Chapter 45
Happy Crowell Castle (9)
Diana’s body, tightly embracing me, was warm and damp despite the winter wind, showing how much she had been through emotionally.
As I gently stroked Diana’s back, I exchanged glances with Ethan.
It seemed that the worst-case scenario we had predicted in the dining room was coming true. Namely…
Ethan spoke in a low voice.
“…It looks like mind control magic.”
I nodded slightly and responded.
“…And it’s affecting the entire castle.”
My regression point and Crowell Castle shouldn’t have any connection, so why did this happen to Crowell Castle?
Ethan asked, rattling a teacup he hadn’t even touched.
“Do you have any idea who might be behind this? Any political enemies of the Crowell family?”
“Not at all. The Crowell family hasn’t been involved in politics at all. Their biggest concern has been preventing their people from being kidnapped.”
Neither of us had touched our tea, which was growing cold.
It’s a wise decision when you’re not sure if what’s been poured is tea or poison.
Ethan murmured softly.
“…It’s also strange that the effects of the mind control seem so minor.”
“Minor effects?”
“If it’s large-scale mind control that can affect everyone in the castle, they could have turned all of Crowell Castle’s people into berserkers to attack neighboring territories, but they didn’t.”
“…Ah.”
That’s true. Setting aside the immediate unpleasant sense of déjà vu, this mind control could have created a far worse situation if its content were exploited even slightly.
Then what would be the point of casting mind control to “manage the castle perfectly” in the first place?
“…Hmm.”
As I groaned, furrowing my brow in confusion, Diana raised her head from my embrace.
“Sister…”
Diana was clinging to me desperately, as if I were the only person she could trust and hold onto.
“Mom and Dad, they can come back, right…? And the others too…?”
“…Of course. I’ll solve everything for you.”
I whispered the words I had been repeating to myself to Diana once again, tightly grasping her small, trembling hand.
“I’ll help too, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
Ethan also spoke briefly in an awkward but gentle tone, as if trying to calm Diana.
It was a remarkable improvement in kindness compared to his first greeting to Diana.
“…I don’t like you, but I’ll tolerate you because you’re my sister’s friend.”
“Thank you.”
Diana threw the words at Ethan in a still grumpy but softened tone.
At this rate, we might be able to expect an improvement in their relationship.
Of course, there are more urgent matters at hand now.
It’s reasonable to assume that the root of all problems lies in my regression.
Just as the premature emergence of monster hordes during the subjugation practicum and the early annihilation of professors and knights were due to Terion’s appearance caused by my regression.
However, it was not easy to guess exactly what aspect of this regression affected Crowell Castle.
More precisely, there were too many possibilities to pinpoint.
‘Damn it.’
But it doesn’t matter if there’s barely any information we can use.
I have Diana, who has witnessed this entire situation.
As I brushed Diana’s sweat-soaked hair away, I asked,
“Diana, do you remember exactly when Father started acting strange?”
Diana rolled her eyes once, then nodded with an “Ah.”
“Yes. It was probably last week…. He was reading a letter!”
“What kind of letter?”
“It was in a thick purple envelope, it looked unusual, so if we check the date that letter arrived, we can know for sure.”
“That’s clever.”
“…Hmph. I take after my sister, that’s why.”
Diana tried to suppress her rising smile as she boasted in response to Ethan’s praise. Seeing Diana’s bright expression after so long, a small laugh escaped me.
We should probably avoid mentioning the fact that we’re not related by blood.
Diana, seemingly encouraged by Ethan’s words, clenched her fist and exclaimed.
“No! I’ll just sneak into the office tomorrow and bring it out myself! There might be something in the letter’s contents too!”
“I could go get it.”
“But I’m smaller and faster than you, sister? Leave it to me!”
“Hmm…. Shall I trust only Diana then?”
“Yes!”
Ignoring Ethan’s concerned glance about potential danger, I smiled and nodded at Diana.
Diana, proud of her newly assigned role, lifted her head and grinned playfully.
Her eyes were still red and swollen.
Her exaggerated attempt to appear cheerful made my heart ache even more.
Yes. With our little lady on our side, everything will be resolved well.
As long as even one of my beloved family members remains by my side…
Diana soon seemed to relax and left the garden with light steps, rubbing her eyes and saying she was sleepy.
Once again, only Ethan and I remained in the garden.
Ethan was lost in thought, gazing into the distance.
Just then, the clouds parted, and the full moon poured out pale blue moonlight.
It cast angular shadows along Ethan’s sharp nose bridge.
“……”
“Edith.”
His gaze slowly turned to me. His dark navy eyes flashed coldly in the moonlight for a moment, then sought darkness again.
‘Hmm.’
Grateful for his uncharacteristic comforting of Diana and touched by his willingness to help, instead of snapping “What are you looking at?”, I simply tilted my head.
“Why did you readily agree to help?”
“Because it’s something I can do.”
His answer was as concise as always.
I unconsciously furrowed my brow slightly.
“…You don’t even know what it entails.”
“Whatever it is.”
“I didn’t want to show this side of myself to you, Ethan.”
“What side are you talking about?”
After a brief pause, I slowly revealed my vulnerability.
“Just… After saying how much I love and cherish them. Looking foolish, unable to properly handle things going wrong right before my eyes.”
If there’s a weakness that remains unchanged through hundreds of lives, for me, it would be family. I am infinitely weak and clumsy when it comes to family.
Because I love them so much. Because I’ve endured hundreds of lives with the warm memories they left me…
“……”
I looked up at the moon for a moment. The bright moonlight hurt my eyes.
It made my vision a bit blurry.
I heard Ethan’s voice.
“I don’t think you were expecting an answer, so shall we get up?”
Is he being considerate? I felt slightly grateful.
“…Yes.”
Smiling faintly, I slowly lowered my head and stood up, pushing back the chair.
Ethan, who had been staring at me the whole time, added an unexpected comment a beat later.
“But it’s unusual for you not to ask what I’m looking at.”
…Is that a complaint?
“Should I ask?”
“Yes.”
“…?”
What does he mean by ‘yes’? He really is strange…
I opened my mouth, feeling uneasy.
“…What are you looking at so intently?”
“I was thinking your smile is nice to see.”
Doubting my ears at his unexpected words, I asked,
“Pardon?”
“When you look at Diana. Your smiling face, I mean.”
Ignoring my questioning response, Ethan answered calmly.
“It’s nice to see.”
“…You seem to have a lot of interest in me.”
“I think so too.”
So you’re aware of it.
His serious agreement to my comment meant to discourage his interest unconsciously made me smile again.
Ethan smiled slightly too.
“I’d like to see you smile more.”
“……”
His words suddenly made me think.
Perhaps, if I were alone in this situation.
The vague thought crossed my mind that this situation might have been more overwhelming and suffocating.
…I’m glad to be with him.
And I’m glad that at least Diana hasn’t changed.
With these two people, I felt I could endure anything until we solved Crowell Castle’s problem.
Thinking this, I fell asleep.
Not imagining at all what would happen to Diana in just one night.
🥀
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