SWNOVELXO Chapter 86
TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 86
Desmond Darbav.
One of the five Archmages in the Empire and the head of the Desmond Family, which rivals the Magic Tower.
Scrolls, magical tools, artifacts. As the head of the Desmond Family, which supplies 30% of all magical items in the Empire, he was also a businessman who expanded his ventures into politics, diplomacy, and industry. He was Olivia’s father.
In the novel, Darbav appeared as an antagonist.
He prioritized practicality over justice.
He was a cunning man who valued ugly survival over righteous sacrifice.
When the Empire was on the brink of collapse due to heretics, he repaid grudges with such human-like pettiness that he even provoked the Crown Prince’s wrath by saying, “You ostracized us for using dark magic, and now you come begging for help. How amusing.”
Above all, he was someone who cherished his daughter, Olivia.
-Olivia slapped the Crown Prince? Is Olivia unharmed?
-Olivia is on a diet…? Call the Empire’s best physician immediately. She must be gravely ill.
He was a devoted family man, so much so that nobles called him a “Daughter Fool.”
He adored his daughter, who resembled him.
To Darbav, his affectionate daughter was far more lovable than his cold son.
Thus, in the story, Darbav extremely disliked Mikhail and Yuria.
I recall that many readers criticized him as an antagonist who loathed Mikhail and Yuria, the ones who drove Olivia to her death in the novel.
Although he was a character who met a miserable end after resorting to dark magic to protect his crumbling family, he was personally one of my favorite characters.
Because his human side was admirable.
From the moment the Young Lady did not die, Darbav’s fate changed drastically. Yet, he remained one of the most genuine characters I encountered in the novel, ranking among the top five.
Anyway, the Darbav I remember was a good person.
Cold to outsiders but warm to those within his circle. A man who cherished his family and would sacrifice others to protect those within his fence.
That was the head of the Desmond Family I remember, and Olivia’s father.
Of course.
My connection with him ended after the Young Lady used dark magic.
*
It felt as though time had stopped.
I had intended to seek him out, but I never expected to meet him so soon.
I stood there foolishly, unable to move, at the appearance of the head of the family, someone I thought I might never meet again.
“It’s been a while, Ricardo.”
“…H-Head of the Household?”
I quickly bowed deeply in respect.
“It is an honor to meet the great leader of the Desmond Family.”
“Enough. There’s no need for formalities.”
Waving his hand dismissively, Darbav made a gesture of dislike, as if to say he didn’t care for such formalities, and spoke in a calm voice.
“It’s been nearly two years. You’ve grown so much I hardly recognized you.”
“You flatter me.”
“Still as humble as ever. So… have you been well?”
Have you been well?
Although it was a simple question, I couldn’t easily answer. Having been cast out of the family, I didn’t know what to say.
Pretending with a hollow smile that I had been well felt insincere, given the trouble I had caused the family.
“Well…”
As if reading my mind, the head of the family gave me a gentle smile, as if to ease my burden.
“Feel free to speak openly. I, too, am curious about how you’ve been.”
“…Thanks to your grace, I have been doing well.”
“Grace, you say? The family abandoned you.”
Darbav muttered with a bitter expression.
“There’s no way you could have been well….”
As Darbav said, we were abandoned by the family. The existence of the Young Lady, who used dark magic, was a problem so severe it could have led to the family’s downfall.
Families envious of Desmond.
The Imperial Family, which began to check the expanding influence of Desmond. And even the Magic Tower, which sought to expand its magical tool business.
When everyone was watching Desmond closely, and the Young Lady’s incident erupted, Darbav chose to sever ties with us.
It was the best choice.
The only choice he could make as the head of the family.
I didn’t think it was unfair.
I would have done the same.
However, the abandoned Young Lady wept bitterly over this fact.
While the Young Lady was unconscious, Darbav spoke to me in a cold voice during our meeting.
-You understand that you bear some responsibility for Olivia’s situation, don’t you?
-Yes, I do. I will humbly accept any punishment you deem fit.
-The reason I allowed you to serve as Olivia’s butler was so you could protect her. To keep her from straying down the wrong path.
-…
-Even though there were more competent butlers with better credentials, I entrusted the role to you for that one reason.
-…
-And yet, look at this mess.
-I am sorry.
-Once Olivia regains her health, I plan to send her to a monastery. So… don’t think about stepping foot in the Desmond Family again and return to the academy. I’ll cover your tuition.
-Head of the Household…
-If it were up to me, I’d tear you both apart. So keep quiet.
-I am the Young Lady’s butler.
-And what does that mean now? Look at how things have ended…
-Even so, I believe I must fulfill my duties as a butler. If you do not permit it, I will camp outdoors near the nunnery.
-Are you crazy?
-No, I’m perfectly normal.
This all began with my stubbornness, knowing the future.
To avoid public criticism, the head of the family had to sever ties, and my defiance brought upon us the burden of the family’s indifference and the fines for dark magic.
I was aware of this.
And so was the head of the family. We exchanged silent, bitter smiles, understanding each other’s decisions.
Back then, Darbav was furious, and even Olivia’s older brother was so enraged he grabbed me by the collar.
And the Young Lady was abandoned by her family.
Darbav’s bitter smile made me uneasy. After all, I was the one at fault.
A brief silence followed, and then Darbav asked a question.
“I heard a rumor. You paid off your debts?”
“Yes.”
“…That wasn’t my intention.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind.”
Darbav muttered softly and then looked at the Young Lady sitting beside me. Still unable to accept the closure of the chocolate shop filled with old memories, the Young Lady stared blankly, lost in melancholy.
“Young Lady…!”
“The purpose of our journey is gone….”
“Please pull yourself together, Young Lady… The Head of the Household is here…!”
“My regular shop… The bakery owner promised me a freebie next time. He should keep his promise!”
The Young Lady’s spirit had left her body.
Seeing the Young Lady’s back figure in her wheelchair, Darbav frowned.
“That woman…”
Darbav expressed his displeasure.
Thinking his mood had soured because of the Young Lady’s appearance, I was caught off guard by his completely unexpected words.
“Is she your girlfriend?”
“What?”
“I thought there was a positive atmosphere between you and Olivia. Was I mistaken?”
“?”
Darbav, mentally scripting a romance in his head, let out a bitter smile filled with regret.
“Well, you’re at the age where having a girlfriend is understandable… but it’s a bit disappointing. Unless I bribe her to break up with you, that is.”
“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”
“That woman.”
Darbav spoke as he looked at the wheelchair.
“Isn’t she your girlfriend?”
“No, she isn’t.”
I answered firmly.
“I see.”
A glow of hope began to appear on Darbav’s pale complexion.
Deciding to introduce the Young Lady, who was looking at the chocolate shop, later, I focused on my conversation with Darbav.
For now, introducing her would only leave me unsure of what to say. If Darbav got angry, I would be obligated to take the Young Lady’s side, and I wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict.
I thought of a suitable remark.
I needed time to ease the Head of the Household’s mood so that he and the Young Lady could have a calm conversation.
With a complicated feeling, I began speaking to Darbav.
“What brings you here, Head of the Household?”
“Ah.”
Darbav lifted the paper bag in his hand and spoke.
“I thought of Olivia after a long time. I decided to drop by, wondering if the shop might be open.”
“I see.”
“Here. Olivia used to like this a lot… I couldn’t leave empty-handed, so I bought some snacks from a nearby shop on my way back.”
Darbav took out a Choco Conch Bread from the paper bag and offered it to me.
“Would you like to try it?”
“No, thank you. I already had breakfast.”
“That’s a shame. It’s a very delicious bread.”
Darbav was calm and composed.
Honestly, I had expected him to scold me. I thought he might say something harsh as soon as he saw me, like asking if I knew where I was.
Back then, he had been so angry, and his declaration that he would never see us again was still vivid in my memory. Darbav’s unexpected demeanor now felt like a glimmer of hope to me.
Because of that, I mustered the courage to ask him.
I couldn’t hold back my curiosity.
“Head of the Household.”
The Head of the Household, who was eating bread, looked up at my question. His way of eating, with crumbs around his mouth, reminded me of someone.
“Why? Do you want some now?”
“No, that’s not it. I have something I’m curious about…”
“Curious?”
Darbav placed the bread back into the paper bag, granting me permission to ask.
“Go ahead.”
“Do you not resent us?”
“Hmm?”
“Didn’t we put the household in danger? With the excommunication and all…”
Darbav nodded, not denying my words.
“That did happen.”
‘That did happen?’
Darbav gave an answer I hadn’t expected.
“I was planning to visit you all soon. To discuss what lies ahead.”
“What do you mean…”
“You asked if I hated you, right? …Well, yes. I did consider removing Olivia from the family register for bringing such a crisis to the household, one that could have led to its downfall…”
“But I saw something strange…”
Darbav looked up at the sky with a wistful expression.
“They say no parent can win against their child.”
With a complicated expression, Darbav spoke to me.
“Is Olivia doing well?”
As Darbav’s question, filled with concern, came to an end—
The Young Lady, who had been quietly reflecting, began turning the wheels of her wheelchair and looking ahead.
“Ricardo. Since things have come to this, we should open a shop… huh?”
It was only then that the Young Lady noticed her father standing before her.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Fa…”
Her voice trembled as she spoke, filled with overwhelming emotion.
“Fa…th…”
“Olivia?”
“Fa…ther?”
In an instant, before I could react, the man before me disappeared. Darbav dashed forward at a speed that defied belief.
By the time I came to my senses—
“Hiiieeek!!”
“Huhhh!”
The emotional reunion between father and daughter was unfolding.
Come to think of it—
Darbav—
I had forgotten he was an incorrigible Daughter Fool.
“Why have you lost so much weight?!”
“Ricardo starved me!”
“You little—!”
“…”
Watching the reunion of the father and daughter after so long, I couldn’t quite get used to it.