When My Enemies Began to Regret

It was only after hearing her explanation that Haniel was able to understand the sentence just now. If that explanation is true, you will be okay even after drinking poison or getting stabbed by a sword within the set cycle. Europa couldn’t turn her body back to her past. So, she needs to be kept as healthy as possible.

“I’m sorry, Sister-in-law. I didn’t know Europa would be like this.”

“…”

“Sister-in-law suffers from lung disease every morning, and now that’s going to happen for the rest of your life…”

Haniel Felton has been suffering from various illnesses for several years. She barely survived her life by making good medicine with the money from Carl. Still, now she couldn’t even remember the last time she had run around the grassland to her heart’s content.

“I have to live in this body for decades or more…?” Haniel put her hand on her chest and looked serious.

Fanora, who was watching it, said in a small voice, “Are you okay with that?”

She couldn’t even run, and she was in such a bad state that she spit out dark phlegm due to her old lung disease. In a way, living like that for eternity could have been torture.

“…”

Haniel Felton held the holy relic in her arms, and her eyes began to redden. Clear tears soon flowed down from her eyes, which were as delicate as white feathers.

“Sister-in-law…”

Carl thought his sister-in-law was crying because he was disappointed. But the answer from the person who burst into tears was different.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Lady Felton…”

“If I could survive even in this worn-out body, I would live for hundreds of years. I don’t want to die.”

The tears she shed were none other than tears of joy.

“It’s natural to be happier if you survive and live your life…”

Born sick, she knew from an early age that she would not live long. So, it had been a long time since she gave up her expectations for the future.

“If I have this, will I be able to see a play in that building that will be completed in 5 years?”

“…”

“If I have a lot of time to practice, even my poor knitting skills can improve, right? And…”

Now, she could do it. From now on, there was no need to give up hope and wait for death. Besides, she had one regret of her life.

“If I live for such a long time… Will I be able to meet that reincarnated person someday?”

“…!”

“I have so many regrets. I can’t die yet.”

Looking at the distant sky with a tearful gaze, she immediately dropped her head.  Haniel bowed her head again and again to the two people who gave her a new life.

“Thank you. I don’t know what to say to you all to express my feelings…!”

Carl’s eyes grew red as he saw his sister-in-law’s joy. However, Fanora had a subtle expression on her face even as she watched the touching situation.

“…”

Some people were impatient to throw away all the remaining years of their lives. This thought suddenly occurred to her when she saw Haniel Felton crying while holding Europa dearly.

Looking back now, she felt like she had never seriously considered the weight of life. Although she has often heard here and there that life is precious. As she had never experienced the death of someone dear to her, the weight of her life was even more unknown.

“…”

Even though she didn’t value herself, she once tried to avoid a difficult situation by taking her life. Deep inside, she simply felt the value of her life. Losing your life is unfortunate. And your life can be easily taken away for revenge.

“

”

“Sister-in-law, here’s a handkerchief.”

“Thank you, Carl…”

However, seeing such a brilliant will for life, she finally felt the value of life, which felt distant.

She felt a vague sense of guilt now. Those who have already died will not return no matter what you do. Perhaps this irreversibility of death itself suggests the value of life.

“

being happy is being happy, but… We have a guest, so I can’t leave it standing outside forever.”

“Yes?”

“Excuse me, Lady Celsius. If it’s okay, would you like to come inside and eat with us?”

Of course, Haniel could not have known Fanora’s heart. Having stopped crying, she turned around and spoke calmly. She then invited Fanora formally to the mansion.

“Of course, Lady Felton.”

“If the marriage hadn’t been annulled, Sister-in-law would have been called Madam Andras.”

“Ah, was I rude?”

“Don’t take Carl’s words seriously. It’s all in the past.”

Now, the succession of Europa is over. They decided to hold a banquet to celebrate the fulfillment of their long wish.

* * *

After a while, Fanora sat down at the simple dining table and looked around. The spring sunlight came in through the window. All of the food prepared for the meal was soft and easy to digest.

“My family’s fortunes have plummeted for a long time. Due to the lack of workers, we can’t even serve proper food. I apologize.”

“No. I really like that the vegetables look fresh.”

The meal that followed was normal. Fanora, who was invited, enjoyed the meal with satisfaction. And by the time she had finished eating the prepared food, she stood up one step ahead.

“Then I’ll move the luggage in the carriage to the room.”

The sun has already set. Since moving at such a late hour was difficult, the two decided to stay at this mansion today.

“Should I help you, Lady Fanora?”

“It’s okay. It’s been a while since you met your sister-in-law, so have a talk with her.”

Fanora seemed to like the quiet atmosphere of this mansion.  She left the room with a natural smile around her mouth.

“…”

“…”

There was a moment of silence in the dining room when Fanora left. However, after a while, Haniel, who had noticed, was the first to break the silence.

“She’s a good person.”

“Right?”

“So, did you fall in love with her?”

Carl gushed out the carrot juice he was drinking for dessert. “

!”

“I’m sorry if I surprised you.”

“N-n-no. That… Is that obvious?” He asked in a surprised tone even as he coughed in a wheeze.

Then Haniel tilted her head with a gentle face. “Of course I’ll give my blessing. This is the first time you’ve introduced someone, right?”

“Yes.”

“If marchioness knew we were still in contact, she wouldn’t sit still. You were always careful when you came to see me. That’s why you didn’t bring any friends.”

“…”

“…Wait, you have friends, right?”

How can his sister-in-law speak like that so clearly every time they meet? Carl drank his juice, avoiding her eyes. Only Haniel’s soft voice filled the dining room as he was silent.

“Anyway, I’m so glad you found a good person too. Your older brother will feel relieved now.”

“I hope so.”

Apparently, when she first saw him, he was a small kind. Now, he’s bringing his loved one with him. Haniel looked proudly at the grown Carl. But those eyes soon changed.

“But there’s a story I heard from that lady before we came to the dining room.”

“Yes? Ah, when I went to organize my luggage?”

“Yes, I heard there will be a war soon.”

Haniel turned from her chair to tell an important story. Soon, the two were facing each other.

“Lady Celsius said she would help me evacuate. Moreover, she said that even if I had eternal life, I would need money to support myself for a while, so she would also provide that money.”

“!”

“I tried to refuse it, but looking at the documents she brought, I think she has already made up her mind.”

Carl looked surprised when he heard her.

She’s a benefactor for whom he will be grateful for the rest of his life, just for helping him get Europa. But Fanora didn’t stop there and prepared her next move. She tried to give some of the funds she made from selling the mine she owned to Haniel.

“So I intend to move far away as she suggested.”

“To where?”

“I have a place that comes to mind, but I don’t know if it’s right to tell you this.”

“Can I ask why?” Carl blinked and focused on the story.

As Haniel looked into his eyes, the dead man came to her mind. She definitely thinks Carl didn’t have eyes like that when he was young. For some reason, the older he got, the more kind-hearted his eyes became, just like his older brother.

“Because I’ve been a burden to you all this time.”

“…!”

“Thank you so much for taking care of me so far. I wouldn’t even be alive until now if it wasn’t for you.”

“Sister-in-law.”

“’ I will definitely bring Europa, so don’t die in the meantime.’ Those words were so comforting.”

Her words harden Carl’s complexion. He put down the cup in his hand with strength and said, “What are you talking about? Speaking of burden, I—”

“I already knew that this is your own way of atonement.”

But Haniel’s attitude seemed determined.

“So let’s end this. You were satisfied with this too.”

No matter how simple a person may seem, if you look at their inside, they have their own difficulties. Carl was a person who suffered much more than he appeared. It was because of the guilt he learned from his sister-in-law.

“Our poor Young Master…”

“…”

“Carl, now live your life instead of trying to take your older brother’s responsibility.”

Haniel declared to Carl that he shouldn’t be involved in her future life. She meant she would take care of Europa and move to another kingdom, so he shouldn’t worry about her anymore.

Carl nodded to his sister-in-law’s words for thinking about him. “Yes, Sister-in-law.”

It was a good thing that he had no intention of clinging to atonement any longer than this. However…

“Well, by the way.”

Haniel opened her mouth as she stared at Carl as if she still had something to say.

“The black-haired lady you brought here asked me a favor.”

“Lady Fanora?”

“She asked me to persuade you to not go to war.”

Carl opened his eyes wide as if he hadn’t thought she’d even told his sister-in-law this. But Haniel spoke in a urging voice, whether he was surprised or not.

“It seems that your eyes still light up at the sight of blood.”

“

”

“Even though you fixed everything else, you still couldn’t get rid of your Andras’s nature.”

“It’s hard.”

“You’re such a good boy, but I can’t understand that.”

Haniel has long been averse to fighting. She didn’t even want her husband to wield a sword, even for training. So, when she first learned what her husband’s siblings were like, she was terrified for a while.

“…Does she know you’re this kind of person?”

“Yes.”

“She wasn’t scared?” His sister-in-law had a shadowy face.

The person Carl brought with him, Fanora Celsius, is a noble lady with considerable dignity. It was natural for her to worry that if such a woman knew Carl’s true nature, she would be shocked. However, this worry quickly melted away with Carl’s subsequent answer.

“Yes. She’s different.” Carl spoke confidently with clear eyes.

“Fanora of the Celsius family had never been afraid of me, even after seeing me fight in person. In her eyes, I look like an ordinary person, not a monster,” he added.

“…”

Haniel couldn’t keep her mouth shut when he heard him. She clearly knows what Carl looks like when he fights, but there’s a noble lady who isn’t scared by it?

“Propose her right now!”

“Why are you making such a fuss, Sister-in-law?”

It seems that he’s somewhat embarrassed by the advice on love.

Carl got up from his seat with an ambiguous expression, saying, “Let’s stop talking about this.”

Fanora was later than he expected, so he wanted to check on her.

“Carl.”

Haniel looked up at the big man and said, “You have had a bad habit since you were young. You hate it when other people lie, but you often do that yourself.”

“Yes?”

“Why did you tell her something you didn’t even mean?”