Boundary Labyrinth and the Foreign Magician

Enter the premises while receiving salutes from the soldiers of the guard. It's a place where Kathleen lived for a time, but there are more window lattices, etc. that weren't there before, which is pretty harsh.

Given the interference from the factional remnants of the previous Marquis Broderick, I'm guessing he's on the lookout for both escape and intrusion.

Well, still, he says he's normally allowed to live in the mansion, and his father comes to see him regularly.

As a lord, even though you are responsible as a nobleman, it can be too thorough and painful. I guess I don't even like that as a father. That also shows up in the atmosphere of this mansion, and the garden itself is beautiful, except for the severity of security.

"Lord Byron is usually waiting in the room used for the interview. I am also… Please call me if you have any problems as we are holding back in the immediate vicinity"

When he greeted the soldier placed in the courtyard and introduced himself, he opened the door to the mansion, and yes, he told me. My father also told me that he was entrusted with my escort and guidance inside the mansion.

"Okay. If Byron seems calm...... right. Can I ask you to wait outside the room because you two want to talk?

"If that is Lord Theodore's wish. That's what the Count says."

Well, then, no problem. I can defend myself, and no matter what happens, I won't hold you accountable. I nod and go inside the mansion.

That's how I knocked on the room used as the interview room, and I got a response from inside.

"Go ahead."

And with a slightly nervous voice...... that definitely belongs to Byron. An escort soldier opens the door, enters the room first and informs me of my arrival, along with a safety check.

"Well, I'll wait outside"

You finished your internal security check, that's what the soldiers at the escort say and come out of the room and wait in the hallway. I thanked him before entering the interview room.

The interview room was set up with a compartment here and on the other side for easy conversation... and Byron stood somewhat absent on the other side of the compartment.

There is also a door in the back of the room. It was designed to make it easier to guard someone when they came to see you. Well, I wonder if it's also convincing to make these because the lord and his successor are the main visitors.

Close the door and face each other - Byron looks up as if he had decided to. And -.

"I apologize for any previous disrespectful behavior or irrational behavior. Sorry, sir."

And he lowered his head when he uttered words of apology.

It's - it's what I expected as Byron's response, but it's also something that I find a little unexpected given my previous relationship.

As for the purpose of my visit... Byron has not informed me. I don't know how I'm going to fall, but "talking" is the reason I'm here.

So Dad says, "Theodore wants to talk. It is a condition that you wish to meet... but if you want to talk, now face it and exchange words properly," he told him.

The purpose and the content of the conversation... leave all judgment to Byron. If not for sure...... maybe nothing makes sense.

So my reaction to this is also determined.

"Please raise your head. I'm here today to talk to you. Whether or not you get an apology right now is something that you can't immediately conclude."

If it's just me. But the change and treatment of Byron will also concern my father and Darryl's future.

You can't even draw conclusions when you allow it cheaply. That's why I've come to talk to you.

"Please sit down first. Let's talk a little bit."

I nodded and sat down in my chair with a strange face when I said that to Byron, who raised his head with a snack.

"On this occasion… I wonder if it might be easier to communicate our feelings with each other, keeping the tone and the way we call it, as it used to be"

With that said, Byron opens his mouth after a little thought.

"Okay. No...... Okay, okay?

"It's not a public place. I'll hang it on my family name and tell her that there's no harm in the tone of the scene."

"... ok"

Byron snorts again. After a little silence, you speak from me.

"You look a little thin."

"I can't help it because boulders aren't allowed to behave like sword training. Although some exercise is allowed to maintain health. Is Theodore... taller?"

"Well. Me... I don't know what to say when I'm here to talk to you today. I've made a promise myself, and I've changed my mind."

I say it as I remember when I was dealing with Byron, before Jing Jiu's memory returned. Did Byron change his mind the same way? The fact that you apologize to me was unthinkable from your old relationship. It's not about me, it's about my father, Darryl, Kathleen and the surroundings, and the answers I've come up with.

"Thinking…"

"I made one promise in battle with someone I thought was my enemy. Although I used to believe that I couldn't tell with someone like that because it was my mother's enemy, and I didn't doubt it. He said he needed to talk to Byron because he wanted to keep his promise... and that's what I felt when I heard he had recently settled down."

That's how I got here to talk to you. So, to live in a way that doesn't contradict that promise, but that doesn't mean forgiving mistakes. Then I'm not looking at Byron myself. Words need to be exchanged properly.

"Right...... I can't say I'm like you, can I? I told you we didn't know each other, but I had no idea you were... living with me."

Byron says so, closing his eyes once, and opens his mouth with a slightly leaning, far-sighted look.

"I am. He succeeded his father, and he believed and didn't suspect that going would be an Earl. A while ago Darryl was... weak and unreliable. I've been meaning to show you how strong I am like my eldest brother since I was aware of my succession. Darryl also...... relied on me. The Knights are praised for their swords."

Yeah. You did. Indeed, Byron was somewhere bragging about his sword arm and working out his body as well. When I looked in its eyes and nodded, Byron also nodded, continuing further.

"While I was doing that, that incident happened. of the Dead Sleeping King, that case...... When I heard that Theodore and the others were going to live together, I had to help them at first... and that's what I thought. Well, if I'm being honest with you, I think there was one too."

From Byron's point of view, my mother and I are concubines and their children. I don't think there's much I can do to complicate my feelings there.

But I think I lost my soul for a while after that incident. Byron told me that he couldn't find the words to say. Dad told me to leave him alone until he got back on his feet, and that's what I told him.

"After that - since you came out in the room... I wonder how it went. I used to think you'd rely on me. But you've always been alone, and that's what makes it sound good. Even if we dined together or trained as knights, we didn't look around. I didn't know what I was thinking. So... oh, I guess."

Yes... it could have been. Didn't Daryl say that, too? Something tells me I seem to be looking at something else. I guess so.

I'm sure I didn't understand Byron, who was about to succeed him as his eldest brother... and Byron would have neglected me even if he didn't speak, as the servants who breathed the breath of his predecessor, Marquis Broderick, could threaten Kathleen's son's succession. I think Kathleen or Byron would have blown that kind of thing in.

So I need to tell Byron exactly how I felt back then and make him understand again.

"I was back then - right. By the time I got out of the room, I'd already cemented my resolve."

"Determined...?

"Fight in front of you... and then look at your mother getting debilitated. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't forgive myself. I don't even have a vengeance anymore. But I don't want to taste this feeling again. All I ever wanted was the power to destroy demons, the power to fight."

The way I chose to do it was to wear magic. I remember seeing knights and soldiers train through the window of the room.

In that, it won't reach the demon. I knew as knowledge that magic could not be denied disadvantage to a manipulative demon, but only enough power to destroy it - because my mother showed me.

Anyone who wanted to protect me - Grace had a path where she could live quietly without me, and I didn't even have the strength to protect her. I was just alone, silently, reading textbooks I had brought out of my father's study and touring the wisdom of art construction on my own.

"Yes, you were."

Byron replied with a slightly more complicated look that he was convinced of when he told him what he thought and what was shady at the time.

"I... I didn't feel like I was dealing with you."

"That's... I was told it was close. He said he was looking somewhere far away. The truth is... I just couldn't afford it. Relationships are also obstinate within it. I thought you hated me."

But I had a purpose at the time, so I thought I didn't care about anything else.

"But I think there is now... I should look around more, I think it was"

Saying so, Byron shook his head sideways.

"That's not why you're allowed to do what I did. I didn't even realize I couldn't afford it. I have to go through time in this position. Even like this... I didn't even think of it"

"I've changed my mind... after all, look at Darryl, is it?

"Oh. Daryl's coming to see me with your father's permission, but it's changed every time."

Byron says with a little face down. Byron's knowing Darryl was weaker, and I guess he was following him behind his back.

That kept changing. My physique is better at farming than my sword. Calm down and start communicating your thoughts.

"Once... I hit eight on Darryl who came to see me... and then I was alone and I felt sorry for myself. I have nothing right now, and it's not like I can do anything. I'm still his brother, so... it's different to interrupt his hard work."

Byron says that much and puts one hand on his face. Byron, who had pride in being his eldest brother, so I know he was shocked to see Daryl growing up as his successor, and I guess he wasn't false in that he cared about Daryl as his brother.

"So when you heard about this one, you thought about seeing me, too?

"Oh. Sometimes I wanted to apologize, but I didn't want to bother Daryl or your father. To be honest, when you meet and think about talking, if you don't forgive me, or if you're thinking about payback... I was afraid of that. It still is. But... but... If you think about what I've done, it's the same thing I've done to you that you're afraid of being good to them when you don't know what's gonna happen to you. So..."

That's why I have to apologize when I see you face to face. Byron said he thought so, looking straight at me, though his face faded a little.

Really? It's not like any of them are real or built before. I guess everything I've just said to tell you is a false feeling for Byron.

I told him about myself. I heard how Byron felt at the time, too. You'll need to return the answer to Byron on top of that.

"Though it's a response to what I just said. I did get your apology. I'm not thinking about payback or annoying Darryl or my father with what we're talking about."

When he tells him that, Byron weakens as if he were frightened. Are you relieved or out of your mind? I'm pretty sure he was nervous about revealing his insides to me.

"Darryl and Kathleen are also reconciled... to tell the truth, I came to talk to you this time for a reason. I'd rather talk and roll in the right direction than leave it hanging at all times."

"Yes, you were."

"It's not just a simple story about my relationship with the Marquis Broderick, because it also combines with his predecessors' factions. Still... moved on. I believe what you just said."

That being said, I am over the compartment, but I offer my hand in search of a handshake. Byron gave me a surprise look, but eventually he nodded with a serious look and took my hand.

"Well... thanks for Daryl, too. Maybe it has something to do with why he's changed."

"I don't know. I probably didn't make a big deal out of it."

Return that to Byron's words. Though Darryl did have some weakness, as Byron put it. It changed because Daryl himself thought a lot, and that must be the same as Byron right now.

But I'm sure it's more important to reflect on it in your way of life and continue to do so than to reflect on it or change your mind again. That must be hard and difficult, and I'm on my way to keeping my word, too.

And when he had told him of it, Byron nodded, and closed his eyes quietly.