In the early morning of the next day, when Colin took Vera into the dining room, he saw that the Duke of St. Hilde was already having breakfast.
Next to him, there was also a bachelor, Dawn.
"My lord duke!"
"Father!"
"Well, sit down."
The two sat down as promised, and Cathy, the half-elf maid, immediately presented the breakfast that had been prepared.
Char-grilled steak, fried eggs, chickpeas, strawberries with cream, milk and wine.
No one talked during the whole meal, only the clinking of knives and forks against the plate.
After breakfast, the Duke of St. Hilde said, "Colin, go prepare for the wedding. Bachelor Dawn is also here and can help. Vera, walk with me."
"Yes." Colin gave Vera a reassuring look, then got up and left the restaurant with Bachelor Dawn.
Vera looked down at the silver candlestick on the dining table, but didn't speak.
A trace of embarrassment circulated between the father and daughter.
After a long time, the Duke of St. Hilde spoke first:
"I heard that Charles died in the battle against the troll empire?"
"Yes." Vera nodded, her eyes could not help but look sad.
The Duke of St. Hilde was silent for a moment, and said blankly: "Where is he buried now?"
"It's buried in the cemetery of the Angelet family army."
"Take me to see."
"good."
Vera immediately got up and led the Duke of St. Hilde out.
The cemetery is not far behind the Red Castle. People in this world are not too shy about the cemetery, and even think that it is the closest place to the kingdom of heaven, where they can feel the breath of the Lord of Radiance.
Therefore, the area around the cemetery is not remote, nor does it have that eerie feeling.
Charles was buried in the most prominent position in the first row of the cemetery, with his full name engraved on the epitaph, and a sentence written by Colin himself——
"Rested here is a Saint Hilde, who lived and died for the North."
The Duke of St. Hilde looked down at Charles' tombstone, speechless for a long time.
The breeze blows a few fluttering petals, like dancing butterflies, passing by Charles's tomb.
The father and daughter who mourned silently did not know that what was actually buried in the tomb was only an empty coffin.
It took a long time before Duke St. Hilde raised his head and looked at Vera beside him.
Of course, he has already felt that Vera is now alienated from him, and he can probably guess where this estrangement comes from.
"You hate me." The Duke of St. Hilde said lightly, using declarative sentences.
Vera was still immersed in the pain of mourning her brother, sniffled when she heard this, but did not speak.
"Did you resent me for marrying you to Silvermoon City?"
Vera shook her head, and after a moment of silence, she finally asked, "The Savoy family tried to assassinate me in Silvermoon City, did you instigate this?"
"No." The Duke of St. Hilde said decisively, "That is a conspiracy of the St. Theon family."
But immediately, the Duke of St. Hilde continued: "However, the Savoy family has contacted me secretly, so I know about this conspiracy."
Vera's eyes widened, and she didn't know whether she was shocked by the sincerity of Duke St. Hilde, or lamented that the doubts in her heart had finally been answered.
"Then you didn't stop it?" For a moment, she was afraid to face the real answer, perhaps she would rather hear a lie from the Duke.
"No." The proud Duke seemed to disdain to lie to his daughter, "Because, I also need you to die in Silvermoon City!"
Two lines of tears fell from Vera's eyes, the girl's face instantly became extremely pale, her lips trembled, but she couldn't say anything.
The Duke of St. Hilde continued expressionlessly: "Don't hate me, this is the fate of our St. Hilde."
Pointing to Charles's epitaph, he spoke in a deep tone: "To live for the North, to die for the North, this is a responsibility and obligation that is in our blood, and you cannot escape it."
Vera cried and shook her head: "No, it shouldn't be like this."
"Why not?" St. Hilde looked solemn, "You enjoy the sacrifices of the people in the northern border, live a life of luxury, and you accept the glory that St. Hilde's ancestors exchanged for their lives. You are not a crowd all the time. The focus of these things, do you really think that there is no price?"
"I am willing to undertake the obligations of being a Saint Hilde, but this does not mean that you can use me as a tool to maintain your rule in the North!"
"Rule the North?" The Duke of St. Hilde suddenly laughed. "Vera, the mission of our St. Hilde family is to protect the North, not to rule it!"
Before Vera could answer, Duke St. Hilde lifted his blouse.
A hideous wound stretched from his left shoulder to his right crotch, and even through this wound that couldn't heal, he could clearly see the viscera wriggling inside and the golden blood.
All kinds of cross spells were drawn around the wound, but such holy power could barely keep the wound from deteriorating.
"Did you see? This is the price I paid." The Duke of St. Hilde's face sank, "Five years ago, when the troll emperor Murdorf invited me to a duel, did I ever back down? Last year, as a paladin When Prince Otto came to Cold Winter City, did I escape
My life can be thrown away at any time to protect the northern border!
You, Charles, Garcia... all St. Hilde, too! "
Perhaps frightened by the terrifying scene in front of her, Vera opened her mouth wide and was speechless for a while.
After the Duke of St. Hilde put on his shirt again, she slowly shook her head and said firmly, "I don't deny your contribution to the northern border, but I will never forgive you for what you have done."
"I don't need your understanding." The Duke of St. Hilde said coldly, "Perhaps the Lord of the North represents supreme authority and glory in your eyes, but what it needs to bear does not sit in this position in person , will never understand.
I certainly hope that you can all spend your life safely and happily, but unfortunately, since you were born into the St. Hilde family, you must be prepared to dedicate everything to it at any time, even including your life. "
Vera gently wiped away the tears on her face, and seemed to have finally regained her composure.
It's just that the indifference in her eyes is more intense: "When you sacrifice your life for the North, it's a dedication, but when you use authority or conspiracy to force others to sacrifice their lives for the North, it's a sacrifice!
No matter what your reasons are, you can no longer touch my heart.
This is the last time I sincerely call you - Father.
I have no authority and no ability to judge you.
But the omnipotent lord of brilliance will eventually make a fair trial for your actions! "
After saying this, Vera left in a hurry, as if she didn't want to stay with her adoptive father for another second.
The Duke of St. Hilde stood alone in front of Charles' tombstone for a long time, finally sighed, and said quietly:
"Do you hate me that much too?"
Of course, there was no answer to this question, only the warm spring breeze blew past, taking the Duke's murmurs to nowhere.
(end of this chapter)