Chapter 91
When I woke up, it was pitch-dark. The private room assigned to me was cramped, but in this world, where there was hardly any indoor entertainment, it was spacious enough to play in.
The light filtering in through the window was faint. Ah, it's been almost a month since the 'Banquet of Sprouts and the New Moon,' so we must be around the new moon... No wonder the nights are so dark.
"I'm hungry..."
"In that case, I'll have something prepared."
"Really? Thank you very mu—"
In the dimness, I made out her figure and let out a pathetic "eep."
"Y-y-y-young lady?!"
"Why are you so surprised? I am your master, and you are my guard. Of course I would be by your side, wouldn't I?"
"Ah..."
I noticed that the young lady had dark circles plastered beneath her eyes. Without even using 【All Creation】, I could tell that she had nursed me—or rather, watched over me—at my bedside.
My clothes had been changed into sleepwear, so someone must have changed me. My body felt clean and refreshed, so they must have wiped away the grime as well. Bandages had also been wrapped around the spots that 【Healing Magic】 hadn't fully healed.
"You wrapped this bandage around my left wrist, didn't you, young lady?"
"How did you know?! Ah, don't tell me you think I did a bad job wrapping it!"
"Where are the head butler and the maids?"
"I sent them away. You're my only guard, after all."
A guard's job was to put their body on the line. At least, that's how I saw it, and my assigned duty was probably to "do anything" to protect the young lady's life.
This was work. I was being paid a proper wage.
But at the same time, I understood the young lady's feelings. If someone guarding me suffered serious injuries for my sake, I would tend to them with all my might too—it was simply a commoner's way of thinking.
For a count's daughter to go this far for her guard was indeed unusual.
No... Perhaps it simply meant that she was sensitive and kind by nature.
"Young lady... It seems you can control your magic now."
"Yes... Father gave me the 【Magic Control】 Talent Jewel. He said the presentation ceremony would probably be postponed again in a situation like this, and that he would teach any nobles who complained a lesson."
"Ha ha..."
I suddenly wondered when the count had started going his own way during the presentation ceremony—the count's actions back then had seemed to suggest he was reading two or three moves ahead.
"What happened to Louis-sama...?"
The young lady asked hesitantly. I see. She had returned to the count's mansion without hearing what had happened afterward.
"He died."
"!"
The young lady flinched, but then quietly closed her eyes.
"...I see."
"Yes."
"After seeing my 'Encouragement Magic Eye,' Louis-sama started acting strangely."
So that's what it was. The young lady thought Louis-sama's death was her fault.
I could have told her not to worry, or that it wasn't her fault, but I didn't. I didn't think such superficial words would mean anything to her, and more importantly, I hadn't known what had happened there myself.
By the time I arrived, it was already...
"Reiji...?"
"......"
Young Louis was already dead.
I looked at the palm of my hand. The number of lives I could save was limited, as were the things I could do.
I'd thought I had gained a reasonable amount of life experience from the sixteen years of my previous life and the four years since my memories returned—but it wasn't nearly enough. My heart grew as heavy as a stone used to weigh down pickles, squeezing me mercilessly.
But surely...
"Young lady."
At just twelve years old, the young lady was already suffering from the same anguish I was.
"Please become someone who can master that Magic Eye."
"!"
The 'Encouragement Magic Eye' would run wild if it couldn't be controlled, but once mastered, it was tremendously useful.
For example, it could encourage a person about to give a speech. It could erase a performer's anxiety before a grand performance. It could even push someone considering a proposal to take the plunge.
Of course... it could also be used for war.
"I... used it wrong, didn't I?"
"No."
"No, I'm sure I did. Otherwise, Louis-sama wouldn't have—"
"No matter what happened, Louis-sama would never say, 'It was Eva-jou's fault.' He wouldn't say it even with his dying breath."
I was certain of it. That Louis boy, vain and selfish—just an ordinary boy—would never blame the girl he liked.
"But... if I didn't have these eyes..."
"Young lady, that's not true. You were born with those eyes, weren't you? People can't deny the circumstances of their birth. But they can choose the path they take in life."
I swept my bangs aside. I lit a small flame with 【Fire Magic】, revealing the roots of my hair.
The roots were—well, they were black enough that I was starting to think I needed to use hair dye soon.
"My hair is black. I was hated and abandoned by my parents because of it."
"——!!"
The young lady's eyes widened, and her face took on a pained expression.
No, young lady. I wasn't seeking your sympathy.
"But now I'm able to enjoy every day. That's because I chose to work for Count Slyries and decided to spend my time with you."
"...With me?"
"Yes. So everything is still ahead of you. What matters is what you do from here on. If you use it properly, it can help far more people than the 'Trial Magic Eye' ever could."
"...More than Father?"
"Yes. The count—"
He had never said as much, but the 'Trial Magic Eye' had made him highly valued by the Holy King while causing him to be hated by many people—he must have resented that at least once or twice.
Since he could see through lies, he surely couldn't easily make friends he could truly open his heart to.
"...Father is an amazing person."
The burden of having to succeed the count as head of House Slyries weighed on the young lady's shoulders.
Her hands, resting on her lap, opened and closed restlessly.
"Then, shall we put an end to it?"
"—What?"
"We could abolish House Slyries. It has never had a fief to begin with, so if we give the people working here enough money and renounce the title, you'll be free. You could study anew and aim to become a government official, run a business in town, or even live a life of leisure and enjoy a long retirement. And if you'd prefer danger, you could become an adventurer. Those choices are yours, too. What will you do? If that's what you want, I'll even take you out of this country myself."