A Depressed Kendo Player Possesses a Reckless Aristocrat

Three Months’ Time

The pitch-black night had passed, and the world returned.

Even the shadows too dark for candlelight were pushed back by the incoming sunlight.

The air, carrying a chilly scent, floated lazily.

A faint trace of the season brushed against my cheek.

One snowflake in particular, an alias of winter, that I loved so dearly.

The spiteful cold still refused to allow spring.

As if responding to that envy, the world wandered in its peculiar, tranquil silence.

I stood still by the window, taking in the scenery.

“……”

The wide-open window, and through it, the wind flowed.

I blankly savored the sensation of my body being cooled.

It was a little pleasure I’d recently come to appreciate.

Watching the day begin while feeling the winter wind.

I enjoyed the fleeting respite.

“……I’m not that tired.”

I’d stayed awake all night watching over Maharet, but

I didn’t feel particularly tired.

If anything, my mind felt clearer than usual.

Was it because I’d overcome the past that had tormented me for so long?

My shoulders felt lighter.

I almost let myself get swept away by the stirring calmness, but quickly pulled myself back.

“I have to pull myself together.”

The vow I held yesterday was the end of my regret.

A vow to not continue the tragedy any further.

It wasn’t just for Maharet, but a resolve aimed at all the warmth that comprised my world.

Simultaneously, that vow also signified a beginning.

A preparation for the days to come.

At the moment I severed ties with the painful past, I had promised myself a new start.

“Shall we give it our best today as well.”

Behind a deeply inhaled breath.

I turned my steps.

No matter what yesterday had been, today, I had to live for today.

*

“Help yourself to plenty, Young Master. It seems our chef has exerted himself for quite some time to satisfy you.”

“I thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency.”

A calm exchange of voices.

Seated at the table, I moved my utensils with measured grace.

Following Raymond’s invitation to dine together, I had joined the evening meal.

“Does it suit your palate?”

“It is exceedingly wonderful.”

“I’m relieved.”

At a glance, the scene appeared no different from that first meal we’d had.

Yet, there was one stark difference.

That was…

“Princess.”

“U-uh… Yes, yes?”

Maharet was sitting beside me.

The silver-haired girl jumped at the sudden call, even stammering unusually.

I offered an awkward smile at her reaction.

It seemed that having been cooped up in her room for a while, she wasn’t adjusting well to being outside.

‘…Perhaps I was a little hasty.’

Watching her shrink in on herself and fidget with her hands, a bleak feeling welled up within me.

It was none other than me who had dragged Maharet to the dining hall.

Worried about her refusal to leave her room, I asked if she would join me for dinner.

She seemed hesitant at first.

But perhaps she couldn’t refuse my request, because the girl eventually nodded.

Her actions still looked like she was gauging my mood.

Her fragile aura, as if she might break any moment, left a bitter taste in my mouth.

But I couldn’t leave Maharet like that.

When the heart is broken, seeking the shadows only makes one sicker.

Recovery required a moderate amount of noise and light, and warmth.

I knew that fact better than anyone, having already been through that process once.

“I heard you’ve been skipping meals a lot recently. I’m concerned for your health, Princess, please eat even just a little more.”

“Ah, that, I… I’m alright…”

“I am not.”

“But…”

Maharet turned her head away, claiming she had no appetite, but I wasn’t one to be easily swayed.

The less energy you have, the more active calories you need to put into your body.

I held out a fork with a piece of steak, pointing it at the girl.

If she didn’t eat it, I was prepared to put it directly into her mouth.

Knowing she hadn’t eaten anything for the past two days, I couldn’t just leave you like this.

“Eat.”

I said calmly.

“I will feed you.”

“R-Raiden…?!”

An unexpected, sudden action.

I could see panic settle within those crimson eyes that had been empty moments ago.

I pressed her, not allowing her to escape.

“Open your mouth.”

“W-Wait, wait a minute…! This is…!”

“Until you accept it, Princess, I will not eat either.”

I stated my intention firmly.

I had no intention of backing down.

Having already brought you, that flower, into my territory, it was my duty to tend to you, so you wouldn’t wither.

I’d clearly promised.

That this time, I wouldn’t ever give up on you.

“Hmm…”

“Oh my.”

The Duke and Duchess, who were seated with us, were glancing over with curious eyes, but.

That didn’t matter.

Right now, only you were important to me.

I didn’t want you to be in pain.

I didn’t want you to cry.

I didn’t want you to blame yourself.

I didn’t want you to skip meals or have nightmares because of me, either.

Perhaps it was selfish.

But like my childhood self had wished, I wanted you to be happy.

“Please eat.”

“Ah, uh…”

The girl’s face was flushed red, like a blooming rose.

She still seemed hesitant, but.

Maybe some of my sincerity had reached her, because she was cautiously moving her lips.

I waited patiently.

Until her mouth fully opened.

“Ah, ahh… haa.”

Maharet, with a face that looked like she was about to die of embarrassment, finally took the food.

Perhaps it was only natural to be ashamed.

From her perspective, this kind of shameful act would have been a first.

Even so, she had found the courage.

Only for me.

Because I was waiting for you.

Grateful for Maharet’s heart, I unconsciously reached my hand out to her.

“You did well.”

Silvery strands of hair brush against my palm.

I gently stroked the girl’s head.

Despite the fatigue, her hair remained soft.

It was a strangely addictive texture.

If I moved my hand like that for a while, a sound like air escaping would soon reach my ear.

“Ah, uh, eh…”

Only then did I realize I’d made a mistake.

Now, the girl’s expression, beyond flushed, was melting into view.

“……Ah.”

It seems I’ve been indulging Ariel too much lately.

A similar reaction must have sprung out unconsciously.

I belatedly retracted my hand.

But Maharet was already gone.

“Ugh, uh, ah…?”

Like me in my previous life when I suffered from aphasia, Maharet couldn’t speak.

Her shame-tinged crimson eyes shook violently.

Her eyes began to slowly fill with tears.

I hastily tried to say something to soothe her, but the water was already spilled.

“Um, um… Lady?”

“Hngh… hic…”

The girl started to sob in place.

Even amidst this, she was still munching on the piece of steak I had put in her mouth, which was adorable, but

I suppressed the smile that was threatening to break out.

If I laughed now, Maharet might really faint.

“I, I’m sorry, Lady… I made an absurd mistake…”

“Kkuh… uhh…”

I desperately had to calm the girl and survive the banquet.

The surrounding air was boisterous.

Far from peaceful, but it wasn’t a bad atmosphere, in its own way.

Just when I received Raymond’s letter inviting me to the Duke’s manor, I had felt so lost.

It seemed a little faded now, blurry.

Maybe it was because I’d untangled the most vicious knot.

My heart, which had felt like walking on a knife’s edge, might be softening, just a little.

‘…What about you?’

I wish you were the same as me.

Not just stuck in the sentiment of pain.

I wish, just for a moment, you could look at the scenery surrounding us and feel a little ease.

The illness that I carried in my heart.

Now you’ve come to bear it as well.

I just hoped you wouldn’t come to resemble even my pain.

‘I wish you could get better, like me.’

I swallowed that small wish and simply lived through the day.

*

Life at the Filer estate continued for a few more days.

It was quite a distance from the Liszt Duchy, requiring at least a week of preparation to return.

Fortunately, Raymond took care of my needs.

Thanks to him, I could rest without any discomfort.

Because of the situation, I naturally ended up spending more time with Maharet.

It was something I had wanted as well, actually.

I spent my time by the girl’s side.

“It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve been to the study.”

“It does…”

“Do you remember? When we were little, we used to have history lessons here together.”

“Of course… I remember.”

“Back then, I could never catch up to your scores, Princess. You were exceptional.”

“…That’s embarrassing, so let’s drop the talk about when we were young.”

We walked around the estate.

Looking at the spaces that had remained as scenes from the past.

It was suitable for passing the time as it brought back old memories.

It was definitely a better activity than tea time.

It was better than fidgeting with a teacup in a room thick with awkward silence.

We took steps, one after the other.

The study, the dining room, the garden, the bedrooms.

Steps retracing a past I’d tried to forget.

Finally, we arrived at the terrace on the second floor.

“This terrace hasn’t changed at all. It’s exactly as I remember it.”

“Yes… It’s the same…”

I leaned against the railing, feeling the breeze, and soon Maharet stood beside me.

A troubled look masked her face.

She seemed to be as conflicted as I was.

This place was a snapshot of our brightest moments, where we’d spent so much time together.

‘…You must have cherished this place too.’

Last year, during the mansion’s extensive renovations.

The terrace was also scheduled for work, but it was left untouched at Maharet’s request.

According to Raymond’s casual remarks.

Even after I left, Maharet often came to this terrace.

She would spend hours alone under the dark night sky, absorbing the view.

‘You too.’

Were you, like me, longing for the past?

Staring at the empty space where our memories lingered, what sorrow did you hold?

Perhaps we were both desperately trying to erase each other.

While also desperately trying not to forget each other.

Wasn’t that a miserable choice of the most foolish method?

To hide the bitter smile creeping across my face, I blurted out a pointless jest.

“My lady always sought this place whenever she was having a hard time. You were always such a crybaby.”

“……?”

“Such fond memories. Just a few years ago, you’d cling to me, weeping about getting scolded by the Duke…”

“W-wait, you…!? Why, why are you suddenly talking about that…!”

Her cheeks flushed crimson without fail, as Maharet murmured a timid complaint.

I casually brushed it aside.

A snort-like chuckle, a fleeting tartness touches it.

Wheeee…

The soft, swirling wind, faint but warm, melted within.

It was a temperature too ambiguous to simply call winter.

I realized, anew, that the long winter was ending.

Today’s calendar, the tail end of February.

Time was running.

The season I had firmly believed was winter, was also, gradually, soaking into spring.

Though a cold, jealous of the flowers, lingered.

Clearly, the fresh, burgeoning signs of life were sprouting everywhere.

A sweet fragrance tickled my nose.

I took a deep breath, then, a light mutter escaped me.

“The academy is reopening in just a few days, it seems.”

“Already… has it become so.”

“So much has happened. In only three months.”

Yes, so much happened.

I despaired.

I hated.

I was afraid.

I tried to give up.

But in the end, I didn’t break and stood back up.

–I promise.

There was a promise I had to keep.

I had sworn I wouldn’t run away again, I would desperately try to live.

Therefore, I hoped.

I loved.

I relied.

And finally, I forgave.

All of that, just things that rushed at me in a mere three months.

“Back then, I wanted to curse everything… but looking at it now, it was a time when I was able to find what I had lost, thanks to that.”

The past three months were by no means a curse.

I wanted to call it a blessing.

Despair was just a word, a single letter away from hope.

What future you move towards was always up to you.

A truth I’d learned a little late, but still.

It was fortunate that I could make the right choice even now.

“So, I don’t resent anything.”

As if the difficult moments had passed.

“I just accept that time has flowed.”

To me, those three months were just time.

So what if it was a curse, or what if it was a blessing?

In the end, it all flows.

Even this day, singing of the present, would be a past memory tomorrow.

“Well… for now I’m worried about the academy, though.”

I shook off the heavy atmosphere.

Maintaining a calm demeanor, I spoke some meaningless words.

“I remember the academy being a mess, I wonder if the restoration is completely done during the break.”

“You are, really…”

“Yes?”

“No… it’s nothing.”

Maharet looked like she wanted to say something, but closed her mouth again.

“Princess?”

“It’s nothing, really… and about the academy facility restoration, I got a message last week. They say it’s back to normal.”

“That’s a relief.”

Winter was passing, and spring was approaching.

It was time to return to the academy.

I savored the wind calmly stroking my cheek, and smiled quietly.

-Ding!

That was the moment.

The all too familiar mechanical sound echoed in my ear.

Before I could even react, a blue window was already floating in front of me.

– *Ting!*

[System has been restored.]

The story was just beginning.