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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Apology
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With Reti's help, I washed up and changed into fresh clothes.
Thankfully, the medicine worked, so I only bumped my head three times while I was washing.
Ugh, I'm going to have a bump.
I also devoured the snacks Reti brought me.
“Slow down, please.”
That's not an option.
I shook my head.
“I need to eat this and get my strength back so I can walk all the way to the capital if the Duke leaves me behind.”
Reti looked at me with pity.
“Hmm… I don't know what's going on, but His Grace gave me a very generous tip while you were bathing. I'm sure he won't leave you behind.”
Ugh.
I almost spat out the snack in my mouth.
What in the world is that man playing at?!
Is he trying to play games with me? What's so hard about just being kind?
My head was full of question marks.
Reti took the snacks from my hand one by one.
“Now, now. I may not look it, but I've worked for a historic noble family for five years. I'll take the best care of you.”
—*A wicked monster who torments people.*
A lump formed in my throat.
Why did he have to compare Kivrin to that stupid fairy tale?
And right in front of me, too.
That book made my body feel so strange that I even asked him to throw it in the fireplace.
And yet Menelik knew all of that…
“What does a ten-year-old have to do to not be looked down on by adults?”
I asked Reti out of the blue.
It was a ridiculous question, even to me.
Seeing me sigh dejectedly, Reti answered.
“Well… I'd say it's more of a problem with the character of the adult who would make a ten-year-old think that way… Ahem, ah, never mind.”
“…”
“Oh, His Grace asked me to give you this.”
Reti placed a communication stone, small enough to fit in my palm, on the table.
“He said it's been charged with mana, so you can use it all night.”
After Reti left, I glared at the communication stone with a sullen face.
He could have at least included an instruction manual…
It was no better than a pie in the sky.
Just as I was sighing heavily enough to make the ground sink, the communication stone suddenly lit up.
“Gasp.”
Oh, what do I do? Will it hang up if I don't answer?
In a panic, I grabbed the stone and examined it.
Just as I was trying to shake it and then press it hard, Kivrin's voice came through.
[I-It's not fair for him to torment you, C-Cheria, just because you're not afraid of me.]
“…Young Lord?”
I tilted my head.
“The Duke isn't here. I'm alone.”
Kivrin was silent for a moment.
But it seemed he was just steeling his resolve, as he soon spoke with grim determination.
[T-Tell Father that you're scared of me because I'm a m-monster. Th-Then this won't happen again.]
What?
“What? No way.”
I refused flatly without a second thought.
[…]
“Besides, it's too late. I called the Duke an old man and stormed out.”
I was a little scared of the consequences, but I didn't regret it.
[T-Technically, by definition, that's an accurate description…]
While Kivrin was taking my side, I took the communication stone and wriggled under the covers.
Bringing the stone under the blankets with me made it feel like Kivrin was here.
“But why would he torment me for that reason?”
[Father is… very suspicious. He thinks there might be another r-reason why you're adjusting so w-well to the duchy.]
Does he think I'm a spy sent by my family?
After all, I was the Saintess's sister.
The possibility that I'd conspired with my family to infiltrate the duchy was certainly worth considering.
It would be strange if no one was suspicious.
If anything, the people of the duchy had been too kind until now.
“…Do you think so too, Young Lord?”
[It d-doesn't matter. I-I don't care either way.]
“…”
I blinked.
I was about to tell him he shouldn't trust people so easily, but Kivrin asked a question.
[W-Why were you sick, Cheria?]
“Hmm, it's a long story.”
I hugged my pillow and explained what had happened.
About how Menelik had been reading me a fairy tale every night, and how today's story was so awful that it suddenly made me sick.
Kivrin sounded curious.
[W-What was it about?]
“It was about a good hero defeating a wicked monster and its mate.”
To my surprise, Kivrin laughed.
“…Why are you laughing?”
[I'm… fine.]
“…”
[I-I'm not hurt, and I'm doing well. So… you don't have to be s-sick, Cheria.]
The stone-like weight that had been pressing on my chest finally disappeared.
I muttered, feeling drained.
“I think there's something wrong with me. It's not normal to get so invested in a fairy tale that you get this sick, is it?”
I have no idea why my body is acting this way!
[Y-You've been in a carriage for a long time, so it's probably just accumulated f-fatigue.]
Just as I was thinking Kivrin had a point…
[And th-this is all Father's fault.]
Huh?
Kivrin's tone suddenly became forceful.
He had a good reason, too.
[He didn't let Yelena or Mera… come with you. F-Father, I mean.]
I peeked out from where my head was buried in the pillow.
“He told me the Temple limited the number of people?”
[To f-fifty people or less.]
“…”
Excuse me?
But it's just me and Menelik.
Even with the people from the Temple, there are only eight of us.
The holy knights are even driving the carriage.
Did I get scammed?
[H-He said he deliberately passed the order as a n-note so I wouldn't hear.]
Kivrin's voice was choked with emotion, too.
I rolled my eyes.
“Mmm… now that I think about it, it's strange that he only gave me the communication stone today. I wanted to hear your voice and Mother's voice so much.”
Is Menelik planning to leave me at the Temple?
But I'm already Cheria ‘Nectarian’.
…Well, I suppose if getting married was easy, getting divorced could be just as easy.
I curled into a ball.
[Y-You should sleep first. It's already p-past midnight.]
“So… it's the 31st now, right?”
[Yes, th-that's right.]
I fidgeted with my fingers.
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“It's my birthday today… can you… wish me a happy birthday?”
[…]
Oh no, is he going to misunderstand?
I quickly tried to explain.
“N-No, I really just want you to say it! No one ever celebrated my birthday back home! S-So please keep this a secret from Mother and Mera.”
He'll think I'm asking for a party or expensive gifts.
But this Cheria has already received so much, I don't need anything else.
[…]
Kivrin was still silent.
Ugh, I shouldn't have said anything.
“Um, no, I mean… I take it back. Just pretend you didn't hear that.”
My face grew hot with embarrassment.
As if he could sense my flustered state through the stone, Kivrin spoke.
[H-Happy birthday. For your gift…]
“I don't want a gift.”
Kivrin paused for a moment in thought before speaking.
[Then… then I'll read you a d-different book.]
At the same time, I heard a loud clattering sound.
I was just thinking how glad I was that no one could see my beet-red face.
[I-It's a book called *Imperial Military History in a Day*. It's only 3,117 pages long…]
How is anyone supposed to master that in a day?!
* * *
Whether it was thanks to the medicine or burning the fairy tale, I felt much better when I woke up.
I confidently went to the hotel restaurant and had my breakfast.
Starving myself to be considerate at a time like this would only hurt me. Of course.
My mood had just started to improve after getting to eat blueberry ice cream again.
That's when Menelik came and sat down across from me.
Hm?
I stared at him blankly, the spoon still in my mouth.
“Are you not going to talk to me?”
“…”
I swallowed the ice cream in my mouth to answer.
Menelik raised a hand.
“I went too far yesterday. I apologize.”
I tilted my head.
“I'm fine. It's true I was a bother by getting sick all the time. Besides, I'm not the one who deserves an apology, am I?”
It's Kivrin, who was called a monster by his own father.
Menelik's brow furrowed.
“You're right. I should apologize properly. I'm sorry, Cheria.”
“…”
Wh-What's this? How flustering.
I was just thinking I'd be lucky if he didn't tell me we should go our separate ways.
As my pupils shook, Menelik gave me a look of regret.
“I believe I was rude to you as well. Though I did check on you every two hours to make sure you were sleeping well. When I told Kivrin it was time for him to sleep, he told me to shut up.”
No way! That's slander!
“I doubt that. The Young Lord doesn't use words like that.”
When I denied it with a serious face, Menelik looked aggrieved.
“I'm pretty sure I also heard 'incoherent trash talk.' I spent all night wiping away my tears to get over it.”
D-Did Kivrin really say that?
How did I not wake up while they were having such an intense conversation right next to me?!
“Did you make up with the Young Lord?”
“On the condition that I make up with you.”
“…”
…How is that fair!
I shoveled ice cream into my mouth to show my displeasure.
“You'll get a stomachache.”
Hmph! I furrowed my brow and glared at Menelik, signaling that I wasn't going to let this go.
“Why didn't you let Yelena and Mera come with us?”
Surprisingly, Menelik answered right away.
“Because if I had to grab you and run, I only have one arm.”
I wrinkled my nose without realizing it.
So, am I the one who might need to be ‘grabbed and run with’?
