Chapter 224: Side Story: Guardian


    ***Arc 9 One Who Sent Off, Chapter 224 Side Story: Guardian***


    Christand’s estate in Gargain


    The young, golden-haired girl, who hadn’t yet able to count until 10, looked displeased at the cloth on her desk.


    The cloth was stretched out on a wooden board, and a long mathematical form was written with charcoal on it.


    Usually, what was used to as a study tool was cloths that could be washed and reused.


    Parchment wasn''t free either.


    Both her father and mother hated wasting money, and this was normal for Selene as well.


    “The form and order are correct, but the calction here is incorrect.”


    The redhead servant――Bery, took a look at Selene''s problem and quickly pointed out the wrong part without a moment''s hesitation.


    Within the blink of an eye amid the lengthy equations.


    Berry was always like this and Selene pouted her lips.


    "...Bery always knows everything."


    Reviewing the arithmetic that her tutor taught her.


    Her mother was not good at teaching others, so Bery was usually the one watching her study.


    Bery would answer anything she asked, and when Selene saw a problem she couldn''t understand, Bery would easily solved it.


    Solvingplicated calctions without even needing to down the equations.


    "That''s not true. Rather there are so many things I don''t know."


    Someone who always smiles as if she was troubled――that was probably her impression of Bery.


    Whenever Selene said something, Bery always gave a troubled smile.


    She didn’t look proud or ridicule her, but instead smiled thoughtfully.


    “What is it that Bery doesn’t understand?”


    "It’s something as vague as that question"


    Again, as if troubled.


    Bery told her with a smile


    Modest and neat, she had never seen Beryughed as loudly as her mother.


    For example, this arithmetic is simple. If you follow the order and do the calctions in sequence, the answer wille out by itself. The key is to do each one carefully. Ojou-sama''s equation is correct, and this time it was a basic calction mistake. Even without me if Ojou-sama recalcted it Ojou-sama would have also gotten the correct answer."


    Trace her lips with her fingertips.


    It was a habit Bery had when she was thinking.


    There was something alluring about that beautiful appearance of hers.


    Her mother''s younger sister――Her facial features were simr, but apart from the red hair, it was hard to tell that she was her mother''s younger sister at first nce.


    Contrary to her mother, who was bright, gorgeous, and easy to recognize, Bery''s temperament was quiet――or to put it negatively, dark, and don''t know what she was thinking.


    She was smart and capable of anything, but she was not proud of anything, and just took it as only natural.


    Her appearance, which had not changed at all since she could remember, was inorganic and somewhat doll-like, and perhaps that was why she was so fascinated by her trivial habits and gestures.


    It was like a colorless painting bursting into color.


    "However, there are problem without an answer in this world."


    “A problem without an answer?”


    Bery nodded.


    "For example...what is the most delicious food in the world? Do you know?"


    "......Meat Pie?"


    When Selene answered after thinking for a while, Bery smiled bitterly.


    “Then, would it be okay for Ojou-sama to have meat pie for dinner every day from now on?”


    “Muu...”


    "Hehe, that was a bit mean, wasn''t it? But it’s just like that."


    After removing the cloth from the wooden board, a new piece of cloth was attached and carefully stretched out.


    As she fastened the four sides of the cloth, Bery said.


    "What is good and what is bad? What should I do to make someone happy and what did I do that makes someone angry? There are answers to things that can be expressed in numbers, but when ites to interactions between people, there is no correct answer."


    cing the wooden board back on the table, Berry flipped the removed cloth skillfully and neatly folded it into a basket.


    Selene always wondered why she bothered folding the cloth before washing it, but it seemed to be her nature. In contrast to her mother, Bery was very meticulous.


    “If there was only one answer to that question, I could just made a meat pie for Ojou-sama everyday. But the world is not that simple.”


    “…Berry, do you always think about suchplicated things when you cook?”


    "Not always, but..."


    ‘Sometimes’, she said, as if troubled.


    "Just like Ojou-sama’s favorite meat pie, if Ojou-sama eats it every day, Ojou-sama would get tired of it. What''s right isn''t always the right answer. Correctness is just an indicator, nothing more... Problem with no answer is something like that I guess?”


    Her words seemed easy to understand but were difficult.


    Selene crossed her arms and thought about it, Berry chuckled.


    "As a side. Even if Ojou-sama doesn''t ruminate about it now, such a problem wille up in front of Ojou-sama someday. Worrying about it can start after that."


    “Father said that having a mental attitude is important. I think I should know about important things like that.”


    Selene crossed her arms and said, trying to act mature.


    Bery stared at her and looked at the wooden board.


    Without saying a word, she removed the cloth from the wooden board she had just prepared, folded it neatly, and put it away.


    "Let''s conclude the review for today. Ojou-sama must be tired from studying."


    Bery freshened up the tea from the pot and put the cookies she had left in the room on the desk.


    She must have seen through Selene''s feelings of being tired with studying.


    Selene looked at him with a blush on her cheeks, feeling embarrassed for some reason.


    "...For example, thew is a form of justice. If you break thew, you are a bad person and it is a bad thing....Is this correct?"


    "...Isn''t that the correct answer?"


    "That''s one correct answer. From a social perspective, it''s undeniably evil, and people who do it are bad people and criminals."


    Pouring tea and cing the cup in front of Selene.


    After that Bery brought a chair and sit diagonally in front of her.


    "However, that is just one perspective, and it is only a bad thing from society''s point of view."


    "...?"


    "...Right , let''s say a starving poor man stole bread for his child."


    Bery took a cookie and hid it in her hand.


    “Socially, it was probably evil, but for that individual, there was no other choice, and that was the only way to prevent his child from starving to death.… Can this person really be called evil? ”


    Selene furrowed her eyebrows, and Bery smiles bitterly as she looked at her.


    "Surely, there won''t be anyone who can decisively judged it. From one perspective, it may be considered evil, but as an individual he’s not necessarily a bad person. From the child''s perspective, that person might be amendable parent trying to protect themselves even at the cost ofmitting a crime."


    ‘It''s a matter of perspective,’ Bery said.


    "In the world, there are countless perspectives, and for each perspective, there is correctness and good and evil... Just like in war, from the perspective of Alberan, the Elsren are evil, but the Elsren people probably think the same about us."


    Selene listened silently, deep in thought.


    “What is right changes depending on one''s point of view and position. It is easy to criticize poor people who steal from a position where they have never gone hungry, and it is also easy to me the enemy citizens. But correctness is never the only correct answer.”


    ‘It''s a problem without an answer’, Bery said, picking up another cookie and cing it near Selene''s mouth.


    When she put it in Selene mouth, Bery also took a bite of the cookie hidden in her hand.


    The sweetness of honey with a touch of saltiness――she strangely never got tired of the simple cookies made by Bery.


    Today it was a little saltier than usual.


    Maybe it was because Selene was practicing her sword and was sweating, so it seemed like the right amount, and it was delicious.


    A small consideration that one wouldn''t notice unless you try to notice it.


    Maybe what she talked about were something like that.


    "Whether Ojou-sama wanted to or not, Ojou-samady would also face such problems. At that time, as a noble, the simplest choice would surely be to do justice."


    "...easy?"


    "Yes, precisely because it''s simple and easy to choose, wielding correctness without being swayed by it, considering the correctness that suits the situation from various perspective, Being able to think about that is the most important thing, I would say."


    ‘It''s very difficult thing but’, Berry said, and Selene thought about it.


    It would be simr to what her father said, that it was not good to take the easy way out.


    Unable to fully understand it, she nodded vaguely.


    Bery smiled wryly and gently patted Selene on the head.


    "Hehe, I guess it''s still a little difficult for Ojou-sama. Even if Ojou-sama don''t worry about it now, I''m sure you''ll hear simr stories when Ojou-sama learn about thew someday."


    "Muu..."


    "...Though Nee-sama might scold me for saying unnecessary thing to Ojou-sama."


    Then she giggled and smiled somehow happily.


    At that moment, the door swung open.


    "That''s exactly right, Bery. Let Selene know what she''s doing again. What will you do if Selene ends up too studious?"


    Hands on hips, chest puffed out, her long red hair swaying, she looked down at Bery who was sitting down.


    The beautiful mother entered the room with a displeased expression, furrowing her brows without hesitation, and walked into the room.


    "Nee-sama, please look at yourself before ming others. To think Nee-sama would be eavesdropping."


    "I wasn''t eavesdropping, I just happened to be tired and leaning against the door when I heard your voices. How rude."


    "I think that would normally be called eavesdropping..."


    "Isn''t that just how it seems from your point of view? Listen, Bery, there''s a lot of truth in this world."


    ‘Uuu’, Berry said weakly, her cheeks turning red as she red at Selene’s mother.


    She sighed after a while, stands up, and went to close the door she left open.


    “Umm, mom, what about your job…?”


    "I''m tired of working alone while you all seem to be having fun at study sessions. Bery, please help me. I have a lot of calctions to do. I''d also like some tea."


    Her mother ced the bundle of parchment in her hand where on the spot where Berry was sitting and brought a chair, sitting down herself and munching on cookies.


    Seeing a mother like that, Bery let out an exasperated sigh and picked up a new cup.


    "Hmm, delicious. That’s no good, Selene, if you take Bery''s words seriously, you''ll turn into a big-headed idiot."


    "...Nee-sama, like I said please stop saying things like that. It''s difficult to deal with in many ways."


    "It can''t be helped, it''s the truth. Bery, please rub my shoulder while you''re at it."


    “...Geez”


    Shrugging her shoulders in a slightly sullen tone, Bery poured tea for the mother.


    Then, without any particr reluctance, she puts her hands on the mother''s shoulders and began massaging them.


    Bery was just over 20 years old――butpared to Selene, Berry was much more mature.


    However, when Bery interacts with her mother, she seemed a little younger, more like an older sister than an aunt, and had a slightly softer tone.


    Although she could do anything, she was weak against her mother, who was clumsy, rough, and do things sloppily at everything.


    That was probably Bery only weakness.


    "...this is?"


    "It would be best to preserve the magic crystals in salt for a while. I heard a rumor that the magicians are buying them. ...More importantly it’s important distribute wheat, whose prices are soaring, from the south. The climate in the north has been turbulent for the past few years.”


    "We don''t have any money."


    “Why don''t we just let the wheat from Krisztand flow straight into the administrative territory and hireborers in exchange? The war is over, and things will be slumping for a while. Many problems will be solved if the roads are improved, so I think it would be better to start working on them now.''''


    ‘I''ll tell Bogan’, her mother said, rolling up the bundle of reports.


    When she picked it up, it was from the territory they managed as a reward for thr aplishments in battle.


    It seems to be a small mine not far from here, but Selene had never seen it.


    Her mother asked, flipping the bundle of parchment around her while letting Bery rub her shoulders.


    Bery casually answered her mother''s question while massaging her mother''s shoulder.


    Most of it was just a list of numbers, or at least that was what Selene could see, but the interaction between the two was seamless.


    Feeling left out, Selene puffed out her cheeks as she ate the cookie.


    This didn’t only happen once or twice.


    Sometimes the two would have adult conversations, and each time Selene would be out of the loop.


    ――It couldn''t be helped because she was a child can''t even do math properly.


    Even though she understood that, there was something she couldn''t just ept.


    Her mother sometimes stole Selene’s servant just because her servant was her younger sister.


    Bery sometimes stole Selene''s mother just because her mother is her older sister.


    Quietly eating cookies to avoid disturbing the two of them, puffing her cheeks while drinking tea, and wiggled her feet more and more hoping they notice her.


    "Bery, what should I do about this?"


    "Uh, uh... well..."


    Was there a question she didn''t understand?


    She noticed the troubled look on Bery face from the tone of her voice, and crushed the cookie with her teeth, thinking ‘serve her right’.


    "In situations like this, I sometimes wonder whether to take a direct approach or an indirect one. It bothers me a lot."


    "I don''t think I''ve ever seen Nee-sama take an indirect approach though..."


    "How rude. I''m different today, I think I''ll leave it to Berry"


    "Ehh...?"


    Bery seemed to be getting more and more troubled.


    Although she was slightly intrigued, she didn''t look at them.


    "There, Bery. It’s the older sister''s orders."


    “L-look here...”


    "Now now, just do what I always do. Hurry up, or I’ll sulk."


    “Uuu...”


    Pretending that she was in a bad mood, Selene just ate the cookie and puffed out her cheeks.


    "My apologies, Ojou-sama..."


    “...Hua!”


    Her cheeks were gently crushed by her hands from behind.


    ‘Phyu’A stupid whistling sound rang out.


    "Fufu, Selene, making such a strange face..."


    When she looked up, her mother was holding her belly andughing, and Bery, who had crushed her cheek, chided her exasperated.


    Selene''s face turned red and she red at Bery.


    ‘Please forgive me’, Bery said with a wry smile as she held Selene sideways and sat her on herp.


    "My apologies, I didn''t mean to leave Ojou-sama out."


    "...I-I''m not particrly angry."


    "Selene really isn''t honest huh. Like a certain someone."


    "...Nee-sama. Please don''t tease me like that."


    While exasperatedly saying that, Bery held onto the resisting Selene''s body, caressed her head, and stroked her cheek.


    When Selene gave up, she kindly let out a small smile.


    Seeing the endlessly gentle smile, Selene looked away from her, feeling embarrassed for some reason, and puffed out her cheeks again.


    "My, in a bad mood huh."


    Bery pressed her finger on Selene’s cheek as if to tickle her, making her made another stupid sound.


    When she red at him with dissatisfaction, Bery stared at her with interest.


    She didn''t know what was wrong, but Bery hugged her tightly, shaking her shoulders happily, and pressed her against her ample breasts.


    "Fufun, so Bery is mesmerized by Selene''s cuteness huh? You should first admire what''s right in front of you before you make up all kinds of nonsense."


    "...I think it''s Nee-sama who''s always making up nonsense. Why is Nee-sama like that...?"


    Bery shook her head, then continues.


    "...But, yeah. Hehe, unlike Nee-sama, she''s very, very cute."


    "That''s a rather rude thing to say. How dare you say that to the most beautiful Onee-sama in the world."


    "I always wonder why Nee-sama is not embarrassed to say something like that yourself."


    That feeling of being embraced and yet being left out again.


    When she looked up from her chest and red at her, Bery tilted her head and looked back at her, then suddenly smiled.


    She gently strokes Selene''s head and presses it into her chest.


    When that happens, Selene had no choice but to remain silent, and she had no choice but to be stroked.


    Probably because she have such memories.


    whether it was her aunt or sister.


    For Selene, Bery was always naturally above her, and she was always unknowingly spoiled by her.


    She must have thought somewhere that Bery was an opponent she couldn''t defeat head-on.


    Bery-Argan had been Selene-Christand''s guardian since her birth.


    The sound of air being released from her cheeks.


    The strawberry blonde girl who made a stupid sound said, ‘What are you doing!’ and red at the red-haired servant who was poking her cheek, with an extremely displeased face.


    Why was she angry today?――Kreschenta sulking and cursing Bery were normal.


    Whatever it was, it was no big deal.


    "What do you think this queen who rules Alberan is? Can’t you even not know your ce?"


    “My, in a bad mood huh”


    “Muguu...”


    She strokes Kreschenta head and presses her against her chest, giggling.


    As she looked at it, Selene in exasperation.


    "...You haven''t changed at all since before, after all."


    “...?”


    Bery Argan, like a little girl, tilted her head curiously and looked back at Selene.


    Her personality was a little brighter――enough to be said it was worse.


    She didn''t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.


    Although Kreschenta was struggling, there was no sign of her escaping from her belly, and she remained as she was being stroked.


    Selene felt like she was looking at her old self from the outside.


    In her own words, Kreschenta was just as eager to be pampered as Krische――Selene gives Krische, who was sitting on herp, a cookie, and smiled wryly.


    She felt lonely, as if her guardian had been taken away from her, but she understood that this was how it was.


    She felt indescribable.


    Or perhaps this was what it means to be an adult.


    "Kreschenta-sama, I think it''s almost time for your nap. Your body is warm."


    "Please don''t treat me like a child."


    She caressed Kreschenta as if soothing a child, lifted her up, and asked Selene with her gaze.


    Selene thought about it for a moment, and said, ‘Okay’, as she also lifted up Krische.


    "Maybe I should take a nap once in a while. Krische will sleeps too, right?"


    "Ehehe, yes..."


    Just as Berry was Selene''s guardian, Selene now cherished the two of them.


    It''s still too early to call her a full-fledged adult, but Selene had certainly grown older.


    "That''s what she said. Kreschenta-sama If you don''t want to sleep, I will apany you, but..."


    "...I don''t want to talk with you. It''s more meaningful for me to sleep."


    "Fufu, excuse me then."


    "I don''t remember ever allowing you to sleep with me."


    "Oh... it''s just my usual habit. My apologies."


    "I can''t see any sincerity in your apology. You''re a really bad servant――nyu."


    "Geez, what a bad-mouthed child. Kreschenta, if you don''t like it, Krische will sleep with Selene and Bery, so why don''t you just stay awake by yourself?"


    “Uuu...”


    Bery shook her shoulders happily and her brown eyes meet Selene.


    She stared at it for a while, and suddenly she smiled, and they bothughed and stroked the girl in each other''s arms.


    Bery hadn''t changed much, and neither has Selene.


    The only things that have changed were their rtionships and positions.


    However, the rtionship between guardian was strangely not that bad, and it might be a blessing in itself.


    To the point where she didn’t think it would be a pain to spend a long time together in the future.