I Want to Live a Normal Life - Episode 13: Short Story: Marquis Lloyd Belgard

Episode 13: Short Story: Marquis Lloyd Belgard

“Damn you, Miltia! I will never forgive you!”

Marquis Lloyd Belgard, the head of the neutral faction, slammed his fists on the desk in a fit of rage. Known as a mild-mannered man, he was now engulfed in intense anger and deep sorrow. Late at night, a mountain of evidence concerning the crimes of the royal family, the pro-war faction, and the Miltia Church had been delivered by the former Count Hale Obraine. Whether it was by chance or by the guidance of the ‘spirits’ that he picked up that particular document is unknown.

The Belgard family is widely known as the “House Blessed by the Spirits.” The first Lord Belgard, known as the ‘Beloved Child of the Spirits,’ was said to have made a covenant with the spirits, and many in the family possess the ability to sense spirits. The current head, Lloyd Belgard, is one of them, having felt the presence of spirits from a young age.

Lloyd Belgard has four sons and one daughter with his legal wife. The eldest and third sons possess the ability to sense spirits, ensuring the future of the marquisate. The eldest daughter is already married, and the second son is involved in managing the territory. The youngest son is expected to have a bright future as a talented guard knight skilled in spear techniques.

However, there was one more son, unknown to the rest of the family. This was Freek, born to a lower-ranking noblewoman Lloyd met during his school days. The woman married a merchant by her family’s orders shortly after becoming pregnant with Freek, and Lloyd only learned of Freek’s existence when she was on her deathbed, with Freek being six years old. Upon learning of Freek, Lloyd sent trusted subordinates to the merchant’s household to provide protection and receive regular reports.

For over twenty years, Lloyd monitored Freek’s growth through these reports. Freek learned the trade from his foster father, got married, and had a child—a lovely girl with the same silver hair as the woman Lloyd once loved. Reading these reports about Freek and his family was Lloyd’s greatest comfort.

Two months ago, these reports stopped. Freek’s foster father passed away, and Freek, who had become the head of the merchant household, along with his family and Lloyd’s subordinates, went missing. Utilizing the marquisate’s information network, Lloyd searched desperately but could only gather fragmentary information. The perpetrators had eluded even this network, suggesting only a handful of organizations could be responsible, making it difficult to act recklessly. As he collected and analyzed information daily, a revelation came that felt like ‘the guidance of the spirits.’

—

“Father, what is that outfit!?”

“I am about to storm the Miltia Temple and take the bishop’s head! Only those unafraid of death, follow me!”

“The bishop!?”

“What’s happened, Father? This is unlike you.”

“I will explain everything once this is over. But for now, let me go. Please!”

“But, Father—”

“I’m coming with you. Brother, you stay. Just in case.”

“Nevil!?”

“…Sorry.”

“Father has never been this angry before. I’m curious to see what those bastards have done.”

“Sigh… Alright. But don’t take the bishop’s head. Settle for two or three arms. And you must explain everything later, okay?”

“…Alright, I promise.”

“Nevil, make sure Father doesn’t go too far.”

“Got it.”

Upon learning that the moderate faction was heading to the royal castle, Marquis Belgard set his sights on the Miltia Temple. He ordered the nobles and his subordinates to support the moderate faction and counter the pro-war faction, then led a few dozen soldiers to assault the temple amidst the chaos. The troops, led by Marquis Belgard with a furious expression, overwhelmed the temple knights with surprisingly strong physical enhancements and powerful magic.

The temple members, caught off guard by the sudden attack, were unable to fight as they normally would, and many were killed. Bishop Bulmorn and his ‘Apostles of Miltia’ put up resistance, but the apostles were defeated, and the bishop was captured, missing an arm. This battle further elevated the renown of the Belgard family as the ‘House Blessed by the Spirits.’

—

“So, we had another brother, and his family was killed by those people?”

“Yes…”

“So that’s what it was. I should’ve cut off another arm.”

“I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”

“Ah, I don’t mind, but what about big brother?”

“Neither do I. I was surprised, though.”

“I see, thank you.”

“…And? Did you tell Mother?”

“…I was planning to, when the time was right—”

“My dear, I’d love to hear more about this story.”

“—Yurina!?”

Despite the blessings of the “spirits”, never defy your wife. On this day, a new family motto was born in the Belgard household.

“Oh, well, you see… Um, actually—”

“I’m not angry about that.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve been married to you for twenty-seven years. I’ve never doubted your affection, even now.”

“Uh, well…”

“Why did you keep it hidden?”

“T-that’s… Well…”

“Listen. If you had consulted with me about Freek, we could have welcomed him into our family and provided support as the Belgard household. Then, this wouldn’t have happened. Am I wrong?”

“T-that’s…”

“In this manner, does our marquisate stand honorably before Freek’s mother? Can you say you’ve fulfilled your responsibilities as a father?”

“Ugh…”

—

“…Ugh, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Mother so angry.”

“…Ah, but it’s not like—”

“Neil, Nevil! Listen up, both of you!”

“”Wh-what? Y-yes!””

“If you have women and children outside, you must fulfill your responsibilities to them properly. If you can’t do that… Do you understand?”

“”Yes!!””

[[[Wow, that’s strong!]]]
[[[So cool!]]]