08 – Please Don’t Hear It

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“It’s been awhile, Count.”

After training at the base, and having curry for dinner, we returned to the hotel to see a limousine waiting there.
Mr. Gray, the old butler, then drove me to a large mansion. And there, I was forced to bathe and change into new clothes.
…It reminded me of when I first arrived in the old capital.

“Ah, Yukito. Yes, that suits you well.”

“Wou!”

I thought they were going to put me in a tuxedo, but it was a black military uniform. And they had even combed my hair.
Kuro had wasted no time finding a spot to lie down near the Count. He looked at me and barked. Was that a compliment?
As for the Count, he was wearing a white uniform. And there were medals shining on his chest.

“Now… Ah, here she is.”

There was a knock on the door, and the Count said, ‘Come in.’
The door opened, and in walked Ms. Iria in a dress.
It was a simple blue dress, but very pretty. Her hair was tied up, revealing her slender neck.
She looked like she had just stepped out of a painting.

Our eyes met, and she blushed a little.

“Wou.”

I heard Kuro again.
I turned my head and saw that the Count was smiling. But it wasn’t just an ordinary smile, it felt like there was a tiger or dragon behind him.

“Yukito?”

Was there something that I was supposed to say? I felt the pressure and gulped.

“Uh, um…”

No, I knew. It was obvious. But such words did not come out easily. I coughed and took a deep breath.

“It-it really suits you. You look pretty.”

“Tha…thank you…”

Ms. Iria looked down a little as if embarrassed.
Was that the wrong thing to say? But the Count was nodding his head.

“I may be biased, but my daughter is indeed beautiful. Isn’t she?”

“Yes. Very.”

“Woonderful! Now, you will be her escort for tonight.”

“Huh?”

◆　◇　◆

“So that’s what it is…”

Inside of the swaying carriage. I looked down as Teacher touched his forehead.

This party. While it was true that it was for introducing him to the others. It wasn’t just that.
I didn’t like being out in society like this. My own debut was three years ago. My father took me, and I had to dance.
I don’t know why, but there must have been a misunderstanding, as my dance partner ended up asking for my hand in marriage… It was very troublesome for my father, having to deal with it.

After that, I avoided such events.
Besides, my goal was to become a knight. I did not want to be distracted by anything else. Even now, I would rather swing a sword than dance.

Still, when my father made the suggestion to pair me up with Yukito, I nodded without thinking.

And then I realized my own foolishness.
He should not be asked such a thing.
And so I ended up lying. Agreeing with Teacher Daniel’s words… No, that is an excuse.

Still, I wondered.
What if he said no?
The idea pained me.

And now. I was tricking him in such a cowardly way.
But it was too late now. The carriage would not stop.
How could I apologize for this? As I wondered, I suddenly felt some weight on my head.

It was his hand.

“You don’t have to look like that.”

“Uh…”

“You were in trouble, right? You should have just told me.”

“Bu-but… I tricked you..”

“A woman should be able to trick a man once in a while…not my words.”

He was like that. Sometimes, he would say things I didn’t understand. And he would have a far away look in his eyes.
Yes. As if he was thinking of some place. Where he could never return.

“Hey, Ms. Iria. For a long time, I didn’t feel like I was actually living in this world.”

“Feel like?”

“Aye. I didn’t meet people in the mountains. And I had no idea about the rest of the world.”

He had definitely seemed like a detached person at first.
And the impression had not changed too much.
There were things he didn’t know that everyone did, and things no one knew that he knew.

“But after meeting you…and Mr. Sylt, Mr. Grafios, your father, the students. I realized how alive this world is.”

He said as he looked out of the window.

The night was bright in the capital.
And overflowing with people. Were they on their way back from work? Some were drinking and partying.
In the imperial capital, the night did not end.

“Everyone lives with their own thoughts. Hopes and prayers…”

Just like us.

“And you were the first person to show that to me. I think…that I’m glad…that you were the first person that I met.”

I didn’t know what to say, and just held my hand against my chest.

He had helped me countless times.
Told me that my efforts weren’t a waste.
That my older brother lived in my sword.

But I had not given him anything back.

If our meeting was a miracle.
Then I was very fortunate…

“And so if you are in trouble, then I want to help you. Not because I owe you, or because I’m your teacher. Just as another human.”

He said as he scratched his cheek.

“Though, being an escort at a party is not something I’m confident in.”

His usual smile.
Why…does it make my heart feel such pain?
No doctor could help me.
My father would just laugh.
What is this pain?

I felt like I was about to burst, but there was nothing I could do.

Why did I want to be near him so much?
Every time he smiled at me, I wanted to reach out towards him.

I just hoped that he couldn’t hear the sounds of my heart, which seemed to beat so loud.

Next Chapter

Ken yo, kaku katariki ~ Ken to mahō no isekai ni tensei shita noni jitsu wa bunmei ga gendai reberu datta ken