“That was tough, wasn’t it? I understand because I have experience too. That person says things that are like gouging out your heart and crushing your hopes accurately, you know.”
Oji-san laughed, but his laughter lacked strength. It seems that Oji-san has had a similar experience.
“I want to say that you don’t need to worry, but it’s impossible.”
I looked at Oji-san who sighed after saying that. He seemed to be recalling something from the past with his distant gaze. Looking at Oji-san’s expression, I suddenly thought that there might be others who are only cooperating because they were pushed into a corner.
“Anyway, for now, it’s better to rest. How about playing a game to pass the time? I think there was something we could play…”
“…Thank you for your concern. But I’m fine and I want to stay like this…”
In fact, I felt more at ease when I was moving around. So, I intended to walk around no matter what. However, Oji-san interrupted my words with a serious expression and a disappeared smile.
“No, that’s not good. You have to rest especially at times like this. If you collapse, everyone will worry. Rest quietly.”
“…Everyone?”
I unintentionally asked again.
I doubted for a moment who “everyone” referred to. Was it about my family who was far away or Jeremiah whom I had told Oji-san about?
However, the unexpected answer came back.
“Yes, everyone here. Not everyone, but not just Paolo who is your knight. It’s me and the people who have talked with you so far. Everyone regrets involving you in this to some extent and is worried about you.”
“But…because I was born as a noble?”
I could only nod since he said what I was going to say. Oji-san smiled awkwardly and continued.
“Indeed, I think we had those feelings at first. I also thought so a little. But you didn’t look down on us and listened to us a lot. There aren’t many people who can do that without any prejudice… Your fiancé had a good eye for people.”
“That’s not true.”
I really just talked to them.
It was embarrassing to be told that much. As I couldn’t raise my face, Paolo nodded as if to add insult to injury.
“Yeah, I think so too.”
“See, it’s a majority vote.
Of course, there are those who still worry about it, and there are also those who are only interested in your usefulness, but there are also people who are not like that.
So, for the sake of everyone, take a break… and for the sake of your family and fiancé too.”
“…Okay.”
I couldn’t say anything in response to that.
I obediently replied with a “yes.” Oji-san nodded several times as if satisfied.
“Good. I’ll bring you something later.”
“No need for that.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Well then, see you later.”
Oji-san smiled again and walked away, waving his hand. I looked towards Paolo as if seeking his opinion. Then our eyes met.
I couldn’t help but stare at his face.
“Well then, shall we go back? If there’s something to distract you, we can find it on the way.”
“…Okay.”
Since I had said that to Oji-san, I couldn’t just not go back. I averted my gaze from Paolo and nodded.
◆
When I returned to the room, I agreed to Paolo’s suggestion and decided to play for a while. It was still too early to sleep, and above all, I wasn’t that sleepy.
Despite not being able to sleep much last night, my eyes were wide awake.
Therefore, on the way back, I borrowed some cards and played on the bed.
We didn’t bet anything.
Paolo suggested that the loser should obey the winner as a joke, but I felt it was better not to do it. Because I am quite weak when it comes to gambling.
If I had to do everything he said, it would be annoying.
So I firmly refused, and although he looked slightly disappointed, I ignored it.
I wondered what he was going to say, but since I didn’t want things to get awkward, I decided not to say anything.
We played like that for a while, and it was getting close to noon.
In the distance, I heard a sound that was unfamiliar to my ears. I raised my face, which was looking down, and looked at the window.
Paolo, who was facing me, made the same movement. I moved my gaze a little and looked at his face. I could tell he was very tense.
I didn’t feel like asking why, so I asked a different question.
“What’s that sound?”
“That’s gunfire.”
I looked at the window in amazement at his firm voice.
There was no point in doing that. Even though we were in the same castle, we didn’t know what was happening from here.
“I’ll go check it out. Don’t open this door unless it’s me.”
“O-Okay.”
I didn’t want to be left alone, but I couldn’t ask him to take me with him. So I just nodded.
Paolo emphasized again not to open the door and left. I put away the cards and looked at the door with an uneasy feeling.
It felt like I had swallowed lead.
For a while, I sat still without moving, but gradually became unable to bear it and stood up and sat down repeatedly.
“Maybe I should have gone with him after all.”
Muttering to myself, when I stood up again, the door suddenly opened with force.
In front of me, the men I had seen at dinner with Cassini were standing. They rushed into the room in a panic and said,
“Come with us. We have no choice but to take you hostage.”
“Huh? What do you mean… Ouch!”
My right upper arm was grabbed with strong force, and I screamed unintentionally. However, the man didn’t answer my question and dragged me away as if pulling me along.
“That was tough, wasn’t it? I understand because I have experience too. That person says things that are like gouging out your heart and crushing your hopes accurately, you know.”
Oji-san laughed, but his laughter lacked strength. It seems that Oji-san has had a similar experience.
“I want to say that you don’t need to worry, but it’s impossible.”
I looked at Oji-san who sighed after saying that. He seemed to be recalling something from the past with his distant gaze. Looking at Oji-san’s expression, I suddenly thought that there might be others who are only cooperating because they were pushed into a corner.
“Anyway, for now, it’s better to rest. How about playing a game to pass the time? I think there was something we could play…”
“…Thank you for your concern. But I’m fine and I want to stay like this…”
In fact, I felt more at ease when I was moving around. So, I intended to walk around no matter what. However, Oji-san interrupted my words with a serious expression and a disappeared smile.
“No, that’s not good. You have to rest especially at times like this. If you collapse, everyone will worry. Rest quietly.”
“…Everyone?”
I unintentionally asked again.
I doubted for a moment who “everyone” referred to. Was it about my family who was far away or Jeremiah whom I had told Oji-san about?
However, the unexpected answer came back.
“Yes, everyone here. Not everyone, but not just Paolo who is your knight. It’s me and the people who have talked with you so far. Everyone regrets involving you in this to some extent and is worried about you.”
“But…because I was born as a noble?”
I could only nod since he said what I was going to say. Oji-san smiled awkwardly and continued.
“Indeed, I think we had those feelings at first. I also thought so a little. But you didn’t look down on us and listened to us a lot. There aren’t many people who can do that without any prejudice… Your fiancé had a good eye for people.”
“That’s not true.”
I really just talked to them.
It was embarrassing to be told that much. As I couldn’t raise my face, Paolo nodded as if to add insult to injury.
“Yeah, I think so too.”
“See, it’s a majority vote.
Of course, there are those who still worry about it, and there are also those who are only interested in your usefulness, but there are also people who are not like that.
So, for the sake of everyone, take a break… and for the sake of your family and fiancé too.”
“…Okay.”
I couldn’t say anything in response to that.
I obediently replied with a “yes.” Oji-san nodded several times as if satisfied.
“Good. I’ll bring you something later.”
“No need for that.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Well then, see you later.”
Oji-san smiled again and walked away, waving his hand. I looked towards Paolo as if seeking his opinion. Then our eyes met.
I couldn’t help but stare at his face.
“Well then, shall we go back? If there’s something to distract you, we can find it on the way.”
“…Okay.”
Since I had said that to Oji-san, I couldn’t just not go back. I averted my gaze from Paolo and nodded.
◆
When I returned to the room, I agreed to Paolo’s suggestion and decided to play for a while. It was still too early to sleep, and above all, I wasn’t that sleepy.
Despite not being able to sleep much last night, my eyes were wide awake.
Therefore, on the way back, I borrowed some cards and played on the bed.
We didn’t bet anything.
Paolo suggested that the loser should obey the winner as a joke, but I felt it was better not to do it. Because I am quite weak when it comes to gambling.
If I had to do everything he said, it would be annoying.
So I firmly refused, and although he looked slightly disappointed, I ignored it.
I wondered what he was going to say, but since I didn’t want things to get awkward, I decided not to say anything.
We played like that for a while, and it was getting close to noon.
In the distance, I heard a sound that was unfamiliar to my ears. I raised my face, which was looking down, and looked at the window.
Paolo, who was facing me, made the same movement. I moved my gaze a little and looked at his face. I could tell he was very tense.
I didn’t feel like asking why, so I asked a different question.
“What’s that sound?”
“That’s gunfire.”
I looked at the window in amazement at his firm voice.
There was no point in doing that. Even though we were in the same castle, we didn’t know what was happening from here.
“I’ll go check it out. Don’t open this door unless it’s me.”
“O-Okay.”
I didn’t want to be left alone, but I couldn’t ask him to take me with him. So I just nodded.
Paolo emphasized again not to open the door and left. I put away the cards and looked at the door with an uneasy feeling.
It felt like I had swallowed lead.
For a while, I sat still without moving, but gradually became unable to bear it and stood up and sat down repeatedly.
“Maybe I should have gone with him after all.”
Muttering to myself, when I stood up again, the door suddenly opened with force.
In front of me, the men I had seen at dinner with Cassini were standing. They rushed into the room in a panic and said,
“Come with us. We have no choice but to take you hostage.”
“Huh? What do you mean… Ouch!”
My right upper arm was grabbed with strong force, and I screamed unintentionally. However, the man didn’t answer my question and dragged me away as if pulling me along.
