Chapter 28

As Sophy watched the small back and the red tail disappear, Azwelo moved his short hand with a puff. This was probably him crossing his arms, even though he couldn't actually do it. How cute.

"I remember that the mages in the land of wizards were all blond with golden eyes. If that's still the case, does that mean the witch has some connection to that country?"

Sophy clenched her hands on her knees at Azwelo's words. After all, Renetta's hair and eyes were a beautiful black. The black that shone with a luster and glowed red when she used magic was something Sophy loved to see, as it captivated everyone who saw it.

And, indeed, such a black and red witch was a princess of a country where everyone had blond hair and golden eyes. Since it was a country that hardly engaged in diplomacy, Sophy had never seen anyone from the royal family. However, the tales of the beautiful princess with golden hair and eyes were well-known. They said she was so beautiful that she could be mistaken for an angel. Hmm, really? But even so, I bet she can't compare to Livio, Sophy thought now.

At the night party, when people who saw Renetta's appearance spoke words that she wouldn't want to hear, her sister was said to be incredibly beautiful. The meaningless words that made Sophy want to yell, "Shut up, you fool!" were familiar to her. Even though her sister was so cute. What a joke. She knew it without being told by anyone. Thanks for the reminder!

Regarding Renetta's birth, Sophy, who felt a bad vibe, consulted Weiss. Weiss snorted.

"Renetta is not just connected; she is the second princess of that country."

"...I see. The last time I spoke to someone from that country was about a hundred years ago. They were shameless, thinking they were the greatest in the world. Is it still like that?"

"I'm not a decent person to judge others, but—"

Weiss stopped speaking and made a cracking sound with his hand. Sophy, looking at his long fingers, froze. The porcelain teacup Weiss was holding had shattered.

"I hate those people from that country."

The cold, low voice was tinged with anger. Sophy's heart thumped at the icy tone. In the tense atmosphere of suppressed anger, a relaxed voice cut in. Livio, in a leisurely manner, continued leisurely.

"Isn't it hot?"

"...It's hot and it hurts."

Livio threw a handkerchief, and Weiss sighed and caught it.

"Rest assured, I won't ask."

"Even if you did, I wouldn't spill the beans."

"Is that so?" The casual conversation no longer carried any pressure. As Sophy exhaled in relief, her hand was held. A large, warm, rough, and hard palm. Glancing at Livio's face, she saw a gentle, beautiful smile. Huh? She liked it. This time, her heart was gripped so tightly that she felt it might burst.

"Ah, my heart!" Sophy quietly panicked. Standing in front of her, Azwelo looked up at Weiss, who was wiping his hand. Incidentally, despite breaking the teacup, Weiss's hand seemed fine, with not a drop of blood. As expected.

"Probably, the picture you and I have in mind is the same, right?"

"Feeling the same as God is reassuring."

A sarcastic laugh, and Weiss's face looked extremely displeased. This "picture" must be something terrible. Recalling Renetta's expression, which she never wanted to see, Sophy's pink brain cooled down instantly.

"I want to see Renetta's various faces. I want to see her expressions colored by various emotions. But not that kind of face. I want to see her smiling broadly or blushing next to Weiss, not a sad and painful one. Who made her look like that?"

"...Renetta making such a face..."

As Sophy murmured, Weiss looked up and said, "Yeah." His face, as usual, had a frown between his eyebrows.

"It's rare for her to show her emotions so clearly. Being able to express such things is a good thing, I guess."

A breath-like laugh, which, even if viewed favorably, was still scary. No matter what, this guy was just bad. Yet, for some reason, his voice and expression seemed gentle. It was a mystery. Weiss, who could get angry for others and break his heart for others, being by Renetta's side made Sophy happy. Because she knew how fortunate it was.

Renetta must know that joy, which is why her small body is now frozen. Maybe she should have chased after her.

"Let's think positively."

As Sophy looked down, Livio's bright voice caressed her ear. Livio squeezed Sophy's hand.

So gentle. Yes, Livio has always been gentle since they met. Always gentle, bright, and supportive. That's why Sophy wanted to be kind to someone, to Renetta. She was surprised to find such a heart in herself. She felt almost human, looking up at Livio's chiseled profile.

"We learned that the mysterious pervert is a mage from the land of wizards, who apparently challenges God. Both Weiss and Azwelo have an idea of what's going on. It's better than not knowing anything."

A clear voice cut through the air. Livio changed the atmosphere of the room like a large sword he wielded. Weiss exhaled.

"...Yeah. The monsters released in that town were probably an experiment. We should consider it good luck that we encountered them, right?"

Livio nodded at Weiss's laugh.

"From what I can see, this plan involves Weiss and Renetta in a bad way. So, there's only one thing to do."

"...Yeah."

Weiss nodded, laughing at Livio's words. These two seemed to be quite belligerent. Violent, even. But, well.

"Strike before being struck."

"Let's make Renetta smile!"

Despite appearances, Sophy was also belligerent, so there was no problem. She didn't want to be underestimated.

Sure, she had never been bathed in the killing aura of a battlefield hero, and she might look ridiculous and worry Livio. But Sophy was the fiancée of the crown prince. She hadn't dealt with just anyone, like the mouthy people and twisted adults at the royal castle.

Let them gossip as they please, but she had been taught to show no mercy to those who took it too far. Don't think she's just a meek girl.

Sophy made a fist with both hands and puffed out her chest, making Weiss blink and then laugh.

"Yeah, I count on that spirit."

Did I say something laughable? Sophy tilted her head, then realized she had raised her right hand, still holding Livio's.

Both Sophy and Livio turned bright red, and Weiss laughed, shaking his shoulders.

---

After tea, as Sophy looked up at Weiss, it was almost time to leave Renetta alone. Weiss nodded at Sophy's questioning gaze.

"Yeah. It's time to call out to her."

At those words, Sophy stood up straight. She had been waiting for those words!

The distance between Sophy and Renetta was still unclear. After only three days, it was unrealistic to expect to understand everything. Of course.

Sophy had no friends to speak of. She didn't even know if it was okay to close the distance, let alone how to do it. It was like groping in the dark.

But she wanted Renetta to be happy. That was a firm, unwavering desire.

It didn't matter if she couldn't sleep. She could walk for hours, days, if she had to. After all, Sophy couldn't ride a horse. She wanted to listen to Renetta's discussions about magic for as long as it took. She wanted to see those sparkling eyes again.

Walking as if in prayer, Sophy soon found the small back. With her long black hair flowing to the ground and her back hunched, Renetta's side was where Weiss's horse, Kataph, stood. The horse, with its beautiful red coat, lifted its head when it saw Sophy and swayed its tail gently.

Sophy exhaled and sat down next to Renetta.

"...Are you angry?"

"About what?"

"I spilled the soup."

What's that?

Sophy tried to laugh but couldn't.

Because of spilled soup? It was as if she had been severely punished for such a thing. She didn't want Renetta to hug her knees like that. Such a dark and gloomy past should be washed away and fed to the fish. But even fish would probably avoid such a nasty thing. Trying to laugh, Sophy couldn't.

"...Sad days and painful days tend to stay in our memory more than happy ones."

Sophy didn't know if that was true. She had read in a book that stressful and painful times are stored as life-threatening situations to help us survive. They are stored as a precaution to remind us to run when we feel down or in a pinch. Hmm, is that helpful or just meddling? She couldn't tell.

"So, it's okay to feel down. We're alive, after all."

"...Sophy too?"

The weak, thin voice asked, and Sophy laughed, but it didn't come out right.

How did this girl see her, this Sophy who couldn't laugh properly?

At the night party, the royal castle was filled with her stepmother and stepsister, who were known for their beauty, and her father and the crown prince, who had no interest in her. Covered in a thick facade like white powder, Sophy had a thin smile. How did Renetta see her?

"Yes. So, if you want to run, it's okay to run. I ran away."

Sophy, who was almost dead in a place she never wanted to return to, was now breathing freely for the first time. Despite the role she had resigned herself to, she had clung to that place desperately. Yet, she told her fiancé that she had been "treated kindly." Sophy respected Renetta's heart.

"...Me too."

Renetta lifted her face from her knees.

"I ran away too. Because you were there, I went outside."

Renetta's black eyes seemed to be looking at the water's surface, seeing nothing. They reflected no light, no swimming fish, nothing. She spoke matter-of-factly, and the pain in her voice made Sophy's chest ache.

"...So, we're the same, huh?"

"...The same."

Yes, Sophy probably looked worse. Even though Renetta was the one who was sad and hurting, Sophy didn't like feeling down for no reason. She wanted to be strong like Livio and clenched her right hand.

"Even with the bad things, the painful things, the hard things, I ran away and now I'm happy. How about you, Renetta?"

"I... I..."

Renetta closed her eyes.

Her thin eyelashes trembled, and the wind blew her hair. Her small lips exhaled softly.

"I think I'm having fun."

Slowly, Renetta's eyes opened. Black eyes reflecting the water.

The eyes of the witch who talked endlessly about magic, who looked so hard and happy, blinked.

"There are so many things I don't know, so many things to try, and you're so noisy, but—"

So, Renetta stood up.

Her black hair and black dress fluttered. The witch, dressed in black from head to toe, turned her usual expressionless face with a glossy, seductive gaze down at Sophy.

"So, we have to crush them."

Ah, belligerent.

"Sounds good!"

Let's do it!

Then, after all, there's only one thing to do.

---

Let's go and beat them up!

I haven't been able to respond, but thank you so much for all the warm words! I read them carefully and it gives me strength! Also, I heard that someone is already tweeting with the hashtag "#hajikane"! I'm so happy! Thank you, I'll do my best!