Chapter 223 Karina’s Memories
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Karina’s POV)
(Huh? …Where is this?)
When I woke up, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling. I hurriedly sat up from the soft, comfortable bed.
Looking over at the next bed, I saw the usual ‘bad sleeper’ Gisela kicking off her blanket.
(But… this isn’t my home)
I desperately tried to remember what happened before I went to sleep.
(Oh… right…)
This is the ‘Clan House’. After celebrating Mr. Gorge and Ms. Asuka’s wedding, I got a bit too drunk and ended up bothering Hiroya…
(──!)
I remembered. I fell asleep on Hiroya’s lap. Then I woke up and took a bath with Ms. Kazumi…
* * *
”Oh, I see~ Sister-in-law Karina hasn’t experienced that yet.”
”You haven’t had any romantic experiences either… that makes sense. The First Princess can’t really date freely, can she…”
”You actually really like Hiroya, don’t you?”
”But, even if it’s a lie, you’re pretending to be siblings, right?”
* * *
I vaguely recalled having that conversation with Ms. Kazumi in the bath.
And then…
”W-w-well, we are siblings, but… I-I-I like Hiroya! I want to be more… um, um, spoiled by him!”
Remembering the words I said to Ms. Kazumi made my face heat up instantly.
(Oh no…! What did I just say!)
I quenched my dry throat from the excessive alcohol and drank a glass of water from the pitcher on the side table in one go. ──Again and again.
(Oh… it’s empty…)
It’s a hassle, but I decided to go down to the kitchen on the first floor. It would be just right to cool my body down. With that thought, I took the pitcher and glass and left the room.
* * *
The cool air inside the mansion feels so good. I quietly descend the stairs and head towards the kitchen.
I scoop water from a large water jar next to the sink with a dipper and pour it into a pitcher, filling it to about 3-quarters full. Then I move to the reception area.
(Ahh… so refreshing and delicious.)
The underground water in Razia Village is said to come from water veins that flow through the Goblin Forest and Raetia Mountains, making it incredibly tasty. The water in my hometown passed through ore veins, giving it a metallic taste.
(I heard that the Raetia Mountains also have high-quality ore veins… but this water is completely different.)
Even something as simple as water makes me appreciate Razia Village even more.
(Finally, I feel at peace…)
I sit on the sofa, leaning back, and look up at the ceiling. My thoughts drift to the embarrassing thing I said in the bathroom. I was pretty drunk, so I hope they just think of it as the ramblings of a drunkard.
(Yeah, I’ll just pretend I don’t remember anything. That’s what I’ll do.)
I reflect on the events that have transpired.
(I’ve lost my country… my family… I’m so overwhelmed by despair that I can’t even find the will to live…)
The royal castle of the city-state Gaeltheus, engulfed in flames…
’Survive, no matter what! You don”t have to think about rebuilding our house! Just… live a happy life, Karin!’
In one of the castle’s rooms, my father pushed me aside, and in the next instant, my parents and the maids disappeared into the falling, fiery ceiling.
Somehow, Gisela managed to rescue me from the castle and escape the enemy soldiers’ encirclement, crossing the border. The subsequent escape was grueling, and I don’t remember much of it. I think the shock was just too much.
When I came to, I found myself in the fortress city of Mundo in Romuna Kingdom.
I really put Gisela through a lot.
But in this city, which borders Welnia Empire, there’s a high risk of pursuers catching up to us.
Gisela told me we were heading to Razia Village, the territory of Lord O’Brian, the Eastern Baron of Romuna Kingdom.
(Lord O’Brian… isn’t he the hero swordsman who defeated the Demon King?!)
While I was in the royal castle, I often read tales of heroes. My favorite was ‘Hero Elberhardt.’
I loved the story of the 4 young heroes, led by the young hero Elberhardt, along with ‘Two-handed’ Shinji, ‘greatsword’ Megumi, and ‘great magician’ Milia.
”Y-you’re going to Shinji O’Brian’s village, right?!”
It was probably the moment when I, who had been feeling lethargic since leaving my hometown, regained a little bit of energy.
When we arrived at Razia Village, it had developed to the point where it could be called a ‘town.’
”By the way, I heard that the dungeon in the adjacent ‘Goblin Forest’ has been experiencing ‘Dungeon Bursts’.”
Thanks to the efforts of the village adventurers, the monster situation in the ‘Goblin Forest’ seemed to be stable.
”I heard that the son of Lord O’Brian is at the center of those efforts. As expected of a hero swordsman!”
”G-Gisela! I-I want to become an ‘adventurer’…!”
Back in my hometown, I received magic training as a member of the royal family. Fortunately, it seemed I had a bit of talent. I had learned a few basic-level spells.
”G-Gisela, you were quite skilled in the knight order, right?!”
”──Are you going to become an ‘adventurer’?”
Gisela smiled at me as I pleaded with a bright red face.
”The monster situation in Razia Village is at a level where even beginner adventurers can manage to handle it.”
Saying that, Gisela winked at me while handing me a pouch.
”I have quite a bit of money exchanged from Mundo. I heard they are developing residential areas for the young people coming to the village. Let’s buy a house with this money.”
And so, we decided to become adventurers and live here.
Then came our first request──
It was the night we successfully completed the request to hunt a wild boar.
We were saved by a young but ‘incredibly skilled swordsman’ when we were attacked by bandits. Watching him fight reminded me of the heroes from my favorite tales.
(Oh… he’s just like those heroes.)
My heart raced, and my body felt hot. At that moment… I fell in ‘love’ with him, just like the protagonists in those heroic stories.
Gisela was wary of Hiroya and threw insults at him… probably because she noticed the turmoil in my heart. Anyway, she was clearly trying to keep him away from me.
But I know. Gisela──Gièze is also drawn to his ‘strength.’ And as she receives swordsmanship lessons… her feelings for him are growing.
(Gisela──Gièze wasn’t in an environment where she could ‘fall in love’ like me…)
We’re both attracted to the same person, captivated. Moreover, there are many women who love him. And… Hiroya faces them sincerely, loving them all.
(Perhaps it’s better to keep our relationship as ‘siblings’ rather than confessing my feelings…)
After all, if we’re ‘siblings,’ that relationship will last until death. Thinking about expressing love and not being accepted makes me feel like I could die from the pain.
(──Worrying about it won’t help… For now, it’s okay to lean on the ‘justification’ of being able to stay by his side, right?)
I let out a sigh, poured cold water from the pitcher into a cup, and drank it all in one go.
Maybe because I was thinking about so many things, sleepiness hit me.
(It’s about time… to head to the bedroom.)
I took the pitcher and cup, swaying a bit as I left the dining room.
I climbed the stairs and gently opened the door to my room.
(It would be sad if I woke Gièze up…)
I quietly walked through the dark room to the bed.
(…Huh?)
There should be 2 beds, but there’s only one. And on that bed, there’s a small lump under the covers.
(──Ah!)
I almost gasped. I placed the pitcher and cup on the side table and leaned in to peek at the bed.
(I, I knew it!)
I went to the wrong room! Or rather, I went to the wrong floor. This is the second floor. And this room is…
(B-Brother… Hiroya’s room!)
Peeking in, I see Hiroya, peacefully breathing in his sleep…
(How, how, how cute he is!)
I can’t help but cover my mouth with my hand. My face naturally breaks into a grin.
(I-I-I’m… ‘the older sister’… so, it’s not a problem if I sleep next to my ‘younger brother’… right?)
I’m so flustered that I can barely think, and inside my head, I’m like, “No! That’s definitely a problem!”
I pulled back the blanket── and slipped in beside him.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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