He kept silent.
Having me suddenly appear and exposing his feeling, awakening his resolution, and he brought me all the way out here.
But he was always bad with words.
And on top of that, he probably had a lot of things he wanted to say.
“…”
I was in too much of a hurry.
Even with what Orsted had said, there was no need to immediately set these two up.
I should have used a more indirect plan to bring the two of them together.
Like having Norn kidnapped and Ruijerd rescuing her…
No, the only one who would be charmed by that would be Norn, Ruijerd might fall into a trap.
Wait, if I did that, Norn would hate me.
“I would eventually marry a human.”
While I was worrying away, Ruijerd said something.
When would eventually be?
“What do you mean by that?”
“Thanks to you, the Supard race is headed towards restoration.
The people of the Biheilil Kingdom and the Ogres have kindly accepted us.
Eventually, like the Ogre race, the countries Royalty and nobility would send someone to create a blood relation with.
And it seems I was deemed to be the most suitable match.”
“Hmm.”
So there was something like that going on…
Well there usually was.
Ruijerd’s position was something like the assistant of the Chieftain.
But as a Hero of the previous war, he was looked up to.
The village idol… may be a little off but he’s something like a guardian deity.
Ruijerd would end up marrying some Biheilil noblewoman.
The Supard race would enter a position of guardians of the Biheilil Kingdom and they would be able to rest easy.
“But if I had the choice… Rudeus, your family would be better.”
With those words, I felt warm from the bottom of my heart.
A good relationship with Biheilil Kingdom would be to their benefit.
I’m sure that it would be much more beneficial as opposed to being in my family.
But Ruijerd chose my family.
I was chosen!
No, not me.
Not good, I almost became Girldeus.
But as I was thinking that, I realised something.
“Is Norn alright with you?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Ruijerd is suspicious.
“Norn is… How do I say it, quite selfish.
And without thinking about the conciseness, say some awful things.
If you for example had some kind of lovers quarrel, she may end up saying something insensitive about your past.”
“…”
Words that I didn’t expect came out.
That was odd.
I’m supposed to be supporting Norn, I should be pointing out Norn’s good parts.
But all that comes out are the bad points.
“It seems like she can do housework, but it can’t be called her speciality.
She can study, but she can't put very much of it to practical use, she fails at most things the first time.
At Sharia she can cope with most things easily, but at the Supard village, there would be plenty of things she wouldn’t be able to figure out.
I’m sure she would end up causing trouble for you.”
No, this isn’t what I want to say.
In my house there’s another young woman.
For example, Aisha.
Honestly, Aisha is far more excellent than Norn.
She can do housework and look after children.
She’s better to the extent that there’s nothing Norn can do that Aisha can’t.
When I think about it like that, I can't help but think “Is Norn alright”.
I want to root for Norn.
But I also like Ruijerd.
It’s because I want these two to be happy that I try to think of how to make sure no one is dissatisfied.
“—But that’s the result of her trying her very hardest.”
What interrupts my words is Ruijerd.
“I know. Norn’s bad points and her good points.”
I lost my words and Ruijerd looked as if he was pressing me for answers.
“You know it too don’t you?”
“Of course.”
Norn has plenty of good things about her.
I’m not that well informed on Norn as of late.
But I know what kind of person she has become.
Having lost to Aisha, she became far more docile than necessary.
She became far less hysteric and began to get along with Aisha.
Taking care of someone is good.
It wasn’t so much at home, but her classmates and juniors looked up to her.
At her 15th birthday, plenty of Norn’s friends came.
Even now, some of her school’s underclassmen still come over for help over studying or the student council comes to ask for advice.
Norn goes at everything with the utmost effort.
And as a result of trying her hardest at everything, although she can’t be the best, she can at least somehow do the things she isn’t good at.
Because Norn has plenty of things she isn’t good at, she can’t do things in an instant compared to others.
And so compared to Aisha, there’s a world of difference.
But other people don’t matter.
With her own effort, she steadily advances.
And I’m sure that, from here on out, she’ll continue like that.
Norn is just that kind of girl.
A very good girl.
A little sister I can be proud of.
And Ruijerd also knew that.
He knew that Norn is someone that always tried her hardest.
There’s no need for me to say it.
And even Norn’s bad parts.
He had known for a long time, and accepted it.
Taking it all in and still holding feeling for her.
“…Whenever it may be, will you always protect Norn?”
“Yes.”
Ruijerd gave a reassuring nod.
Right, if it’s him, he’d protect Norn until he died.
“When you get married, and Norn is surrounded by a different race, separated from her family, and think she’s in trouble, will you support her?”
“Yes.”
Ruijerd gave a reassuring nod.
Right, if it’s him, he’d support Norn until he died.
“If Norn is feeling down and says something bad, will you remind her of her courtesy?”
“Yes.”
Ruijerd gave a reassuring nod.
Right, if it’s him, he would comfort Norn and gently hold her.
“Norn is a Millis believer… Can you promise not to cheat?”
“Yes.”
Ruijerd gave a reassuring nod.
Right, it’s obvious. Ruijerd wouldn’t lose himself to a woman’s wiles.
“Norn is, she’s a bigger crybaby than me, is that ok?”
“Yes. So don’t you start crying.”