Side Story 33. [After Story] The Invitation
During the autumn festival.
Veterans, including Chain, spent their time wandering various parts of Crossroad.
According to the Crossroad War Memorial project, various sites from the past battles had been preserved along with commemorative monuments, stretching from the southern wall to the open fields.
“Wasn’t this the starting point of the kill zone?”
“You mean the place where we built that ‘damn wall’?”
“I remember planting landmines over there.”
“Wow, we really went through a lot…”
The old soldiers toured the fierce battlegrounds under the guidance of a guide. Each of them was lost in their own memories.
As they moved further south, the vast orchards of the Cross family spread out before them.
Now expanded significantly, the orchard was heavy with ripening fruit. Next to it stood the winery, completed a few years ago.
Inside the winery, shelves were filled with test batches of wine that had yet to be released as products. Evangeline, the owner, personally uncorked a new bottle and offered tastings to her guests.
“Wow, what is this? It clings to the tongue!”
“You could sell this right now! Is this the power of the southern sun?”
“Ha, to think that such fine fruit wine could be produced in this frontier, where all we used to get were monstrous beasts…”
Members of the Gambler’s Club kept exclaiming as they sipped their wine. Evangeline laughed and handed each of them a bottle as a gift.
For Sid, the Cross twins, and Chain’s grandson, a different drink was served—a sweet mixture of preserved fruit and milk. The children, who had quickly grown close, giggled as they drank.
And so, as they enjoyed each other’s company, time flew by in an instant…
–—
The last day of the festival.
The lord’s mansion, already bustling due to the festival’s aftermath, grew even more lively. The reason?
An unexpected visitor.
“Daddy’s home!”
It was Lucas.
Carrying a pile of luggage, Lucas returned to Crossroad with a wide grin, spreading his arms open. The ones most surprised were Evangeline and the twins.
“Whoa?! Uncle?! Is this a dream or real?!”
“Daddy?”
“It’s really Daddy!”
Evangeline and the twins raced toward him, competing to be the first to cling to him.
Lucas effortlessly lifted his wife in one arm and the twins in the other.
“You crazy man, at least give us a heads-up when you’re coming!”
“Sorry, sorry. It was a sudden trip.”
Lucas gave a sheepish smile at Evangeline’s scolding. Meanwhile, the twins clung tightly to him, pouting their lips.
“Kiss me, Daddy!”
“Me too! Hurry! Hurry!”
“Hey, hey, don’t bite! Daddy will give kisses one at a time!”
Lucas yelped as the kids nibbled at his cheeks. Then, Evangeline joined in.
“What?! Don’t just kiss the kids, kiss me too!”
“Wait your turn—ahh! That hurts! Daddy’s in pain, kids!”
As Lucas was bombarded with nibbles and kisses from his wife and children, laughter filled the room.
Watching the harmonious family scene, the others chuckled.
“Sir Lucas used to be so different…”
“He was more like a sharpened blade back then.”
“But isn’t this better?”
“As long as he’s happy, it’s all good~”
After the commotion settled, Lucas looked around the mansion’s reception room, nodding at the gathered faces.
“Good. Everyone’s here.”
He reached into his bag and pulled out a bundle of letters.
“This is the reason I came to Crossroad.”
As they opened the luxurious envelopes and read the contents, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
Lucas nodded.
“Our lord… Crown Prince Ash will be ascending the throne.”
“…!”
“These are invitations to his coronation.”
Ash’s coronation.
Everyone in this room had been invited.
Violet, stunned, pointed at herself with her index finger.
“Uh, wait. Us too?”
The names were clearly engraved on the invitations, but she asked again, unable to believe it.
Lucas smiled.
“Everyone who fought together on the Monster Front has been invited.”
“Holy—”
“I know you’re all busy, but we sincerely hope you can attend and honor the occasion.”
“Busy or not, we have to go to this!”
The coronation of the new Emperor of Everblack.
To be invited as a personal friend of the Emperor—such an honor was priceless.
The room erupted in excited chatter. Meanwhile, Lucas carefully made his way across the room.
“It’s been a while, Chain.”
He approached Chain, who looked at him with sharp yet knowing eyes. Sitting across from him, Lucas placed an invitation in front of him.
“Will you come?”
“…”
“Of course, you’re welcome to bring your family as well.”
Lucas carefully opened the invitation and read its contents aloud to Chain once more.
Though Chain couldn’t grasp every detail, one part stood out.
“His Highness… is summoning me?”
“Yes. His Highness himself.”
“Then, I must go.”
A faint smile spread across the old man’s lips as he clutched the invitation tightly.
“If the Commander needs me, then I will go—no matter the battlefield.”
Lucas, seeing the familiar smile of his old comrade from fifteen years ago, smiled faintly in return.
–—
The next morning.
“Hmm-hmm~ Hmm-hmm-hmm~”
For the first time in a while, Lilly was full of excitement.
With the autumn festival now over, he had been given a day off as a reward for his hard work.
Since early morning, he had been rummaging through his wardrobe.
“What should I wear~?”
“…”
Sid watched his mother from behind before suddenly asking.
“Mother, are you really going all the way to New Terra?”
“Of course! Our prince is ascending the throne! How could I, who once shared life and death with him, not go? And as his godson, you must go too!”
Lilly suddenly turned around with a surprised “Oh my!”
“Now that I think about it, son, this will be your first time in New Terra, won’t it?”
Since Ash had frequently invited them to Bringar Duchy, Sid had visited there a few times. But that meant the farthest place he’d ever been was Bringar Duchy.
The Imperial Capital, New Terra, was completely new to him. Sid awkwardly nodded.
“I’m fine with going… but it’s a long journey. I’m just worried it’ll be hard on you, Mother.”
Lilly couldn’t use her legs.
That was undoubtedly a major reason why the two of them had never traveled far.
“You silly boy. That’s exactly why I should go now.”
Everyone departing from Crossroad for the coronation would be provided carriages by the Cross family. If not now, when else would they have such a comfortable trip?
“I appreciate you worrying about my legs, but—I’m actually looking forward to this. I’m going to enjoy every moment, so don’t fret.”
Dismissing Sid’s concerns, Lilly resumed rummaging through the wardrobe.
“Isn’t there anything to wear~?”
The wardrobe was filled with Sid’s clothes. There were only a few of Lilly’s.
Neatly lined up were Sid’s outfits from childhood to the present. He shook his head.
“You should throw some of my old clothes away.”
“How could I? It’d be such a waste!”
Lilly pulled out one of Sid’s old outfits.
“These are all memories of you growing up. Just looking at them, I can picture exactly how my son grew over the years. Look at this! This is from when you were five! Isn’t it adorable?”
“…I can’t even wear those anymore. You should clear them out and fill this space with new clothes for yourself.”
Now that he thought about it, Sid realized he had rarely seen Lilly dress up.
For work and formal events, she always wore the same old suit. At home, she stuck to loose, worn-out loungewear.
Sid’s clothes, sorted by type and season, filled the wardrobe. But Lilly’s wardrobe consisted of a small corner with only a handful of outfits.
“Should we go clothes shopping, Mother?”
Sid cautiously suggested. Lilly clapped her hands together.
“You’re right! Since we’re going to the coronation, I should get my son a proper suit!”
“No, I meant your clothes—”
“Yes, yes. I should get a new outfit too. After all, it’s His Majesty’s coronation.”
And just like that, a rare mother-son shopping trip was decided.
–—
Crossroad, clothing boutique.
Dressed in a suit for the first time, Sid stood in front of the mirror.
At sixteen, his frame was still boyish, but the suit suited him surprisingly well. Running his fingers over the dark gray jacket, Sid frowned.
‘What a waste of money…’
He knew he would grow taller and broader in the coming years. Spending money on clothes that would be useless after just a few wears felt like a waste.
But it was the coronation of their new emperor. There was no way he could ignore proper attire. Sid let out a small sigh.
‘Since I won’t wear this much, I should get the cheapest option. Mother should get something nice that she can wear for a long time…’
But the opposite happened.
Lilly picked the best suit for Sid while choosing the cheapest formalwear for herself. Now, she was in the fitting room with the help of a store clerk.
“Son!”
A voice called from the fitting area. Sid turned toward it.
“What do you think? Does it look okay?”
Lilly emerged in her wheelchair, now dressed in a deep reddish-brown suit.
It wasn’t anything high-end—one of the budget options in the store. But—
“…You look amazing, Mother.”
Sid spoke with genuine surprise.
He meant it.
Seeing his mother in a new outfit, with makeup for the first time in ages, was unfamiliar yet striking.
For someone who never dressed up, the change was astonishing.
“Really? Is it okay?”
“You look incredible.”
Pleased by the compliment, Lilly beamed. Sid’s chest suddenly ached at the sight.
“It’s been a long time since my son called me pretty. Hehe. This should be good enough for the Imperial Capital, right?”
“…Mother.”
“Yes?”
Sid hesitated, opening and closing his mouth.
Then, he finally voiced something he’d been thinking about for a long time.
“…Have you ever considered remarrying?”
“Cough?! Cough! Cough!”
Lilly nearly choked, coughing violently onto her new suit.
The sheer surprise made her choke. Barely regaining her composure, she looked at Sid with wide eyes.
“W-what? Son, what did you just say?”
“I asked if you’ve thought about remarrying.”
Sid averted his gaze, avoiding Lilly’s stare, but he kept talking.
“You’ve spent all these years struggling to raise me.”
“That’s not—”
“I’m older now. I can take care of myself. Once I start working as a mage, both the Imperial Court and the Ivory Tower will provide me with a salary.”
“…”
“So, maybe… it’s time for you to start living your own life.”
Sixteen years.
His mother had devoted all of them to him.
He had thought about this for a long time—out of both guilt and love.
Not just as his mother, but as an individual.
Lilly’s happiness.
That was all Sid had ever wished for.
His mother was still so young and beautiful. He didn’t want her to spend her entire life only for her child.
“…Son. You know, don’t you?”
Lilly forced a weak smile and shook her head.
“Your father is still missing. He might return someday. And I’m still waiting for him. So…”
“Father—!”
Sid clenched his fists, his voice rising before he barely managed to suppress it.
“He’s not coming back.”
“…”
“He’s never coming back… is he?”
Lilly fell silent.
Looking at his mother’s pale face, Sid bit his lip and turned away.
“…I’m sorry. I’ll go ahead.”
He walked out of the clothing store, striding away with quick, determined steps.
“…”
Lilly remained frozen, watching his retreating figure.
Was it because she was shocked to see her son, who had never once rebelled or shown signs of adolescence, react this way?
Or…
Was it because he had said out loud what she had never dared to admit?
That he was never coming back.
She didn’t know.