Chapter 33: A request to Lars-sama
I was led to the reception room.
The combination of the heavy and ornate furniture that is characteristic of the Duke family, which has a long history, and the beautiful white walls and ceiling with gold decorations, is a room with a bright but calm atmosphere.
I am sitting on a sofa covered with a thick fabric with ivy patterns. The fabric is made of merlin, which is a famous textile from a beautiful land in the north of the country.
I am sorry to be sitting in a servant’s uniform there.
But Lars-sama didn’t mind and offered me tea made by the servants.
“Please, Miss Linea. You must be tired, so first relax with a warm tea.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
My throat was also dry, so the tea was very welcome.
“By the way, have you slept since then due to the influence of the sacred flower?”
“Yes. Thank you very much for the other day. Thanks to that, I was able to pass without any particular discomfort. I’m sorry to have asked Asher-sama to bring me the flower sweets.”
“I often ask him to do various things for me. Don’t worry about it.”
As we were talking about the incident the other day, I had finished drinking about half of the cup’s contents. Sensing that I had settled down, Lars-sama started talking.
“Well, may I ask why you were out today in that appearance?”
I nod.
“In fact… I came to visit Lars-sama.”
“All by yourself to see me? Was there something confidential you wanted to talk about?”
As expected, Lars-sama is good at guessing.
“There is something I really want to talk to you about regarding my nightmare.”
“Could it be related to the dream I was supposed to have talked about with Asher?”
I slowly nod and affirm. And just as I was about to start talking, Lars-sama interrupts me.
“Could it be that you also had a dream where your father gave guidance on invasion, and that’s why you wanted to hear about my nightmare and came directly here without anyone knowing?”
Lars-sama continued, “That’s what I thought.”
“Your behavior changed.”
“Mine… did?”
“Yes. Your behavior changed after you received that flower confectionery. For example, you stopped contacting your fiance. You used to be angry before. And you stopped caring about anyone else, etc.”
Certainly, as Lars-sama said, I was more concerned about the nightmare than about Albert or that Academy’s servant, and after that my head was full of the skills I acquired.
“It may be a trivial matter for others. Indeed, those who heard the previous and current circumstances did not care at all. But I felt that the nightmare you saw was affecting you. And by coming alone today, I am convinced… How about it?”
“…Yes.”
I nodded.
Lars-sama is so perceptive that if I deny it, it seems likely that he will immediately find out that I am lying.
Even if I try to dodge it, I will probably be caught in the interrogation. So I felt that I had to nod.
The truth is, I didn’t want to say that I would become a traitor in the future.
But it would probably be known someday. Especially after Lars-sama learned about the same future…
I told myself that it couldn’t be helped.
But what I worry about is how Lars-sama will think of me, who has a father who will become a traitor in the future.
…When I glance at Lars-sama, he looks unchanged from before.
Until now, only Lars-sama himself had dreamed, so it wouldn’t be strange to think it was some misunderstanding. But since I confirmed that I also had the same dream, you should have felt that it was definitely a future that could come true.
Why, when I take a glance at Lars-sama, does he seem to be sitting calmly on the sofa with the same composed attitude as before?
(Are you not worried?)
I don’t think there’s anything wrong, but from the way he looks, he doesn’t seem to be viewing the problem as much as I fear.
Lars-sama speaks to me.
“Is there something you want to rely on me for?”
“I…”
I hesitate to say the prepared words as they are.
If I do, Lars-sama will realize that I…want to run away from everything, even from home.
He might disdain me, wanting to be saved, for abandoning my duties as a noble and throwing everything away.
He might not understand why I would give up my noble status and become disliked.
Even while thinking about that possibility, I eventually voiced my wish.
“I would like your cooperation so that I can live on my own. Specifically … I would like you to give me some kind of job.”
I added more words.
“Oh, in addition to cooperating in the verification of the effects of flowers and sweets, that is.”
I don’t want to be thought of as demanding money for the promised work. It wouldn’t look good.
I just want a proper job.
If possible, not as a noble lady, but as something else.