[Side Sophia] A bolt from the blue
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In the early morning, I woke up early and, thinking I could take a walk before meeting with everyone from Twilight Moonbow, I found myself on top of a hill a little outside the town I usually visit.
"Onee-san, I wonder if she's okay..."
I muttered as I gazed at the faintly misted moon now that the sun had risen.
Last month, my older sister Selma went to Dal Ane with the princess of this country. I had heard from my sister that they were friends, but the fact that the princess turned to my sister for help during such a critical time means that my sister must be a very important person to her.
I can't help but think how amazing my sister is.
It's something I'm really proud of. As her little sister, it makes me feel so proud.
But, I can't help but worry about where my sister is going—Dal Ane.
She had a fight with Father, and it's still unresolved. The cause of it is me.
I feel sorry for that, but at the same time, I'm also happy to feel loved by my sister.
I wonder if I'm being selfish...?
Dalaarne is the city ruled by my father, Count Claude, and to be honest, the memories I have from that time aren't very pleasant. Especially after my sister became an explorer, my mother became even harsher toward me.
At that time, that house was my whole world, and my mother was like a god in that world. I was desperate not to anger her, doing my best to stay quiet and out of her way.
But my sister took my hand, and we stepped into a new world.
That world was so fresh to me, and everything seemed so bright.
At the center of that world was my sister, and I still remember being deeply moved by the sight of her being relied on by everyone.
Unlike my mother, who always used our family name to get what she wanted, I realized my sister had earned the trust of others through her own strength.
I wanted to be part of that world, so I decided to become an explorer.
My sister didn't oppose my decision and respected what I had chosen, and I was so happy about that.
Since then, I've learned the basics of being an explorer with Night Sky Silver Rabbit, formed a party with Carol and Log, found a strong mentor in Orn, and gained a reliable companion in Lu-nee. My life has become far more colorful and radiant than it ever was before.
Now I can proudly say that my place to return to is Night Sky Silver Rabbit, and my place is where my companions from Twilight Moonbow are.
"Oh, it's already this late. I need to hurry back or I’ll be late for the meeting..."
While remembering everything that had happened, I looked at the pale moon and the clouds drifting across the clear sky. Time passed so quickly that before I knew it, it was almost time.
Realizing this, I turned on my heels and headed back to the clan headquarters.
As I descended the hill and was about to continue on, a carriage suddenly appeared from the side and stopped right in front of me.
“—!”
I froze in confusion, but as I tried to step around the carriage, I noticed the mark painted on it, and I gasped.
(Why is this carriage here...?)
While I was frozen in place by the sudden event, a man’s voice came from inside the carriage.
“Finally found you.”
“How...?”
Upon hearing that voice, my body trembled involuntarily, against my will.
Then, a man in a tailcoat, appearing to be in his late forties, emerged from the carriage.
“Unbelievable... For a filthy little girl with such blood in her veins to cause me trouble, you’ve certainly gotten quite important, haven’t you, Sophia?”
The man in the tailcoat—Aldo—spoke to me with a sneer on his face.
Aldo had worked as my father’s right-hand man for many years. I’d heard he had already been in his current position when I was born. He was also one of those who looked down on me when I was living in that house, and he had thrown heartless words at me more than once or twice.
Seeing Aldo’s face brought back a flood of terrible words he had once said to me, and I could feel my legs shaking and my heart in turmoil.
“W-Why is Aldo here...?”
“Hah... That’s obvious. It’s because I have business with you.”
Aldo responded with a sigh, as if saying, "How could you not know that?" in his tone.
“Business... with me?”
My mind was filled with questions.
To the Claudel family, I was an insignificant presence, whether I was there or not, and that was the common understanding of everyone related to the family. In fact, after my sister took me out of the house, the Claudel family had been completely indifferent to me.
So, I thought that my ties to the Claudel family had nearly disappeared.
And yet, why would anyone, especially Aldo, someone my father highly valued, go to the trouble of sending someone to Tetrail for me?
“Rejoice, you’ve been arranged for a marriage.”
Aldo, not at all concerned with my confusion, continued speaking.
“...What...?”
As my thoughts were in disarray, he dropped another bombshell, and my mind came to a halt.
(A marriage? A marriage proposal, like the one for a wedding...?)
In response to my stunned reaction, Aldo furrowed his brow and muttered, “Still as clumsy as ever,” before addressing me again.
“Why are you still dawdling? Get in the carriage already. The Count is preparing for your wedding. Your future is being planned by the Count and myself, so don’t make things more difficult for us.”
“But—how can you suddenly say something like this...?”
“You’re apparently forming a party with commoners from Twilight Moonbow, aren’t you?”
As I was bewildered, Aldo suddenly brought up a completely different topic. Realizing his reason for doing so, I broke out in a cold sweat.
“Count Claudel is powerful. Eliminating three commoners is easy enough...”
Aldo’s words matched my own fearful conclusions.
“Please, wait! Don’t hurt them, please! I beg you!”
The only thing I could do now was beg.
There was no doubt that everyone in Twilight Moonbow were capable individuals. Physically harming Carol and the others would be difficult. However, there were other ways to eliminate them, besides physically ending their lives.
With Count Claudel, who governed near the border of the eastern part of the kingdom, often referred to as the gateway to the kingdom, there were many methods at his disposal.
Even if I resisted now, it would only delay the inevitable. I didn’t want to put my friends through unnecessary suffering because of me.
If something happened to my precious companions because of me, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.
“If you don’t like it, fulfill your ‘duty’ as a noblewoman. It’s the choice that will lead to the happiness of all the people.”
“Y-Yes, I understand...”
“Hmph, you should have just followed my lead from the start.”
“Oh, um, at least let me say goodbye to my friends...”
“You don’t need such things. Now, get into the carriage already.”
My final request was denied, and Aldo roughly pulled my wrist, half-forcing me into the carriage.
The carriage began to move, taking me and Aldo away, and my mind was filled with guilt towards my friends for not even being able to say goodbye, and with anxiety about what would happen next.
Tags:
Jack WN