Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: How Can We Restore Miss Esira?
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"How can we bring Miss Esira back to her original self?"
Esira had broken down mentally. She had gone mad.
Naviera's eyes flew wide open. The soft curve of her eyes hardened in an instant.
"......Is that really true? Miss Esira?"
"Yes."
"Wait a second."
Naviera covered her mouth with her palm. Shock and confusion hit her all at once, like something lodged in her throat. Her chest heaved sharply once, but her next breath wouldn't come.
"That child......?"
Naviera's gaze darted about before locking onto Marigold.
It was the look of someone desperately hoping for "Just kidding" to follow.
"......Miss Esira isn't that kind of girl."
An expression of utter incomprehension.
"She was the child who would smile in the end, even after getting hurt or crying."
Marigold let out a sigh instead of replying. Her face twisted in a failed attempt at a smile.
That look shattered Naviera's hopes completely.
"She must have lost it after her mom died."
Only after speaking did Marigold draw in a breath. Her throat stung like it was raw; she tucked her chin briefly.
"Looks like she blames herself. Thinks she was too weak to protect her mom."
"Does that even make sense? Her mom died because the Abyss toyed with her."
"Well, Esira doesn't see it that way."
"......She's collapsed, then."
Naviera finally forced the words out. Her voice dropped a tone.
"Collapsed, and tormenting herself to boot. 'I have to get stronger,' or whatever."
Naviera's eyes widened.
"Is it really that bad?"
"Yeah."
Marigold steadied her breathing for a moment and met Naviera's gaze head-on.
"Oh, don't get the wrong idea."
"Wrong idea...?"
"She doesn't touch innocent people."
Marigold drew the line.
"Criminals. Thieves, murderers, human traffickers. Only scum like that."
She shrugged once. It was her usual gesture, but her eyes weren't smiling. No joking this off.
Naviera couldn't muster a word. Her hand started to drop but hovered uncertainly in the air.
She felt conflicted.
Normally she'd force the mood back somehow, but right now she lacked even that strength.
"Then... isn't it fine?"
Naviera questioned herself if it really was, but hoped Marigold would say yes.
Unfortunately, Marigold shook her head.
"Killing only bad guys doesn't make it safe to relax."
"......Why not?"
"Get used to killing, and your standards blur over time."
Her voice sank lower.
"Starts with those who deserve it. Then the suspicious ones. Then anyone who might hurt you someday."
"......"
Naviera clamped her lips shut. Her pupils trembled. Anxiety, guilt, an inexplicable dread all tangled together.
Where had that lonely little girl, craving her mother's love, gone?
"No way Miss Esira turns out like that?"
"It's already begun."
She tried for a light smile. Her lips twitched up, then drooped limply.
"Esira's treading the exact same path her mother did."
Naviera's eyes shook several times.
Words welled up to her throat, but she swallowed them down.
"Can't you have a serious talk with Miss Esira?"
"Tried."
A flat tone.
"Not just once or twice. Plenty of times."
"And yet...?"
"Well, luckily she at least pretends to listen. Barely nods her head?"
Marigold tapped her temple lightly.
"But next day, out she goes again. Slashes again. 'Gonna get stronger,' she says."
"......"
Her bewilderment slowly morphed into helplessness, settling plainly on her face.
"How can we bring Miss Esira back to her original self?"
"Probably......"
Marigold's face showed neither smile nor tears as she glanced away briefly, then back at Naviera.
"The only one who can stop that kid is Sister Asrania."
Asrania was the only one who existed. In other words, restoration was impossible.
"But Miss Esira isn't as strong as Lady Asrania. Won't she get in real trouble?"
"That's why I'm glued to her side."
Marigold shrugged.
"Pull her back, clean up the mess. Yank her out if it gets dicey."
"Then you too......"
Naviera's voice dropped even lower. Cautious, word by careful word.
"Are helping her kill people?"
Marigold didn't reply right away.
Naviera wanted to press, but opening her mouth felt like it'd break her. In the end, she just dropped her eyes to the floor.
Then Marigold slowly lifted her head. The corner of her mouth rose.
She mimicked her usual radiant smile, but it was cracked somewhere.
"Because she's my friend Esira."
End of story.
Naviera drew in a breath. Her face said she couldn't explain why those words grated so much.
Marigold brushed off her hands casually.
"Don't worry. If I'm still human, the least I can do is protect one kid to the bitter end."
"......That doesn't sound like protecting."
"That's why you're the good one."
Silence fell again.
Words rose and were swallowed, lips parted then stilled.
Normally they wouldn't drift this far. A joke or a jab would've bridged it.
Today was different.
Naviera fidgeted with her fingertips and nodded stiffly, while Marigold looked away like nothing was wrong.
"Lady Marigold, so you're still by Miss Esira's side right now?"
"Stuck to her. Otherwise it'd blow up worse."
Naviera twiddled her fingers. She had plenty to say on that, but held it back.
"As you know, Miss Esira isn't Lady Asrania. If she doesn't stop, she'll end up the one hurt."
"......Yeah, probably."
She didn't deny it.
Naviera's lips went pale.
An awkward hush settled between them. Who'd break it first? A silent standoff dragged on.
"......Um."
Naviera shattered the long quiet.
"Lady Marigold. Be honest. Do you still have feelings for that child?"
"That's why I'm still here."
Marigold let out a smirk.
"No feelings? I'd have bailed ages ago."
Naviera smiled like she'd expected as much.
"Miss Esira's birthday is coming up soon."
"I know."
"How about something special this time? Like a memento from her mom."
"......What?"
Marigold scowled, caught off guard. Naviera's gaze stayed earnest.
"What she needs most is feeling protected—that sense of peace. Something to remind her of her mom could do it."
"Eh. Could backfire into poison."
Naviera stood firm despite Marigold's skepticism.
"But if it works, it could halt her rampage."
"......"
"Warm memories from the past can be medicine for an unstable kid."
Marigold had no comeback. Tough call to make on the spot.
"A memento item......"
"Right. Something Lady Asrania used a lot."
Marigold raked back her hair roughly, looking pained.
"Only thing left is the greatsword."
"The Commander's keeping it, right?"
"He was gonna give it back originally. I stopped him. Esira like this? Handing her a weapon's like tossing fuel on a blaze."
"Fair point. And she couldn't even lift that greatsword to begin with."
"Exactly. Tried tying it on her once—ridiculously heavy. Not meant for human hands."
Marigold sank into thought. Mother's relic. No weapons. Something Esira could handle.
In the ensuing silence, her eyes lit up.
"......Hold on."
The corner of her mouth quirked up. Struck by a brilliant idea.
"How about a doll?"
"A doll?"
"Yeah. The ones sister made for her birthdays."
Naviera's face lit up in a flash.
Like finding a tiny lantern in the dark.
"Oh, that! Yes! Perfect. Gives her something to cling to when she's shaking alone at night. Reminds her of Mom. Could be real support."
"Good, that'll do."
"Yes, yes!"
"Ah, but... problem. Too much for me alone."
Marigold shrugged awkwardly, and Naviera jumped in with a smile.
"Then I'll help. I know my way around sewing......"
"Perfect!"
Marigold clapped her hands with exaggerated glee.
At that moment, one doubt gripped Naviera.
A simple doll? Marigold could whip one up solo no sweat. Especially her—she'd breeze through it.
What was she scheming that needed backup?
Naviera decided not to dig deeper.