Volume 4 Chapter 13 Part 1 (2/2)

「Are you fine with this, Letishela-sama?」

「Fine with what?」

「With the contents of this report. With the fact that Elizabel had nothing to do with the epidemic, that it was caused by something that was totally unrelated to her. With the fact that the Islanders are deliberately kept in the dark about this, which makes them grow distrustful to outsiders.」

There was so much more that I wanted to say…… but looking at the Governess’s face, suddenly I found myself at a loss for words. Her current expression was really bitter, as if she was forced to chug down a whole mug of drink that she wasn’t fond of. As soon as she realized what kind of expression she was making, the Governess shuddered.

「Oh, I’m terribly sorry for that. I am also sorry for asking you this, Filmina-dono, but could you leave the information you just learned to yourself?」

Those words were certainly unexpected. In response, I could only stare at the Governess with my eyes filled with confusion.

「 –––– No, that is something I cannot do, I’m afraid.」

Rather I really wouldn’t think that a woman such as the Governess would really ask me to do something as selfish as that. However, it seems that the Governess was also surprised by my words, but she immediately masked that shock with her usual, gentle smile.

「Is that so? Please forgive me then, for trying to exploit your kindness like that. I really wouldn’t think that you would be so kind to me, especially if you’ve learned that I knew about the illness that overtook you from the start.」

Well this is, I would never do something like that. Especially since the Governess helped me so much on at least several occasions. Even though she might have known about that flower from the start. It was fine because no one really died during this incident, but it was a really close call. If it was literally anyone else, things might have played out differently. But.

「I realize that you can’t disclose the existence of that flower because of your care for the Islanders’ well-being, Letishela-sama. I also realize that it would be extremely hard to be the one to disclose a secret that was being maintained for more than three hundred years. So why would I ever wanted to blame you?」

To my words the Governess remained silent. Her expression was rather complex and difficult to actually describe. It seems that she wasn’t quite convinced by my words.

「 –––– Besides. Didn’t you tell me that you shall do anything in your Governess power to help me get better when I fell ill? You wouldn’t be able to do that if you didn’t know about the petals effect, right?」

If the Governess wasn’t a good person at heart, she would never allowed her own position to be put at risk to help someone who she met just recently. And if she didn’t know as much as she did, she would be unable to do her job right for as long as she was doing it. Such a thing required a completely different kind of strength than we could imagine.

Hearing my words, the Governess’s eyes lightened up and eventually she smiled.

「Goodness gracious, it’s like nothing can faze you, Filmina-dono.」

「Oh well, I shall take it as a compliment.」

That being said, the Governess was also a woman that shouldn’t be underestimated. I think that while looking at her face and smiling as well. She can always remain calm and composed. She can mask her worries with a smile. I wish that I could be just like her, so that people wouldn’t be able to read me like an open book all the time.

Eventually, the Governess starts laughing out loud. She covered her mouth with one hand to try to hide that fact, but that one gesture alone was so feminine that it would be enough to make any man go crazy for her. And with her current attire more feminine than usual, I highly doubt that any woman would be able to compete with her in the charm department.

While I was thinking that, the Governess giggled more and more.

「On the contrary, it seems that the initial distrust that people had for me is nowhere to be seen right about now. I could even gamble that if I were to expose that secret now, people would feel nothing but sympathy for me. Something along the lines of: “The Governess had to shoulder such a heavy secret all on her own.” Surely there would be some political or even territorial repercussions, but I don’t think it would be something that I wouldn’t be able to handle, given enough time.」

Then the Governess let out a sigh, as if a great weight was taken off of her shoulders. She gazed at me quickly and then continued as though she was talking more to herself rather than to me.