NOVPUBKuufa bit her lower lip and looked down, trying to hold back her feelings. The old Kuufa would not have been able to talk properly with a nobleman, even to De Mile, who was Litty’s acquaintance.
But if she had to make a choice, there was no way she would give up the girl. So she looked up and looked at De Mile straight in the eyes.
“…I can’t abandon this girl.”
“Does that mean you will be her master?”
“No, she’s not a slave…well…you know. No, I don’t want her to live in a place where she feels unhappy…”
“You are kind, but do you understand what that means?”
De Mile pursued in a deliberately mean-spirited manner. Like the King, he too was a member of upper class nobles, so he also had a certain amount of power in his hands. He believed that simply smiling and accepting things was not the only way to be kind but being strict and guiding people even if they might see him as evil was also necessary.
Moreover, he believed that if he were to let Kuufa do whatever she wanted, Kuufa would be the one to suffer in the long run.
If the girl’s master found out, Kuufa might even get killed. Such a future could happen.
That was why he needed to make sure that Kuufa’s true intentions were firm. If Kuufa’s determination wasn’t firm enough, what she wished for was nothing more than a pipe dream.
“I was an orphan…. I know how hard it is to live alone, and after meeting Litty-san, I finally succeeded in overcoming my past. I now believe that with the warmth of people, I will be able to grow even further, little by little.”
De Mile and the others listened silently to Kuufa’s monologue. Litty was moved by Kuufa’s fearless demeanor.
Until recently, she could not even speak properly, even though it was the demon’s fault that she could not interact at that time. Now, she was expressing her own will clearly.
“I don’t know if I can be like Litty-san, but I want to share this feeling with someone else.”
“…You’re not just pitying her, right? Right now, your best option is to find her employer and return her, you know?”
“I would if that’s what this girl wants, but…”
Kuufa looked at the girl, but all she did was stand there with a blank stare. Kuufa had come to her own conclusion, even though the girl’s intentions were not clear to her.
“But if it’s with me and Aquaria… I can make this girl happy.”
“Excellent.”
De Mile was startled by Aquaria’s sudden appearance. Aquaria, in the form of a little girl, who attached herself to Kuufa.
“Oh, ooh. That surprised me…”
“If she relies on me, Aquaria, my master may lose a few points in your evaluation, right? But do reconsider because master, and I can be considered as one entity, so you should also include me in your evaluation, okay?”
Holding his chest in surprise, De Mile looked once more into Kuufa’s eyes. It was somewhat unreliable, but he could feel her determination. Understanding her intention, De Mile tapped his knee, and decided.
“Good. Then I’ll keep quiet about the girl, as well, and help you hide her until you can settle things with her.”
“Oh, thank you!”
“I wouldn’t normally tolerate that. Slaves escaping.”
“De Mile-sama. The Knights are here to see you.”
Just as De Mile was about to utter his threat, a servant called out to him. The timing was too timely, but Kuufa was not calm.
De Mile stood up and headed for the entrance. The rest of the group was waiting with nervous faces, as if they were still concerned about the situation.
“…I see. I understand.”
“Yes, then…”
De Mile returned again after finishing the exchange. His expression was a little tense.
