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Waking up early that morning, I decided to take a stroll before it was time to meet up with everyone from Twilight Moonbow. Before I knew it, I had walked to a hill on the outskirts of town, a spot I frequented often.
"I wonder if Big Sister is doing okay..."
I caught myself muttering as I gazed at the pale, hazy moon while the sun began to peek over the horizon.
Last month, Selma—my big sister—headed for Daluane alongside the Princess.
I had heard from her that they were friends, but the fact that the Princess had relied on her during such a trying time meant that my sister was a significant figure in her life. My sister really was amazing.
It was something to be truly proud of. As her little sister, I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride myself.
And yet, the fact that her destination was Daluane left me with nothing but anxiety. She and Father had once had a terrible fight, and their relationship remained strained to this day.
The cause of that rift was me.
I felt a deep sense of guilt over it, but at the same time, I felt a spark of joy knowing just how much she loved me. I wondered... was I being petty for feeling that way?
Daluane was the city ruled by our father, Count Claudel. To be honest, I didn't have many fond memories of my time there. That was especially true after my sister became an Explorer, as Mother’s treatment of me only grew harsher.
Back then, that house was my entire world, and Mother was the god of that world. I had been desperate to live as quietly as possible, terrified of doing anything to incur her wrath.
But then, my sister had taken me by the hand and led me into a new world.
To me, that world was the very definition of fresh. Everything in it seemed to sparkle. My sister was at the center of it all, and I still remembered how moved I was seeing her being so relied upon by everyone. Unlike Mother, who invoked the family name whenever anything happened, my sister had won that trust through her own strength.
I decided to become an Explorer because I wanted to be a part of that world. I was so happy when she didn't oppose my choice, but instead respected it.
Since then, I had learned the basics of the trade at the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky, formed a party with Carol and Log, gained a reassuring master in Orun-san, and even gained a dependable companion in Big Sis Ruu. My life had become vibrant and colorful, incomparable to those dark days of the past.
Now, I could say it with my head held high.
The Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky was my home, and the place I belonged was wherever my comrades in Twilight Moonbow were.
"Oh, look at the time! If I don't head back now, I'll be late for the meeting!"
I had been so lost in thought while watching the clouds drift through the morning sky that time had slipped away. Realizing this, I turned on my heel and began the walk back to the Clan Headquarters.
As I descended the hill and made my way forward, a carriage suddenly pulled out from the side and screeched to a halt right in front of me.
"—!"
Startled, I tried to step around it to continue on my way, but I froze the moment I saw the crest emblazoned on the side.
Why... Why is this carriage here?
As I stood there paralyzed, a man's voice drifted out from inside. "Finally. I've found you."
"How... Why...?"
My body began to tremble with fear against my will. A man in his late thirties wearing a tailcoat stepped out of the carriage.
"Honestly, for a mere slip of a girl with such lowly blood to cause me this much trouble... you've certainly grown quite full of yourself, haven't you, Sophia?"
The man in the tailcoat—Aldo-san—sneered at me with a vulgar look in his eyes.
Aldo-san had served as Father's right hand for many years. I had heard he was already in that position before I was even born. He was one of the people who had treated me with nothing but contempt when I lived in that house, and he had thrown heartless insults at me more times than I could count.
Just looking at his face brought back a flood of those cruel memories. My legs shook, and my heart raced in panic.
"W-Why are you here, Aldo-san?"
"Hah... Isn't it obvious? I have business with you."
Aldo-san let out a weary sigh, his tone dripping with the implication that I was an idiot for even asking.
"Business... with me?"
I was completely bewildered. The common understanding among everyone associated with the Claudel House was that it didn't matter whether I existed or not. In fact, since my sister had taken me away, the family had ignored me entirely. I thought my connection to them had been severed.
So why now? Why would Father send someone as important as Aldo-san all the way to Tsutrail? I couldn't wrap my head around their goal.
"Be grateful. You have a marriage proposal."
Ignoring my confusion, Aldo-san dropped a second bombshell.
"............What?"
My mind went completely blank.
A marriage proposal? As in... getting married? Me?
Aldo-san scowled at my reaction, muttering something about how I was "as slow as ever" before speaking again.
"How long are you going to stand there looking like a fool? Get in the carriage. The Count is making preparations for your wedding. He and I are wasting precious time on someone like you. Do not make us work any harder than we already have."
"B-But, you can't just... so suddenly..."
"I hear you're currently in an Explorer party called 'Twilight Moonbow' with a group of commoners."
My heart skipped a beat. Aldo-san had suddenly pivoted to a topic completely unrelated to the marriage. I realized exactly why he was bringing them up now, and a cold sweat broke out across my body.
"Count Claudel’s power is immense. Eliminating three mere commoners would be child's play for him."
His words confirmed my worst fears.
"W-Wait, please! Please, don't do anything to them! I'm begging you!"
Pleading was the only weapon I had left. I knew my friends in Twilight Moonbow were strong. Physically harming Carol and the others would be difficult. But there were many ways to eliminate people besides physically killing them. For Count Claudel, the man who ruled the region near the gateway to the Kingdom, the options were endless.
Even if I resisted here, I would only be delaying the inevitable. I didn't want my friends to suffer because of me. If anything happened to them, I would never be able to forgive myself.
"If you want them safe, then fulfill your 'duty' as a noble's daughter. It is the choice that leads to the happiness of all the citizens in the territory."
"I... I understand. I'll go..."
"Hmph. You should have just obeyed from the start."
"U-Um, at least let me say goodbye to my friends..."
"There's no need for that. Now, get in."
He rejected my final plea, grabbed me by the wrist, and half-forced me into the carriage.
The wheels began to turn. My head was a whirlwind of guilt for disappearing without a word and a paralyzing fear of what the future held for me.
Thank you for reading to the end!
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