Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: So Now You Can Cry
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Chloe's words left Tail with a stunned expression.
Stay by my side?
Why?
Don't tell me...
'Jealousy?'
As Tail's expression grew complicated, Chloe hurriedly continued.
"I-it's just... I can't sleep...!"
Mumbling, she gazed up at him with desperate, sparkling eyes.
Her eyes brimming with tears, she pressed on.
"...I need you, Tail."
Well, he was the one who put her to sleep, after all.
Tail nodded in understanding right away.
But then.
"It's only 6 p.m., and you want to sleep already?"
At Tail's words, Chloe puffed out her cheeks.
"People can sleep at 6! That's prejudice."
Tail let out a sigh at her response.
'Cecilia's waiting.'
No matter how hopeless the patient, he couldn't abandon her for such a reason.
Yet at the same time, he couldn't easily brush off Chloe.
Partly because he saw a fragile, candle-like desperation flickering in her eyes against the snowy expanse.
But the biggest reason was.
'Refuse here, and the coins will crash.'
Tail took a short breath and replied.
"Got it."
Chloe's face lit up instantly.
"Really? Really, you'll stay with me instead of Cecilia?"
"Yeah. I will."
Seemingly pleased with his answer, Chloe hooked her arm through his and dragged him along.
"Then let's hurry!"
Watching her joyful expression, Tail chuckled softly.
'Just put her to sleep in an hour and head back quick. Should be fine.'
But at that moment, Tail had no idea.
How foolish that choice would prove.
And how much suffering it would bring Cecilia.
'This is bad!'
Tail bolted along, clutching the basket of red bean buns to his chest.
With every hasty step, the buns jostled wildly in the basket.
The sun, which had been sinking slowly, had vanished completely.
Racing down the pitch-black street, Tail glanced urgently at his watch.
10:30 p.m.
"Damn it."
Tail picked up his pace even more.
He was late. Way too late.
'Figured I'd overdone it lately.'
The problem was dozing off slumped over while putting Chloe to sleep.
"Huff... huff..."
Panting hard, breath rising to his chin, Tail came to a stop in front of Cecilia's tent.
"Hoo..."
After a deep breath to calm his pounding heart, Tail cautiously knocked on the door.
Knock knock knock.
"Lady Cecilia. It's Tail. Coming in."
No response came from inside.
But Tail opened the door without hesitation.
Creeeeak.
With an eerie groan, the door swung open, revealing the pitch-black interior.
From deep within, a dark aura billowed out, filling the room.
Ruuuumble—.
An indistinct, shadowy energy seeped from the space.
'Damn.'
Tail could tell this deep, thick darkness emanated from the girl huddled in the corner, head buried in her knees.
At the sudden intrusion of light, the girl lifted her head slightly.
The moment she saw Tail, her face twisted into a terrifying scowl before she buried her head back down.
Tail sensed it instinctively.
'Oh. This is bad.'
Cecilia was properly pissed.
Watching Cecilia quietly from afar, Tail soon began walking toward her slowly.
Step.
Step.
The closer Tail got, the more firmly Cecilia buried her head in her knees.
Her body tensed up, as if vowing never to open her heart.
Tail stopped right in front of her.
Then he carefully spoke.
"Did you wait long, miss?"
His soft, soothing voice made Cecilia's body flinch.
'Right.'
Meaning she'd waited a lot.
Tail plopped down beside her and said in a gentle tone.
"Sorry I'm late."
But Cecilia didn't budge.
She was thoroughly angry.
"I'll be more careful next time."
As Tail said that and reached to place a hand on her head.
Swish.
Cecilia's head darted aside quickly.
In that gap, her face lifted, eyes meeting Tail's. She glared at him sharply before burying her head again.
Like a wounded kitten. Tail nearly burst out laughing.
'Hold it. Laugh now, and I'll get kicked out for good.'
Forcing down the laughter, Tail continued.
"I was wrong. Forgive me, miss."
Silence flowed.
Tail sat beside Cecilia, patiently waiting for her to speak.
And after some time passed.
Cecilia's lips moved with difficulty.
"...I was scared."
Her small, trembling voice.
Tail listened quietly to what followed.
"I thought you wouldn't come again."
Cecilia's body shook faintly.
Her eyes were empty.
"Like my brother. I thought you wouldn't come back."
It was the first time he'd seen her talk so much.
"That you'd abandon me and leave too."
Just thinking about it terrified her; Cecilia shivered.
"That's what I thought."
Tail recalled Chloe's words.
"Cecilia lost the person she cherished most."
He realized that person was her own brother.
Rumble rumble—.
The mana swirling around Cecilia began to waver.
A sign the child was unstable.
Even in that moment, Cecilia's expression remained the same.
Blank.
As if she'd forgotten how to cry or smile.
'This is dangerous.'
Tail swiftly placed his hand on Cecilia's head.
Her straw-like hair caught in his fingers.
And he quickly channeled mana to activate the Brother's Healing Hand skill.
Brother's Healing Hand
Warm energy spreads through the body, soothing the mind and stabilizing mana.
Whoosh—
A warm energy settled over Cecilia's entire body.
Only then did a bit of life return to her eyes.
"Lady Cecilia."
Tail called to the somewhat calmed Cecilia.
"It's okay."
Tail took her hand with his free one.
Cecilia's hand felt cold and rigid, like touching a piece of wood.
But Tail smiled and continued.
"I'm not going anywhere. So it's okay."
"Not going... anywhere?"
Her lips quivered before moving haltingly.
"...You'll stay by my side?"
"Of course. Where would I go?"
As if afraid to lose him, Cecilia gripped Tail's hand tightly.
Tail lowered the hand from her head and brushed back her hair.
"Miss."
Tail asked in a subtle tone.
"Would you tell me about your brother?"
Continuing the skill, Tail prompted her. After hesitating, Cecilia opened her mouth.
"...My brother was like the sun."
Cecilia's eyes grew hazy, as if recalling her one and only brother.
"Unlike me, who always lagged behind no matter what, brother excelled at everything. He was confident and cool, shining on his own like the sun."
Tail stayed silent, listening.
Slowly, Cecilia continued.
"Brother was so kind. He gave me everything I wanted or wished for."
A faint smile graced her face.
The first smile Tail had ever seen from Cecilia.
"He was the best brother to me."
To her, her brother must have been her sole pillar of support.
To the young girl, he was a hero who appeared whenever she struggled, always extending a hand.
"But..."
Her expression darkened rapidly.
"One day, brother vanished. Along with our father."
He could guess.
'Dispatched to war.'
The great war between the Bellenuus Empire and the Tieren Empire.
Back to blank-faced, Cecilia continued flatly.
"Mother said they were both off on an inspection far away, and I believed her. Then one day, a package arrived for Mother."
Tail had a feeling what that package the marchioness received was.
'Probably her son's urn.'
Her brother had died.
"Mother saw the package and wailed."
Cecilia's eyes were dead.
Her time had frozen the moment she learned of her brother's death.
"I knew instinctively."
Her unfocused eyes turned to Tail.
"That brother wouldn't come back."
After that, she'd shut her heart away.
The mother left at the estate wouldn't have been in any state to care for her daughter amid her grief.
Thus, Cecilia had been isolated and dying alone.
No matter how she reached out or thrashed, no one answered in this hopeless mire she kept sinking into.
'Probably why the marchioness can finally tend to her daughter now—because of me.'
The monastery atmosphere had changed a lot from the original story.
'This is it.'
This was the beginning of Cecilia's corruption.
No one had tended to this child's wounds, so her mind had snapped.
Finishing her story, Cecilia shut her mouth and rested her face between her bent knees again.
A dazed expression.
Not crying, not angry—just blankly emotionless.
He knew she could bare her claws sharply, but that was mere defense.
Not true emotional release.
The wounds festered, sensations and feelings dulled.
That was Cecilia now.
Only then did Tail, gazing quietly at her, speak.
"You must have been so sad."
Cecilia's shoulders flinched.
"Your heart must have hurt terribly."
Cecilia slowly looked at Tail.
Their eyes met for the first time.
Her red eyes shook powerlessly.
"It must have been agonizing."
Tail continued carefully.
"Lady Cecilia."
Still using the skill, Tail patted her head gently.
"You've done well enduring this long."
At Tail's words, Cecilia's body trembled.
Because that patting touch felt so tender.
The warmth from his hand too cozy.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
She wanted to scream, something bubbling furiously inside.
And those emotions burst at Tail's next words.
"So now you can cry."