Chapter 6

When Hilde told her, Elizabeth left the kitchen and walked through the garden, lost in thought about the past.

The sky was dyed with a beautiful sunset, unlike anything she had seen in her previous life.

――If I can live like this in the game world, it’s not just fiction, is it?

She had often wondered if it was all a dream, but she could feel that she was truly alive in this world.

On the contrary, Elizabeth was surprised by the vastness of the world.

She realized that the game only showed a part of it.

The sky continues beyond the screen, and there are countries and people in places that were never shown.

Everyone, even those without names, has a name and a will.

Everything is alive.

And――.

“I am a resident of this world……”

Elizabeth spread her arms and felt the evening breeze all over her body.

“After finishing the story’s obligations, I have true freedom. I no longer have a role.”

She danced, stepping as if carried by the wind.

The children, spotting Elizabeth, came running over with a shout.

“What are you doing, Sister Elizabeth? A new game?”

Tony ran up first, mimicking Elizabeth’s dance.

――No, I do have a role.

Four sisters, a priest, and ten children.

Living modestly in this rural border area with her new family.

Protecting the children.

“I’m just dancing because the wind feels nice…… Look.”

She lifted Tony effortlessly.

――Second life? No, third life?

“Whoa… What are you doing, Sister Elizabeth!?”

Tony let out a surprised cry as she hoisted him up, but soon his eyes widened with joy.

The other children tugged at Elizabeth’s clothes, saying, “Me too, me too.”

She took turns giving them piggyback rides to show them the sunset from the best seats.

――Unlike a duke’s daughter, I can do anything here.

At first, she was afraid of being exiled, but it seemed to fit her surprisingly well.

Being a duke’s daughter was far more confining and boring for Elizabeth.

――Since it’s a rural border area, I can use my memories from my previous life to make things convenient, as long as no one finds out, right?

She had already shown off her cooking skills.

“Piggyback rides are over. What should we do until dinner?”

The children, who had been hoping for a second round, complained, but she refused.

Though she had more stamina than most young ladies, carrying all the children was too much.

“Then… a race!”

Tony, the oldest among the children, called out.

“Sure… to the gate!”

As soon as she said it, Elizabeth started running.

“Oh! That’s cheating, Sister Elizabeth!”

Tony complained but quickly started running too.

The other children, shouting “Wait!” and “That’s not fair!”, chased after her.

――I finally have my freedom, and I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest here!

Running at full speed, Elizabeth felt the wind and her freedom.

Leaving modern Japan and the Kingdom of Moa, she was living quietly but happily and interestingly in a distant border area.

She was supposed to live there……

“――Why!? Here?”

Reaching the gate first, she put her hand on it.

There, she noticed a figure standing by the stable fence and cried out.

A sturdy build, reddish-brown hair, narrow amber eyes, a frown, and a straight mouth, and a greatsword—there was no mistaking it.

He also noticed Elizabeth and straightened up.

“That’s cheating, Sister Elizabeth, running so seriously as an adult!”

Tony, who arrived second, looked at the frozen Elizabeth curiously.

The other children who arrived one by one did the same.

Unconsciously, Elizabeth moved to shield the children behind her and glared at the visitor.

――This is supposed to be a border area where no one from my days as a lady knows me!

Complaining in her heart wouldn’t change anything.

“Sister Elizabeth, what’s wrong?”

Mart, who was sensitive to people’s reactions, tugged at Elizabeth’s hem with a worried expression.

――I can’t make the children anxious.

Thanks to Mart, she regained her composure.

Clearing her throat, she regained her usual dignity and took a step toward the man.

“What brings the busy captain of the knights to such a remote place?”

――Why is the “Great Sword of the Holy Lion” here…? Is he bored?

His name is Leonid Gardhelm.

The captain of the knights of the Kingdom of Moa where Elizabeth used to live.

He is called the “Great Sword of the Holy Lion” due to his strength and weapon, and his name is known throughout the continent.

――He wasn’t a target in the game, and he was just a faceless, nameless mob.

However, in Elizabeth’s life after reincarnation, he was an old friend turned nemesis who chased her relentlessly.

How many times had she been told “Don’t let her escape!”?

“……”

A strong wind swept through the rural hills.

Regardless, Leonid’s eyes were fixed on Elizabeth, sharp and intimidating.

――I haven’t done anything wrong! My heart is racing…

“Speak your business!”

“Huh…?”

When she asked again, Leonid tilted his head.

“……I came here to find you.”

――I knew it!

The words she had expected came back, and Elizabeth took a step back.

It seemed she couldn’t escape the fate of being a villainous lady.

“Hold it, I won’t let you escape!”

Suddenly, Leonid grabbed her wrist.

――Oh no, I thought I could live peacefully in the border area.

Returning to a life under surveillance and criticism…

I’m already tired of being a villainous lady!

“Wow, a knight. He’s cool!”

While Elizabeth was in despair, Tony exclaimed.

The children had surrounded Leonid.

“Can I see your big sword?”

“Can you show us a fight?”

Mart and Felice also spoke to Leonid without fear.

While Tony’s curiosity was understandable, it was surprising that the timid Mart and Felice were not afraid of him.

――Maybe… the Great Sword of the Holy Lion is well-liked?

――Children are honest… really? Can they see through to his true nature?

In any case, thanks to the children, the tense atmosphere eased.

The hand that had grabbed her wrist was also released.

“Hey, can I become a knight too? How do I get used to it?”

“Wow, a real sword!”

The children were touching Leonid.

On the other hand, he was――.

“……”

For some reason, he didn’t respond to the children’s words and was comparing Elizabeth and the children.

It was completely unclear what he was thinking.

――Is he wondering what to do because of the children?

Elizabeth, unable to move, was at a loss when she saw two sisters approaching from the church.

It was Lucinda and Roxane, who had finished cleaning and were coming to tell the children it was time for dinner.

“……Who is that?”

Roxane, seeing Leonid, asked with a wary expression.

However, Lucinda’s reaction was different.

“I’ve never seen him before. If he’s a guest of Elizabeth’s, would he like to join us for dinner?”

She observed Leonid with great interest.

“Inviting a man to a sacred place…”

Roxane immediately objected.

“No… I don’t even know him!”

Before Leonid could answer, Elizabeth quickly denied it.

“Aww, is the knight leaving already?”

Then Felice let out a disappointed cry.

“Sister Elizabeth’s cooking is strange but delicious!”

“There are lots of different breads.”

Tony and Mart tugged at Leonid’s cloak.

――No, whether the food is good or not isn’t the issue here…

She was about to comment on the children’s invitation, but he reacted unexpectedly.

“Cooking…?”

For some reason, Leonid seemed interested in Elizabeth’s cooking.

“Let’s eat together.”

Felice invited him again, but he shook his head.

“No, I don’t want to be a bother.”

The children all said, “Aww,” in disappointment.

――Good, I can avoid sharing a table with him.

“Children, go inside.”

――Mother Superior!?

Just as she was relieved that things wouldn’t turn out badly, Hilde, who had appeared, clapped her hands and urged the children.

The children reluctantly obeyed the Mother Superior.

Thinking it was over, but……

“I’ll prepare a meal for the two of you in the garden.”

“Huh!?”

She had expected Hilde to help her get rid of Leonid, but she said something completely unexpected.

★ On April 2, 2021, I started posting a new work. Please read it if you like.

【I Failed to Reincarnate as a Villainous Lady and Became the Heroine Instead ～Giving Up on a Family Ending with the Villainous Lady’s Brother and Aiming for a Lover Ending～】

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7332gw/