The Lufian Family 15

One week has passed since the battle against the bandits. One week has passed since Win’s homecoming.

Win has settled back into his life at home easily. Everyone acts as though nothing has happened. Everyone accepts Calliope’s presence as though she has always belonged. Nobody wants to mention anything. All they want is for Win’s flight to turn to ash and be blown away on the wind. They are all more than happy to act as though waking from a bad dream. Win, too, accepts this. He had rejected everything for so long, and as such, just having it all once more is enough for him.

Win, Calliope, and the Lufian family finish a small midday meal. For the whole week, Calliope, still learning to speak once more, has been somewhat anxious, almost disturbed. To see people accept her without question and not speak of anything that has happened caught her off-guard. Even she can feel that it is strange. Win and Calliope stand and leave the table. They walk to the manor’s small infirmary. However, when they come to the bed, they find that Rolant has vanished. A doctor walks in behind him, and Win begins to speak with him.

“Doctor, do you know where Rolant has gone off to?” The doctor looks entirely clueless.

“What do you mean ‘gone off,’ Lord Winfred? I had only stepped out a moment and he was unconscious in bed then.” The doctor sees the empty bed and sighs.

“Don’t worry, doctor, I’ll find him.”

As Win and Calliope begin their search, Rolant is rushing through the halls. He needs even just a short moment alone, away from Win and Calliope. He doesn’t know where Dagobert is, so all he can do is run around aimlessly, hoping to wander into him. It pays off in the end, and he finds Dagobert, looking dignified, walking around the manor to idle away. Dagobert, healthy and young, begins to talk first.

“Ah, it appears you’ve recovered then. You’re one of Win’s companions, aren’t you. Allow me to thank you for watching over my son.”

“To call it watching over him… that’s far too much. However, I would like to make a request in this same vein, if you would allow me to.” Dagobert smiles gracefully.

“You are a hero who protected my family and my house. To hear a request is the least I could do.” Rolant lowers himself to the ground and prostrates himself before Dagobert.

“Lord Margrave, I am Rolant Guiscard. Once I was a knight, then I travelled the land without aim. Your son saved my life in Ord, and it is him who gave me purpose once more. Lord Margrave, please take me as a knight and allow me to serve your son dutifully until this life comes to an end. Even in this old and weak body, I wish to accompany that man along his path. It is for that reason I wish to fight.”

“If all you desire is knighthood, then I would give it without another word. To have men such as you in my household is an honor. We can have ceremony later, I knight you, Sir Guiscard. However, to serve my son is another matter altogether. He is a particular child, and if he will not have you then I cannot compel him to take you. It is he you ought to be asking rather than I.” Rolant raises himself to kneel before Dagobert.

“Very well, Lord Margrave.”

Rolant stands and begins to search out Win. Soon after, Dagobert spots Win and Calliope. He decides it best to help Rolant along and beckons to them.

“Win, Calliope, come here a moment.” They pause their search.

“Yes, father?”

“Sir Guiscard was just looking for you. It’d be best for you to speak with him.” Win seems irritated as he answers him.

“Where did Rolant go?”

“Is something wrong, Win?”

“Rolant disappeared from the infirmary.”

“Truly? He seemed in good health to me.” Win sighs.

“If he’s alright then what does it matter? I’ll find him later. Father, I have something I need to tell you. If you’ll allow it, please allow me to be your heir. Father, I will become the margrave, as you have long wished. However… before that day comes, please allow me to return to traveling.”

“You wish to leave once more? Can you tell me why?”

“Strength, wisdom, and kindness. Those are the qualities of a good lord. I believe that I can best cultivate them by traveling. So please, allow me to go.”

“It seems you’ve thought about this properly. Very well then. Feel free to journey around. Just promise to return to us.”

“Of course, father, I have no intention otherwise. This is my home, after all. Thank you.”

“If you’ll return to your travels soon, then might I make a suggestion?”

“A suggestion?”

“Indeed. You see, several days after you vanished, we received a letter from Duke Leafa. It seems his daughter took a liking to you, and asked if she might meet with you again soon. We didn’t know where you were, so we did not know how to respond, and so he never sent a proper response.”

“F-father, surely that letter was just a polite message. Surely Lady Adalhaid doesn’t care for me, after how I acted. So, wouldn’t it be better to simply send a vague response back?”

“It’s too late for that now, Win. Strength, wisdom, and kindness, there’s no better place to learn those virtues than here! You must go, Win!”

“Y-yes, father. This is quite the mess we’ve made for ourselves, isn’t it.”

“Indeed it is. I’ll prepare gifts for her and the duke.”

“I’ll prepare a gift for Lady Adalhaid on my own, if that’s alright. I ought to apologize anyway.”

“Then let us make the preparations.”

Father and son go their separate ways. As Win and Calliope walk, Win turns to look at her.

“Calliope, it is as I said to my father. I intend to continue my journey to nowhere in particular. Will you accompany me?” She responds cheerily.

“Of course.”

“I’m glad. Would you like another notebook?” Calliope shakes her head.

“No. Talking like this is just fine. I quite like it.”

“I see. I’m glad we can continue our talks.”

“Win, who is this ‘Lady Adalhaid?’”

“Ah, it doesn’t matter much. You’ll meet her soon regardless. She’s the daughter of a duke. I refused to marry her before I ran away.”

“Huh?! M-marry?!”

“Ah, I found Rolant.”

Win rushes off to catch Rolant, leaving the shocked Calliope behind. He appears before Rolant.

“I heard from my father that you needed to speak with me?” Rolant kneels before him, bowing his head.

“Indeed, Lord Winfred. Please, allow me to be your knight.”

“Knight? Shouldn’t you be talking with my father, then.”

“No. I don’t wish to serve your august father the margrave, nor do I wish to serve the esteemed Lufian family. It is you I wish to serve. It is you I want as my sole lord and master.”

“Rolant, I will be leaving the house once more. You are but an old man now, are you sure you still wish to serve me? Won’t it be better to wait for me here?”

“Don’t be foolish, little lord. Though perhaps it would be better for me to enjoy my twilight years in peace, I could not do so. A man like you will come only once in a lifetime. It would bring me far greater joy to accompany you to the ends of the world than to live with even the greatest riches. I wish to be your knight.”

“Very well, Rolant. I knight you. We can go through the formalities later. And please don’t force yourself to speak in a certain way. Even just being called ‘Lord Winfred’ feels disturbing enough.” Rolant smiles, his head still bowed.

“Thank you, little lord.” Calliope joins them after catching up. Win smiles.

“I’ve thought of something I need to attend to. Accompany me.”