Watashi wa Teki ni Narimasen! - Chapter 27.2

Chapter 27.2

“Was this…magic?”

Even if I couldn’t use it, I had still felt the abnormalities of the wind wolves and the failed magicians .

And though it was faint, I knew that this sensation was similar .

“Would I find a magician if I followed in this direction?”

As soon as this thought came to me, I immediately returned to the room I was assigned to after becoming a handmaiden .

And after changing into clothes that would be easier to ride in, I left a short note… There was a chance that I would not be able to return .

Charging forward like this in such a powerless state was a risky move, there was a nine-out-of-ten chance I would die . And so with trembling hands, I had written that they must presume I was dead and not come looking for me .

Then I went to the stables and saddled the horse that I was given, and set off . It was unlikely that I would ever find it, no matter how hard I tried, if I traveled on foot .

The gatekeeper was very familiar with my face, so a quick word of it being an emergency was all it took to get passed him .

And then I rode down the road into the darkness of the night .

The night road was quiet . Once you were away from the castle walls, all you could hear was the chirping of the night birds .

I would occasionally stop to confirm the direction I was headed . Even so, it felt like I would never arrive .

Finally, I allowed the horse to drink from the banks of a river and tied it to a tree .

Feeling that I should rest as well, I was just about to sit down, when something suddenly grabbed me by the arm . I was so surprised that I nearly jumped .

“Ahhh!”

Was it a thief!? Was it because I was a lone woman? I thought .

“It’s me, Lady Kiara . ”

I turned my eyes toward the calm voice . I was now accustomed to seeing in the dark, and I could see that it was Sir Wentworth who stood beside me .

His black hair and dark clothing blended in with the shadows, but I could see his slightly tanned face and light brown eyes .

A different kind of anxiety took over me .

When I had been first hired, he had once said that I might be considered a spy should I ever run .

What if the result of his suspicions would be to execute me right here and now?

But Sir Wentworth only sighed .

“I believe I know the reason you are so worried . I do not suspect you of running away . If anything, I am worried about you . Perhaps you had to leave home because it was too painful . ”

“Leave, home…”

Once I realized that my fears were groundless, my knees gave in and I slumped to the floor .

Sir Wentworth, who had been holding my arm, looked surprised .

“Are you hurt?”

“No . Not yet . ”

“? In any case, we should go back . ”

I shook my head to Sir Wentworth .

“…I can’t go back . I think that Alan and the Margrave and Margravine would not be happy if I returned now . ”

The girl suspected of being a spy could do nothing but spit out baseless lies .

It would be much better for such a girl to go far away, and not ever return . I had left because I knew that there was no way to make them believe me unless I became a magician .

I assumed that Sir Wentworth would ask, ‘Why?’ but he didn’t .

“Lord Alan told me about your conversation . ”

“What?”

The unexpected words continued .

“Furthermore, I’ve asked him to keep that information from anyone unless necessary . And I’ve persuaded him that you, Kiara, are not an enemy . It is settled . ”

“…Why, did you?”

No one would have heard my story and not have suspicions .

But Sir Wentworth had the look of a parent who smiles wryly at their crying child . Such a change in expression was rare for him, and it took me by surprise .

And then he continued .

“How could I suspect someone who tried to save her comrades at the cost of her pride as a maiden? Without you, more than a few would have been seriously wounded . You have my gratitude . ”

They were such pleasant words .

Hearing him say that was enough to make me teary-eyed .

But, wait just a moment .

“Um, Sir Wentworth . I must ask you, please forget about this business of my pride as a maiden…”

I said while wiping at the corner of my eyes . He laughed in a quiet, deep voice . It was a very different kind of voice compared to the ever composed Reggie or the bold and emotional Alan .

“Of course, I shall . But you are a very strange person . One moment you can run heroically through a battlefield with no regard for your own safety, the next, you say things fitting of a girl your age . ”

To such an impression of me…I did not know how to react .

“Well, uh, I’m not so young… I’m an adult now . ”

I had turned sixteen . Though, no matter how hard I tried, I could only recall memories of my past life up until I was fourteen . So once I had surpassed that age, it felt like taking a step into the future . But in any case, I was now old enough to marry . So there was no doubt that I was of age .

“That is right . Ahh, it seems a little awkward to keep calling me by my family’s name, so please just call me Cain . ” He casually brushed it aside .

Oh, was that Sir Wentworth’s name? Everyone else called him Wentworth, so I had assumed it was just his name .

“When I first started to serve the Margrave, there was another who had the same name, Cain . I’ve been called Wentworth ever since as to differentiate us . ”

“Ah, I see . ”

If there was someone else with the same name, that would make sense . Thinking back, there were also several ‘Alans’ as well .

“Now, lady Kiara, let us return to the castle . We are not able to keep guards on every corner of this territory, so places like this that are away from the roads can be dangerous . ”

“Yes, when such a time comes, I would like to return . Especially if Alan stays quiet… But, please let me search a little longer . ”

“Search?”

I nodded at Wentworth, now called Cain .

“I will look for a magician . ”

I could think of no other way to save everyone from the coming inferno . Even if I didn’t find anyone now, I would somehow come in contact with a magician even if it took me days .

I looked straight into Cain’s eyes as I made my declaration . But in my heart, I apologized to Reggie .

…I’m sorry, for breaking our promise .