Telling Tanya My Decision

By the time evening fell, we had finished making our way around the southern city and were heading back toward the manor.

I had thought we would part ways in Saria, but apparently Shia planned to connect a gate from the House Fols manor, so she would stay with me until then.

When the manor gates came into view, Shia spoke.

“Today was truly wonderful. Thank you very much.”

“Yeah, I had fun too. Going around the city together like that wasn’t bad at all.”

“Oh? Have you never gone out like that with Tanya-san?”

“Huh? No, Tanya’s my maid, so not really. Though she has come to drag me back after I slipped out before.”

I wondered why Tanya had suddenly come up, but Shia simply replied, “I see,” sounding just a little pleased.

That conversation ended just as we finally reached the manor gates.

“So this is goodbye.”

She murmured it sadly.

“You can come by anytime. We could just talk, or we could go around town again.”

When I said that after seeing her expression, she snapped her head up.

“Really!? Then I’ll come again tomorrow—well, actually, I have things to take care of for a while starting tomorrow, so I can’t… but may I come again after that?”

“Yeah… you’re more than welcome.”

When I answered, Shia quietly muttered, “Yes!” and made a little victory pose.

The sight made me smile.

Until now, the only thing I ever really had on my schedule was sword training, so I was happy to have something new to look forward to—spending time with Shia.

“Come to think of it, Nova-san, you don’t actually live here now, do you?”

“Oh, right. I never told you, but this is my family home. The manor where I normally live is in another territory.”

“Then could you tell me the name of that town?”

Shia asked, and I told her the name of the town where my manor was located.

I still did not really understand how it worked, but apparently just knowing the town’s name was enough for her to connect her gate magic there.

It really was incredible magic.

“Well then, I should be going.”

“Yeah, take care… though I guess that sounds a little strange. See you.”

“No, thank you. Then… until next time.”

As Shia stepped into the gate glowing with golden light, she waved at me reluctantly, and I waved back.

I watched until she disappeared into the light and the gate itself vanished, and only then did I finally let out a deep breath.

“…That was fun.”

The words slipped out before I knew it.

It had been the most enjoyable day I could remember.

But at the same time, I had been a little distracted during the latter half of it.

The reason was Shia. The worst possible image of her collapsing had crossed my mind again.

It was something that might happen in the future, and the chances were probably low.

But they were not zero.

That was why I wanted to protect her.

I wanted to become strong enough that Shia would not be hurt no matter what kind of enemy appeared.

I might not be strong enough.

I might not be of any use at all.

Even so, that was how I felt.

I also needed to start seriously thinking about the marriage proposal.

Unlike Zeroad-niisama, who had said he would not marry until he became head of the family, if I accepted the proposal and became engaged, it would more or less lead directly to marriage.

Until now, I had been thinking about the difference in our status and about how extraordinary Shia was.

But she cared for someone like me.

So I wanted to face those feelings honestly and give her a proper answer.

With that thought in mind, I returned to the manor.

Tanya was waiting in my room, which had practically become a storage room.

The moment I entered, she bowed her head.

“Welcome back, Nova-sama.”

“Yeah, I’m back. Oh, right. Did you find that maid?”

Remembering the small figure I had seen before noon, I asked, and Tanya smiled and nodded.

“Yes. As I thought, she had gone shopping by herself, so I helped her.”

“I see. Then I’ll mention it to Rowen-san later.”

“Thank you very much.”

Tanya did not seem to talk much with the other servants, but maybe she was actually the type who liked looking after people.

No, of course she was.

After all, she had been looking after someone like me ever since I was little.

“So, how did things go with Shia-san?”

“Yeah, I had a good time. But I learned something today.”

I told Tanya what had happened.

I explained that I had been hit by Shia’s magic while catching the thief, but it had not affected me.

And because of that, Shia suspected that her magic might not work on me.

“So that made me think… I want to protect Shia. Someday, someone her magic doesn’t work on might appear as an enemy, right? If that happens, I want to be able to help her.”

“…Protect… her?”

Perhaps Tanya had her own thoughts about someone like me saying he wanted to protect Shia, the head of House Ark Gate, because she repeated my words in surprise.

Her doubts were understandable, but I had already made up my mind, so I gave her a firm nod.

“Yeah. I might not be very dependable, but that’s what I want.”

“…Ah… um, that’s love!”

“Huh? Well… I do have those kinds of feelings for Shia, at least to some extent…”

For some reason, she said it in such a loud voice that I was the one who ended up embarrassed.

Tanya’s smug grin was starting to annoy me a little, so I changed the subject.

“S-so… starting tomorrow, I thought I’d try to learn a little more about Shia. Apparently she has some business to take care of, so she won’t be able to come by for a while. She’s the head of a noble house, after all, so she’s busy. Anyway, tomorrow I’m going back into Saria and asking people about Shia. Or more precisely, about the head of House Ark Gate.”

“I see… that sounds good! It’s important to know what other people think of Shia-san as well. And if you have the time, perhaps you could even travel all the way to Norzampshon, the city Shia-san governs.”

“…That might actually be a good idea.”

Saria was a southern city, not one under Shia’s rule.

If I went to Norzampshon, which she governed directly, I might learn more about her.

It would take a considerable amount of time to reach Norzampshon by carriage from here, but if it helped me understand Shia better, that was hardly something worth worrying about.

“In that case, tomorrow you’ll first visit Saria, Nova-sama, and then travel on to Norzampshon?”

“Yeah. So Tanya, you should head back to the manor in my territory ahead of me. I’ll tell Father beforehand that I’ll be returning tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

Now that I had finished what I came here to do—meeting Shia—there was no reason for me to remain at my family home.

After sharing my plans with Tanya, I was just thinking that I should go tell Rowen-san about the maid and let Father know I would be leaving tomorrow when—

“Ah.”

Tanya suddenly spoke as if she had just remembered something.

“If you’re going to Norzampshon, there’s a souvenir I’d like you to buy for me. There’s a confectionery called Milky Way, and I want some of their sweets.”

“Wow, you’re not shy about asking, are you? Well, if I remember.”

I gave a wry smile at the maid who was brazenly demanding a souvenir from her master.
Tanya nodded happily, clearly convinced she was going to get it, and I thought once again what a troublesome attendant she was.

Though, considering I fully intended to remember and buy it for her, I was hardly in any position to complain.

I had been interrupted before, but this time I really was about to go speak with Rowen-san, so I asked Tanya something I had been wondering about.

“By the way, I’m going to talk to Rowen-san now, but what’s that maid girl’s name?”

“Ah, her name is Sonia.”

“Sonia-chan, huh? Got it.”

I gave Tanya a casual wave and left the room.

I went to Rowen-san’s room and spoke to him about Sonia-chan when he came out.

He said he would take care of it.

Rowen-san was extremely capable, so I was sure he would manage somehow.

After that, I also told Father that I would be returning to my own manor tomorrow.

Strictly speaking, I planned to go from Saria to Norzampshon first, but there was no particular need to tell him that, so I left it out.

Having finished everything I needed to do at this manor, I returned to my room so I could sleep and prepare for tomorrow.