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n52: Bell (1)

n“They have arrived.”

nThe butler reported to the old man who was looking out the window.

nThe old man looked up to the sky, his back still facing the butler.

n“It has been 7 long years.”

nThe old man, Marquis Bell, sighed as he stared at the sky.

nIt has been over 7 years since he sent his daughter away after her marriage.

n‘Father!’

nHer voice still echoed in his ears.

nThe old man ordered the butler.

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n“Tell them to prepare it grandly.”

n“Yes, sir.”

nWhen the butler left, Marquis Bell took his seat.

nOn one side of the desk was a small portrait of a little girl.

n“I’m finally going to see your face again.”

nWhat kind of expression would she make?

nMarquis Bell remembered the face of his eldest daughter, the face that had never left his memory for 7 years.

n“But this isn’t going to be a good time.”

nMarquis Bell looked at the small portrait again, his expression stiffer than before.

nThe carriage had finally arrived in Apton.

nIt didn’t even stop for security checking.

nWhen they saw the crest of the Welton family, the soldiers opened the gates without asking any questions.

n“Is this Apton!!”

nRicky leaned onto the window and looked at the landscape.

n“I want to see it too!”

n“You will be able to see soon!”

nAs Anna puffed her cheeks, Ricky patted her head and comforted her.

nSince the main church of Pyro was in Apton, the darkness that was blinding Anna could be lifted soon.

n“Wow! Woah!”

nSarah was excited as she jumped up and down, shaking Venna back and forth.

n-M-master…

nHaving been suffering for a whole week, Venna felt like she was on the verge of death.

nBut Jamie didn’t even care.

nSears asked Jamie, who seemed indifferent and kept looking out the window.

n“Jamie, aren’t you excited?”

n“I am.”

nHe didn’t show it, but Jamie was the most excited among them.

n‘This is where Pyro is.’

nHis purpose of coming to Apton.

nIt was to have a conversation with Pyro, one of the 12 Gods.

nHe wasn’t sure what the outcome of the conversation would be, but what was certain was that he was going to step closer to his goal.

nBesides, the place called Garmon mentioned in Canon’s diary was also highly likely to be near Apton.

n‘Maybe I will gain a lot from this visit.’

nThis could be a big turning point for Jamie and his future plans.

nThe carriage stopped at a forked road.

nThere, the road to the Marquis mansion and that to the Pyro church were divided.

n“I will get going first.”

nLars put Ricky and Anna’s luggage on his horse and spoke to Sears.

n“You have worked so hard.”

n“Hard? No, I am the one who would like to thank you. The grace that Count Welton has shown me is enough. I was able to have a comfortable trip because I was included in this party. I will never forget your grace.”

n“It was nothing. I will see you in the church later.”

n“Yes. You should say goodbye too, right?”

nLars brought a crying boy and girl who were behind him to the front.

nRicky’s face was wrinkled as he kept trying to hold back the tears. However, since Anna was wailing for so long, he couldn’t hold them anymore.

n“Why are you crying?”

nSears squatted down and hugged the siblings.

n“It isn’t like we are parting forever.”

n“T-thank you. Definitely! I will never forget this…”

n“Thank you, euhhh!”

nSears patted the children and lightly kissed them on their cheeks.

n“If you need help. You always have this Aunt. Okay?”

n“Yes!”

nShe comforted them and then called Jamie and Sarah.

n“You guys should say goodbyes too.”

nJamie and Sarah approached the siblings.

nUnlike the dull Jamie, Sarah was already crying.

n“Sister…”

nSarah walked over to Anna.

nAnna grabbed Sarah’s hand.

n“Can’t you not go?”

n“I will definitely meet you again.”

n“Ehhh….”

n“Don’t cry,”

nBeing the sister, Anna hugged the sobbing Sarah.

nThe two girls remained embracing each other.

nJamie looked at them and turned to Ricky.

n“Sarah doesn’t seem interested in you.”

n“Shut up.”

n“Why are you crying?”

n“… you emotionless jerk.”

nJamie smiled as Ricky wiped his nose.

n“See you again.”

nJamie raised his fist.

nRicky smiled, and they shook hands.

nLike it or not, the two shared a secret.

nAs long as misfortunes didn’t occur, they will certainly meet again.

n“Bye!”

nSarah waved her hand vigorously towards Ricky, Anna and Lars as they went away.

nOf course, she was shaking Venna’s short arm too.

n-My arm!!

nJamie shook his head as he looked at Sarah treating Venna like a doll.

nHe even felt bad for letting her come with him.

n“We should get going too.”

nSears stroked her kids’ heads and led them into the carriage.

nThe Welton carriage set off again.

nThe destination was the huge castle-like mansion, the grand mansion of the Bell family.

nSarah was exhausted from crying, so she ended up falling asleep.

n-Do you feel alive now?

n-… I thought I was going to die earlier.

nJust after separating from the two siblings, Sarah burst into tears.

nEven Sears couldn’t stop her.

nIt seemed like she was overwhelmed with the first breakaway with her first friend.

nThe one who suffered the aftereffects was Venna.

nVenna’s fur was covered in tears and runny noses.

n-I am sorry. I didn’t think that It would turn out like this.

n-You thought it wouldn’t turn out like this, so you left me unattended for a week?

nJamie coughed at that.

nWhat could he do?

nIt was impossible to take Venna from Sarah.

nIn fact, thanks to Venna, Sarah was less obsessed with Jamie.

n‘What a headache.’

nHe was feeling sorry for her, but she will have to suffer on their way back too.

nJamie smiled and looked out of the window.

nIn the distance, he saw a group of soldiers gathering.

n‘What is happening?’

nA normal person wouldn’t be able to tell the difference, but Jamie, who had a great insight, could notice the minor details.

nThe soldiers had serious expressions.

nBut he wasn’t sure why.

n‘Something must have happened.’

nIn a great estate such as Apton, big and small crimes happen every now and then.

nJamie calmed his nerves and closed his eyes.

nIt would take longer to get to Marquis’s Mansion.

nUntil then, he decided to close his eyes.

nThe carriage had finally arrived in front of the mansion.

nThe door was opened by Zach, the leader of Pier Knights, who was in charge of the escort.

n“I miss this.”

nSears opened the door.

nShe smiled very faintly.

n“This is where your mother used to live. It has been around seven years.”

nA slightly excited voice.

nJamie looked at Sears.

nThere was a deep longing on her face.

nThis was the home she used to live in 7 years ago, it was a natural expression.

nThe carriage crossed the mansion gate and started to move towards the mansion.

nLooking at the huge mansion, Sears spoke to Jamie.

n“My son. Your mother used to play a lot over there.”

n“See that big tree over there? Grandmother used to read books to me over there.”

n“The lake is still there. On hot days, I often played in the water.”

n“The garden is still so beautiful. I think my father paid a lot of attention to the management.”

n“The maids house looks like it was newly rebuilt. It used to be very old in the past.”

nAt first, she spoke about her childhood, and then it gradually changed into minute details that only she knew.

nEach time, Jamie just smiled awkwardly.

n‘She must have missed this place a lot.’

n7 years.

nJamie wasn’t sure why she never went home.

nShe didn’t talk about it, nor did Jamie ask. He wasn’t even curious to know.

nIf it wasn’t for the conversation with Pyro, he wouldn’t even have asked to come here.

n“We are here.”

nAt Sears’ words, Jamie looked out.

nThe huge mansion was right in front of them.

nWhen he looked at Sears, he could see that all her excitement had drained as she wore a stiff face.

nThe carriage stopped.

nAn hour after sunset.

n“Father must be getting old.”

nSears mumbled before getting out.

nWhen Jamie looked at her, she awkwardly smiled at him.

nWhen the Marquis’ servant opened the door, Sears sighed.

nShe then got down with her sleeping daughter.

n“Have we arrived yet?”

nSarah, who wasn’t fully awake, held Venna in one hand and rubbed her eyes with the other.

n“Yes.”

nSears smiled while looking at the mansion.

nComing here after 7 years.

nNothing changed in the mansion.

nShe felt like her heart would burst. She ended up hugging Sarah tighter and looked at the people who came to greet her.

nIn the centre stood a face she knew well.

n“Welcome back, My little Lady.”

nAn old butler with white hair and a wrinkled face greeted her with a smile.

nSears forced a smile while holding back the tears.

n“… it has been very long, Mister. You have turned old.”

n“What children and elderly have in common is that our appearance changes with each day.”

nThe butler of the Bell family, who was an old man seven years ago, was even older now.

nThat fact broke Sears’ heart.

nPhil, the butler, smiled and looked at Sarah and Jamie.

n“The children have grown up really well.”

n“Yes. I tried to give these children as much as I had received.”

n“You did a wonderful job.”

n“It has been so long since I heard mister’s praises.”

nSears’ eyes reddened. She wiped away the tears which were on the verge of flowing.

n“Greet them. They are the ones who have taken care of me since I was a baby.”

n“Mother was a baby?”

n“Yes. Mother was a baby too, just like Sarah.”

n“Wow!”

nSarah seemed shocked.

nShe was surprised to learn that her mother, who has always looked like an adult, was once a baby.

nJamie left Sarah behind and bowed to the butler.

n“I am Jamie Welton.”

n“My name is Phil, the butler of Marquis Bell. Nice to meet you, young master Jamie.”

n“Please look after us.”

nPhil nodded at Jamie’s greeting.

n“Sarah needs to greet too, right?”

n“Hello. I am Sarah Welton.”

n“Yes. Greetings to Miss Sarah too.”

nPhil grabbed Sarah’s little finger and then shook it, making Sarak smile.

n“She looks very similar to when our Lady was young.”

n“Yes. Sarah resembles me a lot, and Jamie takes after him.”

n“I see.”

nPhil nodded.

nHe stood a step back and then pointed to the mansion.

n“Please enter, the Lord is waiting for you.”

n“Father…”

n7 years.

nThey hadn’t seen each other since she got married.

nOnly Count Welton had visited Apton.

nThey could have come together, but somehow that never worked out.

nBecause it didn’t seem like she was doing her responsibilities.

nShe wasn’t sure why she was thinking that way, but she thought that she didn’t have enough time to visit, especially as she needed to pass love to her children.

n1 year went by, and then 2 and 3. Before she knew it, 7 years went by.

n‘The bad daughter has arrived.’

nPhil guided them to the Marquis’ office.

nLooking at the familiar yet unfamiliar door, she recalled the old memories.

nShe played a lot of pranks in front of this door. Each time, her father smiled and hugged her.

n‘An old memory.’

nThe feeling was unfamiliar.

nShe realized just how long it had been.

nSears laughed.

nAnd Phil knocked.

n“We are entering, Lord.”

n“Come in.”

nSears flinched at the voice.

nThe door opened, and Phil guided them inside where an old man was standing.

nProud looking and straight shoulders, but grey hair and wrinkled skin. A man different from what she knew.

nShe couldn’t say anything, so she stayed silent.

nThe old man, Marquis Bell, looked at his daughter with a loving face and called.

n“Sears.”

n“Father!”

nAt her father’s call, the daughter ran into his arms without looking back.

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nShe was held very warmly in his arms.

nShe was crying as someone’s daughter and not someone’s parent.

nThe guilt she had accumulated over the past 7 years.

n“Sorry… I am really sorry, father. The most horrible daughter has arrived… I am really sorry.”

nSears kept on apologizing to her father.

nThe marquis gently patted on the back of his daughter.

n“No, this is fine. You are finally here now and that is what really matters.”

nSears fell to the ground at her father’s forgiveness.

nAs if to show the end of a long separation, they hugged each other silently without caring about the others’ gazes.

nEveryone looked silently at the daughter and father, who were reunited after 7 years.

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