Saroma looked at him. Her eyes were rather misty.
"But they didn't do anything wrong, did they?" She sneered as she shook her head. She raised her right hand and looked at Triumph. "I simply—"
"Little Rascal!" Again, Thales used that name from long ago to fiercely interrupt her.
The teenage girl raised her head, appearing to be in a daze.
"Don't, Saroma. Even if you cannot choose who you want to be… at least, don't turn into someone they want you to be."
Thales stared at her firmly. "Please, don't become like that."
But Saroma was only slightly startled before she shook her head in a mocking way. "No such thing. As an archduchess of Northland, the path of my future has been set… even if it's not this time."
She then said in disappointment, "I've thought about it. I'll marry a local noble, give birth to a male heir and be politely sent into seclusion somewhere until I'm old—"
*Slap!*
A clear sound was heard.
