I sometimes get anxious. My chest tightens unbearably. The source of my anxiety is Shuri. Why? Well, it’s simple. Shuri is completely oblivious to people’s advances towards him. Not only that, but he’s so carefree that his emotions are hard to read. I can’t tell at all who he likes or dislikes. Even during our last date, he didn’t realize until the very end that it was just the two of us on a date. …As I think about this, I realize that looking back on our approaches, we’ve been going about it in a pretty roundabout way. Princess Tevis is filling in the moat and sending her subordinates after him, while Lill seems to be trying to win him over by eating lots of her favorite foods. Even I didn’t call it a date from the start, so it’s no wonder Shuri didn’t notice. After all, he’s such a blockhead. Really, he’s a troublesome guy. This doesn’t feel like love at all… I can’t even imagine it as love. I think anyone who hears about this would say, “What kind of diplomatic strategy is that?” So, I’ve decided to resort to my final measure. Namely, introducing him to my family!
Or so I psyched myself up, but the reality is different. When I say “introducing him to my family,” I’m actually talking about going to meet my mother, who’s been missing until now. Anby Sounité. My mother, and the former lord’s concubine. A smart, beautiful, graceful mother I’m proud of. But that’s all in the past now. It’s been a long time since we last met. Even the memories from back then are starting to fade. It’s true what they say – the memories you don’t want to forget are the ones that slip away. But that’s all over now. With Lenha, the root of all evil, gone, Sounité has been freed from the shackles of the past. I myself have been freed from the unnecessary status of being the next lord candidate. While Gungrave holds the real power in the territory, I have no complaints. Whether I rule or Gyngus rules, there would be problems in that territory. It’s better to leave it to someone else entirely. I’ve gone off on a tangent, haven’t I? Anyway, since I don’t have the courage to go alone, I made up an excuse in my mind about introducing him to my family, and decided to talk to Shuri about it.
“Shuri, Shuri. I have something I want to talk to you about.”
That day, I went to see Shuri as he was finishing up work and cleaning up. It was after dinner, while he was clearing the dishes from the dining hall and wiping down the tables.
“What is it?”
Shuri looked at me curiously as he wiped down the table with a cloth. I don’t know why, but it’s rare to see a man who looks so at home doing housework and cooking like this.
“I have something important to talk about, so could you come to my room later?”
Just then, someone dropped a plate with a crash, shattering it.
“Oh no, are you alright?” “I-I’m fine. Really, I’m fine.”
The one who dropped it was Brother Garn, who had been working. Noticing the sound of the plate, Shuri rushed over and carefully began collecting the broken pieces. I wonder what happened. It’s unusual for Brother Garn to make such a blunder.
“Garn?” “…Ugh, uuu…”
To my surprise, he suddenly burst into tears. He’s letting out low groans as if trying to hold them back…
“G-Garn?!” “N-no, I’m f-fine. Ah…”
Brother Garn continues to sob, but he suddenly places his hand on Shuri’s shoulder. His face is a mix of conflicting emotions – tragic yet joyful… It’s a mess, covered in tears and snot. I have a feeling he’s terribly misunderstanding something.
“M-my s-sister, I leave her to you! She may be that kind of sister, but to me, she’s o-one of my few family members! Well then!” “Ah, Garn?!”
Garn left the dining hall in tears. Shuri, left behind, looks dumbfounded.
“Huh…? What in the world happened to Garn?”
Shuri tilts his head in confusion as he continues to clean up the broken plate. And as for me, I tried to think about what just happened, but I couldn’t understand Garn’s intentions at all. Oops, the conversation has stalled.
“Well then, Shuri, see you later.” “Yes, understood… But what happened to Garn…?”
Shuri continues his work while muttering his questions. Well, I guess I should head back to my room. I leave the dining hall and return to my room, where I change out of my casual clothes into my nightwear. It’s getting late, so this outfit should be fine, right? Even if it’s this casual. Then, I grab the letter placed on my desk and look at it.
“Is this… where Mother is?”
That letter is a document I received from Lenha. It’s something she entrusted to me before she left for a distant place. What was written there was the whereabouts of my mother Anby and Brother Garn’s mother Marielle. The location written there is a church that only the lord’s family knows about. Were they confined here…? Damn, I should have realized sooner. If I had, I might have been able to help them somehow. It’s a place of exile in name only, disguised as a church. Why did she tell me this? Why did she decide to tell me at the very end? Maybe she was moved by that steak and Princess Tevis’s words. That Lenha…
“I don’t get it.”
I look at the letter once more before placing it back on the desk and lying down on the bed. In the end, what was Lenha’s goal? What did she want to do? As a member of the Grand-Ende bloodline, what was she trying to do in this territory? I still don’t understand any of it.
“Aeclys, are you there?”
At that moment, Gyngus opens the door and enters.
“I heard some unsettling rumors… but…”
Then, he freezes upon seeing me in my nightwear. Ah, what’s this bad feeling?
“Gyngus, what’s wrong?” “…I see, Aecly- no, Sister, so the time has finally come for you too…”
Gyngus looks up, covering his face with his hands. Tears are flowing through the gaps between his fingers. He’s standing there, silently shedding tears. It’s creepy to anyone who sees it. What’s going on?
“No, it’s okay. Sure, that Shuri guy is scrawny and plain-looking. But he’s capable. So, I should be able to trust him, I should. I need to convince myself of that!” “What’s wrong?” “I understand! I understand, so you don’t need to say anything, Sister.”
It makes my back itch when Gyngus calls me “Sister,” but I’m happy he called me his sister, so I’ll let it slide.
“You called Shuri, right? And that appearance, it means that, doesn’t it?” “Huh?” “Support that Shuri guy and make him a great man—!!!”
Gyngus shouted that and left in tears. …It was like a storm. What on earth was that? I never expected to be caught up in such a bizarre situation, just like Shuri. What in the world are they misunderstanding…? I can’t even begin to understand right now.
“Aeclys~ I’m here.”
Shuri enters through the door that was left open, looking puzzled.
“What’s this all about?” “I don’t know. Gyngus came and this happened.” “Ah, so it was him. I wonder what Garn misunderstood too… Those two have become so alike, you wouldn’t think they used to be at odds.” “They weren’t really fighting, but… yeah, they have become similar.”
The closer the relationship, the better. It’s simple to say, but in the past, Brother Garn had betrayed Gyngus. He was acting as a spy. It’s not known, but if it were to be discovered, their relationship might sour. We should make absolutely sure it’s never found out. At this point, it wouldn’t be good for their relationship to turn bad. Sometimes it’s better not to know.
“So, what did you need me for?” “Ah, right.” “Well, you’ve changed into your nightwear, so I thought you were going to bed.” “Haha, no, that’s not it. I just changed into this because it’s more comfortable.”
That other outfit is one of my favorites too, but it’s not something I can keep wearing after the sun goes down. It’s not that it’s uncomfortable, but it does get tiring to wear.
“The matter is this.”
I hand Shuri the letter I was looking at earlier.
“What’s this?” “It’s the location of my mother and Brother Garn’s mother. I received it from the former first wife… Lenha.” “Huh? You mean… the place they were exiled to by that nasty wife or something?” “That’s right.” “What about Garn?” “An identical letter was delivered to Brother Garn.”
At that time, Brother Garn said it wasn’t time to meet yet and declined the meeting. I think he’s probably trying to learn a way of life other than killing and deceiving before going to meet her. Even though I want to meet her, I’ve been hesitant because I lack the courage.
“Brother Garn says he’s not going to meet her yet.” “Is this really the time for that? They’re missing relatives, right? You don’t know when you’ll be able to meet them, so how can you not go?” “Brother Garn has his own resolve. For now, let’s leave him be, okay?” “…You can’t always meet family whenever you want. Sometimes, suddenly, you can’t meet them anymore.”
Shuri muttered with a dark expression. Come to think of it, I’ve never heard about Shuri’s family. I don’t know anything about his life before he was taken in by the Gungrave Mercenary Group.
“Do you have a family, Shuri?” “…I do, but I can’t meet them. I probably won’t be able to meet them ever again.” “That’s…” “No, it’s not what you’re thinking, Aeclys. They’re not dead, nor have they been taken away somewhere. It’s just, well… They’re so far away that I can’t meet them. So far away that I’ll never be able to meet them again.”
For the first time, I saw Shuri’s sad face. He’s always so carefree, always cooking cheerfully and happily. Seeing this face, I feel like I’m about to cry.
Even though I’ve been talking about liking him and all sorts of things, I don’t know anything about this person.
Why can’t he meet his family? What’s the reason they’re separated? In the first place, where did Shuri come from? What does he like, what does he dislike? What’s his family structure? What are his hobbies besides cooking? What kind of woman does he prefer? What are his dreams for the future? I don’t know anything about Shuri. I said I liked him without knowing anything.
How embarrassing. What a terrible thing I’ve been doing. I’ve been selfishly expressing my one-sided feelings using words like having feelings for him, without trying to know anything about him. If I were to call this love, I’d be the worst person. After all, love without consideration for the other person is just self-indulgence.
“Shuri, you know…” “No, it’s okay. I’ve moved on. At least, I think I have.”
Shuri looks up at the ceiling and closes his eyes.
“That day when I talked about dreams with Gungrave and the others. I decided then. I would support Gungrave and the others’ dreams from the closest position possible. That’s why I’m with them. That’s why I want to be with them. I want to see their radiance from the closest position possible.”
Ah, with those words, I understood. I understood everything. Shuri has found his place. He’s creating his own position. He’s finding a way to protect himself.
The fact that he’s desperately trying to live on this continent.
Unable to meet his parents who are in a distant place, with only the mercenary group members to rely on. He cooks, risking his life and wielding his skills. Shuri’s past sufferings must be beyond imagination. He’s been winning battles where failure could mean death. He’s been living while suppressing the fear of possibly dying on the battlefield at any time.
That’s why I like Shuri.
I know I don’t have the right to say this. And if there’s such a strong bond, it’s impossible to separate him from Gungrave and the others. No matter how Princess Tevis tries to fill in the moat from the outside, it’s futile. Even if the moat is filled, Shuri will escape as if flying through the air. There’s no way to catch him. But I can’t give up. I can’t lie to the feelings that have welled up in my chest. What should I do…? I try to ask myself, but I can’t come up with an answer right away. Even though I can think instantly from my experience of pretending to be a man and handling internal affairs, I can’t find an answer to such a big problem. Especially when it’s weighed against my own love, I lack experience and my thoughts don’t flow.
“So, why did you tell me this information? What do you want me to do?”
Here, Shuri asks a perfectly reasonable question. That’s right, I called Shuri here because I had a favor to ask. The conversation has strayed too far. I need to organize my thoughts here.
“Ah, right. That’s right. Let’s get back to the topic. Sorry, the conversation strayed too far.” “It’s fine. After all, I’m the one who caused the conversation to stray.” “Well… let me say it again. I’m planning to go meet my mother.” “That’s right.” “I want you to come with me.”
At my words, Shuri tilted his head in confusion. Well, of course… It’s unnatural to ask someone else to come along when you’re going to meet a missing relative. Even though Shuri is no longer a stranger to me, let’s put it in easy-to-understand terms here. But Shuri soon smiled and said,
“I understand. Will we depart tomorrow morning?”
This time, it was my turn to be surprised.
“You’re deciding so quickly?” “Huh? Quickly? No, no, I thought about various things during this time.” “For example?” “…Well, about the rotation of cooking duties among Garn and the others.” “You weren’t really thinking about anything, were you?” “Yes… I just answered immediately because you seemed troubled…”
Next, it was my turn to laugh. Shuri has a kindness that seems out of place in this era. And he’s unnaturally dutiful. No, that’s not the right way to put it. Shuri is just a good-natured person. He’s kind. I guess that’s why various people are attracted to Shuri. Though it’s also a bit dangerous. I smile wryly. Really, Shuri…
“Hahaha. Shuri, in that case, I’ll take you up on your offer.” “As you wish, then.”
Saying that, Shuri left the room. Left alone, I read the letter one more time, reviewing the information. Information that I should know as a member of the family ruling this territory. A church in the forest on the outskirts of the castle town. Originally said to be a shelter created by the lord’s family for emergencies. Now it’s become a place of exile, so to speak. I’ve only heard about it. Probably, by the time I heard about it, my mother and the others had already been confined there, and it was arranged or guided in a way to avoid arousing excessive curiosity.
“…Mother.”
A fading, phantom-like fragile memory from my childhood. Back when I didn’t need to pretend to be a man, my mother was still there. But at some point, my mother disappeared, was exiled, and I had to start living as a man. Now I can meet that mother.
“…I’m coming to see you, Mother.”
I throw the letter on the desk and lie down on the bed. Tomorrow, I can go meet her tomorrow. I’m excited, anxious, and happy… An indescribable mix of emotions swirls in my head, and gradually I get tired of thinking about it and fall asleep.
The next day. After persuading Shuri, who was reluctant to ride a horse, we set off. Shuri seems to be bad with horses, and horses don’t like him either, so it took some convincing to get him on a horse. We pass through the castle town, exit to the outskirts, and proceed into the forest. We left in the morning, so it’s still far from noon. Our pace is fast, which is one reason. It feels like Shuri and I are on a trip together, which is fun right now. Behind me, Shuri is clinging to me, looking a bit scared. Is he really that unfamiliar with horses? He seemed to hesitate a bit when we set off too. But if there’s one thing I don’t like…
“…”
It’s the presence of this woman, Eutine…! Eutine. She’s Princess Tevis’s bodyguard and intelligence officer. She’s from a special force that gathers information, steals it, and carries out strategic operations. I know this, but looking at her recent behavior, I start to doubt it. Sure, when she’s acting normally, I can tell she’s no ordinary person. However, when she interacts with Shuri, she suddenly turns into a useless person. For example, I’ve seen her receiving snacks from Shuri during meetings. I was surprised to see her standing in a place I had never paid attention to before… And when she receives the snacks, she eats them single-mindedly. Even though she was guarding so well that she erased her presence until then, now she can’t hide her presence at all. She continues eating without caring about the eyes around her. As a fellow woman, I think… that’s no good.
“…” “…I’m, bodyguard.”
When our eyes meet, Eutine explains without being asked. Her answer is as if she has no other explanation prepared, and I feel my cheeks twitching. That’s right, she’s with us on Princess Tevis’s orders. I don’t know the detailed reason why she decided to come along, but. Probably, that young princess… is trying to prevent Shuri and me from being alone together…
It’s a bit annoying.
Well, never mind. I won’t let it bother me!
“Hang in there, Shuri! We’re almost there!” “Y-yes…”
Right now, I’m guiding the scared Shuri, making sure his hands on my waist are in just the right position. How should I put this… Thinking that the person I like is clinging to me…
It’s exciting, though improper.
No good, no good. Even though I’ve lived as a man until recently, I’m a woman. I must be a pure and elegant lady! I won’t let him notice with my well-trained poker face.
“Are you okay?”
However, Shuri’s condition seems odd… He’s been frowning for a while now.
“No, my butt hurts.”
Ah, I see, so that’s it. Indeed, people who aren’t used to riding horses often say this. First, because they’re not used to it, they don’t know how to dissipate or distribute the pain and impact from their body. This is something you learn as you ride, and it’s a sensation that people who don’t ride can’t understand. So I can understand why Shuri is saying this. At the same time, a question comes to mind.
“Shuri, have you never ridden a horse before?”
To my question, Shuri shamefully nods his head.
“Ah, you’re not used to horses.” “…Is that bad?” “Yeah, by the standards of people on this continent, it’s uncool.”
Before I can tell him that he should practice, I notice something. Shuri’s demeanor from behind seems very dejected. Oh no, I’ve done something bad… I feel like I want to hold my head in regret. Shuri is a boy too. He has enough pride to feel ashamed of things he can’t do, just like anyone else. I’ve said such an insensitive thing… When I look back, intending to apologize, Shuri looks like he’s about to cry. This is bad, I need to follow up quickly.
“Um, Shuri.” “Yes…?” “Men shouldn’t show their tears.”
Huh? Something’s off? I don’t know what’s wrong, but it feels like I’ve made a mistake? But Shuri seems to have pulled himself together somewhat. But that smile looks somewhat empty?
“Aeclys. You look cool.” “Hehe, I’m happy to hear you say that.”
I think it’s not really something you should say to a woman, though. Since I’ve lived as a man for more years, I can allow it. While my mood improves, Shuri’s voice seems to be getting lower, but I wonder why?
“…So, why is Eutine here?”
And as Shuri says, why is Eutine here? She’s been quiet the whole time, and though she claims to be a bodyguard, I’m starting to doubt her purpose since there’s been no danger on the way. To this, Eutine again answers blandly. Without moving an eyebrow or changing her expression at all.
“The princess said, for just, in case.” “No, aren’t you supposed to be there for the princess in case of emergencies?”
Shuri. I think your opinion is correct. I think so too. Eutine, aren’t you supposed to be Princess Tevis’s bodyguard…? Eutine and I exchanged questioning looks, but Eutine answered once again
“…In case of, emergency.” “I understand. I won’t complain if you’re going to protect us.”
Shuri! That’s-! I think you shouldn’t give up there! Look! Eutine is doing a fist pump where Shuri can’t see! She’s even sweating a bit, so if we had pressed her, she probably would have spilled the truth! We should have asked more! We might have understood her true intentions! She seems to have some unexpectedly weak points! But my heart’s cry doesn’t reach Shuri, who seems to have decided to let it slide with an “oh well” attitude. Yeah, I understand the feeling of wanting to let it slide… I know it would be troublesome to get involved… Honestly, I’m reluctant, but I don’t show it on my face. There’s no point in showing it, after all.
“So, Aeclys. This time we’re going to meet Garn’s mother and your mother, right?” “Yeah.”
Shuri, having given up on questioning Eutine, turns the conversation towards me. But… thinking about it again.
“…I’m anxious too. I haven’t seen my mother for a long time.”
The mother in my memories is from before I was educated as a man, and before Lenha set her sights on me and exiled her from the territory. I still remember… I remember, but the memories are fading. I thought I’d never see my mother again, so I tried not to forget at least the mother who remained in my memories. But even that has its limits. Humans tend to retain painful memories to avoid repeating them, but happy memories gradually fade away. I’m starting to forget even what kind of things I did with my mother.
“I don’t know what kind of face I should make.”
So, how should I talk to my mother whom I’m meeting after so long? About recent events? About me? About what’s happened until now? No, what kind of conversation does my mother want? In the first place, why did I decide to meet her? Such worries are coming up because maybe I don’t really want to meet her from the bottom of my heart. Even now, my thoughts are just spinning around, and I don’t know what I should talk about with my mother. In this state, what on earth should I do?
“I think you should smile.”
Shuri said in an unusually serious tone to such doubts.
“Whether it’s ‘I’m home’ or ‘welcome back’ or ‘long time no see’… anyway, why don’t you start by smiling and greeting?”
Smile and greet… I can’t do that, that’s why I’m saying this…
“…It’s not such a simple matter…” “Of course it’s not. I talked about a difficult matter. I didn’t talk about anything simple.”
To me, who looks troubled and depressed, Shuri says.
“But I don’t think there’s any reason not to do it just because it’s difficult. Don’t think of it as for the sake of reconciliation or repairing relationships. It’s for your own closure.” “Closure?” “You’re making a decision within yourself.”
Decision. Last night, Shuri said the same thing. That he should have moved on. Is that how Shuri chose to be with Gungrave and the others, by making a decision about his feelings of wanting to return to his homeland? Because I understand that, Shuri’s words have persuasiveness and weight.
“First, settle things with your past self. I say ‘settle’, but if you’re not harboring hatred towards each other, the distance will naturally close.”
Naturally… the distance will… That’s right. First, if we don’t take the first step to approach each other, the distance between us won’t shrink. I don’t resent my mother. I think my mother doesn’t resent me either. It’s not like she was exiled because of me… but somewhere in my heart, I had been feeling self-loathing, thinking that if I hadn’t been there, things wouldn’t have turned out like that. That’s why I was terrified of meeting her. If she said “It’s all your fault,” I wouldn’t be able to recover. If she said “I wish I had never given birth to you,” I would die. But we won’t know unless we meet. Last night, even Shuri said it, didn’t he? That sometimes, suddenly, you can’t meet anymore. We need to cherish the present when we can meet. I steel myself and look ahead.
“…Yeah, thanks Shuri. I feel a bit more courageous. Thank you.”
Let’s take a step forward. I thanked Shuri. Even if I feel down or like I’m about to die. Thinking that Shuri would help me.
As we proceed through the forest, we come out to an open area. The sunlight that had been filtered through the trees suddenly reaches my eyes unobstructed. As my eyes adjust, I see a church there. The “Temple” religion that once flourished on the Çabrille continent. Now it’s declined and only sparsely scattered in various places, but it’s rare to see one preserved this beautifully.
“What god does this church worship?”
Shuri asks from behind me.
“God, of course.”
I answer with a face that says “What are you asking?”
“No, I mean, what kind?” “? God is God. There’s no other, right?”
Huh? I feel a huge discrepancy, but…
“I thought there would be names, doctrines, and such.”
Ah, I see. So that’s what Shuri wants to say. He’s asking what kind of god they worship and what teachings they follow, right?
“In a world like this, people just pray to God for now. There used to be a headquarters that unified the churches, but it’s gone now. The great powers of the time disliked religious donations and attacked and destroyed it. The churches remained, but there are no donations or followers. Now, only a handful of devout believers maintain the churches on their own. Even so, the priests who can manage with that are loved by everyone and even raise orphans.”
In fact, their existence is helpful for the country too. They’re wonderful people who contribute to society with a spirit of poverty, without seeking anything in return. They work day and night to spread the teachings of the “Temple” across the continent again. Those teachings are simple. That’s why they’ve penetrated some regions. Unfortunately, I don’t know what those teachings are. There were times when I tried to find out, but I was too busy with government affairs to investigate. While it’s true that they’re helpful, I’ve often felt ashamed that I can’t repay them.
“But the church we’re going to now is only a church in name; in reality, it’s more like a hideout for the lord’s family. And now, it’s the place where my mother and Garn’s… brother’s mother are confined.”
Yes, this church is just a shell. Now there are no priests or nuns, it’s just a building in name only. After this incident is over, I’d like to invite a priest to the church, provide proper support, and ask them to take care of and educate orphans… Before that, there’s someone I need to meet. I need to meet my mother. I feel heavy… Just a moment ago, I had decided to meet her, but. Shuri quickly dismounts from the horse, but I can’t get off. The distance between my feet and the ground feels far. I feel like I might fall into an abyss if I get off from here.
“Aeclys?”
Shuri looks at me worriedly and says.
“…I’m scared to meet them, after all.”
In response, I’m so pathetic, really pathetic and weak. With a bitter smile, trying to hide it with a laugh, trying to elicit kindness from Shuri. Such weak and pathetic words are all I can muster. I act pitiful, exploiting the other’s goodwill. I feel like I’m about to die from self-loathing.
“Aeclys…”
Even so, Shuri is kind, looking troubled and worried about me. I’m really pathetic…
But what blew away such an atmosphere was a woman who suddenly came out of the church. Really, in the blink of an eye. A woman who had been slightly opening the door of the church to look this way, suddenly opened the door and ran towards us. As the woman approached me, she looked up at me.
“Aeclys?! Is that you, Aeclys?!”
The woman asked me with overwhelming momentum.
“Huh? Huh?”
I was so taken aback by the suddenness that I couldn’t answer anything. I was just confused. But when the woman noticed this, she immediately smiled and said.
“It’s me, Aeclys! Anby Sounité!”
An…by… That’s… could it be…?
“Are you… my mother?” “Yes! Aeclys, it really is Aeclys… Thank goodness… I’m so glad… to see you…”
My mother said this and broke down crying. She fell to her knees at the horse’s feet, covered her face with her hands, and cried. But it wasn’t out of sadness; she was smiling and shedding tears of joy.
“I thought you had been exiled too… but…! It seems that’s not the case…! I’m so glad… you’re safe…!”
Ah, what did I need to worry about? What was I thinking, that I might be hated? Is this the kind of person your mother is? No, look. My mother is crying, confirming her child’s safety. She’s shedding tears with a smile, isn’t she? She’s crying because she’s happy to see me, isn’t she? She’s relieved that I’m not unhappy, isn’t she? What is there to be anxious about? I move my body, which had been so immobile until now, and dismount from the horse. Then, I embrace my mother. She seems to have become smaller than the mother in my memories, but this is probably because my body has grown. My mother’s silver hair, the same as mine, is starting to fade, a sign of the years and hardships. But finally, we’ve met. We’ve met and I can embrace her.
“Mother!!”
I too, like my mother, am crying while laughing. Laughing and crying, able to rejoice in our reunion. Mother, I’ve finally met you. There are so many things I want to talk about with you after meeting you. Since we were separated, I’ve been managing the territory. I’ve desperately stabilized the territory. Lenha, the root cause, is gone now. There’s no more conflict with my younger brother. I can walk openly showing my relationship with my older brother. The day I dreamed of, when the territory’s problems would be resolved, has come. I came with the person I like. But all that comes out of my mouth is sobbing from crying. It feels like I’m being told that I should let out all my loneliness now. I continue to cry. Although there’s a mountain of things I want to say, only sobs come out, but I think that’s okay. Because from now on, we have plenty of time.
After my mother and I finish crying for a while, Shuri leads us into the church.
“Let’s stop crying for now and have a calm conversation, shall we?”
He says this in a gentlemanly way, but I think it’s unlike Shuri. I thought he would watch over us until the end. But his sense of timing and kindness were very much appreciated. Just crying would ruin this precious reunion. As we enter the church, I see that the inside is clean and well-maintained. Like a proper church, there are several long benches lined up, and at the far end, there’s a podium where a priest would stand to preach. There are several doors beside it, which probably lead to a study, private rooms, and a kitchen. I say “probably” because this is secondhand information, and I can’t say for sure. Anyway, as we’re walking inside, one of the doors opens and a woman comes out. …Ah, another familiar face. A woman I remember.
“Madam, why did you suddenly go outside…!! Could it be… Lady Aeclys…?”
That’s right, I’m Aeclys.
“Yes, Marielle!”
That’s right, she’s Marielle Labor. Mother of Brother Garn Labor. A maid who caught the eye of our father, the previous lord. After giving birth to Garn, she didn’t become a concubine and was kept mostly secret from others. However, she was exiled by Lenha, who didn’t let her guard down against her influence. Beautiful, intelligent, and graceful, I even admired her personality when I was young.
“Aeclys is alive! She’s wearing men’s clothes for some reason, but she’s safe!” “Is that so… Thank goodness…!”
Even Marielle seems on the verge of tears, happy to see that I’m safe. But Mother. I may like men’s clothes, but I’ve become much more feminine compared to before. Explaining that… seems like it would be a hassle…
“I’ll prepare some tea right away! Please have a seat over there.”
Saying this, Marielle heads to the back with smooth steps. Looking beside me, I see Shuri watching this with a puzzled expression. He doesn’t know who this is, does he?
“Shuri, that person is Garn’s mother.”
When I say this, Shuri looks surprised. Hey, didn’t I tell you we’d be meeting Garn’s mother here too? But, I understand. Brother Garn’s mother, Marielle, looks so youthful and pure that it’s hard to believe she’s given birth to a child. It’s no wonder you didn’t recognize her at first glance. Come to think of it… seeing her after so long, she doesn’t seem to have changed at all from before… I can’t sense any aging at all, is something wrong with my eyes? I wonder. We gratefully sit down at the prepared table and chairs, with the tea set.
“Aeclys, who is this gentleman?”
Then, once we’ve settled down, my mother asks me. Come to think of it, I hadn’t explained at all…
“Mother. This person is my benefactor, Shuri Azuma. Thanks to him, we were able to expose the misdeeds of the legal wife… Lady Lenha.”
While I’m introducing him, Shuri is gulping down the tea beside me. This kid sometimes shows a heart of steel, doesn’t he? Normally, would you chug tea in this situation? Were you that thirsty?
“I see… So that person has finally fallen from power…”
But my mother continues the conversation without paying any attention to this. She seems too easygoing on her end too.
“…You know, I was originally a concubine. I wasn’t suited for power struggles. If anything, I was just a scholar who liked domestic affairs. That caught the lord’s eye, and I gave birth to Aeclys.”
I’ve heard about this from Father before. Originally, Mother was a rare female scholar who liked studying. It seems she caught Father’s eye due to her work ethic.
“If Aeclys was safe, I could endure my own misfortune. Fortunately, it seems Aeclys inherited my talents, so I thought she wouldn’t be easily discarded.”
Indeed, I have inherited Mother’s talents. Intelligence, quick wit, memory… I’m very blessed. Judging from my mother’s relieved expression, there’s no lie in her words. After all, in reality, I wasn’t discarded by Father or even by the hostile Lenha.
“My one regret is that I wished I could have spoken with Lenha one last time.”
Mother lowered her gaze.
“I wanted to ask what meaning there was in discarding Marielle and me and seizing real power in Sounité. We had already made Aeclys give up her right to inherit the lordship, and we had no intention of making Garn claim inheritance rights.”
That’s…
“That’s strange, isn’t it? Normally, wouldn’t you want your own son to seize power if he could?”
Before I could continue, Shuri raised an objection. That question is quite ordinary, or rather, it’s something that should be thought. Why did they try to have them give up power when they could have seized it? This is the common sense way of thinking for commoners. It’s not wrong. Shuri’s doubt isn’t wrong at all.
“Yes. Normally, that’s the case. However, both I and my lady were afraid of grasping too much power.”
Marielle answered in response. They feared grasping too much power. In this era, it’s an absurd or incomprehensible way of thinking.
“Afraid…?” “Shuri, right? For example, if you were told to manage a store, could you do it?” “I think I could.” “Oh? What would you sell?” “Food. I am the head cook, after all.” “I see. So the ‘product’ is not a problem. But what about ‘administration,’ ‘accounting,’ ‘procurement,’ and so on? Could you do all of that by yourself?”
Understanding my mother’s intent, Shuri shook his head and answered.
“That would be difficult.” “See? Shuri, to run a single store, you either need one person who is proficient in everything, or you need to cooperate with staff who are proficient in one area. Aeclys, Garn, Lord Gyngus… everyone had outstanding talent in one field, but lacked aptitude in other areas.”
When actually told this, it hits pretty hard. My mother’s point is correct. It hits the mark. I’m good at internal affairs. Gyngus is good at military affairs. Brother Garn is good at information gathering. Even if one of us stood at the top of power, problems would have occurred, and in fact, problems were occurring even before that happened. Because it was entangled with bloodline issues, it fell into an even more complex situation. The result was a crisis of the territory’s survival due to the runaway of power. My mother had seen through this from an early stage. That there was a wide disparity in the talents of the lord’s children. Even if Brother Garn’s talents were acquired through later training, in any case, neither I nor Gyngus could do what he does. So, before the territory split into three factions or two factions, they tried to take action.
“Still, there was hope for Lord Gyngus. In this war-torn world, a lord skilled in military affairs can gather support from his subjects. Aeclys and Garn could fill in the shadows.”
I can’t argue with my mother’s opinion as she speaks like this. In the current warring states era, there’s hope for Gyngus. In a peaceful era, there would have been hope for me. Are you saying we were each born in the wrong era? Is there such an unreasonable story? I can’t help but think so.
“So, mother, you wanted to support Gyngus while having me and Garn support him?” “Yes. That’s what it comes down to.”
Understanding my mother’s thoughts, I feel a bit relieved. That she accurately saw and considered the abilities of me, Brother Garn, and Gyngus. At the same time, I feel anger towards Lenha and Father. If they had done as my mother said, at least that chaos wouldn’t have occurred. Since my mother was exiled before I became aware, I don’t know what kind of conversations she had with Father and the others, but. If that had happened, would I have met Shuri? I don’t know about this.
“So, who’s governing the territory now?”
My mother said, interrupting my thoughts. At those words, I can only make a troubled face and stammer.
“That’s…”
How should I say this? I can’t say that now we’re executives and Gungrave is holding the real power. After hearing my mother’s thoughts, I wanted to say that now the three of us are ruling together.
“Our commander is.”
Perhaps sensing my conflict, Shuri said.
“After the downfall of the legal wife Lenha, there was interference from Nouviche. Since Gyngus is Lenha’s son, there would be problems if he ruled after her, and Aeclys wants to return to being a woman, and Garn has no intention of ruling, and considering his birth, there would be opposition, so our commander is temporarily in charge.” “I see… So the Sounité territory has been taken over by a mercenary group.”
When Shuri finished explaining everything I found difficult to say, my mother said with slumped shoulders. I’m sorry, Mother. Because we couldn’t properly stabilize the territory, this happened. As I was about to fall into self-loathing, my mother continued in front of me.
“Well, maybe this is the flow of the times too. I had hoped my daughters would get through this war period. So, Shuri, can this commander be trusted?” “Yes, he can.”
It was an immediate answer. He looked straight into my mother’s eyes and declared it.
“I trust Gungrave. Without him, I wouldn’t be who I am today. He’s ruling temporarily, but Gungrave is acting with the goal of pacifying this continent and realizing a peaceful world in the future.”
There’s no hesitation or uncertainty in Shuri’s words. Or rather, it might be better to say that his core doesn’t waver. Shuri places complete trust in Gungrave and wields his cooking skills. Gungrave also recognizes Shuri as an important comrade and entrusts his back to him. There’s no room for doubt to enter that relationship of trust. That’s why Shuri can focus his nerves on cooking. I’m envious. Of Gungrave for having such a trustworthy subordinate. Of Shuri for having such a trustworthy superior. But in response to this, my mother faces him straight on with sharp eyes and says,
“Do you know the details of that plan?”
To this, Shuri,
“I don’t know the specifics. I’m just a cook.”
He answers immediately.
“Isn’t that just avoiding thinking about it?”
Even to this questioning,
“I’m just doing what I can do.”
He answers without hesitation. Really, Shuri has a heart of steel… To answer so smoothly under such pressure. For several seconds after that, they faced each other head-on, but soon my mother softened her sharp gaze and said,
“…Fufu, I’m sorry. I said something mean.”
She apologized.
“I couldn’t help it. But this is good.”
My mother looks up at the ceiling and mutters.
“Even if one of our children took command, there would have been distortions somewhere. It’s better to have someone else take the lead and support them. Just like you’re supporting them in the area of cooking, which you’re good at.”
My mother smiled further.
“Still, you have a strong core. Doing what you can do. Honestly leaving what you can’t do to others. You don’t know how difficult that is.” “Is that so…?”
Shuri looks puzzled, but this is actually quite difficult. Around those in power, there are always fools who try to use that power as a shield to fulfill their own desires and run wild. If it’s someone without ability, you can repel them and be done with it. But if that person has even half-baked abilities, it’s the worst. If you carelessly entrust work to such a person, the organization might rot from there. After all, they only care about money, power, and profits. They might abandon the work they’re entrusted with and cause who knows what trouble, and the reputation would fall too. Or there’s the story of a lord who tried to do everything himself and didn’t create any trustworthy people around him. After seizing the lord’s position through power struggles, he became obsessed with maintaining it, tried to do everything alone to gain merit, and ended up collapsing. That’s why having hardworking subordinates who understand the territory and are loyal is something every person in power dreams of.
“Yes. Most people who gain power think they can do everything themselves. It’s even difficult to find trustworthy subordinates who can be entrusted with practical work and clerical duties.”
And as my mother says, neither I nor Gyngus were able to gain subordinates we could completely trust. Brother Garn is more of a collaborator than a subordinate, and in the end, he was spying for Gyngus.
“Thank you, Shuri. For taking this old woman’s outburst head-on.”
My mother seems to have said everything she wanted to say and looks refreshed. Outburst… huh. Mother must have been struggling too.
“Marielle, don’t just stand there silent, say something too.” “Yes. However, it’s about time I start preparing dinner.”
Huh? Is it already that time? Looking outside, it is indeed dark… The sun has set, and night is falling.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll cook this time.”
Shuri enthusiastically volunteered.
“No, we can’t let a guest do such a thing.” “It’s fine, Marielle. It would be rude not to accept his kindness after he’s gone to such trouble.”
Nice one, Mother! Although I want to eat Marielle’s cooking after so long, this is a chance to have them taste Shuri’s cooking! Shuri quickly retreats to the kitchen and starts preparing to cook right away. Now, for the first time in a long time, my mother, Marielle, and I are together. I wish Brother Garn could come too, but… it can’t be helped this time.
“Lady Anby. There’s one thing I’d like to ask Lady Aeclys, if you’ll permit me.” “Go ahead.” “Then… Lady Aeclys. Is Garn… doing well?”
Marielle asks timidly.
“I couldn’t give that child much affection. No, I couldn’t take the time to give him affection. So, if I could hear whether that child is smiling now, if he’s well, what he’s doing… may I ask?” “Brother Garn is happily undergoing cooking training now.” “Cooking?” “Yes, cooking.”
I briefly explained what had happened so far. After the incident in the territory, Brother Garn stopped his espionage activities. I was wondering what he wanted to do, and then he started cooking training under Shuri. According to Brother Garn, it was “an old promise.” I told them everything I knew within my knowledge. Then, Marielle teared up.
“I see. That child has been able to come out from the dark places into the light…”
Brother Garn was not given inheritance rights and was only given training as an intelligence officer, always gathering information behind the scenes and doing dirty work. So, from Marielle’s perspective, she seems happy that he’s learning an honest job as a cook that he can do proudly under the sun.
“Is that so. That’s good.” “Yes, Mother.” “However, that Shuri boy is no ordinary person, is he?”
My mother said, folding her arms.
“He doesn’t flinch even in front of me, and he has a clear line between what he can and can’t do. And his way of thinking is solid too. Talking to him, I thought that while his carefree attitude seems to be his personality, at its core, it feels like he’s received high-level education.” “Education…?” “In this case, I don’t mean brainwashing or training. Well, education might be the wrong word. Let’s say he’s studied academia, deepened his knowledge, and trained his quick thinking.” “Ah…”
I nod at my mother’s opinion. Indeed, Shuri’s underlying intelligence is impressive, even though he’s carefree and fun. Not only his knowledge about cooking, but I’ve heard that he can even give advice on magic engineering and magic to the extent that he’s helped Lill and Arius before. I wondered about his knowledge that allows him to give advice not only on cooking but also on magic engineering and magic… but when talking to him, the way he uses words and phrases is sometimes very skillful. Thinking about it, I really don’t know where Shuri came from. What did he learn, and where did he come here from? The questions are endless.
“To think such a boy would come as Aeclys’s companion… What kind of relationship do you have?” “Wha!?”
Suddenly, my mother said with a grin.
“You know. Until Aeclys came, I was full of anxiety. How should I talk to her, what topics should I bring up? I had nothing but worries. I thought you’d be the same. And yet, you brought a man with you. Moreover, you two seem quite close.” “T-That’s…” “What’s going on? Even from my perspective, that boy seems quite a catch. What do you want to do?” “…Well, um, I like Shuri.”
When I honestly tell her, my mother and Marielle break into wide smiles…!
“Did you hear that, Marielle?” “Yes, I heard it clearly, Lady Anby.” “I never dreamed I’d be able to have a conversation like this.” “I’m also delighted that Lady Aeclys is opening her heart to us.” “So, you like that boy Shuri, huh~”
Mother is grinning… Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything…!?
“That’s wonderful.” “Huh?” “I said, that’s wonderful. Being in love is a splendid thing. I pray that your love will come to fruition.”
Seeing my mother smile, I can’t help but smile too. I’m glad… Mother really doesn’t have any ill feelings towards Shuri.
“Of course. There are about two other girls who like Shuri, but I won’t lose.” “Eh? Is he that popular? Him?” “He didn’t seem that way to me…”
Don’t badmouth the person your daughter likes.
“How rude. Even Princess Tevis from Nouviche has her eye on Shuri, and his cooking surprises you with the first bite and teaches you deliciousness with the second.” “Oh, that sounds interesting.” “Ah, Mother. You don’t believe me, do you? Shuri’s cooking is really amazing, you know.” “Yes, yes.”
From there, we chatted about trivial things. My mother, Marielle, and I, finally reunited as a trusting family, as parent and child. What we ate, what we did, what was fun, what was hard, what was sad, what made us happy. Parent and child, we talked a lot, as if trying to fill in the time we were apart.
“Everyone, I’ve brought the food.”
Just as the conversation was heating up, Shuri appeared with plates and spoons of food.
“It’s fried rice.”
What’s placed before our eyes is a rice dish. It’s a dish I’ve eaten before, and one that Eutine has been obsessed with recently. It’s called fried rice.
“…Did you make a rice dish in such a short time?”
This fried rice dish has a characteristic – it was originally served by Shuri as a meal for the cooks. Even then, people were surprised, but it can be finished in a short time even though it takes effort. I don’t know the detailed reason, but according to Brother Garn, “Once he starts, it’s finished in no time.” Moreover, despite being made quickly, it’s very delicious, and the ingredients and seasoning can change according to preference, which is surprising. It’s no wonder Marielle is surprised. We were certainly talking for a long time, but it should still take much more time for normal cooking to be finished. Yet Shuri was able to cook and serve this dish in such a short time.
“And it smells so good… How did you make this?” “I stir-fried it. One secret is to use quite high heat.”
Marielle seems to be trying to ask about the technique, but you should stop. His so-called techniques are sometimes incomprehensible to ordinary people.
“Please, enjoy.” “Yes, it would be rude to discuss theory in front of the served food. Let’s eat.”
My mother says this and immediately takes a bite of the fried rice.
“…”
And then, she falls silent. I understand. Mother is trying to maintain her composure, but she’s surprised.
“I told you, didn’t I, mother? Shuri’s cooking surprises you on the first bite and teaches you deliciousness on the second.”
I say proudly and immediately start savoring Shuri’s cooking. The golden color of the rice, with the green of the scallions complementing it well. When you put it in your mouth, you can really understand its deliciousness. The flavor is adjusted with salt and pepper, the umami of the chicken is transferred to the rice, and the scallions remove any unpleasant smell. The egg increases the umami of the rice, and the onion adds an accent to the texture. It’s a simple recipe that sounds like I could make it if I heard it. But surely, only Shuri can create this taste. Because Shuri once told Brother Garn: Pointing at the fried rice, he said, “This dish strongly reflects a person’s individuality.” And perhaps sensing the skill put into this dish, my mother nods with a look of understanding.
“…I see. Aeclys is right. Marielle, you eat too.”
My mother points to the dish placed in front of Marielle and says with a serious expression.
“My lady. As a maid, I should serve…”
Indeed, Marielle is a maid, so she needs to do her serving duties. But interrupting that, my mother declares.
“No, Marielle. You eat too. This is the shape of the continent’s future.”
My mother points at the fried rice, and Marielle accepts it. …I wonder why Mother used words like “the shape of the continent’s future.” I don’t think Mother would casually or thoughtlessly use words like “the shape of the continent’s future.” In the first place, I don’t understand the meaning of urging Marielle to eat and using that as a reason.
“…I see. This is…”
While my question remains unresolved, Marielle was giving her impression.
“It’s simple. Very delicious. The base flavors are eggs and salt and pepper, right? And onions are added as an accent, which goes well with the slightly firm rice. And then, the chicken. You can enjoy the rice infused with the flavor of chicken while also tasting the chicken itself. I see, it’s simple but meticulously calculated.”
It’s the same impression as mine. I feel a bit relieved.
“This originally developed from staff meals, I’ve heard. In a certain country in my homeland.” “Using leftover rice and ingredients from staff meals to create something new. I see, Shuri’s cooking always comes from familiar places.”
I express my thoughts, suppressing my questions and doubts. This should be fine. This is fine. Is this the cooking that represents the shape of the continent’s future? This? After we finished eating, I asked my mother.
“Mother, can I ask you something?” “Go ahead.” “You called that dish the shape of the continent’s future, right?” “…”
Mother makes a difficult face.
“What did you mean by that?”
But Mother doesn’t answer. She looks like she’s considering how to answer. Marielle doesn’t answer either. She’s a maid. She’s not in a position to answer a question before her mistress. Although I think of her as family, she’s the type of person who values such positions and roles, so she won’t say anything unless Mother does. As I wait for words, suddenly the church door opens.
“Found you, found you, somehow made it here.”
It was Kuuga who was there. Leaves have fallen on his shoulders and head. Did he run through the night forest to get here? Eh? He came through the forest in the dead of night?
“Is this Aeclys’s mother, Shuri?”
Kuuga approaches Shuri, who was trying to take the plates back to the kitchen, and asks while looking this way.
“Yes, that’s right. But Kuuga, why did you come here?” “Hm? Well, about that. But before that…”
Kuuga walks towards us while asking. Then he bows his head in front of my mother.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Kuuga. I’m an executive in Sounité.” “That dialect… the intonation of your name… from the east?” “Yeah. I don’t remember, but somehow I’ve taken a liking to this way of speaking.”
My mother turns to me with a smile. Ah, this face is what they call a forced smile.
“Aeclys, this person is…”
Mother is asking me discreetly.
“This person is Kuuga, the infantry unit captain under Gungrave. His swordsmanship is the best on the continent, and he alone has changed the course of battles.”
When I explain this, Mother nods slightly.
“I apologize for the rudeness to you, Madam Concubine.” “I don’t know what you mean.” “Originally, we should have welcomed you and carried you in triumph. Please forgive us for not doing so.”
I’m just surprised by Kuuga’s blunt way of speaking. That’s not the way to speak to someone who was once a concubine!
“Are those the words of that Gungrave person?” “It’s the consensus of Gungrave and us captains. In other words, you can take these words as Gungrave’s own.”
There seemed to be an invisible confrontation going on between Kuuga and my mother. But suddenly, that atmosphere dissipates.
“I see, then I’ll take it as such.” “That’s mighty kind of you.” “There’s no point in making a fuss now, it’s not like I can become a person of power.” “That’s right.” “Besides, it’s more meaningful to protect me here in this forest, isn’t it?” “You were aware?” “My mind still works, you know.”
After exchanging just that much conversation, Kuuga turns to face Shuri.
“Come on, we’re going back, Shuri.” “Huh? Now?” “Yeah, now.”
Kuuga’s face as he exchanges words with Shuri is all smiles, unlike the person from just a moment ago. At the same time, I can’t understand why my mother said such things. Well, I can understand feeling angry if an executive from an organization that took power suddenly comes and says sorry we didn’t welcome you properly. But my mother should be able to handle such situations with poise. She’s capable of that kind of subtle maneuvering. What was the meaning of that exchange just now? No, what was the purpose of having that exchange?
“Aeclys, if you’re done here, will you be coming back with us too?” “Um, I…”
When Kuuga says this to me, I hesitate a little. What should I do…
“Aeclys should stay. I want to talk a bit more, just parent and child.”
Mother… Hearing these words, Kuuga seems to think about something and then says,
“…I see. So, what should we do?” “To begin with, isn’t it fine if I don’t go back?” “Without you, our cooking lacks a certain something.” “But Garn and the others are still there, right?” “Ah, well… It’s not bad. It’s not bad. It’s better than before. But still, without Shuri, it feels incomplete.” “Is that so… Then, shall we leave it to Eutine and go back?”
The one most surprised by these words was Eutine, who had disappeared at some point and then reappeared at some point. Where were you until now?
“No, I am, Shuri’s, guard.” “There’s someone you need to guard more than me, right? I need to go back once, so I’m leaving this place to you.”
Ugh, an irrefutable argument…?!
“Well then, Lady Anby. I’ll take my leave now.” “Yes. Thank you, Shuri. Your cooking was delicious.” “That’s a gratifying comment. I’ll strive to improve even more.” “Ahaha, you’re so modest.” “That’s how I want to be. Well then, excuse me.”
Shuri politely bows and prepares to leave in an instant. Left behind, I can only stand there dumbfounded, unable to understand the flow of events up to this point. Eutine approaches me, who is in such a state.
“Shuri’s, request, so, I’ll guard, you all. But, I won’t, take orders. I’ve grasped, the geography, and, interior, of this place. I’ll do, things, my own way.”
This is said with an expressionless face, but it’s clear that she’s in a bad mood. Eutine quickly goes outside, and in the end, the three of us are left.
“Lady Anby, shall I keep an eye on her?” “It’s fine. Leave her be. If that girl wants to make her own plans and guard us on her own, it saves us the trouble of giving orders.” “But…” “That girl is moving on Princess Tevis’s orders. Yet, she listened to Shuri’s request. Tevis’ intentions must be included there.” “…What do you mean? Mother, I need an explanation.”
Finally unable to hold back, I ask my mother.
“Oh? Which part needs explaining?” “Everything. The reason Eutine is moving, what Princess Tevis intends, everything.” “I don’t know everything. I’m just guessing that might be the case.” “I want you to tell me that.” “…Alright. About why Eutine is moving. Do you really not notice?” “Huh?”
The next question, here my mother asks me with an exasperated look. Huh? Am I supposed to notice this?
You’re kidding… Right? That expressionless intelligence officer, who seemed to be swearing absolute loyalty to Princess Tevis, likes Shuri? I couldn’t imagine it at all… I didn’t see any signs of that at all.
“That’s… well, the type whose stomach has been won over.”
Sorry, Mother. That can be said about all the girls who like Shuri. Princess Tevis with mapo tofu, Lill with hamburger steak… Me… with karaage? No no, I liked him before that, and I’m not just won over by my stomach. Ah, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to eat Shuri’s cooking anymore. Ha! I’m about to fall into a quagmire!
“I mean, ignoring her master’s orders to listen to a man’s request, I can’t think of any other reason. Seeing her talk with Shuri a bit, and then throwing those words at us in that scene, and considering the difference… In front of Shuri, she was flustered and showed emotional fluctuations unbecoming of an intelligence officer, but in front of us, she wore an iron mask and spoke businesslike words befitting an intelligence officer.” “So, Eutine likes Shuri?” “She’s probably not aware of it herself. Besides, her expression when talking to Shuri was just like yours.”
My mother laughs merrily, but… Huh? Was I making such a lovestruck maiden’s smile? Wow! When I think about it like that, it’s embarrassing! My face is hot! It’s not… turning red, is it?!
“N-Never mind that, what’s next! The next question!” “Ah, Princess Tevis’s intentions. It’s simple. Princess Tevis has her eye on Shuri, right?” “Yes.” “In that case, would she quietly watch a love rival introducing Shuri to her parents?”
…Huh?! No way…!
“It might look like a family introduction before an engagement, don’t you think? If it were me, I’d think so.” “Yes, Lady Anby. With you saying you like him and bringing him here, I thought so too.”
M-Marielle too! Oh no! So that’s how it looked! That’s why Eutine came along! Ah, come to think of it, is that why Gyngus and Brother Garn were so flustered? Calling a man to my room, greeting him in nightwear, then introducing him to my parent. Even I would think something was going on! I feel like I’m about to breathe fire from my face at my own carelessness! It’s too embarrassing…!
“Well, she was probably snooping around inside this church too.”
My mother muttered casually.
“Huh?” “Just what I said. As Eutine, she’s probably investigating what kind of facility this is where I was held captive. There’s basically nothing here. There ‘was,’ long, long ago.” “’Was’…?” “Let’s end the conversation here. We’ve had dinner, so why don’t we take a bath next?” “Huh? A bath?” “Yes. There’s abundant groundwater here, so we have plenty of water, and we’re surrounded by trees, so we don’t lack fuel.” “Yes. I’ll prepare the bath. I’ll call you when it’s ready, so please wait.”
Saying this, Marielle disappeared into the back of the room. I never expected there to be a bath here, it’s quite surprising.
“Mother, what do you mean by ‘was’?” “Ah… Are you bringing up that topic again?” “I’m curious.” “To be precise, ‘lived’ would be more correct. This facility originally existed to isolate and confine a certain person. After he ‘disappeared,’ it was renovated to look like a church for appearance’s sake.” “Disappeared… You mean he died?” “No, he didn’t die. He ‘vanished.’ Suddenly.”
Wh-what kind of story is this?
“I happened to find some old documents and investigated. But I don’t know who this ‘person’ was or where he came from. It might just be a legend.” “By the way, what was this person’s name?” “Let’s see… The name was, if I remember correctly…”
My mother remembers and says,
“’Soujiro,’ I believe?”
After that, we continued talking, took a bath, and went to sleep. Even after getting in the bath, I kept talking with Mother and Marielle. Tired, I slept, and when I woke up the next day, I returned with Eutine. Soujiro… That name stuck in my mind.
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Chapter 49
I sometimes get anxious. My chest tightens unbearably.
The source of my anxiety is Shuri.
Why? Well, it’s simple.
Shuri is completely oblivious to people’s advances towards him. Not only that, but he’s so carefree that his emotions are hard to read. I can’t tell at all who he likes or dislikes.
Even during our last date, he didn’t realize until the very end that it was just the two of us on a date.
…As I think about this, I realize that looking back on our approaches, we’ve been going about it in a pretty roundabout way.
Princess Tevis is filling in the moat and sending her subordinates after him, while Lill seems to be trying to win him over by eating lots of her favorite foods. Even I didn’t call it a date from the start, so it’s no wonder Shuri didn’t notice. After all, he’s such a blockhead. Really, he’s a troublesome guy.
This doesn’t feel like love at all… I can’t even imagine it as love.
I think anyone who hears about this would say, “What kind of diplomatic strategy is that?” So, I’ve decided to resort to my final measure.
Namely, introducing him to my family!
Or so I psyched myself up, but the reality is different.
When I say “introducing him to my family,” I’m actually talking about going to meet my mother, who’s been missing until now.
Anby Sounité.
My mother, and the former lord’s concubine. A smart, beautiful, graceful mother I’m proud of.
But that’s all in the past now. It’s been a long time since we last met.
Even the memories from back then are starting to fade. It’s true what they say – the memories you don’t want to forget are the ones that slip away.
But that’s all over now.
With Lenha, the root of all evil, gone, Sounité has been freed from the shackles of the past.
I myself have been freed from the unnecessary status of being the next lord candidate. While Gungrave holds the real power in the territory, I have no complaints.
Whether I rule or Gyngus rules, there would be problems in that territory.
It’s better to leave it to someone else entirely.
I’ve gone off on a tangent, haven’t I?
Anyway, since I don’t have the courage to go alone, I made up an excuse in my mind about introducing him to my family, and decided to talk to Shuri about it.
“Shuri, Shuri. I have something I want to talk to you about.”
That day, I went to see Shuri as he was finishing up work and cleaning up.
It was after dinner, while he was clearing the dishes from the dining hall and wiping down the tables.
“What is it?”
Shuri looked at me curiously as he wiped down the table with a cloth.
I don’t know why, but it’s rare to see a man who looks so at home doing housework and cooking like this.
“I have something important to talk about, so could you come to my room later?”
Just then, someone dropped a plate with a crash, shattering it.
“Oh no, are you alright?”
“I-I’m fine. Really, I’m fine.”
The one who dropped it was Brother Garn, who had been working. Noticing the sound of the plate, Shuri rushed over and carefully began collecting the broken pieces.
I wonder what happened. It’s unusual for Brother Garn to make such a blunder.
“Garn?”
“…Ugh, uuu…”
To my surprise, he suddenly burst into tears. He’s letting out low groans as if trying to hold them back…
“G-Garn?!”
“N-no, I’m f-fine. Ah…”
Brother Garn continues to sob, but he suddenly places his hand on Shuri’s shoulder.
His face is a mix of conflicting emotions – tragic yet joyful… It’s a mess, covered in tears and snot.
I have a feeling he’s terribly misunderstanding something.
“M-my s-sister, I leave her to you! She may be that kind of sister, but to me, she’s o-one of my few family members! Well then!”
“Ah, Garn?!”
Garn left the dining hall in tears.
Shuri, left behind, looks dumbfounded.
“Huh…? What in the world happened to Garn?”
Shuri tilts his head in confusion as he continues to clean up the broken plate.
And as for me, I tried to think about what just happened, but I couldn’t understand Garn’s intentions at all.
Oops, the conversation has stalled.
“Well then, Shuri, see you later.”
“Yes, understood… But what happened to Garn…?”
Shuri continues his work while muttering his questions.
Well, I guess I should head back to my room.
I leave the dining hall and return to my room, where I change out of my casual clothes into my nightwear.
It’s getting late, so this outfit should be fine, right? Even if it’s this casual.
Then, I grab the letter placed on my desk and look at it.
“Is this… where Mother is?”
That letter is a document I received from Lenha.
It’s something she entrusted to me before she left for a distant place.
What was written there was the whereabouts of my mother Anby and Brother Garn’s mother Marielle.
The location written there is a church that only the lord’s family knows about. Were they confined here…? Damn, I should have realized sooner. If I had, I might have been able to help them somehow.
It’s a place of exile in name only, disguised as a church.
Why did she tell me this? Why did she decide to tell me at the very end? Maybe she was moved by that steak and Princess Tevis’s words. That Lenha…
“I don’t get it.”
I look at the letter once more before placing it back on the desk and lying down on the bed.
In the end, what was Lenha’s goal? What did she want to do?
As a member of the Grand-Ende bloodline, what was she trying to do in this territory?
I still don’t understand any of it.
“Aeclys, are you there?”
At that moment, Gyngus opens the door and enters.
“I heard some unsettling rumors… but…”
Then, he freezes upon seeing me in my nightwear.
Ah, what’s this bad feeling?
“Gyngus, what’s wrong?”
“…I see, Aecly- no, Sister, so the time has finally come for you too…”
Gyngus looks up, covering his face with his hands.
Tears are flowing through the gaps between his fingers.
He’s standing there, silently shedding tears.
It’s creepy to anyone who sees it. What’s going on?
“No, it’s okay. Sure, that Shuri guy is scrawny and plain-looking. But he’s capable. So, I should be able to trust him, I should. I need to convince myself of that!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I understand! I understand, so you don’t need to say anything, Sister.”
It makes my back itch when Gyngus calls me “Sister,” but I’m happy he called me his sister, so I’ll let it slide.
“You called Shuri, right? And that appearance, it means that, doesn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“Support that Shuri guy and make him a great man—!!!”
Gyngus shouted that and left in tears.
…It was like a storm. What on earth was that? I never expected to be caught up in such a bizarre situation, just like Shuri.
What in the world are they misunderstanding…? I can’t even begin to understand right now.
“Aeclys~ I’m here.”
Shuri enters through the door that was left open, looking puzzled.
“What’s this all about?”
“I don’t know. Gyngus came and this happened.”
“Ah, so it was him. I wonder what Garn misunderstood too… Those two have become so alike, you wouldn’t think they used to be at odds.”
“They weren’t really fighting, but… yeah, they have become similar.”
The closer the relationship, the better.
It’s simple to say, but in the past, Brother Garn had betrayed Gyngus. He was acting as a spy.
It’s not known, but if it were to be discovered, their relationship might sour. We should make absolutely sure it’s never found out.
At this point, it wouldn’t be good for their relationship to turn bad. Sometimes it’s better not to know.
“So, what did you need me for?”
“Ah, right.”
“Well, you’ve changed into your nightwear, so I thought you were going to bed.”
“Haha, no, that’s not it. I just changed into this because it’s more comfortable.”
That other outfit is one of my favorites too, but it’s not something I can keep wearing after the sun goes down.
It’s not that it’s uncomfortable, but it does get tiring to wear.
“The matter is this.”
I hand Shuri the letter I was looking at earlier.
“What’s this?”
“It’s the location of my mother and Brother Garn’s mother. I received it from the former first wife… Lenha.”
“Huh? You mean… the place they were exiled to by that nasty wife or something?”
“That’s right.”
“What about Garn?”
“An identical letter was delivered to Brother Garn.”
At that time, Brother Garn said it wasn’t time to meet yet and declined the meeting.
I think he’s probably trying to learn a way of life other than killing and deceiving before going to meet her.
Even though I want to meet her, I’ve been hesitant because I lack the courage.
“Brother Garn says he’s not going to meet her yet.”
“Is this really the time for that? They’re missing relatives, right? You don’t know when you’ll be able to meet them, so how can you not go?”
“Brother Garn has his own resolve. For now, let’s leave him be, okay?”
“…You can’t always meet family whenever you want. Sometimes, suddenly, you can’t meet them anymore.”
Shuri muttered with a dark expression.
Come to think of it, I’ve never heard about Shuri’s family. I don’t know anything about his life before he was taken in by the Gungrave Mercenary Group.
“Do you have a family, Shuri?”
“…I do, but I can’t meet them. I probably won’t be able to meet them ever again.”
“That’s…”
“No, it’s not what you’re thinking, Aeclys. They’re not dead, nor have they been taken away somewhere. It’s just, well…
They’re so far away that I can’t meet them. So far away that I’ll never be able to meet them again.”
For the first time, I saw Shuri’s sad face.
He’s always so carefree, always cooking cheerfully and happily.
Seeing this face, I feel like I’m about to cry.
Even though I’ve been talking about liking him and all sorts of things, I don’t know anything about this person.
Why can’t he meet his family? What’s the reason they’re separated?
In the first place, where did Shuri come from? What does he like, what does he dislike?
What’s his family structure? What are his hobbies besides cooking?
What kind of woman does he prefer? What are his dreams for the future?
I don’t know anything about Shuri.
I said I liked him without knowing anything.
How embarrassing. What a terrible thing I’ve been doing. I’ve been selfishly expressing my one-sided feelings using words like having feelings for him, without trying to know anything about him.
If I were to call this love, I’d be the worst person.
After all, love without consideration for the other person is just self-indulgence.
“Shuri, you know…”
“No, it’s okay. I’ve moved on. At least, I think I have.”
Shuri looks up at the ceiling and closes his eyes.
“That day when I talked about dreams with Gungrave and the others. I decided then. I would support Gungrave and the others’ dreams from the closest position possible. That’s why I’m with them. That’s why I want to be with them. I want to see their radiance from the closest position possible.”
Ah, with those words, I understood. I understood everything.
Shuri has found his place. He’s creating his own position. He’s finding a way to protect himself.
The fact that he’s desperately trying to live on this continent.
Unable to meet his parents who are in a distant place, with only the mercenary group members to rely on.
He cooks, risking his life and wielding his skills.
Shuri’s past sufferings must be beyond imagination.
He’s been winning battles where failure could mean death.
He’s been living while suppressing the fear of possibly dying on the battlefield at any time.
That’s why I like Shuri.
I know I don’t have the right to say this. And if there’s such a strong bond, it’s impossible to separate him from Gungrave and the others.
No matter how Princess Tevis tries to fill in the moat from the outside, it’s futile. Even if the moat is filled, Shuri will escape as if flying through the air. There’s no way to catch him.
But I can’t give up. I can’t lie to the feelings that have welled up in my chest.
What should I do…? I try to ask myself, but I can’t come up with an answer right away. Even though I can think instantly from my experience of pretending to be a man and handling internal affairs, I can’t find an answer to such a big problem.
Especially when it’s weighed against my own love, I lack experience and my thoughts don’t flow.
“So, why did you tell me this information? What do you want me to do?”
Here, Shuri asks a perfectly reasonable question.
That’s right, I called Shuri here because I had a favor to ask. The conversation has strayed too far.
I need to organize my thoughts here.
“Ah, right. That’s right. Let’s get back to the topic. Sorry, the conversation strayed too far.”
“It’s fine. After all, I’m the one who caused the conversation to stray.”
“Well… let me say it again. I’m planning to go meet my mother.”
“That’s right.”
“I want you to come with me.”
At my words, Shuri tilted his head in confusion.
Well, of course… It’s unnatural to ask someone else to come along when you’re going to meet a missing relative. Even though Shuri is no longer a stranger to me, let’s put it in easy-to-understand terms here.
But Shuri soon smiled and said,
“I understand. Will we depart tomorrow morning?”
This time, it was my turn to be surprised.
“You’re deciding so quickly?”
“Huh? Quickly? No, no, I thought about various things during this time.”
“For example?”
“…Well, about the rotation of cooking duties among Garn and the others.”
“You weren’t really thinking about anything, were you?”
“Yes… I just answered immediately because you seemed troubled…”
Next, it was my turn to laugh. Shuri has a kindness that seems out of place in this era. And he’s unnaturally dutiful.
No, that’s not the right way to put it.
Shuri is just a good-natured person. He’s kind.
I guess that’s why various people are attracted to Shuri. Though it’s also a bit dangerous.
I smile wryly. Really, Shuri…
“Hahaha. Shuri, in that case, I’ll take you up on your offer.”
“As you wish, then.”
Saying that, Shuri left the room.
Left alone, I read the letter one more time, reviewing the information.
Information that I should know as a member of the family ruling this territory.
A church in the forest on the outskirts of the castle town. Originally said to be a shelter created by the lord’s family for emergencies.
Now it’s become a place of exile, so to speak.
I’ve only heard about it. Probably, by the time I heard about it, my mother and the others had already been confined there, and it was arranged or guided in a way to avoid arousing excessive curiosity.
“…Mother.”
A fading, phantom-like fragile memory from my childhood.
Back when I didn’t need to pretend to be a man, my mother was still there.
But at some point, my mother disappeared, was exiled, and I had to start living as a man.
Now I can meet that mother.
“…I’m coming to see you, Mother.”
I throw the letter on the desk and lie down on the bed.
Tomorrow, I can go meet her tomorrow.
I’m excited, anxious, and happy… An indescribable mix of emotions swirls in my head, and gradually I get tired of thinking about it and fall asleep.
The next day.
After persuading Shuri, who was reluctant to ride a horse, we set off. Shuri seems to be bad with horses, and horses don’t like him either, so it took some convincing to get him on a horse.
We pass through the castle town, exit to the outskirts, and proceed into the forest.
We left in the morning, so it’s still far from noon. Our pace is fast, which is one reason.
It feels like Shuri and I are on a trip together, which is fun right now.
Behind me, Shuri is clinging to me, looking a bit scared. Is he really that unfamiliar with horses? He seemed to hesitate a bit when we set off too.
But if there’s one thing I don’t like…
“…”
It’s the presence of this woman, Eutine…!
Eutine. She’s Princess Tevis’s bodyguard and intelligence officer. She’s from a special force that gathers information, steals it, and carries out strategic operations.
I know this, but looking at her recent behavior, I start to doubt it.
Sure, when she’s acting normally, I can tell she’s no ordinary person.
However, when she interacts with Shuri, she suddenly turns into a useless person.
For example, I’ve seen her receiving snacks from Shuri during meetings. I was surprised to see her standing in a place I had never paid attention to before…
And when she receives the snacks, she eats them single-mindedly. Even though she was guarding so well that she erased her presence until then, now she can’t hide her presence at all.
She continues eating without caring about the eyes around her. As a fellow woman, I think… that’s no good.
“…”
“…I’m, bodyguard.”
When our eyes meet, Eutine explains without being asked. Her answer is as if she has no other explanation prepared, and I feel my cheeks twitching.
That’s right, she’s with us on Princess Tevis’s orders.
I don’t know the detailed reason why she decided to come along, but.
Probably, that young princess… is trying to prevent Shuri and me from being alone together…
It’s a bit annoying.
Well, never mind. I won’t let it bother me!
“Hang in there, Shuri! We’re almost there!”
“Y-yes…”
Right now, I’m guiding the scared Shuri, making sure his hands on my waist are in just the right position.
How should I put this… Thinking that the person I like is clinging to me…
It’s exciting, though improper.
No good, no good. Even though I’ve lived as a man until recently, I’m a woman.
I must be a pure and elegant lady! I won’t let him notice with my well-trained poker face.
“Are you okay?”
However, Shuri’s condition seems odd… He’s been frowning for a while now.
“No, my butt hurts.”
Ah, I see, so that’s it.
Indeed, people who aren’t used to riding horses often say this.
First, because they’re not used to it, they don’t know how to dissipate or distribute the pain and impact from their body.
This is something you learn as you ride, and it’s a sensation that people who don’t ride can’t understand. So I can understand why Shuri is saying this.
At the same time, a question comes to mind.
“Shuri, have you never ridden a horse before?”
To my question, Shuri shamefully nods his head.
“Ah, you’re not used to horses.”
“…Is that bad?”
“Yeah, by the standards of people on this continent, it’s uncool.”
Before I can tell him that he should practice, I notice something.
Shuri’s demeanor from behind seems very dejected.
Oh no, I’ve done something bad… I feel like I want to hold my head in regret.
Shuri is a boy too. He has enough pride to feel ashamed of things he can’t do, just like anyone else. I’ve said such an insensitive thing…
When I look back, intending to apologize, Shuri looks like he’s about to cry. This is bad, I need to follow up quickly.
“Um, Shuri.”
“Yes…?”
“Men shouldn’t show their tears.”
Huh? Something’s off? I don’t know what’s wrong, but it feels like I’ve made a mistake?
But Shuri seems to have pulled himself together somewhat.
But that smile looks somewhat empty?
“Aeclys. You look cool.”
“Hehe, I’m happy to hear you say that.”
I think it’s not really something you should say to a woman, though.
Since I’ve lived as a man for more years, I can allow it.
While my mood improves, Shuri’s voice seems to be getting lower, but I wonder why?
“…So, why is Eutine here?”
And as Shuri says, why is Eutine here?
She’s been quiet the whole time, and though she claims to be a bodyguard, I’m starting to doubt her purpose since there’s been no danger on the way.
To this, Eutine again answers blandly. Without moving an eyebrow or changing her expression at all.
“The princess said, for just, in case.”
“No, aren’t you supposed to be there for the princess in case of emergencies?”
Shuri. I think your opinion is correct. I think so too.
Eutine, aren’t you supposed to be Princess Tevis’s bodyguard…?
Eutine and I exchanged questioning looks, but Eutine answered once again
“…In case of, emergency.”
“I understand. I won’t complain if you’re going to protect us.”
Shuri! That’s-! I think you shouldn’t give up there!
Look! Eutine is doing a fist pump where Shuri can’t see!
She’s even sweating a bit, so if we had pressed her, she probably would have spilled the truth! We should have asked more! We might have understood her true intentions! She seems to have some unexpectedly weak points!
But my heart’s cry doesn’t reach Shuri, who seems to have decided to let it slide with an “oh well” attitude.
Yeah, I understand the feeling of wanting to let it slide… I know it would be troublesome to get involved… Honestly, I’m reluctant, but I don’t show it on my face.
There’s no point in showing it, after all.
“So, Aeclys. This time we’re going to meet Garn’s mother and your mother, right?”
“Yeah.”
Shuri, having given up on questioning Eutine, turns the conversation towards me.
But… thinking about it again.
“…I’m anxious too. I haven’t seen my mother for a long time.”
The mother in my memories is from before I was educated as a man, and before Lenha set her sights on me and exiled her from the territory.
I still remember… I remember, but the memories are fading.
I thought I’d never see my mother again, so I tried not to forget at least the mother who remained in my memories.
But even that has its limits. Humans tend to retain painful memories to avoid repeating them, but happy memories gradually fade away.
I’m starting to forget even what kind of things I did with my mother.
“I don’t know what kind of face I should make.”
So, how should I talk to my mother whom I’m meeting after so long?
About recent events? About me? About what’s happened until now?
No, what kind of conversation does my mother want?
In the first place, why did I decide to meet her? Such worries are coming up because maybe I don’t really want to meet her from the bottom of my heart.
Even now, my thoughts are just spinning around, and I don’t know what I should talk about with my mother.
In this state, what on earth should I do?
“I think you should smile.”
Shuri said in an unusually serious tone to such doubts.
“Whether it’s ‘I’m home’ or ‘welcome back’ or ‘long time no see’… anyway, why don’t you start by smiling and greeting?”
Smile and greet… I can’t do that, that’s why I’m saying this…
“…It’s not such a simple matter…”
“Of course it’s not. I talked about a difficult matter. I didn’t talk about anything simple.”
To me, who looks troubled and depressed, Shuri says.
“But I don’t think there’s any reason not to do it just because it’s difficult. Don’t think of it as for the sake of reconciliation or repairing relationships. It’s for your own closure.”
“Closure?”
“You’re making a decision within yourself.”
Decision. Last night, Shuri said the same thing. That he should have moved on.
Is that how Shuri chose to be with Gungrave and the others, by making a decision about his feelings of wanting to return to his homeland?
Because I understand that, Shuri’s words have persuasiveness and weight.
“First, settle things with your past self. I say ‘settle’, but if you’re not harboring hatred towards each other, the distance will naturally close.”
Naturally… the distance will…
That’s right. First, if we don’t take the first step to approach each other, the distance between us won’t shrink.
I don’t resent my mother. I think my mother doesn’t resent me either. It’s not like she was exiled because of me… but somewhere in my heart, I had been feeling self-loathing, thinking that if I hadn’t been there, things wouldn’t have turned out like that.
That’s why I was terrified of meeting her.
If she said “It’s all your fault,” I wouldn’t be able to recover.
If she said “I wish I had never given birth to you,” I would die.
But we won’t know unless we meet. Last night, even Shuri said it, didn’t he? That sometimes, suddenly, you can’t meet anymore.
We need to cherish the present when we can meet. I steel myself and look ahead.
“…Yeah, thanks Shuri. I feel a bit more courageous. Thank you.”
Let’s take a step forward.
I thanked Shuri. Even if I feel down or like I’m about to die.
Thinking that Shuri would help me.
As we proceed through the forest, we come out to an open area. The sunlight that had been filtered through the trees suddenly reaches my eyes unobstructed. As my eyes adjust, I see a church there.
The “Temple” religion that once flourished on the Çabrille continent.
Now it’s declined and only sparsely scattered in various places, but it’s rare to see one preserved this beautifully.
“What god does this church worship?”
Shuri asks from behind me.
“God, of course.”
I answer with a face that says “What are you asking?”
“No, I mean, what kind?”
“? God is God. There’s no other, right?”
Huh? I feel a huge discrepancy, but…
“I thought there would be names, doctrines, and such.”
Ah, I see. So that’s what Shuri wants to say. He’s asking what kind of god they worship and what teachings they follow, right?
“In a world like this, people just pray to God for now. There used to be a headquarters that unified the churches, but it’s gone now. The great powers of the time disliked religious donations and attacked and destroyed it. The churches remained, but there are no donations or followers. Now, only a handful of devout believers maintain the churches on their own. Even so, the priests who can manage with that are loved by everyone and even raise orphans.”
In fact, their existence is helpful for the country too. They’re wonderful people who contribute to society with a spirit of poverty, without seeking anything in return.
They work day and night to spread the teachings of the “Temple” across the continent again.
Those teachings are simple. That’s why they’ve penetrated some regions.
Unfortunately, I don’t know what those teachings are. There were times when I tried to find out, but I was too busy with government affairs to investigate. While it’s true that they’re helpful, I’ve often felt ashamed that I can’t repay them.
“But the church we’re going to now is only a church in name; in reality, it’s more like a hideout for the lord’s family. And now, it’s the place where my mother and Garn’s… brother’s mother are confined.”
Yes, this church is just a shell. Now there are no priests or nuns, it’s just a building in name only.
After this incident is over, I’d like to invite a priest to the church, provide proper support, and ask them to take care of and educate orphans…
Before that, there’s someone I need to meet. I need to meet my mother.
I feel heavy… Just a moment ago, I had decided to meet her, but.
Shuri quickly dismounts from the horse, but I can’t get off. The distance between my feet and the ground feels far. I feel like I might fall into an abyss if I get off from here.
“Aeclys?”
Shuri looks at me worriedly and says.
“…I’m scared to meet them, after all.”
In response, I’m so pathetic, really pathetic and weak.
With a bitter smile, trying to hide it with a laugh, trying to elicit kindness from Shuri.
Such weak and pathetic words are all I can muster.
I act pitiful, exploiting the other’s goodwill. I feel like I’m about to die from self-loathing.
“Aeclys…”
Even so, Shuri is kind, looking troubled and worried about me.
I’m really pathetic…
But what blew away such an atmosphere was a woman who suddenly came out of the church.
Really, in the blink of an eye.
A woman who had been slightly opening the door of the church to look this way, suddenly opened the door and ran towards us.
As the woman approached me, she looked up at me.
“Aeclys?! Is that you, Aeclys?!”
The woman asked me with overwhelming momentum.
“Huh? Huh?”
I was so taken aback by the suddenness that I couldn’t answer anything. I was just confused.
But when the woman noticed this, she immediately smiled and said.
“It’s me, Aeclys! Anby Sounité!”
An…by…
That’s… could it be…?
“Are you… my mother?”
“Yes! Aeclys, it really is Aeclys… Thank goodness… I’m so glad… to see you…”
My mother said this and broke down crying. She fell to her knees at the horse’s feet, covered her face with her hands, and cried. But it wasn’t out of sadness; she was smiling and shedding tears of joy.
“I thought you had been exiled too… but…! It seems that’s not the case…! I’m so glad… you’re safe…!”
Ah, what did I need to worry about?
What was I thinking, that I might be hated? Is this the kind of person your mother is?
No, look.
My mother is crying, confirming her child’s safety.
She’s shedding tears with a smile, isn’t she?
She’s crying because she’s happy to see me, isn’t she?
She’s relieved that I’m not unhappy, isn’t she?
What is there to be anxious about?
I move my body, which had been so immobile until now, and dismount from the horse.
Then, I embrace my mother.
She seems to have become smaller than the mother in my memories, but this is probably because my body has grown.
My mother’s silver hair, the same as mine, is starting to fade, a sign of the years and hardships.
But finally, we’ve met. We’ve met and I can embrace her.
“Mother!!”
I too, like my mother, am crying while laughing.
Laughing and crying, able to rejoice in our reunion.
Mother, I’ve finally met you.
There are so many things I want to talk about with you after meeting you.
Since we were separated, I’ve been managing the territory.
I’ve desperately stabilized the territory.
Lenha, the root cause, is gone now.
There’s no more conflict with my younger brother.
I can walk openly showing my relationship with my older brother.
The day I dreamed of, when the territory’s problems would be resolved, has come.
I came with the person I like.
But all that comes out of my mouth is sobbing from crying.
It feels like I’m being told that I should let out all my loneliness now.
I continue to cry.
Although there’s a mountain of things I want to say, only sobs come out, but I think that’s okay.
Because from now on, we have plenty of time.
After my mother and I finish crying for a while, Shuri leads us into the church.
“Let’s stop crying for now and have a calm conversation, shall we?”
He says this in a gentlemanly way, but I think it’s unlike Shuri. I thought he would watch over us until the end.
But his sense of timing and kindness were very much appreciated. Just crying would ruin this precious reunion.
As we enter the church, I see that the inside is clean and well-maintained.
Like a proper church, there are several long benches lined up, and at the far end, there’s a podium where a priest would stand to preach.
There are several doors beside it, which probably lead to a study, private rooms, and a kitchen. I say “probably” because this is secondhand information, and I can’t say for sure.
Anyway, as we’re walking inside, one of the doors opens and a woman comes out.
…Ah, another familiar face. A woman I remember.
“Madam, why did you suddenly go outside…!! Could it be… Lady Aeclys…?”
That’s right, I’m Aeclys.
“Yes, Marielle!”
That’s right, she’s Marielle Labor. Mother of Brother Garn Labor.
A maid who caught the eye of our father, the previous lord.
After giving birth to Garn, she didn’t become a concubine and was kept mostly secret from others.
However, she was exiled by Lenha, who didn’t let her guard down against her influence.
Beautiful, intelligent, and graceful, I even admired her personality when I was young.
“Aeclys is alive! She’s wearing men’s clothes for some reason, but she’s safe!”
“Is that so… Thank goodness…!”
Even Marielle seems on the verge of tears, happy to see that I’m safe.
But Mother. I may like men’s clothes, but I’ve become much more feminine compared to before. Explaining that… seems like it would be a hassle…
“I’ll prepare some tea right away! Please have a seat over there.”
Saying this, Marielle heads to the back with smooth steps.
Looking beside me, I see Shuri watching this with a puzzled expression.
He doesn’t know who this is, does he?
“Shuri, that person is Garn’s mother.”
When I say this, Shuri looks surprised. Hey, didn’t I tell you we’d be meeting Garn’s mother here too?
But, I understand. Brother Garn’s mother, Marielle, looks so youthful and pure that it’s hard to believe she’s given birth to a child. It’s no wonder you didn’t recognize her at first glance.
Come to think of it… seeing her after so long, she doesn’t seem to have changed at all from before… I can’t sense any aging at all, is something wrong with my eyes? I wonder.
We gratefully sit down at the prepared table and chairs, with the tea set.
“Aeclys, who is this gentleman?”
Then, once we’ve settled down, my mother asks me.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t explained at all…
“Mother. This person is my benefactor, Shuri Azuma. Thanks to him, we were able to expose the misdeeds of the legal wife… Lady Lenha.”
While I’m introducing him, Shuri is gulping down the tea beside me.
This kid sometimes shows a heart of steel, doesn’t he? Normally, would you chug tea in this situation? Were you that thirsty?
“I see… So that person has finally fallen from power…”
But my mother continues the conversation without paying any attention to this. She seems too easygoing on her end too.
“…You know, I was originally a concubine. I wasn’t suited for power struggles. If anything, I was just a scholar who liked domestic affairs. That caught the lord’s eye, and I gave birth to Aeclys.”
I’ve heard about this from Father before.
Originally, Mother was a rare female scholar who liked studying. It seems she caught Father’s eye due to her work ethic.
“If Aeclys was safe, I could endure my own misfortune. Fortunately, it seems Aeclys inherited my talents, so I thought she wouldn’t be easily discarded.”
Indeed, I have inherited Mother’s talents. Intelligence, quick wit, memory… I’m very blessed.
Judging from my mother’s relieved expression, there’s no lie in her words.
After all, in reality, I wasn’t discarded by Father or even by the hostile Lenha.
“My one regret is that I wished I could have spoken with Lenha one last time.”
Mother lowered her gaze.
“I wanted to ask what meaning there was in discarding Marielle and me and seizing real power in Sounité. We had already made Aeclys give up her right to inherit the lordship, and we had no intention of making Garn claim inheritance rights.”
That’s…
“That’s strange, isn’t it? Normally, wouldn’t you want your own son to seize power if he could?”
Before I could continue, Shuri raised an objection. That question is quite ordinary, or rather, it’s something that should be thought.
Why did they try to have them give up power when they could have seized it? This is the common sense way of thinking for commoners.
It’s not wrong. Shuri’s doubt isn’t wrong at all.
“Yes. Normally, that’s the case. However, both I and my lady were afraid of grasping too much power.”
Marielle answered in response.
They feared grasping too much power. In this era, it’s an absurd or incomprehensible way of thinking.
“Afraid…?”
“Shuri, right? For example, if you were told to manage a store, could you do it?”
“I think I could.”
“Oh? What would you sell?”
“Food. I am the head cook, after all.”
“I see. So the ‘product’ is not a problem. But what about ‘administration,’ ‘accounting,’ ‘procurement,’ and so on? Could you do all of that by yourself?”
Understanding my mother’s intent, Shuri shook his head and answered.
“That would be difficult.”
“See? Shuri, to run a single store, you either need one person who is proficient in everything, or you need to cooperate with staff who are proficient in one area. Aeclys, Garn, Lord Gyngus… everyone had outstanding talent in one field, but lacked aptitude in other areas.”
When actually told this, it hits pretty hard. My mother’s point is correct. It hits the mark.
I’m good at internal affairs.
Gyngus is good at military affairs.
Brother Garn is good at information gathering.
Even if one of us stood at the top of power, problems would have occurred, and in fact, problems were occurring even before that happened. Because it was entangled with bloodline issues, it fell into an even more complex situation. The result was a crisis of the territory’s survival due to the runaway of power.
My mother had seen through this from an early stage. That there was a wide disparity in the talents of the lord’s children.
Even if Brother Garn’s talents were acquired through later training, in any case, neither I nor Gyngus could do what he does.
So, before the territory split into three factions or two factions, they tried to take action.
“Still, there was hope for Lord Gyngus. In this war-torn world, a lord skilled in military affairs can gather support from his subjects. Aeclys and Garn could fill in the shadows.”
I can’t argue with my mother’s opinion as she speaks like this.
In the current warring states era, there’s hope for Gyngus. In a peaceful era, there would have been hope for me.
Are you saying we were each born in the wrong era? Is there such an unreasonable story? I can’t help but think so.
“So, mother, you wanted to support Gyngus while having me and Garn support him?”
“Yes. That’s what it comes down to.”
Understanding my mother’s thoughts, I feel a bit relieved.
That she accurately saw and considered the abilities of me, Brother Garn, and Gyngus.
At the same time, I feel anger towards Lenha and Father.
If they had done as my mother said, at least that chaos wouldn’t have occurred.
Since my mother was exiled before I became aware, I don’t know what kind of conversations she had with Father and the others, but.
If that had happened, would I have met Shuri?
I don’t know about this.
“So, who’s governing the territory now?”
My mother said, interrupting my thoughts.
At those words, I can only make a troubled face and stammer.
“That’s…”
How should I say this? I can’t say that now we’re executives and Gungrave is holding the real power.
After hearing my mother’s thoughts, I wanted to say that now the three of us are ruling together.
“Our commander is.”
Perhaps sensing my conflict, Shuri said.
“After the downfall of the legal wife Lenha, there was interference from Nouviche. Since Gyngus is Lenha’s son, there would be problems if he ruled after her, and Aeclys wants to return to being a woman, and Garn has no intention of ruling, and considering his birth, there would be opposition, so our commander is temporarily in charge.”
“I see… So the Sounité territory has been taken over by a mercenary group.”
When Shuri finished explaining everything I found difficult to say, my mother said with slumped shoulders.
I’m sorry, Mother. Because we couldn’t properly stabilize the territory, this happened.
As I was about to fall into self-loathing, my mother continued in front of me.
“Well, maybe this is the flow of the times too. I had hoped my daughters would get through this war period.
So, Shuri, can this commander be trusted?”
“Yes, he can.”
It was an immediate answer. He looked straight into my mother’s eyes and declared it.
“I trust Gungrave. Without him, I wouldn’t be who I am today. He’s ruling temporarily, but Gungrave is acting with the goal of pacifying this continent and realizing a peaceful world in the future.”
There’s no hesitation or uncertainty in Shuri’s words.
Or rather, it might be better to say that his core doesn’t waver.
Shuri places complete trust in Gungrave and wields his cooking skills.
Gungrave also recognizes Shuri as an important comrade and entrusts his back to him.
There’s no room for doubt to enter that relationship of trust. That’s why Shuri can focus his nerves on cooking.
I’m envious. Of Gungrave for having such a trustworthy subordinate. Of Shuri for having such a trustworthy superior.
But in response to this, my mother faces him straight on with sharp eyes and says,
“Do you know the details of that plan?”
To this, Shuri,
“I don’t know the specifics. I’m just a cook.”
He answers immediately.
“Isn’t that just avoiding thinking about it?”
Even to this questioning,
“I’m just doing what I can do.”
He answers without hesitation.
Really, Shuri has a heart of steel… To answer so smoothly under such pressure.
For several seconds after that, they faced each other head-on, but soon my mother softened her sharp gaze and said,
“…Fufu, I’m sorry. I said something mean.”
She apologized.
“I couldn’t help it. But this is good.”
My mother looks up at the ceiling and mutters.
“Even if one of our children took command, there would have been distortions somewhere. It’s better to have someone else take the lead and support them.
Just like you’re supporting them in the area of cooking, which you’re good at.”
My mother smiled further.
“Still, you have a strong core. Doing what you can do. Honestly leaving what you can’t do to others. You don’t know how difficult that is.”
“Is that so…?”
Shuri looks puzzled, but this is actually quite difficult.
Around those in power, there are always fools who try to use that power as a shield to fulfill their own desires and run wild. If it’s someone without ability, you can repel them and be done with it. But if that person has even half-baked abilities, it’s the worst.
If you carelessly entrust work to such a person, the organization might rot from there. After all, they only care about money, power, and profits. They might abandon the work they’re entrusted with and cause who knows what trouble, and the reputation would fall too.
Or there’s the story of a lord who tried to do everything himself and didn’t create any trustworthy people around him. After seizing the lord’s position through power struggles, he became obsessed with maintaining it, tried to do everything alone to gain merit, and ended up collapsing.
That’s why having hardworking subordinates who understand the territory and are loyal is something every person in power dreams of.
“Yes. Most people who gain power think they can do everything themselves. It’s even difficult to find trustworthy subordinates who can be entrusted with practical work and clerical duties.”
And as my mother says, neither I nor Gyngus were able to gain subordinates we could completely trust. Brother Garn is more of a collaborator than a subordinate, and in the end, he was spying for Gyngus.
“Thank you, Shuri. For taking this old woman’s outburst head-on.”
My mother seems to have said everything she wanted to say and looks refreshed.
Outburst… huh. Mother must have been struggling too.
“Marielle, don’t just stand there silent, say something too.”
“Yes. However, it’s about time I start preparing dinner.”
Huh? Is it already that time?
Looking outside, it is indeed dark… The sun has set, and night is falling.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll cook this time.”
Shuri enthusiastically volunteered.
“No, we can’t let a guest do such a thing.”
“It’s fine, Marielle. It would be rude not to accept his kindness after he’s gone to such trouble.”
Nice one, Mother! Although I want to eat Marielle’s cooking after so long, this is a chance to have them taste Shuri’s cooking!
Shuri quickly retreats to the kitchen and starts preparing to cook right away.
Now, for the first time in a long time, my mother, Marielle, and I are together.
I wish Brother Garn could come too, but… it can’t be helped this time.
“Lady Anby. There’s one thing I’d like to ask Lady Aeclys, if you’ll permit me.”
“Go ahead.”
“Then… Lady Aeclys. Is Garn… doing well?”
Marielle asks timidly.
“I couldn’t give that child much affection. No, I couldn’t take the time to give him affection. So, if I could hear whether that child is smiling now, if he’s well, what he’s doing… may I ask?”
“Brother Garn is happily undergoing cooking training now.”
“Cooking?”
“Yes, cooking.”
I briefly explained what had happened so far.
After the incident in the territory, Brother Garn stopped his espionage activities.
I was wondering what he wanted to do, and then he started cooking training under Shuri.
According to Brother Garn, it was “an old promise.”
I told them everything I knew within my knowledge.
Then, Marielle teared up.
“I see. That child has been able to come out from the dark places into the light…”
Brother Garn was not given inheritance rights and was only given training as an intelligence officer, always gathering information behind the scenes and doing dirty work.
So, from Marielle’s perspective, she seems happy that he’s learning an honest job as a cook that he can do proudly under the sun.
“Is that so. That’s good.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“However, that Shuri boy is no ordinary person, is he?”
My mother said, folding her arms.
“He doesn’t flinch even in front of me, and he has a clear line between what he can and can’t do. And his way of thinking is solid too.
Talking to him, I thought that while his carefree attitude seems to be his personality, at its core, it feels like he’s received high-level education.”
“Education…?”
“In this case, I don’t mean brainwashing or training. Well, education might be the wrong word. Let’s say he’s studied academia, deepened his knowledge, and trained his quick thinking.”
“Ah…”
I nod at my mother’s opinion.
Indeed, Shuri’s underlying intelligence is impressive, even though he’s carefree and fun.
Not only his knowledge about cooking, but I’ve heard that he can even give advice on magic engineering and magic to the extent that he’s helped Lill and Arius before.
I wondered about his knowledge that allows him to give advice not only on cooking but also on magic engineering and magic… but when talking to him, the way he uses words and phrases is sometimes very skillful.
Thinking about it, I really don’t know where Shuri came from.
What did he learn, and where did he come here from? The questions are endless.
“To think such a boy would come as Aeclys’s companion… What kind of relationship do you have?”
“Wha!?”
Suddenly, my mother said with a grin.
“You know. Until Aeclys came, I was full of anxiety. How should I talk to her, what topics should I bring up? I had nothing but worries.
I thought you’d be the same. And yet, you brought a man with you. Moreover, you two seem quite close.”
“T-That’s…”
“What’s going on? Even from my perspective, that boy seems quite a catch. What do you want to do?”
“…Well, um, I like Shuri.”
When I honestly tell her, my mother and Marielle break into wide smiles…!
“Did you hear that, Marielle?”
“Yes, I heard it clearly, Lady Anby.”
“I never dreamed I’d be able to have a conversation like this.”
“I’m also delighted that Lady Aeclys is opening her heart to us.”
“So, you like that boy Shuri, huh~”
Mother is grinning… Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything…!?
“That’s wonderful.”
“Huh?”
“I said, that’s wonderful. Being in love is a splendid thing. I pray that your love will come to fruition.”
Seeing my mother smile, I can’t help but smile too.
I’m glad… Mother really doesn’t have any ill feelings towards Shuri.
“Of course. There are about two other girls who like Shuri, but I won’t lose.”
“Eh? Is he that popular? Him?”
“He didn’t seem that way to me…”
Don’t badmouth the person your daughter likes.
“How rude. Even Princess Tevis from Nouviche has her eye on Shuri, and his cooking surprises you with the first bite and teaches you deliciousness with the second.”
“Oh, that sounds interesting.”
“Ah, Mother. You don’t believe me, do you? Shuri’s cooking is really amazing, you know.”
“Yes, yes.”
From there, we chatted about trivial things. My mother, Marielle, and I, finally reunited as a trusting family, as parent and child.
What we ate, what we did, what was fun, what was hard, what was sad, what made us happy.
Parent and child, we talked a lot, as if trying to fill in the time we were apart.
“Everyone, I’ve brought the food.”
Just as the conversation was heating up, Shuri appeared with plates and spoons of food.
“It’s fried rice.”
What’s placed before our eyes is a rice dish.
It’s a dish I’ve eaten before, and one that Eutine has been obsessed with recently.
It’s called fried rice.
“…Did you make a rice dish in such a short time?”
This fried rice dish has a characteristic – it was originally served by Shuri as a meal for the cooks.
Even then, people were surprised, but it can be finished in a short time even though it takes effort. I don’t know the detailed reason, but according to Brother Garn, “Once he starts, it’s finished in no time.”
Moreover, despite being made quickly, it’s very delicious, and the ingredients and seasoning can change according to preference, which is surprising.
It’s no wonder Marielle is surprised. We were certainly talking for a long time, but it should still take much more time for normal cooking to be finished.
Yet Shuri was able to cook and serve this dish in such a short time.
“And it smells so good… How did you make this?”
“I stir-fried it. One secret is to use quite high heat.”
Marielle seems to be trying to ask about the technique, but you should stop. His so-called techniques are sometimes incomprehensible to ordinary people.
“Please, enjoy.”
“Yes, it would be rude to discuss theory in front of the served food. Let’s eat.”
My mother says this and immediately takes a bite of the fried rice.
“…”
And then, she falls silent.
I understand. Mother is trying to maintain her composure, but she’s surprised.
“I told you, didn’t I, mother? Shuri’s cooking surprises you on the first bite and teaches you deliciousness on the second.”
I say proudly and immediately start savoring Shuri’s cooking.
The golden color of the rice, with the green of the scallions complementing it well. When you put it in your mouth, you can really understand its deliciousness.
The flavor is adjusted with salt and pepper, the umami of the chicken is transferred to the rice, and the scallions remove any unpleasant smell.
The egg increases the umami of the rice, and the onion adds an accent to the texture.
It’s a simple recipe that sounds like I could make it if I heard it.
But surely, only Shuri can create this taste.
Because Shuri once told Brother Garn:
Pointing at the fried rice, he said, “This dish strongly reflects a person’s individuality.”
And perhaps sensing the skill put into this dish, my mother nods with a look of understanding.
“…I see. Aeclys is right. Marielle, you eat too.”
My mother points to the dish placed in front of Marielle and says with a serious expression.
“My lady. As a maid, I should serve…”
Indeed, Marielle is a maid, so she needs to do her serving duties.
But interrupting that, my mother declares.
“No, Marielle. You eat too. This is the shape of the continent’s future.”
My mother points at the fried rice, and Marielle accepts it.
…I wonder why Mother used words like “the shape of the continent’s future.”
I don’t think Mother would casually or thoughtlessly use words like “the shape of the continent’s future.”
In the first place, I don’t understand the meaning of urging Marielle to eat and using that as a reason.
“…I see. This is…”
While my question remains unresolved, Marielle was giving her impression.
“It’s simple. Very delicious. The base flavors are eggs and salt and pepper, right? And onions are added as an accent, which goes well with the slightly firm rice.
And then, the chicken. You can enjoy the rice infused with the flavor of chicken while also tasting the chicken itself.
I see, it’s simple but meticulously calculated.”
It’s the same impression as mine. I feel a bit relieved.
“This originally developed from staff meals, I’ve heard. In a certain country in my homeland.”
“Using leftover rice and ingredients from staff meals to create something new. I see, Shuri’s cooking always comes from familiar places.”
I express my thoughts, suppressing my questions and doubts.
This should be fine. This is fine.
Is this the cooking that represents the shape of the continent’s future?
This?
After we finished eating, I asked my mother.
“Mother, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“You called that dish the shape of the continent’s future, right?”
“…”
Mother makes a difficult face.
“What did you mean by that?”
But Mother doesn’t answer. She looks like she’s considering how to answer.
Marielle doesn’t answer either. She’s a maid. She’s not in a position to answer a question before her mistress.
Although I think of her as family, she’s the type of person who values such positions and roles, so she won’t say anything unless Mother does.
As I wait for words, suddenly the church door opens.
“Found you, found you, somehow made it here.”
It was Kuuga who was there.
Leaves have fallen on his shoulders and head. Did he run through the night forest to get here?
Eh? He came through the forest in the dead of night?
“Is this Aeclys’s mother, Shuri?”
Kuuga approaches Shuri, who was trying to take the plates back to the kitchen, and asks while looking this way.
“Yes, that’s right. But Kuuga, why did you come here?”
“Hm? Well, about that. But before that…”
Kuuga walks towards us while asking.
Then he bows his head in front of my mother.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Kuuga. I’m an executive in Sounité.”
“That dialect… the intonation of your name… from the east?”
“Yeah. I don’t remember, but somehow I’ve taken a liking to this way of speaking.”
My mother turns to me with a smile.
Ah, this face is what they call a forced smile.
“Aeclys, this person is…”
Mother is asking me discreetly.
“This person is Kuuga, the infantry unit captain under Gungrave. His swordsmanship is the best on the continent, and he alone has changed the course of battles.”
When I explain this, Mother nods slightly.
“I apologize for the rudeness to you, Madam Concubine.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Originally, we should have welcomed you and carried you in triumph. Please forgive us for not doing so.”
I’m just surprised by Kuuga’s blunt way of speaking.
That’s not the way to speak to someone who was once a concubine!
“Are those the words of that Gungrave person?”
“It’s the consensus of Gungrave and us captains. In other words, you can take these words as Gungrave’s own.”
There seemed to be an invisible confrontation going on between Kuuga and my mother.
But suddenly, that atmosphere dissipates.
“I see, then I’ll take it as such.”
“That’s mighty kind of you.”
“There’s no point in making a fuss now, it’s not like I can become a person of power.”
“That’s right.”
“Besides, it’s more meaningful to protect me here in this forest, isn’t it?”
“You were aware?”
“My mind still works, you know.”
After exchanging just that much conversation, Kuuga turns to face Shuri.
“Come on, we’re going back, Shuri.”
“Huh? Now?”
“Yeah, now.”
Kuuga’s face as he exchanges words with Shuri is all smiles, unlike the person from just a moment ago.
At the same time, I can’t understand why my mother said such things.
Well, I can understand feeling angry if an executive from an organization that took power suddenly comes and says sorry we didn’t welcome you properly.
But my mother should be able to handle such situations with poise. She’s capable of that kind of subtle maneuvering.
What was the meaning of that exchange just now? No, what was the purpose of having that exchange?
“Aeclys, if you’re done here, will you be coming back with us too?”
“Um, I…”
When Kuuga says this to me, I hesitate a little. What should I do…
“Aeclys should stay. I want to talk a bit more, just parent and child.”
Mother…
Hearing these words, Kuuga seems to think about something and then says,
“…I see. So, what should we do?”
“To begin with, isn’t it fine if I don’t go back?”
“Without you, our cooking lacks a certain something.”
“But Garn and the others are still there, right?”
“Ah, well… It’s not bad. It’s not bad. It’s better than before. But still, without Shuri, it feels incomplete.”
“Is that so… Then, shall we leave it to Eutine and go back?”
The one most surprised by these words was Eutine, who had disappeared at some point and then reappeared at some point.
Where were you until now?
“No, I am, Shuri’s, guard.”
“There’s someone you need to guard more than me, right? I need to go back once, so I’m leaving this place to you.”
Ugh, an irrefutable argument…?!
“Well then, Lady Anby. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Yes. Thank you, Shuri. Your cooking was delicious.”
“That’s a gratifying comment. I’ll strive to improve even more.”
“Ahaha, you’re so modest.”
“That’s how I want to be. Well then, excuse me.”
Shuri politely bows and prepares to leave in an instant.
Left behind, I can only stand there dumbfounded, unable to understand the flow of events up to this point.
Eutine approaches me, who is in such a state.
“Shuri’s, request, so, I’ll guard, you all. But, I won’t, take orders.
I’ve grasped, the geography, and, interior, of this place. I’ll do, things, my own way.”
This is said with an expressionless face, but it’s clear that she’s in a bad mood.
Eutine quickly goes outside, and in the end, the three of us are left.
“Lady Anby, shall I keep an eye on her?”
“It’s fine. Leave her be. If that girl wants to make her own plans and guard us on her own, it saves us the trouble of giving orders.”
“But…”
“That girl is moving on Princess Tevis’s orders. Yet, she listened to Shuri’s request. Tevis’ intentions must be included there.”
“…What do you mean? Mother, I need an explanation.”
Finally unable to hold back, I ask my mother.
“Oh? Which part needs explaining?”
“Everything. The reason Eutine is moving, what Princess Tevis intends, everything.”
“I don’t know everything. I’m just guessing that might be the case.”
“I want you to tell me that.”
“…Alright. About why Eutine is moving. Do you really not notice?”
“Huh?”
The next question, here my mother asks me with an exasperated look.
Huh? Am I supposed to notice this?
“I don’t understand, but…”
“That girl probably likes Shuri.”
…Huh?
“Eeeeeeh!?”
You’re kidding… Right? That expressionless intelligence officer, who seemed to be swearing absolute loyalty to Princess Tevis, likes Shuri?
I couldn’t imagine it at all… I didn’t see any signs of that at all.
“That’s… well, the type whose stomach has been won over.”
Sorry, Mother. That can be said about all the girls who like Shuri.
Princess Tevis with mapo tofu, Lill with hamburger steak… Me… with karaage?
No no, I liked him before that, and I’m not just won over by my stomach.
Ah, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to eat Shuri’s cooking anymore.
Ha! I’m about to fall into a quagmire!
“I mean, ignoring her master’s orders to listen to a man’s request, I can’t think of any other reason. Seeing her talk with Shuri a bit, and then throwing those words at us in that scene, and considering the difference…
In front of Shuri, she was flustered and showed emotional fluctuations unbecoming of an intelligence officer, but in front of us, she wore an iron mask and spoke businesslike words befitting an intelligence officer.”
“So, Eutine likes Shuri?”
“She’s probably not aware of it herself. Besides, her expression when talking to Shuri was just like yours.”
My mother laughs merrily, but… Huh? Was I making such a lovestruck maiden’s smile?
Wow! When I think about it like that, it’s embarrassing! My face is hot! It’s not… turning red, is it?!
“N-Never mind that, what’s next! The next question!”
“Ah, Princess Tevis’s intentions. It’s simple. Princess Tevis has her eye on Shuri, right?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, would she quietly watch a love rival introducing Shuri to her parents?”
…Huh?! No way…!
“It might look like a family introduction before an engagement, don’t you think? If it were me, I’d think so.”
“Yes, Lady Anby. With you saying you like him and bringing him here, I thought so too.”
M-Marielle too!
Oh no! So that’s how it looked! That’s why Eutine came along!
Ah, come to think of it, is that why Gyngus and Brother Garn were so flustered?
Calling a man to my room, greeting him in nightwear, then introducing him to my parent.
Even I would think something was going on!
I feel like I’m about to breathe fire from my face at my own carelessness!
It’s too embarrassing…!
“Well, she was probably snooping around inside this church too.”
My mother muttered casually.
“Huh?”
“Just what I said. As Eutine, she’s probably investigating what kind of facility this is where I was held captive.
There’s basically nothing here. There ‘was,’ long, long ago.”
“’Was’…?”
“Let’s end the conversation here. We’ve had dinner, so why don’t we take a bath next?”
“Huh? A bath?”
“Yes. There’s abundant groundwater here, so we have plenty of water, and we’re surrounded by trees, so we don’t lack fuel.”
“Yes. I’ll prepare the bath. I’ll call you when it’s ready, so please wait.”
Saying this, Marielle disappeared into the back of the room.
I never expected there to be a bath here, it’s quite surprising.
“Mother, what do you mean by ‘was’?”
“Ah… Are you bringing up that topic again?”
“I’m curious.”
“To be precise, ‘lived’ would be more correct. This facility originally existed to isolate and confine a certain person. After he ‘disappeared,’ it was renovated to look like a church for appearance’s sake.”
“Disappeared… You mean he died?”
“No, he didn’t die. He ‘vanished.’ Suddenly.”
Wh-what kind of story is this?
“I happened to find some old documents and investigated. But I don’t know who this ‘person’ was or where he came from. It might just be a legend.”
“By the way, what was this person’s name?”
“Let’s see… The name was, if I remember correctly…”
My mother remembers and says,
“’Soujiro,’ I believe?”
After that, we continued talking, took a bath, and went to sleep.
Even after getting in the bath, I kept talking with Mother and Marielle.
Tired, I slept, and when I woke up the next day, I returned with Eutine.
Soujiro… That name stuck in my mind.
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