4. Rynella’s fate is decided by Rynella (17)
My hometown was far from the city.
In the first place, most of the empire’s large cities were under direct control of the emperor. As an exception, the territories of the 5 noble families were large, but most territories other than these had limited prosperity.
There were limited cities that could enjoy the benefits of civilization called warp gate. It was because the installation and maintenance of warp gates required an enormous amount of money.
Therefore, nobles still used to ride in carriages.
After moving to the big city near the territory, it was to head back to my hometown.
It was the same on the way back to the Percus estate.
We first arrived at the nearby big city via the warp gate. Then, in a wagon purchased from the family in advance, they embarked on their full-fledged homecoming.
It would take about two days by carriage to reach home.
Whenever I had to follow these winding roads, I would feel a slight pity.
The situation in the Percus Territory was not good. As a result, there was also a lack of capital to invest in infrastructure including roads.
That’s why you have to travel two more days from a big city that is not too far away. Had the road conditions been a little better, the journey would have been shortened even more.
Given this situation, her sister’s goal was to earn money and fix roads someday.
It was the person who felt the biggest inconvenience because the road was messy. If it was natural, it was natural. My sister’s obsession with road maintenance was beyond imagination.
Not too long ago, he sent a letter excitedly saying that he was about to reach his goal.
But that dream was shattered shortly after.
It was because of having an ugly older brother.
I’m sorry to think about it again, but at the time, it was an unavoidable choice.
Of course, it was also the result of believing in her younger sister’s ability. I was the one who had been observing my sister for a long time more than anyone else.
She was never an easy opponent to be defeated.
In fact, didn’t my younger sister live up to my expectations?
The bankruptcy of the upper house itself could not be prevented, but the news was written in the letter that a significant portion of the property could be preserved.
However, since there are many things to rip off from the princess, along with a request not to spill this information.
From now on, it was a matter for the younger sister to take care of herself.
Upon receiving the letter, my only impression was that I felt a little sorry for the princess who was about to be robbed by her younger sister.
In a way, it was tantamount to committing fraud using the princess’ guilt as an excuse.
However, this was already out of my hands.
All I could do for the princess was to go home and teach her little sister well.
One way or another, it was because my younger sister obeyed me the most in the family.
On the journey that followed, I was immersed in many thoughts.
It was around the time I heard the sound of the party arguing that my consciousness rose.
“… … It is amazing that a saintess has come to this remote place to serve.”
A voice suddenly reached my ears and my eyes glanced over the inside of the carriage.
There, Celine was seen with a slightly dissatisfied expression. Opposite it was a saintess with a benevolent smile as if she was pretending.
Other than that, Elsie-senpai, who stuck right next to me, and Seria, who was sharpening her sword with an expressionless face as always, stood out.
Sitting in the corner, Leto was enjoying a nap with a book over his face.
Yuren was driving the wagon, so there were only six people in the wagon.
The saintess responded by crossing the sign of the cross to Celine’s subtle restraint.
“The grace of the heavenly gods is like sunlight, and it does not discriminate between busy and remote places. Even if there are limitations due to various circumstances, the priest should not forget his duty. Emmanuel.”
One word was the flow of liquidation.
However, Celine’s tawny eyes were only sinking into a more shimmering light.
“Anyway, isn’t it strange? Until last time, I’d say it was a coincidence, but the destinations overlapped twice. And these days, the attitude the saintess treats brother Ian is unique… … .”
“Ah, Lord! Thank you for making such a bizarre coincidence. Your lamb will be waiting there.”
A sigh escaped Celine’s mouth.
It was a sign of surrender. He seemed to have an intuition that no matter how much he stabbed the saintess, not a single drop of blood would come out.
She pursed her lips in displeasure. After I accepted four more companions, Celine was like this all day.
It was like a heartache.
Celine’s next target was Seria, who was calmly mending her sword.
“Hey, Chinta.”
“What is it, Miss Hastur?”
Seria responded with a cold and haughty voice. Now, it seemed that he didn’t care whether he was called ‘Chinta’ or not.
Now, even Celine might be thinking of ‘Chinta’ as a kind of nickname.
Even so, there is only one best friend among dogs, Celine talked to Seria for no reason.
“Are you going to lead the Yurdina family private army?”
“Well, for now, yes.”
“Then will you stay there?”
My eyes glanced at Seria.
In principle, Seria should also stay at the garrison of the Yurdina family. However, it would be the first time for Seria to visit a friend’s house, and she would have a desire to be with her.
Seria’s decision was also important to me.
Seria was a member of the Yurdina family. She was one of the honored guests to be treated with as much care as the saintess or Elsie.
If Seria decided to stay at the Percus Mansion, it was necessary to prepare accordingly.
Seria’s voice was very calm as she answered Celine’s question.
“Um, but it’s okay… Wouldn’t it be better to take care of the Percus Mansion?”
“Eh? why?”
When Celine asked back, seemingly unexpectedly, Seria showed off a wonderful smile that she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“We are friends.”
Celine immediately gave a look of bewilderment. However, Seria only repeated one word in a determined tone.
“friend.”
Celine’s lips opened, then closed again. She let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
“… … Do whatever you want.”
Now, there was only one goal left.
With particularly uncomfortable eyes, Celine opened her mouth, frowning.
“Me, senior Elsie?”
“yes?”
Senior Elsie tilted her head as if asking why.
It was such a lovely gesture that even Celine lost her temper for a moment. However, Celine, who soon made up her mind, threw a question to Elsie senior with deep doubts.
“Why do you keep clinging to Ian?”
It was as it was said.
Elsie-senpai was constantly sticking close to me. Even if I tried to remove it, it wouldn’t come off.
He was still leaning against my arm, rubbing his head.
Perhaps not knowing that this would be pointed out, Elsie-senpai cleared her throat and blushed slightly.
“Muh, what! why! Any complaints?! Where do juniors do what seniors do without being cheap… … .”
“Because Brother Ian might be uncomfortable.”
The woman who said that and supported Celine was none other than a saint.
Senior Elsie was speechless at the unexpected blow. Soon, fierce eyes turned to the saintess, but the saintess just put her hands together in silence.
A faint chill was felt in those light pink eyes that narrowed.
“No matter how close you are, men and women are different… … .”
“Lord, Master and I have a special relationship?!”
“… … Anyway, that’s not a male-female relationship.”
At the saintess’ solemn words, senior Elsie was immediately speechless.
He just looked at me with pitiful eyes.
I meant to help. I didn’t know what the heck to do, though.
Finally, a sigh mixed with words came out of my mouth.
“… … Let it be.”
“Yes, of course it should… yes?”
The joy and sorrow in that one word was clear.
The saintess’ eyes widened as she nodded her head, guessing the answer that would come back to me.
On the other hand, Elsie-senpai’s face was bright. Those twinkling eyes, as if moved, were a little burdensome.
Either way, my answer was the same.
“Leave Elsie do as she pleases. It won’t change anything if rumors spread anyway, right?”
Yes. Senior Elsie and I were already inseparable.
Since he had declared that he would serve me as his master, there was no family that would take Elsie-senpai.
Even if the dating rumors spread with me now, there would be no reputation left to fall.
In that case, it would have been better if Elsie was at least a little happy.
Thinking back on it, it was a situation where a sigh came out of my mouth.
If things didn’t go well, I had no choice but to take responsibility for Elsie.
However, the saintess’ reaction to my words was a little strange.
“… … Gee, are you on the side of that girl now?”
There was even a blurry bite in the words that he spat out in tears. I looked at the saintess with a slightly puzzled look.
It was not the kind of saintess she had seen before.
The title ‘that woman’ was an expression that would come out only when the pretense was removed. Even Celine and Seria had their eyes wide open as if they were slightly surprised.
“master… … .”
Only Elsie-senpai was rubbing her head against my arm without notice.
In fact, it had been some time since I felt that the saintess had become strange.
To be precise, from the time we met at the warp gate, a strange atmosphere had lingered between me and the saintess.
It felt as if the saintess was expecting something from me.
Could the current reaction have something to do with it?
Read at noblemtl
Just when I was confused, I heard a protracted yawn.
“… … Let’s be quiet, everyone.”
It was Leto.
He had been sleeping all this time, rubbing his eyes and straightening his posture. The book covering his face had long since fallen.
“Anyway, isn’t it the Percus territory soon? You wouldn’t even be able to fight properly if you went there.”
Except for Celine, everyone’s eyes turned to Leto.
Especially when it came to the saintess and Elsie-senpai, even a little tension was felt.
It was because Leto’s expression as he looked at the two was so smirk.
He smiled and said a word.
“Lea is not an easy opponent.”
Celine was the only one who felt the weight of Leto’s words.
She let out a sigh of exhaustion, then put her chin on her chin and turned her head away.
The inside of the carriage was submerged in such bewildered silence.
Now the wheel was treading on the border of the Percus domain.
**
The carriage passed through a quiet rural village and entered the town.
And when we crossed the center, there was the only building in the territory that could be called a ‘mansion’.
It was the mansion of Percus.
Waiting for us in front of him was a slender-looking girl.
Her long, straight hair that hung down like ebony, her pale skin, and her voluptuous limbs gave off the impression of being slender. And those golden eyes, the symbol of the Percus family.
Those intense eyes were causing a crack at once in the girl’s impression of a young girl who looked fragile.
Beautiful, fragile, strong.
The chain of contradictory elements must be the true charm of this beautiful girl.
She lifted her skirt slightly and bowed her head.
“… … Nice to meet you. My name is Lia Percus, and I am the youngest daughter of the Percus family. It is an honor to welcome such a valuable guest today.”
At the same time, the younger sister smiled unexpectedly.
“You have gone through a lot of trouble taking care of your ugly older brother… Please, leave it to me from now on.”
I’m finally back home
Accompanied by three strangers.
And the first meetings between my sister and the women, to be honest, weren’t very good.
Suddenly, a chilly silence descended like mist.
His sister is bro-con 😳?