Chapter 111: The Black Knight, His Name Is(1/3)
After he read every parts written in that letter, Takahisa stood on his place with a dumbfounded expression.
The inside of his head turned pure white as he feels a bitter taste in his mouth.
「What the hell. This is.........」
Takahisa’s face became frozen solid as he raised a remark as if squeezing his voice.
What he couldn’t understand is what the meaning of the content of that letter.
He can’t stop his trembling heart.
Though they were together for a long time, he wasn’t aware of this fact.
About the other childhood friend of Miharu.
About the other older brother of Aki.
Because he never saw both Miharu or Aki showing that sort of sign at all.
Until they arrived in this world.
Not even to consider the thing which had been lost.
He’s not aware of anything that was given to him nor he have any question about it.
Protecting someone.
Takahisa’s the only one who was spending his life happily――
「U-Uhm, Takahisa-sama?」
Kiara’s calling to him in seeing him showing an unusual reaction.
But, her voice never reached Takahisa.
（He was the older brother of Aki, loved by Miharu and her childhood friend?）
Takahisa’s pondering about that point.
Rio who was once Amakawa Haruto is confessing his love to Miharu.
Maybe the person who Miharu loves is Amakawa Haruto.
That must be why Miharu can unconsciously feels the trace of Amakawa Haruto in Rio.
Takahisa suddenly imagined the figure of Rio standing on the place where he should
be at.
Along with Miharu, Aki and Masato――
「....!」
He’s attacked by a severe feeling of rejection.
He can even try to imagine that fact as a fact.
He also doesn’t want to.
“Why someone like Rio, Haruto is right on the side of Miharu and the others――”
「Unfair......... Yeah, so unfair. Isn’t this unfair to me? The thing that he does is..........」
Takahisa suddenly muttered to himself.
「He’s lying. He cheated Aki and Miharu」
“He’s trying to bind Miharu with a debt of gratitude―― He’s trying to restrain Miharu with sympathy―― Outside, he says something like 『I’m respecting Miharu and the others own will』 while in fact trying to guide their will.
Yes, it was Rio who is always pulling a trick toward Miharu and the others.
He was the one who is betraying Miharu and the Others.
Isn’t he such a selfish man.
「What do you mean by harming someone since it’s necessary? Killing a human? That’s impossible right. Such a thing! 」
The feeling which is gradually arising in him is eventually coming out in verbal form.
He really can’t understand what kind of nerves one needed to kill someone.
Even if he is a former Japanese, normally it shouldn’t be so easy for him to kill someone just because it’s necessary.
Even if it’s for self-defense the public will talk about it behind his back in Japan.
That kind of simple solution of killing someone if it’s necessary to live on is absolutely wrong.
He can’t put his sympathy to that kind of person and feeling uneasy for the “Good person” evaluation on him by Miharu and the others.
Much less to say, he can’t help but worrying if that kind of man is staying by Miharu and the others side.
And then, a strong desire was swirling inside of Takahisa.
Such unrestrained emotion is on the peak of heat.
The chaos and excitement makes him feel dizzy.
As if heaven and earth is completely overturned.
Even so, it was the feeling that he recognized as clear as day.
「I won’t let that killer to be along with Miharu」
Takahisa muttered with a subdued voice.
☆★☆★☆★
Takahisa’s standing still at his place with a sour expression and then someone appeared and called his name.
「I wonder what are you doing by standing still at this place, Takahisa? And for the three of you to be here.........」
It was Lilyana who was taking along Fril, the maid, with her.
She’s coming upon the figure of Takahisa standing on the corridor when she returned to her room after she’s done with the negotiation with Francois.
「AAAh, Lily............ So you’ve returned」
Though he noticed Lilyana, Takahisa’s reaction is dull.
It feels like his body is here but, not his soul.
「Yeah, since I only need to sign the official form of the alliance.......... What’s the matter, Kiara? 」
While talking with Takahisa, Lilyana who is seeing Kiara’s reaction is asking for a confirmation of the situation.
「M-My deepest apologies! Lilyana-sama. The truth is――」
Kiara’s apologizing with a pale face and then began to explain the situation to Lilyana.
She then proceeded to the explanation of the fact that transpired at that place objectively.
And then, Lilyana felt anxious after she heard the entirety of Kiara’s explanation.
Takahisa’s saying so with a sullen expression.
「Takahisa-sama..........」
Lilyana’s heaving a sigh as if troubled by it.
Up till now, she always respecting Takahisa’s will as far as possible.
Though he’s lacking the life experience due to his young age, Takahisa’s bad nature will appear in his speech and conduct when he became too hot blooded.
It seems the person himself is aware of that fact but, he never left any fatal mistake which can’t be undone in his young age.
Therefore Takahisa’s never even considered to fix that nature of him.
Lilyana was also captured by such a nice disposition of Takahisa.
That’s why she never thought of trying to fix that side of him immediately since she also has a duty as the princess to win him over toward their side.
But, only this case she can’t act like usual.
Because Takahisa doesn’t seem like the kind of people who will do what he likes just because he’s a hero to Lilyana.
Since it’ll implied on so many things by bringing in a hero to her country, in the end she has no choice to scold him for the sake of her own country.
Lilyana has not enough power to settle everything with her limited authority except for something necessary.
Moreover, she thinks that trying to settle this case with power is a poor move.
She might be able to do something if this is Saint Stellar kingdom.
But, Rio, the victim is a noble of Galwark kingdom, even Lilyana can’t freely wield her authority in Galwark kingdom.
「Though it’s the type of crime that will need the victim side to file the complaint, intentionally tearing the letter which is written by a noble is a crime. Do you understand that now? 」
Lilyana asked with a calm voice.
Since there’s many confidential matters in the letter written by noble, one will become the subject of the rules when they were intentionally violating highly restricted information.
It’s going as far as death penalty if that letter happened to be highly classified information, even if it happened to not be highly classified information, it’s not something praiseworthy either since they basically stepped into another person’s privacy.
Furthermore, there’ll be additional punishment waiting upon them in case they’re conveying the content of that unsealed letter to another person.
「Eh......? 」
Takahisa’s eye opened wide in hearing such unexpected words.
Certainly, he can’t just open the letter of another person just for his own convenience.
Even more so, that’s something akin to a crime――
Certainly, the matter of him accidentally tearing the seal and reading one part of the letter are just act of god.
It definitely is his fault for reading the entire letter after that but――
Somehow or other, Takahisa isn’t making a justification in his heart for it is his own fault.
But, he noticed immediately.
――I-I can’t do that. One who opened a letter except for the one to whom those letter addressed to is a criminal?
When he read the letter addressed to Aki aside, from Kiara trembling, he knew that he already became a criminal by the time he read the letter addressed to Miharu.
「......... AH」
「It seems you understand the weight of your action」
Saying so, Lilyana’s letting out a deep sigh.
「No, even so........ It’s not like I teared it on purpose」
Takahisa’s showing a gloomy expression as if he can’t accept that.
He clearly understands that this matter is happening because of his own fault.
Because Takahisa didn’t think that his action was a crime.
「You definitely will be punished for intentionally opening the seal of the letter. You shouldn’t be punished for opening the seal by mistake. But, does Takahisa-sama know that intentionally reading the letter is something that can’t be undone in this case? 」
「T-That is...............」
It’s shown on Takahisa’s face when he heard about it from Lilyana’s tone which is greatly different from her usual tone.
「You will become the target of punishment if the fact that you intentionally broke the seal and reading the letter is known to the public. At this rate, you’ll be undergoing trial as long as Haruto-sama filed a complaint. And there’s no other way to prevent that except from asking permission from Haruto-sama」
Takahisa unintentionally gulped his saliva in hearing the statement of Lilyana who’s supposed to be his ally.
「Punishment you say, that’s too exaggerated huh.........」
「Whether it’s exaggerated is depending on the will of the victim and the content of the letter.......... Since Takahisa-sama’s a hero, even if for example Haruto-sama filed a complaint, he basically can’t do anything about that 」
Maybe because the trial matter to the country is comparable to a hero.
Though this matter might become an issue, they can avoid such judgement with the political situation and in the end Takahisa won’t be charged for his crime.
Beside everything will be fine if this matter won’t cause any problem, though it’s possible to turn the situation in that way if this place was Saint Stellar kingdom, it won’t be that easy when such matter happened in Galwark kingdom.
If for example they’re facing the trial, maybe it’s easier to imagine that it’ll turn into them owing a favor toward Galwark kingdom.
Even if it’s not turning toward that way, they might have to offer a formal apology to Rio in order to not being charged by him.
「B-But, if it’ll turn into something as dangerous as that, no one will ever receive something like a letter of a noble right...... Since it’ll bring trouble upon them if they ever make a blunder which caused the letter to be unsealed like now」
Takahisa tried his reasoning.
It might be something cruel to entrust the letter without any sort of explanation, what will happen if the seal of the letter is broken.
“In the first place, I love Miharu, isn’t he way too bold for entrusting a letter with such content to his rival in love.”
Though it should be fine if he hands this letter by himself, why did he have to entrust this letter to me.
In the first place, Miharu’s decided to go with Rio, so she’s in love with Rio.
Even if you couldn’t hand over the letter since you’re in a hurry, you should give the letter yourself.
And yet, he completely failed to understand why Rio entrusted the letters to him as if he’s chased by something.
In addition to one matter today, Takahisa feels something close to unjustified resentment toward Rio while recalling the content of the letter.
「Let’s go give our apologies toward Haruto-sama. I’ll go along to apologize to him too」
Lilyana proposed that plan with a soft voice.
Her tone is completely like inviting a child who just did a naughty thing to reflect on his action.
「No..........」
Takahisa’s showed a complete rejection toward such a proposal.
Lilyana’s suddenly making a whole face smile.
「Well, what are you going to do then?」
「that’s....」
Takahisa’s at a loss for words.
If he goes to apologize to Rio, the matter of these letters will be known by Miharu and the others.
What will happen if this letter arrived at Miharu’s hands?
When he imagined what will happen after that――
No good.
Takahisa’s showing a strong resistance.
”I won’t allow such a thing to happen.”
”Absolutely not.”
”Rio’s a killer and a liar after all.”
Rio’s the benefactor of Miharu and the others, he was protecting them and taught them survival skills without holding anything back.
Miharu and the others were embracing strong feelings of gratitude toward Rio.
That’s why Takahisa also invited Rio to come along.
Since Miharu will come along with him.
He was kind of aware about the distance between Miharu and Rio getting closer and closer but, he’s not envying that and was trying to hold his own emotion.
And yet, Rio is betraying his feeling.
A killer who is caught in his distorted revenge.
When such a dangerous man is with Miharu, he won’t let such a selfish story to pass by.
There’s no way he can bring happiness to Miharu with his hand which is soaked by the blood of the people killed by him.
He must not let Rio get closer to Miharu.
「Don’t tell me, you’re going to hide this fact?」
Lilyana asked with a slightly grimacing expression.
「That guy is...... Dangerous」
Takahisa’s replying with a frown.
Though Lilyana’s unable to see through the true meaning behind his words, she knew that Takahisa implicitly accused Haruto.
「Even if I’m working along with Takahisa-sama to hide this fact, someday this matter will come to light. You should understand what will happen by then even without me explaining the risk right? 」
If they were going to hide this fact, they have no choice but to bring back Miharu and the others to their kingdom before they’ve any chance to get into a contact with Rio.
But, that’s nothing more than stalling the time in their country.
In that case, Miharu and the others may show a strong resistance if they’re trying to forcibly bring them back, even if they managed to cheat Miharu and the others, they’ll know that they were being cheated sooner or later.
Moreover, Charlotte was there to witness when Rio entrusted his letter to Takahisa, Satsuki also knows that Rio’s going to send those letters toward Miharu and the others.
Satsuki might be aware of the truth if she meets Miharu and the others later, and it might cause a crack on the alliance with Galwark kingdom who just became their ally.
「Even so.......... This is definitely for the sake of Miharu and the others」
Takahisa muttered those words with slight confidence.
「He’s showing his sincere attitude toward us, no, he’s the one who let Takahisa-sama to reunite with Miharu and the others. In spite of that, are you going to treat him with such extreme insincerity by hiding the crime that you committed toward him? 」
Lilyana’s asking him that question.
Rio put his trust on Takahisa as the older brother of Aki and Masato, and yet, Takahisa was betraying his trust to the point of committing a crime.
Is Rio the one at fault for entrusting his letters to Takahisa, or Takahisa for betraying Rio’s trust by reading the content of the letter?.
Which one is it.
「L-Lily....... You’re mistaken」
Though the sincere complaints of Lilyana is piercing deep in his mind.
Takahisa thinks of her as someone special when he knows that she’s his only ally.
And yet, why can’t she understand hi,?
No, Lilyana just doesn’t know about it.
About Rio who deceived Miharu――
「N-No...... You’re mistaken. I can’t let Miharu, and the others to meet him」
Takahisa’s somehow frantically trying to explain the situation to her.
But, Lilyana’s pupils are shaken as if she feels sad and,
「Takahisa-sama, we promised to Haruto-sama. That we’ll respect the will of Miharu and the others. Are you going to betraying that promise too? 」
She asked while staring at Takahisa face.
「Wrong. What will, that will...... Is something that guided by him! Miharu and the others are tricked by him! 」
「Their will....... Is being guided?」
Lilyana’s reaction also showed a slight change in hearing Takahisa’s calm objection.
Naturally she doesn’t know the detailed situation unless she asked for Takahisa’s explanation.
But, it might have turned into her prying to other people’s privacy if she’s prying even further into it.
Normally Lilyana will show a smile that is resembling a dignified bloomed flower but, only in this time she’s showing a hesitation.
「.... Maybe he’ll make their life miserable if they go with him」
Takahisa told her about that while making the content of the letter vague.
Amakawa Haruto is dead in the past.
But, Ayase Miharu is alive in the present.
And yet, that dead man is loving the living woman, there’s no way he’ll allow it.
She won’t be happy.
Death isn’t something that can be taken lightly.
Rio’s lacking in that awareness.
After all Miharu will be sad if she knows that Haruto is dead, for that Haru-, No, for that Rio to confessing his previous life as Haruto is way too selfish of him.
Takahisa keeps making such a excuse inside of his head.
「Surely. Yeah, I’m sure. He’s definitely the one who......」
「Is that the only secret written in this letter? And will it make Miharu-san and the others unhappy once they know about it? 」
「Yeah.......」
Takahisa consented.
「I see.......」
Maybe because no one but the writer knows the intention behind the sentences that he wrote in the letters.
Or maybe because it’s depending on the receiver of the letters――
In this case, that is the subjective evaluation for the content of the letter by Takahisa.
That’s why, maybe it’s not as dangerous as what Takahisa says to her.
Lilyana feels so.
Or, it may be as dangerous as what Takahisa says to her.
If they were unlucky, Miharu and the others mind, body, and life might be in jeopardy but――
But, even Lilyana couldn’t make such judgement unless she read those letters.
「Well, shall we go to Haruto-sama’s place to ask for his apology and to ask about his real intention. Whether Haruto-sama really has an ill intention as you say」
They have to apologize to him and even more so to ask about his real intention.
This is not a matter in which she can easily pry into as an outsider.
Because it’ll turn into a bad situation in case that Takahisa is wrong.
That was Lilyana conclusion.
「N-NO! WE ABSOLUTELY MUSTN’T DO THAT! 」
Takahisa’s shouting with a pale face.
If we do that, Miharu will be――
「Is there something that happened in this place?」
The patrolling knight was coming and asked them that question.
Despite being the hero and royalty of a foreign country, the knight might be suspicious since they have been chatting in the corridor with such a loud voice since a while ago.
「No, there is nothing. Please resume your duty」
「.... Understood. The situation in the castle is currently under strict supervision therefore, please hold back from doing something suspicious」
「Yes , I understand」
Lilyana’s replying to him with a smile and then the knight resumed his duty without prying too much into their problem.
「Please don’t talk with such a loud voice, Takahisa-sama. Currently all the soldiers in the castle are in a semi-combat state and all of them will be easily agitated. Moreover, Aki-sama will notice your loud voice you know? 」
「S-Sorry. But, we really can’t do that. We must not let him approach Miharu」
「In short...... You have no intention to report about this incident to Haruto-sama nor you want to apologize to him?」
「...... Sorry」
Takahisa’s eye warped due to his guilty feeling.
「The one who should apologize isn’t me」
Lilyana’s telling him that while heaving a sigh.
「I, I..............」
Though Takahisa’s trying to say something, he’s at a loss for words.
From what, no, speaking of what he had to say.
「He’ll be――」
Even so, when Takahisa’s trying to explain,
「Please wait. I don’t want to know about that for now. Only until I have the permission from the sender or the addressed person of this letter will I hear the content of this letter. Do you know that it’ll become a crime if you recklessly disclose the content of the letters right now? 」
Lilyana put a stop to Takahisa.
Takahisa’s bewildered.
「In case you won’t pass the letters back to Haruto-sama before, can I take that you won’t pass this letter to Miharu-sama even after this? Moreover, I think those matters should be decided by the one who should receive those letters......」
For Takahisa to insist that it’s due to the content of the letter, she expected that the content is extremely important in his opinion.
She’s judging that Miharu and the others conclusion may not necessarily coincide with Takahisa’s conclusion.
Lilyana persisted to that point of view of hers till the end.
But,
「That’s why We can’t do that!」
Takahisa raised his tone while showing a sorrowful expression.
「Takahisa-sama. So I take that you don’t want to apologize to Haruto-sama. And you don’t want to deliver the letters from Haruto-sama too. Do you think we can do such a convenient action? That letter should be entrusted to you by Haruto-sama right? 」
「But, if I’m not doing this .........」
”Miharu will go with a killer who is cleverly disguising himself from everyone.”
Takahisa’s about to say that but, he can’t do that as Lilyana’s stopping him from doing so.
”Why you can’t understand?”.
”Why, aren’t you always trusting in what I say?”.
Takahisa’s eye is warping as if he is about to cry.
The only thing that dominating over his mind is hatred toward Rio and fear for snatching away Miharu and the others.
「Takahisa-sama, you’re thinking for the best for Miharu-san and the others right? In that case will you put your faith in them? For the sake of Miharu-san and your siblings sake. And then for Haruto-san too since Miharu-san and the others also trust him. Is what I believe」」
Lilyana’s speaking in a gentle tone.
「Why can you so easily trust a stranger who you just met?」
Takahisa asked with a doubtful face.
「Because Miharu-san and the others trust him. Takahisa-sama’s trusting Miharu-san and the others too right. Because I think that I can put my trust on someone to whom my most important person is believing to. I’m sure that Takahisa-sama is also feeling the same as me......」
He definitely tried to put his trust in Rio, or so until he read the letters.
But now――
「That’s....」
Takahisa’s averting his eyes from Lilyana as if feeling guilty while swollowing the words thats about to come out.
The girl in front of him is always smiling gently.
But, currently, he can feel a completely different atmosphere from the usual Lilyana.
She’s not the gentle, calm and yet innocent Lilyana that he knows about.
The current her was showing an expression of someone who stands above the others as their leader.
「I put my trust in Takahisa-sama. These past three months with you isn’t just for show. I know this due to me having met many people as a royalty. You’re also inexperienced in that matter but, you’re definitely not a bad person」[TL : Char’z Counterattack famous quota, definitely a death flag]
「Lily......」
Takahisa couldn’t say “What of me can you understand in just three months”.
「Isn’t that why Haruto-sama entrusted his letters to you, because Miharu-san and the others trust Takahisa-sama?
「That is......」
Takahisa’s showing a bitter face.
「Maybe Haruto-sama isn’t wholeheartedly trusting me. But, I can feel that he trusts you since you’re the older brother of Masato-kun and Aki-chan. And he gave you the chance to be reunited with them is the biggest proof of all」
Lilyana’s smiling softly.
Maybe because Miharu, Satsuki, Aki and Masato also wished for it, Rio also put his trust in Takahisa.
If that is not the case, he won’t put his trust to Miharu and the others including Takahisa, and only trusting himself, Rio will be leaving from Galwark kingdom bringing along Miharu and the others with him based on his own judgement.
「Will you trust him? The one to whom your most important people put their trust to」
「........」
Takahisa’s at a loss for words while showing a unpleasant expression.
”Is what he thinks right now really a correct decision?”
Though a bud of doubt started to sprout in his heart, he can’t forget his agony.
He can’t completely erase his complex distrust which is mixing with jealousy toward Rio.
The heart of a person isn’t as simple as that.
Maybe because she is guessing Takahisa’s confusion.
「Let’s go apologize. To Haruto-sama. Let’s put our trust in him. For everyone’s sake」
Lilyana pressed him to give his answer.
「....... No. ...... As expected, we can’t do that」
Takahisa replied with a trembling voice.
「...... Takahisa-sama」
Lilyana’s saying so with a gloomy expression and then,
「..... In that case, I’ll come to visit Haruto-sama to explain the situation to him in your stead. Since everything that transpired today isn’t the sole responsibility of Takahisa-sama and Kiara, I have to offer my apology to him too. later on, I won’t tell Miharu-san and the others about this matter」
She said those words.
「LILY!」
Takahisa suddenly shouted with a grieved face in hearing the words that he didn’t want to hear the most.
He looked at Lilyana with a begging look on his face.
As if saying “Why are you saying something like that?”.
「Takahisa-sama, please don’t do -->>