/
Forever
***
Kyrie’s face was bleached white when she heard the story. The Emperor also had a pale expressionless face, so Nathaniel was the only one smiling. He seemed very refreshed to hear from others of what he had done.
“

so Count Buchanan will be promoted to the rank of Duke in the day after tomorrow.”
The Emperor concluded the story. Unable to say anything, Kyrie sat like a doll and managed to open her mouth.
“

So that’s why everyone agreed.”
“It’s also what the Patriotic Lord wanted.”
“The Patriotic Lord?”
“Yes.”
For a moment, Leschaux’s words crossed Kyrie’s mind.
〔I apologize in advance. I’m sorry.〕
Kyrie trembled as if she had been struck by lightning. She knew this was going to happen. The situation was clearly giving an order. Everyone would be at peace if she stayed still. Even if it was a nervous thing that might break anytime.
Kyrie’s face gradually changed into a blank expression. As the silence grew longer, Nathaniel began to stare at the Emperor with strangely thin eyes. Feeling pressured, the Emperor said quietly.
“I, it can’t be helped anyway. Think positively, Miss Kyrie.”
“

Your majesty, the Emperor.”
“You are the most important person in this country right now. That’s what it takes to enshrine the Legend. Just focus on it. Aren’t you a noble? You always had a strong sense of responsibility.”
“Your Majesty

, I’m a Buchanan, and I have to manage Buchanan’s housekeeping. That’s my biggest responsibility.”
“Your father said it was okay. The Count always wanted to promote Buchanan to a duke. His long-cherished desire has come true.”
“But the external issues that I’ve been in charge of

.”
“Don’t worry. It’s something that anyone else can replace. But you’re the only one who can enshrine the Legend.”
The Emperor was nervous and restless, her shoulders clasped.
“It’s not a bad thing for you, either. Think about it carefully. Trevereum, the whole country will revolve around you.”
“

I’ve never wanted anything like that.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
The Emperor said with a cold waxy face. Kyrie’s eyes fell down. Nathaniel’s voice overlapped in her ears and hummed.
‘A tribute to you, a compliment to you, a respect to you, and all of that in exchange for taking you away.’
Kyrie lowered her eyes and asked quietly.
“Until when?”
“That’s
.”
The Emperor looked at Nathaniel. It was a matter of course. Now Kyrie’s owner wasn’t Kyrie herself.
Her new owner, Nathaniel, replied with a beautiful smile.
[Forever]
***
From the next day on, Nathaniel did not leave Kyrie’s side. When he had something that needed him  to go out, he exchanged strange eye greetings with MarryAnne and left the room.
‘You’re watching me through MarryAnne.’
Kyrie looked at Nathaniel’s back as he left the palace and turned her head.
“Do you know where Nathaniel is going these days?”
MarryAnne, who was carefully pouring lavender tea, smiled broadly.
“Seems like he’s meeting with people.”
“People?”
“Nobles!”
“


Can you perhaps follow him?”
MarryAnne stopped at Kyrie’s words.
“Uung

, it’s hard.”
“With your ability? “
“Nataniel is really really, really too much. His presence is everywhere.”
“Everywhere? Even if he’s gone?”
“Yes! He’s everywhere. Where humans are, he’s always together with them.”
It was an unknown word. There seemed to be something that only non-humans could communicate with each other. Kyrie sat at the tea table without saying a word. MarryAnne exaggeratedly said whether Kyrie was conscious of her lack of energy.
“Don’t you want anything, miss? There’s a new snowflake candy from New Mini!”
“No.”
MarryAnne flashed a nervous light on her face in response to her helpless answer.
“T, then
 I heard there’s a new dress design from ‘144 Prugues’. Should I bring a catalog?”
“I don’t have to wear a dress anymore.”
MarryAnne became mute, and Kyrie indifferently asked her.
“By the way, did Father call you?”
MarryAnne’s eyes trembled greatly.
“He, he, he didn’t
”
“
.I see.”
Kyrie responded without changing a single expression. It was a relief that she had less expectation. Looking at Kyrie like that, MarryAnne didn’t know what to do.
“I, it’s a nice day today, Miss! It’s so beautiful because the sky is blue!”
“You’re right. If we were in the past, we’d walk outside together.”
“B, but it’s still cold outside!”
“You like snow fights, don’t you? “
“I, I’m sick of it
..”
MarryAnne lowered her head as she glanced awkwardly. MarryAnne couldn’t see her eyes when she lied. Kyrie looked down at MarryAnne’s bowed cheek with her somber sunken purple eyes.
“MarryAnne. “
Kyrie asked.
“Why are you suddenly helping Nathaniel?”
“Oh, MarryAnne did that because

.”
“Did you hate me? Is that why you’re helping Nathaniel who locked me up?”
“No!”
MarryAnne cried out in surprise as if she were struck by lightning.
“That’s not true! Not at all! Miss is everything to MarryAnne! MarryAnne doesn’t hate Miss!”
Even if her violent denial wasn’t necessary, Kyrie didn’t think MarryAnne had turned to Nathaniel. However, after the day of the abduction, Nathaniel decided everything related to Kyrie himself.
Even MarryAnne, whom she had known for a long time, did not say anything, only exchanging eyes with Nathaniel.
“Then why did you join hands with him?”
MarryAnne’s eyes became moist after seeing Kyrie’s face, who did not hide her sadness.
“MarryAnne, MarryAnne just wanted Miss to be safe

.”
She felt sincerity in her words. Kyrie opened her mouth in the suffocating tea scent.
“MarryAnne. Do you remember? The day I first met you.”
MarryAnne’s body stiffened, and her pointed ears drooped.
“I remember

.”
“The first time I met you was at the house of a slave merchant in the countryside.”
“You, did

.”
“You were a fighting slave in the arena, and you lived as a fighter who never loses.”
“

.”
“There was food, there was a place to sleep, and there was only one thing that was absent. It would have been only freedom. Were you happy then?”
Clink.
The teapot that MarryAnne was holding fell to the floor. However, Kyrie didn’t even look at the floor.
“Do I just have to be safe when I’m locked up?”
“That’s
.”
“Do you want me to stay here until I die?”
“No!”
“Is it possible to say that I’m alive just because I eat and live safely?
MarryAnne frowned. The tip of her nose gradually turned red.
“But MarryAnne was so surprised when Miss was kidnapped!”
“No one can completely eliminate danger from life.”
“I can try!”
“Who is that effort for? Will that make me happy?”
“But
! But!”
Tears filled MarryAnne’s black eyes.
Kyrie remembered the image of a non-human young girl, who conquered the arena. She was treated the best as a slave, but her eyes were dead. So MarryAnne actually knew better than anyone else. That this situation was wrong.
Kyrie stared at MarryAnne with desperate eyes. MarryAnne, who was gasping confusedly, soon closed her eyes tightly.
“But MarryAnne is strong and she won’t die! But if this happens again, Miss might really die!!”
The little girl with pointed ears grabbed her head and began to nod her head as if she were a person who was out of her mind.
“I mean, Miss shouldn’t die. Heuk, heuk
. I hate that MarryAnne also can’t go out

  .  Hueng, hnng, by the way, MarryAnne hates and is afraid more if Miss dies
!”
“MarryAnne.”
Embarrassed, Kyrie tried to approach her, but MarryAnne got up quickly.  When MarryAnne took out several large sycamore leaves from her bosom and sprinkled them, the tea water that had wet the floor and the broken teapot disappeared without a trace.
The little girl in her maid outfit raised her head after seeing her burning leaves with her vain eyes. Sometimes, she had mature, tired eyes.
“Sorry for breaking Miss’ favorite teapot, Miss

.”
“

.”
“I’m sorry for anything else

.”
“

 Anne.”
“I’m sorry

.”
Black eyes filled with tears couldn’t contain Kyrie and turned to the floor.
“But MarryAnne, above all else, wants Miss to be safe. And Nathaniel said he was protecting Miss

.”
At MarryAnne’s murmur, Kyrie got up from the chair and sat down in front of MarryAnne.
“MarryAnne. Are you feeling guilty for not saving me?”
“

.”
“You don’t have to. It wasn’t your fault.”
“
No. It was MarryAnne’s fault. MarryAnne is weak
 Because MarryAnne didn’t learn everything from her mother

  .”
MarryAnne closed her mouth without talking. The girl’s black eyes were as dark as a night with an unknown end.
“MarryAnne will never lose her precious person again

.”
“MarryAnne”
“So, MarryAnne, won’t let the Miss get endangered
.”
MarryAnne suddenly raised her head. And she muttered like a man possessed by the abyss.
“No matter what.”
The silence subsided. After a while, MarryAnne woke up and said, “I’ll bring guests!  From today, he said there would be visitors every day!” Then, she ran outside. Kyrie couldn’t stop her.
‘Where did it go wrong?’
Only questions that no one could answer echoed in her head.