TOM Chapter 35

"I have something to tell you, Minuet."

The moment the ceremony ended, I opened the door to Minuet's room.

I might get kicked out of Bonetti for this, but that might be for the better.

I had already achieved my purpose, and I didn't have time to get entangled in other matters.

Moreover, there was no guarantee that if I got wrongly involved and died, it would end with just one count.

"Talk later."

Minuet didn't even look at me properly.

I was about to call her again, but before I could, she suddenly raised her head.

"No, if not now, I won't have time to listen. Keep it short."

I stepped inside and closed the door.

Then, without even exhaling, I spoke.

"Count's death is because of me."

At my blunt words, Minuet's face contorted without pretense.

She strode toward me.

"That assassin was trying to kill me. I'm thinking of taking responsibility—"

Minuet, who had rushed right up to me, grabbed my collar.

It was an uncharacteristically violent action for her, but it was natural for her to be this angry.

However, I couldn't help but be surprised by the words that came out of her mouth.

"You, you really don't know? Why father entered your waiting room that day."

"......"

"Father was trying to kill you."

Minuet was just as blunt.

I slowly blinked and answered.

"I had a feeling."

Other than trying to harm me, what other reason would there be to secretly enter the waiting room?

I had already scraped the count raw with corruption charges.

I roughly caught on when Minuet stopped mid-way through giving me the congratulatory drink.

That the count was plotting something.

And that Minuet had stopped it midway.

"Knowing that, you were going to say father died because of you?"

"The count's attempt failed. It's a separate incident."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Minuet shouted irritably.

"What! So what are you trying to say? Do you feel guilty? Do you want me to blame you, Siora?"

"......"

"Is that worthless bastard who tried to kill you and got killed by an assassin with the same purpose worth all that?"

"Minuet..."

"He deserved to die, I know that too! It just sucks that such a person was my father."

She ran her trembling hand through her hair.

"Don't make me out to be a fool who can't calculate. That was a deserved end, and it was my burden to bear."

Was she talking to me, or to herself?

Minuet couldn't hide her agitation and was letting it show completely.

"Sometimes I thought there was something off about you, Siora."

"......"

"What you should feel now isn't guilt but anger. And if you still have energy left after that, then pity."

"You want me to pity you?"

"......Yes."

She swallowed dryly and spoke forcefully.

Her two eyes, glaring at me as if staring me down, boiled with deadly anger.

"Pity me and feel sorry for me. Then bring me father's killer. That's all I want."

It was sad anger.

So much so that not being able to answer was heartbreaking.

Eleven years ago, on a day when rain poured down as if a hole had been punched in the sky.

The cat that Kruelo had grown fond of died.

A hunting dog that had been docile rushed out and bit the cat.

"Oh my, at least it didn't bite the young master. I'll take care of this dog myself, so don't worry."

The 9th Elder, Qudil, disappeared with the dog, grinning.

Kruelo buried the cat in the back garden and cried.

It wasn't simply because that small creature had disappeared.

Endless fear opened its maw from beneath his feet and whispered.

'You fall down here too.'

Everything Kruelo had grown fond of died.

His parents, the servants, even the cat he had merely petted affectionately.

He must have been abandoned by God.

What if this takes away all the remaining people too?

The child cried loudly with his hands covered in dirt.

Because of that, he didn't notice Amy's presence until she came close.

"Roy?"

The child was startled when he saw the umbrella held over his head.

Had she seen his crying face? He was embarrassed, but only for a moment.

The misery accumulated in his short life overwhelmed his shame.

"Sorry Amy, please go back today."

"Are you crying?"

"No. Leave me alone. I just want to be alone—"

"Why are you crying? Roy, look at me. Why are your hands like that, what's that grave you made in front?"

"I said it's fine!"

When the grave was finally mentioned, Kruelo burst out shouting.

He regretted it as soon as he said it.

"S-sorry. Amy, I just......"

"Uh... no, it's okay. I can hear what happened next time, you don't have to tell me. Just... I'll do whatever you want. Should I just go back today?"

"......No. Don't go, Amy. I'm sorry. Stay with me."

Kruelo grabbed Amy while choking up.

Only then did Amy release her stiff, flustered expression and hug the child.

The falling rain was cold and Amy was small.

But leaning on that small warmth, Kruelo cried his heart out.

The hand awkwardly patting his back was incredibly warm.

After doing that for a while, when he finally composed himself from crying, the two children sat leaning against the outer wall of the building.

Kruelo suddenly spoke up.

"Should I learn magic?"

It was a sudden thought.

If he had power, he could have protected that little cat.

Maybe he should prepare for misfortunes that might happen in the future.

"......Suddenly?"

"Eden recommended it. He said it wouldn't hurt to learn."

"Ah, that Grand Elder's son......"

Amy made an indescribable expression and then spoke.

"Magic takes too long to learn. Swordsmanship would be better. It's also good for mental discipline and makes your body healthy."

"Sword... I've never thought about that."

"Should I teach you? You can try it and stop if you don't like it. But it'll be fine. Moving your body without thinking clears your mood."

"Mm."

"Are you doubting me? Well, Lord Royalsand's skills are terrible, so that's understandable. Let me tell you, I'm different!"

Amy puffed out her chest and shouted.

"Alright, Roy. Let's spar with wooden swords. If you hit me even once, I'll grant you a wish!"

At those words, Kruelo swallowed back his refusal.

It was less than before, but the rain was still drawing white lines.

He didn't want to mess around with wooden swords at a time like this, but the mention of a wish was definitely attractive.

Amy was small and got tired with just a little movement, so he could probably win quickly.

Kruelo nodded.

However, Amy's confidence wasn't baseless bravado.

"Again!"

How could that heavy, clumsy wooden sword fly around like a butterfly?

No matter how much Kruelo swung his sword until his mouth tasted sweet, he couldn't reach the child. Amy slipped just beyond his blade, the wooden sword cutting only air.

But gradually possibilities arose, and finally—

"I won!"

Amy, struck on the wrist, opened her eyes wide in surprise and then collapsed.

No, she deliberately lay down.

"Amy! S-sorry. Did it hurt a lot?"

Amy shook her head and said while panting.

"My stamina is terrible."

The girl caught her breath for a while.

How could she use a sword so well yet have such poor stamina?

The Amy ghost theory resurfaced in Kruelo's mind, but he soon shook his head.

A ghost wouldn't be this kind.

Amy, who had barely composed herself, slowly got up.

"Amy, are you okay—"

"Ah."

"Ah?"

A grape-flavored candy entered the mouth of the boy who had reflexively opened it.

Sweet.

A little melted but warm.

Kruelo didn't usually enjoy sweet things much, but that day's candy was special.

The child chewed happily, dissolving happiness in his mouth.

"Are you feeling a bit better?"

Kind and warm words.

Even though it should have been a happy situation, inexplicable sadness welled up.

The misery he thought had vanished pressed down on the child again like a weight.

Tears welled up and Kruelo buried his face against his knees.

Then he mumbled to Amy, who was fluttering around in panic, speaking incoherently.

"Why is Amy so good to me?"

Like a broken tear duct, it burst again.

Kruelo simply couldn't stop crying.

As if the endless weeping wasn't enough, even his tongue betrayed him, moving of its own accord.

"Even my parents weren't this good to me. Eden wasn't this much either."

"Uh, um. Roy......? You're not crying because of me, are you? Did I do something wrong?"

"It's strange. That's why I'm anxious. Amy being good to me all feels like a dream. Why, why is that?"

"That's, that's......"

Amy fluttered around helplessly, rolling her eyes quickly.

"Because you're pretty and rich, and you'll become a tremendous power holder soon!"

For a moment, Kruelo's tears stopped.

Surprised by the very materialistic words, the child opened his eyes wide and raised his head.

But he wasn't disappointed by those words.

Then.

"If I keep being pretty and rich, if I become a duke, will you keep being good to me?"

"What are you saying, Roy! You should be angry at times like this! How is it that you have less common sense than me!"

Amy contorted her face and shouted.

"Be angry? But......"

"Try following along! 'Darling, are you meeting me for my face?'"

"Dar... darli..... I can't do it! How can I say such cheesy words!"

Roy, who had been inadvertently following Amy's words, made a tearful face.

Then soon, as if promised, both children burst into laughter.

They laughed until their stomachs hurt for no particular reason.

During that time, the rain gradually stopped.

A beam of light through the gap in the clouds made a long line on Amy's face.

Kruelo stared at that sight as if mesmerized.

"The reason I'm good to you isn't very cool. You'd be angry if you knew."

"......What is it? Can't you tell me?"

"Mm...... I was told not to say."

By whom?

He wanted to ask, but because Amy's expression was so strange, Kruelo couldn't bring himself to ask.

Instead, he carefully brought up another topic.

"Amy, you said you'd grant a wish earlier."