3 bar menu

Volume 7 Chapter 4 Part 14

Translation by burnt.marshmallows
Editing by Team Foxsunes

「……Edi really is a difficult person. Even though all I do is cause trouble for him, he still puts me before himself.」

This was a man who would always act with me in mind, no matter how exasperated or angry he was at me. What could I possibly do for that person right now? It felt as though I was the only one receiving things from him. What could I possibly give in return to this man who has given me so many invaluable things? 

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t think of an answer. I couldn’t help but feel so frustrated and at the same time, so sad. I yet again strengthened the grip in my fist. As I did, the Princess and the rest looked at me with exasperation written all over their faces.

「Are you really still saying things like that? That man would never think that you’re causing him trouble or anything.」

「That’s right. Rather, I’m sure that Agedilus’s really happy that you would rely on him.」

Those were words filled with warmth and consideration. I somehow managed to let out a smile in return as I nodded. 

I know that. That’s the kind of person that man is. But it was exactly because he was like that. That was why I didn’t want to just rely on him while hiding behind him. I also wanted him to rely on me as an equal. I couldn’t help but think that. Did that man still not understand that? But as someone who didn’t notice what that man was aiming for in regards to the current situation, I guess I made the same mistake as he did. Ah, this really pisses me off so much. 

My emotions ran wild, but I tried to sooth them down but placing my hand on my belly. As I did so, Sir Klanven continued to speak. 「Shall we get back to the main topic?」. Please do. I looked at him in a bid to urge him to go on. The calm smile on Sir Klanven’s face disappeared as he folded his arms. 

「Even though Filmina’s safety has been assured, it doesn’t mean that we can view this situation optimistically. The current situation is that the Pure Black Magic-User tried to harm a priest from a large temple and is currently in captivity. No matter what the reality is, this is probably how the people in this country see the rumor of Agedilus hiding demons: 「The Pure Black Magic-User sided with a demon hurt a follower of the goddess, a priest, in order to protect the second Demon Lord who is in the belly of his wife」. Right now, what the priest in question says is being taken as the truth.」

Hearing those words, I bit my lip. I stood there unable to say anything. The Princess caressed my cheeks, which were still slightly swollen.

「Don’t be so pessimistic about it. I can’t say with confidence that everything will be alright, but it’s not like there isn’t a solution at all.」

The words that the Princess said were the words that I so desperately wanted to hear. I looked up at the Princess’s face vigorously. The corners of her light-pink stained lips were pointing upwards in a spirited smile. 

「Do you remember the written letter of apology Agedilus submitted to me before you guys left the Royal Capital? In it, there was a point about the demon boy in question, Noct, that caught my attention.」

「I have read it as well. It really is an intriguing observation.」

「We are currently carrying out investigations based on that observation. If Agedilus’s assumption is indeed true, then the tides will definitely turn. That was also probably why he left you in the care of Yulifalet and let himself get captured. Maybe this means that it is alright to think that he trusts us to a certain extent?」

「Maybe it’s that, even if he doesn’t trust us as people, he can trust us to be capable enough. If so, we really need to put everything into solving this as fast as possible. I’d been scared to think of what would happen if we didn’t.」

「You are absolutely right, Uncle. I will not allow you to just give up halfway because you get tired of it.」

「My my, how scary」

SIr Klanven laughed jokingly, but the Princess gave him a stern warning in response. The Princess then kneeled down and looked at my face. She placed her hand on mine. A solemn light glowed in those amber-colored eyes of hers. 

「Filmina, this will surely cause you a lot of worrying, but could you just give us a little bit more time?」

I could feel that the Princess talked in a way different from how she usually did. In the tone of her voice, I could hear the frustration she felt towards herself for being so powerless, unable to resolve the situation immediately. But that was also why there was resolve in her voice, as she was determined to meet that man’s expectations. How could I possibly deny those words when she spoke in that tone? 

Both the Princess and Sir Klanven believed in that man, and were working so hard for him. And that wasn’t only applicable to the two of them. There was the Hero too. And although they were not here with us right now, there were the people from the Adina household, Uncle Lancent, Young Widnichol, the Head Knight, and even Heinrich. All these people believed in that man. I was yet again made aware of that fact. Feelings of happiness filled my chest.

ーHey Edi. How lucky we are. 

I called out to that man in my head as I stood up. I lifted up the hems of my dress, and bowed down deeply.

「Yes, Princess, SIr Klanven. Please take care of Agedilus for me. 」

That man told me to wait for him. That’s why I was going to wait for him no matter what. I’m not alone. I have the baby in my belly, the Hero, the Princess and the rest. That was why I was going to wait. No matter how long it was going to take.

＊　　　　　　　＊　　　　　　　＊ 

And so, a few days passed. Tonight was a moonless night. I wonder how many sleepless nights have passed since that man was taken away by the Priest and gang. 

As I sat down beside the windowsill, I could feel the chill of the winter’s night through the window’s glass. But I didn’t care about the cold. WIthout even lighting up a lamp, I just stared blankly outside. 

ーToday was yet another day that that man didn’t come home.

No matter how long I waited, I didn’t receive a single piece of news. My days were just spent knitting aimlessly. Before I knew it, I was done making the lap-robe I had been making. And after that, I also finished the gloves, the socks, and the hat. But right now, I wasn’t able to give it to anyone. They were just left there, wasting away in a corner of the room. 

It seemed that the Priests from the large temple in the Capital were stationed at a village nearby that housed a temple. The Hero, as well as his father, the owner of the land, had gone to negotiate with them a countless number of times. However, the fact remained that they weren’t able to produce any results. The Princess and Sir Klanven, who were in the Royal Capital, were also working hard, but I hadn’t gotten any replies since our talk the other day. 

It might have been better if there was at least something I could do. Then I would’ve been able to wait, no matter how long it took. But the reality was that there was nothing I could do. If there was one thing that I could do, that would really just be 「to wait」. 

I could wait no matter how long it was going to take. I did think that. I planned to be able to wait. But was it really like that in reality? Not being able to do anything but wait was so much more painful than I thought it would be. Let’s just say that I underestimated my prospects. 

Seeing how I was obviously feeling down in the dumps, people from the area, like the Hero, tried their best to cheer me up. I wanted to reciprocate their efforts, but unable to do so, I just stayed depressed. I felt terrible about it. 

SIgh. I let out a deep sigh, not aimed at anyone in particular. As I did, the window glass fogged up. Clank. That was when some small, hard object hit against the window. 

「……What could it be?」

Maybe a bug or something just slammed against the window. I thought as I wiped the glass with a handkerchief. Clank, clank. I heard the sound of something hitting against the window again. It seemed that someone was throwing small stones from the outside. 

Can’t wait to see more? Want to show your support? CLICK HERE to be a patron and get additional chapters ahead of time!