Volume 1 Chapter 59 Mean Villainess, Devouring Books
A few days have passed since the day I dreamed about events that occurred a thousand years ago.
Today is the day I'm going to the Royal Central Library with Elder Brother.
Even though I learned most of what I wanted to know, my curiosity for the Royal Central Library isn't completely diminished, and I got into the carriage feeling a little excited.
"You're still looking down, Elena."
"...That's not true. I'm doing well."
"Is it about Rolus?"
"No, um... well, yes. I've been wondering if that child has anywhere to go."
I know he has no reliable family, and since he's been with me all this time, I can't imagine he has friends I don't know about.
After all, if Rolus didn't rely on me at all, who is he depending on now?
It leaves me feeling a bit uneasy.
"Really, where could he have gone?"
Father and Elder Brother are looking for him, but it seems they haven't even found any sightings.
I searched everywhere too and asked my friends to help me look, but it was like he vanished.
"It seems less like he went somewhere and more like he's hiding."
"That's true."
"...Maybe it's better not to search for him, for Rolus's sake."
"But... what do you think?"
"If he ran away because he grew tired of me, he probably wouldn't want to see me."
"Is there anyone who could dislike Elena?"
No, that's too much.
Humanity, really.
This is why brothers are troublesome.
"Rolus's job is as my attendant, so I can't imagine there's a reason to quit besides me."
"Could it be that it's because I returned..."
"Because Elder Brother came back?"
"...Rolus's true job was not just being an attendant but acting as a shield against the spells that fall upon Elena."
"A shield against spells? What do you mean?"
Elder Brother didn't answer my question for a while.
He averted his gaze from me and completely closed his mouth.
That doesn't mean I can give up.
I will find out the truth no matter what.
"Elder Brother, please tell me."
I tightly grasped Elder Brother's arm, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
I call this my super cute time, but Elder Brother has never been able to resist it.
"W-well, even if it's Elena's request..."
"Elder Brother..."
With a sad expression and glistening eyes, I was sure to land a critical hit.
"...Do you know that Mother sometimes mutters incomprehensible phrases?"
See, he started talking!
I won!
That feeling of victory lasted only a moment.
"Incomprehensible phrases...?"
Could it be, no, it must be, about that Japanese language thing.
"I thought it wasn't good to doubt Mother, but I wondered if that was a spell."
I never imagined that Japanese would sound like a spell.
Well, if she was muttering like that, it couldn't help but seem eerie.
"So, what about the spell shield?"
"Since I left home and Elena became less cheerful, I thought maybe I was the shield that deflected spells, and Father was looking for someone to take my place..."
I have no memory of becoming less cheerful.
After all, it was just that Elder Brother was gone, and I had fewer people to talk to.
"So you brought Rolus to be that spell shield?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Does Rolus know about this...?"
"...Yeah, I've told him."
"...I see."
I could only respond softly like that.
In short, Rolus was told that an unknown spell might fall upon him, and he was asked to sacrifice himself to protect me.
How cruel these people were to a small child like Rolus, who had no way to refuse.
I know that it's not a spell at all, but Rolus doesn't.
I can only imagine how scared he must have been to stay by my side in such a situation.
"Elena."
"I have no right to search for Rolus."
I probably have to free Rolus.
It's unfortunate that I'm a dangerous guy who almost got a spell cast on him, and Rolus has to protect him at all costs, binding him to such a troublesome situation.
As long as I don't forget about Rolus, I suddenly remembered the result of the flower divination Flora did for me the other day.
'Don't forget about me.'
What does it mean to say 'don't forget about me' while hiding away?
Is he a tsundere or something?
And despite being told about this mysterious spell shield, he worships me, along with that large, never-fading red flower...
Could it be that Rolus... is a masochist?
No, no.
No, no, no, no.
What?
"I don't understand... I don't understand anything anymore..."
There won't be any answers at the Royal Central Library I'm heading to either.
This is a problem.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)