***Arc 10 One Who Doesn't Acknowledge, Chapter 236 Choice***
T/N: Part 1 of the last chapter uploaded!! But we still have 90 side stories (still ongoing) left to go.
It's a time when the night was not yet dawn.
It was not even a mansion, but a small house with no separate rooms.
At least it was not a place for a person with the position of chief warrior should live in.
The man stroked the sleeping baby's cheek and stood up.
He wrapped clothes around his naked body without making a sound, looked at the huge sword that was leaning against the wall, and narrowed his eyes for a while.
He was about to grab its hilt and――
"...Ledo-sama"
A voice called out to him.
Ledo froze, and felt a soft sensation on his back.
His wife's arms embraced his waist tightly.
"Are you still going to leave Zuren who is still a bay behind... and Feni too?"
Her slender body――her slender arms were full of strength.
With determination to not let go.
“Please don’t go.…This is my once in a lifetime request.”
Ledo opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out.
He just stood there in a daze and lowered his eyes.
"If there's anything that's not good enough, I'll definitely fix it. ... I have sworn to my name that I would spend the rest of my life by your side. ...Please don't abandon Feni."
Her voice and her body were trembling.
Clever, kind, compassionate, and beautiful.
――She was a woman who was too good for him, he thought.
"What's the point of revenge? Even Feni, who is a woman, understands that no one would be happy, Everyone, the dead... even you."
Or perhaps at that time.
‘Either die here or accept the terms. That's all I wants hear.’
Maybe he should have chosen death.
If he ended up making this kind woman cry.
"I spent over a year with you...it was a fulfilling time."
Only a year at most――He didn't think that alone would cause so much hesitation.
Feni had heard everything from her brother Toba, but had never said anything about it.
She simply lived by Ledo's side as a good wife.
As he spent time with her, he realized that something inside him would start to fade, even though he had been prepared for it.
"...There are even times when I forget everything."
That must be a happy thing.
Blessed with a good wife and children, raising them, putting past wars in the past, and building a future.
"...I'm not asking you to forget about Shelna-sama. Feni accepted that feeling and love Ledo-sama. ...Even if you don’t love Feni, it’s fine. So――"
"Feni"
Abandoning his friends, abandoning his wife, abandoning his child.
Compared to that, he could understand how stupid his choices were.
"...I love you. The time I spent with you was blissful."
"Then――"
――His mentor's head being exposed in the forest.
His comrade's head, and――Shelna's head.
"...I'm running away. And after running away, I'm enjoying happiness all by myself....I just can't forgive myself."
He looked up at the dark ceiling.
A small amount of moonlight shone through, illuminating the small room.
The house was so small that he could even feel the temperature his skin.
――At first it was like harassment.
He thought that Feni who was born in a good house would quickly give up.
“Fufu, let's start with cleaning. For the furniture let's increase things little by little.''
But she was just happy and loved this simple house and Ledo.
The cold, empty house was now filled with her body heat and scent.
His unruly hair was straightened by Feni's hands, and his long beard was carefully shaved.
Every time he remembered the forgotten life as a human, memories of the past came back to him.
"I don't have any pride. Now I don't have any desire for revenge...But I don't want to run away from the person I used to be."
He grabbed her arm, lets her go, and turned around.
She doesn't wear makeup, her beautiful red hair was tied back and swept――and yet she was beautiful.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears.
He's sure that those drops were more beautiful than any jewel in this world.
"...I'm a weak man. Forget me. There's a better man for you."
He kissed her on the mouth and pulled away.
Feni distorted her beautiful face and covered it with her hands.
Shaking her head from side to side, leaning closer to him――he stroked her head.
After a while, the baby noticed her mother's cries and started crying.
As she turned her attention towards the baby as a mother, he grabbed the sword and opened the door.
"...I'll be waiting for you to come home. No matter how many years or decades..."
Ledo didn't answer her trembling voice and closed the door with his back to her.
His vision blurred, and he holds the corners of his eyes, closing his eyelids tightly.
He walked a little east into the forest――to the grave.
“...Bad premonitions sure is bound to come true.”
A red-haired man was sitting in front of the grave.
Toba Arkaz still carrying his spear didn't look at Ledo.
He sighed in frustration.
"...If you leave, I'll kill Feni and the kid."
It was a cold voice.
"It’s a family of rebels. It's perfect for cleaning things up."
When Ledo heard that, he shook his head.
"...You're a man who can't be that cold-hearted."
Toba clicked his tongue and scrunched his face.
"Hah, is that why you're going to sit cross-legged taking advantage of my kindness, Ledo. ...That's quite brazen, isn't it?"
"...I’m aware. I leave the two to you."
Toba lowered his eyes and sighed again.
He then paused for a moment and said,
"If you don't do well, I'll personally kill you. Even if you win, I won't save you. In order to wag your tail and flatter Alberan, who you hate. In the end, that's my conclusion...as soon as you walk east from here, you're an Elderant rebel――”
‘This is the end’, Toba said.
"Go back to your house... Pretend nothing happened. Then go to the meeting as usual and report to me without as normal. It will be enough to cry and apologize to Feni, saying you won't do it again."
He said it lightly and laughed.
His eyes narrowed.
"There are things that are irreversible. River water just flows. But as it flows, the things that cling to it will someday fade and disappear."
――Both good memories and bad memories.
After speaking, he stood up and turned to Ledo.
Even so, Toba didn't look at Ledo.
"There's nothing wrong with running away or being weak. There's no one who lives without any regrets...Isn't the important thing to live from now on so you don't have any regrets?"
‘That's right’, Ledo said.
But he continued, saying he had already made up his mind.
"...I see."
Toba passes by Ledo without looking at him.
"Well, to be honest...I don't dislike that side of you."
"……, I see"
――Instantly, Ledo twisted his waist and dodged the stone thrust of the spear.
Then he took his arm and slammed Toba's body into the ground.
The earth shook and the trees rustled.
Ledo looked down at Toba and said.
“I don’t hate that part of you either.”
"...You damned."
The stone tip of a rounded spear.
He knew the reason and the meaning.
"...I'm sorry, friend."
Ledo had never known anyone as foolish as he was.
Royal estate, Krische’s room.
Bery explained somethings, sitting in a chair and running her fingers over the ledger.
"――and that's how it is. That's the reason for the numbers here."
Anne and Elvena listened with serious faces and looked at the ledger.
A ledger in which Christand’s income and expenses were recorded in detail――usually Bery's role was to do this, but Anne wanted to lighten her burden as much as possible, so Bery left half of it to her.
Anne wasn't as dumb as she used to be, and when it comes to Elvena, she's good at calculations.
She quickly grasped it, and once she got used to it, there would be no problem.
Bery nodded and looked at the bed, thinking this is enough for now.
Kreschenta was sleeping peacefully on the bed.
Due to nursing Bery, she often took nap when she was not working.
Bery pulled up the crumpled blanket and covered her.
It's still spring with snow in the north――Bery strokes her forehead and smiled.
With the sound of a knock, Selene entered.
"Welcome home, Ojou-sama."
"I'm home Bery"
Selene looked at the ledger spread out on the desk and narrowed her eyes.
Then she turned to the two of them.
As if she had guessed it, Anne nodded and locked eyes with Elvena.
“Elvena-sama, shall we do some review in my room?”
"yes"
They gathered up the ledgers on the desk and puts them back on the shelf, and the two of them leave the room.
Bery tried to make tea, but when Selene exasperatedly said ‘Sit down’, she reluctantly sit down.
Selene poured hot water into the pot, quickly preparing the tea, and placed two cups on the table.
"Both of them are learning quickly. Most of is already..."
"...It just sounds like a sarcasm when you say it, so please stop."
Bery compliments people a lot, but most of it was based on a low standards.
Even if it took someone else several months to complete something that she herself completed in a day or two, she would still compliment them on a job well done.
It was probably because of her personality.
She didn’t have any malicious intent, and she didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but for those who know her, it was close to being sarcastic.
She was too strict with herself, and yet she was too lenient with others.
"...Are you okay today?"
"Yes. I'm feeling good so far today. ... it was a little painful last night, but thanks to Kreschenta-sama, I managed somehow."
"……, I see"
A bit, just a little.
It shouldn't be just that level of pain, but Bery always use those words, closing the topic.
Selene wanted to complain but pointing it out wouldn't change anything.
The pain wouldn't ease or disappear.
"...Krische hasn't come home today either."
“Yes, today she will be in the basement of the royal castle.”
Bery smiled, looking somewhat lonely.
"……, is it fine?"
When Selene asked her, she shook her head, saying it was fine.
“She is working hard for me.…I can’t say anything.”
After sipping the tea, she gazed into it and quietly spoke.
“...I leave Krische-sama to you Ojou-sama.”
"Didn't I tell you not to talk about things like that because it's inauspicious?"
“You did huh.”
She laughed as if she found it amusing.
Selene lowered her eyes.
"Maybe there's still a lot of time... and maybe Krische-sama will do something about it. But I might also be gone tomorrow."
‘That's why I want to ask Ojou-sama for a favor’, Bery continued.
With her usual smile, she didn't show any sadness.
That was even more painful to Selene.
"...That girl loves you. You know that. I can't replace you."
"I don't believe you're replacing me. Ojou-sama is Ojou-sama, and I'm me. ... You said that sometime ago, right?"
"Then that’s even worse...I can't fill the hole you left."
‘Don't be an idiot’, Selene said.
"...I love that girl as much as you do. She loves me too. But it's different from the way she loves you."
"Well, that's right. I'm confident that Krische-sama loves me the most in the world, so in terms of wins and losses, I'm the winner."
“..., you”
When she glared at her, she becomes happy.
she said with a chuckle.
"But it's a small, trivial difference. If we both drown at the same time, maybe Krische-sama will save me first. ...But, for example, even if it was Ojou-sama who was stabbed that time, Krische-sama would still have gone to Ancient Dragon-sama.''
Risking her life.
"……Is that so?"
"Did you forget, when the Ojou-sama hit Krische-sama? Krische-sama didn't listen to my request at that time."
She said nostalgically and closed her eyes.
"...Favoritism might have different weight each , but love doesn't. What’s there is only a matter of order, and in the end that's a trivial thing."
"...You can only say that because you're above me in that trivial order."
"Fufu, that's true. If not then it's frustrating and I probably wouldn't say it. ...But if I were in Ojou-sama’s position and someone told me the same thing, I would answer, ‘of course’."
Bery smiled as Selene frowned at her.
“Even if Krische-sama tells me that you are the best, it doesn’t mean that my love for her will diminish. If she can love me on top of that, then that’s enough.”
“…You want me to spend my whole life as a loser, is that what you’re saying?”
"Is there such a thing as winning or losing? It's like the lawful wife and the concubine competing to see who's. Isn't it fine to have both as wives?"
She said and looked at Selene with a victorious look.
"Being fixated about winning or losing, and then calling yourself a loser, it’s not like you Ojou-sama... honestly I’m a little disappointed, it's not worth teasing."
"...I won't take provocation bait okay."
To Selene's words, Bery laughed again.
Amusedly, she narrowed her eyes after a moment.
"That’s just foolish...As I've always said, Krische-sama is not that kind of person...and that's what I love about her."
Her hand reached out and caressed Selene's cheek.
“Krische-sama cannot choose just one person. She is clumsy and helpless, so she spreads out her love to the maximum extent possible at a bargain sale price. She didn't even realize that she was suffering a loss, and even then she said something stupid like, 'I'm going to repay you’.”
Tilting her head slightly, her flowing red hair stretched elegantly.
Her arms peeking from the sleeves were unhealthily thin, looking much slimmer than before.
Even so she looked beautiful.
“Krische-sama doesn’t even mind about a naughty person like me.…If Ojou-sama approaches her seriously――”
Unable to hold back, Selene hugged her, confirming the sensation. H
er body was one or two sizes smaller, her face was contorted .
"...Why are you like this? You're always worrying about other people... Please worry about yourself once in a while."
Bery opened her eyes a little shocked and hugged her back.
"It's better if you just yell and get angry. Saying it's painful, it's painful, it hurts, it's scary... there are so many things you can do."
Bert then just smiled and stroked Selene trembling back and combed her hair.
"This is the fourth time...When I was a kid, when Nee-sama stopped me, and when I got stabbed, this is the fourth time. I guess you could say I'm just used to being prepared for it..."
"...You shouldn't get used to it, you fool... you liar."
Bery laughed awkwardly and rubbed her cheek against hers.
“Ojou-sama is honest all the way, so I think it’s just right.''
And she whispered.
“If something happens to me, please take care of Krische-sama.…I don’t need an answer.”
"...You're the worst."
“Fufu, I’m aware of it.…Please think of it as me screaming shamefully and forgive me.”
"Really...it's the worst."
She hugged her delicate body tightly.
Her body was hot, like she had a fever, but that was normal.
As her life burns out, her body regenerated over and over again.
She would do anything to make it even a little easier.
If she could take one half the pain, she would do it.
However, Selene was not a genius, she was just an ordinary person――there was nothing Selene could do.
She couldn’t tell Bery ‘Do your best’.
She couldn’t tell Bery ‘It’s enough’.
She felt hopeless and angry at herself for not being able to give her any relief.
A moment later, there was a knock.
Selene wiped her eyes, and Elvena informed her that there was a messenger from the Western Army.
‘I'll be right there’, Selene said, catching her breath and pinching Bery's cheek.
"...I won't make any promises."
‘I’m fine’, that was all she could say to Bery who was being stubborn.
Bery ‘yes’ said happily and laughed, then she out her handkerchief, and cleaned Selene's eyes.
Accepting it obediently, Selene kissed her forehead and leaves the room.
Bery quietly smiled and saw her off, then she stood up and sat down on the bed again.
Then her hand that was about to stroke Kreschenta’s forehead was brushed away.
"I'm sorry. I woke you up."
"...It was so noisy that I ended being wide awake."
She said as she sat up and nestled against Bery's back.
Kreschenta put her arm around her and hugged her and asked her, ‘You won't you ask me?’.
“Even if I don’t ask Kreschenta-sama, I can predict the answer.”
"I wonder? I might complain like Selene-sama. If you ask, you might get a surprising answer, you know."
"I see...I leave Krische-sama to you."
"There's no need for someone like you to tell me that, who do you think you are?"
Bery chuckled at those words.
She smiles happily and grabbed her hand that's around her waist.
Blue magical power dispersed from Kreschenta’s palm as she checked her body condition.
Bery looked at her and asked quietly.
"...How long?"
"Don’t know. It could be today or tomorrow, or a year from now, or three years from now... If you stop, you can die today."
She said, then leaving a pause.
Kreschenta simply tightened her arms around her slim waist.
"At least from now on, there's no doubt that things will get even more difficult. Onee-sma’s research seems to be progressing then went back then start from scratch in another direction."
She presses her cheek against Berry's back as she says it.
"...Even if it can hold out, how many years are you planning on holding out?"
Bery chuckled at those words and said.
“Of course, for as many decades as Krische-sama wishes.”
“Even if life continues to be worse than it is now?”
"There's no need to think about it...I've made an oath."
Kreschenta become quite for a moment.
"You're crazy."
Then she said that,
"maybe"
Berry replied happily.
Letting go of Kreschenta’s arms that held her waist.
She put her on her lap like always.
"...I can't thank Kreschenta-sama enough."
“Do you think you can get away with just a thank you after causing so much trouble?”
She grabbed her slender wrist that was around her waist and lowered her eyes to hers.
"...It would have been much better to leave this to Onee-sama and do the research myself."
She then held her hand in hers.
Bery nuzzled her left cheek against her head and smiled and whispered that she's sorry.
"Even an apology isn't enough. It's all because of you. You made me and Onee-sama, who should be the most important people in the world, suffer even by cutting back on our sleep. You're the world's biggest good for nothing."
"……yes"
“What kind of person are you, not only disrespectful, but pulling on our leg? Trying to be above the queen? You're getting in the way of Alberan, who was about to show unprecedented development. What a hopeless sinner."
"Fufu, yes."
Bery’s shoulders shook, taking the taunts in amusement.
Tilting her head slightly, Kreschenta rubbed her cheek against Bery's right cheek.
"After making a fool of Onee-sama like that, how much irreversible damage are you going to cause? All my troubles and unpleasantness, everything, is your fault."
Then, lifting her arm, she touches Berry's cheek with her palm.
Tracing her outline and feeling her warmth.
"...It's all your fault."
She whispered and lowered her eyes.
“I hate you.”
"Yes. Fufu, I had said it before, right?"
She gently embraced her and lovingly said.
“I love Kreschenta-sama, and Kreschenta-sama’s words of ‘I hate you’ is replaced by “I love you” in my head…so please say it as much as you like.”
"You're not right in the head... utterly hopeless."
Kreschenta leaned her weight on her.
Feeling the sensation and warmth on her back.
After a pause, she called out.
"Argan-sama."
"…what is it?"
s
Kreschenta opened her mouth to ask, but no words came out.
‘It's nothing’, she said, shaking her head.
