12:00 update. If I have time, I'll update again at 24:00. If not, I'll take a break. Sorry.
The next morning.
I said I wasn't feeling well and stayed in my room.
I left an illusion on the bed to make it look like I was sleeping.
Then I used a teleportation spell to fly to a town near the southern border of the empire, and from there to the capital.
The place I landed was the old man's secret room.
There was a familiar face there, but not the old man's. He was probably resting in the book. Even as a spirit, he can't be awake all the time. He needs to rest to keep his mind from breaking.
"Welcome back."
"Sebastian, how did you know I'd be back today?"
"I didn't. I just waited every day."
"Every day... You're diligent."
"A butler must be diligent."
Sebastian handed me a silver mask and robe.
As I changed into the silver outfit, I asked Sebastian about the situation.
"How's it going?"
"The power struggle is going smoothly. Lady Linfia has been very competent."
"Is that so? It was a good decision to stay back."
"Yes, but Lady Fiene has been a bit..."
"Has Fiene done something?"
The way he said it made it clear that nothing had happened to Fiene herself.
If something had happened to her, Sebastian wouldn't be this calm.
As I calmed myself, Sebastian answered.
"Lady Linfia proposed a meeting with the representative of the demi-human guild. It seems that Lady Fiene persuaded the representative during the meeting..."
"Persuaded? I told her not to leave my side. I trust Linfia, but it's too early to put my full trust in her."
"I apologize. I thought that if both Linfia and I were there, it might raise suspicion."
"...Alright. So, how did Fiene persuade the representative?"
"Apparently, she offered herself as a bargaining chip. She presented the right to free her and asked what they could offer in return. In the end, they couldn't come up with anything that matched, so they gave in. After that, they cooperated easily. Their only request was to use Lady Fiene's name, which is a very reasonable request."
"Ha..."
Really.
She's reckless.
I knew she didn't think about herself, but to this extent?
If they had offered something that matched, she would have thought it was fine, I suppose.
"What a troublesome girl."
"Would you say that, sir?"
Suddenly, a slightly translucent old man appeared.
My master and great-grandfather. The old man.
"What do you mean? Old man."
"Your reputation is secondary. In terms of not thinking about yourself, you're the same, aren't you?"
"I'm fine. It's easier to move in this position."
"That girl probably thinks the same. That she's fine. That it's better this way. It's sad, Sebastian. It's a pity that children can't be children."
"Indeed."
The old man and Sebastian sighed together.
It made me feel uncomfortable.
It's as if they're making me feel like the bad guy. I don't like it.
"If someone had changed the tradition of the imperial succession while the emperor was away, I would have been a child forever."
"If a wise emperor had been born, he would have abolished it... But that's not possible. That's why the imperial succession exists. Even those who are not fit to be emperor can manage to some extent. It's rare for competent people to gather."
He's pushing his own logic.
I feel the frustration building up inside me, but it won't do any good to express it, so I head for the door without saying anything.
"Al."
"What?"
"Don't blame that girl. You should understand, right?"
"...I know that."
I don't have the right to blame her.
As I muttered to myself, I used an illusion to disappear and left the room.
■■■
Leo's room.
Even when Leo and I are not here, this is Fiene's base.
I was standing there waiting for Fiene.
Then, Fiene and Linfia returned, probably after finishing a meeting with supporters.
"!? S, Silver-sama!?"
"Silver..."
"Good afternoon, Miss Fiene. I need to talk to you."
"Y, yes..."
I shifted my gaze to Linfia.
Linfia, of course, seemed to want to listen, but that wasn't possible.
"Can you step back? The female adventurer I met in the Kleinert Duchy."
"It's an honor that you remember me. However, I am now this person's bodyguard."
"I want to talk to her alone. Please give us some time."
"...I don't doubt you, but I can't just say yes. Please understand."
Linfia's unwavering stance was very reliable.
If she had backed down easily, I wouldn't have entrusted Fiene to her. But now it's in the way.
Sebastian came to my aid.
"I will guard her. Don't worry, I won't interfere."
"...Alright."
"Then, Lady Linfia, can you wait in another room?"
"...If Sebastian says so."
With that, Linfia finally left the room.
After confirming that Linfia had left, Sebastian moved to the adjacent room.
Now we were finally alone.
"Welcome back. Did something happen over there?"
"Well, a lot of things happened... But let's put that aside for now."
"? Put it aside?"
Fiene tilted her head in confusion.
She probably didn't think there was anything else.
That's because her priority is very low.
"...I heard you met the representative of the demi-human guild."
"Yes! The negotiations went well! The representative was a nice person."
Fiene smiled.
Seeing that smile was painful.
I know why. It's like looking at a distorted mirror of myself.
I don't regret what I've done. It was necessary, and I will continue to do it.
But thinking about how I've made people around me feel this way makes me feel guilty.
"...Fiene, I know I don't have the right to say this. You might resent me. But I want you to listen."
"Yes?"
"I want you to take better care of yourself."
It's a boomerang. How many times has Leo said this to me? But I was there by choice. I wasn't like Fiene, who had lowered her own priority.
I could imagine how Fiene would react to my words.
But I had to say it.
It's tough, but I continued.
"Seeing you not take care of yourself is painful. I know you're trying to be helpful. But you don't have to go that far."
"...B, but... I... I'm not... I'm not being helpful to you..."
Fiene whispered, on the verge of tears.
Seeing her like this, I felt regret. I had been inconsiderate. I had assumed she was fine because she never complained or showed weakness.
Fiene had never left the duchy. She must have felt lonely coming to the capital. Yet, she had tried her best to be helpful.
I hadn't supported her at all. How many times had I taken her out? Had I let her relax?
All I could think about was the imperial succession. To be honest, I didn't have the time.
My mother's words came to mind.
"You always push yourself too hard." She said that when we parted.
At the time, I brushed it off, but maybe I was pushing myself too hard.
I didn't have time to rest. But I should have made time.
If this distorted situation had continued, I might have lost Fiene.
"Fiene... You are special."
I said, taking off the silver mask.
Only Sebastian and Fiene can see me take it off.
Sebastian knew from the beginning. So, Fiene is the only one who knows my true identity.
"Al-sama..."
"Only Sebastian and you can see me with two faces. Sebastian is like a guardian to me, always there like a parent. So... you are the first person I've shown this to. And since you learned this secret, you are no longer just anyone. If Leo is my one and only brother, you are my one and only confidant. There is no one to replace you. Just being by my side is enough. Just sharing this secret with you makes me feel so much better..."
It was a relief.
Maybe I was being selfish.
Thinking that made me feel even more guilty.
"I... I'm not that special... I'm not as great as Al-sama or Leo-sama... But... I learned Al-sama's secret... I have to be helpful to you..."
"Yes, you always help me. Thank you. I'm sorry, I should have thanked you sooner."
Being needed is a joy for humans.
But I hadn't told Fiene that. So, she must have been anxious. Knowing my secret was a pressure for her.
That's why she kept lowering her own priority. She prioritized the interests of the faction.
She must have thought it would make me happy.
I'm despicable. I hate my character at times like this.
Tears streamed down Fiene's face. She covered her face with her hands and started sobbing.
Fiene is still a sixteen-year-old girl. Even if she wanted to, I shouldn't have brought her from the duchy to the capital, where there is a risk of assassination in the imperial succession.
I had an obligation to take care of her mentally.
"Please forgive me. I didn't have the time either."
I continued to stroke her hair until she calmed down.
Then,
"...I'm... okay now..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes... I'm okay."
Fiene looked at me with red eyes.
Her eyes were pure and strong, filled with a firm resolve.
"Please tell me... about what's happening in the south. I will help."
"Yes, thank you."
I told her everything that was happening in the south.
The sea dragon would likely move soon. Someone in the empire was trying to intervene in this abnormal situation in the south. We had to stop them.
"Something like that. There's only one person plotting to intervene with the military. If he fails, that's fine, but it's a pity for the soldiers who will die on the front lines. Ideally, I want to keep the empire's intervention to a minimum and slay the sea dragon myself."
"Yes, I agree. And... I have an idea... A way to save the south while keeping the empire's intervention to a minimum."
"Coincidentally, I have an idea too. The problem is whether we can persuade the key person. I can't go out. Can you do it?"
"Leave it to me. I will persuade them."
Fiene smiled softly and bowed gracefully.
Honestly, I was unsure if I should include this conversation here. It might disrupt the flow.
But I thought it was necessary somewhere, and before I knew it, I had written it (laughs).
However, I wrote it in a bit of a rush, so I feel the quality is low (-_-;)
I might revise it later, but please bear with me <m(__)m>