While making rattling sounds, the carriage following the path between the crop fields passed through the gates of the mansion. Exchanging light chatter with the soldiers who were standing guard at the gates, the coachman who came in was Zen, with a carefree smile plastered on his face.
Zen, who had finished shopping for some items, unloaded the luggage and after returning the cart to its assigned position, he went towards Harold’s room. If Kazuki (Harold) had seen that, 「Just like a mongrel dependent on its owner」- he would’ve made a fool out of him by telling that.
But the person himself, who seemed as though he wouldn’t even mind that poisonous tongue, walked with a pace as though he had gotten used to it, until he came in front of the door and though he knocked on it, strictly ordered to do so by the owner of the room recently, to check whether he was present inside, there was no answer.
「Harold-sama? Are you there?」
If it were a normal servant, they would have left with this, but Zen, who was peerless in acting overly-familiar with Harold, opened the door and peeked inside.
Even though he knew it, it was empty as expected.
Thinking of coming back later since if he wasn’t here at this time, it meant that he was practising swordsmanship, he caught sight of a small figure standing in the hallway.
From looking at the small figure which seemed to be dispirited, without being able to bear it, Zen strained himself to speak out in a cheerful voice.
「Hello, Erika-sama」
Turning around with sluggish movements, as though noticing Zen’s existence only due to that voice, Erika widened her eyes by a little.
「Good day. You are………」
「Ah, I am called Zen. What happened to Juno-san?」
Seeing Erika alone which was unusual, he asked that question. No way, maybe she got into an argument and is dispirited- he guessed wildly, but it was completely off the mark.
「She is going towards the town for some personal business」
If told without concealing, she had left to exchange information with the aforementioned scout division. Since she had just left for today, she wouldn’t be back for another 1 ~ 2 hours.
Though, she couldn’t tell that.
「So it was like that. And so, why are you here……… maybe, do you have some business with Harold-sama?」
Since she was near the room, it wasn’t unreasonable for Zen to think like that. But the instant Harold’s name came up, Erika’s expression clouded up even more.
Right now, he was the person she wanted to meet the least.
But Erika suddenly realized that the person standing in front of her held no hostility towards Harold.
Maybe he didn’t know about that rumor. When she thought like that, Erika reflexively asked Zen about it.
「Don’t you know?」
「Err…., regarding what?」
「That Harold-sama killed a servant by using magic」
「Re, regarding that, how should I say it……..」
This time, it was Zen’s turn to be shaken.
Seeing that reaction, Erika was convinced that he knew about Harold’s brutality. And simultaneously, a question bubbled up.
Even after knowing knowing it, how could he still deal with Harold. She thought that he was just putting up a front, but from the hesitation in his words, it seemed as though he didn’t feel any fear or hate towards Harold, but a kind of frustration of wanting to support him but not being able to was oozing out.
「Aah………..although I have heard that kind of plausible rumor being spread about in public, it can’t be confirmed whether it is really true or not and since its authenticity isn’t definite, I’m hesitant to ask Harold-sama………」
「Harold-sama confirmed that that rumor was true. In the first place, since the one who was killed was a person working here, even you should know that it is the truth, right?」
「Uhh………」
It was as Erika had told. Zen had dug his own grave with his incoherent explanation and was at a loss for words.
Frankly speaking, Zen wasn’t eloquent enough to turn around the situation by creating a smokescreen and confusing her.
Norman had chosen him because he was good-natured, that is to say, because he was a person who could understand Harold’s real feelings and become an ally.
But it wasn’t as though his good-natured character would only manifest in front of Harold. Erika right now was depressed enough to stimulate his softhearted nature.
「And yet, why do you……..No, by doing what could one follow Harold-sama like you do?」
Those words which were spoken out in a grave voice seemed as though it was a supplication while also being a question.
No matter what his nature was, for the sake of the Sumeragi family, Erika had to marry Harold. Her will which couldn’t pardon him was an obstacle.
Although she understood it, wavering between her responsibility and emotions, Erika didn’t know how to convince herself.
From the time she was aware of her standing, she had given up on things like love and marriage. Knowing that the person she was going to be engaged to belonged to a house which supported the pure-blood principle, and that they were oppressin