CH 86

“Rei…?”

It wasn’t as though I actually saw her, but even just hearing someone say her name put my heart into disarray. I thought that I had already given up. I thought I had already decided. I decided that I would martyr myself, yes, for the sake of this new future in which she would live. I decided the few days that I had left in my life would not overlap with the future that she would create.

And yet―!

“Rei… Rei came for me!”

For the past while now, I had trouble forcing food down my throat. I hadn’t been able to sleep very well either. Every night, I dreamed of the happy days that I once spent together with Rei. Both my heart and body were so worn that my true desires, which I had been trying so hard to suppress, couldn’t help but overflow.

I nearly broke down the door to try and escape.

―However, before I could, I saw my father gaze at me with a forlorn smile. At that moment, I felt the emotions surging within me instantly go cold.

(If I were to leave, my father would be left here alone)

Of course I did recognize that was what he himself wanted. But I simply couldn’t bring myself to allow my father to die alone like this.

“Father, together―”

“That is something that I cannot do.”

As though he had already predicted my next words, my father interrupted me.

“Why not!?”

“The commoners must realize that the times have changed. In order for them to truly realize that, they need a symbol. A symbol that the curtains have been called over the old era.”

My father was saying that he was that symbol.

“You really are loved, Claire.”

That was what my father said as he stood at the windowsill, looking outside. The tone he took is difficult to describe, but sounded like a complex mix of exasperation and hope. When I approached the window, the scene I saw outside was just as I had imagined.

“Rei…”

Rei had come here alone. Alone, she had covered her entire body with different magic artifacts engaging multiple members of Salas’ private army all at once. Her face was almost ghastly, and the spells she cast were much more potent than anything I had seen her cast before. Almost as though everything that once limited or inhibited her had been removed.

“Claire, it’s still not too late. You understand that, right?”

“…”

His gaze still fixed on the scene outside of the window, he cast only his words toward me. I of course knew what he was trying to say, but I couldn’t give a proper response. After a sorrowful sigh, he continued.

“I wasn’t able to do it, but I believe it is a good thing if you can live a life filled with love. It is more than enough that I alone disappear along with the old era.”

I felt his gaze shift to me and turned to face him. That was when I saw my father with an expression that I had never seen him show to me before.

“Father…?”

“Looking back, I don’t think that I was really ever able to be a proper father to you.”

“No, that’s not true…!”

“No, I know it is. Ever since I lost Milia, my only priority has been to bring an end to the aristocracy.”

I wasn’t sure what the intention of my father’s words were. Why would he say something like that now? It’s not that I was trying to say that the words came too late… I had never once held a grudge against my father.

“In order to do that, I have sacrificed so many things. Justice, my ideals, my money, my pride―and among all of those things, my one and only dearly beloved daughter.”

“Please, father, stop. I understand. I’ve never once doubted that you loved me.”

That was just how much he spoiled me growing up. I myself knew that I was a selfish little lady, and that it was precisely because my father loved me so much that I was allowed to live that way.

“You know, Claire… Until now I’ve always treated you as a noble should treat his daughter, but really, I’ve never had confidence that I loved you as a proper father.”

“No…!”

“Without so much as a second thought, I involved you in my schemes, planning to sacrifice the very child to whom I am connected by blood. I mean, even Rei, a complete stranger, rebuked me for that.”

This was the first time I had ever heard my father show such weakness. He had come to question whether or not he had loved me enough, whether or not his cause was great enough. In all likelihood, such doubts had plagued his mind from the very beginning of his plan. And yet, unable to consult anyone, my father bore it all alone, until this very moment here.

“Father, I ask that you please take a step away from the window.”

“… Claire?”

“Hurry.”

“A-, alright.”

While he appeared confused, he quickly did as I asked.

“…”

―Rei, thank you so much for coming.

―I’m so glad that I was able to see your face one more time before I died.

The only reason Salas had not stripped me of my wand… Was likely because he planned for things to turn out this way from the beginning. Even as that thought passed my mind, I raised my wand high into the sky.

“Claire, what are you!?”

“Oh light… Magic Ray!”

Four beams of light surged forth from House François’ emblem melting through the glass and burning the yard beneath. Just beyond those marks, Rei stood still dumbfounded. She was looking at me. It seemed that she had realized it.

She realized that I was here.

And, she realized my intentions.

“Claire…”

“Father, I have made my decision.”

As Rei collapsed to her knees, Manara-onee-sama appeared by her side. I spoke those words as I watched Onee-sama carry Rei in her arms and escape.

“As Claire François, beloved daughter of Dor François, the Finance Minister of the glorious kingdom of Bauer, I declare that my life shall end here, in the 11th month of Kingdom Era 2015.”

When Onee-sama had fully disappeared into the horizon, I turned to face my father.

“Father, you were the best noble and the best politician that Bauer has ever seen.”

“Claire…”

“And, Dor François, as a father, has shown me the deepest love possible, and was the best father that I could have ever asked for.”

“… Claire”

My father once again held me tight.

“To be able to die with my nobility is my pride. That pride was inherited from none other than you, my father, and my late mother. That pride is my treasure, and it is priceless.”

“Alright, I understand… Really, I do.”

It appeared as though I was able to convey what I had wanted to. With all of my love for my father, all of my resolve as a noble, and everything else that made me who I am today, I returned my father’s embrace.

“You truly are Milia’s child.”

“Of course. Once this is all over, let’s go and apologize to mother together.”

When I said that, for a moment, a truly brief moment, I thought I saw my father’s face twist in pain. But the very instant I thought I noticed, my father was already back to his usual expression, brimming in dignity. Was it just my imagination?

“You’re right… We both have to apologize to Milia.”

“Yes. However, mother is very kind, so I’m sure she’ll forgive us.”

“… Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.”

Just downstairs, Salas’ soldiers seemed to be in quite the panic. I later learned this was because Rei had come so close to saving me, so much so that she defeated not only Salas’ soldiers, but had come close to defeating Alter. In his panic, Salas had personally come to declare that he was moving up the day of our execution.

I no longer held any regrets.

Now that I’d done that, I was sure even Rei knew that she must give up on me. I’m sure that I conveyed my resolve. I also now knew that Onee-sama had come too. Though Rei may have lost me, I was sure that Onee-sama would get her back on her feet.

With this, I could be at ease and let the curtains fall.

It wouldn’t be until later that I found out just how wrong I was about all of this. However, at this time, I had no way of knowing what was to come.

Translator Note: Claire and Dor’s conversation here… ;~;

But also poor Rei… >_<;;