Randall also understood Sylvia's feelings because he remembered his past life. He held Sylvia's hand and gently patted the back of her hand to comfort her.
“I will also stay with you. I don’t know if the Count and Countess will accept what we say, or if they will just ignore it...”
A low, heavy voice gradually calmed my anxious mind. Randall finished speaking in a steady voice.
“What’s certain is that there are people who won’t pressure us or think we’re strange.”
“...That’s right.”
Sylvia let out a hollow laugh at Randall's words without realizing it. The tension was relieved and a sense of helplessness came over her.
"My, my lord?"
"Duchess? When on earth did you come... Did you... see me?"
Auston and Rubia, who discovered the Duke couple late, jumped in surprise. Randall caught Auston and Sylvia caught Rubia and questioned them, and they confessed that they had become lovers while Randall and Sylvia were in Kelvetia. In fact, they were closer to being engaged than lovers. Of course, they didn't hear 'how' they became lovers. To be exact, it would be more accurate to say that they didn't listen because they thought they knew without being told.
"Why is Young Lady here...?"
Randall and Sylvia muttered together, feeling that the shock they had felt a little while ago would be repeated. And their premonition came true.
"I ran away! And now I'm staying in Jeffrey's room."
Phil, no, Young Lady! If you say that, everyone will misunderstand!"
Ah. Instead, he's staying in another senior's room. Yes?"
At the moment when Randall was about to grab the back of his neck and move on at Philia's bright words, Jeffrey hurriedly shouted, preventing Randall from fainting in shock instead of Marquis Seicrine.
At that time, unlike now, there were no proper wizards in the North, nor support from the capital. Furthermore, the opponents were not demons, but humans who were cornered and struggling. Therefore, the results would be different. Randall also knew in his head that this was a useless anxiety. However, for some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off the falling snow.
“I will also stay with you. I don’t know if the Count and Countess will accept what we say, or if they will just ignore it...”
A low, heavy voice gradually calmed my anxious mind. Randall finished speaking in a steady voice.
“What’s certain is that there are people who won’t pressure us or think we’re strange.”
“...That’s right.”
Sylvia let out a hollow laugh at Randall's words without realizing it. The tension was relieved and a sense of helplessness came over her.
Yes. Even though it was only superficial, the Count and Countess Florette that she had seen so far were not people who would treat her like a lunatic or swear at her. It was a little funny and sad that she had only become certain of that after hearing Randall's words.
'I shouldn't have done that.'
When she admitted it, a bit more raw regret came over her. If only she had known it would turn out like this. No, even if she didn’t know that she would meet Randall and have hope for life again.
'I shouldn't have done that.'
When she admitted it, a bit more raw regret came over her. If only she had known it would turn out like this. No, even if she didn’t know that she would meet Randall and have hope for life again.
Before Sylvia pushed them away because she was afraid of getting hurt and being left alone. Even if she would get hurt someday, even if they would break up. At least she should have tried her best in her relationship with them for the moment they were together.
Count Florette and his wife always acted as if they had lost their will to live, and their daughter, who pretended not to care about them, could never have been happy. But they loved Sylvia with all their might and tried hard.
When Sylvia was lying in bed, they would open the curtains and talk to her. When she reluctantly went down to the restaurant to eat with her parents, they were so happy that they felt like they had the world. That’s why she tried to distance themselves from them, thinking that they would be irrelevant once she died anyway.
"Sylvia!"
How could she turn away from those who call her name with such a bright smile?
"Get married."
There must have been a reason why she accepted the sudden marriage proposal. She indeed accepted the marriage with Randall because she could not turn away from the hope of death. But she also secretly believed that Count Florette and his wife would not do anything that would harm her. If they had not been within Sylvia’s boundaries in the first place, she would not have felt this guilty.
"Sylvia!"
How could she turn away from those who call her name with such a bright smile?
"Get married."
There must have been a reason why she accepted the sudden marriage proposal. She indeed accepted the marriage with Randall because she could not turn away from the hope of death. But she also secretly believed that Count Florette and his wife would not do anything that would harm her. If they had not been within Sylvia’s boundaries in the first place, she would not have felt this guilty.
Sylvia, who had been thinking that far, let out a snicker at the thought that suddenly occurred to her. Randall tilted his head in wonder.
“Why are you laughing?”
"Hmm."
Sylvia, who had been thinking for a moment, suddenly opened her mouth.
“Can I be honest with you?”
"Yes."
“When I first received your proposal of marriage...”
Sylvia hesitated and then finished speaking calmly.
“Actually, I thought marrying you was an opportunity for me.”
“...”
Randall's face, which had been fixed on Sylvia's side face, sank a little. He did not bother to ask the question since he knew that what she meant was a chance to 'die'. Sylvia did not add any further explanation either. She nudged Randall with the tip of her foot.
“In a way, it was a good opportunity. Thanks to that, I got to meet you again like this.”
Randall's face, which had been frozen for a moment by those words and actions, softened. She continued.
“But I do have a little regret. I regret that I should have tried harder to live for the people who loved me.”
“...”
“...If that were the case, it wouldn’t be so hard to look at my parents’ faces right now.”
Sylvia finished speaking with some difficulty and closed her eyelids. She leaned her head on his shoulder, adding a little more weight as if she were going to burrow into Randall’s arms. Randall patted Sylvia’s hand for a long time. He was even more grateful that she was just silently and silently by his side. Thanks to Randall, she was able to calm down her complicated feelings a little, and she suddenly let out a small laugh.
“Honestly, how could I have known that my life would turn out like this? Like Rubia and Auston becoming lovers.”
"Ah."
Randall laughed at Sylvia's words. Sylvia laughed along with him, recalling the shocking sight she had encountered as soon as she returned north.
"Isn't that... Countess Glever?"
"There's also Auston."
With Evelyn's help, Sylvia and Randall barely made it back to the human world in time through the twist and were delighted to find familiar figures at the main gate of Belfort Castle. Judging from the carriage standing next to them, which had the emblem of the Count Glever family, it seemed that Rubia had brought Auston. However, Randall soon discovered a bandage wrapped between Auston's collar, and his face hardened seriously. Sylvia frowned for a slightly different reason.
"But isn't there something... that makes the atmosphere seem a bit strange? It's almost like Auston is trying to appease the Countess..."
“Why are you laughing?”
"Hmm."
Sylvia, who had been thinking for a moment, suddenly opened her mouth.
“Can I be honest with you?”
"Yes."
“When I first received your proposal of marriage...”
Sylvia hesitated and then finished speaking calmly.
“Actually, I thought marrying you was an opportunity for me.”
“...”
Randall's face, which had been fixed on Sylvia's side face, sank a little. He did not bother to ask the question since he knew that what she meant was a chance to 'die'. Sylvia did not add any further explanation either. She nudged Randall with the tip of her foot.
“In a way, it was a good opportunity. Thanks to that, I got to meet you again like this.”
Randall's face, which had been frozen for a moment by those words and actions, softened. She continued.
“But I do have a little regret. I regret that I should have tried harder to live for the people who loved me.”
“...”
“...If that were the case, it wouldn’t be so hard to look at my parents’ faces right now.”
Sylvia finished speaking with some difficulty and closed her eyelids. She leaned her head on his shoulder, adding a little more weight as if she were going to burrow into Randall’s arms. Randall patted Sylvia’s hand for a long time. He was even more grateful that she was just silently and silently by his side. Thanks to Randall, she was able to calm down her complicated feelings a little, and she suddenly let out a small laugh.
“Honestly, how could I have known that my life would turn out like this? Like Rubia and Auston becoming lovers.”
"Ah."
Randall laughed at Sylvia's words. Sylvia laughed along with him, recalling the shocking sight she had encountered as soon as she returned north.
"Isn't that... Countess Glever?"
"There's also Auston."
With Evelyn's help, Sylvia and Randall barely made it back to the human world in time through the twist and were delighted to find familiar figures at the main gate of Belfort Castle. Judging from the carriage standing next to them, which had the emblem of the Count Glever family, it seemed that Rubia had brought Auston. However, Randall soon discovered a bandage wrapped between Auston's collar, and his face hardened seriously. Sylvia frowned for a slightly different reason.
"But isn't there something... that makes the atmosphere seem a bit strange? It's almost like Auston is trying to appease the Countess..."
It was at that moment that Sylvia was spouting out her doubts. While talking to Rubia, Auston, who was struggling, suddenly kissed her on the forehead. It was only natural that Sylvia and Randall were shocked and dropped their chins at the sight.
"My, my lord?"
"Duchess? When on earth did you come... Did you... see me?"
Auston and Rubia, who discovered the Duke couple late, jumped in surprise. Randall caught Auston and Sylvia caught Rubia and questioned them, and they confessed that they had become lovers while Randall and Sylvia were in Kelvetia. In fact, they were closer to being engaged than lovers. Of course, they didn't hear 'how' they became lovers. To be exact, it would be more accurate to say that they didn't listen because they thought they knew without being told.
As soon as the question was brought up, Auston and Rubia's faces turned red as if they were going to burst, so Randall and Sylvia, using their experience of becoming a couple first, quietly let go of their shoulders.
Randall shook his head, saying that it was surprising even thinking back on it, and then sighed deeply.
“If you look at it that way, the same goes for Philia and Jeffrey. Running away from home...”
"Hey, where on earth have you been? And the Duchess!"
Randall and Sylvia's shock did not end there. As soon as the two managed to calm their shock and crossed the main gate, Philia came running from the knights' quarters, raising her voice. Jeffrey followed her, looking embarrassed.
"...Philia?"
“If you look at it that way, the same goes for Philia and Jeffrey. Running away from home...”
"Hey, where on earth have you been? And the Duchess!"
Randall and Sylvia's shock did not end there. As soon as the two managed to calm their shock and crossed the main gate, Philia came running from the knights' quarters, raising her voice. Jeffrey followed her, looking embarrassed.
"...Philia?"
"Why is Young Lady here...?"
Randall and Sylvia muttered together, feeling that the shock they had felt a little while ago would be repeated. And their premonition came true.
"I ran away! And now I'm staying in Jeffrey's room."
Phil, no, Young Lady! If you say that, everyone will misunderstand!"
Ah. Instead, he's staying in another senior's room. Yes?"
At the moment when Randall was about to grab the back of his neck and move on at Philia's bright words, Jeffrey hurriedly shouted, preventing Randall from fainting in shock instead of Marquis Seicrine.
Sylvia smiled as she recalled the memory of comforting Philia, who had been crying and hugging her, saying that she didn't know how worried she was.
“Of course, the most unexpected thing is my life.”
“That’s right.”
Randall smiled at Sylvia's words. He reached out with one hand and cupped Sylvia's cheek, gently turning her head to look at him. That gaze, which was focused solely on her, was most pleasing. Randall's green eyes widened with affection.
“But actually, I had a vague idea that this would happen the moment I first saw you.”
“What? Really? How?”
“It’s just a feeling.”
“...Do you know that you really sound like an animal whenever you say that?”
"Haha."
Sylvia wrinkled her nose and frowned as if she felt that Randall was a monster again. Randall, who burst into laughter, tilted his head and lightly pressed his lips to Sylvia's, then removed them. He smiled and whispered from a distance close enough that their breaths mixed.
“And usually this is called love.”
When Sylvia opened her eyes wide at those words and tried to laugh, Randall stopped her laughter by kissing her again. A white snowflake fell behind the backs of the two people who were kissing affectionately.
“Of course, the most unexpected thing is my life.”
“That’s right.”
Randall smiled at Sylvia's words. He reached out with one hand and cupped Sylvia's cheek, gently turning her head to look at him. That gaze, which was focused solely on her, was most pleasing. Randall's green eyes widened with affection.
“But actually, I had a vague idea that this would happen the moment I first saw you.”
“What? Really? How?”
“It’s just a feeling.”
“...Do you know that you really sound like an animal whenever you say that?”
"Haha."
Sylvia wrinkled her nose and frowned as if she felt that Randall was a monster again. Randall, who burst into laughter, tilted his head and lightly pressed his lips to Sylvia's, then removed them. He smiled and whispered from a distance close enough that their breaths mixed.
“And usually this is called love.”
When Sylvia opened her eyes wide at those words and tried to laugh, Randall stopped her laughter by kissing her again. A white snowflake fell behind the backs of the two people who were kissing affectionately.
***
As the night deepened, white snowflakes appeared one by one and then disappeared, and around dawn, it began to snow in earnest. It was the first snow of the year.
“...”
Just before dawn, just before the sun rose, Randall was fully dressed in his chairman's uniform, complete with a fur cloak. He stood by the window, waiting for Sylvia, staring silently out the dark window. In fact, what was reflected in the window was not the scenery outside, but his own image.
"If, really if. Even if we can't come back..."
"Don't forget that it's not your fault, nor anyone else's."
"I'll be back soon."
When he was young, it was on a snowy night like this when the previous Duchess left him behind and went to the battlefield to help her husband. Randall knew that he looked quite similar to the previous Duke who had passed away. Maybe that was why, but his heart was pounding uneasy as the past seemed to overlap.
“...”
Just before dawn, just before the sun rose, Randall was fully dressed in his chairman's uniform, complete with a fur cloak. He stood by the window, waiting for Sylvia, staring silently out the dark window. In fact, what was reflected in the window was not the scenery outside, but his own image.
"If, really if. Even if we can't come back..."
"Don't forget that it's not your fault, nor anyone else's."
"I'll be back soon."
When he was young, it was on a snowy night like this when the previous Duchess left him behind and went to the battlefield to help her husband. Randall knew that he looked quite similar to the previous Duke who had passed away. Maybe that was why, but his heart was pounding uneasy as the past seemed to overlap.
Randall clenched his fists and tried to calm his anxiety.
‘...Things are different now than they were then.’
‘...Things are different now than they were then.’
At that time, unlike now, there were no proper wizards in the North, nor support from the capital. Furthermore, the opponents were not demons, but humans who were cornered and struggling. Therefore, the results would be different. Randall also knew in his head that this was a useless anxiety. However, for some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off the falling snow.
At that moment, he saw Sylvia approaching through the window, having finished preparing. When Randall turned around to look at Sylvia, she opened her eyes wide and smiled.
“...Oh my. You seemed a bit nervous, so I tried to surprise you.”
“Can you turn around again?”
“Thank you for your words. Have you been waiting long?”
Sylvia looked at Randall with a smile on her face and reached for his hand. Then, ironically, the anxiety that had been shaking him until just a moment ago melted away. Randall laughed a little at how strange it was. He took a deep breath and held Sylvia’s hand tightly.
“Shall we go, Ma’am?”
"Great."
Randall and Sylvia held hands tightly as they headed towards the entrance to the Duchy of Belfort, their usual destination when they used teleportation magic to travel north from the capital.
“Are you here?”
As they passed through the gate and went outside, the captain of the royal guard who had been waiting there bowed his head to greet them. Randall greeted them and asked in a low voice.
“Any hints of traitors?”
“They are not visible yet, but I think they will show up at daybreak. Have the Knights of Belfort arrived?”
Randall nodded. He turned around and shouted.
“...Oh my. You seemed a bit nervous, so I tried to surprise you.”
“Can you turn around again?”
“Thank you for your words. Have you been waiting long?”
Sylvia looked at Randall with a smile on her face and reached for his hand. Then, ironically, the anxiety that had been shaking him until just a moment ago melted away. Randall laughed a little at how strange it was. He took a deep breath and held Sylvia’s hand tightly.
“Shall we go, Ma’am?”
"Great."
Randall and Sylvia held hands tightly as they headed towards the entrance to the Duchy of Belfort, their usual destination when they used teleportation magic to travel north from the capital.
“Are you here?”
As they passed through the gate and went outside, the captain of the royal guard who had been waiting there bowed his head to greet them. Randall greeted them and asked in a low voice.
“Any hints of traitors?”
“They are not visible yet, but I think they will show up at daybreak. Have the Knights of Belfort arrived?”
Randall nodded. He turned around and shouted.
“Close the gates!”
"Yes!"
A loud roar was heard, and the huge gate slowly moved. Soon, with a heavy thud, the gate was perfectly placed as part of the wall. While the Knights of Belfort were all away, if a twist occurred and the reckless monsters attacked the villagers, it would be a disaster. So, rather than evacuating the villagers to Belfort Castle and then sieging, the Duke and Duchess chose to leave the villagers in the village where the barrier stones were installed and go outside to end the fight quickly. Even so, the difference in power between the two sides was enough to ensure victory.
'If we're talking about variables, it would be the Crown Prince... something like that.'
Sylvia glanced at Randall. She had made him carry various defensive magic stones just in case, but she still couldn’t completely let go of her worries. Randall noticed her gaze and smiled slightly, pulling Sylvia’s hand away. He touched the back of her hand with his lips and smiled with his eyes wide open.
“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt. I’m yours.”
"Yes!"
A loud roar was heard, and the huge gate slowly moved. Soon, with a heavy thud, the gate was perfectly placed as part of the wall. While the Knights of Belfort were all away, if a twist occurred and the reckless monsters attacked the villagers, it would be a disaster. So, rather than evacuating the villagers to Belfort Castle and then sieging, the Duke and Duchess chose to leave the villagers in the village where the barrier stones were installed and go outside to end the fight quickly. Even so, the difference in power between the two sides was enough to ensure victory.
'If we're talking about variables, it would be the Crown Prince... something like that.'
Sylvia glanced at Randall. She had made him carry various defensive magic stones just in case, but she still couldn’t completely let go of her worries. Randall noticed her gaze and smiled slightly, pulling Sylvia’s hand away. He touched the back of her hand with his lips and smiled with his eyes wide open.
“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt. I’m yours.”
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