10. What Happened One Night - 06
It was hardly news, but the Dekaraznan Ducal House possessed wealth that ranked among the top five on the continent—a truly moneyed family. And what did that mean? It meant the family was so affluent they had ample resources to invest in even trivial matters like garden maintenance.
Not that garden design was trivial, of course. A well-appointed garden was, after all, the face of a house. I only meant that families who literally poured money into garden upkeep, as the Dekaraznan Ducal House did, were exceedingly rare.
The rear grounds behind the mansion were enchanted with magic that maintained a constant temperature regardless of the outside weather, so flowers oblivious to the seasons bloomed resplendently across every bed. The place where Bianca had abducted me had also been filled with all manner of blossoms ignoring the concept of time, but the impression I'd received then and the sensation I felt now observing these rear grounds were worlds apart.
Bianca, like any mage lacking sensitivity toward others, had simply made flowers erupt at random. But here, the ducal house had left clear traces of painstaking effort to make every bed appear as harmonious as possible, even accounting for how a single bloom would look when set among others.
Thanks to that, I'd developed the habit of taking a solitary stroll around these beautiful floral gardens after meals. If it were up to me, I would have liked to walk here with Aria, but she was currently occupied with a task I'd assigned her, so regrettably I had no choice but to walk alone.
"Oh? Isn't that Young Duke Estel?"
"Ah. Lady Dekaraznan."
In the midst of my walk, I encountered the Duke's daughter at the garden's center. It wasn't exactly a shocking turn of events. The mistress of the house strolling through her own garden—what could possibly be strange about that?
She offered me a gentle smile, then stepped closer and murmured in a small voice near my ear.
"Young Duke. If it wouldn't be an imposition, would you care to circle the rear grounds with me? The Dekaraznan Ducal House's rear grounds are renowned across the empire as a place of true scenic beauty."
"...Together, you mean?"
I was compelled to answer with a somewhat hesitant voice. I'd already made one circuit of the gardens, and I wasn't particularly keen on spending an excruciatingly awkward stretch of time with Lady Dekaraznan when we were not especially close.
"...Mustn't I? Please."
Perhaps sensing my reluctance, she coiled her arm around mine with a serpentine suppleness. Honestly, I could have shaken her off easily enough, but the situation was a touch ambiguous for that. Besides, hadn't she extended the invitation out of goodwill? Flatly refusing her offer or pushing her away outright would have presented an unflattering picture.
"...Very well."
In the end, I nodded in resignation and had no choice but to walk the garden a second time with the Duke's daughter. If there was a saving grace, it was that she chattered away beside me without pause the entire time. For someone who'd worried we might run out of things to say and sink into awkward silence, it was an incalculable relief.
"Young Duke, have you made progress in your swordsmanship training?"
"Ah, yes. Thanks in part to your assistance, my lady, I believe I've gained at least a little something."
"Fufu, I'm truly overjoyed to have been of help to you, Young Duke."
In this manner, we slowly circled the garden while exchanging small talk of no real consequence. Then it happened. The Duke's daughter suddenly glanced up at my face, shifted her posture slightly, and stepped quietly into my arms.
"...My lady...? What is...?"
"Shh. Stay still, Young Duke."
Whispering those words in a tiny voice by my ear, she slowly, with agonizing deliberation, draped her arms over my shoulders. If someone observed this scene from a distance, they couldn't help but mistake us for lovers slipping away for a secret tryst.
Without a care for my stupefied confusion, the distance between us shrank. Her soft scent tickled my senses, and in the instant our faces were about to touch—
Bang—!
A burst of noise rang out behind me, and the spell-like silence that had saturated this space shattered in an instant.
"...Ah."
My briefly fogged reason snapped back. When I stared at her with somewhat startled eyes, she beamed at me and showed me something.
"...I apologize if I startled you. It was only that I couldn't help noticing this clinging to your shoulder, Young Duke."
So saying, she showed me a single strand of spider silk held between her fingers. Was that it? Had she drawn so close just to brush a spiderweb from my shoulder?
"...My lady."
"Yes, Young Duke."
I posed a question to the Duke's daughter, who was still smiling brightly.
"Didn't I hear a noise behind me just now?"
At that question, she simply smiled placidly and answered like so:
"I can't say I noticed. Perhaps a large rat scurried off in a dreadful hurry?"
****
'...Why?'
Why in the world? Sarah could not comprehend her own actions. Why, upon seeing Kain and the Duke's daughter walking together in the distance, was she hiding herself behind a pillar?
Yes, it wasn't too late even now. She should step out before them as if nothing had happened. She had done nothing wrong. What reason could there possibly be for her to hide like some rat—
'...Ah.'
...But in the end, she could not bring herself to step boldly into their view. No, she could not reveal herself. In this moment, a single thought filled her mind.
Had Kain truly, as the Duke had said, accepted the marriage proposal with Lady Dekaraznan?
Had the two of them become a pair bound by a promise to share their future—
...Of course, it was too soon to draw conclusions. Duke Dekaraznan had told Sarah he was "thinking of floating the marriage proposal soon"—he hadn't said a single word about actually having proposed it to Kain yet. Perhaps the two of them had simply chanced upon each other here while passing through.
Yes, it could all be coincidence. No, rationally considered, that inference was undoubtedly the sole correct answer that clearly explained the present situation.
But... what if, however remote the possibility, the delusion that had risen in her mind was actually true? What if Kain had accepted Duke Dekaraznan's marriage proposal? What if, as a result, those two had truly become lovers who had promised to wed in the future? What if their meeting here was in fact an arranged rendezvous to share a moment of quiet intimacy?
"...Ha, ah..."
Before she knew it, her breathing grew ragged. Her chest ached with a dull, throbbing pain once more. Right now, she could think of nothing but fleeing somewhere, anywhere with no one around.
...But she absolutely could not run away like this. Yes, she had to confirm it with her own eyes. She had to see for herself what sort of relationship those two held, what they intended to do in such a clandestine meeting—she had to burn it into her eyes.
And at the end of it all, she wanted to witness her own imaginings from moments ago be reduced to delusion. She didn't want to hurt anymore. She wanted to be at ease.
...Thus, the justifications she imposed upon herself legitimized every furtive, contemptible act she was about to commit. Sarah felt as though she could do anything, so long as it was for his sake, not her own.
"....."
She killed her breath without realizing it. She crouched and curled her body as low as possible, fearful they might notice her presence. She could perhaps bear being seen by the Duke's daughter, but she absolutely loathed the thought of Kain discovering her in such a pitiful state. It was simply too wretched, too shameful.
"....."
Their voices grew more distant. Sensing they had moved far enough away, she very cautiously peeked her head out and watched Kain and the Duke's daughter strolling side-by-side through the floral garden, hand in hand.
"...Ah."
The two of them made a picture-perfect, beautiful couple. Kain went without saying, and Lady Dekaraznan's figure was so lovely that even Sarah, a woman herself, could only see her as exceedingly beautiful.
Yes. They suited each other. Anyone who saw them now would surely declare them unmistakably a man and woman in a romantic relationship.
...And Sarah hated it. She simply, utterly hated it.
She could hear the sound of conversation. They were too far away to make out what they were discussing, but faint laughter mingled in the gaps between their words. Ah, yes. They were laughing. They were enjoying themselves.
Perhaps they had already become lovers. Perhaps they had become a pair who cherished one another, who loved one another, who could laugh simply from being at each other's side.
Perhaps they had already promised to marry. Perhaps they had vowed to become each other's future companion. Perhaps right now, they were laughing together as they sketched out the blueprint of a shared future.
Yes. The Duke's daughter's laughter and happiness were Sarah's sorrow and despair.
'...Ahh.'
She was so despairing. In so much agony. Yet Kain and the Duke's daughter were over there, so joyful. Why? Why in the world?
She felt so shabby, hiding here in secret to watch them. And at the edge of her gaze upon them, nothing but ugly jealousy resided.
Why in the world had she broken off her engagement with him? If she and he were still betrothed even now, if they were still lovers, if they had been bound by a promise to share their future—!
...If that were the case, the one in that place right now would be her. The person laughing at his side would be her. She could have monopolized the place beside him forever—!
'.....!'
And then, it happened. The Duke's daughter suddenly stepped into his embrace. The atmosphere around the two shifted in an instant. They gazed at each other with profound eyes. Sarah's heart pounded. It hammered madly, as if about to burst. Kain's face and the Duke's daughter's face drew closer. The Duke's daughter's eyelids fluttered. Her slightly parted red lips approached his lips. Just as the two were about to touch—
Bang—!
She could watch no longer. She turned away. Thinking of nothing, recalling nothing, she ran toward somewhere as though fleeing.
"...Ha."
She ran, and ran further. She ran without rest. Only when she reached a place with no sign of anyone around—not just them, but any soul—could she finally stop and catch her breath.
"Uh... uu..."
Before she knew it, tears were streaming from Sarah's eyes. Why? Why did she have to hurt this much? If only she hadn't known. If only she hadn't felt affection from him. If only she hadn't fallen in love with him.
If that were the case, she wouldn't have to feel such pain right now—
A hatred she couldn't direct at anyone in particular slowly seized hold of Sarah.
Into an endless mire of despair, she soundlessly sank.
And thus, the world she beheld lost all its light, transforming into monochrome.
The world was, truly, filled with nothing but sorrow.
...At least, that was all it was for Sarah.