Reijou wa Mattari wo Goshomou 2-11

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Chapter 2-11

Warning: may cause violent thoughts zzz

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「As you know......my brother is interested in Rhonya-jou. Since it has become hard for her to live in this country, I'd like to welcome her to mine. She was already so outstanding at St. Crisante. It's such a waste that she has no place to show off her talents. Our country doesn't mind that her reputation is slightly tarnished. Besides, I've also heard some other rumours.」

Lunatiora closed in on Schneider and whispered in his ear. 

「——......That Rhonya-jou saved the Spirit Forest.」

Schneider froze at her words.
Two years ago, Rhonya did save the Spirit Forest. Back then, Schneider tried to stop her as it was during the examination period when the spirit of the forest called for her. But she still heeded the spirit's call without hesitation and he heard that she had saved the forest. However, both the spirit and him did not speak a word of it. 

「If that's true, then it's a feat that should receive worldwide praise!」

The Elf Queen smiled. Schneider took in a deep breath and somehow managed to return a smile. Right now, it's best not to confirm or deny.

「No, wait a minute. I want Rhonya-jou to come to my country to heal her broken heart. My country is the most suitable!」

It was King Sieghard who said that.

「Aiya, if it's for healing, my country is just as good.」

「No, the Country of Jin is one that gives happiness though? For Rhonya-jou's happiness, I want to bring her to my country.」

After that, the two of them argued for a while before compromising that it was Rhonya's decision to make. Soon after, the two of them left the reception room, leaving word for Schneider to find Rhonya. 

——Schneider had returned to his dorm room. He sat down on a chair, holding his forehead in his hand. There was no way he could refer the two monarchs to Rhonya since he did not know her location. However, there was something that was giving him an even bigger headache. The Elven Queen's younger brother. His name was Orphias. Rhonya doesn't realise it, but Orphias was in love with her. Although he didn't approach her directly, he would be openly hostile to Schneider and they saw each other as rivals. 

That Orphias was looking for Rhonya.

「......Why do I feel this way......」

Even though he and Rhonya were over, yet he still feels upset for some reason. 

「Regardless of what happens between that guy and Rhonya......to me......」

Orphias had competed with him on multiple occasions in the past. Just remembering it made him angry. Even the feeling of not wanting Rhonya to be taken away was starting to come back to him. 
Schneider groaned out loud in his room. 

At that moment, the last smile Rhonya gave to him came to mind. She was neither angry nor did she cry. She only gently wished for his happiness. That last smile had caused his feelings to waver. 

——He was taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself down when the door burst open. He was so tired of seeing the person standing at the door. It was Lexi. He was already exhausted from the conversation with the Jin King and the Elf Queen, he doesn't have to energy to deal with Lexi's reproach. Just as he was about to sigh, Lexi spoke up.

「Rhonya is innocent!! I've found proof!!」

「......What? What are you saying? That's enough, Lexi.」

「Misano-jou had tortured the ladies around Rhonya and forced them to say that!!」

Her words caused Schneider's eyes to widen. What on earth is going on? When his brows furrowed together from his confusion, Hansel popped out from behind Lexi. 

「Lexi-jou, I think we should start from the top. Please listen to me, Schneider.」

Schneider nodded his head and Hansel continued.

「A group of ladies testified saying that they harassed Misano-jou under Rhonya-jou's directions right? They did indeed harass Misano-jou, but apparently, it wasn't under Rhonya-jou's orders. However, Misano-jou seems convinced that it was Rhonya-jou's doing. So she showed those ladies terrible hallucinations and tortured them until they confessed that the harassments were done under Rhonya-jou's bidding. Those girls were utterly terrified of insects and they were tortured with horrifying visions of insects. In the end, they couldn't take it anymore, they gave in and said 『the answer Misano-jou wanted to hear』」

Hansel said painfully with a frown on his face; meanwhile, Lexi seems to be getting more excitable as she raised her voice.

「That woman always had a grudge against Rhonya and was just looking for a chance to bring her down! She's full of malice!...... Hey, Schneider, why are you acting dumb!?」

Schneider was in shock, he couldn't believe what he just heard and could only mutter to himself.

「No way......how could it......」

「Are you saying that you don't believe us? That woman even made you cancel the engagement in front of the whole school! It's not surprising she would torture those ladies into giving false testimonies. Yet, how stupid are you going to be!?」

Schneider felt someone smack his head, as he desperately tried to search through his memories. 
He was paired with Misano for one class and that they started getting closer after that. Then, one day, he heard that Rhonya was harassing her. 

——......Believe me, Schneider. This is Misano-jou's misunderstanding, I didn't harass her, please believe me. 

That was what Rhonya said when he asked her if she was harassing Misano. Her blue eyes always looked kind of sad, like they were praying to Schneider 「I hope you'll believe me」
Schneider had tried to believe in Rhonya once, but after hearing from Misano that the harassment still continued. The seed of doubt began to grow, day by day. And when he heard of the testimonies of the ladies that often hung around Rhonya, he lost himself to a fit of rage and cancelled the engagement. 

——......Please be happy.  

That was the last thing Rhonya said to him with a fleeting smile.

The Rhonya who was not blessed with familial love and often felt lonely. The Rhonya who yearned for a calm, peaceful and relaxed life. Was she someone who would instruct the ladies around her to harass Misano?  

「——Rhonya had tried to stop them. Nevertheless, they continued to harass Misano-jou! This was a problem between those ladies and Misano-jou, yet Rhonya was the one who had to shoulder the responsibility for everything! Even so, Rhonya just left without saying anything! Why do you think she did that!?」

With the clicking of her heels, Lexi walked in front of Schneider.

「Rhonya was disillusioned by you! When your heart left her and you turned to another woman! That's why she decided to run away, with her name tarnished!」

「......」

「How long are you going to keep silent!? Enough is enough!!」

Lexi shouted at the top of her voice and raised her hand. However, Schneider caught her hand and stopped it. 

「......The last thing she said to me......was to be happy......She said it with a smile......」

When he recalled her smile at that time, he felt as if his heart was being torn to shreds. After a while, his eyes shown with the flames of determination.
(lilies: pour cold water over you -_-)

「Rhonya......I have to find her!」

「Schneider......!」

Now that he knows that Rhonya was innocent, he sincerely wanted to see again. Schneider expressed this feeling to Hansel and Lexi. Tears of joy streamed down Hansel's face, while Lexi clicked her snapped at Schneider unhappily. 

「It's too late, Schneider!」

After that, the three of them went to find Ronard again. Rhonya's grandfather laughed uncomfortably when he saw that they had returned. Schneider knelt down at the front gate and apologised from the bottom of his heart. He admitted his mistakes and begged to see Rhonya. Ronard calmly looked down at Schneider and said.

「Are you misunderstanding something? My granddaughter is not something you can obtain and throw away on your whims.」

Schneider was shocked by his cold words.

「T-That's......」

「You may have realised your mistake, but Rhonya's not coming back. You threw her aside, yet you still want to meet her even though that things have come to this. Don't you think you're being too selfish? If you truly feel sorry to Rhonya, then don't visit me again.」

——He couldn't be forgiven.

Even if he realised his mistake and understood the gravity of it, he couldn't be forgiven so easily. 

「For Rhonya, could you guys stop bring this up?」

Ronard urged Lexi and the others. 
Schneider shouted at Ronard as he was about to close the door. 

「I......I was wrong! From the first day, we met, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Rhonya! I promised to protect her from her family! Yet I......I thought that I was betrayed......and I hurt the one who loved me with all her heart!!」

Schneider felt the impacts of his mistake once again. What he destroyed and thrown away in front of Rhonya was not just their engagement agreement. It was all the promises he made to her, all their memories as well as her heart. He ripped them all apart. 
Tears streamed down his cheeks.

「Despite so......Rhonya wished for my happiness......and quietly left.」

There was no anger, nor resentment. She simply wished for his happiness and retreated. She truly loved him, up till the very end.

「Rhonya was the only woman who loved me so deeply. I want to receive her forgiveness! Please give me a chance! I want to get her back! I will not give up! I will come back to ask for her whereabouts as many times as it takes! I will find her no matter what!」
(lilies: delulu prick urgh)

I want to regain the one I loved the most. Schneider appealed passionately. But——

「Rhonya doesn't wish to see you.」

Ronard said with a cold look and close the door shut. 
Schneider was overwhelmed by the complete rejection, but he did not plan on giving up on Rhonya. 

「One more time......search through the royal capital again! There must be some clues! I have to find her!」

Ever since that day, Schneider searched through every inch of the royal capital. However, Hansel had already investigated the area around the capital and there was no new information. Despite so, Schneider did not lose heart and pressed on in pain, to search for Rhonya.
He had noticed that the feelings he had for Misano was not love, but everything was too late. 


2 Demon and Dark Grounds

——I had a dream. 
A nostalgic dream from two years ago. To me, it was an important memory. Although I was starting to regain a little consciousness, I quietly rolled to my side and sank back into my dreams. 

＊ ❖ ＊

Two years ago, the spirit Orphedoto's forest was attacked on the violent whims of a demon. He was saved by a girl and her name was Rhonya. Rhonya who fought the demon with all her strength was completely drained and lied down on the meadows without rearranging her hair that had come apart. Peace in the forest was restored and a faint, warm glow permeated through the air. Rhonya gazed at this beautiful, fantasy-like view in a daze. Orphedoto gently lifted her head and placed it on his knees. He stroked her hair labouriously to try and relieve Rhonya's fatigue. 

「What is this light?」

Rhonya asked, tiredly.

「Life.」

Orphedoto replied gently. 

「Somewhere in this world, a new life starts to bud. Reborn in another place, and someday, they will reborn here again.」

As Life floats in the sky, a new life begins somewhere. Rhonya's eyelids slowly closed. 

「I want to be reborn......in this forest.」

Orphedoto smiled at her whisper. 

「You're welcomed to, my friend.」

Orphedoto gently cupped Rhonya's face in his hands. She slowly fell asleep as she quietly exhaled. The fairies who were concerned for Rhonya, stared at her face. After making sure that she was breathing, they lightly snuggled up to her. 

Orphedoto had to softly stop the influx of fairies, gathering one by one. If this goes on, Rhonya wouldn't be able to rest properly. Amongst those fairies was a mythical beast. He walked up to Rhonya while dragging his wings behind him. This was Laclain, the mythical beast.

「......I was saved......」

His black lips trembled as he spoke in a low voice.

「I don't trust humans......especially nobles......」

Laclain hated humans and he finds nobles in particular, untrustworthy. However, Rhonya was both a human and a noble lady. 

「Rhonya can be trusted.」

Orphedoto said while caressing her cheek. 

「She risked her life to save ours. ——My friend.」

Laclain gently knelt before Rhonya. 

「Please give me permission, Spirit Orphedoto.」

His feathers drooped as he lowered his head and her figure was reflected in his eyes.

「I will do my best to protect this person. I will wield my wind to become the wind that protects her. 」

「Mythical beast, Laclain, I grant you the permission to become the wind that protects my friend.」

Orphedoto had given his permission. That was a vow made amongst the warm, dancing lights. That was certainly an oath made by the spirit and the mythical beast by the side of Rhonya who was peacefully asleep. 

＊ ❖ ＊

——As if being guided by the morning sun, I awakened from the nostalgic dream. I woke up this morning, feeling really good. I breathed out and got up. After stretching, I got out of bed and started getting ready for the morning. 

First, I opened the window to welcome in the morning wind and took out a bright blue dress from the closet. It was a simple dress without any extra accessories and I tightened a ribbon around my waist. After a change of clothes, I brushed my silver hair while looking at the mirror in the closet, gathering it at the side to form a loose braid. The ribbon was navy blue with golden streaks on it. 

Once I was done, I went down to the store. Just as I was about to call the fairies to help me clean up the store for the morning——

Suddenly, the door was gently blown open by a wind and the doorbell sounded. There were countless feathers mixed with the strong winds which eventually became a tornado of feathers. When I closed my eyes, I could hear the sound of a bird flapping its wings. I slowly opened my eyes while listening closely to the sound. 

Standing in front of me, was the mythical beast Laclain in a humanoid form. From his head to his chest was covered in snow-white feathers and his arms were in the shape of very large wings. 

When he lifted his wings, something that was yellowish-green fell down. It was the lotus fairies, the Lotos. 
The heads of the Lotos that rolled onto the ground were shaking and their eyes were spinning. However, they managed to get their bearings and stretched their arms to take a determined pose. 

Although their landing had failed, I greeted them while giggling.

「Good morning, Laclain, Lotos.」

「Here's a souvenir for you and the Beastmen squad.」

「Oh, thank you.」

Laclain raised his right wing, creating a small gust of wind as feathers swirled around. Numerous feathers gathered on the table and eventually dissipated like a light. In its place were two creatures known as Gaou. Although it resembled a piglet, both in looks and size, it was a precious item. Today, I shall recommend it to the Beastmen squad. I'll simply season it with herbs and bake the Gaou steak. 

「Then, while I prepare the Gaou, please help clean up the place, Lotos.」

After hearing my request, the Lotos saluted me and set off, adorably crying out 「Aye!」 They spread out across the shop like little spiders and quickly started cleaning up. As I rolled up my sleeves to carry the Gaou to the kitchen, I notice Laclain staring at me. I looked back at him and waited for his black tinted lips to move. 

「......This is just an assumption, but if Schneider were to pursue you again, will you get back together with him?」

My eyes widened.

「......Why the sudden question?」

Schneider Zioland——my former fiancée. But we were not meant to be. 

「It's over with Schneider. Going back......I definitely don't want that. And he has found his soul mate, so I do not wish to get back with him.」

Laclain nodded nonchalantly at my words.

「......That's good.」

I didn't expect it. How strange, for Laclain to ask my something like that. I brought the Gaou to the kitchen and handled it with magic.

「Ah, speaking of which......last night, I dreamt of that day.」

The dream suddenly came to mind and I peeked into the cafe from the kitchen, to see Laclain still standing in the same place. He looked over without saying anything and I rambled on.

「Two years ago, the day the demon attacked. I dreamt of when Orphedoto revived the forest after the demon was sealed.」

I closed my eyes lightly and recalled the scenery in my dream.

「The gentle light that sprung forth from the green earth. The light that shone when new life was being born was warm, beautiful......and dream-like.」

I, who had exhausted all my power, stared at the light in a trance. Then, Orphedoto offered his knees as a knee pillow and I wanted to be reborn in that forest. 

「I thought it was a good dream. But if you think about it carefully, since it's related to the demon, maybe it's a bad omen?」

Demons in this world are a source of evil. Even just appearing in a dream requires purification. Those who can use magic could handle it themselves. While those who couldn't would have to be purified by a magician. Orphedoto's forest was also purified by the magician, Gray-sama's, magic. 

Since it wasn't a direct appearance of the demon, I don't think I need to use purification magic this time. However, I was still a little concerned as I tilted my head. 

「......No, it was the day our bonds deepened, so I think it should be a good dream.」

That was Laclain's response to me. Laclain was a mythical beast that hated human, but from that day on, he started opening up to me little by little. It was a memorable day where I built closer relationships with the residents of the forest.

「Well then, I had a very good dream today.」

I repeated and Laclain had a soft expression that was rarely seen. 

「Please watch out for those who are chasing after you. If you call for me, I'll help you blow them away......」

Laclain glanced sharply at the countertop. The hourglass from my grandfather and the amethyst from Gray-sama were placed there. 

「Not just me, but Gratia as well. He's the only one who can completely seal off the demon. Although the Beastmen squad will be around, call me if anything happens. I will rush down in the blink of an eye and be there until he's sealed.」

As he said that, Laclain plucked out two feathers from his large wings. The beautiful feather had a light blue to green gradation. It was an item that allows one to instantly call on the mythical beast. These two were probably for me and the Beastmen squad.

「Thank you, Laclain.」

I received the feathers that had a pleasant touch to them. Laclain look like he had more to say, but he soon left with the sound of wings flapping. I tilted my head and started preparing breakfast, as well as getting ready to open shop. Of course, I didn't forget to prepare the Gaou meat. 
Just thinking about the Beastmen squad's visit in the afternoon, made my expression soften.

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ARGH I WANNA STAB SCHNEIDER AND MISANO SO BAD

I couldn't maintain my composure while translating this chapter. I had to go scream into my pillow multiple times, so this chapter took extra long to translate. I want to curse and swear but this is a fluffy book and I- AAAAH

Lexi (I assume) only smacked his head once, but he needs to be smacked left, right, centre. Huuu gosh (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Anyways since he actually felt hurt in this chapter. GREAT. Sensei needs to bully him more 

Kinda ironic how violent this note is yet I'm still gonna end with peace but hey ;)

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and have a great day!!

peace lilies~