Raised in Dungeon



DRAFT/UNEDITED

Drugoymir Restaurant: From the beginning, the tavern was supposed to provide a cozy inn for weary travelers or adventurers. But Rodion had chosen not to open the inn to patrons. The reason? Rodion possessed an inherent aversion to the idea of sharing a roof with numerous people.

Within the quaint tavern stood four roomy chambers. Yet only two of these rooms had been granted purpose—one belonging to Rodion himself and the other occupied by Allen—while the other two were empty. Rodion proposed to Bedell that he stay in his tavern for free on the condition that he help with their work for three days.

The offer was not a favorable one for Bedell because he had intended to sleep at a nearby Inn from the start, and it wasn't that he didn't have money. But since Bedell wanted to be as close to Allen as possible, he chose to sleep there.

That night, sleep eluded Bedell as he lay in his bed. He futilely attempted to find a comfortable position by tossing and turning his body, yet his eyes remained wide open. It wasn't the uncomfortable bed or the subpar room that kept him awake, but rather the thoughts that consumed his mind—specifically, the words that Allen had told him before.

"Felicia..." Allen said with a face that somehow looked sad. At first, Bedell guessed he felt sad because he still wanted to live in Barkaley or had no choice but to be with Felicia again.

All of Allen's hard work to atone for his sins was in that town. Every person in that town had willingly ushered forgiveness into their hearts, standing steadfastly by his side as his supporters; everyone loved him. Even the people who might be called family to him were inside that town. So his soul must have been so attached to the city that he did not want to leave it.

But the reason was not that.

"I didn't have the courage to look at Felicia's face," Allen said.

Bedell, somehow understand. "I heard from rumors that you left her in the middle of the night alone outside. That's why you were banished by Lord Reynold. But the evidence is that Lady Felicia was fine back then. What put her in her current state was the excessive use of stamina potions. That's not your fault! And if it were your fault, do you think Lady Felicia would not forgive you?"

"No, I know very well that she would probably slap me for that mistake. And tell me not to repeat it again. But my real mistake was not that."

"Then?"

Allen turned his face away from Bedell, then he said, "Because I killed Waldo Barkaley, her fiancé, and the person she loved the most."

Bedell was stood in silence.

The weight of the shock he had just experienced overwhelmed him. It wasn't just the sharp pain in his heart, akin to being stabbed by a knife, that unsettled him. No, it was the gaping void that seemed to have been carved open with that very same blade, the knowledge sinking in that it was Allen who had taken the life of Felicia's beloved fiancée.

Bedell remembered very well what happened on that day.

The day Rachel and Felicia came home from Wolverlope Region in dirty clothes with Felicia passed out on her back.

Rachel, who was already half-fainted, was still trying to hold on and make an announcement to Lord Reynold and Lady Ayde.

In the living room, Rachel prostrated herself in front of Lord Reynold, witnessed by 10 soldiers, including me.

"Waldo Barkaley died in the Barkaley Dungeon raid," the words Rachel spoke shocked all the soldiers. Because they knew how pure Felicia's love for Waldo was. Everything could be seen from the changes in Lady Felicia's face. Ever since she met Waldo, she always smiled like an angel, she studied harder, and she did all that to be a good wife for Waldo. I wonder what would have happened if she had known that Waldo was dead.

But, the news should not have been a reason for Rachel to prostrate herself in front of Lord Reynold.

It was just the beginning of something that should never have happened.

"I would like to apologize and make a request to Lady and Lord Boldenville, along with everyone in this room.

I lied to the noble family. I lied to Lady Felicia about Sir Waldo's death."

Rachel hid the bitter truth from Felicia.

"Using Lord Boldenville's name, I convinced Barony Barkaley and Earl Wolverlope to cover up Waldo Barkaley's death, at least from Lady Felicia. And on that day, they had agreed not to talk about Waldo in front of Lady Felicia. Waldo was away for xx years, and we used the excuse of a mission given by Prince Leofric to explore a dungeon abroad."

Reynold, however, is holding his headache with his right hand. He then gave a warning to Rachel.

"Rachel... Not only did you lie to the noble family, but you also used my name to negotiate based on your feelings in front of the two heads of noble families. Don't you love your life anymore?"

"My family's life has been in the hands of the Boldenville family for generations. What I did was unforgivable, but I did it for the sake of the Boldenville family."

"You realize it's unforgivable, so that means you're ready to die now, right?" asked Reynold, threatening Rachel as he raised his right hand, signaling the soldier behind him to point their spear at Rachel.

"That's right. I'm apologizing to you not to be forgiven, but because it's an obligation for me who has done wrong."

Rachel raised her head and saw Lord Reynold with a fiery but tearful face. Everyone could feel the determination on Rachel's face, and everyone believed that Rachel really intended to die there.

"You may kill me, as that is the form of punishment I must receive. However, I want you to follow my request.

From now on, the Boldenville family, and all the soldiers in this room, I ask you to conceal the fact about Sir Waldo. So that Lady Felicia can live happily in the future. Until she found another reason to live."

"Do you think that after killing you, I will obey your request?"

"That's why this is a request milord, not a negotiation nor agreement. I am here bowing down and begging you on behalf of myself and my family, who have been loyal to the Boldenville family for decades.

My only wish right now is happiness for Lady Felicia." Rachel closed her words as she bowed her head again. Waiting to be killed by her own master.

But Lord Reynold would not do it. His pride would not allow him to do that. If he killed Rachel, then he would be looked down upon by all the soldiers in the room, and it would surely spread to all the other soldiers, making him unable to become a respected figure.

Lord Reynold desired to execute Rachel due to her actions, thinking it was a necessary punishment. However, he soon realized the severe consequences that Boldenville would suffer if the family lost Rachel.

Rachel's performance, knowledge, and skills were almost the same as the nobles. She was a maid who could read and write, making her a person who could convey messages well, and she also had a beautiful face that was useful for negotiations. Her god's blessing is also unique and indispensable for security. Most importantly, she and her family were very loyal to Boldenville.

Lord Reynold understood that even if Rachel had defied him, it was ultimately influenced by her loyalty to the Boldenville family.

In the end, After much contemplation, Lord Reynold forgives Rachel and acquiesces to her request.

From then on, everyone refrained from crying every time they saw Lady Felicia.

Then there was a breath of fresh air, namely Allen. People kept mentioning rumors surrounding Felicia's affection for Allen. However, deep down, they were aware that Felicia's fondness for Allen ran deeper than mere favoritism; he was the sole person she yearned to call a true friend.

Little did Bedell know that the very person responsible for causing immense anguish to Felicia,

the one responsible for the tragic demise of Waldo Barkaley,

and the person who had caused Felicia's immense sorrow,

was Allen who had brought newfound joy to Felicia's life.

He originally thought that Waldo was killed by a monster in the dungeon. If he had known that Waldo was killed by someone, and that someone was around him, Bedell would have hated him, and everyone in the Boldenville house would have hated him too, for taking away their angelic smile.

But,

Once Bedell stood in front of Allen and saw Allen confess his mistakes, he was speechless.

He couldn't sleep not only because he was troubled by Allen's statement but also because he felt bad for Felicia for not being able to hate Allen, who was the murderer of Waldo.

'After I heard all the stories from the people, how could I hate him?'

Then Allen's face changed when he said that; he must have really regretted what he had done in the past.

'At this rate, I should just go home and tell Rachel that I can't bring Allen back.

I won't be able to bear seeing Allen with Lady Felicia.'