Chapter 95 – Later Story – Anbert
“I hope you are at peace. Miss Anbert.”
The kid said so. The last passenger of the extinct race and the elf’s groom. And he wished me peace the boy who might have killed my brother. If his father had heard of it, he would have vented his rage by waving his fat arm.
But I wasn’t angry. Because the last proposition has not yet been proven. Did that child really kill Roselia, as his father said? Or, conversely, did Rogeria stimulate him? Her truth was buried in ashes along with the burnt continent.
So I bowed my head towards the boy. I will never know who the victim was, but I wanted to pay my respects nonetheless. After all, that child is also a survivor. In a world like this, that alone deserved the respect it deserved.
Even if I really am facing the enemy of the family.
What’s the use of that anymore?
All the resentment in this world disappeared into the darkness along with the dragon’s flame.
There is nothing more stupid than holding on to the past of a ruined world.
…
And above all, Roselia is not dead yet.
At least not yet.
“…”
The lips that did not contain confidence did not move easily. It is the world of humans now that all the game changes in one hour. The lips that had smiled a minute ago could now have turned to pure white ashes.
I was afraid just imagining it. It was a fact that I couldn’t get used to, no matter how many times my family’s appearance changed like that in an instant. Because I was weak, I didn’t have the confidence to accept even the death of my father whom I hated so much.
Nevertheless, there are facts that must be verified. With that thought alone, I raised my head again. No matter how twisted and ruined the world is, I am that child’s older sister.
Because it’s the last remaining family.
With a will that seemed like it would collapse, I started to move forward.
“Hello Miss Anbert.”
“Hello.”
Upon arriving at a familiar place, a group of elves politely greeted me. Even after my father’s great disrespect, they were always polite to me. In this respect, it was really terribly rational.
“Are you doing the same business today?”
“Yes. That’s it.”
“Okay. This is Miss Anbert.”
The guiding gestures are also polite. As I moved my steps in such undeserved kindness, the appearance of a large room caught my eye. As large as it is, the door blocking it is also massive and heavy.
When the heavy iron door opened, a sophisticated mechanical device faced me with a fishy iron smell. It stared at me, shining on the pitch-black screen as if it would swallow my body.
“Ha…”
Standing in front of it, I sighed for a moment. Tension rising from the stomach squeezed between the lips. Sometimes it seems that it goes beyond simple lamentation and spreads to tears.
In fact, even now, my shoulders are shaking. Even after the situation has reached this far, I am still weak. However, I carefully pushed the button on the device, as I couldn’t remain in the body of a girl forever.
There was a suffocating silence for a moment. As I was about to leave, unable to endure even the fleeting moment, a bright light shone on the screen.
Then, the figure of a girl with her hair messed up came into view.
Her girlish face reflected the cruelty of the world. Her tired eyes and pimple marks on her cheeks. Even her visibly sagging body was there. It’s just sad to see her on the screen.
Still, thanks for showing up, a faint smile spread across his lips. The girl slowly opened her mouth at the moment when I had no hesitation and felt a surge of emotion.
“Hi, sister.”
“Hi.”
But she didn’t laugh. Rather, he frowned as if my smile was unpleasant. It was the same as I had seen before, not yielding to the kindness of the other person and revealing emotions without filtering.
In the past, there have been times when such an attitude has been objectionable. But now it felt like proof that they still retained the innocence of the past.
Thanks to that, I didn’t lose my smile until the end. Then he greeted the red-haired girl with a frown.
“Hello Lena.”
“…”
“It’s Lena.”
“…”
“Look over here, Lena. Please.”
Two years ago, the girl who had been introduced as a friend of Rogeria finally made eye contact with me properly. Obviously, it was me, not Lena, who was the furthest away from destruction, but it was always my role to cling to.
Of course, that didn’t make sense. Guilt has always been a burden on the living side. I chose and chose what I had to say, then continued with difficulty.
“So how are you feeling? You went last time because you said you were feeling sick. Are you okay now?”
“In moderation.”
“Thank God. How about the other people on the island? Is everyone okay?”
“I’m not interested.”
“Still, pay attention to some extent. More than that, how is the food situation? They said they found animals a while ago. The kids who went hunting said there was a harvest?”
“I don’t know.”
At first glance, it sounded like a conversation between an adolescent girl and her mother. The direction of emotions flowing one-sidedly in conversations that come and go. But there was nothing I could do differently from Lena’s mother.
So I deliberately faked a bright voice and kept talking. If you could get irritated with me and make me forget about reality even for a moment, that was enough to overflow.
“Is my sister bothering me too much? I’m sorry. She just wants to talk.”
“I guess so.”
“So let’s talk a little bit more. Huh? Stay with me for just five more minutes.”
“Besides me, there are many people to talk to.”
“But you accepted it first.”
“Your sister is really kind-hearted.”
Praise came out of Lena’s mouth for the first time. I was so happy that I smiled a bit without hesitation.
“To be nice. I just…”
“That’s right. My sister survived.”
“…”
But what came back was a sharp rebuke. In the end, no matter how hard I tried, there was no way to turn away from reality. That shouldn’t have been the case, but I was at a loss for words and kept my lips shut.
And Lena, too, stared at me with her mouth shut. She didn’t try to avoid it, and as soon as he met her eyes, she felt emotion in his eyes. There was something wet in her voice that poured out like that.
“Sister.”
“Yes. It’s Lena.”
“There you are.”
“Huh.”
“…Can you really not pick me up…?”
“Lena…”
The question that had been repeated countless times had to come out again. I clenched my fists again at a loss for words. And without realizing it, I turned my head backwards.
Then, the figure of the elf who had shown me to the room earlier caught my eye. Since he had been standing there all along, it was clear that he had overheard some of the conversation. I cast a vague gaze at him as if asking a question.
“…”
Returning was, of course, a sign of resolute refusal. In countless repeated moments, they have never been immersed in emotion. My heart ached from the chill of cold-hearted reason.
“It’s Lena. My sister…”
“It’s okay sister.”
Unable to hold back her pain, when she opened her mouth, Lena averted my gaze. Then she immediately turned her back.
“I’ll call the butler.”
“Wait for a sec…”
Lena was off screen before I could catch her. I couldn’t help but look at the back that I couldn’t protect.
“Ha…”
Her troubled mind burst out again with a sigh. But before I could capture that feeling, I heard the sound of footsteps on the screen. I made up my mind and adjusted my expression.
“Hello, lady.”
And at the same time, a deep bass sound penetrated my ears. It was a voice that gave confidence as always, but it was wet with obvious fatigue. I greeted the last butler of the Anbert family.
“Hello, butler. How have you been?”
“Thank you for your concern. Did you have a comfortable night, lady?”
“Don’t worry about me. You’re the one who’s having a hard time right now.”
“It’s my job to protect the members of the family regardless of your own well-being, young lady.”
Even at this moment, his tone was full of arrogance. But he hesitated a little, and then he added a word.
“And I’m not the butler, lady. The butler…”
“Yes. I know. The former butler isn’t here anymore.”
“…Yes.”
“But you need someone to lead the rest of the people. So I’ll ask you a favor, Mr. Butler.”
“…”
The answer did not come easily. But that was probably because of my loyalty to the former butler rather than my doubts about my authority. That’s why he was more loyal and wise than anyone else.
He was also a compassionate person at the same time. So, as the last moment approached, he must have forcibly turned his direction without forgetting the students who remained on the island.
It was an arbitrary decision. But no one, including me, disputed the decision. Maybe they all felt the same way.
And more than anything else, an island with friends rather than the sea might be the best place for the child to end.
…
To dispel that thought, I tried to come up with another story.
“So, how’s the situation? Can’t you see the dragon now?”
“Yes, lady. So far, it seems that you are obsessed with burning the continent. Maybe you will come here when you lose interest after destroying the mainland. But at least it seems safe for now.”
“Do you have enough food or drinking water?”
“The amount secured from the port just before the dragons came is quite a bit. In addition, we have prepared the means to be self-sufficient to some extent. Of course, it won’t last forever.”
“How much longer do you think you can last?”
“One year. I’m looking at about two years at the longest. But before then, the probability of a dragon coming is higher.”
“I see. Then…”
“…”
“…How is Roselia?”
The subject that had been spinning around eventually reached an unavoidable point. At the same time, the butler’s expression darkened. At that point, it seemed like I already knew the answer.
“He’s still asleep.”
“Is that so.”
“I made a last attempt last night. With the help of the students, I tried to awaken the lady’s consciousness using spirit magic, but it didn’t work.”
“That’s sad.”
“I hate to say this, but there’s no way I can think of any more. Any more than this seems beyond our ability.”
“…”
“…Sorry.”
He finally lowered his head. Feelings of shame, regret, and helplessness poured out. The fact that he couldn’t protect that small child must be hardened in his heart.
Of course, it was me too. So he still had his last words in his heart, which he should have said earlier. Weak, weak, and stupid again. Until now, I have not been able to let go of my lingering feelings and have made many people suffer.
Even at this moment, I hesitated. Even though I was told I had done all I could, I wanted to tell him to find another way.
But I couldn’t do that anymore. Now…
…
It seemed that now the chains that had bound them all had to be undone.
“I met a kid who said he came from the island today.”
“Is that so.”
“He said he wished me peace. It was amazing. No one had ever said that to anyone in my family before. We were hated by everyone in the world.”
“…”
“Nevertheless, he said that. As if it was the right of the survivors. But now, looking back, I’ve changed my mind a bit. It’s the right of all of us to find peace. Survivor or not. Living on this land. Everyone deserves to find peace.”
“Miss…”
“And that goes for you too.”
I carefully raised the corners of my mouth. However, I couldn’t smile around my eyes, so it turned into a sad expression.
“Neither you nor Roselia. I think it’s time to let go of everything. I can’t force anything anymore.”
“No, ma’am. I’ll try more. Maybe we can find some more.”
“The more it does, the more Rogeria suffers. Maybe we’re disturbing her sleep. If we can’t wake her up, we’d better at least pray for her to have a good dream.”
“I am…”
“The butler.”
“…Yes.”
“Please bring Roselia.”
Gently, but firmly, he gave the order. He couldn’t argue any longer and walked out of his room. Left alone for a moment, I gently knelt down and cleared my mind.
However, even though those times were fleeting, the moment the house owner returned, something fell in his heart with a thump. In his arms, a little girl who looked like me was quietly sleeping.
Even in the midst of everyone’s appearance being messed up, Roselia’s appearance was just beautiful. She felt as if she had just been picked up from a bed in a mansion. If you poke her cheek, she will wake up and get nervous as always.
“Hello. Rogeria.”
So, without realizing it, I said hello as usual. I didn’t get an answer, but originally, Roselia had never properly accepted my greeting. She may have looked down on her because she was a powerless older sister.
No regrets. However, it was a pity that I couldn’t think of the words to say at the last moment because it was such a relationship. Contemplating, I decided to leave it to my instincts and tilted my head towards the screen.
Then, the face of Rogeria, who was sleeping peacefully, filled her eyes. The way she lightly frowned and pursed her lips reminded me of the first time I saw him.
A child as small as a feather, born into a notorious duke’s family by chance. Looking at her face full of her downy hair, I said the same thing back then.
“I’m sorry, Rogeria.”
“…”
“Then have a good night.”
It was too empty for a last goodbye. So I tilted my head towards it again. Then, he lightly kissed the sleeping Roseria’s forehead.
…
Of course, it was the cold touch of a mechanical device, not human flesh. Still, I had one wish.
The feelings and regrets of her sister who couldn’t protect her.
I hope it is conveyed even a little bit.
With such a simple heart, he calmly opened his mouth.
“The butler.”
“Yes.”
Standing by the side watching our moment, he answered in a heavy voice. He must have had a premonition that the end was approaching.
That’s why, at this moment, I gave strength to my tone. Cold and resolute like Anbert. But with a little respect there.
I gave him one final order.
“Selina Anbert, the last surviving member of the Anbert family, commands you, who did not give up your loyalty to the family even to the moment of destruction.”
“…”
“Now…”
…
At the last moment, the end of the word was blurred. However, the sentence, once started, could not be stopped now.
So I closed my eyes. Then, gathering all my remaining courage, I said goodbye to those who loved me.
“Now, please let go of Roselia.”
