Chapter 4 - The Name of those Feelings (1/2)
Walking down the hallway after leaving the audience room, Syltina heard footsteps behind her. Syltina had an idea who owned those footsteps. She came to a stop and let out a small sigh.
“Syltina-san!”
“……”
The owner of the footsteps noticed Syltina stopped walking and approached even faster.
“Do you need something, Saintess?”
“Rather than ‘Saintess’…Please call me Akari.”
“Such graciousness. Since Saintess is a “saintess” allow me to call you so hereafter.”
Syltina responded with a smile at the owner of the footsteps’…at Akari’s words.
Who would call you by your name?
“Is that so…”
“Leaving that aside, you came running after me because you need something, don’t you?”
“That’s right! I want to express my gratitude to you.”
“Gratitude?”
Akari nodded at the puzzled Syltina and straightened her posture.
“Thank you for receiving the guard request for the purification journey.”
“Oh, about that. Please do not worry about it.”
“That would be impossible! I am truly thankful. Besides, I didn’t expect Syltina-san would really come here…And also, I’m sorry.”
“…Why did you think I will not come?”
The moment Syltina asked, Akari’s pupils glinted. She must have been waiting for Syltina to ask that question. Syltina was aware of it, but she deliberately threw that question.
“Because didn’t Syltina-san got banished from this country two years ago for doing bad things? If it was me, I won’t be able to come back to this country with a calm face even if it was by the King’s orders. That’s why, I thought Syltina-san won’t come either, but you came properly and even took up the guard request…so, thank you very much.”
She lowered her head, but it included neither the slightest bit of sincerity nor thanks.
“If you are showing your gratitude that much, it also makes me very happy, Saintess.”
Syltina reciprocated with a laugh at Akari’s words loaded with sarcasm.
“However, I’m the one who wants to thank you.”
“Huh?”
“Two years ago, you accused me of the crime of harassing you, not to mention I was denounced by people with you and the First Prince at the head, furthermore a crime I have no knowledge of was pinned on me and I was driven out of this country. You allowed that “person who tormented you” to be your guard. If it was me, I would cut down that person the moment they appear before my eyes again. I wish to express my gratitude for your tolerant and kind heart.”
“Oh, uh, no, that is…”
The sound of Akari’s bewildered voice carried to Syltina who was bowing her head very deeply. Serves you right, Syltina sneered under her lowered head. Just like that, Syltina bid her goodbye and turned on her heels.
Syltina does not intend to be defeated even in words by a woman who only knows how to be protected comfortably. It would be better for Akari to realize and lament that she placed herself under the custody of the person she scorned herself.
Al said he accepted because it was a “commission”. Syltina did, too. Akari must not forget that.
She must not forget that she is being protected by a “commission”.
“Elder Sister Syl!!”
A voice called out to Syltina once more just as she was close to exiting the palace gates. She stopped walking and sighed, unclear how many times she already did that. When she looked back, Tedla Balratona, her little brother until two years ago, was there.
“Sir Tedla Balratona, did you need something?”
“I will accompany you to the house.”