Chapter 27 – Ashley’s Feelings
Chapter 27 – Ashley's Feelings
“The same symptoms as Ashley are sometimes seen in those with strong magical power.”
When I asked Rosetta for her opinion about Ashley’s condition, that’s what she told me.
It seems it’s not necessarily something that always happens to those with strong magical power… Apparently it’s a complex condition that tends to occur when strong magical power combines with certain physical constitutions.
“In other words, frequently running fevers and falling ill are secondary effects stemming from her constitution – in that sense, using magic or medicine wouldn’t constitute fundamental treatment. As solutions, there’s training magical power control and strengthening both mind and body.”
“What about me continuing treatment with circulating ki?”
When I asked that, Rosetta narrowed her eyes slightly.
“I think your method is extremely effective. I too once researched trying to learn magical power circulation. There were few documents, and I eventually realized it didn’t suit my aptitude. So you being able to… use it is surprising, you know.”
“…Then I’ll continue treating Ashley-sama as I have been.”
“I think that’s best. Such coincidences are quite rare, after all.”
…The reason Rosetta aspired to learn healing magic, the original purpose of Mother’s cursed tool that suppresses characteristics. These things might be connected in various ways.
Rosetta didn’t ask me how or through what circumstances I learned magical power circulation.
—Does she think my purpose was for Mother’s sake?
That’s not it, but… I do think that if I could have used it, I would have wanted to be able to use it sooner.
So surely, this too must be a power I desired.
Rosetta was smiling gently, but then she made an expression as if she’d remembered something and said:
“Ah, it would be helpful if you could stay here a bit longer.”
“Is there still something?”
Talcott’s matter seemed resolved, and I’d asked Rosetta what I needed to.
I didn’t think there was any reason for us to be in this empty classroom anymore.
“Mmm. It’s not that there’s anything with you all. It’s just that if we happen to run into—”
“—Please, Count! That person is merely present and has no relation to this!”
“What are you saying? If my worthless son has caused trouble, I must at least offer greetings, no?”
Rosetta pressed her hand to her forehead at the voices coming from down the hall.
“…I specifically told them not to inform him.”
…I see. “Run into,” huh. So he came in person.
“This is it!?”
The empty classroom door was thrown open violently, and a portly middle-aged man burst in. His attire was fine, but he had a crude atmosphere.
Count Maurice, I presume.
He scanned the room—and his gaze stopped at me.
Despite having worn a thoroughly displeased expression until then, the moment he spotted me, he smiled. Only, his eyes weren’t smiling at all.
“Hello, it’s you, isn’t it? The one who stopped Talcott.”
Maintaining that dangerous expression, Maurice spread his arms and approached.
“Lord Maurice. He is—”
Rosetta tried to intervene, but Maurice spoke while still smiling.
“What is it? I’m merely thanking my benefactor. Step aside, if you would.”
“No, so if we could talk—ah.”
“It seems you have business with me.”
I didn’t want Rosetta to suffer consequences because of me. I motioned with my hand for Grace and Ashley, who had half-risen from their seats, to stay put and stepped in front of Rosetta.
My, my. How utterly transparent. He’s exactly the unpleasant type who’s just clever enough to be annoying.
“Hmm. I am Maurice Toram Cardiff. Head of the Cardiff Count family.”
“Theodore Gartner, at your service.”
A self-introduction following only the formalities of etiquette.
I’ll match his level and at least exchange greetings.
“Talcott seems to have been in your care. My, that’s truly remarkable at your age. It’s fortunate that neither of you was injured.”
Let’s see. Freely translated, he’s displeased that we ended up unharmed rather than with Talcott’s actions or punishment.
That I subdued Talcott uninjured, and that Talcott couldn’t injure me. Did Maurice think this affected his dignity? My being younger is probably part of it too.
Rather… if he only feels shame about that much at this point, I think there are various other things he should be paying attention to.
“It was within the rules of a predetermined match.”
That much is true.
If using lethal magic had been the premise, I would have chosen a more certain way to take him down.
“Is that so, is that so. Most excellent and splendid. You seem to have learned proper manners too—this is quite something.”
“You honor me.”
“But I can’t recall. The Gartner Count family had two legitimate children, but which one might you be?”
“…Neither.”
“Oh? Then, are you an illegitimate child?”
He narrowed one eye and lifted the corner of his mouth. What appeared on Maurice’s face was a sneer.
“—Ah, now that you mention it, I have heard about the Gartner Count family’s other story. In that case, this is troubling. I came specifically to offer greetings precisely because I thought you were one of the brothers and didn’t want to be rude. It seems I was mistaken.”
What “mistaken”? You knew from the start… about my origins, didn’t you?
I’d been wondering what he came here for. In short, he wants to provoke me for revenge or extract some benefit.
If that’s the case, he’s miscalculated. Did he think I’d feel inferior just because I’m an illegitimate child—?
“—Your mother was famous, called a saint and all… but she wasn’t of noble birth, was she?”
“Count Maurice!”
“About Lady Lisa!”
Rosetta’s voice was reproachful. I could tell Grace had stood up so abruptly she knocked over her chair.
Ignoring them, Maurice smiled and said to me:
“Five years ago, was it? I was here, so I escaped harm. In the regions—even in my territory, it seems many lowborn people died like dogs. My, my. That was truly a disaster.”
—.
Lowborn… you say? Died like dogs?
Says someone like you? A pig grown fat and comfortable in the capital.
You dare speak about Mother’s way of life? Her death?
This bastard—this bastard, I’ll kill—
“What could—you possibly understand!!”
With my mind gone completely white, I was constructing a spell formula with enough power to reliably obliterate the pig before me.
But what cooled my head was that angry voice.
Huh… Ashley?
Ashley had tears gathering at the corners of her eyes and was shouting like that.
Looking around, Grace had her hand on her ring, Rosetta looked ready to throw a punch any moment… both frozen in surprise at Ashley’s fury.
“What could you possibly understand! About Lady Lisa! About us! Because she was there, many people were saved! That’s not all! She avenged my father and mother! Such words insulting her! You should be ashamed!”
Ah—I see. She knew, then.
That’s why Grace liked her too.
“Little girl… do you know who you’re speaking to?”
“Do you yourself understand what you just said! As head of the Silun Baron family, I cannot overlook you insulting our benefactor and my parents as lowborn!”
“The Silun Baron family…?”
Maurice frowned for a moment.
Perhaps unable to read the situation with this unexpected ambush appearing, he clicked his tongue and left the room.
He didn’t use explicit wording, but it was essentially insulting another noble head to their face.
Even if they’re of lower status from a Count family’s perspective, he probably thought it unwise to accumulate losses at this timing.
But—I understand. I understand now.
For now—I’ll let it go out of respect for Ashley, who got angry for Mother’s sake.
But… you’ve clearly become my enemy.
Absolutely. I will absolutely make you pay for your words and actions today.
“I’m, sorry. Theodore-sama, I—”
Ashley was covering her mouth, letting out small sobs.
“There is nowhere, Ashley-sama, that you need to apologize.”
Grace was dripping blood from her claws from trying to forcibly remove her ring. Rosetta was taking deep breaths to calm her anger.
Sigh. This is pretty crazy. If Ashley’s voice had been a little later, one of the three of us would have smashed that pig. Even if that happened, I wouldn’t feel regret or remorse, but it would definitely have become troublesome.
—Stay calm. It’s as if Ashley got angry in my place and said what needed to be said. That much more reason to act calmly.
If it only concerned me, charging ahead might be fine. But what would I accomplish by putting Grace and Rosetta in a difficult position because of the results? I wouldn’t pay even a hair’s worth of price to dispose of a pig of that caliber.
I take a deep breath.
“…Grace. Your hand.”
“My apologies. I—”
“It’s fine. I understand.”
I take Grace’s hand—the one hanging limply as she held Ashley’s shoulder—and cast healing magic.
If the one who shouted there hadn’t been Ashley, who should have been the farthest from Mother among us. Things would have definitely gone all the way.
That Mother’s actions. What she accomplished by staking her life.
Because I learned that someone other than family feels that strongly about it. Or because it was someone like Ashley, a quiet girl.
“…Thank you, Ashley-sama.”
Ashley shakes her head slightly. She apologizes, saying sorry for some reason. Why she’s apologizing… she probably doesn’t understand herself.
She seems a little confused.
This might be the first time she’s ever gotten this angry. It’s not—Ashley hasn’t done anything wrong at all.
When I gently wipe her cheeks with a handkerchief, she looks up in surprise and begins shedding tears again.
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Dude says some words and everyone absolutely loses their minds, then nothing happens. Lame.