Chapter 99 - 99
"Leonie-sama, thank you for accompanying me so many times. I'm truly sorry for causing you and Roger so much trouble."
"No, don't worry about it. Last time, things ended that way in the middle of our journey. I should be the one apologizing."
"Not at all! You have nothing to apologize for!"
"Then neither do I... nor Roger. We don't want you to apologize. So please, don't look so sad. A smile suits you much better."
The forest between the Milicier and Bousquet territories. Originally, we had planned to explore it on our way back from the Bousquet territory, but that hadn't happened. So, on the day after arriving at the Milicier estate, we decided to head into the woods. As before, Leonie-sama and Roger accompanied me as guards.
Inside the carriage, I tried to bow to Leonie-sama, but he gently stayed my shoulder, smiling as he shook his head.
"Thank you."
"And as for you, little black cat."
"Meow."
"You mustn't run off again. Rachel-san will worry."
"Meow!"
Leonie-sama nodded at my thanks and turned to Kuro, who was sitting on my lap. Kuro chirped brightly as if to say he understood. Ever since Kuro had reappeared at the estate in the capital, he had stayed by my side. I had tried asking him about that strange experience in the forest, but he simply turned his head away, refusing to answer. As we approached the forest, Kuro became restless, looking out the window happily and circling around my feet.
"By the way, Theodore-sama is staying in the Bousquet territory, isn't he?"
"Yes. I received word yesterday. He said his business there is settled and he'll join us for the exploration today."
"...I see."
I hadn't seen Theodore-sama since returning to the capital. Part of me wanted to see him and ask him many things, but another part of me wasn't sure what I should even ask. My voice must have sounded more downcast than I intended, as Leonie-sama looked at me curiously.
"Did something happen with Theodore?"
"No... nothing like that..."
"I see. I hope it's just my imagination. You looked a bit troubled."
"Um, Leonie-sama, are you and Theodore-sama close?"
"I suppose so. He's my cousin, so we see each other often. Ah, but wait. About ten years ago... there was a period of a few years starting when he was twelve where I didn't see him at all."
Leonie-sama thought for a moment, then murmured as if remembering something.
"Twelve?"
"I was fifteen at the time. I suppose it was his rebellious phase. He shut himself away and wouldn't talk to anyone."
"Theodore-sama did? That's surprising..."
"I thought it was just because he was weak, so I tried to drag him out of his room for training. You know how it is with brothers and comrades—you can usually understand each other through your fists, right?"
"F-fists? No, I don't think..."
Understand each other through fists? I couldn't even imagine it. My face must have twitched, because Leonie-sama looked genuinely regretful.
"Ah, that's just how it is in my family and the knights. Forgive me for the unrefined talk."
I waved my hands to show I didn't mind and prompted him to continue.
"But Theodore has such absurdly high magic. If he uses spells, even I can't compete. Besides, the Camus family is close but hands-off. My aunt—Theodore's mother—told me to just leave him be. So I did. I completely forgot about him for a few years."
"I... I see."
"Then, when I saw him again after those years, he was back to his old self. Or rather, he'd become an even more eccentric cousin than before."
Completely forgot about him... From the way Leonie-sama spoke, he really had forgotten. Still, I couldn't imagine Theodore-sama as a shut-in. But that was ten years ago. He must have gone through many things to become the man he was today.
"Speaking of which, we've arrived. And speak of the devil, there's Theodore."
"Meow!"
"The little cat really likes Theodore, doesn't he?"
"Meow."
I looked out the window. Theodore-sama was indeed standing a little further down the path, holding the reins of his horse. The carriage slowed and came to a halt. Leonie-sama reached for the door, then paused and turned back to me.
"Rachel-san. Theodore is elusive, likes to tease people, and can be quite irresponsible."
"...Yes, he is. But he cares for his comrades, values spirits, and is a very kind person."
It was true. Theodore-sama possessed immense magic and controlled it with ease. He would appear suddenly and vanish just as quickly, making him hard to pin down. Yet, when I had first contracted with Kuro and couldn't control my magic, he had stayed with me patiently, helping me over and over. And the way he looked at Kuro was so gentle. Seeing how much Kuro loved him, I knew he was truly a kind man.
Leonie-sama let out a sigh of relief and smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that. You are an important girl to him, after all."
"Eh?"
"Nothing. Come, let's go exploring."
I caught his faint murmur and tried to ask what he meant, but he just shook his head with a smile. He stepped out of the carriage and offered me his hand. I took it, still puzzled, and stepped down. As my feet touched the grass, I felt a gentle breeze wrap around me, just like last time. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh forest air.
"It's been a while, Rachel-san."
I slowly opened my eyes and turned toward the voice. There stood Theodore-sama, clad in his robes, his long silver hair tied back and fluttering in the wind.
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