Final struggle

Celeste clenched her teeth in rage as her eyes lit up with hatred after hearing his disrespect towards her and the main family. "Originally I was going to let you live out your remaining time after I received your information on how you survived this long but you truly do not know how to respect your betters. For disrespecting the main family I shall sentence you to painful death as it seems I will be receiving nothing from you willingly. Capture him and torture him for everything he has."

The guards stepped forward suddenly and took out their weapons approaching the old man. "Yes miss! Old man you should of just followed the young misses wishes and cooperated. Now it's too late. Hehe."

The old man looked towards the sky once more and sighed. "Let's see… how many are fated to die on this day?"

Although he and Celeste cannot see the outcome of the battle or the result of their talk because the fight had to factor in the two spectators fates which they could not read, the moment things became hostile the guards stars began to clash with his own so he could determine their chances of survival and who was most likely to capture him.

After running the calculations in his mind his eyes lit up and he removed a small scalpel knife he usually used in treating patients that he had carried for many years. "It's finally time to face our end old partner."

He placed the scalpel in his right hand and held it skilfully, as the guards approached he ran into the crowd of them and began to evade their capture.

Soon followed was a slash of the scalpel towards the carotid artery one of their throats, soon followed another slack at someone else's wrist who tried to restrain him.

Celeste saw that he had began to fight back, she frowned and looked towards the sky once more. 'Damn… he intends to take some down with him.' "Hurry and capture him. Maim him if you have to, just make sure he still has enough ability to speak and that will be enough."

What she saw was some of the stars who guarded her were visibly becoming weaker and were destined to shatter in a short time.

Thanks to the confrontation with Bernard there would be some losses on her side but she was bound by her rules and could not reveal that to the others so could only casually give some orders make them act in less restrained manner to subdue the old man.

Seeing that the group were resorting to more brutal means the old man began to become more desperate and deadly.

After some time passed a total of 7 guards lay motionless on the ground while another couple of them were injured.

The rest of the guards were still many though which helped to wear down Bernard as time passed.

Bernard passed through the crowded guards and evaded their attacks while dealing damage to them within the crowd but as time passed the pressure became more heavy upon him.

After some calculations in his mind Bernard counted the number of injured and dead within the group of thirty guards that was originally brought by Celeste and smiled. 'From here on out anyone else has a high possibility of capturing me, I have already killed or injured those that I could even at the risk of being caught… but in the end I cannot be caught by them or I will risk involving others. Little Ki I cannot let them know any information from my mouth so I will have to go now."

Bernard smiled as the weapons and hands went towards his body and cut off his escape.

He revealed a look of pride during his final moments and then the scalpel in his hands severed his own carotid artery, blood began to spill from his neck at a fast speed and his body was soon hit by the weapons.

Soon followed was swords striking at his arms, shoulder, his legs and his thighs, he fell down to the ground lifelessly.

Celeste saw this and revealed a look of disappointment. "No! In the end to just die like that! What a waste, let's head back. I will get the family head to compensate for those who have died."

She took a sword out from the sheave at her waist and stabbed in downwards into the old mans left eye as if wishing to inflict her vengeance on his body.

Celeste let out a snort and turned around to leave shelving her sword once more.

The remaining guards immediately went to deal with the dead bodies and then followed their young miss back to the carriage heading back to the capital.

Even after the guards searched the old mans body the only thing they could find on him was a small scalpel knife used by medicine practitioners.

Meanwhile in the Bombyx family mansion just as Bernard breathed his last breathe, Ki sat writing some documents for the coming days activities.

She suddenly felt a sudden sense of loss within her heart as if someone connected to her had suddenly encountered an accident.

Feeling a little off she ordered to check up on everyone's health and well-being but there were no changes, in fact many were pleased and grateful for their young misses care and concern towards them.

The family were especially concerned about Ki's sudden unease so decided to spend some time together and assist her with her documents and work.

Still feeling the sense of loss within her heart she began to think back to the gifts and letter she received.

She went to her wine and tea room and took out a bottle of wine named Mourning Glory and poured the family a cup and drunk a cup herself.

She could feel a sense of sorrow and loss similar to the feeling earlier but also a feeling of nostalgia and joy as if recalling fond memories of the deceased after their death.

Although she did not have memories of Bernard Estrella, she could still experience the feelings after drinking the wine one would feel when they recalled their loved ones after their passing on which could help with dealing with the sorrow and the loss.

All she had knowledge of was the past when he saved her and her mother and what was received in the form of letters and gifts so those had become a main parts to help overcome to sorrow and loss within her heart.

She faced the family and poured another drink for herself. "I believe that the old man Bernard Estrella has passed away, I know it's just a feeling but it feels as if something connected to me has been severed. Everyone is fine but after thinking about it properly there was the gifts and letter I received recently and from that information I can only guess that the feeling of loss comes from that connection. So… here is a toast to Bernard. May he rest in peace."

She raised her cup to the air and the family followed her movements with a clink of their cups as they made contact.

Throughout the night Leon slept well while the family sat drinking the wine feeling nostalgia towards their loved ones that had long passed away.

Ki once made this wine because of the loss in her heart after her families deaths, she carried too much resentment and pain and it was difficult to fondly remember the good memories.

After creating the wine she could finally take some time to properly mourn their deaths and appreciate the time she had with them when they were alive.