Chapter 70
One of the children dashed off, and the others followed one after another as if caught up in the rush. In no time, they’d all disappeared from sight.
"Hehe, they’re all such lively, good children, aren’t they?"
I smiled at Commander Cyril as I watched the children vanish like the wind. He lowered his eyes slightly before answering.
"Yes. I hope they can live healthy, happy lives in this land."
"If it’s a land governed by you, Commander, I’m sure they will."
I answered with confidence, and he gave me a troubled smile.
"I wonder. At the very least, I think the children saw me and ran away."
...R-Right.
The people of this land didn’t have warm feelings toward the knights or the lord’s family.
Commander Cyril had changed into his knight’s uniform, so they probably wouldn’t have known he was the lord. Still, it was quite possible they’d run off because of the sight of Commander Cyril or Commander Curtis in their knightly attire.
I glanced up at Commander Cyril and Commander Curtis.
...Yeah, they’re both a good deal taller than average.
To children who were so small, these big men might have looked frightening.
"Um... Are you and Commander Curtis close, Commander Cyril?"
Thinking it was best not to continue that line of conversation, I asked a simple question to change the subject. Commander Curtis answered.
"I originally served in the First Knight Order, under Commander Cyril. So it would be presumptuous of me to call us close."
"What? You were in the First Knight Order, Commander Curtis?! Then you’re an elite!"
I was so surprised that I blurted it out, and Commander Curtis laughed as if he found it amusing.
"And you’re saying that as a member of the First Knight Order? Doesn’t that make you an elite, too?"
"Huh?"
"...Curtis, whether Fia is capable or not is a difficult question that I haven’t solved yet. Please leave the answer undecided for now."
"What? I thought Commander Cyril had a better eye for people than anyone, but even you can’t judge someone?"
Hearing Commander Cyril’s words, Commander Curtis stared at me in surprise.
"Well, red hair and golden eyes are the same colors as the Great Saint-sama. I can understand why Commander Cyril might find it difficult to judge you objectively, but..."
Commander Curtis muttered under his breath, then spoke to me.
"You know, Commander Cyril selected me—when I was still just an ordinary knight—to become commander of the Thirteenth Knight Order. I didn’t have the achievements or ability to become a knight commander back then, so there was a lot of opposition. People were saying, 'Why choose someone like him?!' But Commander Cyril stood his ground."
Commander Cyril narrowed his eyes as though recalling the past.
"Curtis served in the First Knight Order for five years and accompanied us on our annual visits to this land. The people here disliked knights, and they continually avoided us. But for some reason, the residents accepted Curtis as if he were one of their own. The knight commander stationed here at the time was struggling to earn their acceptance, so three years ago, I recommended Curtis for the position."
"Hehe, compared to the other knight commanders, I’m not as strong. But I was recommended for the position because of one thing: my rapport with the residents."
Commander Cyril gave Commander Curtis a reproachful look as he spoke so casually.
"Curtis, your strength is more than adequate. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been chosen as a knight commander."
"Thank you for your kind words. But I’m all right. I’ve moved past the stage of getting down on myself because I know I’m weaker than the other commanders. Now I understand my abilities accurately and do what I can with them."
"...My apologies. You’re every bit the knight I thought you were."
Commander Cyril replied to Commander Curtis with a note of praise, then let out a small sigh.
After that, he turned toward me, looking a little tense.
I wondered if he needed something and gazed back at him. Commander Cyril pressed his lips together and walked toward me with a look of resolve.
Then he stopped right in front of me, bent down, and lowered himself onto one knee so we were at eye level.
"C-Commander Cyril...?"
Startled by his almost-kneeling posture, I cried out, and he took one of my hands.
"Fia, I have a favor to ask. This is a request from a friend, so you have the right to refuse."
"Y-Yes?"
...A favor? What could be so serious?
"The people of this land have a strong faith in the Great Saint, so they feel strongly about red hair. Just as those children called you 'Great Saint-sama' a moment ago, red hair here brings the legendary Great Saint-sama to mind. However..."
He paused, then shifted his gaze to my red hair.
"You’ve heard about 'Sutherland’s Lament,' which happened ten years ago, haven’t you? My red-haired mother was at the root of the events that started that tragedy. Combined with the fact that she hadn’t been accepted by the residents in the first place, those above a certain age who know about the incident react to red hair with rejection. And yet, even as they reject it, they must also feel they want to accept it because it’s the color of the Great Saint-sama’s hair. ...Many feelings still lie buried in this land. Your hair will affect the residents, for better or worse."
"...................."
Th-this is getting complicated.
"...Time has stood still in this land for ten years. And that benefits no one. That’s why we need a powerful catalyst to break the deadlock. With your red hair, you could be that catalyst."
"Huh?"
"...You probably don’t remember, but you once spoke about what a Saint ought to be. Hearing you say that felt as if my heart had been seized. ...Any red-haired woman could be a catalyst in this land, but it will take strong conviction to improve the situation. I want you to take on that role."
"....................Um..."
"The problems buried deep in this land aren’t something you can solve on your own, by any reasonable measure. So if nothing changes and you leave this land in ten days, you needn’t worry about it. ...But if there is someone who can change things, I believe it might be you, Fia."
"....................Um, I..."
...W-What should I do?
Th-this is turning into something huge...
"As I said at the outset, you have the right to refuse. The residents’ feelings about red hair are intense, so depending on what happens, they may do or say something that upsets you, or even put you in danger. If you refuse, I’ll assign you duties inside the lord’s mansion for the duration of your stay, so you won’t need to appear before the residents. ...But whichever you choose, I wanted you to come here, see the situation for yourself, and then decide. I apologize for waiting so long to explain."
"...................."
I couldn’t think of an answer on the spot, so I simply stared at Commander Cyril.
Even at a moment like this, his expression was calm. He wasn’t trying to force me or pressure me into anything.
But looking closely, I could see a shadow in his blue eyes.
...Commander Cyril was suffering.
As I listened to him, what I sensed was his pain, along with how deeply he wanted to do something for the residents.
He had probably tried all sorts of things during the ten years since he became the lord.
But none of it had worked, and now he was pleading with me as a last resort.
He was a knight commander, and I was just an ordinary knight.
He could have settled things with a single order, but instead, he’d gone out of his way to make himself my friend and give me a way to refuse.
He was an astonishingly kind knight.
I didn’t want the residents to remain unaware of that kindness.
And I didn’t want the cheerful, good-natured people of Sutherland to keep harboring such painful feelings.
As I thought about it, I remembered the empty streets we’d passed through on our way here, where we’d barely seen any residents.
The few people we did glimpse had only kept their distance. There hadn’t been the slightest sign they wanted to welcome us.
The difference from how they’d treated Canopus, who had been their lord in my previous life, was like night and day.
―――Yes, this kind of relationship was doing no one any good.
"...I think you’re a fine lord, Commander Cyril, and I like the people of Sutherland, too. There are no bad people here, yet they can’t get along. I think that’s wrong. ...I don’t know how much help I can be, but please let me help."
I looked straight into Commander Cyril’s eyes and gave him a clear answer.
Commander Cyril smiled with an expression of utter exhaustion I’d never seen before, and murmured, "Thank you."
"You may think you made this decision of your own free will, but I know I’ve influenced you considerably. So I will absolutely guarantee your safety. Either Curtis or I will accompany you at all times. Having Curtis with you, someone who has earned a measure of trust in this land, will also show the residents that you’re someone they can trust."
Commander Cyril stood and turned his gaze toward Fabian.
"You heard what I said, Fabian. Please protect Fia if anything happens."
"Understood."
Fabian answered Commander Cyril in a serious voice.