Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System-Chapter 94 - 88: Can a Feud of Nine Generations Still Be Avenged?
「Four days later.」
A fine, ceaseless rain fell over the cemetery at Green Shade Manor.
Yor’s funeral was simple and solemn. A few old servants, holding black umbrellas, stood quietly before the fresh grave.
This once-loyal Knight’s Attendant had spent the last twenty-three years of his life in a wheelchair. Now, he was finally at rest.
Standing in the fine rain, Murphy said to Linus, "I apologize. Because of Aurora’s wedding, we couldn’t give Yor a grander funeral."
Linus’s temples were streaked with gray, the corners of his eyes etched with the marks of time.
Twenty-three years had passed. The young Copyist he once was had become a middle-aged man in his forties.
No, perhaps in an age of such short lifespans, he was already considered an old man.
"Lord Baron, you are too kind," Linus said with a deep bow. "If you hadn’t promoted me to Steward all those years ago, I might still be a Copyist today. We will never forget the kindness you’ve shown my uncle and me over the years."
A wave of emotion washed over Linus.
When Sylvan had suddenly promoted him and Yor to jointly manage Green Shade Manor, he’d thought he would be dragged into a power struggle between the mother and son of the ruling family.
To his surprise, the years passed peacefully. There were no political machinations to speak of, and the position felt like a godsend.
At this thought, his gratitude toward Murphy grew even stronger.
"Give, and it will be given to you," Murphy said softly, his gaze still fixed on the new grave.
Linus hesitated for a moment before finally mustering the courage to ask, "Lord Baron, is something troubling you?"
Murphy looked slightly surprised. "How could you tell?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his composure had slipped, and he suspected he knew why.
Leaving the castle to attend Yor’s funeral had brought back old memories, and his emotions were, admittedly, a little frayed.
Linus chose his words carefully. "My Lord, your brow has been furrowed this entire time. And you keep looking into the distance, rather than at my uncle’s grave. It seems less like you’re mourning the departed, and more like you’re troubled by something else."
Murphy shook his head. "The affairs of the territory are many, after all."
"My uncle used to say," Linus’s voice was tinged with nostalgia, "that whatever you do, you must be resolute. That’s the only way to live without troubles or regrets."
The words struck Murphy, and it was as if he were transported back to that morning twenty-three years ago. Yor was sitting in his wheelchair, gazing at him with those still-sharp eyes. "Remember, Murphy, whatever you do, you must be resolute."
"Thank you." Murphy’s voice was so quiet it was nearly lost in the rain.
Linus hastily bowed his head. "I am glad to have been of service, Lord Baron."
The fine rain fell on, soaking every headstone in the cemetery.
Murphy gazed into the distance toward Duval Castle, where a wedding he was required to attend would soon take place.
...
「Five days later, the sun shone brightly.」
Baron Duval’s Castle was festooned with lanterns and colorful silks, brimming with a festive atmosphere.
Servants bustled through the courtyards and corridors, making the final preparations for the momentous day to come.
Today was Miss Aurora’s eighteenth birthday, and tomorrow was the day of her grand wedding. The entire castle was immersed in the celebration of this doubly joyous occasion.
To celebrate this rare and joyous event, the Former Lady Baron had issued a special decree: the wages of all salaried servants would be doubled for the month, and every servant would receive a share of extra mead and cured meat.
At a corner of the east wing’s corridor, several Maids were taking a short break in a lull between their busy tasks.
They still held flowers and decorations waiting to be placed, but couldn’t resist whispering among themselves.
"If you ask me," a round-faced Maid whispered, "Miss Aurora’s fiancé, Master Edgar, is remarkably plain. He isn’t half as handsome as the Lord Baron."
Another, taller Maid covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Perhaps he has other... hidden talents." She winked suggestively, drawing a round of stifled giggles from the other Maids.
"Alright, that’s enough," an older Maid interrupted. "I heard there was another reason Master Edgar was chosen. He has a sister, and he absolutely dotes on her. Last winter, when she fell ill, he rode through the night to a neighboring town to fetch a physician and then kept vigil at her bedside for three straight days and nights. Just like how the Lord Baron dotes on Miss Aurora. That’s probably why she chose him."
Looks of dawning comprehension appeared on the Maids’ faces.
"No wonder."
"That explains it."
"That makes sense."
They didn’t notice that, deep in the shadows at the end of the corridor, Murphy stood listening.
Every word of their idle chatter reached his ears, and a complex, unreadable look filled his eyes.
His gaze flickered first toward Aurora’s bedroom, where the windows were shut tight, then shifted to the guest room in the castle’s west wing, where Edgar was temporarily staying.
He took a deep breath, his hesitation gone.
...
As night deepened, Baron Duval’s Castle remained brightly lit.
Inside Aurora’s bedroom, candlelight bathed the entire room in a warm, bright glow.
She stood before a massive silver mirror, allowing her Maids to put the finishing touches on her attire.
She wore a delicate silver coronet, inlaid with tiny Moonlight Stones that shimmered against her golden hair.
Her wedding gown was crafted from the finest ivory silk. The neckline and cuffs were adorned with intricate Pearl embroidery, while the skirt cascaded like a waterfall, glowing softly in the candlelight.
White silk stockings clung to her slender calves. On her feet, she wore a pair of soft, white flat-soled shoes, the vamps embroidered with Snowball Flowers in silver thread and the toes dotted with tiny Pearls.
The Former Lady Baron sat in a nearby armchair, gazing tenderly at her daughter.
She said softly, "My Aurora, you are even more beautiful than your mother was in her youth."
Time had etched deep lines onto her face, but in that moment, her eyes shone with pride.
Aurora turned slightly, her skirt swaying with the movement. "It is all thanks to you, Mother. If not for your meticulous guidance over the years, I would not be..."
"No," the Former Lady Baron cut her off, her voice choked with emotion. "It is your own merit. Seeing you like this today... all my years of hardship have been worth it."
Aurora fell silent for a moment, then asked quietly, "And Sylvan?"
The Former Lady Baron’s expression instantly darkened. "Probably lost in some of his damned research! He didn’t even attend the banquet for your eighteenth birthday..." But as she spoke, her tone suddenly softened, a flicker of pain in her eyes. ’It’s my fault. I’m useless. If not for what happened back then... Sylvan wouldn’t have turned out like this... Still, maybe it’s for the best...’
"Mother..." A complex, unreadable look filled Aurora’s eyes.
The Former Lady Baron quickly composed herself and forced a smile. "Today is a happy day for you. Let’s not speak of such things. As for Sylvan... let him be."
She rose to her feet and began to give Aurora detailed instructions. "Remember, during the ceremony, you must maintain a smile, but without showing your teeth. When you walk, your gown must not make a sound. When acknowledging guests, a slight nod of the head will suffice; do not bow..."
The Former Lady Baron paused, her tone turning serious. "And after you are wed, you must remember: you are the heir to this territory. Edgar is merely a vassal of the Duval Clan. You need not pay his opinions any mind. If you grow tired of him, find a lover..."
Aurora listened quietly, but her gaze drifted unconsciously toward the window.
At the far end of the castle, a faint candlelight still glowed from the Baron’s bedroom window.
Her fingers unconsciously toyed with the Pearls on her gown. Her foot, clad in its white flat-soled shoe, tensed, her toes curling as if to steady her faintly trembling frame.
...
At ten o’clock at night, all was still. In this era, the residents of the Duval Territory had long since fallen into their dreams.
With a soft CLICK, the door to the Baron’s bedroom was pushed open. Bright moonlight streamed through the balcony’s archway, casting a silver sheen across the cold floor.
Aurora stood in the doorway, clad in her white wedding gown. Its skirt gleamed with a hazy silver light, like the purest cloud in the night sky.
Just as she had done countless times in her childhood, she tiptoed to the bedside and gazed down at the sleeping Murphy.
She knew her brother was a deep sleeper. Ever since suffering a severe injury many years ago, even thunder could rarely wake him.
"Brother," she began softly, her voice startlingly clear in the silent room. "I’m getting married tomorrow." Moonlight illuminated her trembling eyelashes. "Do you remember when I had a fever at five, and you watched over me all night? When I was seven, I fell trying to ride your horse, and you bandaged the wound yourself. When I was ten and insisted on learning Swordsmanship, you patiently taught me the Knight’s Breathing Technique in the garden..."
She knelt by the bed, her hands clasped. "I’ve prayed to Oriane countless times, begging to stay by your side forever."
"No."
Aurora’s head snapped up. She was shocked to find that Murphy was awake, his deep eyes as clear as day in the moonlight.
She opened her mouth to explain, but no words would come out.
When she could finally speak again, she only had time to cry out, "Brother—" before crimson bloomed across her white wedding gown.
"Happy birthday, Aurora..."
Hearing those faint, clear words, Aurora’s eyes widened. Her azure irises instantly filled with an unbelievable joy.
Tears slid silently down her cheeks, which were flushed with bliss.
There was no need to lock the door.
Because the entire territory belonged to Murphy and Aurora.
