Raymond didn't pay attention to Jack's sudden silence, continuing on his own: "I vaguely remember many years ago, as Elisa's adoptive father, you vehemently opposed her being with me. I even hated you for it."
"At that time, you already knew that Elisa and I would never have a future. How ridiculous I was, harboring such naivety..."
"I'm sorry, Jack, it was all my fault..."
Hearing Raymond's sincere apology, Jack's eyes flickered, and a look of emotion crossed his face.
If it had been the Raymond of many years ago, he would never have apologized to him in such a tone.
At best, they would have argued heatedly, or even come to blows.
The boy who used to constantly provoke him had matured after experiencing so much.
Jack pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment. Ultimately, he couldn't bear for Raymond to die filled with pain and regret.
"Elisa's resting place isn't far from here, Raymond. Come with me to visit her..."
Raymond looked up, quite surprised, and the despondent look on his face dissipated somewhat.
Then, he suddenly paused, looking at Jack's now mostly graying hair, and a sense of relief washed over him.
Yes... time heals all wounds and emotions. Their relationship had been strained due to his and Elisa's romance.
But after more than a decade, even the greatest resentment had faded.
"Cough cough... cough! Hans, no need to support me."
"Jack, let's go. Elisa has been waiting for many years; I cannot make her wait any longer."
Raymond struggled to stand up, which triggered another bout of urgent coughing. He again refused Hans's support.
When the three of them emerged outdoors again, numerous local villagers had gathered in front of the opposite houses and along the roadside.
Compared to the few onlookers before, now half the village had come to watch.
They were all very curious about what the Lord looked like, and why the Lord had specifically come to their remote village.
"Mother, the Lord's carriage is so beautiful," a boy of only a few years old pointed curiously at the carriage.
"Silly child, just watch quietly. Don't point with your hand; if the adults think you've offended them, we'll be finished!"
Seeing this, the woman quickly glanced at the unreacting guards, then raised her hand and gently pressed the boy's finger down.
"Heavens, this is Old Jack's house?! They know the Lord? The Lord actually came to visit in person."
"Huh? Only Old Jack is accompanying the Lord. Where is Karl?"
"Karl isn't home at this time; he went hunting. I wonder what that boy will catch today, heh."
A middle-aged man, wearing a thin shirt, an apron, and a cleaver tucked behind his waist, replied with a smile.
But despite their curiosity, no villager dared to approach the carriage.
This was not only because they held the Lord in awe, but also because guards were already flanking the carriage.
One hand of each guard was already resting on the hilt of his sword, and their calm gazes were fixed on the crowd—a silent warning.
At this moment, if any villager dared to approach without permission, they would undoubtedly be met with drawn blades.
Under the watchful eyes of the many villagers, Old Jack, Raymond, and the butler Hans successively boarded the carriage.
Then, it drove towards the cemetery, with the guards also following closely on horseback, leaving the scene.
In the blink of an eye, only the Tax Collector remained at the scene.
The Tax Collector was secretly raising his hand, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of it.
He was secretly grateful that he hadn't spoken harshly when Old Jack opened the door earlier, otherwise his fate would certainly be miserable now.
There was one thing he couldn't understand: if Jack had this kind of relationship with the Lord, why didn't he mention it when paying the tithe?
If he had been informed, even if Jack and the other person had paid a little less in tithe, he would still have calculated it according to the conditions being met.
Old Jack and Karl, according to other villagers, had only moved to the village in the last three months.
So, he knew nothing about their past.
They were just ordinary commoners, how could they come into contact with someone of the Lord's status?
Normally, even on their deathbed, commoners would never see the Lord's true face.
At most, if they were lucky, they might catch a glimpse of the Lord's entourage from afar when he was traveling.
The Tax Collector stood by the roadside, contemplating. By the time he came back to his senses, a crowd of villagers was secretly pointing and whispering about him.
He pushed up his spectacles with the back of his hand and loudly, unceremoniously, reprimanded them.
"What, are you all so idle? Don't you have work to do?"
"The tithe is due in a few days. I remember about a dozen households among you always struggle to pay."
"If it's the same old story this time, don't beg me for an extension!"
Before he finished speaking, the crowd, which had been watching, instantly scattered like birds, their expressions changing.
What was it that commoners feared most in this era?
Besides the nobility, it must be taxes. Even in the face of natural disaster, taxes had to be paid; not a single copper coin less was acceptable... In the cemetery, among the many standing gravestones, one belonged to Elisa, and Jack and the other figure stood directly in front of it.
"Jack's adopted daughter, Karl El's mother, Elisa rests here."
After Raymond read the name on the gravestone, the overwhelming grief in his heart surged forth again, and tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry, Elisa, I'm late..."
Raymond gazed at the gravestone, his expression dazed, repeating "I'm sorry" over and over again as if tireless, his eyes filled with despair.
However, after being immersed in grief for over ten minutes.
He suddenly froze, because he noticed that there was someone named Karl El inscribed on it? Seemingly Elisa's child?
Wait... the surname El?! He also had the surname El. This child shared his surname.
Thinking of this, Raymond immediately turned to look at Jack, his trembling arm pointing at Karl's name.
His eyes held anticipation and a hint of disbelief, his lips quivering, too emotional to speak.
Jack knew what Raymond wanted to ask at this moment, and he nodded affirmatively.
"Yes, Karl is indeed your biological child. Elisa was already pregnant during your several secret meetings."
"But she asked me to keep it a secret, and at that time, she also learned about your impending arranged marriage."
When he spoke the latter half of the sentence, Jack's brow furrowed with a hint of anger.
He almost gritted his teeth as he squeezed out the words, clearly furious about the matter.
His adopted daughter, whom he had painstakingly raised, not only ignored his advice and got together with a man with no future.
But even after getting pregnant, she considered the other party, not wanting him to take responsibility. This had almost made him spit blood with anger at the time.
If it hadn't been for Elisa's desperate pleas midway, he would have gone to Raymond with a sword to have a serious talk.
Seeing Jack's face still unable to hide his angry expression after so many years of bringing up the matter, a hint of embarrassment flashed across Raymond's face.