Chapter 345 - 345: Executing That Matter

"Miena, you get down too."

"Y-yes."

Rigel got down from the carriage first and held out a hand to Miena.

She timidly stacked her own hand on that hand and got down from the carriage.

Her gaze naturally turned toward Dolly.

This person too was someone close to Rigel.

The instant she thought that the depths of her chest stirred a little.

"Dolly. This girl is Miena."

"Miena-sama, is it."

"No need for -sama. Originally a girl who was at a slave firm. But she is also of the elf tribe."

The instant she heard that name Dolly's eyes changed slightly.

Surprise.

Understanding.

Then immediately she returned to a duty face.

"…Understood."

"I'll leave her with you for a while. Prepare a bath, change of clothes, and a meal. Also arrange so she isn't subjected to extra prying inside the mansion."

"Yes."

That conversation seemed as if it were being exchanged over Miena's head.

Even though it was about her it was decided in a place her hands could not reach.

Miena reflexively looked up at Rigel.

"Um, Master… from now I…"

"You follow Dolly."

"But…"

Starting to say it Miena bit her lip.

She did not want to separate.

Putting that word in her mouth felt far too childish.

It was not that she doubted Rigel.

Rather the opposite.

Exactly because she believed completely she was scared of having her hand released suddenly.

She had been saved from the slave firm in the royal capital.

On the road she saw him save girl adventurers and villagers.

In the town they stopped at they walked stalls together and he even bought her a glass bird.

That was like a date of an intimate man and woman.

Just remembering it Miena's cheeks grew hot.

"Miena."

Rigel called her name.

With that voice Miena was pulled back to reality.

"I have business. I'm not throwing you away."

"…Yes."

"Dolly is my exclusive. You can trust her."

With that single word the unease inside Miena loosened a little.

If it was a person Rigel trusted.

Then it would surely be fine.

"Understood. Master."

"Good."

Rigel nodded looking satisfied and this time turned his face toward Dolly.

In that instant the air around him changed.

Different from the voice he had turned toward Miena.

Softness left and a coldness like stroking the back of a blade mixed.

"Also, I'll execute that matter."

"…During this stay, is it."

"Aa. A little earlier than planned, but no need to miss the opportunity."

Rigel did not hesitate.

In that voice there was the ring of one who had already handed down a conclusion.

He was announcing it not to consult someone but to have it executed.

"Understood. I will pay the utmost careful attention."

Dolly answered without showing any extra feeling.

That obedience was different from what Miena had seen at the slave firm.

She was not frightened.

Nor had she given up.

It was a voice as if she knew her role and even held pride in fulfilling that role.

"I'm counting on you."

"Yes. As Lord Rigel wills."

Dolly quietly lowered her head.

The meaning of that exchange Miena did not understand.

But she understood only that it was not mere housework or care.

She felt the mansion air chilled for only an instant.

"U-um…"

When Miena put out her voice Dolly smiled softly.

As if the taut presence of until a moment ago were a lie her expression was calm.

"No need to worry. Miena-san, this way. First let's drop the fatigue of travel."

"'-San'…"

"Even if Lord Rigel says 'no need for -sama,' from my position I cannot so easily call without honorific."

In Dolly's voice there was no pushiness.

One understood she was rounding corners on purpose to put the other at ease.

At that settled voice force left Miena's shoulders a little.

"Master."

At parting Miena looked at Rigel once more.

Her cheeks immediately grew hot at having stopped him.

But she could not turn her back just like that.

"Can I see you again later?"

More than a question it was a wish.

Rigel looked at Miena for only an instant.

What floated in those eyes Miena could not read.

"Aa. I'll be inside the mansion. I won't run away."

"…Yes."

Miena gripped the cloth bag at her chest with both hands and followed after Dolly.

The hard glass feel through cloth suppressed her loneliness a little.

She wanted to look back.

She thought that many times.

But Miena decided to believe Rigel's words and faced forward.

"..."

Rigel saw Miena's back off for a while.

A small back being swallowed by the wide mansion corridor.

The appearance of timidly yet earnestly following after Dolly resembled a small animal trying not to be abandoned.

"To think she'd attach that far…"

That voice was not for anyone to hear.

One bound by fear alone fled when fear thinned.

One bound by favor alone left when they thought they had repaid the favor.

But what trust and dependence tangled together was deeper, easier to handle.

"Now then…"

Rigel's smile vanished immediately.

The mansion air regained weight as if matching his expression.

When Miena's figure vanished into the depths of the corridor Rigel headed toward the center of the mansion.

—-

Father Balzac Gousel was not in the office but in the inner courtyard.

He was a large man.

Gray hair, sharp eyes.

He wore simple clothes close to a military uniform, but from that standing posture alone one understood he was a battle-hardened knight.

Knight order commander of the royal capital knight order and family head of the Gousel marquis house.

A man whose period in the royal capital was longer, but not so soft as to leave the territory entirely to others.

Apparently he had been putting the soldiers through training.

"You're late, Rigel."

"As planned, Father."

"Your 'as planned' is often late for other people. No, conversely sometimes insanely early too…"

"I'm sorry about that."

Rigel laughed with a face that did not look sorry at all.

Balzac had the soldiers withdraw and turned toward his son.

"On the road you seem to have done something odd again."

"Mere play. I only played with a girl adventurer."

Rigel said it calmly.

In those words there was not a scrap of guilt.

Balzac moved his brow slightly, but the color of blaming was thin.

"Playing with commoners is whatever, but spending time idly is not good. …According to the report you brought an elf slave."

"She's my toy. Please don't lay a hand."

"Fu. I'm not so fallen as to lay a hand on my son's property."

Father laughed low.

Seeming bold yet his eyes were calm.

He had probably seen through Rigel's nature and danger to a certain extent.

But he had no intention of denying that power either.

If useful for the Gousel house he would use it.

If it was Rigel himself's wish he would let him do as he liked.

Aristocratic family love was properly there.

"By the way, where is older sister Mesterica?"

"That one is already working heading toward the former Valstine territory. Seems to be rather packed."

"I see. Then I must hurry too."

"What, it shouldn't be a situation urgent enough that things change suddenly in units of several days. Stay a little slowly."

"But just now you said 'spending time idly is not good'…"

"Family gathering is separate. Mother wanted to see you too."

At that single word Rigel's brow moved slightly.

Balzac continued.

"Besides, even if occupied it's land that originally belonged to an enemy country you're going to. Preparation is necessary, right? Local situation, escort on the road, supplies to bring. You may think there's no problem with just your body, but as long as you move as a person of a marquis house form is also important."

"A very Father-like opinion."

"You're just too light on form."

"I won't deny it."

Rigel shrugged.

The former Valstine territory.

Land that once belonged to an enemy country.

Even if occupied now, people's hearts had not completely turned this way.

"But maybe older sister will have solved everything."

"That one is capable, but she tends to take everything on herself. Whether she's cooperating well with local responsible person Count Blade is a bit doubtful."

"Ah…"

Rigel leaked a short voice.

His sister's face floated in his mind.

A tightly arranged face.