Though covered in wrinkles, the overall contours of his face, the shape of his eyes, and the line of his nose were no different from what he had seen in the mirror. His own face, as it might appear decades later, stood before his eyes.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Count Philip de Lawrence, serving as Vice-Captain of the Tervia Royal Guard Knights. To be exact, I am you from twenty years hence."
"I-impossible. How can such a thing be……."
Count Lawrence looked at Philip with a lonely expression. A deep melancholy lurked in his eyes.
"Of course, you cannot understand. This is something that thoroughly defies the natural order of the world. But I have orchestrated this to show you something."
"……."
"You exist now only as a soul. Simply put, one might call you a specter without substance? This place is the future, twenty years after the era in which you lived, and I have summoned your soul here for a time, borrowing the power of black magic."
"W-why on earth?"
Watching Philip unable to close his mouth, Count Lawrence slowly continued.
"Do not try so hard to understand. Once the time has passed, you will return to your original state. I merely wish to show you a few things. To the me of twenty years ago, that is."
Philip gradually regained his composure. The situation remained incomprehensible, but he began to feel curiosity toward the other's words.
"Very well. Then let us say you are me from twenty years later. But for what reason have you called me here?"
Meeting Philip's piercing gaze, Count Lawrence wore a lonely smile.
"Such composure, despite your hot-blooded age. I never dreamed, not even in my sleep, that I too once had such days. Truly astounding."
"Do not beat around the bush and explain plainly. What is the reason you called me?"
"Do not bother trying to hear explanations. You need only follow me and observe and feel."
"What do you mean, feel?"
"It is about to begin. You have exactly four hours, so see much, hear much, and feel much in that time."
Cutting off the conversation unilaterally, Count Lawrence gazed into Philip's bewildered eyes and turned away.
"One thing you must keep in mind: here, you are nothing more than a specter. Except for me, no one in this place can see you or sense you. Of course, they cannot hear you speak either. Remember that I alone am the one who can see you and converse with you."
"Ah, I understand."
Not knowing exactly how the situation was unfolding, Philip nodded silently. Count Lawrence turned without hesitation, and Philip hurriedly followed him out of the office.
There was no doubt that this was the office of the Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard Knights. It was a place familiar to Philip's eyes, thanks to his experience of having had audiences with Count Edward on many occasions.
Looking around a place identical to the past, yet bearing some marks of the passing years, Philip left the office.
According to his memory, a desk where the aide stayed should have been placed just outside the office. Surprisingly, his expectation was not wrong. What was peculiar was that the person sitting in the aide's seat was someone Philip knew to some extent. Seeing the aide's face, Philip's eyes went wide.
"No, Ronald……."
The middle-aged man sitting at his desk, buried in a pile of documents, was none other than his fellow knight, Ronald. Though his face was covered in wrinkles and he sported a long mustache, Philip recognized him at a glance.
To him, Ronald was a colleague like an old friend, so there was no chance he would fail to recognize him. Without realizing it, Philip looked at Count Lawrence.
"You took Ronald as your aide?"
"I did. He is the only one among the knights who understands my heart. One might call him a loyal confidant."
Count Lawrence slowly nodded. At those words, Ronald, who had been keeping his head down, raised it with a start.
"Who are you speaking to, Vice-Captain?"
"No one. Just talking to myself."
Ronald tilted his head slightly and immersed himself in his work again. He did not notice Philip standing right there beside Count Lawrence. Only then did Philip clearly realize that he was invisible to Ronald's eyes.
"So…it was true. That I am nothing more than a specter here……"
"That may be so, but do not worry too much. Once four hours pass, you will be able to return to how you were."
Having finished speaking, Count Lawrence approached Ronald and addressed him.
"Are the approval documents all prepared?"
"I will be finished shortly. What would you like to do? Will you wait a moment and go to receive the approval yourself?"
"No, there is no need for that. Is there any reason to? It will be troublesome, but please go and take care of it yourself as soon as the documents are completed."
Ronald nodded as if he understood and bowed his head. But Philip keenly perceived the pity fleeting across Ronald's eyes. Moreover, the current situation was somewhat strange by the common sense he knew, so Philip hurriedly caught up to Count Lawrence as he left the room.
"But what is going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"As far as I know, the documents approved by the Commander and Vice-Captain of the knight order are strictly separated. Yet the Vice-Captain is receiving approval? From whom, exactly? Has the approval process changed?"
Count Lawrence looked at Philip, whose expression showed he could not understand, and formed a slight smile. It was a smile that felt exceedingly lonely.
"You may not know, but here I am nothing more than a thorough figurehead. Externally, I serve as Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard Knights, but in truth, I hold no real authority whatsoever."
"H-how can that be? Then to whom are you giving approval……"
"Duke Edward. My father-in-law, that is. Ah! You probably know him as a Count, I suppose."
Philip's mouth fell agape.
"Then you mean Count—Duke Edward personally exercises the approval authority?"
"Precisely. With him holding the reins behind me, I am nothing more than a Vice-Captain in name only."
As if ashamed, Count Lawrence flushed and hurriedly left the room. Philip had no time to think and rushed out after him.
After leaving the office, Count Lawrence headed to the mansion where Count Edward had once lived. Count Lawrence and Philip raced down the avenue in a splendid carriage.
Clatter-clatter-clatter-clatter
The privilege of riding a carriage down the main avenue was restricted solely to high nobility. Philip looked around the city of Bayanca with a face full of doubt; the atmosphere had clearly changed. The buildings in his memory clearly bore the marks of time, and unfamiliar structures stood packed together everywhere.
As if displaying the national power of Tervia, Bayanca showed itself to Philip in an even more prosperous and vibrant state.
As a beautiful mansion came into view in the distance, Count Lawrence looked at Philip.
"That is the mansion where I live. Magnificent, is it not?"
Philip nodded in a daze.
"I-it is indeed."
And indeed, the mansion was truly magnificent. It was a splendid and imposing mansion located in the heart of the residential district where only the highest-ranking nobles of Tervia resided. The property values were so exorbitant that ordinary nobles could not even conceive of living here.
To think that he would one day live in such a splendid mansion……. However, looking at Philip's excited expression, Count Lawrence shook his head bitterly.
"It seems you like it. But do not expect too much. After all, it is merely a midsummer night's dream……"
"Pardon? What did you say?"
"Nothing. Shall we go inside?"
When the carriage stopped before the massive iron gate, two soldiers who appeared to be gatekeepers rushed out in alarm. Their faces clearly showed surprise.
"What brings you here at this hour? We shall hurry and inform them inside."
Count Lawrence refused flatly.
"No, there is no need. Open the gate at once."
"B-but still……."
As if they had committed some crime, the gatekeepers continued to fidget.
"Hah! Do you dare think to defy my command?"
Only after Count Lawrence's roar did they hastily push the gate open. The Count directed the carriage into the grounds with a stern expression.
"Hiyah!"
The carriage charged forward without hesitation along the stone-paved path. The garden was so vast that one had to ride for quite some time. While Philip admired the beautifully decorated garden, the carriage came to a halt at the entrance of the massive mansion.
"Follow me quickly."
Count Lawrence leaped down from the carriage and entered the mansion at a quick pace. Philip also hurried after him. Once inside, the Count went straight upstairs. Guards stood at attention with surprised expressions, but Count Lawrence did not even spare them a glance. When an ornate door blocked his way, Count Lawrence flung it open without hesitation.
Clack
As the door opened, the scene inside was laid bare before their eyes. It was so unexpected that Philip's eyes went wide once again.
Several naked men and women hurriedly covered themselves with blankets. A pungent, carnal scent hung in the air, so one could tell at a glance that an orgy had been taking place. An orgy in the bedroom of the Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard Knights, of all places……. While Philip stood there dumbfounded, his mouth agape, a piercing shriek rang in his ears.
"What is the meaning of this! If you were coming, you should have sent word! What is the meaning of bursting in without even knocking!"
The one screaming at the top of her lungs was a woman. Unlike those who had burrowed into the blankets, she stood with her naked body fully exposed, hands on her hips in apparent fury. The moment he saw her face, Philip's eyes popped open as if they would tear. She had the face of Elyzer.
"G-good heavens……."
He stared at Elyzer's face as if he could not believe it. Though the passage of time was slightly apparent, she was unmistakably Elyzer. Unlike Count Lawrence, who had aged drastically, she appeared to have barely aged at all. Her still-supple skin and beauty stood in stark contrast to Count Lawrence. Suddenly, Count Lawrence's voice burst out from beside him, seething with rage.
"You're all doing splendidly. An orgy with the servants this time…… Have you no shame?"
"Hmph! As if you have any pride……."
Elyzer was talking back with outrageous brazenness.
"If you had satisfied me from the start, do you think I'd be like this? When you're less than a rabbit that can't even last five minutes……."
Count Lawrence's body trembled. Without a moment's thought, he grabbed the sword at his waist. It was a situation no man with pride could possibly endure. Even Philip, watching, trembled with surging fury. But Elyzer's attitude showed no sign of subsiding.
"Go on, draw it if you dare!"
It was Elyzer, thrusting out her neck as if challenging him. Unlike the cold gleam of the blade, Count Lawrence helplessly released the sword hilt.
"Let us stop this."
"Hmph! A man who doesn't even have the courage for that……."
Sneering coldly, Elyzer turned her head. And she looked at the men and women in the bed, who had pulled the blankets over themselves, peering out with only their eyes.
"You lot, withdraw for now."
"Yes."
They retreated hurriedly, covering their bodies with blankets. There were three men and one woman, and from the clothes they gathered, they were clearly manservants and maids. Especially the manservants were all young lads who looked no older than fifteen.
Elyzer watched them disappear with a sidelong glance, then glared at Count Lawrence with angry eyes.
"I will never overlook today's rudeness. You will surely face my father's rebuke, so be prepared."
Having finished speaking, Elyzer picked up her clothes and went into the inner chamber. Then, as if venting her anger, she slammed the door shut.
Count Lawrence stood awkwardly, his face full of dejection. Philip, his expression one of disbelief, quickly approached him.
'It's a lie. There's no way Elyzer would do such a thing.'
But the words that came out of his mouth were entirely different from his inner thoughts.
"I cannot believe it. D-does this sort of thing happen often?"
Count Lawrence nodded silently and turned around. If only for the sake of his pride, he no longer
wished to speak, or so his demeanor suggested. Philip had no choice but to follow after him.
Count Lawrence, having left the mansion, quietly climbed back into the carriage. His mouth opened again
only after quite some time had passed.
"I must seem quite pitiful, don't I?"
"……."
"Well, I suppose it is no stranger's affair to you. Perhaps it may well be your own appearance in the near future,
for all we know."
Philip, who had been listening silently, hardened his expression.
"Just who are you? Why are you showing me such things? What in the world is your
intention?"
Having witnessed such a shocking scene, Philip could not help but now suspect even Count Lawrence.
But Count Lawrence refused to give a satisfactory answer.
"This isn't over yet. I didn't call you here to make you believe this situation. Merely to see and
feel."
"I—I simply cannot believe today's events."
"There is no need to force yourself to believe. I am fully satisfied merely by what you are seeing,
that is all."
Silence lingered for some time after that. The shock was considerable, and Philip was at a loss for words; Count
Lawrence also remained silent. In the end, it was Philip who first broke the silence.
"There is one thing I would like to ask."
"Speak."
"Where are your children? If twenty years have passed, surely there would be a grown son or daughter
by now……."
It was a question born of anxious concern that perhaps the children had been shocked to see their mother's debauched
behavior, but Count Lawrence shook his head with a desolate expression.
"We have no children under our roof. Eliezer has no desire to bear children. She
adamantly avoids bearing them, claiming it ages the body."
"H-how could such a thing be……."
"It is the truth. Did you not see it clearly yourself? The fact that she looks far too young for her age.
Her only concern is maintaining her beauty and figure. Eighty percent of my income
goes toward preserving her beauty."
"……."
"That is precisely why she shares her bed with young servants. Seeing how she has not aged, it seems to have had some
measure of effect."
Philip was once again at a loss for words. It was a future he desperately did not want to believe.
'No. I cannot believe it. This is surely a nightmare wrought by a dream demon's machinations. My future is
absolutely not like this.'
He tried to deny it over and over, but there was nothing he could do. The more he denied it, the more the events he had just witnessed
were perceived as fact.
Nightmares caused by a dream demon are not this vivid. Because it is a world fabricated by a Nightmare,
one can somehow see gaps in it. But this was different. In short, everything was
perfect. A flow of events and circumstances that matched flawlessly without the slightest room for doubt. Moreover,
there would be no reason for a dream demon to bother giving him such a nightmare. Unless it were a mad dream demon,
that is.
'I'm going mad.'
He could escape the nightmare immediately by pinching himself, but Philip did not do so.
He wanted to know more about how his future would unfold. Lost in deep thought,
he entrusted his body to the swaying carriage.