Rozelia, with a meaningful expression, placed a model ship that had been stuck in a corner on the desk.

“How about this, Grandpa?”

“Who’s your grandpa?”

“Don’t say that. Don’t you feel something coming to mind and your hands itching?”

In response to Rozelia’s expectant expression, Count Bernas looked closely at the model ship but soon scratched the back of his hand.

“As if a mosquito bit me, my hand feels itchy.”

With seemingly little interest from the Count, Rozelia sighed deeply and slouched her shoulders.

She was currently cleaning the dusty Bernas Mansion. Although she said cleaning, it was more like organizing the spaces where the Count lived, as it was nearly impossible for her to clean the entire vast mansion alone.

Wiping the dusty tables and nightstands with a cloth, Rozelia checked an old frame behind a nightstand and grumbled as she took out the picture frame.

In the black-and-white photo inside the frame, a young man stood in a military uniform with a stern posture. Since the photo wasn’t widely known, Rozelia naturally guessed that it must be the Count’s son and pushed the picture toward the Count, asking.

“Grandpa, is this your son?”

The Count, who had been playing chess alone at the table, responded to the suddenly presented photo with a stern face.

“Yes.”

“Is your son a soldier?”

In fact, all the works that made Count Bernas known as a genius painter were paintings related to the navy and war. His paintings depicted the survivors waving victory flags amid the fierce battles, and they looked magnificent and sublime.

It would be no surprise if his inspiration for such paintings came from his active duty as a naval officer.

With hopeful eyes, Rozelia scanned the Count’s face, who seemed disinterested. He nonchalantly replied with a face full of wrinkles.

“Well… He falls far short of me, but he’s a guy who received royal honors. He’s currently commanding the fleet of Eskiban Navy, the most powerful one in the Lughvelt Empire.”

“But it seems like he hasn’t come home for quite some time.”

In fact, just looking at the state of the mansion, one could make an educated guess. If the young Viscount had been frequently visiting the mansion, it wouldn’t have looked like this.

“The darn thing. No matter how busy he is, wouldn’t you be curious about whether your father is dead or alive?”

Count Bernas seemed either genuinely upset or was pretending to be nonchalant as he turned his shoulder.

In that moment, Rozelia, feeling sorry for him, forced a smile and replied, “You seem quite busy.”

Feeling the atmosphere becoming heavier, Rozelia quickly changed the subject.

“Grandpa, how was it when you were in the military?”

In reality, it was a thrown question with little expectation.
Like a dementia patient, it would be difficult for the Count to perfectly remember the time when he was a soldier due to the fluctuating nature of past memories.

However, with a small hope of extracting even a bit of those memories for inspiration for his artwork, Rozelia threw out the question.

But contrary to her low expectations, the Count, who had been lost in thought with a stony expression, began to pour out stories with a lively expression, like a fish in water.

“When I was in my prime, I led dozens of fleets across the vast Calio Sea. We faced rough storms and even encountered the sea monster called Kraken a few times. Would you believe it? That creature really exists. Several of my subordinates fell victim to it.”

“Oh~ Really! That’s amazing! Grandpa, tell me more! Anything else?”

Looking at the Count, who was pouring out stories, Rozelia saw a glimmer of hope and exaggerated her reactions to boost the Count’s enthusiasm.

“At that time, the fleet I led was invincible. We achieved victory in the Ebels Civil War and the Battle of Clamman, receiving recognition from the royal family.”

“Wow, you’re amazing!”

As Count Bernas, with a strained shoulder, shrugged, Rozelia, looking at him cutely, continued with her exaggerated expressions. Then, the Count, feeling excited, continued his story.

“At the Battle of Clamman, both land and sea battles took place simultaneously. Due to the complete annihilation of the army, the naval forces had to land and fight. My fleet and I had no choice but to participate in the ground battle.”

The Count, who spoke like that, furrowed his brows as if the tragedy of those times came back to him.

“There was no hell like that… We lost many comrades.”

As the Count spoke with his head bowed, he remained silent for a while.

Was it because of the unpleasant memories from that time?

While Rozelia anxiously examined the Count’s expression, he suddenly raised his head and started looking around.

“Vagner… Vagner, where are you? Vagner?”

“Grandpa?”

“Vagner!!! If you go that way, it’s annihilation!!! Give up the vanguard!!! Come back!!! Vagner!!!”

Suddenly rising to his feet and shouting towards the empty space, Count Bernas’s actions left Rozelia bewildered.

“Grandpa! Snap out of it! Grandpa?”