Chapter 1099 – #261_His Return(4) – DeepL

#1093

1.
The Tree of Sephiroth, the highest governing body in Gehenna.
Most major decisions in the city are made here.

It used to be an invitation-only event during the long peace, but since the inauguration of the Hexenacht, it has regained some of its former high attendance.

The main items on the agenda today are the “conferral” and “nomination” of knighthoods.

In the case of the conferral, the long-absent Duke of Ketter will be abdicated and replaced by the Count of Cagliostro.
In the case of the nomination, it was to select a candidate to fill the vacancy created by Count Cagliostro’s elevation.

Because of the importance of this position, it is not just the nobles who hold the title who vote, but the witches of Gehenna as well.

Small and medium-sized coven presidents, unranked but prominent high witches, organization executives, and officials from major institutions filled the room.

“As foretold by the prophetic institutions, the retention of the Duke of Ketter has been finalized. The Tree of Sephiroth wishes to elect a new Duke in accordance with its time-honored traditions.”

After a quick flurry of protocol and interim procedures, and a reasonable amount of meeting time.
Methis Gremory, acting as moderator, declared.

“We will now begin voting on the granting of the Dukedom to Tia Cagliostro. All those in favor, please raise your hands.”

There is no place for cowardly blank votes in Gehenna.
All witches must make their choices and wills known, and be held accountable for them.

There were 120 people seated and voting today.
By a clear margin of 112 in favor and 8 abstentions, Cagliostro was awarded the Ducal title.

This wasn’t a surprising result, as the debate lasted less than five minutes.

Callistro is the head of the Emerald Tablet, along with Duke Tiferet, founder of WitchPoint, and Duke Erelim, president of the Society of Truth and Revelation.
If it weren’t for Kether, he wouldn’t be a strange figure sitting on top of the Duke.

“I, Tia Calliostro, Witch of the Mausoleum, do hereby swear by the name of the Witch to uphold the high traditions and strict order of Gehenna and to fulfill my responsibilities as Duke.”

Applause echoed through the great hall as she finished her oath in a quiet, uneventful manner.
The motion passed with no objections and no enthusiastic support.

The outcome would have been the same no matter what.

But the next item on the agenda was different.

“And now for the second item. The nomination of a witch to succeed to the earldom.”

The quiet room quickly became as hot as a frying pan.
The nomination was for the current number one Gehenna hot topic.

Demon King Xinxiu.
A young baron whose accomplishments are matched only by his seemingly arrogant tinnitus.

“It’s unreasonable. The title of Gehenna is bestowed upon those who have made such achievements and contributions to the city, and he is a young witch, not even ten years old yet.”

“Let’s look at it the other way around, only ten years. In ten years, you’ve risen to the level of a High Witch, and you’ve even founded an unorthodox organization called the Hessian Society, though it’s yet to be proven. Gehenna must change, too.”

“Yes, but he’s also been in the news for his indulgent heterosexuality and troubled personal life. It would be a travesty of honor to place a man rumored to have a public lover in a position of power in Gehenna.”

“Uh… no.”

The tense debate continued even as Count Adonai, who had hoped to weigh in as Takasho’s friend, remained silent.

An hour passed with no sign of calming down.

“There are certainly all sorts of dishonorable rumors about him, but I have to ask.”

Count Cagliostro, no, Duke, was the first to speak.

“I don’t mean to impugn your honor, but is there anyone here who would decide to go to war without a moment’s hesitation against a formidable foe, the Lehar Group, Solidus Top, when someone they care about is dead?”

There was silence.

“Is there anyone who can say with certainty that they can kill the witch of war, and kill the witch of gold, and not merely in a fit of rage?”

The Emerald Tablet had been at odds with the Hessian Society since its inception.

For some reason, they had managed to dramatically reconcile, but Duke Cagliostro’s demeanor now hinted at something more than mere reconciliation.

After a long silence, Duke Erelim spoke up.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of judgment,” he said, “but if we divide social distribution into a simple hierarchy of power, then we are acting like animals.”

“No, that is not what I wish to discuss. If we are witches who are different from beasts, then what values should we hold in the highest regard. What qualifications must we prove to be worthy of a place among the nobility of the honorable Gehenna? That is what I wish to answer.”

Duke Cagliostro looked around slowly as he continued.

“Responsibility. As is well known, he had a ‘lotus flower’, an artifact created by a cowardly witch in the past to save her apprentice witch. This is something I have personally investigated in this case.”

Count Cagliostro gestured, and white papers were distributed to the witches.

They listed the names of those who had died at Xiu’s hands.

It was no secret that Herya and Lydia weren’t the only ones targeted for revenge and punishment.
What caught the witches’ attention was something else.

“As you can see, not a single innocent victim was taken, and not a single human being was injured. When I learned this, I was deeply impressed.”

Duke Cagliostro summarized his thoughts one last time.

“He could have taken the easy way out: if his goal was simply to save his lover by filling the lotus, he could have targeted a lesser, weaker foe.
He could have raided humans in secret, as many heroes have done.

But Xin Xiu chose to walk through the thorns, and he chose justice.

Those who know responsibility know trust, know honor, and know how to fear their own power. I, Tia Cagliostro, dare to say that he is more than capable of carrying the weight of being Count of Gehenna.”

There was a stunned silence.
Even Duke Erelim did not retort, except with a short sigh.

“I will now call for a vote on the nomination of Xinxiu as Earl, all those in favor, please raise your hands.”

Among the witches, each with their own complicated feelings, Count Gremory calls for a vote.

It is never easy to gain acceptance as a witch in Gehenna.

Not only is each member of society an arrogant transcendent, but a witch’s life cannot be measured by a single life.

When judging a witch, one looks to her ancestors and their accomplishments and feats.
It was impossible for Xin Xiu, who had been a witch for less than a decade, to prove herself in such a short period of time.

“Here’s the vote tally. 77 in favor, 30 abstentions, 13 against. I hereby designate Xinxiu as the next Countess.”

But.
A worthy man gets what he deserves, even if he’s not a favorite.

That’s what a Gehenna witch is supposed to do.

2.
Xiu walked into the cottage in the oak grove where Amelia was in labor.

“…….”

Amelia was sitting in an armchair, reading a book, wearing rimless glasses.
She wears a long-sleeved dress and is wrapped in a blanket against the cool fall breeze.

She’s reading without realizing Xiu has walked in, and the way the sunlight from the window bounces off her rich blonde hair is almost fairy-like.

“Ms. Amelia.”
“Shh.”

Amelia’s expressionless face widens at Xiu’s call, like a puppy that hasn’t seen its owner in a long time.

“I bought some strawberries, would you like some?”
“Sure.”
“Before you do, say hello.”

Xiu whispered, stopping Amelia from getting up and keeping his ear close to her belly.

She was barely pregnant before, but now she could feel the bulge even through her clothes.
Amelia smiles ticklishly and strokes the back of my head.

“Hey sprout, how are you doing?”

That’s the name Amelia gave him while his sinful father, Xiu, was on a temporal bender.

I was eight weeks along when Xiu left, and I’m already in my 15th week, which is considered the middle of the pregnancy.
What a terrible father to let her go through a time when she had so much to worry about and be cared for.

“Yes, the sprouts are healthy.”

A falsetto voice came from overhead, imitating a baby’s voice.
Amelia, who doesn’t usually show affection, looks at me in surprise and turns her head as if she’s embarrassed.

“You can stop being sorry.”
“I’m still sorry about something.”

Apparently, Amelia’s deadly affection was meant to ease Xiu’s guilt.

Amelia, who is notoriously clueless and often reacts inappropriately, was able to pick up on other people’s cues.

Is this the greatness of a woman who has become a mother?
My heart swells in my chest.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable, like your hands and feet are cold, or you can’t eat anything? Or maybe you want more strawberries.”
“No, I really don’t have any of those things. I think I’m physically strong.”

Amelia smiles wryly as she rubs her feet together in her sleep socks.
Her smile makes me feel like I’m missing out again.

“I should have more time….”

Part of me wants to stay by her side all day and play husband to her.

But I can’t.
I can’t, because now I have a lot more to worry about.

He has to teach his pilot undergraduate course on the foundations of the Hesed Society, and he has to prepare for a world that is about to change.

The war between Gehenna and Hexenacht is no longer a pipe dream in Xiu’s eyes, and he needs to maneuver Las Werpanas to prevent it.

Amelia’s lips twitched as she stared at Xiu, who sighed.

“Is Xiu too busy?”
“Not really.”
“Be honest. Are you busy today?”
“I’m spare today.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then are you tired today?”
“I’m not even tired.”

Amelia nodded, then spoke cautiously.

“In fact, I’m feeling a little uncomfortable.”

Amelia crosses herself with a slight stiffness as she asks in surprise.

“I think my breasts have gotten a little bigger…. Do you think Siu can check them out?”

Week 15, past the 12-week mark of being okay with sex.
I’ve been refraining from sex since we got back together, just in case.

But this temptation….
Should I hesitate?

That evening, Xiu gave her a little interstitial noise.