Volume 6 Chapter 44 Eirnelys Of Illness
A girl with beautiful big blue eyes, white skin, and white hair stands before us.
There's no hatred or anger in her eyes.
She quietly reflects us, like a clear lake surface showing our images.
Sir Ciel steps forward, shielding me from the girl.
Several jewels are visible on his bare back. He must have used healing magic; I watch as his cracked skin repairs itself, and I let out a sigh of relief.
"In your memory, the Saint of Alexandria, Lydia, was supposed to be more pitiful, weak, and easy to manipulate."
"It's extremely unpleasant to have my memories rummaged through. But what exactly did you see? Ms. Lydia is kind and strong. You don't understand the strength of someone who chooses not to fight and can forgive others."
"That's not true. Those who cannot fight are weak."
"Y-yes, I'm weak. I... don't have the strength to fight, and I dislike fighting. You are Ms. Eirnelys... Eir-Eir and Ms. Famine's sister, right?"
I peek out from behind Sir Ciel and speak to Eirnelys.
Eir-Eir and Ms. Famine are very cute now, but when I first met them as the Witch's daughters, I felt they were as scary as Eirnelys.
But both of them carried a lot of sadness.
"Do you think just because you were able to tame my sisters, you can do the same with me, Saint of Alexandria? Your voice drives Ciel's heart crazy, even though I worked hard to control it. So, as Ciel wishes, I thought I would keep you alive and close."
"It's rude to pry into Sir Ciel's heart and mind...! He, too, has feelings and memories that he can't share with anyone... Saying them out loud is...! Uh, um, Sir Ciel, I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
It doesn't feel good when someone brings up emotions I've hidden deep inside.
If I were Sir Ciel, I would feel so embarrassed that I'd want to crawl into a hole.
I can't stand the thought of someone seeing everything in my head.
I have plenty of embarrassing things too. Like, standing in front of the mirror in a cute new outfit and trying out different poses.
Or reading the romance novel that Mx. Margaret lent me, rolling around on the bed, all flustered.
Those are the kinds of things you can only do when you're alone, and I don't want anyone to know about them.
"...No. It's okay if you want to listen. I'm not pretending to be someone else. Not in front of you. I have nothing left to hide."
"Sir Ciel, that's still embarrassing..."
"I'll tell you properly at the right place and the right time. About the feelings I've been hiding and pushing down."
"Y-yes..."
Sir Ciel's vibe seems to have changed a bit.
The delicate air that felt like it could break with a touch has disappeared.
His bare back is much bigger than mine, and it feels really strong.
"...Ciel. Even though you're Gem's People, are you going to oppose me? I came to protect the Gem's People who were left behind in this world, just like Mother wanted."
"Starting a fight for no reason can't be called protection."
"It was humans who started the fight first. We'll drive humans out of this country and create a paradise just for Mother's children. There will be nothing left to torment Mother. From the red moon, Mother will return to this world."
"Gem's People just want to live quietly without having their dignity taken away. Sir Stefan is trying to carry on the ideals that King Zeere couldn't achieve. It might take time, but someday that wish will surely come true."
"That's just pretty talk, Ciel. Just like I entered your mind and saw your memories, you saw my memories too, right? Even after seeing those memories, do you still think people have value in living? Do you think the descendants of Theobald and the children of Alexandria will be forgiven...!?"
For the first time, emotion filled Eirnelys's voice.
Memory──it's something Eir-Eir and Ms. Famine gave me.
It must be the continuation of that dream.
"Ancient memories don't matter to us living in the present. Being trapped by past hatred and trying to destroy the now, you... you were just another puppet of your mother, weren't you? Just like me."
Sir Ciel said, a bit painfully.
"...I am right. I was born to fulfill my mother's wishes. My oldest sister Eiris and my second sister Famine both failed. My younger sister Medusaena was just a leftover failure."
From Eirnelys's feet, several black, rope-like things sprouted.
"I, the one left, must fulfill the wish. For my poor mother and the poor Gem's People. But... have I already lost? ...My sisters seem to be having fun by your side. I saw Ciel's memories. ...I too, wished to be saved and loved."
Eirnelys covered her face with both hands.
"I didn't want to know emotions. I overlapped with Ciel, ...and saw the beautiful memories of the days spent with you, Lydia. I should truly hate you, but I can't hate you for cherishing Ciel and my sisters from Gem's People."
The black ropes extending from her feet began to weave together, forming a square cage.
"Darknight Binding."
With a short chant, Sir Ciel lightly clenched his hand, and white, hand-like things were drawn out from Eirnelys's body, slipping out in large amounts into the black cage, dissipating into mist.
"That's a cage that steals magic. It takes the souls you gathered... the clumps of magic away from you."
"Why don't you just kill me?"
"...I want to kill you right now. But you are Ms. Eiris and Famine's sister. ...Those girls reached out to you. Trapped inside your body, I watched that happen."
I felt Eirnelys's curled-up body in the cage shrink even smaller.
"...I envy my big sisters. So that's what they call it, fried horse mackerel. It was delicious."
Eirnelys's blue eyes looked at me as if trying to say something.
I couldn't help but rush to the cage and crouch down to peek into Eirnelys's face.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)