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– Sihy? Is something up?
I quickly answered my mother’s concerned question.
“No, everything’s good. Speranza and I are doing well.”
“Ah, I was worried something happened. You had me worried.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
I briefly thought about bringing up the Erul Tribe issue but quickly shook my head and decided against it. I didn’t want to worry my mom, who didn’t know about the situation here.
“Nothing’s wrong?”
“Uh-huh. Everything’s really okay.”
My mom kept asking me if everything was okay several times after that, sensing something was off. I tried to hide any awkwardness and mumbled my responses.
When my mom’s worries seemed to subside, I cautiously asked a question.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“What if, just hypothetically, you couldn’t see Speranza anymore? How would you feel?”
I could sense her surprise over the phone. And then, a bit excitedly, her voice grew louder.
“Why are you like this today? Asking such weird questions all of a sudden.”
“Well, I just had that thought. How would you feel, Mom?”
“What do you mean, how would I feel? I’d be very worried if I couldn’t see my beautiful granddaughter!”
My mom expressed her love for Speranza more intensely than I had anticipated.
“Getting pictures of Speranza from you every day is the best part of my day. Nowadays, with smartphones, you can go to a photo studio, and they’ll print your pictures right away. I’ve even made a beautiful album with her best pictures.”
“Hahaha, when did you make that?”
I pictured my mom making an album with Speranza’s pictures and smiled warmly.
As my mom excitedly talked about the album, she suddenly let out a deep sigh.
“Sometimes I think about this. It’s a blessing for us to have such a beautiful and lovely child-like Speranza, but her real family, who can’t see her, must be struggling.”
“……”
“I don’t know what their situation is, but those poor, pitiful people who are separated from their families must be so sad and heartbroken.”
Hearing my mom’s sympathetic words, my heart ached.
“That’s why you should always be grateful for Speranza and take good care of her. For those unknown people who might be worrying about Speranza, too.”
“Yeah, I got it. Don’t worry about me taking care of Speranza.”
“And…”
“…?”
I heard a bit of a grumbling voice on the other end of the line.
“When are you going to bring Speranza and the kids over? You keep saying farm work’s keeping you busy and haven’t come by in ages.”
Um…
It looked like this was the main point of the conversation. I stuttered while trying to explain to my mom.
“Mom, I’m not just making stuff up. I’ve been swamped with work. The farm stuff and… I’m the lord here, so I’ve got a ton of stuff to handle in the territory.”
“Lords don’t get days off? And didn’t you say the deer guy and the blond one were taking care of the territory work, not you?”
My mom brought up Lagos and Locus, putting pressure on me.
I couldn’t come up with a good excuse since I didn’t do as much as those two.
“If this keeps up, Speranza might forget what her grandma looks like.”
“Alright, alright. As soon as I’m done with this work, I promise I’ll bring Speranza and the kids over.”
Once I reassured her a few times that I’d visit soon with the kids, the hurt in my mom’s voice eased up.
“Tell Speranza her grandma loves her. And say hi to everyone on the farm for me.”
“Sure thing. Give me a ring if anything comes up.”
After hanging up, quietness came back to the hallway outside my room.
I didn’t head back into my room; instead, I leaned against the hallway wall for a bit, thinking about the chat I just had with my mom.
As the moonlight from the window at the end of the hallway streamed in, a determined glint shone in my eyes.
The next day.
After a quick breakfast, the farm members gathered together.
Even those who weren’t at the estate yesterday seemed to have heard the story already, and they all looked kinda serious.
As soon as everyone sat down, Kaneff started talking. Compared to his usual hesitance, he seemed super engaged.
“Y’all know the story, right?”
Kaneff looked around and then asked me straight up.
“So, what’s the plan? You haven’t made up your mind yet, have you?”
“I made a decision.”
Everyone’s eyes were on me.
“I can’t just let this slide. I know it’s risky, but I want to do whatever it takes to let Speranza see her maternal grandmother.”
I talked calmly about the decision I made for myself.
Some members frowned, others nodded as they expected it, and some even supported my decision with bright expressions.
The reactions were all over the place, but no one opposed or denied my decision.
Even Kaneff, who I thought would be most opposing, just showed a displeased expression.
Maybe because everyone here had similar feelings for Speranza, they seemed to understand my decision to a certain extent.
Andras quickly got his thoughts in order and led the conversation.
“Since we don’t have much time, we need to get ready quickly.”
“I’m sorry, Andras.”
Although it was a decision I made on my own, I couldn’t bear the responsibility alone.
I felt bad for relying on their help again.
Andras answered with a warm smile.
“If you say that, everyone here would feel disappointed. And even if you didn’t ask, everyone would willingly step up for Speranza.”
“That’s right! I care about Speranza just as much as you do.”
“Is there anyone here who doesn’t owe each other? Don’t worry too much, Senior.”
I felt touched by the support from the farm members for Speranza and me.
The problems I struggled with yesterday seemed less important while receiving their support.
As everyone smiled warmly, Andras stepped forward again and began to explain the situation.
“The Erul Tribe’s territory is a very closed-off place. It won’t be too difficult to enter with Anis and Daur, but if too many people follow, they’re more likely to be on guard.”
Andras took out a map from his pocket and spread it out in front of everyone.
Then, pointing to one corner of the map, he spoke.
“Now, Ryan is trying to make contact with the Erul Tribe members from here.”
“Ryan?”
I was surprised to hear Ryan’s name mentioned all of a sudden and asked.
“Yes. He plans to negotiate with the Erul Tribe using the captured Red Erul Tribe members as prisoners. Even if the Erul Tribe is very closed off, they’ll likely respond to a negotiation with so many prisoners.”
“Oh…”
Already prepared to this extent…!
The farm members, including myself, looked at Andras with admiration. Andras continued the explanation with a slightly embarrassed expression and a cough.
“Ahem! While we will initiate the negotiation, the negotiation itself isn’t that important.”
“Really?”
“The real goal is to divert the Erul Tribe’s attention to the negotiation. We plan to gather our forces near their territory using the prisoner negotiation as an excuse. Naturally, their attention will be focused on the prisoners and the external forces.”
Kaneff, who first got Andras’ explanation, chimed in.
“With the prisoner negotiation as a distraction, we can slip into the Erul Tribe village without much notice.”
“Exactly. And we can also apply pressure to prevent any surprises.”
“Well… not a bad plan.”
It was rare to hear praise coming from Kaneff’s mouth. Andras looked secretly proud after hearing the compliment.
After that, Andras continued to explain the detailed plan. It was hard to believe that the plan was put together so quickly, as it was really well thought out.
Finally, Andras looked back and forth between the map and the group and said.
“Now, the most important thing is the role distribution.”
As soon as the strategy meeting at the farm was over, we headed to the lord’s mansion.
Anis and Daur, who had been anxiously waiting there, were thrilled to hear our decision.
When the story about the prisoner negotiation came up, their expressions clouded for a moment, but they soon agreed to the plan with determined faces.
After the conversation was over, the two immediately began their preparations. Since the situation in the Erul Tribe village was changing fast, we also needed to move quickly.
Amidst everyone’s busy movements, I went to the large reception room of the lord’s mansion for the most important task.
There, Speranza and Namira, who had become close yesterday, were playing with thread.
As Namira’s fingers moved back and forth, the threads on her hand formed pretty shapes, and Speranza’s eyes sparkled while watching.
As I entered the reception room, Speranza hurried over to me.
“Papaaaa!”
“Did you have fun playing, dear?”
“Un! Aunt Namira taught me how to play with thread. It’s amazing!”
Speranza’s excited tail wagged back and forth. I stroked Speranza’s head and exchanged glances with Namira, who was next to her.
“Thanks for playing with Speranza!”
“No problem, really. I’m just happy to hang out with the little lady.”
I could sense the honesty in Namira’s cheerful grin.
“Excuse me, Namira. Can I have a sec alone with Speranza?”
“Sure! I’ll be outside if you need me.”
Namira shot Speranza one more warm smile before quickly exiting the room.
Speranza’s face got all pouty, seeming annoyed that I had shooed away Namira, who had been playing with her.
I chuckled softly and picked up Speranza, then sat in a nearby chair and put her on my lap.
The adorable fox girl gazed at me with a confused look, her big eyes blinking.
“Speranza.”
“Yes, Papa.”
“Do you wanna go visit your grandma with me?”
“Grandma? Yeah! I wanna see her.”
Speranza’s face lit up with excitement, and she squirmed a little. It was sweet yet somewhat sad to see her so thrilled about the word “grandma.”
I offered her a gentle smile and explained what I meant by “grandma.”
“Not the one on Earth.”
“…?”
“I’m talking about the grandma who’s your mom and Aunt Anis’s mom.”
“……”
“Do you wanna meet that grandma?”
Speranza’s previously bright expression suddenly grew somber.