I found it hard to understand why I had stepped forward to speak first. Why did I do that?
I don’t know. I’ve always been one to act before thinking.
That said, I don’t intend to dismiss this as a mere habit, so I suppose there’s no need to worry too seriously. My objectivity is intact.
Seeing Laura and the Adelhaid Duke seemingly arguing, I felt compelled to intervene.
“Maybe I should have just walked by.”
The emotion that blossomed on Laura’s face, as if she was holding something back, made it impossible for me to turn away.
The excitement of the festival was warm to the point of being hot.
Amidst it all, Laura’s colder and heavier expression stood out as something I couldn’t just overlook. Thinking back, it wasn’t only because of a simple habit.
“Duke Adelhaid.”
In the end, I found myself speaking up. As soon as I stepped between the awkward silence between Adelhaid Duke and Laura, I immediately regretted it.
“Professor Antorelli?”
“Professor Antorelli…?”
The Duke looked at me. His expression held gloom, a hint of sadness, and a lesser amount of regret, along with a mix of other emotions.
The Duke’s face was like a flower bed filled with those sentiments. Laura was no different.
‘…Ah, I shouldn’t have come.’
I had thought they were fighting, but upon closer inspection, it didn’t seem like that at all. It might have been a personal family issue.
It was a ridiculous thing for me to intrude upon, and just saying “thank you for your hard work” and leaving would have been just as absurd.
Honestly, I wanted to turn around and escape this situation. I wanted to return to the heart of the festival.
No, the place where we were standing was also at the center of the festival. The only thing separating us from the festival was the atmosphere, not a geographical issue.
If I just shifted my feet a little, maybe I could pretend not to see them and walk past. I still found it awkward to face Duke Adelhaid. Laura posed no problem for me, though.
The Duke turned fully around to face me. It wasn’t the most welcoming gesture.
“What is it? Do you have business here…?”
“Nothing at all. Enjoy the festival.”
In the end, the choice I made was to awkwardly turn my back and walk away. The Duke, watching me from behind, would probably think I was crazy.
– Crunch.
My footsteps halted before I had even taken two steps, at that moment.
“P-Professor.”
I hesitantly turned my head around. Laura was tightly gripping the collar of my priest robe.
“Laura.”
“Can you help us…?”
“No, Laura. If your father cannot resolve this, how can Professor Antorelli…?”
“Be quiet, Father.”
As Laura shot a glare with her cold eyes, Duke Adelhaid shrank back, completely subdued by her words.
By the way, she now calls him “Father.”
“Laura. As you can see, I am here at the festival with Sofia Sub-Priest…”
“Professor…”
Laura’s eyes began to glisten with tears. Please don’t do this to me.
I had promised Sofia Sub-Priest that I would stay with her during the festival. I had made that promise, yet here we were.
I couldn’t ignore the glance at Sofia Sub-Priest. She didn’t seem to mind the situation too much.
“Head Priest. I’m fine.”
“But, Sofia Sub-Priest.”
“Professor. The students are more important.”
Sofia Sub-Priest gently grasped my hand. I felt the warmth of her touch through my skin.
“…”
Laura shut her mouth and began to stare intently at my hand. I couldn’t help but feel intense pressure from her unwavering gaze.
I slowly withdrew my hand from Sofia Sub-Priest’s grip. Only then did Laura’s attention shift back to me.
“…Laura?”
“…Ah, yes. Sorry. I just needed a moment to think.”
I let out a faint sigh and looked around. The festival, bustling with people, certainly wasn’t an ideal place.
Yet, I could clearly feel that it was better than before. In the past, I would have rejected the idea of being buried in the crowd, panicking instead.
If that’s the case, should I just admit it?
– At our academy, we hold a festival that’s quite grand. Especially, the fireworks on the last day…
Even here, your presence was strongly felt, like sticky jam.
– I really want to see them with Priest Lucio.
Looking at the crowd swirling around us, I thought.
Ordinary people leading their lives. Even amidst this wave of common folk, here I stood, perhaps…
‘Maybe, it’s because you said you would show me.’
I turned my head again, this time to face front.
Two pairs of red eyes were watching me. Among them, I gazed into the pure, sparkling gem-like eyes. They watched me. They pierced through me. They examined me.
– Help me, Professor.
And then, I touched the fervor hidden within.
“So, what kind of help do you need?”
If you cannot show me, I will just show you what I can.
*
To hear more details, we moved to another spot for a moment.
We headed to a stall selling drinks among the rows of festival booths, each taking a drink in hand before moving to a quieter place.
Of course, the only quiet place near here was the chapel. While the festival booths lined up right in front of the chapel, at least inside, it was quieter than anywhere in the academy and was a place that needed to be quiet.
This meant it was suitable for discussing somewhat personal stories and secret worries.
“Your younger sister?”
At my question, Laura nodded silently. Next to her, Duke Adelhaid stood, but he could do nothing other than keep quiet as Laura shot him sharp glares whenever he attempted to speak.
To be honest, it was a bit satisfying. I still didn’t like Adelhaid Duke.
‘However, if I were to judge…’
I felt it was a more mature anger than before. At least, I could view Adelhaid Duke and Laura with separate gazes now. I was grateful for this realization.
“Let’s summarize once more. Laura’s younger sister…Lina has been unwell since childhood and has missed the long-anticipated Fall Festival at the academy… Am I correct?”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm. That’s right.”
“Father. Please be quiet.”
“……”
Ignoring the Adelhaid Duke, who remained silent with a sulking expression as he scanned the chapel, I looked at Laura. Her eyes, turning back to me, held desperation.
“Professor. My sister Lina… is so precious to me. I wouldn’t trade her for anything in this world.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. But the fact that Lina can’t move from the mansion and misses the fireworks she wanted to see… I just…”
“…Hmm.”
“Of course, I can see the fireworks from the mansion. If I wanted, I could ask Alfred… Oh, Alfred is our butler.”
“Please continue.”
“I think Lina doesn’t just want to see the fireworks. After being cooped up at home for so long, she must want to enjoy the festival with me.”
“Of course, I…”
“Ha… Yes. You would come too, Father. Lina still doesn’t know what you’ve done.”
Laura’s eyes closed tightly. She seemed to be holding back something, or perhaps trying to release some emotions.
“How can I say this… If she has always been unwell, and hears about how her father is that kind of person… that would…”
“…I’m sorry, Laura.”
“Enough. I’ve grown tired of hearing your apologies.”
While discussing her younger sister, Adelhaid Duke tried to interject, but was sharply cut off each time, adding to Laura’s fierceness.
Glancing coldly at Adelhaid Duke, Laura quickly turned back to me, her lips moving. It seemed as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.
“…I’m sorry, Professor. It’s irresponsible of me to bring this up when you can’t do anything…”
“That is not true, Laura.”
“No. It’s true Lina is weak, but I keep wishing for impossible things… Here I am, being stubborn.”
Laura let out a deep sigh. At the sound of her soft exhale, Adelhaid Duke also cleared his throat uncomfortably.
Seeing his beloved daughter so distressed and blaming herself, it must be troubling for him as a father.
I gazed at Laura, who was biting her lip and staring down at the floor, for a while. Sofia Sub-Priest sitting next to me gripped my robe tightly.
“Head Priest… I want to help them. Is there no way we can assist?”
“……”
Regardless of whether there was a way or not, how could someone who couldn’t even bring a sick person to a crowded place make them enjoy the festival?
Originally, a festival is meant to be celebrated together. Just enjoying it alone would be nothing more than indulging oneself in luxury.
And from what I had heard of Laura’s story, her younger sister Nila von Adelhaid wished to enjoy the festival with her family.
‘I want to help too.’
Looking at Laura, she was biting her lower lip as if holding back her sorrow, gazing at me with pleading eyes.
“Is Lina’s illness… serious?”
“I will explain that.”
The priest, who had been standing like a ghost beside Duke Adelhaid, spoke for the first time. I naturally turned to look at her.
She met my gaze calmly and spoke softly.
“May the Lord’s grace be with you. Senior Priest, Luciana Liscova. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“…May the Lord’s grace be with you. Senior Priest, Lucio Antorelli.”
The senior priest Liscova, who was similar in rank to me, observed me closely with a steady gaze.
“Do you know me?”
“I wouldn’t say I don’t know you. Among the military chaplains I’ve seen, you’ve been one of the most accomplished.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Of course, this isn’t what’s important right now. Let’s focus on the matter at hand regarding the second young lady.”
To think someone knows of my past serving as a military chaplain. It was rather complicated, but first, listening to Liscova’s explanation took precedence.
“The second young lady was born with a congenital heart condition, and her weight has also been below average. She has frequent minor illnesses as well.”
“Then, is that the reason she can’t go out to crowded places…?”
“Yes. It’s partly due to her heart condition, and if she were to catch even a mild cold… it wouldn’t remain mild for her.”
“……”
“She’s a pitiable one, the second young lady.”
Although Liscova’s expression remained unchanged, I could distinctly see a fleeting sadness in her eyes.
“…I suppose there’s no other way then.”
Laura shook her head slowly and sighed. Her bright red eyes were filled with sorrow and injustice.
That sense of injustice was regarding a fate that no one could control. Resentment against her own miserable situation for blaming it.
This injustice originated from that.
While I met her gaze, I thought to myself.
‘It doesn’t need my interference.’
It was something I didn’t need to step in for, and I couldn’t do anything about her chronic illness either. Yet…
– I really want to see them with Priest Lucio.
Knowing that you wanted to be together, I couldn’t just stand by silently.
“Umm…”
My life is still filled with thoughts of you.
“…There’s a way.”
All eyes turned towards me. I slowly swallowed to avoid stumbling over my words as I continued.
“There’s not a complete absence of a method.”
After all, you never truly leave my life, do you?
