The Daughter of Evil - Volume 2 - Chapter 4.12

♥CHAPTER 4, SECTION 1, SCENE 2♥
♥Clarith ~ Lucifenia Kingdom’s “Koopa’s Mansion” ~

“Clarith! Clarith!”

When I first entered Koopa’s mansion,  someone was calling my name and clinging on my leg. Man, I missed my little master.

“Ms. Yukina… I see you’re doing alright”

“That’s because my father, mother and brother is doing alright too!”

The Freesis family was imprisoned in Lucifenia and was released a few days ago. During the imprisonment, the Freesis Mansion was burned down so the whole family boarded into Koopa’s Mansion – is what I heard.

“I’ve been spending a lot lately. I’ll be expecting Keel to pay me back~”

Koopa said while holding his belly and with a smile on his face. Not only do they have a good relationship but he also helps in the better development of the Freesis Foundation.

I led Ms. Yukina into a room. When we arrive, Mrs. Freesis was also in that room.

“Clarith…! You’re safe!”

The lady got up from the sofa and clung unto me.

“I’m glad you’re safe and sound… You also lose some weight.”

“Lucifenia’s meals are of low standards. I want to eat your cooking”

“Thank you very much. I’ll begin preparing.”

I thought the lady would smile but she suddenly laughed.

“Clarith, forget it. You have to rest”

The beautiful lady’s smooth hand was on my cheek.

“Because of Michaela… You’re suffering.”

“……Is it true? That Michaela was killed?”

“The assassin described the “Daughter of Green’s” characteristics… There was no doubt about it.”

This is the reality I do not want to believe in. In the corner of my eye, tears were flowing.

“…Why… Michaela…Why…”

I collapsed and was lying on the floor, crying.

Everyone is dead. My mother is dead, the villagers are dead, Michaela is dead.

The gentle Michaela who was loved by all.

I would be glad if I was the one who died instead of her. Because of this thought, I should have fought against the Lucifenian soldiers before.

Why? Why is it always like this?

I could not help but cry. Mrs. Freesis and Ms. Yukina just silently stood beside me.

“Have you calmed down, Clarith?”

I finally stopped crying when my tears became dry.

“Your face looks terrible. Wipe it off with this.”

I took the handkerchief she gave me and used it to wipe off the tears.

(And my face)

Michaela also did the same at my mother’s funeral. As I reminiscent, my chest began to heat up.

“Clarith, are you OK?”

“I’m alright, Ms. Yukina… Say, where’s Mr. Keel?”

I realized I haven’t seen him when I got here. I asked the lady about him but my expression was a little uncomfortable.

“He is in the next room, talking to a guest”

“…I would like to say my greeting to him…”

“I think it’s OK. Keel also wanted to see you a while ago. And the guest seems to be a bit violent. I’m a bit worried… can you go check on him?”

The lady was really concerned about me.

“……OK”

I walked out of the room and knocked on the next door.

“I’m sorry if I’m bothering something but can I come in?”

“I don’t mind. Please come in!”

I opened the door and came in. Mr. Keel was pleased as he got up from his chair.

“I was worried about you, Clarith”

“Mr. Keel… about Michaela… I’m sorry I wasn’t able to carry out your orders…”

“It happened because of this war… Actually, I should be the one apologizing.”

“What…?”

“Ah, forget what I just said.”

Mr. Keel’s eye glasses suddenly clouded and tried to avoid eye contact with me.

“Mr. Keel…?”

“Do I need to leave?”

The person who spoke was a girl in red. That girl was a beauty whose short, brown hair matched her confidence. Standing by her side was a burly one-eyed fellow, who folded his arms unhappily. Just like his wife said, he gave off the impression of a brute.

“Ah, apologies. Let’s continue the conversation.”

“Sorry to disturb everyone, I’ll leave first.”

That man stared at me until I shrank back a little. That’s why after a hurried bowed, I prepared to leave. But the girl in red stopped me.

“Wait for a while. Mr Keel, if possible, I’d like this person to listen. Is this the person? The child named Clarith mentioned just now. Then she must be like us, hating Lucifenia’s ruler. In that case…”

“Wait, Germaine! You plan to drag her into this Resistance? Does she look like the type who’d participate in a war?”

“It’s good to have one more comrade. Anyway, it’s up to her to decide.”

The girl in red and the one-eyed man spoke at the same time. Resistance Army? War? What were they talking about. I sneaked a look at Mr Keel, he had an ugly expression.

“Clarith, I’ll start from the beginning so you can understand. I am Germaine, and he is York. We’re preparing to launch/initiate a revolution on Lucifenia. We’re here to beg for assistance… Honestly speaking, we’re short on both manpower and funds.”

Germaine stood up and begun to pace around the room as she spoke. She explained to me that the comrades are people who harbour resentment towards Lucifenia’s ruler, and to secure financial assistance, they would return to Mr Keel his properties which were confiscated by Lucifenia (but Mr Keel said that it (the properties) didn’t cost him much).

“Clarith, if you can’t accept your friend’s murder, join our revolutionary army. Don’t you want to personally avenge her?”

“……Let me think about it”

“I understand. This is a big deal to think about so think twice before deciding. But if you were to turn on us…”

Germaine had a threatening attitude towards me. Mr. Keel immediately replied to her:

“I can assure this. She will not tell on us.”

“……Mr. Keel, about your assistance…”

“Ah, I’m not good with these kinds of things. But I’ll be taking a look at it.”

Mr. Keel cleverly evaded the matter with Germaine. In fact, he doesn’t seem interested.

“We are sorry to have bothered you today and we thank you for your hospitality. York, let’s go!”

Germaine and York silently left the room together. As the door shut with a bang, I once again looked at Mr. Keel.

“……What frightening people”

“Aren’t they? But to me, they are just being bravado.”

“Really?”

“Haha, who knows. Clarith, you just came from Toragay which is very far right? You should get some rest. You are not a servant here but a guest. You should speak with one of Koopa’s servants.”

“Yes… I know”

A servant brought me into a room which had more space than our house in Yatski Village or in the servant’s room in the Freesis Mansion. As the fatigue suddenly overwhelmed me, I fell into bed. The bedding was soft, particularly comfortable to sleep on but I settled not to.

However, I was still able to sleep like in the past.

After a few days, I did not do anything except being Ms. Yukina’s play mate. My life became placid. All of the duties and cuisines were done by the servants of the mansion.

There was nothing I can do.

Was there no other way to save Michaela? If there was, I would like to go back in time. Although I knew it was impossible, but I kept thinking about it.

I wondered whether there was still hope. But for those who wish to wait before me(?), only infinite despair awaits you.

“Clarith, I’m coming in.”

I heard a knock on the door. It was Mr. Keel. He was as busy as he was in Elphegort. He hasn’t been sleeping recently; there were dark lines beneath his eyes.

“Mr. Keel… you should have called for me instead of coming here…”

“I don’t really care nowadays. Today, I would like to you about your future plans. Do you mind if I sit here?”

I replied with a “please”. Mr. Keel sat on the wooden chair near the entrance.

“I decided to help the rebel army. After I’ve done my investigations, it seems the revolutionary army is at an advantage.”

“……”

“What about you? Are you going to help them?”

I tried to avoid his confident eyes:

“No, I still refuse. I don’t have the courage to wield a sword”

I replied in a low voice.

Yes, I am a coward. While my hatred for the princess is growing, but the thought of venting it on her is what I’m afraid off.

I do not have the courage to kill.

“Well, I think that’s good. You aren’t fit to start a revolution.

Mr. Keel has guessed my answer. He continued:

“There are other things. Because the mansion was burned down, I’m planning to go back to Marlon. Although we have no good memories there, but the guy who used to live there is gone. Also, the things I can do here is limited.”

Marlon country… although I haven’t been there, there level of prosperity is same as Elphegort and Lucifenia despite being surrounded by the ocean.

“If you like, where do you want to continue as a domestic worker? It may not be applicable to you but it’s a livable place. I think you’ll get used to it soon enough.

Perhaps it’s a good idea. I began day dreaming about a life near the sea. But I still want it as before: cleaning Mr. Keel’s mansion, doing laundry, giving Ms. Yukina some cake and whenever I feel angry or sad, I would talk to Michaela in the garden at night…

No, it’s out of the question. It’s impossible to turn back time. There is no smiling, pleasant singing Michaela anymore.

The Michaela I loved is not here anymore.

Unknowingly, there were tears on my cheeks. I already decided not to cry anymore but memories still makes me teary.

Even after several days or maybe years, I might not be able to forget about Michaela.

“Thank you for the consideration, however, I’m sorry, I can’t go with you. Mr. Keel, no matter what I do…”

“You always think of Michaela, correct?”

“Yes……”

Keel stood up and went for the window to watch the scenery. From here, we could see the Levin Cathedral.

“Clarith, do you believe in God?”

“I did not in the past, but for the present… I do”

“Right”

He seems to be considering something. After a while, he spoke again:

“There is a port town in the west end of the country. There is an elder(?) who built a monastery there which is very rare in this country. Do you want to work there?”

“Do you want me to become a nun?”

“No, I don’t want you to become a nun. They have an orphanage there and they are also understaffed. Would you like to help them? It is a place near the sea, very suitable for some peace of mind. What do you think?”

“Near the sea…?”

During my time in Yatski Village, I have never seen the sea.

“If you like the life there, then you can be a nun. But I do hope you would come back to my house. Without you, Yukina would become lonely.”

Even so I still needed. However, I…

“Clarith, I have to bluntly say it – you have to accept Michaela’s death. While it is indeed sad, there is nothing you can do. But you are still alive. I don’t know how but you’re still alive. I hope you continue on living with a smile on. I think this is what Michaela would have wished for you to do.”

When I cry, Michaela also cries. When I laugh, do you also laugh in heaven?

“I don’t want you to say that you two are supposed to live together. Michaela is Michaela and you are you”

Michaela is watching over me. At the same time, she is also hoping that I can be strong. In response to her expectations, I have to work alone and become stronger in the future. If I become weak, Michaela would become sad.

“……I see. I want to go to the monastery sometime”

“Good, I’ll contact you. Clarith, you have to remember that even if you are separated from us, you are still part of the family”

“Thank you very much…”

He held out his hand and I firmly hold it.

The next day, I headed to the bar where Germaine and York is to give them a reply. Also, Mr. Keel wanted to talk to them.

After hearing my reply, Germaine was a little disappointed. But she didn’t force me anyway.

On the day for my departure to the port town monastery, Mr. Keel came to see me off.

Ms. Yukina cried and gave me a baby thick book. It is filled with her up-to-date stories.

The wagon started. I continued waving at them even when they were out of sight.

Thank you and Good bye.

I have another group of people to see.