I Favor The Villainess

On the day of Orso family’s banishment, I and Claire-sama came to a border checkpoint with Appalachia .
The checkpoint that Lene and others are leaving the kingdom from is considerably away from the royal capital .
Claire-sama and I came here by the François house’s carriage .
Of course, it’s to see Lene off .

Most of Orso family’s fortune was seized, left with only the bare minimum of goods relying on their relatives they’re moving to Appalachia .
Appalachia is a country that has had friendly relations with Bauer Kingdom since ancient times, it’s an agrarian nation with fertile land .
Its national situation is stable, and while it can’t be called wealthy it has a reasonable national power .
It could be said it’s the perfect country to start over .

Be that as it may, in the end it’s still lonesome Lene is leaving .
Moving to another country isn’t easy .
Today will likely be the last day we meet .

Contrary to the melancholic mood the blue sky without a single cloud stretches above us .
Just like mine, Claire-sama’s mood hasn’t cleared up, she’s idly poking the ground with a folded parasol .

“The weather is good”
“You are right”

Claire-sama replied listlessly to my indifferent declaration .
She’s staring at the checkpoint .

We’re intently watching the Orso family group from outside the iron fence that surrounds the checkpoint .
This checkpoint is a fortress-like building on the largest highway connecting Appalachia and Bauer Kingdom .
The building holds a huge st.u.r.dy gate, in emergencies it can be closed to protect against the enemy .

At the checkpoint, there’s a location where inspections are performed, everybody from Orso family is currently undergoing that .
Orso family dealt with magical gem mining and distribution, but they are forbidden from bringing the technology outside the country .
Because magic is also a military technology, the examination is strict .
Of course, as nothing can be done about the contents of a person’s head they can only examine things like goods and doc.u.ments .
But for Orso family to use magical gem knowledge to their advantage, honestly it’d be very difficult .
That’s because Appalachia’s government wouldn’t allow them, to avoid provoking the kingdom .
As a result, Orso family must search for other occupation than dealing in magical gems .

“Can Orso family make a living in Appalachia”
“I do wonder . I have heard the head of their family Bartley is a capable person . Although achieving the status they had in the kingdom may be difficult, will they not at least manage to earn their daily bread?”

Claire-sama gave a lengthy reply, but after all words don’t stick to me .
It feels like I’m here in body, but not in spirit .

“Lene and Lambert-sama will have it tougher”

“… You are right”

As a result of their forbidden love, they brought their whole family on the verge of annihilation .
Naturally, they must receive a punishment .
After migrating to Appalachia, Orso family will sever their ties with Lene and Lambert-sama .
The two of them will have to live in a new country without relying on their family .
In this world where almost everyone makes a living by succeeding a family business, the meaning of that is absurdly heavy .

“Even so, there is nothing for them but to keep on living . As long as they are alive, they will somehow manage”

As if trying to convince herself, Claire-sama said .
Or rather, she wishes for it to be so .

“The examination seems to have ended”
“…”

Everybody from the Orso family moved towards the gate .
Their total is surprisingly less than a person who knows of Orso family would imagine .
As almost all employees were dismissed, it’s basically only blood relatives there .
Their number is below twenty .

Among them, there’s Lene and Lambert-sama .

“Lene!”

I ran up to the iron fence and shouted .
Lene also noticed and came here .

“Rei-chan… And Claire-sama”
“Claire-sama wanted to say goodbye”
“I have not said that . Did you not throw a tantrum to accompany you here no matter what”
“Ahaha… It’s been a long time, but I’m relieved you’re the same as ever”

Lene laughed a little .
It was a laugh without power .
It’s understandable .

We stood there for a little while .

“Lene . Do you resent me?”
“!? Not at all!”

Claire-sama nervously asked and Lene answered in panic .

“It wasn’t strange that Orso family was originally meant to be put to death . It’s thanks to Claire-sama’ and others’ appeal that my family can continue living”

“It wasn’t strange that Orso family was originally meant to be put to death . It’s thanks to Claire-sama’ and others’ appeal that my family can continue living”
“Even so, it is me who have driven you to the wall”

A little self-derision was mixed in what Claire-sama said .
Is Claire-sama regretting .
I don’t think she’s made a single mistake though .

“No . We are thankful you stopped the violence”
“Both my little sister and I have finally snapped out of it”

Lene restated, and Lambert-sama, who came here, said in addition .

“Love is said to be blind, but we could only see each other too much . Lamenting over the forbidden love, our view became too narrow”

And this situation is the result, said Lambert-sama with pained expression .

“I wanted somebody to affirm the prohibited thought of loving my blood-related younger sister . That was taken advantage of that man . It’s a truly painful mistake”

Lene also nodded at Lambert-sama’s painful words .

“Rei-chan, be careful . Don’t let anybody use your feelings for Claire-sama”
“Yup”
“Lambert, Lene . We’re moving . Come”

Somebody of the Orso family called Lene and Lambert-sama .
It seems it’s finally the time for them to depart .

“Lene, take this”

I handed Lene a bundle of parchment though the iron fence .

“This is…!”
“New recipes . Mayonnaise is also used there”
“Is it okay?”
“Yup . I think you’ll be able to turn it into a little money”

That’s all I can do for her .
Thank you, Lene said .

“Well then, it’s a farewell . Claire-sama, Rei-chan, I’m grateful to you”
“See you, Lene”
“…”

I bid farewell to the two of them who deeply bowed their heads .
Claire-sama hasn’t said anything .
In contrast, Lene showed a lonely smile, turned around and started walking .

Claire-sama hasn’t said anything .
In contrast, Lene showed a lonely smile, turned around and started walking .

Their figures became more distant .

“Claire-sama . Is it okay to not say goodbye”
“…”

Claire-sama had a complicated expression .
It looks like various emotions mixed together .
There was no trace of a simple-minded villainess in her appearance .

“Lene!”

Suddenly, Claire-sama called Lene, who was leaving, to a halt .
Lene turned around surprised .
I felt I could something glisten in the corner of her eyes .

“I will not say goodbye! Let us meet again one day! Until that day, please stay well!”

Did those words reach Lene who was about to pa.s.s through the gate .
Although Lene appears to have laughed, perhaps it was only my wishful thinking .
Lene’s and others figures completely disappeared from our sight .

“And they’re gone”
“…”

Claire-sama didn’t cry .
She had a sorrowful face that seemed like she’d cry any moment, but no tears spilled .

“Claire-sama”
“What is it?”
“Can I hug you?”
“There is no way . Let’s go home”

Saying so, she turned around and briskly walked back .

“You’re stubborn even at a time like this”

Not being able to cry when she wants to cry, I think she’s a difficult person .
But, humans are much more complex than the novels portray .
And, I love such awkward people .

“Clire-sma!”
“Kyaa!? What are you doing! Re-lese-me!”
“I won’t let you go, to make up for it let’s talk”1
“Stop saying incomprehensible things!”

Abuse me more, Claire-sama .
Go back to your usual liveliness, Claire-sama .
But, even if that’s difficult―― .

“It’s okay to cry?”
“! A, are you stupid? It is only a single maid that left? Why should I――”
“Claire-sama, I’m behind you now . So, I can’t see Claire-sama’s face”
“Therefore, I!”

While embracing her tightly, I said .

“You don’t want to part with Lene, right”

Drip, I felt a drop of water fall on my hand that I wrapped around her .

“Really, nothing goes as one wishes in life . You can’t even love freely”

The number of drops quickly increased, so much my hand got wet .
We stayed like that for a while .

“… You truly are impertinent despite being a commoner”

I wonder if she’s calmed down, Claire-sama spat abuse at me .

“Yes, please punish me for being impertinent”
“I do not want to . After all, you will convert it into a reward in your mind, right?”
“Claire-sama’s understanding of me deepened . There’s no choice but for us to marry!”
“We will not!”

This time, we returned to the usual .
I gladly received Claire-sama’s abusive words and lined next to her .

“Let’s meet again”

I looked back towards the checkpoint just once and muttered .

“We will meet, certainly”

Claire-sama’s voice wasn’t cloudy anymore .
Her calm clear voice was just like the blue sky .

1) 離す (hanasu) – separate and 話す (hanasu) – talk