Extra Story: Lufa, Second Half

Extra Story:
Lufa, Second Half

 

HOW MANY DAYS had passed since Lord Gran and Lady Ellelaura had left for the capital?

My mind was as blank as the ceiling above my bed. I stared into it, thinking of nothing at all…or rather, not wanting to think. But it was so hard to keep those dark thoughts at bay. The quiet room...the empty room...the infinite march of time. The thoughts came to me—thoughts of Lord Gajurdo, of my father, and of my own future…

I was shocked to learn about my father’s murder. His killer, Lord Gajurdo, had been caught. Whatever punishment he received, Lord Gran and Lady Ellelaura assured me, would be severe.

There was a hole in my heart. My body was too heavy.

I couldn’t breathe.

Father...I want to see you.

 

Another day of lying on the bed, staring at a familiar ceiling. Just when I’d written off the day as another waste, the door opened, and an old gentleman entered the room.

“Lord Gran...”

It really was him. “I apologize for the delay. Please follow me.”

I was taken from the room. Lord Gran led me onward. No one said a word. We left the building, and I was made to board a carriage.

Where was he taking me? The gallows, perhaps.

Fine—so be it.

Lord Gran glanced at me from time to time from up front. It seemed as though he wanted to say something, but he stayed silent. All I could hear was the rattle of the carriage.

The carriage rolled on in silence. There were things I wanted to ask Gran, but I couldn’t produce the words. When I looked at the seat next to Gran was sitting, I saw bouquets of flowers.

In the end, the carriage came to a stop before I could ask him anything.

“We’re getting off here.”

I got out of the carriage, just as Lord Gran requested.

“Where is this?” I asked.

The carriage has stopped at the outskirts of town where a thick outcropping of trees grew. Why were we here?

Gran handed me a bouquet. I glanced around, puzzled…these were the flowers from the carriage. But…why did he give them to me?

I didn’t understand any of it. “Lord Gran…?”

“Hold on,” he said. “This way.” Lord Gran started walking. I did as I was told and walked behind him, flowers in hand.

“…Around here.” Lord Gran stopped in front of a tree. “It should be here.” He seemed to struggle to get the words out. “That is, he should be. Your father…he should be resting below this tree.”

“My father is here...?”

“Lord Gajurdo told us who buried your father. We questioned him, and…”

Lady Ellelaura had kept her promise.

Lord Gran placed his own flowers at the base of the tree and clasped his hands together. Then he moved away slightly and let me take his place. Slowly, I came to the roots of the tree. I placed my flowers next to Lord Gran’s and put my hands together.

Father. This is where he put you.

Very nice and sunny, wasn’t it? It’s not gloomy at all.

There were no buildings around. It was a quiet place, but the sun still shone on this spot.

I’m glad you’re sleeping somewhere sunny.

I felt my tears flow down my face. And here I’d been, thinking I had nothing more to cry about. But it was no use. It wouldn’t stop….

Father...

Memories of him came rushing back. Fun times…sad times. The day we cried together after mother had passed away. A flood of memories washed over me.

I wiped away my tears and looked over at Lord Gran.

“Are you done already?” he asked. Lord Gran had been silently waiting this whole time.

“Thank you very much. I’m glad I could pay my respects to my father for the final time.”

I was glad I could see his resting place before heading to my own.

“The final time…? You can come as many times as you like,” Lord Gran said.

I was silent. I didn’t understand what Lord Gran was saying.

“I’m sure your father would be sad if you only visited once. Please see him often. I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.”

“But what about my sentence?” I asked.

“Did I not tell you? My apologies. You’ve been placed under my care. I will be monitoring you.”

“Monitoring me?”

“You don’t have to think too much of it. Think of it as something of a guardianship. You can’t leave town without my permission, but you can more or less do as you please.”

“But Lord Gran, I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“In that case, you can work at my house. I’ve actually been in search of an excellent maid. As for the ‘lord’ business, I’m giving up that title to my son. I suppose I’m just a regular old man now.”

Lord Gran smiled tenderly. He was referencing the fact that he’d be stepping down as lord so his son, Leonardo, could take his place after the recent incident.

“Are you sure you want to hire me?” I asked.

“I know I’m just an old-timer,” he said. “If you’d prefer, you could work for Ellelaura instead.”

“Lady Ellelaura?”

“She was worried about you, and she also offered to look after you herself. I think she would make an excellent employer. So,” he said gently, leaving the choice to me, “what will you do?”

I looked over at my father’s resting place. “Please let me work for you, Lord Gran.”

I could visit my father again. If I lived in this town, I could see him whenever I wanted.

“In that case, I look forward to it,” Lord Gran said. He offered his hand. I took it. “Ah! I have this for you.” Lord Gran handed me a card he pulled from his pocket. I took it and saw that it was a guild card.

“This is my father’s...!” My father’s guild card…the one we had found in that terrible room.

“We weren’t able to find any other keepsakes. I thought you might at least want this.”

I looked at my father’s name written on the card and started crying again.

“Thank you very much…!” I clutched my father’s card to my heart.

 

After that, I went to work for Lord Gran. Every day was busy. After a time, Lord Gran informed me that Lord Gajurdo had been executed. Lord Randle would be left with a distant relative.

The news of his execution didn’t bring me joy exactly. Still, I felt like the chains that had been around my neck had been released.

I would atone for my crimes as well, so I worked steadfastly for Lord Gran.