POTC - Chapter 37

Presepe returned safely to the mansion with Fenrir.

As expected, Hannah welcomed her and Fenrir with a bright smile.

At Presepe's words apologizing for not thinking that far ahead, saying she should have bought something since it was a festival, Hannah shook her head, saying it was no problem.

"You bought flowers, Lady Presepe."

Then, Presepe smiled brightly as she looked at the withered flower she had carefully held in her hand.

"Did you make a wish too?"

At Hannah's words, Presepe shyly nodded.

As Presepe stared intently at her, Hannah gave her characteristic cute smile and whispered into her ear as if she were telling her a very big secret.

"I also once offered flowers and made a wish to the foundation. Since my wish came true, I am sure your wish will come true, Presepe."

"Wow, really? Then what wish did Hannah make?"

"I ask that I be allowed to live like a human being, without suffering from indigestion or being beaten. Just like everyone else."

Come to think of it, she didn't know anything about Hannah. At best, all she knew was her age, her name, and that she was quite talkative.

However, with just that one remark, it was not difficult to guess Hannah's past.

Presepe was about to ask something more, but closed her mouth for a moment. For some reason, she was worried that it might bring up unpleasant memories for Hannah.

"I'm so glad your wish came true, Hannah."

Instead, she said something else.

"I don't know everything that happened to you, but from now on, only good things will happen. Just as you said, your wish came true!"

"Lady Presepe, you're probably the same."

The wish you prayed for will also come true.

At Hannah's cute words, Presepe smiled kindly.

"Everything will be alright. I know you are feeling anxious and confused. But that is all just part of the process. So please don't be afraid all alone like you were earlier, because you are no longer alone, Lady Presepe."

Fenrir was right. Presepe was stabilizing considerably.

The biggest factor is probably the fact that she's been spending time unrelated to the game's progression since escaping that damn imperial palace.

Besides, the fact that she doesn't have to face the legion of psychopaths she can't stand the sight of is likely the same.

A day where she didn't have to worry and received unexpected comfort came to a safe close.

And, an incredibly peaceful morning dawned.

***

"I do not know your preferences, Lady Presepe. However, books of all kinds are available, so please feel free to browse."

"..."

"There are not only general books, but also history books about monsters and the Imperial Family. Please feel free to read whatever you like."

"..."

"Lady Presepe?"

Presepe, who had been looking around the vast study with her eyes wide open, finally turned to look at Fenrir.

"Oh, sorry. I was distracted by looking around."

“Is that so?”

"This is the first time I've seen such a big study! Of course, there is something like a library in the Imperial Palace, but I haven't been able to go there."

Presepe smiled awkwardly.

...After finishing breakfast together, Fenrir immediately brought Presepe to the study.

Since the mansion is enormous, she expected the study to be magnificent as well, but she didn't expect it to be this impressive.

To think there was even an imperial history book. Such a history book must contain events, both big and small, that had occurred since the founding of the empire, as well as folktales and legends that formed the basis of the nation's establishment.

In that case, there might also be information about that broken stone statue seen at the church.

In any case, there was absolutely no reason for it not to be good for Presepe.

"Ah..."

Soon, Fenrir's large hands rose onto Presepe's slender shoulders.

He led Presepe very carefully. To be precise, toward the large table placed in front of the window.

"This is the map of Ateloia. The one Lady Presepe was looking for."

As if prepared in advance, a very large map was spread out across the table, along with two steaming teacups.

"..."

Place names written clearly in black ink quietly shone upon Presepe's purple eyes.

...I didn't realize it was this wide.

So this is what a huge empire Ateloia was.

Presepe slowly reached out her hand. Then she stroked the area near the capital of Ateloia.

"...Once the situation stabilizes a little."

And from behind, Fenrir's low voice was heard.

"You might be able to visit a place that pleases Presepe."

Fenrir's large, hot hand quietly rested on the small, white hand.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be the capital, anywhere."

"..."

“With me.”

Presepe's eyes wavered briefly as she looked down at the map.

Her breathing became irregular, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

It felt just like... being held in someone's arms.

To Fenrir.

"So please feel free to look around to your heart's content. If there is a place you would like to visit, feel free to let me know at any time." 

She was a man who had lived her entire life confined within the Imperial Palace. And that was throughout the long, long hours that repeated themselves endlessly.

If we go somewhere else together, will you look at me and smile like yesterday?

You said it was fun?

In that way, could I also gift countless days that you really want to remember?

I...

A faint smile played on Fenrir's lips.

It was that moment.

"Um, Lord Fenrir..."

Hannah's voice was heard from outside the firmly closed door.

“Come in.”

Fenrir, having pulled himself away from Presepe, looked toward the door and muttered.

"..."

She doesn't know why, but she's glad Hanna came.

Presepe, still standing with her back to Fenrir, let out a short breath and thought to herself.

I didn't know.

It sounded like nothing at all when I heard it, but I don't know why my heart suddenly sank like that. I don't know why I was trembling...

"I..."

Anyway, as soon as permission was given, Hannah stood in front of the open door with a look of worry on her face for some unknown reason.

Why suddenly?

Fenrir's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Uh... an urgent message has arrived from the Imperial Palace."

"...Imperial Palace?"

At that unexpected remark, Presepe also turned to look at Hannah.

"It looks like there has been some progress in the investigation into the murders of Prince Attar and Duke Noah DeVern."

Progress?

Fenrir snickered in disbelief.

"So, a message arrived requesting that you come to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible. His Majesty is still not feeling well. Since he cannot attend the meeting, Lord Fenrir will take his place..."

Anyway, it was an incredibly annoying affair. Even so, they wouldn't have been able to find a single proper piece of evidence...

However, in any case, it was also true that the incident was closely related to the justification for keeping Presepe under the pretext of protection.

Fenrir wore a slightly annoyed expression, but soon nodded as if he understood.

Then he looked at Presepe again.

"I will be back before it is too late, so please be free until then."

“Ah, yes..."

"If there is really progress as they say, I will come and explain in detail."

Presepe nodded as if to say she understood.

Eventually, Fenrir left with Hannah, and Presepe remained alone in the study.

"..."

Presepe, sitting on a gleaming chair, repeatedly fiddled with her cheek for no reason and stroked her chest.

"I was really surprised..."

Anyway, Fenrir was always suddenly affectionate, and always approached in completely unexpected ways.

Since his behavior was always like that, Presepe was flustered just like now, but...

The funny thing was that her behavior wasn't just blindly disliked like the other male characters did.

'Is it because I don't think I would hurt me?'

Is it because he is someone who actually protected me every time?

Yes, she had a thought that maybe that really was the case. And so, she also had a vague prediction that they might continue to get closer like this.

...Of course, that doesn't mean things like traveling through Ateloia as carefree as Fenrir says will ever happen.

She should check the map first.

"I need to pull myself together." 

Presepe began examining Fenrir's map while sipping the tea that had been prepared in advance.

The topography of Ateloia was nothing particularly special. The capital and the imperial palace were located in the center of the empire, and just above the capital—that is, to the north—was a mountain range. It was the road leading to the Tain Empire, the homeland of the already deceased Attar.

"The Tain Empire probably isn't connected to the real male protagonist. There wasn't anything special about it in the Attar route either."

Then the north was done, and Presepe's eyes slowly scanned the map.

"To the south is the sea. To the east is a mountain range... and..."

And in the west...

“...Forbidden Forest”

Come to think of it, when she defeated Siegfried...

She thinks she's heard of it a few times. After all, Siegfried, the Holy Knight, said he spent a long time in that region because of the subjugation.

"Right. I heard that some kind of holy sword was obtained by catching a dragon in the western region, too..."

...Is the name of this forest familiar because of her experience on the Siegfried route?

But something was strange. It seemed that Siegfried had never once explicitly mentioned the name 'Forbidden Forest.' He had only spoken of it as being to the west.

Furthermore, the Forbidden Forest was only mentioned when explaining Siegfried's background, and there was no particular reason to bring it up.

But why does this sound like something I've heard somewhere before?

Presepe, who had been tilting her head, paused briefly.

"Presepe, listen carefully to my words. You..."

Something suddenly flashed through her mind.

It was because of the last memory with her mother that she had forgotten.

"They say. But..."

At that time, what her mother said.

Could that possibly be related to this forest...?

With a deeply contorted expression, Presepe struggled to regain her memories of the past.

However, that effort did not last long.

It was because of the sudden sound of someone's presence.

'...Is it Grand Duke Fenrir?'

But she didn't think it was time to come back yet.

Or maybe he left something behind?

It was the moment Presepe, wearing a puzzled expression, stood up from her seat.

Suddenly the door opened.

"Hello."

Soon, a face she knew all too well appeared.

The person she never wanted to see again.

"Archmage, I apologize, but you must not barge in like this!"

With Hannah and a few other maids, and two or three knights whom Fenrir had left behind, all hung heavily on the back.

"It is an honor to meet you, Lady Presepe."

But regardless, Ivan looked at Presepe nonchalantly and gave her a cheeky greeting.

And...

That dreadful bug option popped up.

[◆Slap the cheek.]

[◆ Pour tea over.]

[◆ Kisses while saying hello.]

'This person...'

Along with the clear affinity window visible above the head

'This damn bastard...'

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