As one of the children ran out, the others followed one after another as if they were being pulled along, and in a moment they had run off to a place out of sight.
"Hehe, they're all such lively and good children, aren't they?"
While watching the children who had run off like the wind, I smiled at Sir Cyril, who slightly lowered his eyes in response.
"Yes, I hope they can live healthy and happy lives here."
"You can be sure of that in the land you govern."
With confidence, I answered, and he smiled in a troubled way.
"Is that so? At the very least, I think the children ran away when they saw me."
...Oh, that's right.
The residents of this land don't have good feelings towards knights or the noble family.
Sir Cyril had changed into his knight's uniform, so they might not have recognized him as the lord, but it's possible they ran away because of the sight of a knight, whether it was Sir Cyril or Sir Curtis.
I glanced up at Sir Cyril and Sir Curtis.
...Yeah, both of them are much taller than average.
To the children, who are short, these big men might look scary.
"Um... Are Sir Cyril and Sir Curtis on good terms?"
Thinking it wasn't wise to continue this conversation, I changed the topic with a simple question, and Sir Curtis answered.
"I used to belong to the First Knight Regiment and worked under Sir Cyril. So, it's presumptuous to say we're on good terms."
"Wait, Sir Curtis was in the First Knight Regiment!? Then you're an elite knight!"
Surprised, I blurted out, and Sir Curtis laughed in amusement.
"Is that what a First Knight Regiment member like you says? Then you must be one too, right?"
"Huh?"
"...Curtis, whether Fia is excellent or not is still a difficult question for me, so let's leave it unanswered."
"Huh? I thought you had a good eye for people, Sir Cyril, but there are people you can't judge!?"
Hearing Sir Cyril's words, Sir Curtis looked at me in surprise.
"Yeah, well, you have the same red hair and golden eyes as the Great Saint. I can understand why Sir Cyril might lose his composure... but..."
Sir Curtis muttered softly and then spoke to me.
"Sir Cyril, who was just a knight at the time, promoted me to the thirteenth regiment leader. I didn't have the achievements or the ability to become a regiment leader, so there was a lot of opposition, but Sir Cyril pushed through it."
Hearing Sir Curtis's words, Sir Cyril narrowed his eyes as if reminiscing.
"Curtis was in the First Knight Regiment for five years and accompanied the annual visits to this land every year. The residents here have a strong aversion to knights, and we were always avoided. However, for some reason, Curtis was accepted by the residents as one of their own. At that time, the regiment leader here was struggling to be accepted by the residents, so I recommended Curtis as the thirteenth regiment leader three years ago."
"Hehe, compared to other regiment leaders, my strength might be lacking, but I was recommended as a leader for my compatibility with the residents."
Sir Cyril gave Sir Curtis a reproachful look.
"Curtis, your strength is more than adequate. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been chosen as a regiment leader."
"Thank you for your kind words. But it's okay. I've passed the stage where I felt down about being weaker than other leaders. Now, I understand my own abilities and do what I can."
"...I apologize. You are indeed the knight I recognized."
Sir Cyril praised Sir Curtis and then sighed softly.
Then, he turned to me with a slightly tense look.
I wondered if he had something to say, and as I looked back, Sir Cyril pursed his lips and walked towards me with a determined expression. He stopped in front of me, bent down, and knelt to match my eye level.
"S-Sir Cyril...!?"
Surprised by his kneeling posture, I gasped as he took my hand.
"Fia, I have a request. This is a request as a friend, so you have the right to refuse."
"Y-Yes?"
...A request? What could it be?
"This land has a strong belief in the Great Saint, and the residents have a strong attachment to red hair. As the children called you 'Great Saint,' red hair here evokes the legendary Great Saint. However..."
He paused and looked at my red hair.
"You must have heard about the 'Sutherland's Lament' that happened ten years ago. The incident started with my red-haired mother. The fact that she was not accepted by the residents here, combined with the incident, causes residents of a certain age to have a strong aversion to red hair. However, they also have a desire to accept it because it reminds them of the Great Saint. ...There are many unresolved feelings in this land. Your hair will have an impact on the residents, whether good or bad."
"..."
This is getting complicated.
"...This land has been stagnant for ten years. And that benefits no one. Therefore, a strong stimulus is needed to break the status quo. With your red hair, you can be that stimulus."
"Huh?"
"...You may not remember, but you once spoke about what a saint should be. When I heard it, it felt like my heart was being gripped. ...Any red-haired woman could be a stimulus here, but to improve the situation, a strong resolve is needed. I want you to take on that role."
"..."
"...The sediment in this land is deep, and realistically, you alone can't change it. So, if nothing changes and we leave this land in ten days, you don't need to worry. ...However, if there is someone who can make a change, I think it's you, Fia."
"..."
...What should I do?
This is getting too big...
"As I said at the beginning, you have the right to refuse. The residents' feelings towards red hair are strong, so there might be situations that make you uncomfortable or even dangerous. If you refuse, you will be assigned to work within the lord's mansion during your stay, so you won't need to appear before the residents. ...However, I wanted you to come here and see the situation with your own eyes before making a decision. I apologize for the delay in explaining this."
"..."
I couldn't answer immediately and just stared at Sir Cyril.
Despite the situation, his expression was calm, neither forcing nor pressuring me.
But, upon closer inspection, his blue eyes were dark and shadowed.
...Sir Cyril is suffering.
While listening to him, I felt his pain and his desire to help the residents.
I think he has tried many things in the ten years since he became the lord.
But none of them worked, and he is now desperately asking me for help.
The relationship between a regiment leader and a knight is such that he could have just given an order, but he deliberately created a friendship to give me a way out.
He is an incredibly kind knight.
I don't want this kindness to go unnoticed by the residents.
I also don't like the current situation where the cheerful and friendly residents of Sutherland continue to harbor negative feelings.
I remembered the quiet streets with hardly any residents during my journey here. The few residents I saw kept their distance and showed no signs of welcome.
The difference in the residents' reactions to Canopus, the lord in my previous life, is like night and day.
---Yeah, this kind of relationship benefits no one.
"...I think Sir Cyril is a great lord, and I like the residents of Sutherland. There are no bad people, yet the current situation where we can't get along is wrong. ...I don't know how much I can help, but please let me assist you."
I looked straight into Sir Cyril's eyes and answered clearly.
Sir Cyril smiled weakly, a look I had never seen before, and whispered, "Thank you."
"You may think you made this decision on your own, but I am aware that I have influenced you. Therefore, I will absolutely ensure your safety. Either I or Sir Curtis will always be with you. Since Curtis has gained some trust in this land, his presence will also show the residents that you are a safe person."
Sir Cyril stood up and looked at Fabian.
"As you heard, Fabian. Please guard Fia if anything happens."