Civil Servant in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 928



928 – A Farmer’s Daily Life – 5

I quietly looked at Selenden’s tombstone.

I looked at the saint in white robes. The eagle scattering flames. The turtle stepping on the grass. The tiger looking down from the sky. The snake wrapping itself around the tombstone.

It was such a wondrous sight that I couldn’t say anything. Even though it was a sight made by only five people, wasn’t it more magnificent and grand than any funeral?

‘Even if the royal family had prepared, they wouldn’t have been able to imitate even half of that funeral.’

Even if it were me, back when I had conquered the North and appointed the Crown Prince, rather than the me who had to send Selene away, the funeral that is unfolding now would not have reached the level of this one.

Of course, in terms of sheer scale, it can be held on a larger scale than any other funeral. The hymns and prayers that resonate through the air can be made more powerful than any other ceremony.

However, a funeral that is simply large is meaningless. If it is truly for the end of Selenden, for the last memories with Selenden, what is contained within it is more important than its size.

Just like now. Like this funeral, which may be the smallest of all royal funerals, but is also the most splendid.

‘Spirit King.’

I raised the corners of my mouth slightly as I watched the four beasts circling around the tombstone.

From the moment Constantina planted the World Tree on this continent, spirits were considered mysterious and sacred beings. They were unknown beings that existed on the continent but were not easily seen.

Even the spirits disappeared when Aphels burned the World Tree, so it goes without saying that the spirits, who were already unknown, were shrouded in mystery even more. Unlike in the past when you could see them if you were lucky, they are now something you can’t see even after death.

Maybe that’s why. Seleden has been curious about spirits since he was young. When he saw spirits in fairy tales, he would shout that he wanted to become a spirit master too.

“With a fire spirit, you don’t have to bother lighting a fire in the fireplace. Your servants will love it too!”

“Isn’t that the same thing if you use magic?”

“Wizards have more important things to do! Create reservoirs, catch beasts, stop landslides!”

It’s now a distant memory, but when I close my eyes, I can still hear the conversation from back then.

He said that if he were to become a spirit master, he would share the work of his servants and put the magicians to work for the people of the territory. Thinking back now, it was something innocent that he could have said as a child.

What’s surprising is that he kept that innocence and warmth until he became an adult.

‘Those spirits are praying for you.’

It is truly amazing. Selenden had only encountered spirits in fairy tales. Selenden had once dreamed of becoming a spirit master, and until the moment he left me, he had considered spirits to be beings of fantasy.

For such a Selenden, the pinnacle of the spirits shines. The kings who control fire, water, wind, and earth sing for you, Selenden.

‘It’s late, but we’re not the only ones who’ve achieved it.’

For a moment I imagined you alive. I imagined the kings who appeared for you becoming your spirits.

Then the hawk will light the fire in the fireplace just as you wished. The turtle will provide clean, cool water for the servants and the people who are tired from their work.

The tiger will make you fly like the princess. The snake can stop a landslide or restore the fallen soil to its original state.

It’s fun to imagine. The Imperial Concubine will be known not only as a woman loved by the situation, but also as a woman loved by nature.

‘Hmm?’

While I was watching the prayer with that thought in mind, something strange happened.

Small columns rose from four directions, centered on Selenden’s tombstone. Soon, the southern column bloomed with blazing flowers, the northern column poured water like a waterfall, and the eastern column was enveloped in a visible wind. The western column itself was covered with various flowers and grasses, as if it were a small hill, and the symbols of the four kings rose as if guarding Selenden’s tombstone.

‘Ugh.’

It’s a strange phenomenon that can’t be understood with common sense, and the existence of spirits is already far from common sense. It would be ridiculous to be bound by common sense now.

So now is the time to be happy and thankful rather than surprised. Not only did the living saint pray for Selenden, but he also asked the spirit kings to do such things─

“What is this? Didn’t we ever talk about this? It’s difficult to force something that wasn’t agreed upon during a funeral.”

‘That wasn’t it.’

He smiled bitterly at the urgent voice. Was it an impulsive action rather than a request?

– Ugh, we don’t know why this happened either. We didn’t mean to make something like this!

– Our prayers were intertwined with that tombstone and responded on their own. Although she is not at the level of a benefactor’s daughter, the owner of the tombstone seems to have considerable affinity.

– It’s amazing. If we had come into the world a little bit sooner, maybe we would have met as a contractor and a contract spirit.

– Is that all you think about? Even if the water is like that, you don’t have to put out the fire…?

However, listening to the conversation between the spirit kings, it was a pleasant and impulsive action.

Is that so? Did Selenden have an excellent affinity for spirits? It may be a harsh talent for someone who lived in an era without spirits, but if you think that it is thanks to that talent that he has come to where he is today, it is not so bad.

And I am so glad that my thoughts alone were not completely baseless. I am so glad that Selene, who commands the Spirit King, was not just a delusion.

‘Maybe in the next life I’ll plow the field and you’ll water it.’

From noble mtl dot com

It may seem funny that the work of a spirit is watering crops. But what else in the world is more important than farming? Farming is necessary to produce food, and people need food to survive.

“Fortunately, the fire doesn’t appear to be spreading anywhere else.”

“Oh, um. Is that so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Also, the water seems to disappear automatically when it gets a certain distance from the pillar, so you don’t have to worry about the tomb becoming dirty.”

“What a strange thing.”

Then suddenly, I saw Gilbert nodding his head in a somewhat absentminded voice.

There was the empress covering her mouth in surprise, the crown princess holding back the urge to run to the tombstone, and even Jeon Seung-gong silently praying to Celeden with his hands clasped together.

It’s a beautiful sight, especially since it’s something we wouldn’t have dared dream about just a few years ago.

As soon as the prayer was over, he returned to the palace first.

It is Gilbert’s place, not mine, to express my gratitude and appreciation for the prayers. Although Selene is my wife, she is also Gilbert’s mother, and it is better for the current emperor to step forward rather than step back.

For me, it is the way for everyone to just pretend to be there and not there. If I reveal my presence for no reason, the loyalty of the nobles will only be divided in two.

Of course, it’s sad to part ways with Seleden right after the funeral, but I can come back tomorrow or the day after. Today is not the only day I have left.

Yeah, I fell asleep thinking that.

“Celeden?”

Selene, who was so vulgar that she didn’t even appear in my dreams, appeared.

That too, before she got sick, when she was brighter and more beautiful than anyone else. The only one I loved and relied on.

‘Is it because of the funeral?’

As soon as I realized that this was a dream and that Selene had appeared before my eyes, I let out a small laugh.

I never thought you would come to see me on the day of the funeral. No, to be exact, my guilt seems to have disappeared only today. So I guess I can see Seleden like this, even though I haven’t seen him in a while.

And if this is a dream, you can do anything. You can say anything in a place where there are no eyes or ears.

“I’m sorry.”

He approached Selene, carefully took her hand, and bowed his head.

“I was incompetent and weak. I was cowardly and pathetic, so I couldn’t protect you. I couldn’t even finish you off properly.”

Immediately after abdicating to Gilbert, he poured out words he had never been able to say before, even in front of Selene’s tomb.

People call me the hero who rebuilt the empire. They call me the great emperor who revived Livnoman and Kpelopen when they were in crisis.

But in return, he gave up what was most precious to him. He abandoned Corvus to protect Livnoman, and he turned his back on his wife and children. How can such a man be called a great emperor? Truly great is an expression used for someone who has accomplished great things while also being friendly to his family.

“Even the funeral I held for you was not a funeral I could have held under my own power. If it weren’t for Gilbert, if it weren’t for the pillars of the empire that appeared at that time, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Or to the living Count of Tylglehen, who was canonized. Or to Gilbert, who bowed his head for his mother. It is not light to be called great to be called someone like me.

“Still… thank you for appearing in front of such a useless person like me. It feels like God is blessing me to see you again like this.”

When I slowly raised my head, Selenden was smiling.

She didn’t say anything, but more than anything, she looked at me with a warm and beautiful smile.

As if to say everything you want to say. As if to shake off the lump in your heart because it’s just a dream anyway.

“Actually. I started farming because I wanted to be forgiven even a little by you. I even started raising livestock. Although I’m not an expert, there’s no emperor like me among all the emperors.”

Encouraged by that smile, I continued speaking.

If we were to be born again in the future, as commoners, not royalty or nobles, I would become a strong husband and head of the household. With that promise, I learned farming and started raising livestock. If the system had been on the coast, I would have taken a boat and gone out to sea.

“If the Lord of Heaven grants us another life, I am confident that I can support you alone. As for the children… when they grow up, they will take care of themselves.”

Then Selene burst into laughter.

Thanks to that, I feel more courageous. I feel like I can say anything now.

“So, Selene. Please wait a little longer. In my five years. No, in three years, I will further hone my skills and come to you─”

Before I could finish speaking, Selenden’s expression distorted fiercely.

“…Celeden?”

“Stop talking nonsense and come slowly.”

“What is that─”

Selene’s hand struck my cheek.

I opened my eyes with a sudden shock and saw a familiar ceiling.

‘What is this?’

I couldn’t get up for a while because I didn’t think the dream would end like this.