Chapter 107: Why?
“It’s no big deal.” I shook my head with a smile.
“That’s good.” Sophia replied.
She had already made her bed and was currently sitting on the edge in a very lady-like manner, observing me with curious eyes.
“Actually, I just happened to overhear my father mention something. The situation in the Empire seems tense, like something really big happened between the Shanter Castle in Winter City and the Royal Palace in Chielis City… he said we shouldn’t go over there for a while. Peilo, do you know what’s going on?”
“Not really.”
There was no need to explain this to them.
“Oh… I guess it’s those direct royal family members fighting over power again. Survival of the fittest, that happens everywhere…” Sophia stood up and walked to the window to draw the curtains. “Actually, it’s quite good for you. Not getting involved in such ruthless conflicts, just being a leisurely aristocrat, enjoying life without contention. That way nobody will harm you, and in the future, you can find a good man worthy of you, get married, and have kids. You won’t have to worry about life; everything’s arranged for you… I really envy your lifestyle like that.”
She probably saw me as a marginal relative of the “Winter Moon,” and indeed there are many families like that in Winter City. I’d hosted them at banquets before. But actually… if there’s a union between Winter Moon and an unrelated family, their next generation is very likely to not have black hair and black eyes, and they wouldn’t get the “Winter Moon” name or its rights and honors, so all the members of the Empire’s “Winter Moon” are indeed black-haired and black-eyed… it seems Sophia isn’t aware of this.
But I didn’t need to explain, and besides, it’s one of those things that… can’t really be explained. Let her continue to misunderstand; it’s fine this way.
After drawing the curtains, Sophia walked back to the bed and started to take off her outer clothes, revealing her fair belly.
I quickly shifted my gaze, only to accidentally catch a glimpse of Daisy’s smooth, delicate back. She was also changing her clothes, but looking a bit shy, leaving only her back visible, and it seemed like she wasn’t wearing anything underneath… why!?
I hurriedly looked down at my feet, focusing on what Sophia was saying: “As much as I envy you, I can’t do that. Even though I still have a few brothers holding down the fort at home, they don’t seem to be very capable… one day, Mom and Dad will get old, and I’ll have to take on the responsibilities.”
“A big family has its own troubles too.” Sarah chimed in.
“Actually, it’s not all bad. My father places a lot of emphasis on the family’s honor… look at Peilo; she seems so carefree, doesn’t have to worry about anything, how nice!” Sophia said.
“Yeah. I don’t really like those things.”
I truly hadn’t paid much attention to the affairs of the Central Workshop. As long as my father is there, it’s fine, and Pasifal is growing up quickly. As for the management of territories, Lafael has been doing an excellent job. With them at Shanter Castle, I really don’t have much to worry about.
And I… have my own things I must do.
“Peilo, aren’t you changing?” Sarah asked.
“Oh, I just did.”
“Sarah, you didn’t change either!”
“I’m not used to wearing pajamas.”
“…What kind of bad habit is that, sleeping n*ked?”
“Not your business…”
Once I climbed into bed and took off my skirt, the three girls turned to look at me with hungry wolf-like eyes.
“Wow—your figure is really… uh, quite small.”
…Please don’t say it out loud; that’s hurtful.
“But your skin is amazing… I envy you, how do you take care of it like that?”
“I don’t pay attention to it.”
“You’re lying; you just don’t want to tell us!”
“Exactly! …Oh my gosh Peilo, I think other than your somewhat pitiful chest, everything else is simply a masterpiece from the gods!”
…Yeah, I know!
I really am small, but I will grow! What’s the point of emphasizing it again? Isn’t it a bit excessive to describe it as pitiful?!
“A beauty like you, I can’t imagine which lucky guy will get you later…”
No way, how could I ever get married?
“I want to… touch it, okay?”
Daisy, why do you sound like that too… don’t really come over here, it tickles…!!! Sarah, where are your hands going?!
“Don’t, don’t touch there!”
“Hehe, don’t be shy, we’re all girls… here it comes!”
“Ahaha! No, that tickles…”
After a round of laughter and chaos, the four of us each lay on our own beds.
Perhaps because it was the first day of school, everyone, including me, was a bit too excited to fall asleep. Riding the wave of fresh novelty, topics swirled endlessly, mostly concerning things girls care about, like the unscrupulous Boss Lady of a jewelry store in the city and the packaging guy from a local tea shop. Girls really warm up to each other quickly; before long, we were almost talking about everything.
Gradually, I fell into this atmosphere. For a moment, I felt like I’d returned to years ago, those university days long buried in the corner of my memory.
Back then, the faces around me which I now could barely recall, were just like now, laughing and bustling with energy, sharing trivial and fearless stories, playing guitars and singing songs, unwilling to fall asleep long after the lights were out.
Those kinds of days resurfaced before my eyes once again.
“…Peilo, why aren’t you talking? What are you laughing about to yourself? Got something funny to share with everyone?” Sarah suddenly said.
“It’s nothing.”
“If it’s nothing, why are you so happy?!”
“Really, it’s nothing.”
“Sarah, don’t change the subject! You haven’t told us why you want to become a knight!”
A disgruntled voice came from below the bedsprings, and Sarah pouted at the remark.
“I really don’t have much to say; my family has been knights for generations, so I have to work hard to become one too.”
“Eh~ isn’t it because you were amazed by some noble and wanted to follow in their footsteps? That kind of story is much more interesting!”
“No! You know that’s just a story!” Sarah said in annoyance, “But speaking of whom I admire… there is one.”
“Really? Who is it?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“Come on—! I’m so bored I can’t sleep!”
“Don’t.”
“Tell us—! Daisy wants to hear it too, right, Daisy?”
“Uh? Ah… yes, indeed.”
“See! Hurry and tell us~”
“Um… fine. But it’s nothing much, just Lord Carlos.”
“Lord Carlos? …Oh, you mean that silver shining, Pope Knight Carlos?”
“Mmhm.”
“Then your competition is quite fierce. I don’t know how many girls in the Royal City dream of marrying him, good luck~”
!!????
…What?
Carlos? That guy?!
“Where did your mind go? I just really admire him… a hero who strolls through the Abyss, slaying monsters with his sword, who wouldn’t like that?”
“Like him enough to want to marry him?”
“I already said it’s admiration…”
“If he proposed to you, would you also be able to say with righteous indignation: no need, I only admire you~ Would you be able to do that?”
“Um…” Sarah went silent.
“So, you see, you’re not just an admirer; you simply haven’t had the chance.”
“Sophia, don’t say things like that…” Daisy murmured.
“Did I say something wrong? Little Sarah just isn’t honest… by the way, have you seen Mr. Carlos?”
“…No.”
“I heard he recently came to the Royal City~”
“Really!?” Sarah’s voice suddenly perked up.
“Mm, but that’s just what I heard, I haven’t seen him in person… there are way too many rumors about him; who knows what’s real and what’s not.”
“He’s not in the Royal City.” I said lightly.
I get the feeling that Sarah has some misconceptions about Carlos… I can’t let her dig herself deeper.
“Eh, how do you know?”
“Peilo, do you know Mr. Carlos?”
I pouted and turned to the side.
“Not really.”
Tch, who knows that kind of guy who comes and goes like the wind?
“Then how can you be so certain…”
“Peilo, is there someone you like… cough, someone you admire?”
“Sophia, stop beating around the bush to poke fun at me! I’m getting angry!”
“Don’t blame me; now it’s Peilo’s turn to confess.”
“I’m not.”
“Not believing~”
“Definitely lying!”
“Really, there’s nothing.”
“Could it be… Mr. Carlos?”
Daisy’s casual question threw me into a panic: “What… how could that be?!”
What a joke; sure, I have some respect for that guy’s character, but what you’re asking with this ‘admiration’ definitely isn’t literal, right?
“…Why the big reaction?” Sarah asked, confused.
“I think… Peilo’s admiration should be for Prince Skarlij.” Sophia said.
“But she just reacted so strongly…”
Seeing Sarah wouldn’t let go of that point, I hurriedly admitted: “Yes, I admire Skarlij.”
“Right? That’s the Pope Knight of the Winter Moon… Peilo, have you met him?”
“…I’ve probably seen him.”
“By the way… have you all met the Pope Knight?” Sarah successfully shifted the topic.
“I’ve only seen Her Majesty the Queen.” Sophia said.
“Eh~ you actually saw the Queen!”
“…I just followed my father and caught a glimpse from afar once.”
“Wow, that’s amazing! I’ve never seen her… what about you, Daisy?”
“I’ve seen her… once.”
“Who? Who?”
“Remember six months ago, a famous Pope Knight held an awarding ceremony in Nalanda’s church? I went to see… there were so many people; they say she is the youngest Pope Knight in history.”
“Oh oh! I know! I know!” Sarah’s voice sounded super excited. “That’s Lady Silvya! What does she look like?”
“Um… it was too far away, and she was in a cloak, so I couldn’t see clearly… just felt she was small, and her voice was very sweet, but she seemed to be in a hurry and left quickly… and she released a lot of ice blocks, freezing the church’s terrace solid, so the clerics had to clean up for a long time afterward.”
“So, that new Pope Knight belongs to the Frost Order… but why freeze the terrace?”
“Yeah, why?” I asked with a straight face.
