Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon - Volume 1 - Chapter 20

Chapter 20 - Let's tell him the truth

"...All the troubles and secrets that you hold in your heart will soon become nothing of concern."

What was the true meaning behind those words?

If Kiyoka had done such an in-depth investigation on the Saimori family that he even found Hana, then it didn't matter if Miyo came clean about herself to him.

However, just what was on his mind when he said those words?

(Normally, I think that the matchmaking between Danna-sama and I should fall through once he finds out that I have not been blessed with psionic abilities.)

However, during the time she spent here, Miyo more or less had an understanding of what Kiyoka was like.

While she did not know how he was in the military, at the very least, Kiyoka had always been kind and gentle in front of her.

So perhaps, what he was trying to say wasn't what she was thinking of.

"...Hana, I don't know if I can have any faith in that."

"Ojou-sama."

"After all, unlike Kaya, I am not blessed with Paranormal Vision... Since I do not have any ability, I felt that I was utterly worthless."

Ability meant everything. If she had been born Talented, Miyo would have been given a completely different treatment in the Saimori family. Hence, the root course of her cruel fate was because she was born without an ability.

That was what she had always believed, but perhaps, there was something wrong with that thinking.

"I was afraid of being completely honest with Danna-sama as I didn't want to lose all this happiness because of it... I never once doubted that he would surely cast me aside once he finds out about the truth."

But if she thought about it, that was because she assumed that he was the same as her parents. She had assumed that Kiyoka was someone who judged her worth solely based on whether or not she had special abilities.

She should have talked to him sooner. Instead of going around in circles by herself, worrying that he was going to abandon her, she should've tried to find out what he meant by those words. Miyo hadn't realised it until now.

"I..."

Turning her gaze to the hair tie that she had made as a gift to Kiyoka which was placed beside the one that was still in the works.

She subconsciously clenched her hands tightly and when she turned back, she saw Hana looking at her with a serious expression.

"Have some courage, Ojou-sama... Kudou-sama is waiting for you."

"...!"

"It will be alright if it's Ojou-sama. This time, I will definitely be here to help you regardless of the outcome."

"...Thank you, Hana."

Miyo hugged Hana just as a young girl would to her mother.

In that instant, she could feel a wave of nostalgia wash over her. When she was younger, she would often bury her face in Hana's embrace whenever she felt like crying in order to hide her tears. And the hand that gently caressed her head was just as warm as she remembered.

"I-I will do my best."

As Miyo thought, she was still very worried about Kiyoka's response and she could still distinctly feel the anxiety in her heart.

But she had to be brave, even just a little. Just one step—she just needed that little bit of courage to take that step out of this room.

When Miyo lightly got out of Hana‘s embrace, she felt as if everything before looked much brighter than before.

She hurriedly grabbed the hair tie and ran out of the room.

Details like: Shouldn't Kiyoka be at work right now? had completely slipped her mind as she opened the sliding door to the living room.

"Danna-sama!"

She called out to him in a voice louder than she had expected.

The loud sound gave him a startle as Kiyoka lifted his head to look at Miyo with rounded eyes... He was dressed in casual everyday clothes with his long hair loosely draped over his shoulders. Coupled with that expression on his face, he appeared rather nonchalant.

Seeing this sight, Miyo somehow felt relieved.

"What happened... so suddenly..."

Something fairly unexpected happened—Kiyoka looked away from Miyo seemingly out of nervousness.

It was Miyo who was supposed to be the one who was afraid of talking to him, but right now, it appeared like it was the opposite.

Tightening her grasp on the hair tie in her hand, Miyo sat down right beside Kiyoka.

"Danna-sama, there's something that I've been keeping from you all this time."

Miyo's heart was pounding wildly from all the tension. Her back was drenched in cold sweat as she found it difficult to look directly at Kiyoka.

However, at this point, there was no way out of this anymore.

No matter how much she felt like running away, she had to move forward.

Just as Hana had said, Kiyoka seemed to be waiting for her to speak up this whole time,

"I... I..."

"..."

"-—I have no special abilities."

Once the first words left her lips, the rest of her confession flooded out like an open dam, as Miyo tried her hardest not to let her tears fall down her face.

"I don't even have Paranormal Vision. Although I am from the Saimori family, born from two ability users... I am without ability."

"..."

"I even stopped going to school after elementary education and I've been working as a servant in my family home. I am not well-educated and am unable to do anything typical of a lady of a prominent family. And my appearance is even more so...

That's why I'm really not suitable to be Danna-sama's partner."

Eventually, Miyo's head kept getting lower and lower and her body was constantly shrinking away as she spoke. She was virtually like a child being reprimanded.

Despite so, Miyo tried her best to continue on.

"If Danna-sama is enraged by this, that's only to be expected. After all, I deliberately stayed silent about this so despicably. I... don't want to be thrown away..."

Even though she thought she wouldn't cry, her tears were on the verge of bursting forth and her voice had turned tearful.

She really was the worst. Seeing her behaviour, it probably looked as if she hoped to seek his forgiveness through her tears. Even though that was exactly the kind of cowardly act she did not want to do.

"If Danna-sama wants me to leave, I will leave, If you wish for my life, I will gladly take end it right now."

"..."

"I made this to express my apologies and gratitude towards you. If you don't want it, please go ahead and throw it away or burn it."

Miyo placed the hair tie on the tatami mat and bowed her head deeply, prostrating just as she did when she first arrived.

"Thank you for your kindness thus far. —Above was all the words I had to say to you. May I ask for you to tell me your judgment, Danna-sama?"

He did not give her an immediate reply.

After a moment of silence, unable to see the expression Kiyoka had on right now, Miyo couldn't help but tightly shut her eyes as she awaited his answer.

"—-How long are you going to remain like that?"

When did she hear those words before?

She was given a start when she raised her head and saw a slightly mischievous smile on his face.

However, it was only for a moment, because in the next, her vision had become pitch-black.

"I can't let you leave. After all, I am planning on making our engagement official in the near future."

Kiyoka's large palm gently held the back of Miyo's head as the faintest hint of a refreshing scent wafted into her nose. It was his favourite scent.

Miyo realised that her head was being pressed against his chest as he held her in his arms. And with the added impact from the words "official engagement", her mind had completely blanked out.

"D-D-Danna-sama..."

"Do you hate it? The life here with me?"

(W-What is happening...)

Her heart was still pounding really loudly, but this time, it was in a different sense. Her cheeks which had lost all colour from her nervousness were now flushed. She had turned so red one might even have the illusion that steam was coming off of her cheeks.

However, she was abruptly released while her mind was still in a mess.

And when she looked up at Kiyoka, she saw that his ears had turned a little red.

"I-I..."

She was still completely baffled by the situation, but she wanted to convey her thoughts properly.

Being asked if she wanted to continue staying here, the answer was obvious, of course she did. There's no other place in this world that could give her as much happiness as this house.

(But is it really possible?)

Kiyoka still wanted to be engaged to her even after she came clean to him about her circumstances.

Then, who else‘s permission was needed?

There was only one answer.

"I want to stay here if Danna-sama permits it."

"What's that about permission?"

Kiyoka chuckled.

"My only wish is for you to stay here and not anyone else."

"...Yes..."

Miyo completely understood it now, she was needed by Kiyoka.

She was so overwhelmed with joy, she felt like she was about to cry again. If all the pain and suffering she had endured up to now was to lead her to this moment, then it was all worth it. If the things she had lost in the past was the price for her to be with this man before her, it was a price she was willing to pay.