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Chapter : 16
“She’s really like a child…”
Pouting, taking out her anger, running away. She really acted just like a spoiled little kid.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes?”
“Lady Arabelle… has she ever been forgiven or apologized like this before?”
No… Arthur answered.
Arabelle simply wanted to escape the situation. If she were truly sorry to Sophie, she would have just ignored her or not spoken to her at all.
Having arrived on horseback instead of by carriage, Arabelle went to retrieve her tied-up horse nearby.
“I shouldn’t have come here.”
Arabelle bit her lip. She’d only ended up showing a bad side of herself to Arthur.
She thought that by staying close to Sophie, she could figure out what Arthur liked about her.
“There! Get out of the way!”
Where did she tie her horse? Just as she turned her gaze in confusion—
A voice called out from the top of a hill.
“Wha… what?”
A cart came barreling down the slope at high speed. Loaded with wheels, the cart rattled loudly as it headed straight toward Arabelle.
It was incredibly fast. By the time she turned at the voice, the cart was already nearly on top of her.
‘What do I do?!’
Terrified, Arabelle squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact.
But no harsh blow struck her.
“That was dangerous.”
A voice came with a warm sensation that wrapped around Arabelle’s body.
A glowing oval of light floated around her, enveloping the area.
“Sophie…?”
As Arabelle stared blankly at her, Sophie stretched out a hand toward the oncoming cart.
A thick wall of earth rose from the ground and blocked the cart head-on. The cart, not the earth, was the one to break in two from the force.
The shattered cart scattered in all directions, wheels rolling everywhere.
“That was a close one.”
Sophie’s body heat wrapped around Arabelle’s cold one.
At that moment, Sophie’s innate empathy awakened something in Arabelle’s eyes.
[That was really close.]
[She’s not hurt, right?]
[Should we heal her or something? She looks really shaken.]
[Are you okay, Arabelle?]
The spirits’ voices echoed all around. They all sounded worried for Arabelle, chattering noisily.
“H-huhuh…”
The truth was, Sophie acted instinctively to save Arabelle. Even though she had been furious, she couldn’t just ignore someone in danger.
Cradled in Sophie’s arms, Arabelle trembled pitifully. She hadn’t yet recovered from the shock.
Her tiny hand clutched at Sophie’s clothes. Seeing Arabelle’s tear-streaked face, Sophie’s anger melted away.
Sophie gave a weary smile.
“You must have been really scared.”
“Hwaaahh…”
Sophie gently patted Arabelle’s back as she wailed.
Oh, how annoying. Oh, what a bother.
Sophie usually hated troublesome things. Especially when she’d just been so angry.
But now, looking at Arabelle’s innocent, childlike face, Sophie felt her frustration ebb away.
“Are you hurt? Does it hurt a lot?”
“Hwaaaaah!”
At her question, Arabelle sobbed even harder.
She felt both sorry and grateful to Sophie. Deep down, Arabelle had felt guilty about ruining the greenhouse.
Even though Sophie had just been furious, she now smiled kindly and had even saved her life. Overwhelmed, Arabelle burst into tears again.
[She must be really hurt!]
[Are you in pain, Arabelle?]
[Here, try this!]
One spirit flew over with a strawberry bigger than itself, wobbling as it carried it.
“Huuuwaaah…”
Touched by their warmth, Arabelle wept even louder.
“Sophie, sniff, I-I’m sorry, the greenhouse…”
Arabelle choked on her words.
“The greenhouse… it’s messed up because of me…”
Was this her version of an apology?
“Apologizing is hard, isn’t it? Now that I think about it, I used to find it really hard too.”
Sophie patted her back gently. Regardless, she still expected to hear a proper apology from Arabelle.
And she fully intended to hold her accountable for the ruined greenhouse.
But for now, she held back her anger for the frightened girl’s sake.
The thought of the greenhouse still made her chest tighten, but scolding Arabelle would have to wait until the crying stopped.
“Are you really sorry?”
“…”
When Sophie asked, Arabelle nodded vigorously, tears and snot running down her face. Her hands, clutching at Sophie’s clothes, had gone pale.
“If you’re truly sorry, then help me restore the greenhouse. Take full responsibility and do your best to fix it.”
“…Sniff.”
“Understood?”
“…Y-yes.”
The light in Sophie’s blue eyes pierced Arabelle’s heart so deeply her head felt faint.
Those vivid blue eyes reminded her somehow of her mother’s. Though her voice was stern, the gaze held a deep affection.
Sophie took out a handkerchief and placed it in Arabelle’s hand. She patted her back gently, hoping to calm her down.
“I’m sorry for attacking you earlier.”
She had summoned a terrifying amount of power—enough to be fatal. To use that kind of force on a sobbing girl…
“N-no, I’m more sorry, sniff, I didn’t mean to, keh…”
When someone else apologizes first, it only deepens your guilt. Unaware of this, Arabelle sobbed harder after hearing Sophie’s apology.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No…”
Valentis quietly sheathed his sword. He had rushed at full speed to save Arabelle and Sophie, but it was already over.
He had intended to slice the cart in two, but Sophie had acted first.
The earth she raised formed a shelter, shielding both girls as if cradling them.
“Lady Arabelle, you sure cry a lot. My clothes are soaked.”
Sophie joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“You’ll buy me new clothes to make up for it, right?”
“Of course! I definitely will! Sniff…”
Even Arthur, who had planned to scold Arabelle, held his tongue at the sight.
“Are you alright?”
Now that he thought about it, Arthur had always seen Arabelle as a pitiful little sister.
He had never scolded her harshly or disciplined her firmly.
No matter what mistakes she made, he had only embraced her.
Because Arabelle spent so much time alone. He thought that just being there for her was enough.
Even when she acted selfishly in social circles, Arthur had overlooked it.
He never expected her to become this spoiled.
‘I’m glad.’
So Arthur was grateful to Sophie for being firm with Arabelle. He also resolved to start pointing out her wrongdoings properly.
Of course, he would also take responsibility and help restore the greenhouse with everything he had.
For now, they needed to return to the apothecary after comforting Arabelle.
Sophie sat Arabelle down on one of the thick tree roots that had emerged from the ground.
“Silco.”
At her call, the earth spirit Silco quietly appeared.
“Could you bring a towel, some bandages, and medicine from the apothecary?”
[…]
Silco glanced at Arabelle’s scraped knee.
“Oh, and—”
[Yes.]
“If you can, bring some tea and milk too.”
And sugar, if possible. Silco vanished with his orders.
Arthur approached Arabelle gently.
“Arabelle.”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t do that again. Alright?”
“Yes.”
Arabelle nodded.
“You must apologize to her properly.”
Because you’re a good girl. Arthur smiled faintly as he said it.
Despite everything, Arthur never abandoned Arabelle.
I will. With a small stir in her heart, Arabelle agreed.
“Here, drink this.”
Sophie handed Arabelle a cup of milk loaded with sugar. Just the kind Arabelle had once said she missed.
Quick-thinking Silco had brought it warm.
“It’s delicious, really…”
Its sweet warmth melted the cold from her reddened nose.
“I’m glad you like it. I’ll make it for you anytime.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. I like you, Arabelle.”
Sophie said it plainly.
Arabelle flushed at her direct words.
“I think… I like you too.”
She stammered shyly.
Seeing her like that, Sophie finally felt reassured.
It seemed Arabelle’s troubles would turn out okay after all.
Maybe now the annoying stuff will ease up a bit?
Sophie thought back to the peaceful, quiet apothecary she had once known.
