I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 165 - Side Story 4

 

The Grand Duke stepped out of the carriage, led by my hand, dazed, as if his mind had left him somewhere.

 

I took his hand and led him to the graves of his parents.

 

His hand was rough and gnarled, as if it had survived the worst of the storms.

 

But they were also strong, as if nothing could break them.

 

When I arrived, the grave was well-maintained and free of weeds, even though it hadn’t been visited in a long time.

 

When I started earning my own money, one of the first things I did was to have a caretaker here. I gaped, uncharacteristically embarrassed.

 

“Mom, Dad. It’s been a while. Come to think of it, I haven’t visited you since graduation.”

 

Knowing that I’d been neglectful, I tried to make excuses.

 

“Well, a lot has happened in the time I’ve been away, and I think you’ll be surprised to hear.”

 

Tears rolled down my cheeks without warning.

 

Mom and Dad.

 

“They say Arcandus is the one who killed Mom and Dad.”

 

You were surprised, weren’t you?

 

“We didn’t even know it, we fed him, we sheltered him, we even took him into our family. He was the one who came to kill Mom.”

 

Like a broken faucet, the tears wouldn’t stop.

 

“The betrayal was too much to handle, so I denied reality for a while, but it didn’t change anything.”

 

Through my blurred vision, I managed to speak.

 

“And yet, it’s strange, isn’t it, that Arcandus couldn’t leave me alone, even in the moment of his death.”

 

How could he kill Mom and Dad so brutally and still think I was family?

 

I wiped the tears from my eyes with my sleeve and glanced away, suddenly remembering the Grand Duke.

 

His fists were clenched so tightly that they were shaking, as if he were trying to suppress his rising emotions.

 

I tore my gaze away from him and struggled to compose myself.

 

If I show up crying, my parents in heaven might worry.

 

“But it wasn’t all bad, so don’t worry too much.”

 

I fumbled in my arms for a moment, then pulled out the wedding invitation and laid it down on the grave, announcing the surprise.

 

“Mom, Dad. I’m getting married.”

 

The tears that I had wiped away were welling up again, and I didn’t know why.

 

I felt like I was going to break down and never get back up.

 

“I didn’t realize that having someone to lean on would make me so strong.”

 

I smiled through my tears.

 

“I’m okay now, I’ve met so many good people along the way.”

 

I felt a pang of relief after telling my parents everything that had happened.

 

“Actually… I was going to bring Caon, my groom-to-be, to introduce him to you, but I had someone else to introduce today, so I put it off.”

 

I turned my head to look at the Grand Duke.

 

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it, and it’s probably the first time for my mom.”

 

Meeting my gaze, he stiffened and walked slowly to stand beside me.

 

“…And Rud, and my poor child, who I have never met.”

 

The Grand Duke dropped to his knees and bowed his head deeply.

 

“I’m sorry. Forgive me…”

 

His face contorted into a pitiful expression.

 

The Grand Duke, who had seemed so steadfast, broke down in front of his son’s grave for the first time.

 

” Even if I’m remorseful, it won’t bring you back. The grudge against Lagras has brought you to this…”

 

Tears streamed from his eyes.

 

“But this, too, is mine alone to bear. Do not forgive me there, either.”

 

The Grand Duke hugged the grave, his voice choked.

 

“It’s too late, but I congratulate you both on your marriage.”

 

‘I love you.’

 

It was probably the last thing my parents would have wanted to hear in their lifetime.

 

💫

 

The day of the wedding had finally arrived.

 

I spent the morning getting all dolled up with Jane’s help, and as I sat down, I was greeted by one familiar face after another.

 

All of them were overly excited to see me, but Fjord was a little different from the others.

 

As soon as he saw me, he turned very serious and said.

 

“…Hey, I know it’s a wedding, but you should have done it in moderation. What if Caon sees you and the world fall apart?”

 

I guess that means pretty, right?

 

With a smirk, I waved off his concern.

 

He was being a best friend, after all, and he knew Carson’s behavior patterns.

 

“I knew it was coming, and we practiced several times in the wedding dress beforehand, and I made sure there were plenty of control spells.”

 

“Did the practice even work?”

 

“Look.”

 

I shrugged and pulled out the wedding photo I’d taken with Carson, showing it off to Fjord.

 

Fjord looked it over in disbelief.

 

Once he was satisfied that it wasn’t fabricated, he looked a little pensive and patted me on the shoulder.

 

“…Good job. A real human victory.”

 

“Yeah. Thanks to that, I don’t have to worry about him.”

 

“But Leen.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Fjord spoke up, still wearing his strange expression, worried.

 

“There’s no way he’ll die of a heart attack, or faint, or have a nosebleed, but I wonder if he’ll be so moved that he’ll burst into tears?”

 

“… Is that a curse.”

 

“Not at all.”

 

The image of Carson’s eyes reddening and dripping with tears during the meal flashes in my mind.

 

“Well, Caon is cute when he cries, so maybe it’s not a bad idea to take a picture.”

 

“What a taste…”

 

Fjord mumbles to himself, the corners of his mouth curling up in a sneer.

 

“Well, congratulations on the wedding, anyway.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

I smiled and accepted his congratulations, then asked with a coy look.

 

“Aren’t you seeing anyone?”

 

“…Anyone?”

 

“Oh, no. After all that sweeping around in the academy, Fjord’s dead.”

 

At the exaggerated tone of the tease, Fjord blushed slightly as he remembered his dark history.

 

“Well, I was young then.”

 

“It’s funny now that I think about it. How could you break it off so quickly?”

 

“It’s not like I wanted to be in a relationship in the first place. Marriage is something I’ll think about when I find someone like you.”

 

I wonder if there are two people like me on the continent.

 

Tilting my head lazily, I nodded.

 

“You’re going to be a one-man band for the rest of your life?”

 

“…You’re very self-absorbed.”

 

“Of course.”

 

Fjord smirked and waved his hand.

 

“I thought you’d be nervous, but you’re fine, which is a relief. I’ll go see Carson, then.”

 

“Yeah. Keep an eye on him to make sure he’s not doing anything stupid.”

 

And with that, Fjord was sent on his way.

 

It wasn’t long before Kun from faraway Abascanthus entered the room.

 

“Leen.”

 

Kun stared at me, mesmerized. It was as if his time had stopped.

 

He didn’t move for a long moment, then he smiled in a way that made him look sad.

 

“It’s so… beautiful, I almost wish the wedding hadn’t happened.”

 

“I know, there’s nothing you can’t say to a bride.”

 

“Haha, that’s something that can only be said before the wedding.”

 

He chuckled, then turned serious.

 

“Leen, as you may have heard from my godfather, I have decided to take over the position of Grand Duke. Is Leen okay with that?”

 

It’s me again.

 

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

 

“Because it’s Leen’s seat.”

 

“Kun, I’m a noble of Lagras, I’m not going to Abascanthus.”

 

“…But I’ll always pretend it doesn’t belong to me, and I’ll stay there, and Leen can visit whenever she wants.”

 

My eyebrows wiggled together in displeasure.

 

Why the Grand Duke and Kun were so eager to give me the title?

 

“Listen, Kun.”

 

I raised my chin, then a hand, on his shoulder.

 

“Just because you’re not related by blood doesn’t mean you can’t be family. You’re Grand Duke Caris’s grandson, and you deserve to be in that seat.”

 

“But, Leen…”

 

“I’m good enough as a duchess. I was quite content as a commoner.”

 

“…I understand your feelings, Leen, and if there is ever anything I can do for you, you can always come to me.”

 

I let out a small sigh, but eventually decided to compromise and smiled sheepishly.

 

“You can come to me if you ever need me, too.”

 

We’re friends.

 

Kun’s eyes widened at my last statement. Then a gentle smile appeared on his face.

 

“Okay. So… congratulations on your marriage.”

 

💫

 

After Fjord and Kun, I was visited by a succession of people I had met at the Academy, including Blabber Girl and Nancy.

 

Professor George, who officiated, and Professor Walter, who still stands by his side.

 

I’m so tired from dealing with so many people at once, and the ceremony hasn’t even started yet.

 

I felt like I was going to collapse after the wedding.

 

“By the way, I’ve seen the duke and duchess, but I haven’t seen my aunt and count yet.”

 

Just when I think I’ve met most of the people I invited, given my limited social circle.

 

Someone knocked and entered the waiting room.

 

“Leen.”

 

The familiar voice rang in my ears, and I turned around in surprise.

 

But the moment my eyes locked onto the person who entered, I froze.

 

The corners of my eyes fluttered shut.

 

If this were a dream, I would never want to wake up.

 

“Mom, Dad…?”

 

The person in the waiting room was my late parents.