CH 125

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Adeline, Margravine of Vanderwall, Percival’s mother

Evelyn, Countess Miller, Adeline’s younger sister

Flavia, Evelyn’s 2nd daughter, Percival’s maternal cousin

Susanna, servant in the Belisario household

Anna, servant in the Belisario household

Clarabelle, servant in the Belisario household

Flavia looks as if she didn’t understand what was said, as if she doesn’t know what it means. It’s natural for her to be loved, and I don’t think she ever thought she would love someone with the same passion.

“I mean, can you bow your head and put up with things for your family?”

“That! Why do I, who is loved, have to do such a thing!”

……Right. If you love your family in the same way, you wouldn’t behave like that or say and do such things. However, if she had been raised to believe that everything she did was right until this age, there is no way she can accept being told that she is wrong now. This was a problem for the Earl’s family. At the very least, it would be nice if she could notice that in the temple. 

“……I pray that one day you will love someone.”

“What’s that. What on earth are you trying to say?”

“Flavia, please stop. I’m really sorry, Sapphiras-dono. It’s all my fault.”

Earl Miller bows deeply again. When I think about what’s going on in his heart, I also have mixed feelings.

“Wh-Why is father bowing? It’s the commoner who’s to blame!”

“Flavia, step back. I don’t want to hear your voice anymore.”

Madam Adeline’s voice could not have been colder. Flavia has finally made Madam Adeline really angry. The Belisario family has strong family ties. That’s why Flavia’s attitude, which could be seen as disrespecting her family, must have pushed her to the limit of her patience.

“Eh? Oba-sama? Why?”

“Evelyn, take this child away quickly.”

“Onee-sama, I am really sorry. Come on, Flavia, let’s go.”

“No! Why? And I haven’t seen Percy yet!”

Countess Miller bowed deeply to Madam Adeline and me, and then left the salon, dragging Flavia behind her. Flavia was shouting loudly, but her voice gradually faded away.

Countess Miller sure is strong.

“Ane-ue, I was wrong before. I know it’s too late, but I’ll make sure not to make the same mistake again. I am truly sorry.”

Earl Miller bowed his head and left the salon after Countess. Miller and Flavia, but his back was deeply disappointed. What he had done with the best of his intentions had ruined his beloved daughter. He had witnessed this fact. He must be depressed.

“Sapphiras-san, I’m really sorry for making you feel uncomfortable. They said they wanted to apologise, that’s why you came all the way here to see them……”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

What Flavia said was true. But I don’t care and I don’t feel anything. That’s how much we were a hopeless family. The Countess came to complain to me that Veritas had no place to live. I wonder what they are doing now? It’s probably nothing for me, a stranger, to worry about. Remembering the people who were once family, I became a little distant.

“Sapphiras-san”

“!?”

As I was thinking about the family I had cut ties with, I was suddenly enveloped in a soft warmth. The scent of graceful flowers gently tickled my nostrils.

“……Could we be your family?”

“Eh……?”

“I’m not forcing you. But I want you to remember. We, the people of Belisario, have long considered you family.”

Aah, I guess I made her worry because of what Flavia said earlier. I don’t really care what Perfectio thinks of me, it doesn’t hurt or itch. I don’t want to be loved by them or love them because I’m already a stranger who doesn’t want to be involved with them anymore. Besides, even without the love of my family, I can live without problems now. That’s because I have memories of being loved by my family in my previous life.

Even so.

I am happy that they are willing to accept me as part of their family.

“Thank you, very much……”

I was a little hesitant, but when I responded to Madam Adeline’s embrace and hugged her back, her slender arms hugged me with unimaginable strength. My face is pressed against Madam Adeline’s chest and I cannot breathe. What can I say about the richness of her chest, even though she is thin?! This is not a joke, I can’t breathe!

“Muguu……! Nngh! Mnh!”

“Madam, madam! Sapphiras-sama is suffocating!”

“Ah, oh dear! I’m sorry!”

Did I almost suffocate?! Susanna-san intervened at that moment and managed to save my life. This is the power of the Margravine of Vanderwall. I guess just being beautiful isn’t enough to protect a castle.

“Kohon1sound of coughing/clearing of the throat……madam, this.”

Susanna-san brought the dragon hair ornament that Cu Sith found earlier this morning. It has been cleaned and restored to its former glory. Madam Adeline took it and put it in my hair.

“I want you to accept this as a gift from a mother. You are like my son now, Sapphi.”

Madam Adeline’s smile as she stroked my hair reminded me of my mother in my previous life. I was somewhat embarrassed by the soft, compassionate look in her eyes, and when I was fidgeting in an uncharacteristic manner, Percival came to pick me up from the salon.

“Sapphiras, would you like to go to the Festival in Oriens tonight?”

“Eh! I’m going, I’m going! Of course I’m going!”

It’s one of the things I’ve been looking forward to. There’s no reason to say no.

“That’s good. Mother, I’m going to Oriens with Sapphiras tonight, so no dinner for us.”

“Yes, I understand. However, there are many people coming and going in Oriens at this time of year. I’m sure you understand, protect Sapphiras-san well.”

“Of course.”

It is true that at a festival, many people will gather from all over the place, and some of them are not decent. But don’t worry. If it were me, I could handle 20 to 30 rogues. Come at me together.

Even so, I’m looking forward to the festival in Oriens!

“Sapphiras-sama. Please enjoy yourself to the fullest!”

Anna-san and Clarabelle-san sent us off with a big smile, and I was dressed in new winter clothes and am now completely fluffy. I said I was fine with Percival’s hand-me-downs, but before I knew it, new winter clothes had been prepared for me. The soft white fabric of the cloak is very light and warm, and the hood is luxuriously trimmed with white wolf fur. On my feet are short boots with sheep wool on the inside. They are also light and warm.

“Isn’t this outfit flashy?”

“No, it suits you well.”

Percival is wearing a long-sleeved winter coat from the Vanderwall Army. He also wears a sword on his waist, but it seems that walking around town in this outfit also has the meaning of keeping snatching thieves2idk if there’s a more suitable name for these? They are basically thieves that forcefully steal a pedestrian’s belongings while employing rob-and-run tactics. A commonly seen type is those working in pairs where one would be steering a motorcycle and the other would do the snatching. My aunt was unfortunately victim to this when she was in Malaysia for holiday and had her necklace forcibly pulled off. Luckily she only suffered some abrasions and no other serious injuries. and drunken rampages in check. In short, it’s a city walk that doubles as a patrol.

The black, tight-fitting cloak suits the tall Percival well. I’d like to wear something cool like that too, but I’m sure the hem would be too long and it’s going to look unfashionable.

……It’s okay. There are things that suit people and things that don’t suit them. I understand this point.

“Sapphiras, your hand.”

When I was feeling a little bitter about the height difference, Percival held out his hand to me.

“?”

“It’s a festival, so there are more people than usual. Let’s hold hands so we don’t get separated.”

Come to think of it, we also held hands when we went to play in the royal capital. I completely got lost back then. I get distracted by a lot of things, and when I’m engrossed, I can’t see my surroundings. If I get lost in the hustle and bustle of the festival, we’ll have to act completely separately. That would surely be boring.

I obediently take Percival’s hand. His hard palm with sword calluses is a little warmer than mine.

“Your hands are cold. Are you cold?”

“No, they’re warm enough. Come on, let’s go! The festival is waiting for us!”

“Yeah.”

Yoshi! We’re going to enjoy the festival to the fullest tonight!

melon: I kept thinking I was supposed to update tmr…oops.

Anyways, I think we are like 3 chapters away from them officially getting together. Hehehe~