152

- Lv.15 Stone Golem: 103

Since we found out that the opponent for this defense was going to be the Golem Corps, I had to change the defense equipment accordingly.

‘Large monsters, and a few elites. We’ll have to adjust our tactics accordingly.’

There was a little over a week left until the next stage.

This time, I’m going to prepare really thoroughly.

So that I can respond perfectly to any variable that appears. No, actually.

‘So that no matter what variable appears, it can be overcome with more firepower than necessary…!”

Repeatedly ordering and pressuring all the production union facilities in the city, I spurred on the preparations for the next stage.

* * *

And again, a day later, in the early morning.

At the West field of Crossroad, the burial site.

“......”

I stood silently in this place bustling with funeral preparations.

In Stage 2, there were several injured soldiers, but only one death.

'Earl of the Frontier.'

I kept my mouth shut while looking at the list of deceased for this funeral. The name ‘Charles Cross’ was written on the list, lonely.

“Your Highness, the coffin has departed.”

“Hm.”

Lucas said into my ear. I nodded.

The coffin departing from the temple was transported along the main street in the city and came out through the west gate.

A long march of citizens followed the coffin.

This was the funeral of the former lord who had ruled this city for decades.

Even in a city insensitive to death, many people were expressing their condolences.

Before long, the coffin stopped in front of the cemetery.

Only the funeral was to be held here, and the coffin was to be buried in the orchard where the Earl used to live.

Because that is where the grave of his wife was.

Clatter!

The priests surrounding the coffin offered prayers, and behind them, the choir sang funeral music.

The order of the funeral was over. The time has come for me to give a brief speech.

I got up on the podium. I'm used to getting a lot of people's attention now.

“Fuu.”

I took a breath. And after sorting out what I was about to say in my head,

I raised my voice.

“I said this last time, that your deaths are expensive. This is not a figurative expression, it is actually expensive in terms of finance.”

Compensation and funeral expenses.

I really mean it when I say this, death in this city is quite expensive.

“However, the death of Charles Cross goes beyond the financial loss… It pains me to the deepest part of my heart.”

I pressed my chest with my hand.

People still remained quiet.

I took a breath for a moment, then exhaled slowly.

“...The Earl told me, to bring people joy.”

I put up a faint smile.

“Sadness by itself cannot progress the city. Because this is the Fortress City, inevitably, death is always here, by our side. He told me to reign with hope and joy instead of sadness.”

I shook my head slightly.

“However, I will have to violate the Earl’s will just for today. I will mourn today.”

“......”

People were listening to my speech as they swallowed dry gulps. I raised my voice even further.

“This frontline is maintained at the cost of the precious lives of many. Not only the death of the Earl but every single life that perishes here puts me in pain.”

I pressed my chest once more.

“I hope you always remember that the sacrifices are valuable, as much as it hurts. That the Empire and the entire human world are maintained through your sacrifice and dedication. I hope you always remember that.”

I scanned everyone under the podium.

“I will say it again and again. You will die here on this frontline!”

I nodded my head heavily.

“And that is something that holds a great value.”

In front of the silent audience, I slowly bowed my head.

“A moment of silence for the sake of those who saved the world.”

I bowed my head first, and the crowd also bowed their heads one by one.

Even though thousands of people had gathered here, for a moment, the front of the cemetery became completely silent.

“I hope that one day, festivals will be held every day in this city instead of funerals.”

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Slowly raising my head again, I whispered in a low voice.

“Just as the Earl wished for.”

I went down the podium, and Lucas waved his arms at the artillerists.

Boom! Boom!

Gunfire rang out in honor of the dead.

The funeral ceremony ended with that. The veterans, who were the direct subordinates of the Earl, lifted the coffin and carried it, as I got on my horse.

We started to move to the place where the Earl’s coffin was to be buried.

* * *

* * *

After about 30 minutes on horseback to the southeast,

The orchard of the Earl began to appear.

“Hm?”

As I rode at the lead of the march, I noticed that someone had come to the orchard first.

A small, platinum-haired girl was standing in the backyard of the orchard. She shrugged her shoulders, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket.

“......”

I slowly decreased the speed of the horse. One by one, other veterans following the coffin march also spotted the girl.

“Hm? That person is…”

“Lady Evangeline?”

“It’s her.”

“She’s back!”

Soon, the march entered the orchard.

Evangeline was standing in front of a small tombstone in the backyard of the orchard. That must be her mother’s grave.

“...Ah.”

Evangeline turned to us and muttered nonchalantly.

“You’re here.”

Evangeline was quickly surrounded by the veterans who greeted her.

“Lady Evangeline, it’s been 3 years!”

“You’ve come a long way from the capital.”

“We apologize about what happened to the Earl. We should’ve done better protecting him…”

“......”

Instead of answering, Evangeline silently bowed her head.

The veterans soon shut their mouths and bowed their heads to Evangeline.

“May I,”

Evangeline asked as she looked at the coffin placed on the ground.

“May I see the inside of the coffin?”

The priests in charge of the funeral looked at me, flustered. I nodded.

“You have the right to do so. Go ahead.”

Evangeline stood next to the coffin, and the priests carefully opened the upper part of the coffin.

“......”

Evangeline kept quiet as she examined her father’s face.

Because of the decay prevention magic, the face of the corpse was pale.

If there was something to be considered fortunate, it would be that his face was relatively intact compared to the damaged body.

“...It is real.”

Evangeline murmured slowly.

“He always fought at the vanguard, as if he’d never die. But in the end…”

Evangeline pursed her lips and quickly turned around.

“...Thank you. I’m done now.”

The coffin was closed once again.

Evangeline turned around and did not move until the coffin was fully buried into the ground.

The coffin went into the deeply dug hole, and now all that remained was to cover it with soil.

Then one of the veterans spoke cautiously to Evangeline.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to have to ask you one thing.”

The old soldier held out what he was holding in his hand to Evangeline. It was a flawed cavalry spear and shield. Evangeline's eyes widened.

“These are…”

“These are the armaments passed down from generation to generation in the Cross family, used by the Earl. Originally, I was going to put them in the grave of the Earl. I thought I’d ask you just in case.”

“......”

“They are old and a little damaged, but that can easily be fixed and can be used if you…”

“Bury it.”

Evangeline shook her head.

“Please, bury it beside my dad.”

“...Understood, Lady.”

The old soldiers dug a separate space next to the tomb, put a box in it, and put the spear and shield in there.

The two arms that have supported the Cross family for generations have disappeared into a pile of dirt.

I looked at it a little sadly.

Finally, the soil was covering the coffin.

The priests recited the final words, and with this, the funeral was over.

“Oooh, my shoulders.”

I swung my shoulder and stretched it. Even though it was only a few hours, it was very tiring.

“Everyone, get a glass of a cold beverage!”

Lucas offered a drink to everyone who worked hard.

While everyone drank from their cups, I stood in front of the grave and looked down at the tombstone.

‘Many people will die from now.’

I remembered the deceased from the past. Looking back, all of them were vivid deaths that felt as if they could be grasped by the hand.

In the future, how many more will die?

Just how many more…?

At that moment, one of the words of the Earl suddenly came to mind.

- There will come a moment when you have to sacrifice your most precious thing to protect this city.

“......”

What could be the most precious thing that I’ll lose?

Will I still be able to keep being myself after losing that?

While thinking, I recited a verse from a poem.

Where the wall is raised with ice and snow, This is the earth. Ah, such a pitiful path of life. (Citation: ‘Home’ written by Pak Mok Wol)

It was a verse from a poem I read back on Earth, which became one of my favorites.

I thought it was a poem that suited the Earl, so I originally planned to recite it as a funeral tribute. I left it out because I couldn’t find the right time to do so.

I looked down at the tombstone, lost in many thoughts.

It was then.

“I didn’t know you had the noble hobby of reciting poetry.”

A young girl's voice came from the side.

And when I turned to my side to check, surely enough, it was Evangeline.

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