Chapter 84

Although everyone had kindly lent us this place and come to witness the meeting, I ended up having a nasty argument with the viscount the whole time, completely ignoring him.

I thought I had been able to talk calmly, but it seems I was quite emotional. I really was rude... I should go and properly thank and apologize to him later.

"Riana, was it okay to end it like that? It's not just about winning the argument... If I had told Topaz, he would have punched him for me. ...Or are you going to beat him up another day? I'll help you."

"Violence is not good, but I partly agree. Lady Riana... Considering all the times you've held back, I think you could have been even harsher. I wanted to say it too."

"It's fine. I think I was able to say everything I wanted to say today. Besides, I prepared and gave long letters to everyone, telling them how much I was hurt at various times. I wrote a lot in them."

I thought I might shrink back and not be able to speak properly if I saw him, like when we were just teacher and student. So I told him directly today, but I also prepared letters for Lord Germain and Lord Wilfred and gave them to them.

I wrote in great detail about things that had been bothering me, like being scolded exaggeratedly for minor mistakes in front of the judges even though I had won, and not getting the praise I wanted on my birthday even though I had said I didn't need a present, just some recognition for my efforts.

I don't intend to show the content of those letters to Anna or Fred, as they might be put off if they saw them.

"To Father and Mother, I plan to tell them directly someday that I've always felt unacknowledged and hurt by the family. It might be a bit difficult now... but through the letters, I was able to convey my true feelings. I think I've grown a little since I was at home..."

"You've grown a lot! You have talent and work hard, yet your family didn't properly recognize you...! You're amazing! I'll give you the first prize!"

"Um... thank you, Anna."

Anna has always been lenient in her evaluation of me, so I'll try not to take it too seriously.

I've been able to draw a line and feel relieved, but there are still many problems... or rather, the unresolved issues are bigger.

Even though I clearly said I wouldn't return, it seems my brothers haven't given up on bringing me back.

"Riana, are you really going to help the adopted child...?"

"It's not as grand as 'helping'... I just want to make sure she doesn't receive excessive punishment."

"I don't think you have any obligation to worry about her, but... even if I say you don't have to, you won't be able to ignore it, will you?"

"No... this isn't kindness... it's for my own sake. I don't want to feel gloomy when I think of Nina, 'Despite all this, I've been so happy...' It's completely for my own convenience!"

"...Ha, I see. If it's for your mental health, I can't blame you."

I don't know what I want to do or what kind of ending I want... but I'm not sure myself.

However, it's clear that the current situation where only Nina is blamed by the family is wrong.

It's difficult to intervene from a distant place, so I think I'll have to return to Kronheim soon. While I'm there, I also want to handle my withdrawal from the academy and the handover of the work I've been involved in.

I also want to prepare letters for my friends and those who have helped me with my work.

I haven't decided yet whether to leave the city, but I've decided to start moving with the premise of selling the artificial magic stone manufacturing method to the Duke of Betametal through the viscount, regardless of the viscount's response.

The artificial magic stone business is generating more than enough profit, and I know I could live without worrying about money, but I really want to do something else.

I don't have a specific goal, but I want to try various things to find out what I really want to do.

For a while, I've had various small desires, like "I want to research this" or "I want to make something," and I want to satisfy them.

I've also started going to the orphanage again and taking on commissions with Topaz. I've become a bit of a local celebrity due to the incident, but it's not too much of a problem because there are many good people.

"The next town can be anywhere with good food. But Topaz doesn't like the heat, so it has to be cool in the summer."

"True, Topaz's tail would be inconvenient in a hot place."

We haven't decided yet whether to leave the city, but the topic of "where to go?" has become a fun discussion, like deciding on a travel destination.

Anna has also recently started reading travelogues from various countries, not just novels.

"But Topaz, places that are cool in the summer can be very cold in the winter. It can be difficult when it snows."

"Topaz is fine with the cold. When I was a child, the estate was snowed in for a whole winter."

"A whole winter... In such places, preserved food becomes the main staple during the winter. Fresh fruits and vegetables are hard to come by, and markets may not operate... which means you might not be able to make pastries with eggs and milk during the winter..."

"Riana, no snow country!"

"Hehe, I understand."

I couldn't help but laugh at Topaz's hasty correction. For Anna, who is sensitive to the cold, countries with harsh winters were never an option.

In fact, in regions where it snows heavily all winter, transportation is often disrupted, and many places don't have markets during the winter, as Anna pointed out. The kind of "plenty of good food" life Topaz wants would be difficult during the winter.

I'm not particularly good with extreme cold or heat either, so I want to find a place that isn't too hot in the summer and doesn't have harsh winters.

"Fred, do you have any preferences for where to go?"

"Hmm? I... prefer a place that's not too hot or cold, clean, with reasonable taxes, and safe to live in."

"Simple but challenging conditions..."

"Well, we don't have to decide right away, right? If it doesn't feel right, we can move to the next town without settling down."

I see. That's a flexible way of thinking.

Even if we move to a new town, staying in an inn or hotel for a while, as we are now, is also an option. Fortunately, we have the income to make that possible.

"Excuse me... I have a letter for a guest."

While we were talking and looking at the map, a knock sounded.

Who could it be? The viscount? But if it were the viscount, the hotel staff would have said so.

However, Anna, who had returned from the door, also looked puzzled.

"...It's not for Lady Riana."

"Huh?"

"It's for Fred."

I couldn't help but tilt my head in confusion. Fred still lives in the apartment and comes to the hotel frequently... or rather, almost every day. Why would he get a letter here? It is indeed strange.

"Huh? ...Ah..."

Fred took the envelope from Anna, saying "Thank you," and froze when he saw the name on the back.

Anna was about to hand him a paper knife, but he couldn't wait and ripped it open with his fingers, breaking the wax seal.

I didn't want to pay too much attention to Fred's expression as he read the letter, but his reaction was so unusual that I couldn't help but ask.

"...Who is it from... or what is it?"

"Right now... why, it can't be... but this..."

Fred, who was reading the letter with a serious look, didn't seem to notice my voice.

His face was expressionless, and his eyes, visible through his bangs, seemed darker than usual. The vivid crimson color seemed slightly different, and it made me feel a bit scared.

"...Fred?"

"Ah, sorry... I was so surprised... Ha, I really was shocked..."

As he said, he seemed to have lost his composure. He picked up the glass he had just finished and brought it to his mouth before realizing it was empty, showing how flustered he was.

"I... It seems my family has found me..."

"Really?!"

"And Edi... my foster brother, is here to meet me... He's waiting at the restaurant downstairs at the sixth hour... I'm really surprised..."

Fred tried to laugh but couldn't. He muttered "Sorry" and covered his face with one hand, looking down.

"Fred... you dropped this."

"Hmm... thanks, Topaz."

The envelope, from which he had roughly extracted the contents, had slipped onto the carpet.

Topaz, who was also puzzled by Fred's unusual behavior, had his fox ears slightly lowered, as if on guard, and his tail was more bristled than usual.

"Um... Can I ask what happened...? Or is it better not to know?"

"No, Riana... and Anna and Topaz, I want to tell you. I want you to hear... Can you all come with me to this meeting?"

Of course, there was no reason to refuse.

"I'm glad. I was worried about how to persuade him if he said he wanted to meet alone..."

"Ha, that's... reassuring."

I think it was forced cheerfulness, but Fred was smiling a bit awkwardly... and I felt a little relieved to see it.