Volume 7, Chapter 5 – A Heart of Repentance

Stepping onto this land once more.

The soft, rotten earth never ceased to remind Grand Duke Herr that he had returned to the place he had so meticulously plotted to escape.

A plan years in the making had ultimately crumbled into ruins. Not only had he failed to lead the few remaining members of his family to safety, but he had even led everyone on a headlong plunge toward a cliff, allowing matters to escalate to an irrecoverable state.

Even more ironic, the daughter who filled him with such overwhelming guilt—the one who would startle him awake in the middle of the night—was actually alive. To be reunited in such a manner at the very end of his life… Fate truly was far too fond of him.

At this thought, Grand Duke Herr let out a miserable smile. However, the youth beside him—his second son—failed to grasp his father’s meaning. Seeing Grand Duke Herr smile, he assumed the Grand Duke had thought of a way to escape their predicament—if they didn’t find a solution soon, they would be sent to the gallows according to Imperial law.

The Imperial elites, standing in battle-ready formation behind them, were watching them closely. The immense pressure caused those who had lived in the Land of Exile for so long to fall into despair; women and the elderly let out low sobs, while only the children, knowing nothing, looked around with curiosity.

“Father, have you thought of something?” The youth’s face lit up with joy as he took a few steps forward, practically whispering into Grand Duke Herr’s ear. “Is it because of Erin Slate? I saw that when she ordered the soldiers, they didn’t dare say a word, and the marks on her face were gone! Erin Slate must have become a high official in the Kingdom; she’s definitely here to take us back!”

“Shut up!”

Even for the normally composed Grand Duke Herr, he couldn’t help but let out a sharp, cursing shout. He glared at his second son, who failed to read the atmosphere, looking as if he might burst into flames.

The youth froze in embarrassment. He didn’t understand why his father would call him an idiot when the chance for salvation was right before their eyes. Erin Slate was the eldest daughter of the Herr family and his own biological sister; now that she was successful, it was only natural for her to come back and save them—even if they were political prisoners.

There was no telling how far the Land of Exile was from Blossom. It had been a full fifty years since they were exiled, and Blossom had long since forgotten them. Furthermore, as a high-ranking noble with great power, saving someone from the Land of Exile would be as easy as could be; one could simply find a few scapegoats to execute, claim they were Grand Duke Herr’s family, and they could leave the Land of Exile in peace.

Upon learning that Erin Slate had returned, the youth’s mind was already filled with thoughts of life after leaving the Land of Exile. He would return to the Royal Capital and seek out the nobles who had once received favors from Grand Duke Herr. That way, he would surely live a life free of worry, ordering commoners about—just as he had been mocked and treated like cattle by visiting nobles in the Land of Exile.

Failing to understand, he stepped forward once more to urge his father earnestly.

“Father! If you hesitate any longer, the whole family will be dragged down! While Erin Slate is talking to the Eldest Princess, we have to quickly think of how to cooperate with her! She must be pleading for us!”

“I said… you are an I·DI·OT!”

His second son’s incessant chattering finally made Grand Duke Herr lose his patience. In front of everyone, he slammed a heavy fist into the youth’s face. The blow, fueled by fury, directly deformed the youth’s left cheek, and his body followed suit, stumbling and crashing to the ground.

The entire party began to riot. The werewolf mercenaries monitoring them stepped forward to grab Grand Duke Herr, preventing him from further beating his son, while the other family members behind him looked completely helpless. Fortunately, Grand Duke Herr was a man who valued his dignity; though he was burning with rage, he didn’t want the Imperial elites to witness a family scandal or mock the once-renowned Grand Duke Herr as nothing more than a senile old man on the street.

He took deep breaths to calm his emotions, standing at the flank of the party under the urging of the werewolf soldiers. By then, the group had stopped alongside Fia’s carriage. He watched Fia and Erin Slate conversing behind the carriage door, his gaze gradually growing complicated.

The pure, kind daughter who had seemed as if she would never grow up had now blossomed into a person he didn’t recognize. In contrast, he had aged from a prestigious, middle-aged man who was always praised for his youth into a white-haired, scruffy old man.

…Unbearable shame.

As if countless seasonings had been poured together into a chaotic stew, Grand Duke Herr’s heart was complicated to the extreme.

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From the moment of her birth, Erin Slate had been Grand Duke Herr’s most cherished child. And Erin Slate had lived up to expectations; she had mastered every lesson a noble needed to learn. Aside from her average talent in magic, she far surpassed her peers in every other field. If it weren’t for the fact that Erin Slate was a girl, he would have certainly made her his heir.

Out of guilt toward Erin Slate, he had even felt that since he couldn’t allow her to become the next Grand Duke Herr, he would let her decide her own marriage, choosing not to interfere with which elf she would be with. That was his greatest concession.

Unfortunately, heaven did not grant his wishes. Misfortune befell his house because of a scoundrel like his younger brother. The mastermind had simply died, but the rest of the family suffered along with him, having their status and property confiscated and everyone being sent into exile.

Then, not long after arriving in the Land of Exile, Erin Slate was discovered to have the Darkborn disease. She was his favorite daughter; he would have rather contracted the disease himself than have her haunted by nightmares. But it had already happened. If left alone, the Darkborn disease would eventually infect those around her. He had always been ashamed that his brother had harmed the entire family and felt a massive sense of responsibility toward the house. Now that they had hit rock bottom, he could no longer act on his whims as before; he had to be responsible for the remaining hundred or so people.

Therefore, he had been forced to bear the pain and drive Erin Slate out. Even when she knelt, crying and begging him, letting out sobs that tore at his heart and left him unable to sleep or eat, he had to remain unmoved.

He knew the best solution was to kill Erin Slate with his own hands; that would have spared her much suffering. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it, and he felt that by doing this, she might have a slim chance of survival.

Much like a mother who abandons an infant on a cold winter night, knowing full well the child might freeze to death, yet still harboring a shred of hope that the baby might meet a kind family. He felt that Erin Slate might also meet good people and eke out a living; in any case, that was better than death.

But in his heart, he knew better than anyone that kindness did not exist in the Land of Exile—to say nothing of the fact that Erin Slate had the Darkborn disease, which was considered an incurable terminal illness.

After Erin Slate left in despair, he had once run out to search for her with a heart full of regret and a desire for atonement. He had even resolved that even if the Darkborn disease would infect others, he would keep his daughter by his side and care for her until her final breath. However, she was already long gone. He hadn’t been able to find her and had even heard from others that she had gone insane long ago and died in some unknown corner.

Because of this, he believed Erin Slate was dead and suffered immensely from remorse and nightmares. Whenever it was dead of night, he could always hear a voice—it seemed like the deceased Erin Slate seeking his life, or perhaps it was her still kneeling at the door, crying and begging for his forgiveness. In those moments, he would rush to open the door, only to find nothing but shifty-eyed beggars.

Even to this day, he remembered the expression on Erin Slate’s face as she grabbed his sleeve, pleading for him not to abandon her. That tearful, sobbing image was etched into his mind, never to be erased.

It was for this reason that when he saw the current Erin Slate, his heart was flooded with conflicting emotions. The daughter for whom he felt such immense guilt was alive, but she had returned carrying only hatred.

This, too, was an unavoidable outcome.

From the moment he saw Erin Slate’s hate-filled eyes, Grand Duke Herr knew that an insurmountable chasm now existed between them. Back then, he had sacrificed her for the family; now, to ask him to beg her for the family’s sake… he couldn’t bring himself to show such a face, nor could he do it.

Perhaps dying like this would be the best relief.

An unspeakable bitterness spread through Grand Duke Herr’s heart. He lowered his head, staring at his feet. Then, his vision suddenly dimmed, and a cold female voice rang in his ear.

“Her Highness summons you.”

Grand Duke Herr immediately raised his head. He knew it was Erin Slate’s voice. His heart, which had just sunk, surged once more. Years of guilt and longing for her exploded all at once. He looked at Erin Slate with excitement, his lips trembling, and it took him a long while to force out a single sentence.

“You’ve suffered these years.”

Before the sentence was even finished, his voice caught in his throat.

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Erin Slate ignored him completely. She didn’t even deign to say “shut up.” She headed straight back to the rear, and Grand Duke Herr could still hear her voice commanding the army.

His expression grew complicated, and sorrow gradually took over his face, as if he had lost his soul. He seemed to age decades in an instant. However, those around him were not the same. Upon hearing Erin Slate say the Eldest Princess had summoned him, they believed it was a golden opportunity. When they were exiled, the Eldest Princess was still an infant passed between the various consorts; now, if they could just move her with emotion and claim to be children of the Kingdom’s heroes, perhaps the Princess would show mercy.

“Father, the Eldest Princess is calling for you.”

“Her Highness was moved by our words!”

“Erin Slate must be helping us. She only walked away just now because she didn’t want anyone to catch her.”

“Shh, don’t let anyone hear you.”

Dammit.

He cursed his family’s noise in his heart, but Grand Duke Herr’s body began to move. He held guilt toward Erin Slate, but he was also the patriarch of the family. Just as his son and daughter said, whether they could escape the Land of Exile was decided today. The treasures they had brought from the Royal Capital had long since been spent, and out of the original hundred people, only thirty-one remained—half of whom were elderly or infirm. He had to shoulder the responsibility of being the clan leader.

He took a deep breath to adjust his emotions, doing his best to push his guilt toward Erin Slate to the back of his mind. He swallowed hard, stepped slowly toward the gorgeous flower ahead, and finally knelt on both knees.

“Greetings, Your Highness. I remember when I left the Royal Capital, you were still—”

“Get up. Come inside with me.”

With no intention of reminiscing, Fia waved her hand, signaling for Grand Duke Herr to accompany her into the Land of Exile. Anastasia, Claire, and the others followed a short distance behind Fia.

Just as Chinatsu had said, the Land of Exile was filled with sewage, making it difficult to even find a place to step. Fia used [Telekinesis] to create invisible stepping stones to avoid getting her shoes dirty.

Furthermore, prisoners emerged from the hovels in groups of two or three. Every face bore a Sinner’s Mark; skeletal bodies and filthy cloth clothing had become the uniform tone of the place. Were it not for the pointed ears on their heads, Fia would have thought she had arrived in Cold Night. However, there was still a slight difference: the beastmen of Cold Night looked at her with eyes full of greed—a gaze that wanted to rush up and plunder things—whereas by comparison, the elves here only showed sycophancy. They hoped that she, as a noble, would take them away.

Ignoring the fawning expressions of the crowd by the road, Fia said flatly.

“Grand Duke Herr, this is the first time we’ve met since I can remember, isn’t it?”

“I have already been stripped of my noble title. I beg Your Highness not to mock me further; I am unworthy of being called ‘Grand Duke’.”

“There is no one else here. Use whatever title is convenient.”

After saying that, Fia fell into silence. She began to observe the people in the Land of Exile. Likely due to the harsh conditions, Fia rarely saw children. Even boys and girls around her own age were a rare sight. Everyone was skin and bones, dressed in rags, and no shops could be seen along the twisting roads. Occasionally, she could see people carrying weapons in the corners of alleys, turning away to avoid her. Fia guessed those must be the “thugs”—the unsavory elements of the place.

Unable to bear the silent atmosphere, Grand Duke Herr couldn’t help but ask.

“May I ask why Your Highness has summoned me…?”

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“Ah, just a few points of curiosity. Are those thirty people behind you all members of the Herr family? I saw an infant among them; why does it have a Sinner’s Mark?”

The Princess isn’t aware of the situation in the Land of Exile.

Grand Duke Herr realized this immediately, and his mind became active. As long as he could move the Princess, they might truly return alive; that way, he would have a chance to repent to Erin Slate—at least he could explain that after driving her out, he had actually gone out to look for her, even if he hadn’t found her.

Like someone eating a hot potato, he explained at a rapid pace.

“Your Highness may not know. The status of those exiled is no different from that of slaves. Once exiled, their offspring are also viewed as criminals. That infant is my granddaughter; a month after she was born, the noble responsible for managing the Land of Exile came to carve the Sinner’s Mark.”

“In other words, your every move is under the Kingdom’s surveillance at all times?”

“Yes. The local thugs here collect protection fees from us. As long as those nobles ask the thugs, they can know everything about us.”

“That is truly unfair…”

Fia spoke her heartfelt thoughts. It was only right that criminals receive punishment, but to include newborn infants was far too barbaric. Granted, laws must be adjusted according to the times, and no single law fits every era, but to strike at a newborn baby was despicable.

Fia looked toward Grand Duke Herr and continued.

“Where is the noble who manages this place? Take me to see him.”

“Uh, they are in the Barony of Yuraidon. They only come here at the beginning of each month.”

Fia seemed like a Princess who knew nothing of the ways of the world, which made Grand Duke Herr’s mind even more active. As long as he was sincere enough, he could surely save the entire family. His face turned sorrowful, and he collapsed onto his knees before Fia.

“Princess, fifty years have passed, and we have already repented. The family that once had over a hundred people now has only thirty-odd elderly and infirm survivors. The Herr family was once a great house that established undeniable merit for the Kingdom. I beg you to show mercy for the sake of past sentiment and plead with His Majesty on our behalf! We will surely remember it in our hearts forever and view you as the great benefactor of the entire Herr family!”

“No,” Fia refused expressionlessly. She had guessed that Grand Duke Herr might plead with her, and so she had long since prepared herself. “Even I cannot violate the laws of the Kingdom.”

Grand Duke Herr’s face was filled with anxiety.

“You could even take away Anastasia, who was at odds with His Majesty! You can certainly, certainly take us—!”

“Are you mistaken about something? I took Anastasia because she was innocent. You are the patriarch of the Herr family. When your brother rebelled back then, you not only failed to fulfill your duty of supervision, but instead allowed your brother to use the name of the Herr family to form factions. It was your own doing. You should be ashamed that your inaction harmed your entire family.”

Fia’s voice paused for a moment. She ignored the curious gazes of the surrounding people, her ruby-like magnificent eyes looking down at Grand Duke Herr.

“Or are you trying to say that I should take your family out of the Land of Exile for the sake of Erin Slate? Do you know what Erin Slate told me just now? She said that from the moment you cast her out of the house, she had no further connection to you. You wish to preserve your family, and she wishes to uphold her principles. If I were to spare your life for her sake, it would only make her feel humiliated.”

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“Erin Slate is now the Chief of the Imperial Guards and my friend. It was I who rescued her back then; without me, she would have long since died in the Land of Exile because of your heartlessness. I know you abandoned her so that the other family members wouldn’t be infected with the Darkborn disease, but to try and plead for mercy now for her sake is truly shameless.”

Kneeling on both knees, Grand Duke Herr gritted his teeth, his face turning red with shame. Fia’s words struck his heart; he was ashamed to speak of Erin Slate and would never use her as a plea for mercy.

“I did not intend for you to show mercy for Erin Slate’s sake. I only hoped you would spare us from today’s execution for the sake of us once being the Kingdom’s heroes!”

The air in the Land of Exile went silent in an instant. Not only the bowed Grand Duke Herr, but even the beggars by the road held their breath, waiting for Fia’s answer.

These words had already touched Grand Duke Herr’s bottom line. Fia observed him; his expression as he gritted his teeth in plea already proved this point.

Fia responded as flatly as ever.

“As I said, I will not violate the laws of the Kingdom. You are exiled criminals who fled the Land of Exile; that is a capital offense.”

Grand Duke Herr’s shoulders slumped, emitting an aura of despair, but Fia’s words were not finished.

“However, the law is too crude. Elves who are still minors lack an understanding of the law. You were the ones who forcefully took them in your escape. Including the other underage elves in the Land of Exile, I will take them away with me. But as for the rest, including you—no.”

“Wh…”

Hope surfaced on Grand Duke Herr’s face. He raised his head, his joy plain to see, and his knees rubbed against the ground as he moved forward in excitement.

“…Then what about the others? I was the one who organized the escape; all the blame should be borne by me. They are innocent! Just execute me!”

“Do you think I’ll believe such a lie? Stand up. As a former Duke, you should have your own dignity. I have something to ask you.” Without giving Grand Duke Herr a chance to struggle, Fia used [Telekinesis] to lift him up. To make him behave, she added in a serious tone, “Not as the Eldest Princess, but as Erin Slate’s friend—do you regret casting her out back then?”

Hearing Erin Slate’s name, Grand Duke Herr’s eyes went wide, and he froze on the spot. He had thought that the karma between him and Erin Slate had ended and there would be no further connection. But looking at Fia’s expression, it seemed there was still a turn of events. His heart began to beat wildly. If there was one person in this world toward whom he felt the most guilt, it was undoubtedly Erin Slate. He desperately hoped for her forgiveness, even if the price was death.

His breathing became rapid, and his eyes turned red, as he almost grabbed Fia’s hands.

“What did Erin Slate say to you?”

“Let’s talk as we walk. Although I’ve heard about your past from her, I still want to hear your side of the story. I won’t violate the laws of the Kingdom for you, but I can convey your repentance. I am simply doing what a friend should do.”

Specifically, a superior comforting a subordinate—but Fia had no intention of revealing that layer of the relationship.

As if in deep thought, Grand Duke Herr pursed his lips tightly. It took a long while before he let out a long sigh. He looked into the distance and began to speak slowly and sorrowfully.

“It was all my fault…”