For Your Sake
When I woke up, I felt a warm blanket wrapped around my body. Claire must have woken up at some point and covered me, worried I might catch a cold. Lately, everything had been exhausting, so waking up early on a rare day off felt even harder. But thinking about doing this for Claire gave me strength.
“...Was this always next to Claire’s bed?”
The paper I’d been scribbling destinations on lay beside the bed, which bothered me a little, but it wasn’t a big deal. It only had locations written on it anyway. The real problem was the chance someone might recognize Claire.
The reason we were heading to Rienie Park was because the young lady of the Ephedrine family—who had run away from home after a fight with her father—was supposed to be kidnapped there. In the original story, it would happen a month later, and Heste would coincidentally rescue the girl while on an academy field trip. But we planned to save her before she was taken to another region.
No matter how much Claire was hated as a villainess, surely no one would curse her for saving a child, right? That was my thinking. And in the novel, Duke Ephedrine was fair in rewards and punishments, so I believed he would acknowledge the Artifare family’s legitimate achievement.
The important thing, though, was that Rienie Park was always crowded. And since it was a holiday, it would be even worse. Claire could barely go out to eat because of the vicious malice directed at her—if we headed openly to the park, something would definitely happen before we could even rescue the duke’s daughter.
So first, I neatly folded the blanket. Then, careful not to wake Claire, I quietly searched for the key.
“Let’s call it lodging fees, yeah.”
I’d planned to buy her a hat with a veil to hide her identity, but while looking for the key and scanning the house, I realized she had almost no casual clothes besides her uniform. I had no choice but to change the plan.
Instead of heading to a clothing store, I turned straight toward the adventurer guild.
The young guildmaster and Silver-rank adventurer. The cat-beastkin, Runyang, waved at me.
“Oh, I was wondering why you hadn’t shown up lately. Another monster subjugation request came in, you know.”
“Just give me the remaining payment.”
“A kid like you already chasing money? You’ll get punished for that.”
“...Ah, just hurry up.”
“...Ugh. Fine, here. But why do you suddenly need money? Weren’t you saying you wanted interest? Didn’t you say you’d leave it with us?”
“I’ve got something to spend it on.”
“Something to spend it on?”
Runyang’s usual teasing friendliness felt annoying before, but now the situation was different. Since Claire was a girl, she’d probably prefer pretty clothes and a hat as a gift…
“...What are you staring at?”
I looked at Runyang intently. My perspective might be off, but she always seemed like a woman who dressed well. Besides, I’d heard that guild members came to see her and that she even received occasional confessions, so my guess was probably right. I didn’t want to buy something on my own and end up upsetting her, so I spoke to her carefully.
“Don’t think too strangely about this.”
“Yeah? What is it? Are you going to confess to me too?”
“No, it’s not that… What kind of clothes do women like?”
“...Women? Ah—! Y-you!”
Runyang clutched her stomach and burst out laughing, her face turning red from embarrassment.
“Ahahaha, you. You got yourself a girlfriend?”
“N-no, I don’t!”
“The kid who stayed calm during the orc subjugation is blushing like this and saying no?”
“It’s true! She’s just a friend!”
“Sure, sure. That’s what they all say. ‘Just a friend.’ Let’s go then.”
“...Yes.”
It was genuinely embarrassing, but thankfully Runyang didn’t tease me too much.
“But what’s she like? Pretty? How’s her figure?”
“...She’s pretty, and her figure’s probably better than yours, Master.”
“You’ve been checking out my figure this whole time? I look better than you think, you know.”
“Ugh, stop messing with me!”
A fluttering dress, a cardigan, and a hat with a veil. Runyang called it support funds for new recruits and paid for Claire’s clothes in my place.
“Hurry and go to her. She’ll be waiting.”
Runyang kept grinning and teasing, but I was grateful, so I didn’t show it. I headed straight back to Claire’s lodging.
The moment I slid the key in and opened the front door with a click—
A loud thud came from the bedroom.
When I walked in holding the neatly wrapped box, I saw Claire with the blanket pulled over her head, pretending to sleep in a very unnatural way. A few of her scarce clothes were scattered nearby. She must have been getting ready to go to Rienie Park.
A playful urge hit me.
“...Claire, what are you doing?”
I could see her ears turning red all the way to the lobes, yet she kept pretending to sleep. Maybe she wanted to hide how excited she was about going out. I wanted to tease her more, but we had to head to Rienie Park and find the duke’s daughter.
“...Um, since we’re going out anyway, I thought it might help lift your mood. I bought some clothes. They’re not expensive, so don’t feel burdened.”
I set the gift box down and left the bedroom.
Tick. Tick.
Maybe the clock had been wound again—the second hand was ticking once more. Soft warmth now spread through the considerably open curtains.
“...Hey, Reyan.”
Soon, Claire appeared wearing the modest dress and cardigan that she and Runyang had picked out together. Now she was the one teasing as she asked,
“...Do I look pretty?”
It was true that Claire was pretty, but saying it out loud felt too embarrassing. Instead, I pointed at the hat she was holding. She had been tormented for so many days that she might blame herself again if she thought I was ashamed of her.
“...That, the hat. It’s not because I’m embarrassed of you or anything.”
“...I know, Reyan. More importantly, let’s go quickly, okay?”
Thankfully, Claire smiled as if she understood. As she walked ahead, the rare smile visible through her veil made me smile too.
...
I used to think music was just noise. Street performances were tasteless shows that put passersby on stage to mock them. The food at the stalls seemed like sour grapes I couldn’t even touch.
But being with Reyan made everything feel different. I finally understood what a melody was. Street plays became joyful performances about happiness. The stall food became everyday joy that could be experienced with someone you loved.
“Is it fun?”
“...Yeah.”
“Is the veil uncomfortable?”
“No. You gave it to me. It’s not uncomfortable at all. And I know why you gave me a veiled hat, so it actually feels comforting.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
Reyan seemed to have hated the idea of other people looking at me from the start, so he gave me a hat with a veil. And wanting to make the day I received his confession even more special, he gave me clothes that were more precious than anything in his eyes.
I had only ever received things, so I had resolved to smile for Reyan no matter what bad things happened. But nothing bad happened.
“This thing called cotton candy… when you put it in your mouth, it just melts.”
“Try drinking this too.”
“...It tingles!”
Everything I did with Reyan was happiness itself.
“Let’s go over there too.”
“Th-that way is… the fountain direction.”
“Yeah. Do you not like the fountain? I want to go there with you, Claire.”
“N-no, it’s not that!”
When Reyan suggested heading to the fountain, Claire saw the world—which had always been filled with monochrome—begin to fill with every color. Because she was certain that at the fountain in Rienie Park, Reyan would confess his love to her.
If that wasn’t the reason, there would have been no point in going together to a place where nobles and wealthy commoners spoke of love.
Her lips went dry and her steps slowed because she wasn’t fully prepared yet.
“Can I hold your hand?”
Reyan asked, looking at Claire.
‘If Claire gets lost, I won’t get any praise even if I save the duke’s daughter.’
Of course, Reyan’s only intention was to make Claire happy and ensure there were no setbacks in rescuing the duke’s daughter.
‘S-so suddenly…?’
Claire simply thought Reyan was gathering courage before confessing. Thinking that, her previous shy and coy behavior felt utterly foolish.
Since Reyan had shown courage, Claire did too. She didn’t grab his sleeve or carefully reach out with just her fingertips. Claire took Reyan’s hand first.
So Reyan gripped hers even tighter. As if he would never let go.
Thump— Thump— Thump— Thump—.
Her heart was beating so loudly she was afraid he might hear it. Maybe she had experienced too much happiness at once, because she felt dizzy too.
“Are you okay?”
When Claire staggered slightly, Reyan pulled her close like a lover.
“...Y-yeah.”
Click— Click—. Step— Step—.
The world shone beautifully, and the people around them seemed to have stopped. The sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears—thump, thump—and warm heat from Reyan’s hand seemed to spread throughout her body. Her face grew so hot it flushed red and sweat broke out.
She had worn that suggestive nightwear, tempting him to make their relationship a ‘done deal,’ yet now that the real moment had come, Claire felt a certain fear. What if Reyan ended up suffering like her just by being with her?
‘…No. Let’s not think like that. Even if we have to flee to another country, I just need to make Reyan happy.’
To shake off her worries, she turned her head—and the fountain came into view. Reyan stopped. Claire stopped too.
Whoosh—.
Water surged from the fountain. A few cold droplets landed on the back of her hand, bringing the chill of reality.
“Claire.”
Reyan called her name.
“Reyan.”
Claire called his name too.
At that moment—
“Kyaaaaaah—!”
A clear scream rang out. A girl who looked noble at a glance was being openly kidnapped in broad daylight at Rienie Park, a place frequented by nobles. It was an absurd scene, but it was easy to tell it was real. The terror on the young lady’s face was exactly like what Claire had always felt. The cold droplets splashing from the fountain had sharpened her mind.
“...Reyan!”
Reyan was kind. If he were the type to overlook injustice, he wouldn’t have helped her in the first place. Even without a weapon, Reyan ran toward them without hesitation. She hadn’t wanted him to, but he did. An unfortunate accident that ruined the moment of confession and shattered their happiness.
Claire followed after him out of worry for Reyan, but she was so flustered that her feet tangled and she fell. The veil came off. The hat rolled across the ground, and the street was filled with screams.
The moment she lifted her head, she saw Reyan fighting the kidnappers with nothing but a tree branch he had picked up. Even if he wrapped it in mana, it wasn’t a proper weapon, so the branch was naturally sliced apart by a mana-infused sword. The young lady must have learned magic—she clutched her necklace and shouted, creating a mana barrier, but that was all.
Clang—!
The sword tore through the mana barrier.
Reyan might die. Claire screamed.
“N-nooooo—!”
Her eyes turned pitch black, and black mana surged. Pure mana—not magic or anything else—rippled and pierced straight through the torso of the villain trying to cut Reyan down.
Even that wasn’t enough to quell her rage. These bastards had stolen her moment of happiness and even tried to kill Reyan. A dizzying fury filled her entire body, making her hair stand on end.
Shiiiing—!
The black mana slashed through the air to sever the windpipes of the men who had tried to kill Reyan, tearing apart everything around it as it charged forward.
“You can’t kill them, Claire!”
In the midst of it, Reyan’s shout brought her back to reason. As if he wouldn’t let even those who had attacked him die, Reyan blocked the black mana.
Drop—!
The black mana came to an abrupt halt.
The situation was resolved in an instant. What appeared in Reyan’s arms was the noble young lady, trembling in terror and crying.
And then—
“...A-Artifare!”
The voices of people filled with shock.
“Hwaaaaang—.”
Finally, pure white light leaked from the necklace the young lady held. A protective artifact activated, tearing space apart as a dimensional gate appeared.
“Artifare…! So this was your doing, you wench!”
And last of all—
Slap—!
It was the sight of Duke Ephedrine striking Claire’s cheek without even grasping the full situation.
...
He had assigned escorts and made her carry an artifact. Although there had recently been people attacking the Ephedrine ducal house, since he knew she was going to Rienie Park, he hadn’t worried much. There were many people there, so he thought no one would be stupid enough to attack his daughter in broad daylight.
But the artifact had activated. A dimensional gate had appeared in his office. That meant opponents skilled enough to kill the escorts had appeared.
Duke Ephedrine, who had shown up at Rienie Park, looked at the black mana and the fallen men before immediately turning his head toward Claire. From his perspective, the Artifare family was the worst criminal house in the empire, so it was only natural.
A criminal was collapsed on the ground, and a young man was holding his daughter in his arms and comforting her. The moment he saw Claire still seething with rage, black mana swirling around her—
Without trying to understand any relationships or facts—
“Artifare…! So this was your doing, you wench!”
He had drawn the emotional conclusion that this woman was connected to the vicious criminal group that had killed his daughter’s escorts and tried to kidnap her in broad daylight.
So he strode forward—
Slap—!
He struck Claire’s cheek. Her slender body staggered and she collapsed to the ground, but his fury showed no sign of stopping. He pulled a cane from his inner pocket as if he would kill her.
“Those who threaten nobles face the death penalty under imperial law. You know that, don’t you, Artifare!”
At that moment, Reyan rushed over urgently and blocked him.
“What the hell are you doing!”
A commoner. Normally, he would have beaten the boy to a pulp for standing in a duke’s way, but since he had saved his daughter, he showed leniency.
“I’m grateful you saved my daughter. Now step aside. I can’t kill you either.”
Reyan lost his reason at those words.
“...What?”
The moment Duke Ephedrine sent him a cold gaze, Reyan roared in fury.
“You fucking bastard, it wasn’t me who saved your daughter—it was Claire!”
Duke Ephedrine’s face crumpled violently.