Chapter 232
“Do you have something to say? A rebuke for not resembling my father? The admonition that I’ve undermined everything he’s built? I have no choice but to listen, so feel free to do so.” Knox said with a sneer that he didn’t know whether it was directed at himself or at Apollonia. Apollonia stared at him for a while. Soon the words from Apollonia’s open mouth were completely different from Knox’s expectations.
“February 15th.”
“What?”
“Your birthday. It’s February 15th. You’re the same age as me.” Apollonia spoke to him quietly, without admonition or rebuke.
“What about it? I don’t know how you know, but what’s the point of telling me that?”
“Your favorite food is apples. The reason is that Sid likes it. Your best weapon is a spear rather than a sword. You respect Pascal I as a man. You started talking a little later than others, but you walked faster than anyone your age. You have no talent for instruments, but you tend to like music. You have learned quickly about agriculture and hunting, so you have the qualifications to be a good lord.”
Personal information about Knox poured out of Apollonia’s mouth. It was ridiculous considering that she didn’t even know his identity a while ago. Knox looked at her with his eyes wide open. Incredibly, every word was correct.
“Why——”
“Sid told me.” She finished talking and looked at Knox again. Unlike Knox, there was neither blame, hostility, nor anger in her eyes. Rather, she felt a little bit of a pity.
“What?” Knox’s lips quivered as he uttered it with a blank expression. Unlike a while ago, he felt no injustice, anger, or irony.
“Sid lived with your story in his mouth.” Apollonia laughed bitterly. Her face was full of longing for Sid. “He didn’t see you often, but he remembered every little thing about you. Every year on your birthday, he wrote a letter himself and showed it to me. Because of his blunt personality, he tore up all the long letters and sent only short phrases, but he was sincere with you in his own way. He exchanged several letters a day with the countess about what you had learned and what you would teach in the future.” Apollonia continued quietly as if telling an old story. “He couldn’t express it, but he loved you and your mother much more than you think.” Knox couldn’t move as if frozen in his sitting position.
Apollonia added, lowering her gaze.”Knox. I’m sorry for taking your father away from you.” She concluded the conversation. For a few minutes, all they could hear was the sound of rain.
After a long time, Knox opened his mouth. “That’s ridiculous.” He mumbled with his head down and tears in his eyes. The hand touching the floor clenched its fist.
“Really.” At Apollonia’s reply, he closed his eyes tightly. His lips were pressed into a tight line.
“Well, even if it’s true———-” His voice trembled as he raised his head again to face Apollonia. “Why haven’t you helped me at all? You know what my father did to save you, why———”
“It was the Countess’s will.” said Apollonia shakily. “I tried to visit you several times since he died, but she refused because it was a danger to both sides. The same goes for financial help.” She spoke in a subdued voice. She recalled dozens of letters she had sent to the Countess of Byan five years ago.
“Your mother refused all contact, saying that I couldn’t put you in danger after Sid protected me with his life so——-” Apollonia lowered her head, raised it again, and continued. “I decided to wait a little longer until the danger is gone and I can proudly meet you and your mother.”
“Excuses! There are a lot of ways to help me if you’re really that determined.” Knox cried out in a voice mixed with resentment. Apollonia nodded and smiled sadly.
“There was one. I’m sorry that’s all I could do for you.”
“What?”
“Lucille Edmund. You know the name, don’t you?”
Knox, hearing the name, froze once again.