Breaking Off the Engagement… Just as Intended - Chapter 9

I breathed in the clean air, basking underneath the warm sunlight.

Yesterday’s delightful weather survived through the night and colored today’s sky. Surely, this must be a blessing sent from above to oversee our journey home. Sana and I set forth on the road aheadーour hearts as light as the subtle bounce in our steps.

I didn’t forget the letter that Father entrusted me to give to Mother. I made a mental note to hand it over the moment I see her as per his instructions.

The two of us maintained a gentle stride, but we wouldn’t reach the territory until roughly tomorrow evening; and that’s including our one overnight stay in town. It’s feasible to arrive by the end of the day, but since there’s no urgent matter to imbue us with haste, we pressed on with our current pace.

However, something must have caught Sana’s eye because she kept looking back over her shoulder. Was it possible that she didn’t want to go back?

「What’s wrong, Sana? Do you not want to go back to the territory?」

Sana snapped to attention, as if I snatched her away from a far-off place.

「Hm? Oh, that’s not it. It’s an overdue homecoming, I’m happy about this.」

「Then, how come you keep looking over your shoulder? Is there something that’s bothering you?」

She pressed her lips together and glanced up, choosing her words with care.

「No, there’s really nothing at all. But, rather, it’s because there is nothing strange is what I find strange.」

It’s strange that there’s nothing strange? Rather than an explanation, isn’t this just some sort of riddle?

I considered her words, savoring them in my mind and combing through each possible answer in order to uncover the truth behind this ‘riddle’. The challenge and the spontaneity of it all made me giddy and the overall mood was much more lively than before.

Sana kept stealing glances behind her, but we arrived in town without incident. We were on schedule, just as planned. With no apparent trouble awaiting us, we were able to acquire room for the night.

I entered the room and took a moment to rest my weary bones.

「Lady Lilliana, would it be better if I were to book another room for myself?」

I was surprised that she would make that request.

「Do you find it unpleasant to share a room with me? In the old days, we would bunk in the same room.」

Sana balked at the idea.

「What are you saying? For a mere servant to share the same quarters as her Lady is…」

Her voice tapered off, but her reluctance was as clear as our difference in rank. I held my ground.

「Sana, it’s been a long time since we spoke, not as master and servant, but as friends. Ever since we left home, we haven’t been able to chat at all.」

I could feel my sense of propriety slipping, and I nearly begged her to stay with me, even drawing out her name.

「Oh, Sana! Please! Won’t you stay?」

She buckled under my insistence and sighed.

「I understand. I’ll stay. You’re right, Lady Lilliana. It’s has been awhile. Then, shall we chat like we did back in the old days?」

Finally, Sana relented and indulged my plea. It was never possible to enjoy even a simple conversation with her since she bore plenty of responsibilities back at the Royal Capital.

And for the first time, in a very long time, we reminisced about the past. Back to back, Sana and I exchanged stories that filled us with glee that only grew with each passing memory. Not wanting to break from our stories, we decided to enjoy an early dinner in our room.

We drank tea that Sana brought while talking about a certain story from our childhood.

「…Geez, that’s why at that time I thought my heart would just give out, then and there!」

Sana nodded.

「Yes, I was shocked too. To think that Sir Ricardo fell from that height…」

「Right? When he suddenly appeared out of thin air, I instinctively drew my sword from its sheath. You don’t just fall on people when they are out for a walk.」

「Nevertheless, his reason was so that he could harvest a berry from the tree… It’s amazing that Sir Ricardo didn’t suffer any injuries.」

I paused for a moment to recall the reason why Brother wanted the berry in the first place, and then it occurred to me.

「I remember now! He did it all for Lady Chris!」

「Lady Chris? If I’m not mistaken, she came to the territory to help facilitate her recuperation.」

「Yes, that’s the one! I didn’t know the full extent of her condition nor her background, but whenever I saw her, she exuded an air of nobility. But, she only stayed for about half a year. Her condition improved significantly though, after taking the medicinal herbs from the forest. Compared to the first time I saw her, it was like Lady Chris’s illness was completely gone.」

Sana agreed with me.

「That’s true. It really is a beautiful thing to remember and say that her illness was a fleeting thing of the past.」

A year prior to when I first met Prince Leon, someone came to our estate in hope to recover their ailing healthーthis person was Lady Chris. I may address her as such, but this wasn’t her true name or official title. She came here in secret, and there was no one to verify who she was, but Lady Chris appeared to be the same age as Brother.

At first, all she could do was lie down in bed. But, bit by bit, she regained her vitality each day.

I believe Brother was fond of Lady Chris, but it would be more accurate to say he was absolutely smitten with her. There were times when Lady Chris would step out for some fresh air and Brother always attended to her without fail. I would see them as I passed by, and they would often laugh during their conversations.

Lady Chris treated me with kindness and whenever she caught sight of me, she would smile and come speak with me.

As her constitution returned anew, the two of us ventured out to the nearby forest when it was suitable to travel. It was here that I witnessed Lady Chris’s archery and her ability was a splendid sight to behold.

My heart racked against my chest as I took in her appearance, drawing back the bowstring. Even now, I can still remember the throbbing, yet painful sensation. There’s never been anyone else who could replicate and coax such an emotion out of me ーsave the only exception, Lady Chris.

I didn’t utter a word as I gazed long at her form, but she noticed and managed a bashful smile that dazzled just like a goddess straight out of a fairy tale.

「I have no doubt that Lady Chris will become even more beautiful as she reaches adulthood. Do you think Brother would like to meet her again?」

「Sir Ricardo? I wonder… But, I do believe there is a sense of yearning on his end.」

「He doesn’t have a fiancee, but if the two of them were to be married, I would be overjoyed. However…」

Sana tilted her head at my suggestion.

「Oh? You don’t believe Lady Chris and Brother are suited for one another?」

「I do believe they complement each other, but it would be difficult…」

「Well, I understand your point. They haven’t met for about eight years, after all.」

Our idle banter kept us wide-awake well into the night, until we finally fell asleep. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to relax and enjoy myself.

And tomorrow we will arrive at the territory, but today, I’ll just fall fast into my dreams.

~~~~

Translator’s Note: I just started a summer session/class, so updates may be sparse in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I’ll try to edit the first few chapters so that the writing styles are more consistent and cohesive with the more recent ones.

It’s a slow start with this series, but things seem to pick up later on. Although, I can’t say for sure since I’m not that far ahead and I don’t want to spoil anyone.

Also, I tried to contact the author (Meiri/Mary) on syosetsu to gain their permission to translate their work, but I wasn’t able to since I don’t have an active Japanese mail address to contact them. I tried to message them through their homepage where I was prompted for one, so a dead end there and there’s no contact information anywhere else.

This goes without saying, but this is not my original work, but a mere translation. I’m already doing this without permission, so I’m in murky water already, but I believe I’m all right since I’m not publishing this as my own and especially not for any monetary means.

So, please, do not share this translation anywhere else. I doubt this little translation receives any traffic or if the original author would take notice (or maybe they would and take offense), but I don’t want to stop using this as a source of studying Japanese just because someone mistreated this work. Of course, if the original author asked me to take this all down, I would in a heartbeat.

Anyways, thanks for reading!