[Side Selma] The Responsibilities of Nobility
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(Sigh... As expected, this atmosphere doesn't suit me.)
I had come to Dal Ane with Princess Lucila Lucy and had been working as her assistant until today.
Responding to Lucy's call, I had successfully completed negotiations with envoys from other countries who had come to Dal Ane, and it was just decided that a coalition army would be formed.
Now, we are holding a party that also serves as a social gathering.
I’ve never quite felt at ease in this atmosphere, which appears soft on the surface but is actually filled with undercurrents. It was this very feeling that made me choose to become an adventurer and distance myself from noble society.
Though, even after becoming an adventurer, I’ve attended a few parties.
Being born as the eldest daughter of the Cloudel family, I understand that it’s inevitable to attend these kinds of events, but still, my spirits always drop.
My superior, Lucy, was at the center of the venue, her smile perfectly practiced as she engaged in lively conversation with various people.
I too, suppressed my feelings and wore the mask of a noble lady, managing to get through the party somehow.
"Hehe, as expected, Selma at the party is quite fresh and never gets boring."
Lucy chuckled playfully, teasing me.
After the party had ended, we were having a secret late-night gathering in my room at the Cloudel mansion. Lucy and her bodyguard, Loretta Lore, along with me, were the three involved.
The three of us had been classmates at the Noble Academy and had spent a lot of time together during our student days, so we remained close even now.
"I'm an adventurer, after all. I attended to support your position, but this atmosphere really doesn’t suit me."
"I'm sorry for making you go through something unpleasant. But it was really important that you came, Selma. After all, you're a beautiful adventurer known across neighboring countries as the 'Greatest Enchanter of the Continent.' After this incident, there might even be marriage proposals from other countries."
"...Marriage, huh. I suppose I’ll have to do it someday, but for now, I want to continue being an adventurer and enjoy my freedom."
We three were all twenty-three this year.
In other countries, it wouldn't be surprising for noblewomen to already be married by this age, but in our kingdom, it's the age where one starts searching for a partner.
I wouldn’t mind falling to the level of a commoner, but my father would never allow that.
As a member of the nobility, I understand that I’ll have to marry for the sake of the family, and I’m not picky about who I marry, but I do think it would be ideal to find someone I can have meaningful conversations with.
"Well, marriage is something we, as royalty and nobility, can’t avoid. Until not long ago, there were even some discussions about potential suitors for me within the royal castle. But with everything going on with the Empire, those discussions have had to stop."
"Selma, did you know? If it weren't for the situation with the Empire, Lucy had actually been considering Orn as a potential marriage partner."
"...Huh? Orn, the adventurer from the 'Night Sky Silver Rabbit'?"
Loretta suddenly said something shocking.
I was so taken aback that my mind went blank for a moment.
"Loretta!? What on earth are you saying!?"
"What do you mean, it's what Lucy said herself! 'As a "hero of the kingdom," he's the true hero who stopped the first imperial invasion. He has enough merit to be granted a knight's title.'"
In the Kingdom of Nohitant, noble titles are divided into five ranks: duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron.
However, if a commoner achieves remarkable feats that the kingdom cannot ignore, they can be granted a knight's title for one generation.
Such individuals are extremely rare in the kingdom’s long history, but it’s clear that, from the kingdom’s perspective, Orn is a person they want to secure.
As an adventurer, there’s no guarantee that Orn would spend his whole life in Tutril or this kingdom.
Since he’s an adventurer and a member of the 'Night Sky Silver Rabbit,' it’s unlikely he would ever permanently settle in another country, but he might temporarily go abroad.
But well, I don’t think Orn would want a title.
Even if we tried to force him into it, I can easily imagine, after spending a year with him, that it would not end well.
"Yes, I did say that!? But it was a joke, wasn’t it!"
Lucy was flustered, even more so than me, by Loretta's remark.
As usual, she enjoys manipulating people like they're pawns, but it seems she’s weak when it comes to matters like this.
"Is that so? But when you said it, Lucy, you looked dead serious."
"Stop teasing me like that! What about you, Loretta? Aren’t you going to get married?"
"I’m already engaged, actually."
"Eh!?"
I was completely surprised by Loretta's comment, as I thought she was someone completely unrelated to marriage. Lucy and I both let out a shocked exclamation.
"W-What!? When did this happen!?"
"It was decided around last autumn. The country was in a state of upheaval, so only our families know about it so far. Well, the Crown Prince might know too."
"Why did you tell the Crown Prince but not your own master!? This is outrageous! I won’t accept this! You have to tell me everything right now!"
We continued to spend time together, just like we did back in our student days.
It was said that the war between the kingdom and the empire could break out soon.
Or perhaps the information just hadn’t reached Dalaarne yet, and the war had already begun.
At any rate, we are still members of the nobility.
I’ll have to work for the kingdom again tomorrow.
It looks like it will be a little longer before I can return to being an adventurer.
---
The next morning, as I woke up, I walked through the mansion to head to Lucy.
(…Hm?)
During my walk, I was suddenly hit by an indescribable sense of discomfort.
And then I immediately understood the source of that unease.
It was because my ability had detected the presence of someone who shouldn’t be here.
"…Sophia?"
<Eh? Onee-chan?>
A voice echoed in my mind.
My ability is Telepathic Sensitivity.
It allows me to communicate without words with people within a radius of several kilometers from me.
Additionally, as an extension of this ability, I can sense the presence of people within the range of my power.
However, the ability to identify who they are is limited to those I regularly communicate with via telepathy, such as members of the First Division, Estella, the Guildmaster, and a few others.
Unfortunately, even though I can sense the presence of these individuals, I cannot pinpoint where exactly they are.
It’s a rather impractical ability.
Naturally, one of the people I communicate with most frequently via telepathy is Sophia.
"Impossible," that was the thought that came to my mind.
It is impossible to send telepathy from Dal Ane, which is near the eastern border, to Tutril, located in the central part of the kingdom.
Yet, the fact that I can send a telepathic message to Sophia through Telepathic Sensitivity means she must be within my range.
<Sophia, where are you right now...?>
<…S-Sorry, Onee-chan. Please... forget about me…>
<W-What are you saying...!? Hey, Sophia! What’s going on!?>
Sophia didn’t respond to my telepathy after those words.
Even now, Telepathic Sensitivity is still picking up on her presence.
The fact that she isn’t replying means she is deliberately refusing to respond to my telepathy.
The last time I heard her voice, it was so faint it sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
What happened to Sophia while I was away from Tutril...?
"Selma? Why are you standing there, lost in thought? You're blocking the way."
A man’s voice came from behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
When I turned around, there was a man in his late twenties with the same crimson hair as Sophia and me, looking at me with a puzzled expression.
"...Brother."
His name was Marius Cloudel.
He is my older brother and the heir apparent to the Cloudel family.
"You look pale. I heard you invited Princess Lucila to your room yesterday. Did you stay up late talking with her? You should take it easy," he said in a blunt tone, but there was an underlying concern for me.
He was the person I respected most when I was a child.
He was brilliant, kind, and adored by the people in our territory—an ideal man without a single flaw.
He taught me many things and would always protect me when I made mistakes, acting like the perfect older brother.
—He still is.
I still respect him deeply.
However, he remains completely indifferent to Sophia, who is also his sister.
I’ve tried to scold him about it before, but he quickly dismissed me, saying, “I don’t have time to indulge in the family’s disgrace.” After that, the emotional distance between my brother and me slowly grew.
"…Where is Sophia?"
I asked my brother in a voice so low that I was surprised by myself.
"…Why is her name coming up now, of all times?"
For a brief moment, my brother furrowed his brow, then his expression returned to neutral as he responded to my question.
"…So you’re going to keep pretending, then?"
"Hmm…"
As I continued to glare at him, my brother placed his hand on his chin and began to think. Then, after meeting my gaze directly, he spoke.
"It seems you have no memory of it. I have matters to discuss with Father, so I’ll take my leave now. …Selma, you’re tired, aren’t you? I told you before, you look awful. If anyone sees you like this, they’ll only worry. It’s better if you rest and avoid showing yourself to anyone right now."
After claiming he had no memory of what I was referring to, my brother left me with that advice and passed by me.
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Marius, upon hearing Sophia’s name from Selma, visited the office of his father, Count Cloudel. Standing by his side was Aldo, the Count's right-hand man.
"Father, there’s something I want to ask. Do you have a moment?" Marius called out to the Count.
"Young master, don’t you know that right now we have foreign delegations visiting? The goal is to secure as many deals with other nations as possible. Do you really think now is the right time to be asking questions?"
It was Aldo who answered Marius instead of the Count.
"Don’t lecture me… I don’t need to hear that from you."
Marius dismissed Aldo’s words with a sharp retort.
"…What are you saying I’ve messed up?"
Aldo’s voice trembled with anger as he reacted to Marius's words.
"Multiple sightings of a young girl with scarlet hair tied in twin braids have been reported from the town."
"!"
Marius's implication that Sophia’s presence had been seen by the villagers caused both Aldo and the Count to widen their eyes in shock.
"My sister... you’ve used her for some scheme, haven’t you? But your carelessness is astounding. As Aldo said, there are many important figures from surrounding nations here in Dal Ane. What exactly are you planning? Speak up, and if necessary, I’ll make the proper corrections to your plan… After all, as the most well-liked person here, it makes sense that I should explain things to the villagers, doesn’t it?"
"…"
The Count glared at Marius with disdain. After a long pause, he exhaled and muttered, "Fine," before beginning to speak.
"It was early this year, after the news of His Majesty the King’s death arrived, a bit later. An imperial noble visited our domain in secret…"
The Count began speaking in a hushed voice, detailing how the imperial noble had informed them of a spell that could trigger the flooding of the labyrinths.
He explained that powerful magical beasts, strong enough to inhabit the deepest levels of the Great Labyrinth, had appeared in the nearby labyrinths.
The imperial noble had promised not to cause the flooding if they handed over Sophia, offering marriage as a pretext to deliver her to the Empire.
"This is to save the people. If that girl can save the entire village, then it’s a small price to pay," the Count added.
"…I understand the situation now. Still, I can’t leave something this important, with the lives of the people at stake, in your hands. I will take charge from here. Letting Sophia be seen by the villagers like this was a huge mistake. No objections, right?"
"Yeah, fine. Marius, you’re not allowed to make any more mistakes."
With his father’s approval, Marius left the room.
"I don’t want to hear that from a beast drowning in his own greed," Marius muttered under his breath as he walked out, his words filled with disdain, though they went unheard by the two men.
——.