Chapter 65
I had been thinking about all sorts of things on my way to see Erna.
How should I ask her?
What would I do if she refused?
My thoughts grew increasingly muddled.
In the end, I couldn't sort them out, and I arrived at the House of Valor.
As always, I was greeted with a welcome home and ushered into the House of Valor.
"Al. What happened?"
"Erna..."
It was Erna who had come to greet me.
If possible, I would have preferred Anna-san.
To be honest, I couldn't look Erna in the face.
But there was no way my childhood friend would overlook such unnatural behavior.
"Did something happen?"
"No..."
"There's no point trying to dodge the question. Come on, let's go to my room."
With that, Erna led me to the parlor.
The maids had prepared tea and sweets.
Erna saw them and sent the maids away. Then she sat across from me and immediately got to the point.
"I'll ask you again. What happened?"
"...Things have gotten complicated."
"I see. Do you need me?"
"...Yeah."
I nodded without looking at her face.
What a pathetic way to ask for help.
But I couldn't bring myself to look at Erna.
What expression was I supposed to make when I asked her?
In the end, my mission was for the struggle over the imperial succession. I needed Father's assessment, so I couldn't turn around now and say I had changed my mind.
That's right. I was weighing my little sister's safety against the struggle for the imperial throne. Since I couldn't choose between them, I had shamelessly come to Erna, trying to get both.
The imperial harem was a woman's world. A woman was best suited to serve as a guard. That was one reason, but it wasn't the fundamental one.
I didn't want to lose the tailwind that had finally begun to blow in our favor. Father looked favorably upon us. I didn't want to cut off that momentum.
But I couldn't abandon Christa, either.
I couldn't choose.
That was why I was clinging to Erna for help. I felt so pathetic that I couldn't look her in the face.
And yet.
"I understand. Then I'll have to tell His Majesty the Emperor that I'm withdrawing."
"What!? Is that all right...?"
"What is?"
Her offhand answer made me raise my head before I knew it.
I saw Erna's usual expression.
Her face practically said that this wasn't a problem.
"But... declining means it's dishonorable, doesn't it...?"
"It's not merely dishonorable. But you need me, don't you? Then it can't be helped."
"I'm leaving the Imperial Capital because of the marriage proposal that came for my elder sister. I'm putting this meaningless proposal first to advance my position in the struggle for the throne... and relying on you, aren't I?"
"It's not a meaningless proposal, or you wouldn't be unable to let go, would you? I don't know what I'll be doing, but if you need me, I'll cooperate."
"Why...?"
"I told you, didn't I? I won't abandon you, Al. Have you noticed? You've had such a troubled look on your face this whole time. I don't know what happened, but you need me, don't you? Then I'll decline the mission. You have something you need to do, and I'm the only one you can entrust with it. That's why you came, isn't it?"
Erna said it matter-of-factly.
It wasn't that simple.
If it were, I wouldn't have felt this guilty.
For Erna, the heir to the House of Valor and a Royal Guard, to decline a mission was a serious matter. Of course, Father wouldn't force her. A member of the House of Valor who could wield the Holy Sword was a precious asset, and as Emperor, he wanted to avoid damaging relations with the House of Valor.
But it was certainly an act that would tarnish her honor.
"Doesn't honor matter to you...?"
"It does. But my vow matters far more than my honor. If you need me, I'll go anywhere. Now, explain. What do you need me to do?"
Erna gave me a rare, gentle smile.
That smile pierced my heart.
Still, I couldn't wallow in guilt forever.
"Christa was born able to use magic. She can see the future."
"...I'm surprised. How have you managed to keep that hidden until now?"
"It manifested three years ago. Christa foresaw the Crown Prince's death. Since then, some of her predictions have come true and some have missed. But when it concerns her, she's remarkably accurate."
"So this is one of those cases."
"Yeah. Do you remember Rita, the girl who was playing with Leo?"
"Of course. Is she involved?"
"...According to Christa, that girl will die. Before Christa's very eyes."
Erna's expression turned grim at my words.
Christa basically never left the castle or the imperial harem. If someone like Christa was going to get caught up in something, then someone from the castle or harem had to be involved.
In that sense, having Erna, a member of the highest-ranking noble house, serve as her guard would be advantageous.
Even if someone tried to interfere, there were very few people capable of obstructing Erna.
"I just need to stay by Princess Christa's side and guard her, right? That will mean protecting Rita, too."
"Yeah... Only a select few know about Christa's precognition. Father doesn't. So you can't use this as a reason to decline your mission, okay?"
"That's all right. The next mission is near a large lake."
"...You don't mean...?"
"I'll tell His Majesty that I have trouble with water. Then it shouldn't be much of a problem, right?"
"That may be true, but your weakness will become known to those around you. Are you okay with that? You used to hate the idea."
"I hate it now, too. If I withdraw, it'll look like I've lost, and they'll laugh at the heir to the House of Valor for being afraid of water."
"Then..."
"But my vow matters more than that. You're in trouble, aren't you? Will you be all right without me? Can you manage? You came because you can't, didn't you? You're really in trouble, aren't you? Then I'll help you. A vow that's only words means nothing. I'm not all talk."
With those words, Erna stood up and came over to me.
Then she gently pressed her forehead against mine.
I was startled by her sudden action, but Erna spoke quietly.
"Don't worry. It's all right now. I'll protect everything you want to protect, Al. I won't let a single thing slip through your hands. I'll hold out my hand alongside yours. So don't make such a pained face."
"Erna..."
"It's all right. You're not abandoning Princess Christa. The struggle for the throne matters, and so does Princess Christa. If you can't handle both, I'll take care of one of them. Get the marriage proposal settled for the struggle over the throne. I'll protect Princess Christa."
"...I don't want her to suffer anymore... When our mother died, she was like an empty shell. But at last, she started smiling again... Please look after my little sister... Christa. You're the only person I can ask..."
"Leave it to me. We're childhood friends and allies, aren't we? Talk to me about anything. I'll always be there to help you."
With that, Erna took a step back.
Then she showed me a bright, cheerful smile.
I had seen that smile once before.
She gave me that same smile when we first met and told me she'd protect me.
So she really hasn't changed at all.
Erna has always been on my side, both then and now.
■■■
"Al-nii-sama! Don't go...!"
"Christa. You mustn't trouble Al."
In the end, Erna withdrew from the mission, using the large lake as her reason.
She honestly told Father that she'd always had trouble with water.
Because Leo and I were there, she had forced herself to take on the ambassador-escort mission, but she gave the plausible explanation that the experience had shown her that her problem with water would interfere with her duties.
Faced with that, Father had no choice but to nod, and another Royal Guard was dispatched in her place.
Mother then asked Father to assign Erna as her guard, giving the equally plausible reason that she wanted to hear about her sons.
Father approved. He must have thought it would make a good break for Erna.
That was why I told Mother and Christa that I would be leaving the Imperial Capital.
"Erna will serve as your guard."
"No...! I want to stay by Al-nii-sama's side...!"
"...Christa. Do you trust me?"
"Yes..."
"I see."
As Christa clung to me, I stroked her head and wondered how I should explain it.
Even if I forced myself to leave now, Christa wouldn't trust Erna.
That wouldn't really be a problem, but if possible, I wanted her to trust Erna.
So I said what I was thinking.
"I'm leaving behind the finest sword—the one I trust most."
"A sword...?"
"Yes. The finest sword on the continent. She'll protect you from anyone, no matter who they are. So if you're ever in trouble, rely on her. If you feel frightened, call her instead of me. She'll come running, without fail."
"But..."
"Does that not satisfy you? She's the sword I trust most. She's protected me countless times. Are you still not satisfied?"
"...No."
"Good girl. It's all right now. Erna will protect you and Rita."
Saying that, I hugged Christa tightly and turned on my heel.
Erna was standing there.
"I'm counting on you to look after my sister."
"Leave her to me."
After that brief exchange, I started walking straight ahead.
I didn't look back.
Because I had nothing to worry about.