Extra: Sisters

When Belgrieve was still staying in the Bordeaux manor...

Under the morning’s uninterrupted sun, it had been bright and cheerful, but soon enough the clouds came to cast their shade. A look upwards revealed an oppressive gray expanse that seemed to herald rain at any moment. “We’re having a lot of rain this spring,” someone muttered.

Belgrieve had been helping sort through the rubble extracted from the manor, but once the skies started looking dicey, he and everyone else retreated inside. Not that there was anything to do inside; after walking a circuit around his room, he lowered himself into a chair.

A few days had gone by since the chaos. The manor had been roughly tidied up, but the gashes in the walls and floors had yet to be repaired; carpenters could be seen coming and going every day.

It was soon pouring outside the window. It did not come down too heavily, but enough to drench anyone who stepped out; perhaps its lack of forcefulness would conversely make it easier to end up completely soaked without noticing. Retreating had evidently been the right decision.

While he could tell it was raining, the droplets were so fine that they barely made a sound upon landing. Perhaps for that reason, he found it rather unsettling to keep still. As he sat there, gazing out the window with reluctantly idle hands, in came Angeline. She must have been outside, as her black hair glistened with minute droplets.

Not a moment after entering, she clung to Belgrieve’s back.

“Rain...”

“Yeah, looks like it.”

“We can’t clean up like this...”

“Not much we can do about the weather.”

For a while, she delightedly buried her face in his back, before eventually placing a hand on his shoulder to hoist herself up.

“I’m going to check up on Sasha with Anne and Merry... Will you join us?”

“Hmm...um...maybe next time.”

“Huh?”

Angeline pursed her lips, but she wouldn’t try to force him. “I’ll be going then,” she said, after squeezing him a bit longer before taking her leave. Belgrieve sighed.

The sky outside gradually grew darker. Little by little, the droplets swelled until the air was filled with a roaring rumble as they smacked against the window and ground.

○

When Angeline entered the room, Anessa was in the midst of toweling her damp hair, while Miriam did the same for her hat. The rain had picked up while they were out sparring with the soldiers. It had been light enough that they thought they could continue, but it seemed idiotic to catch a cold for no reason and they soon called it quits.

Once she noticed Angeline, Miriam waved her towel. Her cat ears twitched atop her head.

“Huh? Where’s Mr. Bell?”

“He’s not coming... I don’t know why. Does he dislike Sasha...?”

“I doubt it... Maybe he feels awkward being surrounded by only girls.”

I see, thought Angeline. It was certainly nothing but young women apart from Belgrieve. Although he kept his composure, perhaps it wasn’t so comfortable for him here.

“How bothersome,” she said. She was perfectly fine with having a single older man mixed in. “Is dad hitting his rebellious phase...?”

“What are you talking about... Whatever, let’s go.”

The three left the room. The outside gloom had seeped all the way to the corridor, making it feel strangely somber. Perhaps it’s because the rain sounds are muted here. It’s quieter than it has any right to be.

When they knocked on the door, they received an energetic, “Come in!” Sasha was sitting on the bed. Although her left arm was wrapped and hung from a sling, her complexion was wonderful.

Seren was seated in the chair beside her, her expression brightening as soon as she saw them. “Oh, you’re all here!” Seren stood with a smile. “This way, please. I’ll get you some tea.”

“Don’t worry about us... We came uninvited,” Angeline chuckled as she pulled a chair up to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ve got energy to spare. In fact, I feel like I’m slacking off and I can’t stand it.”

“Come now, Sash. You need to rest if you want to recover quickly.”

“I understand, but...urgh,” Sasha let out a troubled sigh. She was energetic as could be and irritated she had nowhere to spend that energy. Only a few days prior, she had caused quite a fuss by demanding to join in on the sparring matches, which greatly troubled Ashcroft.

“You used an elixir, right? Won’t you be better in a month...?”

“Right. But it’s frustrating, Ange. I’m out of it right when both you and my master are here.”

“You really like swinging your sword, Sasha...”

“But that’s pretty rare,” said Miriam. “Why did you become an adventurer? You could have been a soldier if you wanted, and since you’re a noble, I’m sure you could have been a knight.”

Sasha bashfully scratched her head. “Well... I just looked up to adventurers.”

“You did?”

“Yes. Admittedly, I first started flailing about with a sword because I looked up to knights, but...” Sasha went on in a longing tone.

Her father, the late Count Bordeaux, was well aware that the three sisters each had their own fortes. The eldest, Helvetica, boasted the ability to win over hearts and minds and to see the bigger picture. The youngest, Seren, was imbued with political acumen, while the middle child, Sasha, possessed abnormal competency with the blade. The count taught his daughters that there was no need to be good at everything, that they could all focus on their strengths and help one another.

“So, I’ve been studying the blade since I was young.”

“And that led to becoming an adventurer?”

“Yes, one time I was accompanying my father on his inspections. A fiend attacked us—a fiend with a sturdy shell, and the soldiers who were unaccustomed to facing monsters were struggling. That was when an adventurer showed up, accurately piercing the gaps in its carapace and taking it down in no time...”

“Hmm...an armored rat, perhaps? They are B-Rank, as I recall...”

“Oh, how knowledgeable! Anyways, I’ve looked up to adventurers ever since.”

“I see... Your father wasn’t against it?”

Sasha shook her head. “Bordeaux has always had a close connection with its adventurers. My father gave me a push on the back, saying that fighting fiends was just as important. It is an important duty that protects our citizens just as much as the soldiers do.”

“I see... Count Bordeaux was a good father.”

“He was!”

“My dad’s not too shabby either...”

“Why are you making this a competition?”

The mood was lighthearted, but as Angeline glanced at Seren, she saw the girl silently hanging her head. She had not been participating in the conversation for a while now.

“What’s wrong, Seren... a stomachache?”

“Hmm? Ah, no, I’m fine.” Seren smiled.

Sasha narrowed her eyes doubtfully. “You’ve been behaving a little strange ever since everything that happened. If something’s wrong, you need to tell me properly. Don’t hold it in.”

“I really am fine... Umm, I’ll go ask for tea.” Seren stood and fled the room.

Anessa and Miriam exchanged looks.

“What do you think?”

“Something’s up. I took her to be a bit more composed than that.”

“She’s been out of it ever since that mess,” Sasha said, sounding rather troubled. “Sometimes, she stares into the distance, and sometimes she has this sad look on her face... Whenever I ask her, she always just says she’s fine.”

“Hmm... It must have been a shock to her.”

“Right, our father came back as an undead, after all,” Sasha sighed. “I know I lack a bit of tact. Whenever I try offering advice, I come off as preachy... If it’s all right, I’d like the three of you to casually get closer to Seren. She might tell you things she won’t tell me.”

Sasha was aware of how boorish she could be, while Helvetica was still incredibly busy dealing with the aftermath. Although both had noticed Seren’s strange behavior, neither had the chance to get to the bottom of it.

“Got it,” Angeline nodded. “Get well soon.”

“Thank you, Ange. It means a lot.” Sasha offered a feeble smile—a rare display from her. She was evidently fretting over how she was unable to properly hear out her little sister’s worries.

A moment passed, and then a maid entered with tea.

“Where’s Seren?” Sasha asked with a tilt of her head.

“She said she was busy and returned to her room.”

“Hmm...” Sasha scratched her head looking wholly unconvinced. “It’s at times like these that I hate how tactless I am.”

“Don’t worry about it. I doubt Seren’s avoiding you because she hates you or anything.”

“Right, right. She’s a good girl, so she’s got a lot to worry about. Definitely.”

Anessa and Miriam said as much to cheer her up. Sasha timidly nodded.

○

Around that time, Belgrieve had been invited to have tea with Helvetica, who was evidently taking a small breather from work. He sat across from her in her study while she piled sugar into her cup, smiling. “Thank you for all your assistance.”

“You did give us a place to stay,” Belgrieve said before taking a sip. The tea leaves gave off a most peculiar aroma. “This is some strange tea you have here.”

“Yes, the leaves are fermented. I bought them from a peddler just the other day... Do you like it?”

“It’s not bad, but, well, it could take some getting used to. Are you supposed to add sugar?”

“Yes, and I’m told people add milk or squeeze a lemon into it as well.”

Belgrieve stroked his beard, bemused; he had never heard of such ways to drink tea before. Though there were plenty of things in the world he didn’t know about. He glanced back at the desk, noting the stacks of envelopes and documents. Helvetica had to send out quite a few letters to the other towns and nobles to repair the city, among other things. That’s one thing I can’t help with, Belgrieve thought, a wry smile on his face.

Watching Belgrieve with a bit of interest, Helvetica placed her cup down and sighed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her.

“Oh, no... I was just thinking about how time flies,” she said and looked around the study.

Belgrieve followed her gaze. Apart from a window in the back, the walls were completely covered by shelves lined with books and bundled documents, and while they looked rather uneven and messy, everything was, perhaps, in its correct place.

“It’s hardly changed from when my father used it.”

“I see.”

“I haven’t been the countess for long...but it’s still been almost half a year.”

“Even so, you’re quite adored, aren’t you? I’m astounded.”

“Hee hee, thank you. It’s a relief to hear that from you.” Helvetica corrected her posture and turned to him. “I must ask you again, Sir Belgrieve. Will you take up service with House Bordeaux? Your contributions in the undead incident are beyond compare. Please lend us your strength.”

Belgrieve scratched his cheek. “I’m sorry. I have to decline.”

“I see.” She did not linger on the topic, closing it with a single, disappointed sigh. Then she smiled. “I thought you would say that.”

“I’m real sorry.”

“Don’t be. You have a duty to protect Turnera,” she said, before her lips twisted into a mischievous smirk. “But I’m not giving up.”

“I’m not sure what to say about that.” Belgrieve shrugged. “I think you can do perfectly fine without me. You’ve got two excellent sisters, and Ashcroft as well... And let’s not forget how you’ve grown, at least since I last saw you in Turnera.”

“Right...” Helvetica narrowed her eyes. “Perhaps it’s because...I’ve overcome one of the trials set before me.”

“Hmm...”

“It’s strange. The incident the other day was sad, to be sure. However, I feel it happened because it had to. In a sense, I would have remained a sheltered little lady without it.” Her eyes, now wide open, locked onto Belgrieve. “Though...it was a bit painful.”

“Are you talking about your father?”

She gave a small nod. Belgrieve hadn’t been there, so he didn’t know the specifics, but apparently, she had come face-to-face with the undead fiend that had once been Count Bordeaux. He couldn’t even imagine how it must have felt to give the coup de grâce to her father, a man she had respected from the bottom of her heart.

“I don’t want to say anything thoughtlessly, but...you did good.”

“Thank you.” Helvetica smiled.

Belgrieve didn’t know what it meant to live as a noble. The fact that the livelihoods of himself and everyone close to him rested on her shoulders was perhaps a heavy responsibility too far beyond what a commoner was accustomed to. There were nobles who threw out this duty to satisfy their own selfish desires, but she wasn’t one of them. It was simple enough to compliment her, but he genuinely believed she had done the best she could.

Seeing his serious face, Helvetica could not contain her giggle. “I’m sorry, calling you here just to talk about these things.”

“I don’t mind it. I turned down the position, but I will help out however I can.”

“Hee hee, then will you become my husband?”

“There you go, teasing me again.”

“Hmph, it wasn’t completely a joke.” Helvetica puffed out her cheeks like a child.

Belgrieve laughed as he brought the teacup to his mouth.

○

After chatting a bit longer with Sasha, Angeline separated from the group and returned to their room. Belgrieve was sitting by the window gazing outside. The rain had stopped while she wasn’t looking, and the sun shone through the tears in the clouds. Its red-tinted hues hinted that it was already close to sunset.

He glanced over as she sat beside him.

“How is Sasha doing?”

“She’s upbeat.”

“Ha ha, I see. I’m glad it’s nothing serious.”

“Dad... What do you think about Seren?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

In brief, Angeline explained that there was something strange about Seren and that she seemed to be worrying about something.

Belgrieve kneaded his beard. “You may be right about that,” he said.

“You think so? I was wondering what to do...”

“Hmm... For now, you’ll need to hear her out, or we won’t get anywhere.”

“Yeah. I think I’ll stop by Seren’s place for a bit.”

“Right. Sometimes it’s hard to talk to family. Maybe a little chat will ease her up.”

Angeline nodded, stood, and left the room. She wandered around a bit aimlessly, as she didn’t know where Seren’s room was. Upon asking a passing maid, she managed to pinpoint the location, only to find out the girl had gone out somewhere, which took the wind out of her sails.

“Where did she go...?”

“She said she was headed out to town.” She had apparently left on horseback.

What is she heading out to do when the sun’s almost set? Angeline wondered. Once again, Angeline found herself back in her room.

Belgrieve looked at her curiously. “That was fast.”

“Seren was out.”

“At this time of day? Hmm...” Belgrieve looked doubtful.

Angeline sat beside him with an elbow on the table. “What could she be worrying about?”

“She did meet her father as an undead. And she witnessed Helvetica cut it down.”

“Yeah... So it really was a shock...”

Angeline tried to imagine it. If Belgrieve died, and his corpse appeared before her in such a way that she had to defeat it... Once her thoughts had reached that point, she was so heartbroken that she had to spring up and cling onto the man.

Belgrieve blinked. “What? Something wrong?”

“Wah...”

So this is what Seren and Helvetica had to go through, Angeline thought. Her eyes were already teary at the mere thought.

“You have it hard, Seren... Incredibly hard...”

“Why are you crying then? Good grief...”

“I mean... Her father died, and the undead! Urgh...” Angeline sobbed, her face buried in her father’s chest.

Belgrieve sighed and stroked her back. “That’s true... Perhaps she doesn’t know how to deal with those emotions.”

“What should I do? What can I do for her, dad?”

With a troubled look on his face, Belgrieve stared out the window, searching for the right words.

○

Night had come, but in the end Seren hadn’t returned even as dinner rolled around. The soldiers on patrol confirmed that she was somewhere in the city, so Helvetica intentionally did not send anyone to find her. She apparently understood how her little sister felt.

Once dinner was over, Belgrieve left the manor for a short walk. There were thin wisps of clouds stretched over the sky, the nearly full moon shining dimly behind their veil. He stared at it absentmindedly, when he heard footsteps behind, shortly followed by someone glomping onto his back. It was Angeline.

“Don’t leave me behind...”

“Hmm? Ange... Weren’t you with Anne and Merry?”

“We’re here.”

“She ran off saying she would rather be with you, Mr. Bell.”

The two girls appeared from behind Angeline, having followed her when she dashed out.

Belgrieve patted Angeline with a resigned look on his face.

The four of them walked aimlessly, coming across a bonfire blazing in front of the nearby guard post. Several soldiers had laid out furs to sit on, holding lively conversations with mugs of ale in hand.

“You should have seen how Angeline moved back then! She didn’t shy back one step when she gave that brat a good kicking!”

“He was pretty strong, that brat. I never would have imagined that Lady Sasha, Ashcroft, and Elmore together wouldn’t stand a chance against one boy.”

“Who were they, anyway? I’m pretty sure Count Malta was just using them, but... Oh, Mr. Belgrieve!”

“Angeline too!”

“Stay awhile if you like!”

The young soldiers invited them to sit around the fire. There was little reason to decline, and they were handed wooden mugs filled to the brim with the mild concoction.

“Here you go! It’s an honor to drink together.”

“Thanks.”

“No, thank you, Ms. Angeline. That match we had earlier was a good lesson.”

“You’re welcome...”

“How did you get that strong?”

“But Mr. Belgrieve’s pretty amazing too. You’re even stronger than Angeline, aren’t you?”

“Oh, not at all. This girl’s far stronger than me.”

“On the contrary, my dad is stronger.”

“Ha ha, I envy how you can quarrel about it.”

“What sort of training do you do? It must be quite rigorous.”

“I’m not so sure... I don’t think we do anything special, though in my case, my leg is like this.”

“Now that you mention it...”

“Still, it’s amazing how strong you are despite that. I’m not confident I could move so freely if I became like that.”

“Hey now, you’re making me embarrassed with all the unabashed compliments...”

“What does it matter? You really are strong, Mr. Bell.”

“She’s right. You’re the one who noticed something was wrong with the mansion.”

“Yes. My dad is incredibly strong.”

“You’re really putting me on the spot here...” The wind stroked Belgrieve’s neck as he gave a strained laugh. The winds were cold on this fine spring evening, and he moved his hands by the fire.

The soldiers admired Belgrieve for rushing to help the manor during the first attack and adored him for issuing precise orders and making the proper calls on the second one. They believed without a doubt that the three Bordeaux sisters had only come out in one piece thanks to the girls and Belgrieve. And so, they wanted to hear their tales and praise them to their faces.

As they talked, sipping at the ale, they heard footsteps from behind.

Angeline’s eyes widened as she called, “Seren.”

“Oh... You’re all here.” Seren looked somewhat haggard as she walked over to them.

The soldiers were astir.

“Lady Seren, how unusual.”

“It’s still cold out. Please come over.”

Seren opened and closed her mouth silently, her eyes wandering. She seemed to be hesitant. Angeline stood, rushed over, held her by the shoulder, and ruffled up her hair somewhat violently.

“Come over, won’t you?”

Seren blinked a few times. “All right.”

The soldiers grew lively as Seren entered their circle. Unlike Helvetica and Sasha, Seren rarely joined them on such occasions.

“Here, Lady Seren! Have a seat right next to the Red Ogre! Best seat in the house.”

“Aha ha ha!”

“Move over! Make space!”

“What do you think I’m doing?!”

The soldiers busily cleared away a seat next to Belgrieve.

“Heh heh, thank you...” Seren smiled. She found herself sandwiched between Belgrieve and Angeline as she held her knees, her shoulders trembling.

One of the soldiers produced a large jug. “Care for some ale, milady?”

“Stupid, Lady Seren’s not gonna drink your nasty ale. Wine! Bring out the wine!”

“Someone get it.”

“It’s fine, perfectly fine. Don’t worry about me... I’ll have some ale.” Seren waved her hands in a fluster.

The soldiers chuckled as they filled a clean mug and handed it over.

Seren took one sip before falling into a daze. “I-It’s bitter...” she muttered.

“Are you okay, milady? Should I get some wine?”

“No, I’m fine,” said Seren. Her face remained scrunched up as she took another sip. While the soldiers exchanged looks, none of them intended to go against her will, and they were quickly back to their usual chatter.

“Was that your first taste of ale?” Belgrieve whispered to her.

“Yes... I’m ashamed to admit it was. Even though I live in Bordeaux of all places...” her cheeks turned ever so slightly red.

Belgrieve laughed. “Truth be told, I’m not used to ale either... It’s pretty bitter.”

“Oh, really...? Even you have those moments,” Seren said. She blinked, a little alarmed, before a touch of relief settled on her face, and the tension drained from her shoulders as Angeline comfortingly wrapped an arm around them.

The lively conversations continued with a bit of Seren’s input until eventually the small banquet had reached its conclusion and the soldiers stood up.

“We have an early day tomorrow... Please take it easy.”

“Yes, good work, and thanks,” said Anessa.

Seren stood and bowed her head as the soldiers left with empty jugs and mugs. “Thank you for everything.”

“Y-You don’t have to bow to us, milady.”

“I’m ashamed that bit of ale was all we could offer.”

The soldiers nodded several times before they were gone. Seren once again sat down with the others. Anessa tossed a log onto the flame that had nearly burned to embers, accompanied by a snapping sound and a scattering of sparks. The thin clouds gradually cleared, giving the hazy moon its definitive outlines. As the area grew brighter, their breaths were illuminated with a light pale tint.

“Did you head off to the city?” Anessa asked.

Seren nodded. “I’m sorry for worrying you...”

“It’s fine. Sometimes, you just have one of those days,” Miriam said with a laugh, patting Seren on the shoulder.

Seren let out a long breath. “I never knew.”

“Hmm?” Belgrieve cocked his head.

Seren stared into the flames. “I’ve hardly spoken with the soldiers... I do like horse riding, but fighting is not my strength... It always felt like there was an uncomfortable distance between me and them.”

“Is that so... But everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I don’t think you have to worry about it. You’re still young.”

“Heh heh... that may be so. But given what happened...” Seren pressed her mouth into her knees. Her glasses reflected the red of the flames. “I was unable to do anything... I was simply protected.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” said Anessa.

“Right, right. It’s not like everyone has to fight,” added Miriam.

Seren closed her eyes. “Right... But I don’t know if I should have been standing there... I was saved by Angeline, then saved again by the soldiers and Belgrieve... Yet I feel as if I’m the one who should be doing the protecting—as a noble, as someone who must stand above others...” She pulled her knees closer to her body. “I feel pathetic. When my father appeared again, my body wouldn’t listen to me. I cowered... It was too much for me.”

“I understand...” Angeline hugged her. “It’s nothing to be ashamed about.”

“But...my sister faced him head-on. Ever since, she’s been carrying herself even more magnificently than before. Sash hasn’t changed, but she’s always been like that, and I think that fighting as an adventurer has strengthened her heart... Now, it’s as if I’m the only pathetic one.”

Sasha often fought with fiends and could adopt a far-sighted perspective in some respects. Helvetica had matured after overcoming her grief. And yet, Seren had folded to it, frozen in her tracks. This was her worry.

“They keep saying I have a gift for politics, but I didn’t know a thing—not about fighting, or how I need to confront what I don’t want to see... I didn’t know what to do. It just hammered home that I’m still a child,” she concluded with a powerless smile. “I’m sorry for being so negative...”

Neither Angeline nor Anessa nor Miriam knew what to say; Seren’s worry was more complex than that she was sad after encountering her father as an undead fiend. She’s really earnest, thought Angeline, and she found the girl even more endearing. However, not knowing what to say, she could only strengthen her embrace.

“I was around your age when I set off for Orphen to become an adventurer,” Belgrieve suddenly started off. He spoke slowly but deliberately.

“Really?”

“Yes. At first, I was bewildered by everything... Life out there was so different from Turnera, and I made some crucial blunders. I was ripped off when I tried to buy things, and I ended up in scraps over false accusations.”

“I wonder if that happened to me too...?”

“Me too. They palmed faulty tools off on me...”

“Right, I remember! Just when I thought I’d finally haggled right for once, it turned out their first offer was twice the market price.”

The girls agreed one after another.

Belgrieve smiled. “I couldn’t help but be frustrated when that happened. Many times, I would think to myself, ‘This is pathetic. I’m supposed to be an adventurer.’”

“So it even happened to someone as strong as you...”

“Everyone starts out inexperienced. They fail, think it over, and work things out as they grow. That’s how you truly achieve mastery.”

Seren stared at Belgrieve. “Is that really the case...?”

“Yes. Seren, your worries might torment you now, but I’m sure this experience is necessary for you. Take care not to be crushed by them, but treasure them all the same.”

“Treasure my worries...? Is it all right to worry like this...? Is that okay for someone who stands above others?”

“Yes. It’s more dangerous to jump at an easy answer. We’re not perfect. We find ourselves worried and lost, but we still have to live on. It’s not embarrassing to rely on others when you’re troubled. Luckily, you have two reliable big sisters, so you should be fine getting lost to your heart’s content.”

Belgrieve placed a gentle hand on her head. Seren blushed bashfully.

“My father said something similar.”

“I see... Then he was a fine man, Count Bordeaux.”

“He really was...” Seren closed her eyes in remembrance. She opened them slowly, looking up at Belgrieve. “Thank you. I feel...a little lighter.”

“Ha ha, pardon this old man’s prying... Now then, it’s getting cold. How about we get back to the manor?”

“No, just a little longer...”

Seren nestled up closer to Angeline and closed her eyes. Angeline rubbed her on the back, while Anessa and Miriam watched over her preciously.

“You’re not alone, okay?”

“Yes... Of course.”

Seren sobbed, pushing her face even harder into her knees.

The light of the moon poured down upon them. Sparks of fire bounded with each crack of the log.