Chapter 200: Transparent

With his clothes half burnt to a crisp, Colt was naturally stopped before he could even approach the gates of the Cathedral.

They shouted at Colt to tell him who he was, but he had a headache and was only grunting as a response.

Luckily, Butler Go vouched for Colt and was welcomed back inside the Cathedral despite his egregious attire.

When asked, Colt could not even give a good answer and just waved his hands about, “It was nothing.”

When asked where Sera was, he responded with a shoulder shrug, “Don’t know. Must be with Fluff finding the assassins who ambushed and tried to kill me. Either that or she’s still looking for me.”

“What!?”

Colt was half-sure that Butler Go sermoned him about safety, but he was too tired to listen and just continued on his way.

The place where he was resting was all the way to the back, and he encountered many people.

Young nuns blushed and hid their expressions, and the Priests asked him if he needed help. Colt just nodded with a smile.

The smell of alcohol was enough to let them know what was happening.

Carrying a thick smell of alcohol, Colt swayed and entered his daughters’ room despite how he was dressed.

He leaned backward as he looked down and saw a pair of fierce eyes staring at him with predatory fury, “Oh, Master… it’s just you.”

Arte sheathed his sword, rested his back on the wall, and went back to sleep.

Arte was not used to sleeping on new beds just yet. This was always the case for Arte. He did the same thing when he arrived at the Manor. The future Hero would practically sleep with one eye open by the door and brandish his sword to anyone entering to protect himself.

Because of this, the maids of the Edgeworth Manor were pretty much scarred by his actions. But these past two months, Colt was told Arte was sleeping on a bed.

But that was not the issue.

He did not care that he was almost decapitated. Something else was far more important than his life.

Colt looked at the future Hero, considered his potential hazard, and just thought, ‘Why is he sleeping in the same room as Hylda?’

Colt had Butler Go take Arte somewhere away.

Inside the room.

Filla and Lyra were fast asleep on the bed, and by Ayl’s cradle was Hylda rocking it back and forth, dozing off as she did. Whispering a hymn.

Risa was on the couch nearby but was already hugging a new pillow, fast asleep. After throwing a blanket over her, Colt just let her sleep on the couch. On her lap was the little Dragon sleeping soundly. Reis was sleeping snuggly next to Ayl, acting as the sacrifice to ensure the baby did not wake up.

“Hylda, it’s time to sleep,” Colt whispered to Hylda’s ears as he picked her up.

“…you…smell… like alcohol.” said Hylda but snuggled closer to his chest, “You know… that’s bad… for you. I’ll tell Mama.”

“Haha, please keep this between us.” With a clear voice, far from his slurred syllables, Colt spoke to his daughter, “I heard you went to the Cathedral’s Main Hall. How was it?”

“It was… beautiful. The place was huge, there was a statue… Filla and Lyra were playing around. We had fun… I hoped you could’ve been there with us.”

“Maybe tomorrow, dear.”

Laying her down beside Filla and Lyra.

Hylda held Colt’s hand, “Don’t leave… me.”

This was a normal thing to Colt. At times, Hylda would hold onto Colt’s clothes and ask him to stay with her while she was still half asleep.

When asked in the morning, she always said she didn’t remember anything.

When this happened, Colt would not refuse her request. It didn’t matter what he was doing; he always stayed by their side until they fell asleep.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Colt whispered.

Hylda smiled as she drifted to sleep.

“Can I… ask something?”

“What is it?”

“…whatever happened… to fighting in that competition in the Capital? I wanted… to watch.”

“Hmm, that? I became too strong. Your Paparkly here can match against any General you know? But keep that between us, okay?”

“Paparkly? Hehe, what’s that?”

“It’s Papa and Sparkly together. What, you don’t like it?”

“Haha, you’re… so… stupid… Papar…kly.”

Hylda fell asleep not long after.

Colt stayed by their side for a while, and after checking on Ayl, he stepped out of the room with a hazy mind. Going to a different room set for him, Colt crashed on the soft bed without care.

He got to sleep or at least tried to. Even though he was so tired and even changed his sleeping position at least twenty times to find the perfect spot to salvage the situation, Colt still failed to fall asleep.

Going into the bathroom and cleaned himself. His injuries have healed.

Because of the Pearl’s reaction to protecting its host, Colt only suffered little scratches and burns. They would disappear entirely soon.

Only his mind remained hazy.

Splashing himself with cold water, Colt could feel his mind clearing up. When he came out of the bathroom, there was already a new set of clothes on the bed.

They were not pajamas, but black long sleeves and pants. Butler Go placed them on his bed before knowing what he wanted to do.

No one helped him change.

It was a known fact that only one person could help Colt change.

At midnight, Colt walked with barely any sound on his steps. The many eyes lingering on the Cathedral did little to bother him. Because of his inebriated mind, he could scarcely sense their presence.

But at the end of the day, he could hardly care, and after a good ten minutes, Colt arrived before a door. Pushing it, he was immediately greeted by a scenery so beautiful the word pretty could not do it justice.

His mind was almost immediately freed from the grasp of the alcohol.

Mina was sitting straight with a smile, looking at the moon, stepping out from behind a group of clouds. Her pink hair was laid out, glowing with the touch of moonlight. Her eyes shone with brilliance, and when Colt entered, she immediately noticed his presence.

The color of her rosy cheeks had returned.

“Darling, what are you doing here? I heard you were resting?” Mina asked with curiosity and delight behind her words.

“I wanted to see how you were doing. I did not expect you to be awake. If I had, I would’ve come here soon after checking on the children.” answered Colt as he walked towards her bed.

When Colt stepped forward, Mina suddenly grabbed the white blanket and covered her face with a shaking squeak.

“Hmm? Is something wrong?” Colt asked with a slight smile peeking from the corner of his mouth. He was confused, but it would be a lie to say he did not find her actions rather charming.

“Hmm? If you’re worried about setting a bad example, you don’t have to worry. Filla spent a lot of time asking if she could use Healing Magic to become like her beloved mother.”

“No… it’s just that… I am ashamed to show this disgraceful wife’s face to her beloved husband. To be so violent before the children… I am setting an awful example to them.”

Mina peeked from behind the white bedsheet, “Really?”

“Really. Even Lyra was idolizing you. They said they want to be as strong as you.” Colt laughed, recollecting how Filla and Lyra were flexing their muscles.

The wall of the blanket crumbled, but Mina’s worries remained strong, “I see… but I still shouldn’t have shown them such a violent display.”

“Do not worry; everything has been taken care of. The children think it was more of a demonstration.” Colt sat on the bed, lowering the fort hiding Mina, “Just show them a smile when you face them again. Tell them it was okay and clear away their doubts. They haven’t gone to the markets; you can tour them around. You’ve been reading up on the landmarks to show them around, right?”

“I see. Then I shall do my best to give the children the best tour of the Holy City. But, first, we need to speak with the people of the Holy City.” With great determination, Mina was ready to set everything on the right course.

Though she did not appreciate what they had done, she understood her position. She was married to Colt, her actions have consequences, and the fight could become a diplomatic issue if not resolved sooner.

“Wait, what if the Holy Land thinks we’re terrorists? That’s not good. I really need to be more careful in the future.”

“Do not worry about that. I’ve already spoken to the Mother Cardinal and the Saintess about what happened. There would not be any diplomatic issues. But, I agree that we must be careful to avoid problems in the future and *yawn*, have to learn to talk first before taking action.”

Mid-sentence, Colt yawned,

“Hmm? You seem tired, my Darling.”

“Yes, I was out drinking with Sister Mary just now.” Rubbing his eyes, Colt was surprised he was so sleepy already, especially after Mina had just woken up and they could finally talk.

Mina could see Colt fighting through his desire to sleep. She leaned on the bedframe and excitedly tapped her lap, “Come here.”

“No, you just woke up after such a tiring day. I’ll just go back to my room. You should rest now,” Colt was about to leave when he felt Mina pulling his hand.

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. What do you mean by tiring? I feel better now than before the fight -must be because I improved – so, come here.” Mina pulled Colt to her and rested his head on her lap.

Colt was surprised by the strength she used to pull him to her. His heartbeat increased its pace, but he soon calmed down.

“Are you comfortable?” inquired Mina as she brushed her husband’s hair with tender care.

“Mm. It has been a long time….” Colt became silent for quite a while.

“Darling? Is something the matter?” Mina was aware that Colt was not sleeping, so she asked.

“…do you think I’ve changed?”

“Where did this come from all of a sudden?”

“Sister Mary and I were drinking, and she told me I have not changed.”

Colt did not dwell on the matter earlier, but it did bother his thoughts. Though there were more surprising things in their conversation, the statement remained with him still.

“Well, what is your opinion on the matter?”

“I have… I’ve changed. My hands were much lighter when I decided to take another person’s life. I’ve become more of a hypocrite who barks something and sings another tune when needed. A narcissist who thinks the world revolves around him, thinking he can do everything just because he grabbed hold of a power that’s not even originally his….”

Colt wanted to say more, but he halted his words. He buried his face in Mina’s lap, ashamed to even show his face. His hands were shaking, but Mina held them tightly.

“Are you afraid you are changing too much, my Darling?”

Colt did not react.

Mina smiled softly and brushed his hair with a gentle caress, “Do you want to hear my thoughts?”

Colt did not answer, but he nodded weakly.

“You have grown stronger, become more experienced, braver. You have schemed, more protective. But at the same time, you also have not changed as much as you believe. You are still afraid of me getting angry, upset when you do not know what to do, happy when things go your way, and happy seeing the family you’ve created smiling. You’ve changed, but what makes you remains the same, and that is called maturing.”

“…is that so?”

“At least that’s what I believe.”

‘Maturing, huh?’ Colt’s shaking hand finally stopped, “Mina.”

“Yes, my Darling?”

“…I love you.”

“I know,” Mina replied confidently.

A few seconds later, Colt was taken to a land of dreams.

Mina smiled and allowed Colt to sleep peacefully.

Unknown to Colt, Mina did not need to say anything about what he did. from his smell alone, she could already tell.

The slight aroma of strong alcohol on him was present, diluted from water, but nevertheless present. She could tell from his movements he was drunk from the moment he entered. The way he spoke tried to be as clear as possible, but she could easily tell.

The smell of diluted perfume popularly used by women of the night was also present.

She had known since he opened the door, but Mina chose not to say anything.

Mina just smiled and continued brushing Colt’s hair.

Mina could tell, but she remained silent because above everything she noticed on him was the expression that weighed heavy on him.

To Mina, Colt was anxious.

‘How overworked you are, my dear husband.’

Mina could see past the facade of a Hero and into his fears and vulnerabilities. The time they spent together allowed her to see through Colt.

She had seen his weakness. His fears and the facade he puts to face his tribulations.

Mina once did not want others near Colt, fearing they would take him. But unbeknownst to her, she became protective of him for an entirely different reason.

She kept her fangs and horns to protect him from the burdens of his responsibilities. It did not matter how much Colt tried to posture, she could see through him at a glance, and no matter what happened, no matter what he faced, Mina would support him

Mina stayed there brushing Colt’s hair, her smile calm and soft.

“-everything will be okay. So, rest well, my Darling.”