A Day of Disaster (6): Grandpa and His Daughter

Summing up Rapiria-sama's account, Lufa had been abandoned by her birth family, and the priest of Riflea who was supposed to adopt her had taken her in to use her as a sacrifice.

As long as she had a stepmother, returning to her family home was impossible. Going to Riflea meant accepting death—all for the sake of the ridiculous beliefs of some deranged people.

Another reason had arisen why we could not afford to lose.

If Ludeck fell, I didn't know what would become of Lufa. I couldn't accept that. Absolutely not.

"Lufa... Would you become my adopted daughter?"

Suddenly, Zackhart-sama spoke up.

"Huh? But..."

Lufa widened her eyes slightly, then let her gaze wander awkwardly.

"I understand why you're confused, Lufa. But I didn't decide this on a whim just now."

"What do you mean?" When Rapiria-sama intervened, Zackhart-sama puffed out his chest as if to say he was glad she had asked.

"As you know, Rapiria, the Rodel family has already passed its headship to my son, and he is well into adulthood. My grandchildren are nearing adulthood as well, so there is no problem whatsoever with preserving our family name."

"Yes."

"Therefore, there will be no dispute over succession. I had already sensed last time, if only vaguely, that Lufa had nowhere to turn. I took a liking to this girl, so if our family would do, I wanted to make our home a place she could return to. I had already broached the idea of adopting a child with my son. He said I could do as I pleased. That's why I sent Lufa a letter asking her to come visit Gadeland."

"So you intended this from the very beginning, Zackhart-sama?"

"Of course, I never intended to force her into it. I had planned to discuss it with Lufa during this visit. But after hearing what you just told me, I've begun to think that, even if it's a bit forceful, it would be better to welcome her into my family. If she became a daughter of the Rodel family, surely that would make it less likely for another fool like that to appear, wouldn't it?"

Zackhart-sama's proposal seemed to me the best option available under the circumstances. As he said, becoming a daughter of the Rodel family would dramatically change how people treated her. The daughter of Zackhart-sama, who had supported this nation for so long—there was hardly a more powerful deterrent.

But...

Whether consciously or not, Lufa had been gripping my sleeve tightly ever since.

If she became Zackhart-sama's daughter, wouldn't that mean parting from the Tenth Knight Order?

Lufa had been betrayed by her parents, then betrayed by an adoptive father she had never even met. The Tenth Knight Order was the place she had finally found. Wouldn't the fear of giving that up be too cruel a burden for a girl to bear? Zackhart-sama would surely treat her well. But she would be entering an environment where she knew no one else. Wouldn't that be too cruel a choice to put before a girl?

But if I stopped her now and Zackhart-sama withdrew the adoption offer, what would become of Lufa's life from here on? Could the Tenth Knight Order continue looking after her forever?

But Lufa had only just begun to open her heart—to me, Rapiria-sama, Dick, Wickhart, Nelfia, Sazaby, Ryuzel, and Frein. She was finally, truly beginning to let us in.

I had to say something. Before I could gather my thoughts, I blurted out, "Um!"—but Zackhart-sama continued before I could say more.

"Your affiliation can remain unchanged—you can stay with the Tenth Knight Order."

Zackhart-sama gazed kindly at Lufa as she clutched the hem of my clothes.

"However, even as an adopted daughter, surely we can't have a daughter of the Rodel family working as a menial in the Tenth Knight Order?" Wickhart voiced his concern.

"Then just make her a regular member," Rapiria-sama suggested.

"Wouldn't it be difficult for her to become one that easily?"

"I have an idea. Zackhart-sama, would it be all right if Rays-sama gave you a proper answer about this later? And Lufa, you should accept this offer. Whether you can remain with the Tenth Knight Order may depend on you, but remember this: ultimately, the only thing that can protect you is your own decision. You're free to refuse this offer, too, but make your choice only after firmly engraving in your heart that refusing is also your decision."

Rapiria-sama was amazing. I hadn't been able to do anything.

At Rapiria-sama's words, Lufa released my sleeve.

Then, with a fierce light in her eyes,

"I would like to accept Grandpa Zack's offer. But I want to stay with the Tenth Knight Order," she said, her voice growing slightly choked with tears at the end, yet remaining firm.

"Leave it to me!" Rapiria-sama thumped her chest.

Thinking it best to leave this matter to Rapiria-sama, we—including Zackhart-sama—frantically tried to comfort Lufa, who had begun crying in earnest.

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The next day, once Lufa's situation had settled down for the time being.

The final day of our stay in Gadeland.

We planned to spend one night in Ruelue on the way home, just as we had on the way there, so we intended to depart around noon. Zackhart-sama had also made sure to keep his schedule free for the day, apparently intending to spoil Lufa to his heart's content. He was raring to visit the places we hadn't managed to see yesterday, looking every inch the doting grandfather.

Someone barged into the room, disturbing that brief peace.

"Hey, hey! Zackhart! I come back after ages and what the hell is all this commotion? The backstreets are in an uproar, like someone poked a hornet's nest!"

The one who flung the door open while addressing Zackhart without an honorific was Northvel-sama, commander of the navy.