CH 80

After hearing Celica’s story, I felt relieved and drank the tea she had brewed for me. Even with just this tea, the Celica from the past wouldn’t have known how to brew it.

Although I knew that this was influenced by significant environmental changes, it was also proof of her growth. As I felt deeply about this fact…

“How have you been, Onee-sama?”

She asked about my current situation. I put down the teacup on the table and answered with a gentle smile.

“I’ve been a little busy lately. I was working outside the capital city, but other than that, everything was as usual.”

I was telling the truth. Apart from the busy days, everything was generally the same as usual. But… there were just more things to think about and do. It was so significant and weighty…

“Onee-sama… What is troubling you?”

“Eh…”

I involuntarily let out my voice at her sudden question. Even though I haven’t mentioned anything about my worries, she asked me with concern.

“Why?”

“Well, um… You seemed to be troubled, so…”

“Was I making that face…?”

Actually, I was trying to act normally and smile earlier so as not to worry her unnecessarily…

“I’ve seen Onee-sama’s smile many times, so I can tell whether it’s genuine or forced. And I have a certain feeling about it, too.”

“A feeling?”

“Yes! I just had a hunch. We’re sisters, after all.”

“…I see.”

It’s not like I had forgotten, but it made me realize again. That the length of time she has spent with me is longer than with anyone else as my younger sister. It’s natural as family, but…

Now I realize that it is a matter of course.

“So, what is troubling you, Onee-sama?”

“Uh, well…”

“Is there something you can’t share with me…?”

“…No, it’s not that, it’s just…”

The explanation is very difficult. The problem I have is something I can’t talk to anyone else about. His Highness Ash and I made a promise not to tell anyone. That’s why I haven’t told Yuren-kun either.

I don’t intend to tell Celica either. However, she is also a Transmutation Master like me. Maybe she can notice something that I haven’t. So far, there hasn’t been any progress with finding a way to save Ash-dono.

“Hey…Celica. Do you know about magic?”

“Magic? Yes, I know about what’s recorded in the literature.”

“Well, for example…let’s say you need magic power to use magic, but what if you could use something else instead of that magic power? How can you recover that other thing?”

“Recover it? Hmm…”

Celica closed her eyes and groaned as she thought about it. The explanation was abstract, so it was difficult to convey the essential parts.

“I’m sorry. It’s too difficult for me to understand.”

“I see.”

If the answer is immediately clear from the explanation, it’s easy. It was a shock to me since I had some expectations. Then Celica continued to speak.

“But if it were me——”

What she spoke was her own interpretation. I listened to her explanation until the end and said,

“I see, that’s right. There is a method like that. Why didn’t I notice it before?”

Celica’s remark was not difficult. If it were me, or any Transmutation Master, it would have been natural and something everyone should have thought of.

It’s embarrassing to think that I’ve been troubled for not realizing such a thing until now.

“Onee-sama, you’re thinking too deeply. In my case, I failed without thinking, but I don’t think it’s good to think too much.”

“You’re right… I guess. Yeah, as Celica said, I might have been thinking too much.”

“Fufu, Onee-sama is so kind. I think you’re working too hard for His Highness Yuren’s sake.”

“Maybe… Eh? Yuren-kun?”

I have never mentioned Yuren-kun’s name before.

“Why?”

“Just a feeling. Onee-sama always works hard for someone, but if you’re worrying that much, it must be for someone very important.”

“Yuren-kun…”

His Highness Ash is Yuren-kun’s older brother, and he is also someone Yuren-kun admires. Knowing that such a person is suffering, I wanted to do something about it.

I thought that was just because I wanted to help His Highness Ash and had no other reasons.

“Oh? Am I making a mistake?”

“… No. You’re really perceptive.”

“Of course, we’re sisters!”

It was something that I hadn’t even realized myself. Yuren-kun’s existence was always at the heart of my worries and thoughts.

I have this feeling in my heart that I don’t want Yuren-kun to be sad about His Highness Ash. More than Irina-chan or even His Majesty the King, Yuren-kun is the one who comes to my mind first.

“I see…”

So… that’s what it means.