第４０３堀：幸せですと即答できますか？ (Part1)
Chapter 403: Can you answer immediately that you are happy?
Side: Dressa
Blue sky, with chunks of white clouds drifting by.
I, just Dressa, am staring blankly at them.
Yes, just Dressa.
Not a princess of the Kingdom of Nassa, not a princess of a fallen nation, not an ingrate, not a slave princess—truly, just Dressa.
"……san. ……ssa-san. ……ssa-san!! Dressa!!"
A loud voice suddenly pierced my ears, and I scrambled to stand up.
"Eep!?"
"It’s not 'eep.' I’ve called you several times, haven't I?"
"Ah, I’m sorry."
"……Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, it’s nothing like that……"
"I see. You seem to be troubled by something, but this is study time. Please focus on this, if you can."
"……Yes. I’m sorry."
I went to sit back down, but the teacher stopped me.
"I didn't call you just to scold you. Here, please solve this problem."
"Eh!?"
On the blackboard the teacher pointed to, there was a string of calculations mixing multiplication, addition, and division.
"Even if you weren't listening to the lecture just now, if you’ve been paying attention to the classes up until now, you can solve this. It will be fine."
"U-um. I’m a transfer student, so……"
"Yes. I’ve taken that into account and prepared a problem that you, Dressa-san, can solve."
……In other words, this is a punishment, so I have to solve it?
*Sigh*, it can't be helped. I guess I’ll do my best. It’s definitely my fault for not paying attention.
"Good luck, Dressa-chan!"
"Do your best, Dressa!"
Aslin and Firia cheered for me innocently, but if it were easy to solve, I wouldn't be acting like this in the first place!
Let’s see, if I remember correctly, I have to calculate the multiplication and division first, then do the addition and subtraction, right?
Struggling through it, I managed to write down the answer.
"Yes. Correct. See, you could solve it, couldn't you?"
"……Yes."
I’m glad I studied properly.
Even as I thought that, my mind began to clear, and the feeling of "What am I even doing?" returned.
"I don't know what you are troubled about, Dressa-san. And I don't know if I could solve it even if I heard it."
Ah, perhaps the teacher noticed I was acting strange, as she spoke to me quietly.
"But, there is no need to worry alone. It doesn't have to be me. Try consulting someone. Just talking to someone can help you shift your perspective. Or perhaps, it might be good to calm your heart and think quietly for a while."
"I understand."
I said that and returned to my seat.
"You solved it!"
"That’s great!"
Aslin and Firia celebrated that I had successfully solved the problem.
"……Thanks."
I thanked them in a small voice so as not to disturb the teacher's lesson.
Looking at those two, should I consult someone as the teacher suggested? But, they are still just children……
No, let me try to organize my thoughts a little more.
"Thanks for the meal!! Alright, let’s go play soccer!!"
" " "Yeah!!" " "
Lunchtime.
After the school lunch ended, not just the boys in the class, but all the children in the school rushed out to the grounds to play as they pleased.
The girls who didn't play outside were chatting or studying in the classroom.
I tried to sneak out quietly to organize my thoughts alone, but Vilier caught me and called out.
"Dressa-chan?"
"Huh? Dressa-chan, where are you going?"
"Won't you come talk with us?"
"Yeah. About delicious sweets. And about someone who came from elsewhere in the Adventurer District……"
*Ugh*, I’ll have to listen to Hiiro’s story properly later.
For now, organizing my heart. That is what’s important.
"Ah, just to the restroom."
"I see, go ahead."
"Go ahead!"
"……Is that so?"
"Yeah. It’d be a problem if you wet yourself, so go on."
"I won't wet myself!!"
With that, I slipped out of the classroom and headed to the back of the school.
This side is opposite the grounds, and not many people come here.
It’s probably the best place to think quietly.
After sitting on the provided bench, I looked up at the sky just as I had during class.
What was I even troubled about in the first place?
Ah, once things in Ex were over, I lost my reason for being.
To defeat the hateful Noble, a lump of ambition who destroyed my home country, the Kingdom of Nassa, and to bring about peace and the restoration of Nassa.
This had been my goal in life.
Naturally, I didn't think it would be easy, and having fallen to the status of a slave, I knew it was a fleeting dream.
Yes, it was supposed to be a fleeting dream.
After being taken in by Mauve, I felt it had become a little more realistic.
But after being brought to Weed and meeting the Goddess Luna, while helping her, I learned the truth.
Noble was not an ambitious man.
He was a person who desired peace, just like my father, my mother, and me.
He was just desperately doing what he could to try and manage the unprecedented crisis of magic depletion before the world fell into ruin.
Once I heard the story, I could understand. I understood that he couldn't reveal the truth to me, and that simply setting me free wasn't enough.
The clincher was when Noble himself noticed my presence at Hifi-sama’s wedding……
『……Princess Dressa. I see. To think your reach extended this far, there is no way I could win.』
After saying that, he knelt before me and bowed his head.
『There were no lies in what I said earlier. Nothing changes the fact that I destroyed your motherland. There are already people more capable than I. Even if I were to disappear, there should be no problem. So, if you hate me…… cut off my head. I want it to end with that. I must absolutely avoid causing war due to my own mismanagement.』
That’s what he said.
Noble’s subordinates tried to stop him, but he restrained them, saying it was a matter of settling accounts.
Because of that, I couldn't bring myself to take Noble’s head.
I couldn't cut down a fellow god like Noble at Hifi-sama’s wedding, which was being overseen by Luna-sama, and given his sincere attitude, as a royal of Nassa who values the peace of the people above all else, I could not satisfy my personal grudge.
『……If you change your mind, you are welcome to come and cut me down at any time.』
He kept saying things like that until the end, so conversely, Luna-sama scolded me, saying, "Since the person himself says it's fine, don't be so womanly about it. Avoid doing anything that would make Hifi’s wedding awkward. Also, Dressa. You made a good decision. Good job!!"
I also heard Arne’s story. That girl seems to be aiming to be a knight, and if she meets me or hears the facts, she’ll likely be shaken, so I’ll meet her after some time has passed.
Perhaps because the talk of opening a shop turned into becoming a knight, she found it difficult to give an answer.
And so, I accepted my current situation. Even if I returned to my stable former home country, I would be branded an ingrate, which could become an unnecessary spark for conflict as a royal. I have no intention of taking revenge on Noble, and I am no longer a slave.
In other words, I have truly become just Dressa.
Status, restraints, revenge, goals—everything is gone.
"I see. I don't know what I should become from now on, or what I should do."
Having accepted becoming just Dressa, I suppose I am troubled about the future.
"Hmm. It’s surprisingly difficult, isn't it? Being just one person."
When I think about it carefully, I realize that having no status and no restraints is quite difficult.
While I can do anything, the risks are high. Unlike nobles or royalty, my future isn't decided to any degree. I understand that if I live in Weed, I can do anything if I work hard.
That is precisely why, for someone who was originally royalty, this freedom is something I cannot easily accept.
There is nothing around me to bind me. Conversely, that means no one will tell me what to do.
I see, so because I have no goals, my heart isn't in my combat training or studies…… Until now, I had the push of "as a royal," but that is gone.
"……What do I want to become?"
"I am working hard every day, hoping to be of even a little help to my brother."
"Eek!? Vilier, when did you……"
Before I knew it, Vilier had come nearby and sat down next to me.