༺ Family ༻
“Aria, just relax and look around. Frey isn’t anywhere nearby, right?”
“Never mind, let it go.”
Aria confidently entered the inn with an angry expression.
“Excuse me.”
“Y-yes, of course…”
The innkeeper had a small and delicate stature. Facing Aria, she couldn’t help but sweat and bow.
“How can we serve you?”
Aria, adorned in shining armor with a dignified gaze, embodied the image of a noble lady from a prestigious family.
“……….”
Furthermore, the attendants and soldiers standing behind her with eyes wide open added an inevitable tension to the situation.
“Please cooperate for a moment.”
Aria looked at the bowing innkeeper and spoke sharply while taking something out of her pocket.
“Oh, what’s this…?”
“I’m sorry for the interruption.”
She handed over a pouch of gold coins.
“T-Thank…”
“…Use this gold for compensation if the guests complain. I’ll provide more than enough, so don’t worry.”
Interrupting the innkeeper’s attempt to express gratitude, Aria calmly instructed and then turned away coldly.
“Search thoroughly. Leave no stone unturned. Make sure not a single rat escapes.”
“Got it!”
Upon that command, the stern-faced soldiers fanned out in all directions.
“Hmm…”
Observing the soldiers with a serious expression, Aria quietly strolled away.
“…….!!”
She walked straight toward Frey and his companions.
“Master, what’s our move?”
“Hush, stay calm. I’m still in Serena’s disguise, remember?”
“…Oh!”
Lulu, initially frightened, relaxed.
“Umm…..”
“Eek!”
However, when Aria approached them and looked at Lulu suspiciously, beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she averted her gaze.
“I’m sure… she was seated on that person’s lap…”
Lulu swiftly dropped to the floor when Aria entered, but Aria had caught that fleeting moment.
“…Am I just imagining things?”
Like most people, Aria dismissed it as a mistake and walked past.
“Phew.”
Sighing in relief, Lulu turned to Serena for advice.
“Uhh, uhm…”
Serena was dozing off for some reason, appearing quite drowsy.
– Thump…!
“W-Why are you behaving like this?”
Serena wobbled for a moment before slumping onto the table and closing her eyes, and Lulu asked in a panicked voice.
“The sunrise…”
“What?”
“The sun rose earlier than I expected.”
Beside Lulu, Frey stared at the sun peeping through the window.
“…Once Serena wakes up, let’s leave immediately.”
“Sure, got it!”
Frey then finished his beer.
“Hmm, hmmmm.”
“……?”
Someone approached Frey, clearing their throat.
“I’ll just do a quick check.”
“………”
Isolet, observing the disguised Frey, awkwardly murmured.
.
.
.
.
.
“Excuse me, I need to conduct a quick check…”
One of the soldiers, who had thoroughly searched the area, slowly approached Frey.
“These people are under my investigation.”
“Oh, I see. My apologies!”
Seated at an empty table with a beer, Isolet said, making the soldiers salute and swiftly move away.
After discreetly surveying the surroundings, Isolet whispered to Frey.
“…Just give it a moment.”
“I’ll protect you until the inspection concludes.”
Frey crossed his arms and asked quietly.
“How did you recognize me?”
“I’ve pledged allegiance to you. Our connection is strong.”
“Is that so? I’m not well-versed in knightly oaths.”
Frey replied bluntly, and Isolet spoke softly.
“You’re my lord, Frey. I’m your knight.”
“And?”
“I’m bound to you. That’s why I can always sense your presence. So…”
She took Frey’s hand, whispering.
“…I’ll always come running, no matter where you are.”
Frey’s gaze slightly wavered at her words.
“Nice to see you understand your place.”
“Eek!?”
Abruptly, Frey put his leg over Isolet’s leg with a devilish smile, causing her to groan in surprise.
“F-Frey, this isn’t the time for…”
“Speak formally.”
“…This isn’t the right time, my Lord.”
“Hmph, is that so…?”
Frey’s ‘Villainization,’ which had been dormant after his one-night outburst, surfaced again.
“But didn’t I explicitly tell you not to follow me?”
“T-That… There was a reason…”
“It seems I need to punish you for disobeying me, right?”
Frey found Isolet’s unwavering love cute in his slightly intoxicated state, setting off this chain of events.
– Rustle…
“Ugh.”
Frey’s leg on Isolet’s lap subtly moved inward.
“Stay still… sister.”
“Lord… Frey, this isn’t appropriate right now…”
“Why? Isn’t it more thrilling to be punished in such a situation…?”
“…Ah.”
As Frey’s foot touched her lower abdomen, Isolet blushed and lowered her head.
– Swish, swish…
“Why resist… Sister? Are you enjoying this?”
“No, I…”
While Frey playfully observed Isolet, he got caught up in the desire to tease her, slowly rubbing his foot on her abdomen.
“S-Stop it…”
“What? What did you say?”
“N-Nothing…”
Trying to stop Frey, Isolet had no choice but to stay silent, suppressing her groans to avoid attention as he raised his voice.
“Y-Your clothes…”
“What about them?”
“……..”
She sat still, shivering for a moment, and then realization struck – she had been wearing the same shirt for a week, the one Frey had made her wear forcefully.
“L-Let’s stop this now, for real…!”
Dizziness washed over her, and she clenched her fists, sending a warning to Frey, who grinned while teasing her.
“A pervert getting aroused by his disciple, someone she’s known since childhood.”
“……..!”
“Pathetic… and useless teacher.”
“………”
As Frey, covering his mouth and giggling, abruptly pressed his foot against her abdomen, she bowed and fell silent.
“M-Master…”
“You too, Lulu. I’ll punish you twice as hard later, so be ready…”
Lulu, who was looking at Frey with anticipation, started to become restless, worrying if Isolet would also be consumed by him.
“…P-Please, clear your mind!”
Finally, after much turmoil, Lulu prioritized her master’s well-being over her desires. With her shining Magic Eyes she commanded Frey as he reached for her neck.
“…Ah.”
Frey, who had been wiggling his toes on Isolet’s twitching abdomen, suddenly came to his senses.
“L-Lulu?”
“Uh…”
Frey staggered momentarily as his head cleared up, yet again today. He looked worriedly at Lulu, who was covering her eyes.
“…..?”
Feeling something soft yet firm under his foot, he tilted his head in confusion.
“…Oh no.”
Frey glanced under the table and realized his foot was still touching Isolet’s now-limp abdomen. He broke out in a cold sweat.
“T-That’s enough punishment, Sister.”
Frey removed his foot from Isolet’s soft abdomen, then discreetly glanced around and said.
“L-Looks like… the search is winding down, right?”
After looking around earnestly, the soldiers and the servants were indeed winding down and gathering on the inn’s first floor.
“Have you thoroughly searched? There might have been crucial information.”
“We’re certain there was nothing!”
“We couldn’t find a trace.”
Aria stood in the front, questioning the soldiers and servants, who provided their updates.
“Hmm…”
Aria looked troubled, stroking her chin, then shook her head.
“Retreat. My bro… Frey has already left this place.”
“W-Well then…”
“However, his traces are definitely here.”
The expressions of the forces turned serious.
“I can faintly sense steller mana. It’s weak, but its lingering presence indicates he hasn’t been gone long.”
“In that case…!”
“There’s a high chance he’s within a two-kilometer radius. Spread out and start searching the surrounding area.”
As Aria turned to leave, the forces exited the inn.
“I’ll manage the aftermath and catch up, so make sure to cover as wide a radius as you can.”
With those words, Aria approached the innkeeper, who observed her closely, and she handed over another pouch of gold coins.
“I-It went according to plan, Sister…?”
Frey observed the situation silently and soon spoke to Isolet.
“Once Aria departs, we can stay here a bit longer and then quietly slip away, right?”
“………”
“Sister?”
When Isolet showed no response, a perplexed Frey whispered.
“Are you okay?”
“……Frey.”
Isolet, who had been barely restraining her urges, lifted her head.
“Let’s… talk later…”
Her voice trembled as she struggled to stand up, gripping her wobbly legs.
“……!”
Turning around, she found Aria standing beside her with a surprised expression.
“Brother.”
“……..”
Yet, Aria didn’t even glance at Isolet, her gaze fixed coldly on Frey.
“How did you…”
“You thought I wouldn’t recognize my own brother?”
Aria mercilessly interrupted Frey, her voice chilling as she moved forward.
“I knew it was you the moment I walked in.”
“Then why did those people…”
“Forget it, just follow me.”
Aria headed toward Frey’s room.
“…We need to talk.”
She added coldly, looking at Frey beside her.
“Perhaps a conversation that might be our last.”
Leaving those words, Aria quietly walked into the room.
“………”
And for a while, silence lingered in the inn.
“……”
.
.
.
.
.
“F-Frey, are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“It’s fine.”
“I-If you want to, I can join…”
“…I said it’s fine.”
About to follow Aria, Frey firmly pushed Isolet away as she tried to come after him.
“B-But…”
“This is a family matter.”
Isolet, still wanting to be with Frey, fell silent at his words.
‘Family…..’
Her life’s wish, set aside when she became his knight, stirred again.
‘I also want to be treated as family by Frey…’
Frey’s retreating figure looked lonely and desolate.
“…Hmm.”
Frey swallowed nervously, his face reflecting an indescribable fear.
“Just wait a moment, Frey.”
Overcoming her desires, Isolet, filled with protective and maternal instincts, grabbed his arm.
“Take… this.”
“…What’s this?”
“M-My gift to you.”
Isolet then took out the long-awaited ring of oath.
“For a knight, the oath ring carries great significance. Losing it could lead one to consider taking their own life…”
“…….”
“Regardless… this ring will protect you. So, don’t be too nervous…”
“…Thanks, Sister.”
Isolet blushed and rambled, her hopes coming true at this moment, but she fell silent as Frey expressed his gratitude.
“Be strong, Frey.”
She gazed at him momentarily, gently patting his back, and spoke softly.
“…Wherever you are, this ring will signify that someone is there to help you.”
As she finished, Frey relaxed and lightly touched her abdomen, then he remarked.
“Not bad… for a lousy sister.”
In that warm atmosphere, they approached the door.
“But, Frey… which finger should the ring go on…”
Isolet, feigning indifference, sneakily glanced at Frey’s fingers.
“………!!!”
She was shocked.
“What’s wrong? Sister?”
She had hoped Frey would put the ring on his left ring finger, but it already had a ring.
“………”
Isolet had seen this ring of purity glowing white before. The issue now was that it was…
“…Sister?”
Frey’s ring of purity had turned black.
“Aaah…..”
“Well, I should go then…?”
Isolet’s emotions spiraled out of control, and as Frey turned to leave the room, she reached out blankly.
– Click…
But the door was cold-heartedly slammed shut.
“………”
Isolet’s eyes, staring blankly at the closed door, slowly lost their spark.
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