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Ald-san brought me to Daluane, and right away I was put into this room in a separate building from the Clodel family estate. Since then I have not been allowed outside even once.
——"You are, for better or worse, my daughter—a noble's daughter. Since you carry noble blood, you will fulfill your duty."
——"You've started to look just like that thieving cat. Hurry up and go to the Empire already. This is the atonement for you two dirtying our honorable Clodel family. Isn't it an honor to be able to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the territory's people?"
The words Father and Mother said to me after I arrived here still cast a shadow over my heart.
Mother in particular comes here almost every day and hurls heartless words at me.
It hurt so much.
Not just for me, but hearing her speak so cruelly about the mother who gave birth to me—I could not forgive her.
I became an explorer and grew stronger.
I thought that now I could face Mother without fear and speak my own mind.
——That is what I believed.
But when I actually stood in front of her, the courage vanished.
Just like when I was a child, all I could do was endure quietly until Mother grew tired of it.
In the end, I have not changed at all since back then.
I am still powerless, still someone who cannot change anything on her own—a tiny, insignificant existence.
If my worthless self can buy the safety of the territory's people, then I think it is a cheap price.
As always, I look up at the night sky through the window.
Then, on a whim, I reach my hand out toward the moon. At the worst possible timing, the moon slips behind clouds, and the night's darkness grows even deeper.
It feels almost like a perfect reflection of my heart right now…
Come to think of it, it has been about three days since my sister stopped sending me telepathy.
Well, after ignoring her so thoroughly, it is only natural she would give up on me.
I am no longer an explorer, and I am going to marry into the Empire—an enemy nation.
Even if I could see my sister, I would definitely end up crying and complaining to her.
That would only cause her trouble.
If that is the case, then even though it hurts, it is better if I never see her again.
But in her last telepathy message, my sister said she would definitely save me.
Maybe she already knows my situation and is doing what she can in her own way.
(Hehe… I ignored her so I would not cause her trouble, yet here I am thinking only of what would make me feel better…)
I really hate how pathetic I am.
But if—if my selfish wishful thinking is actually right—
"Did something happen to my sister…?"
The moment I realized my sister might be in a situation where she cannot send me telepathy, a worried voice slipped out unintentionally.
"—Selma-san is fine. She's exhausted and sleeping right now, but her life is not in danger."
"…Eh?"
A familiar man's voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned around in shock.
This room is locked from the outside, and the windows are sealed shut.
No one else should be here, and no one should be able to enter.
When I looked toward the source of the voice, the person was hidden in the night's darkness, and I could not see him clearly.
Even so, I knew who it was without needing to see.
There is no way I could mistake this voice.
"…Orun…-san?"
Even though he was concealed in the dark and I could not see him, I could tell from the sound of my voice that Orun-san was wearing a gentle smile.
"It's been a while. I never thought we'd meet in Daluane. You don't look well, but I'm glad you're safe."
I was the one who never expected to meet him here.
Why is Orun-san in Daluane?
The only people who should know where I am are Father, Mother, and Ald-san.
There is no way those three would tell anyone else about this place.
"How… how are you here, Orun-san…?"
"A few days ago we finished conquering the labyrinths in various regions. After that I came to Daluane to report to Her Highness Lucila."
Oh, right.
Orun-san was conquering labyrinths on Her Highness's request.
Of course he would report completion to the client.
…I feel embarrassed for even a second thinking he might have come to Daluane because he was worried about me.
"I don't have much time, so I'll get straight to the point."
When Orun-san spoke again, the atmosphere around him shifted to something serious.
"I've already heard that you've gotten engaged. There's only one thing I want to ask. Sophia—do you want to marry Viscount Emelt, or do you not want to? Tell me how you really feel."
…I see.
The reason Orun-san came at this timing is as an executive of Night Sky's Silver Rabbit.
I came here without saying a word to the clan.
That really was dishonest of me.
"…First, I'm sorry for coming to Daluane without contacting the clan at all. And as for your question earlier—I have already prepared myself."
"…Prepared?"
"Yes. I have prepared myself to quit being an explorer and marry into Viscount Emelt's family. Because of that, I will be withdrawing from Night Sky's Silver Rabbit. I'm sorry it ended up like this. Thank you for everything up until now."
I bow my head deeply while desperately holding back the tears that threaten to spill.
A long silence follows.
Even when I timidly look up toward Orun-san, his face is still hidden in the darkness and I cannot see his expression.
I cannot bear the silence any longer and speak again.
"This is the duty of someone born into the Clodel family. If I marry Viscount Emelt, the lives of the territory's people will not be put in danger. If my one body can buy the safety of everyone in the territory, isn't that a cheap price? That's why I will marry Viscount Emelt."
"…I see."
This time my resolve must have reached him, because Orun-san gave a small nod.
…This really is goodbye with Orun-san and Night Sky's Silver Rabbit.
My path from here on—
"So?"
"…Eh?"
Just when I thought my life as an explorer was over, Orun-san returned an unexpected word, and I let out a dumbfounded sound.
"I told you earlier, didn't I? What I want to hear is… how you really feel."
"B-But, for the sake of the territory's people—"
"I heard you plan to accept the engagement to protect the people of the territory. But is that what you truly want? To put it more simply—even if the territory's safety could be guaranteed without you getting married, would you still want to accept this arrangement?"
Orun-san's words shake my heart.
I want to beg him to help me right now.
But I cannot.
As a noble's daughter, I am not allowed to run from my duty.
"S-Something like that… But the Empire really does have a way to cause a labyrinth overflow! Compared to the lives of the territory's people, my feelings are trivial! This is the duty of someone born as the daughter of the Clodel count family!"
"…At the very least, to me, your feelings matter more than the lives of strangers I've never met."
"!"
"If you were truly satisfied with your current situation from the bottom of your heart, I would not say another word. —So this is the last time I'll ask. Are you 'Sophia'? Or are you 'Sophie'? Which one is it?"
The seriousness in Orun-san's questioning voice seemed to rise another level.
I think what he wants to know is whether I am the "daughter of Count Clodel" or an "explorer of Night Sky's Silver Rabbit."
"I… I'm… Sophie—"
If I say "I am Sophia" here, the conversation ends.
All I have to do is utter one more syllable, yet I cannot form the final sound. Instead of words, tears spill out.
"Last year, when I became your instructor, I told you, didn't I? —'I will always be on your side.'"
While I struggle to speak, Orun-san opens his mouth.
"That is something I will never bend, no matter what. Absolutely never. If there is anyone threatening what you want, even if it's nobles or a country, I will not hesitate to make them my enemy. So please, tell me your honest feelings."
Orun-san's gentle words break down the dam I had been holding back.
The will to keep pretending crumbles away completely.
"I… I want to stay as 'Sophie'…! I want to keep being an explorer with Orun-san, Carol, Log, and Ruu-nee! I still want to be with my sister! I don't want to marry someone I don't know! Please help me… help me… Orun-san…!"
My emotions burst out. Tears stream down my face as I beg Orun-san for help and reach out with a trembling hand.
Orun-san gently takes that hand.
"—Yeah, leave it to me. I'll settle things with your father today. Everything that's binding you right now—I will cut it all away. So just wait a little longer."
Right at the moment Orun-san says that, moonlight breaks through a gap in the clouds and clearly illuminates his face.
Just as I imagined, it is a gentle expression.
"Yes… I'll wait…!"
Thank you for reading to the end.
I would be happy if you continue to the next chapter as well.