Chapter 20 - 20: A plan executed and a new life.

My parents initially planned to fake their own deaths with paralytic poisons and paying off some of their guardsmen to break them out of their respective tombs and give them antidotes. They were just about to go through it, up until they heard about another couple who did what they were going to do and died in the process.

Apparently, this other couple also fell in love despite their feuding bloodlines as well, and tried to fake their own deaths in order to start anew. However, due to a miscommunication they both ended up dying via suicide, with one poisoning themself and the other stabbing themself. My parents then decided to get rid of that idea due to learning just how bad of an idea faking your death can be.

Time was running out for the two lovebirds and they still hadn't figure out a plan to run away together covertly. Everything they came up with was either too foolish or too dangerous and that didn't include all the plans they disagreed on. This kept going for about three weeks before my father's wedding until it dawned on them. They didn't need fake their deaths, fake a hunting trip gone awry or cause a scene; they just needed to leave. No smoke, no mirrors, just leave in the middle of the night and tell no one until it was far too late for anyone to stop them.

And so about week before my father's marriage, my mother and father left letters to their families saying what happened to them and snuck out of their respective estates in the middle of the night. They met up at the city's gate and rode into the night on their respective majimonsters, leaving behind all they knew for an unknown tomorrow.

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"And that's how my parents fought, fell in love and eloped, leading to now", I said to Voxea at the end of the story.

"Huh...wait, you forgot to mention how your parents ended up running a brewery together and how they ended up here of all places", she commented. "Oh that? Well a year after running away together, the two ended up rescuing this old man from a pack of Blitzwolves and escorted him to his domicile, a brewery. As thanks, that old man taught my parents how to brew everything from beer to wine to clear spirits. They ended up staying with him for about two years until they needed to move on. They then settled here and the rest is history", I explained to her.

"Cute story, don't you think?", I asked.

"Sounds like a happier ending than all the star-crossed lover stories I heard in my day. Feeling better?", Voxea asked.

"Actually...yes. I guess hearing myself tell the story made it more... real?"

"Substantial".

"That works", I replied.

"Silvia! Come back downstairs! Your father has got something to show you!", my mother yelled up the stairs, her voice booming through my closed door. A small "yip" followed her voice. I assumed it was my mother's Karatsune still out and about.

I got out of bed and opened the door to my room and replied, "Alright, just give me a minute".

"You ready for whatever happens next Voxea?", I asked. "Always darling. Just remember to keep me secret", she responded in a fake sounding voice that sounded a lot like those traveling nobles that stop by this town.

I hid away Voxea's drajule, straightened my clothes and walked downstairs to see what my dad wanted to show me.