45 Episode 44: Visit to the Duke of Magenta House (Part II) (2/2)

I also take my seat and approach Kaindo-kun. Pack the distance and stare back at his gaze from the top.

”It's just that. This is the last time I can give in, too. If you don't even try me and just say you're not convinced... I'll have Uffi cut the edge with the Duke of Magenta”

”Heh... heh!?”

”Uffi is my loyal minister. If you can't trust me, I can't trust you either. [M]... If that sounds later I'll trump the Duke of Magenta house. What matters to me is Uffi, not the Duke of Magenta.”

If Uffi bothers between me and the house, cut off Uffi and the Duke of Magenta house with my hands. I told him when I was ready for it.

Mrs. Nerschel, who sighed, uttered words as Kaindo-kun ceased to say and lost them.

”... that won't do either.”

”Mother!?”

”Caind, you are the next Duke of Magenta. If you are not willing to offer your loyalty, advise yourself. Know that if you cannot do so, you will not gain the trust of the royal family. We serve only. The Duke will not be responsible for those who fail to make good the Lord's mistakes.”

”But... my sister said I'd cut off the edge of the house, etc! If you say I can't, why don't my sister inherit! Cut off the edge, etc., and no!

”I'm not saying anything is wrong with you. Besides, Yuffi was supposed to marry the royal family. It just slightly changes its shape. Besides, it would be difficult to succeed the wounded Uffi. It's a prerequisite for taking a son-in-law.... and Yufi would also take Princess Anisphere if it were our home and Princess Anisphere?

”Of course it is. … even if you can no longer call your mother my mother”

To Mrs Nerschel's inquiry, Uffi quietly returns her words. Kaindo-kun takes a step back to Yufi's response and steps back.

”... Caind. If you are not worthy here, the Duke of Magenta will close its history.”

”Nah...!?”

”In the times to come, the way the country is going to change dramatically. That is definitely what Princess Anisphere has earned the right to inherit the first throne. If you can't keep up with the course of that era, I was wondering if it's also up to parents to say no before they push you away.”

”... are you thinking the same thing Father and Father...! Forgive me for that!

”I just want you to stay strong. You just have to be worthy of being the next Duke's owner. Isn't that the same thing you asked Princess Anisphere to behave as a royal?

Mrs. Nerschel overlaps her words toward Kaindo-kun in a sharp blade-like tone.

”Come on, sister, go away. Yuffi's future is up to you, and yours is up to you. Until now, I thought about Uffi standing as queen and raised him as loyal as possible... but things have changed.”

”Mother...!

”Sweetness is unacceptable. Look at reality, take it, think. We've given you as much education as we can think of. If that's still not enough, it's nothing more than a disgrace to our house. Let me spoil and accept that immorality with you.”

If Mrs. Nerschel says it all, Kaindo-kun chewed her lips and silenced her.

After seeing Kaindo-kun, who has been silent, Mrs. Nerschel turns her gaze.

”Princess Anisphere, may I have some more time? I'm going to discuss it with my son, too. And Grants, of course.”

”... I don't mind waiting. I just can't get a long reprieve.”

”Yep. If you seem to be so obstinate... Uffi, I'll leave the decision to you.”

”Thank you for your concern, Mother.”

Uffi bows his head deeply to Mrs Nerschel's words.

... In the end, the air of talking about it also disappeared, so I left the matter of Kaindo-kun to Mrs Nerschel and we decided to go back to the outhouse.

On the way back to the outhouse. I was blurry as the carriage that got me out of the Duke of Magenta's house rocked me. Uffi, sitting face-to-face, was also looking out in the sky somewhere above.

The sky is the color of the sunset. The side of Uffi lit by the sunset was somewhere full of worry and looked very lonely.

”... Ufi, I'm sorry”

”Yes?”

”... take the liberty of talking about isolation, bring it up”

”No. I think it was necessary.... Talk to me again and I get it. Cain's heart swore allegiance to me, not to the royal family.”

Yufi says as he lays his eyes down. That looks so careless. It does seem to me that Kaindo-kun was loyal to Ufi individuals. But that might not help either. He said he had been educated since he was a child when he saw Uffi as queen.

Maybe if Uffi could have been queen, there would have been no problem. But it didn't. When this happens, the feeling of admiring Kaindo-kun's Yufi becomes excessive.

”... you remind me how indifferent I was to the eyes from others”

”Ufi?”

”As required, just if perfect. I've believed that to be right. But I just wish I could have realized how Algard and Cain felt. If it's even Caind, how did Algard feel about his surrounding eyes… so he's not careless.”

”... do you regret that loyalty was directed at Uffi personally and not actually to the royal family?

”... Yes. I didn't really understand Algard's suffering, but I noticed a little bit when I saw Caind. Even though it is Master Algard who should be king, that has made me scorn the royal family. I guess it's not just Cain, those who looked at me like that.”

... I can't deny that.

Yufi was perfect for better or worse. So I think Al-Kun's mediocrity, arranged next to it, stood out. That's why I put Uffi on top mainly, not Al-Kun. I can't say there wasn't anyone like that.

If I do find myself in such an environment, I can't help but distort it if I realize it. I think Al might have noticed. That's why I thought so much of it, and things happened.

”Even now, I'm afraid of myself.... Master Anis is amazing. I can't believe you understand your dangers. I didn't understand anything about me.”

”... I guess I can't even be told that I noticed. Surprisingly, I don't know who I am.”

Some environmental differences, others you won't notice without a hang-up. Besides, I'm supposed to be an adult in this world, but Uffi is 15 years old, and I think it's hard to tell him to understand himself in 15 years.

Yufi was right to be able to behave as he wished in the given environment. But it's not all gonna work out because you're right. The world is always muddled.

”If you're scared, will you give up being king?

”... No way. Instead, I thought it would be better if I became king.”

”Some people might see Yufi as sacred, like Caindo-kun, right?

”Let's leave that to people, it was sweet. So now I want to carry it all myself. If a powerful man wants a qualified man... I will bear it.”

I can't see the color of stray in Yuffi's eyes. I think he's a really strong kid.... so I can also be king. I'm sure I can be a more legitimate king than I am. But it's not just my hobby to let you carry it.

Standing up with his hips floating, he sits straight next to Uffi and moves his seat. I pull Yuffi's shoulder trying to watch out for me as I move my seat and knock Yuffi down so he can put his head on his own lap.

”... Dear Anis, it's dangerous”

”Uffi, be sweeter to me. It's good to try, but if it's hard, you can say it's hard, and if it's painful, you can say it's painful. I may not be able to show my true self. But just stop faking it to me.”

Because if not, it's not a way of life, it's a creature. Yufi is really going to be that way and it's dangerous. If you tell me, I'll do as they tell me, and I'll be alone as I am.

They told me I couldn't, so if Yufi's going to be alone, he needs to stop even if he grabs the root. Yufi laughs like trouble at my words and whines small as I hide that eye area with one hand.

”... Dear Anis”

”What?

”... what people expect is heavy...”

”If you notice the weight, you're a proper human being. Good for you, Uffi.”