Jared sprinted back to the mansion from the Duke’s residence.
Therese and Conrad, who had seen him off, offered to prepare a carriage, but Jared politely declined, stating he could get back faster on his own.
He maintained a calm facade to prevent Therese and the others from learning about the Pfieil incident, but he was internally panicked. The thought of something happening to Olivier and the others at this very moment made it impossible for him to stay composed.
“Oh, Jared? You’re back already?”
“Olivier-sama… I’m relieved.”
Jared let out a sigh of relief upon finding Olivier tending to a flowerbed in the garden. His anxiety evaporated, and his body felt weak. Seeing her looking at him with surprise, he thought how glad he was that she was safe.
“What’s wrong, rushing back like that? You’re sweating a bit too. Was there some kind of trouble at the main family residence?”
“It’s not exactly trouble, more like a predicament. But as long as Olivier-sama is safe, that’s all that matters. Where are Hannelore-sama and Trane?”
“Mother is teaching Trane embroidery. Trane really struggles with embroidery, you know. That’s why she seizes opportunities like this to learn from Mother. Mother seems to enjoy teaching her too. I was never the type of child who’d want to do embroidery.”
Olivier moved away from the flowerbed, placed the pruning shears she was holding on a nearby table, and brushed the dirt off her skirt. Jared, taking out a handkerchief to catch his breath, met her as she brought it to his forehead to wipe away his sweat.
“So, what is it?”
“Um, please try to listen calmly.”
“Wouldn’t you be the one who needs to calm down?”
“Please don’t interrupt. — Pfieil escaped.”
“—I see.”
Jared continued, puzzled by Olivier’s lack of outward surprise.
“Pfieil doesn’t have the stamina to just escape on his own. It seems someone from the outside helped him.”
“That would be Waalthe, wouldn’t it?”
“Presumably. I don’t know the number, but if they could take down a knight trusted by the Duke, they must be quite skilled.”
“That’s why Jared rushed back, I suppose.”
Olivier offered a wry smile. Jared could only tilt his head, not understanding why she smiled.
“Why aren’t you alarmed, Olivier-sama?”
“Oh, is there a reason I should be?”
“Waalthe has already appeared! There might be other users just like Pfieil, so you should at least panic a little!”
“Panic, and then what?”
“—Huh?”
Pressed by Olivier, Jared was speechless. He had to admit, it was true. Given that Pfieil had escaped and a new Waalthe might have appeared, Jared’s concern for Olivier and the others’ safety had made him rush back. He’d returned to the mansion out of breath and was truly relieved to see Olivier. — But what should he do now? The answer eluded him.
“This is your first time fighting an unseen enemy, isn’t it, Jared?”
“An unseen enemy?”
“Yes. I have always, and still do, fight unseen enemies. Even without your strong magic power, I constantly battle the fear of being targeted by an invisible foe.”
“—!”
He realized it then. Olivier was fighting to protect Mother from someone targeting Hannelore’s life. All they knew was that the attacker was a consort, and the assailant changed each time. He could only imagine the extent of the fear she harbored.
“To me, it doesn’t matter if it’s a Waalthe assassin, an adventurer, or even a small child; I don’t know who will come next, so it’s all the same.”
“I see.”
“If panicking or showing fear would change anything, I would display my emotions openly. But doing so would be admitting defeat to them. That’s why we continue to live as usual.”
Olivier put away the handkerchief that had absorbed his sweat and smiled with conviction.
“Of course, we worry and remain vigilant. But I hate hiding and cowering from an unseen enemy. If they attack, we fight back. Even if we lose, we fought bravely, didn’t we?”
“But losing means it’s all for nothing.”
“That’s true. However — Jared Murphy, you are here.”
Her eyes, full of trust, locked onto Jared.
“You appeared before us, who had only ever been protected by Trane. I didn’t expect to trust you this much at first. But you protected us even at the risk of your own life. So, not just me, but Mother, Trane, and surely Father all trust you. That’s why I’m fine.”
“…Olivier-sama.”
“Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to burden you. We rely on you completely, but we don’t want to do so forever. If you ever grow tired of our current situation, please tell me without hesitation.”
“I will never tire of it. I will continue to protect you all.”
Yes, there was no way he would ever tire of it. He didn’t feel it was a burden, nor did he feel they relied on him too much. It made him happy to be trusted, and he wanted to reciprocate that trust. More importantly, he couldn’t simply forget about Olivier and the others now and return to his former life.
“Just hearing Jared say he will protect us is enough, regardless of Waalthe. We — no, I believe in Jared, so I won’t fear unseen enemies.”
Olivier took Jared’s hand and squeezed it. Her hand, though strong, felt gentle and warm, and just touching it calmed him.
“So you don’t need to fear unseen enemies either. If you’re worried, please tell me properly. Just as Jared protects our lives, I want to protect your heart. It’s all I can do, but I want to alleviate even a little of your burden.”
Olivier’s thoughtfulness deeply touched him. He realized how much she valued him. He had to remain vigilant against the Waalthe threat, but he wouldn’t succumb to baseless fear. Jared was a weakling who could only fight. He unfortunately lacked Olivier’s bravery. But that was fine. Jared had things only he could do. And that was his magic, a means of fighting that they didn’t possess, a strength that could protect them. If Olivier would protect his heart, then Jared would do his utmost to protect their lives.
“Still, it’s problematic that Waalthe is targeting us.”
“…Targeting what?”
“Your adorable cousin, Yeny, and perhaps me, as we might end up living together. Considering the potential for an attack, it might be better to wait a while.”
“Yes, that might indeed be the best course of action.”
“……”
“……Wait, Yeny will be living with us? When did that happen?”
“You’re so slow to notice. I was surprised, thinking you were just accepting it normally!”
They had only met Yeny a few days ago, and Jared couldn’t comprehend how it had come to them possibly living together. He recalled Olivier herself saying she wouldn’t be at ease until she had investigated Yeny.
“I tried to investigate her, but there was so little to find, it was anticlimactic. She’s a peculiar, sheltered noblewoman. But then again, she is only fourteen, so it’s natural. Someone like you, Jared, with a complex background at sixteen, is the unusual one.”
“That is… quite something. I apologize.”
“Baron Daum must have heard about our situation from Father. As you were heading to see Father this morning, Yeny’s background information arrived. Whether it was an act to show they have nothing to hide or an action out of concern for his granddaughter, I don’t know, but it was concise and easy to understand.”
“Even so, do you really intend to make Yeny a consort?”
Olivier narrowed her eyes and then smiled mischievously.
“Oh, do you dislike it?”
“No, it’s not that I dislike it. Firstly, I cannot inherit an aristocratic title, so I have no obligation as a noble to take a consort.”
“That’s right. You’ve been made the heir to the Daum Barony for the time being.”
“Eh? This is the first time I’m hearing this…”
“I imagine so. Before Baron Daum could inform you, you became my fiancé, so perhaps there was no opportune moment to mention it. Thinking about it, it’s my fault, I’m sorry.”
He knew his grandfather had considered him as an heir, but he hadn’t realized things had progressed so far. Above all, Jared was simply bewildered by the prospect of Yeny possibly living with them. Amidst Pfieil’s escape and the potential for new Waalthe assassins, he couldn’t predict what would happen.
