CH 100

[Alfine’s Feelings]

After Cassandra returned the talk to Alfine’s whereabouts, Samantha begins to talk about the information that had been gathered.

“Understood. Putting together the information gathered by Cassandra-sama and my clan, Gile-sama, the commander of the Royal Guard Knight, seemed to be courting Alfine-sama defiantly after Frick-sama, formerly Finn, left the royal capital. Then, Alfine-sama went to the northern great city of Algren to see the corpse of Finn-dono and——” (Samantha)

I couldn’t hide my surprise hearing the report from Samantha.

I did vaguely feel that Gile was interested in Alfine, however,

To think he would approach Alfine after I left her side…

Besides, I died in Algren!? Then, who am I here!

It’s true that I abandoned my status and name, but I, who was Finn, am well and alive here.

“Haah!? I AM alive, though!?” (Frick)

I feel that Samantha’s eyes flash for a moment as she looks at me.

“That is why I concluded that the corpse Alfine-sama saw in Algren was that of another person.” (Samantha)

“——nh!? So, that’s why after a certain day, the contents of Alfine’s diary only filled with words of regrets towards me, huh!?” (Frick)

“Perhaps, that is the case. I have read it as well, but certainly, after returning from Algren, Alfine-sama’s diary are filled with repentances.” (Noelia)

Meaning that Gile even went as far as meticulously prepared an imposter’s corpse and made Alfine go to Algren, all to deceive the thoughtless her, huh.

She’s too thoughtless, that Alfine!

Since a long time ago, she had been a thoughtless one and was always quick to jump to wrong conclusion, causing various problems.

What the heck was she doing, seriously…

“I will be continuing the report. After she returned, Alfine-sama kept staying in her mansion the whole time, and was even absent from her work as the swordsmanship instructor of the Royal Guard Knight Order with the reason of recuperating from illness. After a while, it seemed that Gile-dono reported to King Frederick that he was having Alfine-sama undergoing medical treatment at his secondary residence.” (Samantha)

“That super healthy Alfine, who never even once catch a cold even though she always sleeps with her stomach uncovered all year round, got ill!? No no, there’s no way that’s true, right!?” (Frick)

“Frick-sama, I think that perhaps Alfine-sama’s illness is a psychological one.” (Noelia)

Psychological… that arrogant and selfish tyrant Alfine, fell ill just because she thought I was dead, even though actually it wasn’t even me.

Such a thing is impossible, right……

It’s Alfine who treated me, her lover, so wickedly who we are talking about here, it wouldn’t even be a surprise if she were to laugh hearing about my death.

Just why did she fell ill… I don’t get it at all.

“If I too am in the same position as Alfine-sama…” (Noelia)

The words muttered by Noelia made me understand why Alfine fell ill.

That Alfine… she really…

No way… she started calling me her lover just so that I would keep taking care of her, right?

That selfish and egoist tyrant Alfine really……

I have always thought that she just wanted to use me as a barrier to keep away the men who were courting her when she started telling the people around us that I was her lover.

However, I was glad even with that nonetheless.

Because I thought I would be happy if I could keep living together with Alfine as adventurers while taking care of the selfish and egoist her, who I was always together with growing up.

However, difference appeared between us since Alfine became a noble; the gap between us slowly widened, and I couldn’t keep up with her, then we became distant.

Was her selfish and unreasonable behavior towards me a self-expression of her desire to be saved?

Something like that, there’s no way even for me who had been together with her the whole time could understand that, right…

I clench my hands tightly while listening to the report from Samantha.

“It seems the people around her insisted that she caught an illness that was prevailing in Algren, honestly speaking however, I think it is as Noelia-sama said. Thereafter, no one ever saw Alfine-sama until she was executed.” (Samantha)

Her condition was so terrible that she was housebound the whole time.

Even the work of being the swordsmanship instructor of the Royal Guard Knight Order should have been something she would fulfill without fail no matter how bad her mood was.

If she didn’t even do that, that means she was terribly down, huh.

“However, that is what makes the story strange. Frick-sama affirmed that the woman hanged at the gate was not Alfine-sama.” (Noelia)

Noelia, who is listening to Samantha’s report, asks a question that come to mind about the substitute woman hanged at the gate.

“Ahh, she has a similar figure and hair, and she also has an ear of wheat tattoo on her nape, however, I can assure you that person isn’t Alfine. Her hands are neat, meaning she had never held a sword at all. Moreover, she has a pendant carved with the name of Iluna Millis.” (Frick)

Alfine’s hands should be so rugged as a result of daily training, they couldn’t be said to be a woman’s soft hands even as a flattery.

And from the name on the pendant that I peeked through her torn clothes, she seems to be just a woman who was made to be a substitute.

“So, Frick-sama is saying that the displayed corpse of the Sword Master-sama is just that of a double, is it?” (Samantha)

“Ah, yes. You can take my words on that. It’s not just my delusion, I can attest that girl is a different person.” (Frick)

I assert that the hanged woman is not Alfine to Samantha’s question.

Having heard that the body is that of a double, Samanta takes a piece of paper out of the stack of papers she has in her hands and says,

“I actually have an interesting piece of information. Gile-dono reported to King Frederick that Alfine-sama went on a rampage and injured him on the back, leading to her execution.” (Samantha)

“Injured him?” (Frick)

“Yes, however, it seems that there was an explosion at Gile-sama’s secondary residence before that report was made. It seems that at the time, the Royal Guard Knight Order was mobilized to carry out a thorough search for a young black-haired woman in the city.” (Samantha)

Listening to Samantha’s report made me suspect that Alfine went on rampage because she found out that my corpse was that of an imposter.

If that Alfine found out that she had been fooled, she would definitely go on a rampage without hesitation, regardless if the opponent was Gile, the commander of the Royal Guard Knight Order.

I can’t help but imagine the figure of her snapped and went on a rampage at Gile’s residence.

In that case, perhaps Alfine——.

“——From that information, should we take it that Alfine-sama had escaped from the secondary residence?” (Noelia)

“I believe Noelia-sama’s reasoning is correct. After listening to Frick-sama’s story, I immediately think that she was substituted with a double at that point.” (Samantha)

Listening to the talk of Noelia and Samantha, I try asking them the possibility that have arisen within my mind.

“What if Alfine is alive and on the run?” (Frick)

“Yes, given that the Royal Guard Knight Order is still guarding Alfine-sama’s mansion, that is highly likely, I think.” (Samantha)

“But where on earth is she…” (Frick)

The whereabout of Alfine – who seems to have escaped from Gile – has been unknown so far.

“The scope of the search cannot be narrowed down blindly. We are intending to continue collecting information from the nobles using Cassandra-sama’s connections and my clan.” (Samantha)

“Cassandra-sama, Samantha-sama, I’m sorry to trouble you, but thank you.” (Frick)

I bow to them with gratitude.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. It is for the sake of my great-grandchild.” (Cassandra)

“That is right. In that case, my clan too must prepare a child to serve Noelia-sama’s child as soon as possible. Though I have been letting Suzana do as she likes, it seems to be about time have her marries and raises a family.” (Samantha)

“Y-you two, it is not yet the time for that kind of talk! For both me and Suzana!” (Noelia)

Noelia’s face turns bright red and she waves her hands to deny.

Although I feel gratitude, I also feel guilty to her who is helping in the case of Alfine, who not only is my family but also former lover, without showing any reluctance.

“Frick-sama do not have to mind about their words either. My problem and Alfine-sama’s case are separate matters. Rather than that, how about we leave the noble circles to the two and go collect information about Alfine-sama in the city or the Adventurer’s Guild? And I would also like to investigate the identity of the person who became the substitue and take some measures so that her body can be handed over if she has a family.” (Noelia)

In truth, I wanted to say to Noelia that ‘I’m already over Alfine, so there’s no problem.’

However, now that I feel like I’ve touched Alfine’s true feelings, I cannot say so anymore; the weakness in myself frustrates me, and I can’t help but to face down.

“Ah, ahhh. You’re right. Let’s do that.” (Frick)

I could only accept Noelia’s suggestion while keeping my eyes away from her.

………… the heck, is he having second thoughts? (┛ಠ_ಠ)┛彡┻━┻