—Befitting... the Noscrim...?
It was true that I was born into the Noscrim family, and that I was the daughter of a priestess, but... I wondered how much that was really worth.
At least... I couldn't believe it was worth it to driving out a whole family.
Not to mention... not to mention, even father... even though he was a holy knight, but he was drowning in wine.
To drive out El and his parents... in order to protect such a family...!
"Oh my."
—ngh!
The moment I thought that, the man turned his gaze in my direction.
Perhaps, as one would expect, I had been noticed due to staring too much.
In any case, now that the man had slowly risen from the sofa, there was no way I could stay here long.
Scolding myself so, I roused myself and stood up.
Like that, I took my leave of that place, as if fleeing.
—Why... why... why...?
That words boiled up over and over in my breast as I dashed along the corridors, stifling the sound of my footsteps so as not to be discovered.
Even I didn't understand exactly what it was questioning.
The difference between nobles and commoners?
Or else, the right and wrong of father's actions?
Or possibly it was my inability to do anything.
The one certain thing was...—
—Why... am I the child of such an unsightly man...?
"Ngh...!"
I clenched my fists tightly at the abrupt emergence of that question.
I kept swinging my head from side to side as if to deny that, but the fact that those words had come to my mind absolutely refused to vanish.
A hideous... no, too hideous soliloquy I hadn't even been aware of myself.
Feeling that tighten around my heart, I took refuge in my own room.
"Haa... haa..."
Even while my chest rose and fell hugely as I caught my breath, the events of a moment before circled around and around in my breast.
Physiological revulsion and self-loathing filled my breast with each revolution.
I leapt into bed as if to run from a revulsion that threatened to make my empty stomach convulse and vomit up its contents.
Still in that state, I pulled the sheets over my head as if to hide, and held my nauseous body tight.
"No... No..."
Not even I knew quite what those words were repudiating.
They might have been denying my self-reproach that I had been the one who drove El out, or else that I had seen father in that ugly state, or perhaps... that I was tied by blood to father, as before.
And yet... my childish heart, unable to process all of that, could do nothing but jumble everything together and deal with it as "events I don't want to acknowledge."
—Shivering like that, my hand had clasped the simple handkerchief before I knew it...
"I'm... I'm different... different, right... El?"
I whispered over and over, clutching it tightly to my breast.
But it, although a part of him to me, was merely an ordinary handkerchief, and could not possibly respond.
However much I murmured, the handkerchief was just a handkerchief, and was not tied to him.
But...
I felt that my heart would be torn to pieces if I did not do so.
"I'm... different, right...? I'm definitely... different, so... I'll never... like that..."
Before I knew it, my murmurs had changed into something like excuses, as if I were trying to persuade myself.
I didn't know what that transformation would bring me, but... if El were here, things would be different again.
Somehow... I was sure of that.
....
—Fade to black—
.....
"From this day onward, I will be in your family's care."
—... That place... doesn't belong to you...
"Just as one would expect, you're very strong, Lady Wilmarina."
—... I wasn't strong at all. If I'd really been strong... I should have been able... to see El...
"It was a dream come true to be able to fight at your side, Lady Wilmarina!"
—You're not... the one I want at my side...
"As long as you're here, Lady Wilmarina, our army's victory is practically assured."
—I just... get desperate and fight...
"You're our pride, Lady Wilmarina!"
—You're wrong...! I... I didn't want to become anyone's pride...! I wanted to become...!
....
—Fade to black—
....
"From today on, I will be in your family's care."
—... That place... doesn't belong to you...
"As one would expect, you're quite strong, Lady Wilmarina."
—... I wasn't strong at all. I had had really been strong... I would have been able... to see El...
"Being able to fight at your side was a dream come true, Lady Wilmarina!"
—You're not... the one I want at my side...
"As long as your here, Lady Wilmarina, our army's victory is practically assured."
—I just... get desperate and fight...
"You're our pride, Lady Wilmarina!"
—No...! I didn't want to become anyone's pride...! I wanted to become...!
.....
—Fade to black—
.....