TCHB 13

Chapter 13

Two weeks had passed since Ventus and the Holy Sword arrived at the ducal estate.

The audacious viscount and baron who had stolen gold while Ventus was away had indulged in luxury with it, and as a result, both were stripped of their titles. The remaining gold was returned to Ventus.

And as for me, I was spending a relaxed, peaceful day—

…Not at all.

“Ventus! I told you not to pick the flowers! You flower-killing maniac!”

“There’s no such thing as a flower-killing maniac, you know?”

We had come out to relax, spreading a mat by the pond like a picnic. Fortunately, Lotte and Ventus were getting along fairly well.

—Alena, aren’t you going to practice swordsmanship? Can’t you practice holding me? I want to be swung around! Whoa! One step forward, two steps to the left! There’s trash there!

“I’ve told you how many times—it’s Shuri, Rel.”

And honestly, picking up trash is annoying. Still, it’s better than listening to this thing jabber nonstop.

I stood up and moved as the Holy Sword instructed.

One step forward, two steps left…

“Ow!”

I collided with someone and fell flat on my backside.

Ouch… that hurts. Who was that?

When I looked up, Kiel was standing there. He helped me up and skillfully brushed the dirt off me.

As expected of a professional caretaker!
…No, wait—why is Kiel helping me up?

I was confused, but I maintained a perfect poker face.

“Thank you, Kiel oppa. Hehe.”

When I smiled brightly, Ventus—who seemed to have gotten used to it over the past two weeks—didn’t react at all. Instead, he wore a face that clearly said he didn’t understand what was going on.

…Could you not look at me like that? It’s not like I have a choice!

“Shuri! Are you okay?”

Lotte ran over to me immediately. How is even the way she walks so cute?

I smiled and told her I was fine, but she still hovered around me, clearly worried.

“Be more careful.”

Ventus flicked my forehead lightly. I laughed and flicked him back just as hard.

You take advantage of the moment to hit me? How underhanded.

When I glared at him, Ventus made an aggrieved face, but it didn’t work on me at all.

“Anyway, what brings you here, oppa?”

Even Lotte now called Kiel “oppa” in private instead of “older brother.” She liked that it was shorter and more convenient.

Back then, Kiel had answered with an incredibly gentle, caring smile. Seeing that expression, I honestly wondered if even the heroine’s brother had some kind of buff.

If there were a novel where plausibility depended on appearance, that novel would be perfectly plausible.

“…I came to see you. Lotte, strangers are dangerous.”

“Huh? Yeah! Of course!”

That “stranger” sounded like it was aimed at Ventus.

I glanced at Ventus. He looked indifferent, as if listening to someone else’s conversation entirely. Lotte was smiling innocently, unaware of anything.

—Wow… Ventus! He’s totally keeping tabs on you! Amazing! Is this what a love rivalry is like?

The Holy Sword had completely switched into spectator mode. I tried to do the same—

“Al—Shuri. Let’s go.”

—But nope. Before I knew it, I was being dragged away by Ventus, leaving Lotte and Kiel behind.

Wasn’t he supposed to be indifferent?

When I peeked at him sideways… yeah, he definitely didn’t look pleased.

It’s strange—Kiel and Ventus are complete opposites. Even though their strongest field is the same.

Dragons are practically embodiments of mana. They possess vast amounts of it, with incredible purity. That’s why magic is what they excel at the most.

Kiel doesn’t know it yet, but magic is also the field he has the greatest talent in. If he continues to hone it, he’ll eventually surpass Ventus.

“Alena. Why are you acting so cutesy around him? Did he grab you by some weakness? Want me to kill him?”

“It’s Shuri.”

I corrected him. Alena no longer existed in this world. She was dead. And yet Ventus kept dragging that name back up.

I wasn’t really one to talk, considering I was maintaining a relationship from my past life…

…But still, there were things that couldn’t be helped. This wasn’t one of them. When I do it, it’s romance. When someone else does it, it’s an affair.

“A weakness, huh… maybe?”

You could call it a weakness. My life is on the line, after all. I’ve been actively trying to appeal to Kiel by doing things he likes, but I honestly couldn’t tell if we were actually getting closer. Is my life really safe like this?

—But his badness level isn’t high! I measured it earlier! He’s never even littered! That means he’s super kind!

…How are you measuring that, and when did you even do it?

I looked at the Holy Sword, then back at Ventus. He had turned his head sharply away, clearly in a bad mood.

He’s sulking.

“Ventus, I’ll tell you later. You know I don’t do pointless things, right?”

“Well… that’s true…”

Ventus accepted that, and within thirty seconds, he stopped sulking.

A miraculous thirty seconds!

Because the Holy Sword kept pestering me, I parted ways with Ventus and went to an open area that was rarely used. Rel immediately adjusted its size to suit my small body—just how badly it wanted to be swung around, I had no idea.

The duke and duchess hadn’t died yet, so if I prevent the dark turn, everything should be fine, right? But then why is the first version of me appearing in the novel I wrote? And why are Ventus and the Holy Sword—characters I never even wrote—here?

They were probably mentioned once at most. Even if it’s the same universe, is this really possible?

Ugh. I don’t know!

Unable to shake my thoughts, my form fell apart even though I was just swinging the sword.

“…Miss?”

At the voice, I turned around and saw Sir Hern staring at me in shock.

That scared me! But why is he looking at me like that…?

I was the one flustered now.

“You know how to use a sword? That was an incredibly light slash! Could it be that you’re a genius—”

“No. Absolutely not.”

—She totally is a genius! Alena was a sword master, remember!

Be quiet. I couldn’t hear what Sir Hern was saying because you were overlapping!

Because the Holy Sword was always talking, I often missed parts of other people’s words. Even when I tried to focus on external voices, the Holy Sword’s voice came straight into my mind, making it clearer.

“Sir Hern, is there something you needed from me? If not, I really have to go!”

When I put on an urgent act, Sir Hern hesitated before speaking.

“Are you truly all right? Back then—when you faced the dragon alone—I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. You said it was confidential and that you were fine when others asked, but…”

“I’m really fine! What do you mean you weren’t helpful? If you hadn’t listened to me then, who would have? And Vent—no, the dragon is the one who sent you all away, right? I’m actually grateful you stayed!”

When I answered loudly, Sir Hern blinked a few times, then smiled like a kind older brother.

…I didn’t expect that from him. He feels like a church oppa.

When I noticed his gaze drifting back to the sword, I said I had something to take care of and quickly ran off.

Good thing I practiced acting… I was already sweaty and uncomfortable anyway. I should go wash up.

“Rel, don’t talk when someone else is talking. I can’t hear.”

—Tch, tch, tch. You always pick on me!

“Should I listen to you more, or listen to other people more?”

I spoke gently, as if explaining to a child.

The Holy Sword fell silent. That made sense—if you compared the amount of time I listened to it versus everyone else, the Holy Sword overwhelmingly won.

I usually ignored Ventus unless he threatened me, in which case I listened.

The Holy Sword’s singing, however, was absolutely out of the question.

—Okay… sorry.

“Good.”

—If I apologized, aren’t you going to say I did well? Praise me? Praise me?

“Well done.”

I answered flatly and stroked the hilt as if patting it.

—Heheh. Hihih. Hoho.

Even while complaining that my response lacked sincerity, the Holy Sword laughed strangely, clearly pleased.

At this point, couldn’t that be called a three-piece set of creepy laughs?

“Shuri!”

After washing up and coming out, Lotte ran over to me. Her eyes were sparkling more than usual.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Let’s sleep together tonight! Please? You won’t say no… right?”

Lotte drooped her shoulders.

Yes! Of course! I was about to agree immediately, but then I remembered Lotte’s sleeping habits and hesitated.

Could I really endure them? That habit where she moved about seventeen times every ten minutes…?

“Huh? Shurii… you won’t…? I don’t like sleeping alone…”

In the end, I accepted.

There’s probably no one in this world who could refuse Lotte’s request. With that rain-soaked bunny expression, how could anyone say no?

We went down to the dining room, ate, and spent the evening as usual.

“It’s about time to go. Rel, you’re coming too, so don’t make noise. I’m going to sleep.”

I warned the Holy Sword.

Lately, it kept talking to me at night. I’d snapped at it a few times when I couldn’t sleep, and those were the only times it stayed quiet.

But I can’t get angry when Lotte’s around!

I gathered the Holy Sword and walked on. When the door opened smoothly, the room inside was empty.

Lotte was nowhere to be seen. Just as I sensed something was off, I heard the door open behind me.

“Lo—”

I tried to call Lotte’s name, but what I saw was dark blue hair.

Kiel? Why is he here?

I didn’t understand.

Did I come to the wrong room? No way! If this room filled with dolls and pink decorations isn’t Lotte’s, then whose is it?

“Kiel oppa… why are you here?”

Kiel looked just as startled as I was. Suddenly, he turned around and grabbed the doorknob—but no matter how much he tried, it only made clunking noises. The door wouldn’t open.

When I stepped forward, I heard a crunch beneath my feet. The floor was covered in red flower petals I hadn’t noticed before—and melted candle wax as well.

…What is this? That’s creepy. It looks like someone tried to perform some kind of summoning ritual!

“Kiel oppa… Lotte wasn’t kidnapped or something, right?”

The window beside the bed was wide open, curtains fluttering in the breeze. Moonlight flooded the room. I climbed onto the bed and reached outside—but something stopped me.

…A mana barrier? This feels familiar… Ventus’s mana?

I quietly dispelled the magic. The barrier vanished.

“Kiel oppa, let’s climb down the tree! We have to find Lotte!”

At my words, Kiel moved immediately. He landed on the tree and slid smoothly down.

Whew… he’ll be fine, right? If he gets hurt, I’ll just heal him with the Holy Sword.

As if bad premonitions never miss, my short legs betrayed me and I fell straight down. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t even think to use magic. I closed my eyes, expecting pain—but it didn’t hurt.

What…?

“Kiel oppa?”

When I opened my tightly shut eyes, I saw rippling blue eyes. Kiel had caught me.

Is his arm okay? Wouldn’t the acceleration make it even heavier?

I examined his arm anxiously.

“I’ll go see Mother and Father.”

Kiel pulled his arm from my hands and spoke.

“I’ll check around the estate.”

We worked seamlessly when it came to Lotte.

I hurried off, calling Lotte’s name. Around halfway, someone grabbed my wrist. I instinctively tried to pull away when a familiar voice reached my ear.

“It’s me. Me.”

“Ventus? Where’s Lotte?!”

“Her? She’s probably sleeping in the master bedroom with the duke and duchess.”

All the strength drained out of me.

I’m exhausted. Then why did Lotte ask me to sleep with her?

Fatigue hit me all at once, and I decided to stop thinking about it. If I asked her tomorrow, she’d answer.

I warned Ventus that he’d better be prepared tomorrow, then turned to head back to my room.

Kiel would probably go back to his room too, right?

When I reached the entrance from the garden into the estate, Kiel suddenly came to mind.

Finding Lotte had come first, after all…

A strange heaviness settled in my chest.

Ugh. I tried so hard to charm him… will it even work?

Reality suddenly crashed over me. Every time my thoughts turned to Kiel, they ended up like this.

“Shuri!”

Kiel ran toward me, calling my name. His hair was disheveled, as if he’d been running nonstop. When I looked down, I noticed a blanket in his hands.

I stared blankly at him as he draped the blanket over my shoulders.

“…Did you bring this for me?”

I asked, stunned.

Really? You brought this for me?

“…Let’s go.”

Without answering, Kiel took my cold hand in his. His hand—slightly larger than mine—was warm. For no reason at all, I found myself smiling as I followed him.

When we arrived at my room and I looked at the blanket, it was sky blue, decorated with cute patterns of macarons, strawberry shortcake, and other desserts.

“Oh, seriously.”

Isn’t this way too cute?

Imagining Kiel using this blanket, I hugged it tightly and lay down on the bed.

For some reason… it felt like it smelled sweet.