https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5562hc/53/
On Hold
There are a lot of people out right now, but with how wide the road is, the density of the crowd was low. I’m walking side by side with Lily at the very center of the capital. I’m following her without knowing where we’re going, but it’s going to have to be a strict place if it’s to handle the precious ring I currently have.
“Haa…. it’s all so heavy. Why do I have to think about so many things just because of one small ring….”
“But you never thought about anything before this correct? Compared to that, I think this is much better.”
Lily is acting perky because it has nothing to do with her. Meanwhile my life is going to be in danger if anyone finds out about the amount of money they pick off my corpse.
“How nice is it to be Lily-san and be able to act all carefree because it’s someone else’s business.”
“Hm? But I think of all your problems as my own.”
Lily was saying that while smiling at my anxiety. She absolutely enjoys watching me get annoyed at her.
She’s still helping me for now, so I bite my tongue. I only call her a lying sadist in my heart.
“By now I’m sure everyone has started their rounds of badmouthing me….”
“I wonder if that ring has the magical ability to make anyone who holds it think negatively. I cannot claim to understand how all of them think, but I do not believe any of them are so rotten as to workshop insults with each other for something that is not Liffy’s fault.”
“Haha…. you’re right. I’m just a little distrustful.”
“I can understand how you feel at least. However you should be proud of what you have accomplished today. It was through your charm that allowed you to receive that ring. It was lucky to hear about your grandmother’s prior relations, but if it is a discussion about familial inheritance, they will need to object to every noble and mage as well.”
Lily always keeps me thinking positively. All the members in Lily’s team are popular, so each of them are practically guaranteed to make it through the first screening while Dahlia and Melia were able to score some unexpected points thanks to this request. There is no reason for any of them to hold a grudge against me.
But I’ve been attacked by groups before despite them having no reason to hate me. Will Lily protect me if that were to happen this time too? I glanced her way with those expectations swirling in my head, and my gaze met with hers. She gave me a nod with a serious expression on her face.
We were able to share our feelings with each other through our hearts even without using any words. I thought we were still far from that kind of relationship, but I can feel things creeping closer to that point bit by bit.
It was kind of embarrassing actually, so I bit my lip and started walking with my head down. Lily didn’t try to break the silence either, so we just continued on through the city just like that.
“We have arrived. Have you ever visited here before?”
When Lily told me to stop staring at my feet, I realized I could no longer see the sky in front of me. We had come to a tall, humongous buildings with numerous spiers that stabbed into the air and flags that flapped in the wind at the very tippy-top.
Those cloud-reaching spiers surrounded an inner citadel that exuded a majestic atmosphere crafted from its design and size.
“This…. is a castle? The king’s castle?”
“Yes. If there is anyone in the country who could live in a place like this other than the king, I would love to meet them.”
“I imagined Lily-san’s house would be bigger though.”
Lily laughed softly.
“There is no way that would be true. You should visit someday though. I can serve you a rare cup of tea.”
I made absolutely sure that promise to visit Lily’s house was legitimate before turning my attention back to the castle in front of me. The whole thing is enormous, but the drawbridge leading there isn’t nearly as wide as I would have expected. I would say it is about the same width as the road in the slums, and it is barely wide enough to have several people walk side by side together.
It wasn’t a lot, but there were officials and people dressed like aristocrats coming and going while giving way to each other on the narrow bridge.
I rode the flow of people entering the castle and passed through the gate with Lily walking just ahead of me. Everyone here was well-dressed to the point that I understood I was walking with the city’s upper-class.
“So then…. we have reached our destination. Shall we take care of the ring?”
I followed Lily closely since I had no idea where anything was inside the castle. We passed through a series of doors one after another, each leading to seemingly nowhere, before arriving at one large, grand hall. It feels like this one hall might take up the entire building, so where did all those other doors lead to?
Lily took me to something like a reception desk at the center of the hall.
“Lily Ruhuna. I wish to enter the treasure house and would like to set up an account for the person accompanying me.”
If you want to hide your treasure, find a treasure vault. For some reason I don’t think it will be that easy for me to just wander into the royal castle’s treasure trove though. And to confirm those suspicions of mine, the receptionist shook her head.
“I am sorry, but for anyone not registered to be admitted, they must fill out an application. This form is….”
“We do not have the time for a review. Is there no way we can make an exception this one time?”
“My apologies, but the rules are….”
The receptionist was resolute even with Lily being the one she was talking to. Considering we want to keep my ring here I should be thankful that they are so particular about security, but if that security means I can’t store my ring here in the first place, it is all meaningless.
Lily took a deep breath through her nose. She must be getting irritated.
“Oh? If it isn’t Lily.”
I heard an unfamiliar voice, and my head turned in the same direction as Lily’s. There I found a man standing a bit aways who had the same hair color as Lily. He looked maybe around his sixties? He’s younger than Heath and Don at least but definitely older than my parents. The color of his hair didn’t look like it was an age thing though. More like a natural color.
“Father. It has been a while.”
Lily’s father. I think on the first day of the audition Heath said his name was Akatsu Ruhuna? He’s the country’s current minister and head of the prestigious Ruhuna family.
There was a second where I was surprised to find someone as important as that in a place like this, but then I remembered where I was. Where else would the country’s minister be if not the country’s capital? In this situation, he should be the one asking me what the hell I’m doing here.
“It certainly has. I have been reading the newspapers each morning and know how active you have been. This is….”
“Liffy Ruhuna. She is another hero candidate participating in the audition.”
Akatsu’s eyes narrowed. His eyes were cold like Lily’s. He was reading me, trying to decide what I was worth.
“Is that so? The first screening will be ending shortly. Please continue doing your best until the end. Lily, you should come home once in a while.”
The discerning eye disappeared almost immediately though when he lost any interest in me, and he tried to leave after giving some vague praise to brush me off. However, Lily grabbed her father’s hand and stopped him before he could go.
“Father, please wait. Can we not talk about the engagement a moment?”
You could tell by Akatsu’s face he was clearly annoyed. It’s not the kind of look someone should be giving their daughter, but I avoided saying anything since it wasn’t my business.
“This is hardly the place. I will schedule some time for you at home next weekend.”
“This is the perfect place. My own engagement was as much a surprise to me as anyone else. If you cannot talk about it now, I have a mind to reject the proposal outright.”
“Haa…. I finally found a family willing to take you in despite your advanced age; there is no way you can refuse at this point.”
Akatsu’s demeanor suddenly changed. Somehow I get the impression this is how these two usually talk to each other. It might be because of the power he has, but he’s intimidating. He doesn’t look like Lily at all like this. No, they both share that arrogant attitude whenever they’re enjoying themselves.
“It would be one thing if you had a reason to refuse. Become a hero, and you will have too many responsibilities to become a wife. Use that as your excuse.”
“And if I cannot become a hero?”
“You should’ve been married years ago. You will go where I say you go.”
The two glared at each other for a while. In the end, Lily seemed to have come out on top though when Akatsu broke eye contact and huffed a sigh. Hey, those two make the same noise when they’re annoyed.
“….I understand. I will put the matter on hold for the time being. Liffy-san, I have showed you an unsightly side of myself today. Please do not mention this to anyone.”
Akatsu turned and left on his own. He worded that like a request, but it was obviously a threat.
Lily glared at Akatsu’s back as he left. That’s definitely not a look you are supposed to direct at your parents either.
“….Are you all right Lily-san?”
With my voice as a trigger, Lily stepped off the edge and returned to her usual prim, proper demeanor.
“Yes. For now, we should submit an application and head inside.”
“Is it that easy for me to go in?”
“It is when I am the one going with you.”
I would’ve gotten irritated if Olive was the one boasting like that, but for some reason, I don’t mind it when Lily does it.
I received the paper the receptionist had held out to us earlier and filled in all the dotted lines. My handwriting is some ugly chicken scratch, and it’s embarrassing for me to think that Lily was watching me.
I ran the pen as quickly as I could to make it look like I was in a hurry and that was the reason my words looked like a jumble of scribbles.
“Do you have a guiding stone? It will take a week to make the proper arrangements, but….”
“No need. I have my own. We will be fine to just enter my room.”
While I was frantically writing on my own, Lily finished talking about matters with the receptionist. It seemed like they were familiar with each other, and they held a conversation for the entire ten minutes it took me to fill out this unnecessarily long form. Rather than who I am, it seemed like the receptionist was more concerned that Lily trusted her.
I wasn’t entirely sure when I was finished with the procedure until we were finally told we could go on ahead.
There were two sets of stairs far behind the reception desk with one leading up to the next floor and one leading down to the basement. Without any hesitation Lily chose the scarier of the two.
The basement itself was dim with shadows surrounding the evenly spaced lights hanging from the walls. I can’t believe not having any windows makes this big of a difference.
“Stay close to me”
Lily grabbed my hand just before I stepped off the stairs. She wants to walk together while holding hands? She’s never been this aggressive before, and it’s making my heart run wild.
Experimental Translations 