CH 28

Souvenirs

On a lunar day, Sheila went back home to see Felix as usual.

“The other day, I walked around in the royal capital for the first time. Oh, here’s a souvenir for you!”

She handed Felix an assortment of sweets, and Lulu and Richard cookies.

“Did you have fun there?”

“I had fun, but I got a little lost. Of course, I was able to join them right away, so it wasn’t a big deal.”

Sheila, who had learned her lesson from Zechs’s endless lectures, underplayed the problem to avoid further reprimands. For some reason, teatime with her brother always turned into lecture time, but today was the day to avoid it at all costs.

Thanks to Sheila’s efforts, the tea party proceeded peacefully.

“These cookies are very good. Just thinking that Sheila chose it for me makes me feel like it’s the best cookie in the world.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed them! They are the same cookies I bought for Lulu, Richard, and Claushezade-sensei.”

It was the same cookies, but Felix had the most variety and quantity. If she didn’t pay attention to this aspect, her brother would get upset. She often wondered why he was so happy to be treated specially by his sister.

“Do you get along well with Claushezade?”

“Ah….”

She couldn’t answer right away because they weren’t seeing each other as frequently as before at the moment. On the surface, they were conversing as usual, but lately, she was seeing him less and less because of the supplementary classes with Jornwerner.

“I think I get along better with him than the other students. After all, he’s a knight I admire.”

Sheila brushed off the question. Even though her brother noticed, he didn’t mention it.

“I see. Claushezade was the reason you wanted to become a knight, wasn’t it? As an older brother, it’s quite complicated to have a pretty little sister yearning for another man.”

“That’s actually because of Felix…”

Sheila hurriedly covered her mouth as she was about to reply. Felix looked curiously at his sister who was acting suspiciously.

“Me? I had nothing to do with it, did I?”

“No….”

“Sheila?”

Unable to withstand the pressure from Felix, she reluctantly opened her mouth. She was simply embarrassed and had nothing to feel guilty about.

“…. I wanted to become a knight because I wanted to be relied on by Felix. Because back then, you didn’t like our family at all, did you?”

“….”

From an early age, Felix was kind. Just earnestly, everywhere.

Even if she played a prank on him or wanted Felix’s cherished buttons, he never complained. For some reason, Sheila felt as if he was keeping his distance from her. It was the same with her parents; behind the smiling faces, they never revealed what they were really thinking.

However, that day, the Felix she saw in the mountains wasn’t smiling. He had no expression on his face, or rather, he had a stern face. She was shocked to see him like that. But that must have been his true face, Sheila thought intuitively.

For some reason, at that moment, she envied the knight terribly. A special existence that Felix treated with his true face. Sheila also wanted him to show his true face, even if it was cold or angry.

Then suddenly a vicious giant tiger appeared. Sheila tried to move as quickly as possible but stopped short at the sight of Felix. He was neither frightened nor running away; he was calm.

There was a knight there who could strike down a ferocious beast without much effort. Sheila understood. Felix didn’t run away because he was convinced that the knight would defeat the beast.

The immense trust and bond that she saw there made her heart ache. She was yearning for the same thing.

‘I want to be a knight.’

It was at that time that such a thought began to grow in her.

“I wanted to be recognized by Felix as family. I wanted to be able to protect him. I wanted to be trusted….. Of course, I also thought that the knight was also strong and cool.”

Sheila finished speaking rather quickly.

She was too embarrassed to look up. She’d always been dumbfounded by Felix’s siscon, but Sheila was also a brocon.

Worried about the reaction of Felix, who had been speechless for a long time, Sheila looked up in fear, and before she knew it, he was standing next to her.

“Don’t say such cute things too much. ――I won’t be able to let you go.”

She was hugged tightly, and laughter gradually welled up. After all, her brother was incredibly sweet.

“There’s no need for Felix to let me go.”

“Yes….. That’s right.”

In response to the sweet exchange, Richard spit out sand as usual today[1]. Without even noticing that, the siblings kept the conversation going.

◇　◆　◇

She left Felix’s mansion earlier than usual because she had someplace to show up.

After thanking Lulu for the ride and saying goodbye, Sheila made her way to the staff building. She slowly climbed the stairs to the third floor. It was always so quiet that she could not feel any sign of people, but today was a holiday, so there really should be no one there. Her footsteps echoed against the high ceiling of the staircase.

She stood in front of the door of the special course teacher’s office. No one was supposed to be there, but she definitely felt someone’s presence.

“…. I knew it. Even though it’s a holiday, you’re still working?”

When she secretly peeked through the door, she saw Claushezade working as usual. He returned the sarcasm without looking up.

“We’re short-staffed because you’re taking supplementary classes.”

“Why don’t you just cut back on the workload, Claushezade-sensei?”

“You’re telling me I can’t do the work I’ve accepted?”

“I can’t help you if you’re stubborn like that….”

Sheila was taken aback, but quickly regained her composure and entered the room.

“Actually, I went to the royal capital the other day. So, here is a souvenir.”

She took out the tea tins, a jar of honey, and several kinds of sweets that she had worked so hard to select. She’d also borrowed some unused tea utensils from Felix’s mansion, so she was all set.

“――O Spirit of Water.”

She held her hand over the teapot and chanted, filling it with water. Next, she asked the fire spirit to turn the water into boiling water instantly.

She’d learned from Lulu how much tea leaves to put in and how long to brew, so she was able to handle it on her own. Soon, the faint aroma of tea began to waft through the room.

Claushezade sighed as he watched Sheila work with her clumsy hands.

“….. You say it’s a souvenir, but isn’t it for yourself?”

“It’s important to create a comfortable environment! Look, why don’t you take a break too, Claushezade-sensei?”

When Sheila dared to reply without denying it, Claushezade’s face changed to one of bitterness.

The tea was being poured into cups. Warm steam rose in the room. That alone was somehow comforting.

After Sheila repeatedly invited him to join her, Claushezade finally put the papers aside. This was the first time he took some time to relax in this room.

Placing a cup of tea and a pastry in front of him as well, Sheila finally sat down.

They enjoyed their tea in silence for a while.

She still couldn’t give up honey, but she could now drink tea without milk. She felt that she was gradually getting used to life here.

“…. I checked about the political upheaval.”

Sheila quietly set down her teacup.

“I’m sorry about the other day. I was not considerate enough to Claushezade-sensei.”

Claushezade slowly looked up from his cup.

“No, I don’t mind….. It’s so far in the past that I don’t even know where the scars from those days are anymore.”

“….”

A quiet, translucent profile. In his peacock eyes, she couldn’t find even a hint of resignation.

She was sure that it wasn’t only because of that.

This person was already full of scars everywhere. He must’ve been filled with so many scars for so long that he no longer even knew what pain was.

She thought that the reason why this room was so empty was because she had just arrived here. However, there was no sign of an increase in the number of personal belongings.

No sweet pastries, or even good tea. Maybe it had been a long time since he felt anything.

“….. May I do as I please with this room?”

“What’s the matter with you all of a sudden?”

“It suddenly occurred to me. Clauschezade-sensei, you should be more particular about things. You’re spending most of your day here like a fool anyway.”

“You’re trying to pick a fight, aren’t you?”

A lighthearted remark, and the heart-wrenching, sad air fizzled out. That’s all right, she thought.

Next time she had free time, she’d buy two comfortable cushions. She would decorate the room with flowers.

‘May this person remember what happiness is.’

‘May there be one thing that saves you.’

….. The first cup of tea she brewed herself was sweet and a little bitter.