I knew that my own father was a subservient and timid person.
However, I also know there is no way it could be made known.
Although he became a lord at a young age, my father’s job was a doormat, even in his son’s eyes he was a coward, he was dull.
Even as a vassal he was degraded by Grandfather, saying [If only you were like Paul...] His decisions as lord, in Grandfather's eyes, were all unsatisfactory.
When I was home, I witnessed this many times.
My father would be troubled by his father, and I would suffer as a result.
Now, such a father is about to be executed in front of me.
It’s inception, but father reaps what he sowed.
The promise with Sword King Ghyslaine is also involved.
I would be lying if I said there was no possibility father was involved in the execution of Sauros Boreas Greyrat.
Father’s and Sauros’s relationship was bad.
Or rather, I would say grandfather and Sauros had a good relationship.
The Head of Boreas House and the previous Head of Notus House were like brothers.
But Sauros did not like Philemon.
Before he became lord, Sauros did not hesitate to insult father.
Even after becoming lord, Sauros sent complaints and bad-mouthed him at every opportunity.
So, when Sauros was in trouble...
I do not think it strange at all if my father had his hand in Sauros’s execution.
If it was father, he would do it.
Well, although I was upset when I heard it, that was due to Hitogami’s lie.
When I see father’s face after eight years...
He looked much older than the father I remembered, the father that I met for the first time in eight years looked small.
"......"
Suddenly, I remembered when I had wanted to talk man-to-man with father.
I was young, I had a lot to talk about with my father.
In retrospect, it seemed father favored my eldest brother.
As the second son, I have come to terms with this.
My father would not discuss important matters with me; but, when we did talk, he never held any bad intentions towards me.
I did not know anything, and my father told me as much, but he helped me find my own answers.
Although he told me [Think on your own], he still helped show me the way.
He is still my father.
My father is rarely right.
He's clumsy and always makes mistakes in his decisions.
But that father was always working hard for Ariel.
Since we were ambushed as we departed for Asura Kingdom, I have been struggling with that father as an enemy.
Why did that father act so selfishly?
Although I refer to him as selfish, father was serving as the family head, so he had a duty to protect the house.
After Ariel escaped from Asura, father was forced between a rock and a hard place trying to protect the house by aligning with Grabell.
He even sent his soldiers to that ambush in order to protect the house.
Father was desperate to gain Grabell's trust.
"Ariel-sama, please listen to my request."
"What is it, Luke?"
"Will you please forgive my father?"
Ariel is facing me.
Her eyes are cold.
Recently she has been looking at me with those eyes more and more.
Particularly since she discovered father's betrayal.
"... I cannot do that."
"Is this because of the promise with Ghyslaine?"
"No, this is because I cannot afford to allow betrayal."
That’s right.
Father and Ariel, no matter how friendly they were...
My father betrayed her in a major way, and he even sent his soldiers to kill Ariel.
If she allows this, she can not maintain her rule.
Even I understand this.
However, after all he has done, will Philemon Notus Greyrat still meet such an end?
I do not know what that false god did to them.[1]
Rudeus and Ariel also might have been deceived.
But, my father has betrayed Ariel.
To rejoin Ariel's faction now means that he will have defected twice; calling it a shameless act is true.
But I...
I don’t want this.
"......"
I drew my sword...
"...... Luke?"
"I'm sorry."
"What?"
I did not know how I came to such an action.
Before I had noticed, I had grabbed Ariel from behind...
While holding my sword to her neck.
"... Luke. What do you think you're doing?"
Sylphy noticed immediately.
She is glaring at me with a stern expression, I can feel her killing intent.
This is the face that she absolutely never lets Rudeus see.
In her hand is a wand for an apprentice magician.
A small wand just like the one I used when I started to learn magic.
However, I know. That wand can fire magic on par with even the best of Asura’s Court Magicians.
Such a thing is aimed directly at me.
"Sylphy, do you not think it’s strange?"
"I think the strange one is you! Who do you think you have turned your blade on?"
I'm aware that this is strange.
It’s more like I do not know what I want to do now.
Everyone's sight has focused on me.
The nobles are wearing expressions as if they don't understand what's happening.
...Is this it for me?
Em, is this right?
"Sylphy, do you really believe that man?"
"That man? You mean Orsted? What are you talking about suddenly? What does that man have to do with this situation?! "
"Answer me honestly!"
To my strong tone, while holding her wand, Sylphy replied in a low voice.