14. End of lingering – 07
Kyrie el Denaris, a noble elf who is the guardian of the World Tree and has been tasked with protecting the Great Forest and her people for over a thousand years, has recently been spending a very leisurely and boring time.
From the outside, she only looks like a benevolent elf with a beauty that has reached the peak of public interest and a pitiful nature that can’t even cut down a single grass, but in fact, she’s alive in the eyes of Cain, Iris, and Bianca, who know very well what she is. He felt nothing but the terrible feeling of witnessing a moving bomb roaming the Duchy of Estel on foot.
Having been together with Kyrie for a year, they knew each other well. Kyrie, fundamentally, doesn’t like being human very much. The treatment of Cain and Bianca, who were members of the same expedition, could be said to be better, but it was only a special treatment for them, and it could not be said that Kyrie developed a liking for the human species.
– I hate humans. Humans are fundamentally self-destructive creatures through their own karma. It doesn’t matter if they self-destruct themselves, but all too often their stupidity affects the world itself. Like, like in this case.
– …We did not cause the witch to appear in the middle of the Duchy.
– I do not know. Will it be so?
When she belonged to the expedition in the past, she did not like humans enough to casually speculate that the root cause of the winter raging across the continent was ‘human fault’. Along with that, there was also an aspect of an old man who insisted that his opinion was right until the end and refused to admit that he was wrong.
In fact, that would be unavoidable. At first glance, the elf named Kyrie El Denaris was a woman who boasted a fresh and fresh appearance, but it was clear that her essence was like a walking history book, having lived casually for hundreds of years. .
So I couldn’t help but worry. Without knowing that Kyrie was an old woman who had lived for hundreds of years, if a idiot appeared, dazzled by her appearance alone, that day the Duchy of Estel might be in for a bloody storm.
However, to begin with, their concerns were all groundless.
While staying in the Duchy of Estel, Kirie just wandered around the duchy in a relaxed manner, as if she were on vacation.
Unlike his usual behavior, which regarded humans as stones on the side of the road, Kyrie spread a unique fragrant grass scent and at the same time showed a benevolent smile on her lips, showing an unbelievable appearance of getting along with others.
For example, when she drinks tea with Duke Estelle, she bows her head towards the duke, who can be said to be pitiful compared to herself, or uses polite honorifics to him, unexpectedly showing a detailed look at the manners of the public. gave
Or he visited the farmland of the dukedom and helped the farmers with their farming work, even directing a caring appearance.
Surprisingly, Kyrie was helping the Duchy of Estel. No, it was really helpful.
The crops touched by Kyrie, even if they were on the verge of dying, revived like magic and quickly recovered their original appearance, and the originally healthy crops gained much greater vitality than before and were reborn in a new form.
A story that wasn’t even funny that Kyrie had once petted a potato grew to the size of a watermelon in a matter of days had spread throughout the Duchy of Estel, and Cain had no choice but to eat and laugh at the joke. Of course, that evening the watermelon-sized potato was presented and the story was right before it was put on the dinner table of the duke’s family.
Regardless, Kyrie was able to succeed in gaining the public’s heart from everyone in the Duchy of Estel while thoroughly hiding her true nature.
…And, there was a woman who was really displeased with the way Kyrie went back and forth throughout the Duchy of Estel as if she was in and out of her own room.
Kyrie’s angelic appearance would be enough for those who know nothing to question her actions, but Arya, who has been to the Great Grove and witnessed her true nature in person, can’t be too concerned. There was no
That elf, who thought of humans as mere interesting toys, and whose brain had gone sour after living so many years, would never go out of his way to help people out of simple goodwill.
Even so, it’s safe to say that there’s no way Cain would push that elf away with his own hands. Because, just like that elf was already making a lot of noise in the neighborhood, she was a woman who was very close to Cain.
After all, it seemed that he was the only one who could figure out what the elf was up to. At least, according to Arya’s judgment, it was.
“…Kyrie-sama. I’d like to talk to you for a while, do you have time?”
“If it’s your request, whatever it is.”
Unexpectedly, Kyrie readily accepted Aria’s proposal.
As if she were the hostess of the Duke of Estelle, she guided Aria into the parlor and watched as tea was placed in front of her. I tried not to lose.
Because the conversation hasn’t even started yet.
“Huh, how does the tea taste? Since it is a very precious tea leaf that can only be grown near the World Tree, and only a small amount is produced per year, I really wanted to treat it to others. Perhaps, I believe you will be satisfied enough.”
Looking at Kyrie, who muttered in a relaxed tone while looking at Aria, Aria opened her mouth to her in a low tone.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t like tea. More than that, I want to prioritize having a conversation with you.”
“is that so? I’m a little sorry. I wanted to get to know you before talking to you, Aria. To put it a little bluntly, I wanted to be a little more intimate with you.”
“…close friends? Does that mean we want to be friends?”
“A friend, no way.”
Kirie replied while maintaining a bright smile that was spotless.
“How can someone like me dare to be friends with someone like you? Arya, just as there is no one who can stand above you, there is no one who can stand alongside you. Oh, let’s make an exception for Cain. If you don’t do that, there won’t be any reason for you to stay by his side.”
“…..”
“How pitiful it is. Although we are facing each other, the relationship between Cain and you, where our fingertips barely cross each other, feels very pitiful to me. I could have him if I took one step, one step closer, but neither he nor you can easily take the last step. That’s right. because you-”
“Kyrie.”
In an instant, a cold voice came out of Aria’s mouth that surprised even herself.
“Do it in moderation. I’m not sitting across from you to hear you say that.”
“Gee, if my remarks offended you, I apologize. But don’t get me wrong. Did I just put in my mouth the sight that was reflected in my eyes? As you well know, the only thing that increases as you get older is the backcountry.”
Surprisingly, I didn’t feel sincerity from Kyrie, who spoke such words while sipping black tea in a relaxed manner.
“…it would be nice if we could just stop there. Kyrie, as you just said, I’m not close enough to talk back and forth like that.”
Through the conversation just before, Arya suddenly realized once again. After all, that woman is obviously a really awkward woman-
“Kyrie, there is only one thing I want to ask you. What on earth are you doing right now?”
“Are you lying?”
Kirie looked at Aria and shrugged. As if she was someone who couldn’t understand Arya’s words at all.
“It’s because I don’t understand your behavior at all. Even when we met in Daesoorim before, you didn’t show much interest in royalties. Also, you hate humans quite a bit. Perhaps, if it wasn’t for Cain-sama, you wouldn’t have left the World Tree forever.”
“Well, you are not wrong.”
To Aria’s words, Kirie nodded obediently. As she said, she didn’t do this out of a sudden outburst of love for humans.
If I had to give a reason, wandering around the dukedom and helping humans was only half of the pastime.
“But, on the other hand, that means the other half isn’t just entertainment, right?”
“…..”
“Why? No matter how well you try, I can’t help but ask you about your hidden intentions when you don’t even have the slightest affection for human beings. Because I am Cain-sama’s handmaid and the exclusive magician of the Duchy of Estel.”
Looking straight at Aria, who was staring at him with a straight gaze, Kirie smiled and smiled.
“Is that a command from before, or a question? If it’s an order, I’ll answer it obediently. You are qualified to give me orders.”
“…an order? I, who is nothing more than a handmaid, dare to speak to you, Kyrie?”
When Aria asked as she frowned, Kirie only chuckled and laughed.
“Oops, please stop pretending you don’t know anything. I would be very mistaken if I thought that someone like you would still believe the story of an innocent lady-in-waiting who lost her memory.”
“…..”
“Since it doesn’t seem like a request, let’s start by answering your question. Unfortunately, I was actually helping the people of the dukedom out of pure good will. Of course, it is clear that other reasons are included as you guessed.”
The smile on Kirie’s lips as she said that grew even thicker. As if she was shouting that she couldn’t bear to say this from the moment she faced Arya.
“You know what, Arya? It’s a fact that I only learned after arriving here, but it is said that the Duchy of Estel a thousand years ago was a very rich and prosperous land. But somehow, over the course of a thousand years, the land rapidly became dry from intellect, the land itself became barren, and the weather was also said to have become unspeakable. As if someone had put a curse on this land.”
While looking at Kyrie, who spoke in an exaggerated tone like a lawyer, Aria couldn’t bear to say anything.
“Well, isn’t it strange? Even though a thousand years have passed, how could the land that was once one of the richest in the entire continent change so rapidly into poverty? Of course, I believe it’s a coincidence. No, it’s difficult if it’s not a coincidence. In other words, it must mean that someone artificially made this land this way.”
“…..”
“I don’t really like humans, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him when I heard those words. Isn’t that pitiful, Arya? If this land had been like a thousand years ago, Cain would not have had to suffer so much to rule the territory. I would have been able to grow up in a more affluent environment. At least for a few pennies, there would have been no reason to suffer so much.”
Kyrie’s voice was very low, but in Arya’s ears, her voice seemed to fill the entire drawing room.
“As you know, he and I are companions bound together by the bonds of fate. It is said that the situation of the manor of the husband is so poor, wouldn’t it be impossible for a wife to just sit and watch? At least, I think it’s better than just standing by.”
“…onlooking?”
Arya’s voice trembled involuntarily. Bystanders? What I’m doing right now is bystander?
“Yes, bystanders. No matter how much I didn’t know it, we call the act of turning away from the person without apologizing for the wrongdoing when the victim is right in front of you. If there is a mistake, shouldn’t we go up to that person and confess all the sins and ask for forgiveness?”
At this moment, it was very clear to whom Kyrie’s words were directed.
Even so, Arya couldn’t refute anything to Kyrie’s words.
Because, just like Kyrie said earlier, he was hesitant to tell Cain the truth, like a coward.
It made me feel sick to think of how Cain, who had learned the whole truth, would look at her, treat her as she is now, treat her as if she were a completely different person rather than ‘handmaiden Aria’.
hid it Hiding all the truth. Because I wanted to remain by his side as Aria, an insignificant girl who lost all her memories.
However-
As if he knew Aria’s worries well, Kirie smiled.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere to spill these words. So, I promise you. That story from a while ago will be kept as a secret between the two of us.”
Saying that, Kirie bowed her head towards Arya. With a respectful and elegant example that is incomparable to ever before.
“Our stupid mother, who presides over winter among the four seasons.”