Fun Territory Defense Chapter 144 (Patreon)

Regrets of Count Ferdinand

An hour has passed since the barbecue began. His Majesty and his men were enjoying the meat with wine and barley wine in their hands. The soldiers, who were devouring the meat like starving beasts, were still eating with undiminished vigor.

"...Even though there is alcohol, how can they eat that much?"

Muttering such things, I sat at the end of the table with Arte and ate the meat. As I was thinking that it was time to finish the meat and bread and have some cookies or something, someone came out of the group of aristocrats.

The slightly hunched figure was coming straight toward us. It was Count Ferdinand, a man with a slightly unsure look in his eyes.

The father, Count Ferdinand, is a handsome man, just as Arte is a fragile, beautiful girl.

"Good evening. May I have a moment?"

Ferdinand said to me, looking at Arte with a sideways glance.

"Yes. May I help you?"

I replied as I stood up, and Ferdinand nodded apologetically as he raised one hand.

"No, yes... to Arte, yes."

Muttering this, Ferdinand looked at Arte. Arte, who is his father and has a rather complicated relationship with him, stiffened involuntarily. Originally sitting with a downcast look, he looked down even more when Ferdinand called his name.

Ferdinand looks at us with a sad look on his face.

"...It's probably not the right thing to say to Sir Van, but I'd like you to listen to me for a moment."

Prefacing this, Ferdinand began to speak as if in penitence.

"I was unable to be a fatherly figure to Arte... It was just when my father had fallen, and I had just become head of the family, and when your father, Count Fertio, was made a Marquis and part of my count's lands were lost."

After saying this, he takes one look at Arte, who doesn't even flinch, and continues his story.

"...Nobles seem to lead a glamorous life, but they also have an ugly side to them. Noble families that are on the rise attract not only other nobles, but also merchants and mercenaries to rub up against them. On the other hand, noble families that are considered to be declining are miserable. They are pushed to the margins and removed from important positions in noble factions, and merchants and mercenary companies are finding it tougher to do business with them. Moreover, the vassals who have supported the family all their lives may leave."

Ferdinand shared his sad story. He was filled with various negative emotions such as his own inadequacy, anger toward others, and jealousy.

It must have been very difficult for him. The way he was talking now, the previous head of the family might have passed away suddenly. The burden of being the head of a high-ranking noble family must be immeasurable.

As a nobleman, he must make his presence felt in wars, social circles, and the management of his domain so that his house does not fall into decline. This is no small task, and he must have wanted to eliminate negative elements as much as possible. One of them is Arte, who has an aptitude for magic that is not typical of a nobleman.

However, Arte was innocent.

I felt that way, and I could not resist.

"...I am sorry to hear about your hardship. However, just because you were busy, and it was hard, it doesn't mean you should ignore your daughter. It was hard, it was tough. Even if you make excuses like that, it is your crime to have neglected your precious family that you should have protected, and it is a blunder that cannot be undone."

My voice sounded unusually harsh, even for me, and not only Ferdinand, but even Arte looked shocked, but I didn't want to stop him anymore.

"Ferdinand-sama, you may think what a young man is saying, but please listen to me as a human being who cares about his family, the scars on Arte's heart will never fully heal. She will never be able to forget it. But it is possible to heal it, even if only a little. It should be possible to reduce the pain."

I told him this and looked at Arte. She looked anxious. I wondered if I had taken the wrong approach. I wondered if I had taken the wrong approach, but I continued.

"As a father, there is one thing you can do. Look Arte straight in the eye and listen to her, even if she lacks confidence, she is a kind and caring person. Acknowledge that."

With that said, I close my mouth, take a deep breath, and look at Ferdinand. Ferdinand's face, which had been rolling his eyes, was now tinged with deep regret.

"...Certainly, it is not something that a child who has just become a baron should talk about. But it was a point I couldn't complain about. Truly... I was a fool."

Ferdinand says that much and turns to Arte.

"...Arte, if you don't want to answer, you don't have to say anything. It is said that not long ago, when our territory was invaded by Jiernetta, there was a group of people who saved it. I heard that this group defeated Jiernetta's army with long-range bows and arrows that looked as if they had been developed by Baron Van and two knights, who moved in a way that was impossible for a human to do."

At these words, Arte looks at me with a complicated expression. But I dared not answer anything and kept silent. Then Ferdinand shook his head from side to side and bowed to Arte.

"I heard that the group was flying the flag of our Count Ferdinand. No one but a countess would do such a thing... Thank you, Arte, and I am sorry."

When Ferdinand sincerely thanked and apologized at the same time, Arte covered his own mouth with his hand and burst into tears.

After looking at Arte, who was speechless with sobs, Ferdinand turned to face us.

"Like the Marquis Fertio, I treated the child unkindly because I was bound by common sense regarding magical aptitude and by the appearance of being an aristocrat. And yet, I was later saved by that child. Ironic..."

He lets out a deep, deep sigh and after a pause, continued.

"...If Baron Van asks for your help in the future, I promise to lend a hand. This is my pledge as the head of the Count Ferdinand. Even if you and Arte cannot get married to you, it will not be broken."

Arte reacted to these words with a jerk. She looked at me with a half-crying face, so I returned a wry smile and placed my hand lightly on her back.

"It's okay, as long as Arte doesn't dump me."

"No, I won't!"

Arte responded to my words with a flustered look on her face. Ferdinand also rolls his eyes, perhaps surprised by that.

"...Haha, hahaha! I see. You two seem to have an excellent trusting relationship already. That's a relief."

He says this with a laugh and looks at Arte with kind eyes.

"If it's not too late, let's talk. Anything you want to say, even if it's a grudge. Let me hear your voice."

Ferdinand tells him, and Arte nods with tears in her eyes.

"Yes...!"

That made me feel for the first time that they had become father and daughter.