Discovery (2)
"There's nothing wrong here."
"Understood. Then have a pleasant night, My Lady."
The guard saluted Milia as she spoke with a reassuring air, then turned and strode off down the corridor.
"…"
Only when the measured footsteps had faded completely from sight and she had confirmed that nothing stirred beyond the hallway did Milia carefully shut the door. She stepped back into the room, let out a short sigh, and settled into the chair by the window.
"All right… shall we hear your story?"
"W-well, you see…"
At her words, Schwarz—still kneeling and hidden behind the wardrobe—broke out in a cold sweat.
Scary…
She was smiling, yet anyone could tell she was furious. If he tried to lie now and got caught, there would be nothing left of him to bury.
With that thought, he began explaining everything that had happened—omitting, of course, the fact that he was not of this world at all. That particular detail would only make him sound completely insane.
When Schwarz finally finished, Milia let out a long breath and looked him over.
A pair of horns rising from his head. A tail poking out above his trousers. Black hair shot through with blue, glittering like the night sky under the pale moonlight. Amber eyes that held their presence even in the dark.
It was a story hard to believe—yet ironically, the very existence of the boy telling it was proof enough.
"Ugh…"
The sight before her was so unreal that Milia pressed a hand to her throbbing forehead and let out a low groan.
"Um… My Lady?"
"What."
She answered curtly when he carefully called her name.
"What… happens to me now?"
"I don't know either. Honestly, I'm not even sure if I'm awake right now or just dreaming."
It would be so much easier if this were a dream, she thought, sighing again.
A dragon turned human. It sounded like something straight out of a fairy tale.
"This has to be a dream, right?"
"…"
Even if she called it a dream, who would believe that? All Schwarz could do was keep silent and nod along.
The quiet stretched for a moment.
"Schwarz."
"Yes, My Lady."
Milia narrowed her eyes at him and called his name. He answered with a nod.
"Come here."
"…?"
He tilted his head in confusion, but what choice did he have? Coming when told and going when told was simply his duty.
He rose and approached. When Milia patted the empty space beside her, he looked even more puzzled.
"Don't just stand there looking lost. Sit."
"Ah. Yes!"
He nodded and sat.
"Turn around."
"…Pardon?"
"Tsk."
"Ugh…"
He made a dazed sound at her next order, but the sharp click of her tongue and the glare that followed made him turn with a low whimper.
Then—
"Hmm… hmm…"
"Um… My Lady? What on earth are you…?"
Feeling a small, warm hand gently stroking his hair, Schwarz carefully asked over his shoulder.
"I told you to stay still."
"Y-yes…"
At the edge in her voice he simply bowed his head and fell silent.
A few minutes passed like that.
"Um… My Lady? Are you all right? Your breathing sounds a little rough."
Hearing the uneven breaths behind him, Schwarz started to turn.
"I'm fine, so look forward!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
Startled by the urgency in her voice, he faced front again, still thoroughly confused.
"Haa… haa…"
Meanwhile Milia kept stroking his hair, breathing hard.
There was a very good reason for her reaction.
I absolutely cannot let him see this face…!!
If anyone ever said a smile stretched from ear to ear, this was it. A completely unguarded, soft smile she had never shown a living soul—and she refused to let him see it.
"Hmm…"
"My Lady?"
After a while longer of petting his hair, her gaze drifted to the pair of horns on his head.
Sensing something ominous, Schwarz called out to her—but Milia was not about to stop.
"Hyaaaah—?!"
"Hmm… harder than I expected."
A full-body shiver raced through him as he yelped. Milia toyed with his horns with open curiosity, offering a brief assessment.
"What are you doing?!"
"Just hold still a little longer. They're fascinating."
"Honestly…"
What in the world was going on? Feeling as though he had suddenly been turned into a doll, Schwarz could not hide his dismay.
"Hey, Schwarz."
"Yes, My Lady."
After playing with his horns for quite some time, she finally spoke. He answered without turning around.
"Um… so…"
"My Lady…?"
But she hesitated, unable to finish. An uneasy feeling began to creep up Schwarz's spine.
Then came the next words.
"Won't you try calling me Big Sis?"
"…What?"
For a second he failed to process what she had said and answered in a blank voice.
"What do you mean…"
"The truth is, I've always wanted a little brother like you. So… could you just say it once?"
"…"
What on earth was this young lady talking about…?
He looked at her, only to find her eyes shining with an expectation so pure he could hardly refuse.
"Ugh…"
How had things come to this…?
Schwarz let out a short sigh and turned toward her. Milia sat with her lips pressed tightly together, clearly tense.
He forced his reluctant mouth to move.
"Um… B-Big Sis…?"
"Khuh…!!"
At once Milia made a strange sound and swayed as if she might collapse on the spot.
"M-My Lady?!"
"This… is bad for my heart…"
She raised a hand to stop his panicked voice and worked to steady her ragged breathing. Her faintly flushed face left Schwarz thoroughly at a loss.
"Um… just one more time?"
"Big Sis…?"
"Kyah…!!"
When she asked again he reluctantly repeated it, and Milia nearly fainted, swaying hard and gasping for air.
"Are you all right…?"
"Y-yeah…"
She barely managed to rein in her wildly pounding heart and push herself upright. A happiness and elation so complete it felt as though she possessed the entire world filled her chest.
Just for a moment, she thought, and closed her eyes to savor the afterglow.
After a while she spoke again.
"You asked me earlier what would happen to you, didn't you?"
"Yes…"
"Honestly, I don't really know either. It doesn't matter much to me, but I can't begin to guess how Father and Mother will take it."
"I suppose that's true."
In the worst case he might be killed as an ill omen. Judging by Milia's reaction it probably would not go that far—but then again, the saying existed for a reason: you can know the depths of a thousand fathoms of water, but never the depths of a human heart.
"Don't worry too much. Nothing bad will happen. You don't honestly think I'd abandon you just because your appearance changed a little, do you?"
"No. It's not that, but…"
He had not been entirely free of such thoughts, yet looking at her now, the possibility seemed almost nonexistent.
"Then trust me. Even if Mother and Father try to cast you out, I'll stop them somehow."
"My Lady…"
In this situation, the only thing he could do was believe her.
"We'll talk about the details tomorrow. There's no rush deciding what to do with you."
"All right. Then I'll take my leave first."
Milia stretched with a tired little sound. Schwarz nodded, rose, and walked to the window.
With a soft click the window opened. Cool night air drifted in as he carefully peered out, checking for anyone nearby.
"Oh. I almost forgot."
Just as he confirmed the coast was clear and prepared to leap, Milia called him back.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Good night, Schwarz."
She offered the simple farewell. He looked at her in silence for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"You too, My Lady."
With that he jumped out into the night. Milia closed the window against the chill and slowly made her way to her bed.
"Haa…"
She sighed softly, staring up at the ceiling.
You too, My Lady.
The words Schwarz had spoken only moments ago kept echoing through her mind.
"Ehehehe…"
Letting out a long, silly laugh that would have made anyone wonder what she had eaten, Milia hugged the pillow beside her tightly.
And so the night deepened over the Count's estate.