Count Frontera couldn't exactly pinpoint when he began to suppress his growing doubts despite believing that Lloyd was his son and he loved and cared for Lloyd more than anyone else.
Since when?
There is no way of knowing, he thought. It wasn't something he could find out even if he tried. There was nothing he could do about it.
No. It might have begun on that day.
Abruptly, his mind flashed to a memory from a few years ago. It had been a night filled with suffocating despair. The stress of his crippling debt and Lloyd's hooligan ways had caused him to sigh aloud when unexpected news arrived on his doorstep. It was about Lloyd's strange construction project that was causing confusion amongst his fiefdom's residents. Suspicious, he sat down with Lloyd at their dinner table to inquire about an odd rumor going around about him and what he was doing in the pub's backyard. Inwardly, the count was pleading with Lloyd to stop causing trouble and start acting his age. He even revealed his prayer to the heavens. Lloyd's response, however, astonished him.
It was completely unexpected. I was surprised.
His eldest son had always been full of disobedience. His rebellious and warped attitude had become a part of him after some point in time. But at that moment, this same son of his was shockingly calm and composed while trying to persuade him. Lloyd explained that he had a plan in mind and asked for his trust and understanding before leaving the dinner table.
Perhaps...
He wanted to believe Lloyd's behavior that day was the miraculous change he had been praying for. Count Frontera lifted his head up to the sky. Now that the flow of time had been unfrozen, he was able to view the night sky filled with light from the moon and stars, clouds, and shooting stars for the first time in months. And his eldest son, Lloyd, was taking a stroll beside him.
"Are you not cold?" asked Count Frontera.
"Oh, I'm good. You know, I've become a swordmaster," Lloyd grinned and said as he turned to face the count. "But, how about you? Your coat is thinner than mine."
"I am fine as well," softly replied Count Frontera. "If I get cold, I can always steal your coat anyway. Isn't that right?"
"Oh, that's an idea."
"Indeed. That's just one perk of raising a healthy son."
"Hahaha." Lloyd laughed.
Lloyd's laughter prompted Count Frontera to smile back. A healthy son. Count Frontera hoped with his entire being that the Lloyd he had dinner with on that day was his son, who had finally come to his senses and turned over a new leaf. Count Frontera direly wanted Lloyd to confirm this with his own mouth.
There would be nothing better than to know I wasn't being selfish and letting my greed blind me from the truth all along.
As Count Frontera belatedly tried to suppress the heavy sigh coming out of him, he was reminded of the floating message in the sky from the Jewel of Truth. The topic of Lloyd's ear-cleaning habits was funny to most people, who were laughing and amazed at seeing the message. However, it broke his heart. The Lloyd he knew despised cleaning his ears and had no such unusual habit. Count Frontera sucked in his breath to suppress another sigh, and he was only able to speak after some time passed.
"So," Count Frontera managed, "You are going to the capital tomorrow?"
"Yes, I am," affirmed Lloyd causally, unaware of the internal chaos brewing in Count Frontera.
"I did not know Miss Bangul already made so many rebars."
"Oh, yes. I've been putting some aside whenever I could. But I thought it would look strange to sell them all at
once."
"Do you mean to Her Majesty?"
"Yes, the rebars are a strategic material, after all. The imperial house may launch an investigation on me if I try selling them in bulk. It would be even more senseless to sell them abroad for the same reason. And besides, no one showed interest in buying all of the rebars at once."
"You are right. No one did," affirmed Count Frontera. "I contacted several buyers, but all of them refused. I would be surprised if the imperial house is interested in them."
"I will make them buy it. It'll be troublesome for us otherwise." Lloyd sounded determined.
Count Frontera knew why. "You are talking about the food storage."
Lloyd nodded. "We didn't receive any royal assistance in the past few months while the flow of time was paused."
The Frontera fiefdom saw a massive increase in population after it received tens of thousands of refugees fleeing from the Monster Domino phenomenon. Making things worse, he had also brought hundreds of ores and elves over the past few months to help him build the dam and Jewel of Truth.
I've been depending on the Maritz Wetland and terraced rice fields to feed everyone. But we've reached our limit. Our food storage will run out soon at this rate.
As a result, the Frontera fiefdom would need quite a bit of assistance from the imperial family. But he didn't have a good reason to ask for any.
Duh. They won't even realize that the flow of time had been paused. I'd just look like I'm whining about the lack of aid that they previously sent on a regular basis.
That was why Lloyd intended to sell the rebars he had been saving in exchange for their generous assistance. This, however, was only his surface reason for visiting the capital.
My real reason for it is to acquire the Tears of Summer.
Organizing his thoughts, Lloyd gazed at the starlit sky. "Well, I'm not sure if it will work. But I suppose I have to give it a shot. Besides, since I have Yong Yong, it won't be difficult for me to travel to the capital."
"Right. You have a point."
"Yes. I also plan to meet with Julian when I get there."
"What a great idea. Please send our regards to him."
"Of course I will." Lloyd suddenly remembered hearing that Julian was back in the capital with his wife after spending some time in the sultan's kingdom following their honeymoon.
It's the kingdom's tradition for the son-in-law of the sultan to live in their palace for at least a year.
That was why Julian could only now return to Magenta and begin working as a palace official.
Tsk. I'm sure Miss Scheherazade has him wrapped around her finger.
The thought brought a smile to Lloyd's face. Thinking of Julian, he added, "Don't worry about him. I plan on kidnapping him for a day and bringing him here."
"Now, now. You can't do that. He finally got to start his job," reproached Count Frontera, masking his interest. Lloyd easily saw through him.
"But don't you miss him?"
"Well, I do, but-"
"Then, just say the word. I'll take care of everything else," assured Lloyd lightly.
Count Frontera zipped his mouth. While he laughed at Lloyd's cheeky assertion, he remembered the things he couldn't bring himself to say out loud.
Once again, a shaft of grief and confusion swept through Count Frontera as he gazed at Lloyd, his eldest son, who suddenly matured in one night and saved his entire family and fiefdom. There were days when he was so overwhelmed with gratitude that he couldn't find any words or actions that fully expressed his feelings to Lloyd. Count Frontera felt apologetic, grateful, perplexed, and moved all at once as he stared at Lloyd. He forcefully swallowed the words rising from deep inside his heart.
I want to tell you everything, Lloyd... But I have no clue as to how I should talk to or ask you about this. I already see you as my precious son. I am grateful for you.
Count Frontera raised his gaze to the sky once more. He was at a loss for words. The sky was incredibly dark and blue, filled with light from the moon and stars, clouds, and shooting stars. He sighed as his heart filled with uncertainty and regret. Unable to distract his mind, he simply reached out and tightly grabbed Lloyd's hand. He hoped his unspoken feelings and thoughts would be conveyed to his son: Whatever you do, whatever you hide, you are my precious son that I will always be thankful for. In the cold and cozy night, they affectionately held each other's hand.
It was a stroll between a father and son or two people who hoped that would become true someday.
♣
When the next morning arrived, Lloyd and Javier hopped on Yong Yong and left the fiefdom. Yong Yong carried the wrapped rebars that Bangul adorably pooped out for them. They spent all day flying until the sun started setting west from the middle of the sky and eventually became replaced by the moon. That was when they arrived in the capital.
"All right. We're going to the capital to have a meeting with the queen, but you're too big to come into the palace. So, what did I tell you to do?"
Clack! Clack!
Yong Yong made an earnest gesture in response to Lloyd's question. Lloyd's lips curled into a contented smile. "Okay, good. You gave the correct answer. Stay here and play until we return. How should you store the rebars until then?"
Clack?
"Right. That's correct. You can't unwrap the oiled paper and expose the rebars to humidity. Do you see that flat rock over there? It looks like the perfect place to play with rebars to kill time."
Claaack!
"Good boy," praised Lloyd. "You're a good boy. Go play over there. Oh, and don't follow any strangers, even if they offer you candy. But don't bite or step on them, either. Got it?"
Clack! Stomp! Stomp! Yong Yong joyfully ran forward with the rebars in its hands. With that sight, Lloyd and Javier crossed into the capital. Although it had been a while since their last visit, the city was as busy as always. The two broke through the crowds and entered the palace. Thankfully, this proved to be a straightforward process.
"Welcome Lloyd Frontera, the meritorious retainer of the imperial family and eldest son of the Frontera family, to the palace. This way, please."
As soon as Lloyd's identity was confirmed, the royal guards' attitudes toward him drastically changed. One of the palace officials hurried out to personally escort him inside upon after receiving a message.
"It is a great honor for me to escort the meritorious retainer of the imperial family. May I ask your reason for visiting the palace today?"
"Oh, I'm here to meet the queen," replied Lloyd.
"Her Majesty, Lord Lloyd?"
"Yes, I have an urgent matter to report to her. Could it be that I stopped by the palace too late at night?" Lloyd asked, just in case.
The official motioned with his hand. "No, that's not it. It's just that Her Majesty is in a meeting with a few officials at the moment, and I'm not sure if she'll be able to see you immediately... But regardless, I'll notify her of your arrival."
"That alone would be much appreciated. Thank you."
For a split second, the official hovered as if he had something to say. Eventually, he managed, "Um... Please forgive me, but you do not have to speak to me so kindly. I am just a lowly palace official..."
"Not at all," replied Lloyd, smiling gently. "I insist on it."
"I see. Please wait here for a second. Well then," he said before taking off.
The wait time, to Lloyd's relief, wasn't very long. When the official came back, his face was filled with a bright smile.
"Her Majesty has agreed to see you. Please. I will escort you to her, Lord Lloyd."
"I appreciate it. Also, did the queen happen to have a message for me by any chance?"
The official stopped and looked at Lloyd. "Oh, there was one thing she ordered me to tell you on our way to her."
"What was it?"
Sheepishly, the official uttered, "Lloyd Frontera, even now, you only come to visit when there's something you want from me. What a cheeky and spiteful man you are." He cleared his throat afterward.
Okay, this isn't going to be an easy day, Lloyd thought to himself as he followed the man into the main palace with a bitter smile. After passing through countless corridors and stairs, he arrived at the palace's largest and most magnificent room, the "Hall of the Ruler."
The hall was massive, with an oppressive amount of space. He walked down the red carpet in the center of the floor, came to a halt near the throne, and got down on one knee. "I, Lloyd Frontera, the meritorious retainer of the imperial family, am honored to be in the audience of the rightful ruler of this land." He announced while looking around him.
Is the meeting still ongoing?
There were a lot of people in the hall. Queen Magentano was sitting on her throne, and there were dozens of people lined up on both sides of the red carpet. Among them, Lloyd recognized a few familiar faces.
That man is the Head of the House of Peers. The rest of the people here are nobles who hold considerable power in the capital.
It wasn't an understatement to say that almost all influential officials of the kingdom were gathered here. This There were a lot of people in the hall. Queen Magentano was sitting on her throne, and there were dozens of people lined up on both sides of the red carpet. Among them, Lloyd recognized a few familiar faces.
That man is the Head of the House of Peers. The rest of the people here are nobles who hold considerable power in the capital.
It wasn't an understatement to say that almost all influential officials of the kingdom were gathered here. This put a big smile on Lloyd's face.
Perfect.
It was his natural reaction as he thought about what he was about to do from now on. His plan would be more likely to succeed with more witnesses who possessed great influence and status. This was the ideal scenario he envisioned in his head. He waited while having these thoughts to himself.
"Lloyd Frontera, raise your head," came Queen Magentano's voice.
Lloyd raised his head in response to the queen's command. He then prayed desperately in his heart, remembering his deal with Gabriel and hoping to obtain the Tears of Summer with the angel's help soon.
All right, Minster. It's your turn now. Three! Two! One!
The moment Lloyd counted to three...
Fwoosh! A brilliant ray of light suddenly filled the hall as an angel from Heaven descended down with his wings spread wide open. Lloyd's lips curled in satisfaction as the officials were overcome with fear and admiration. Everything went as planned.
