Chapter 200: Eleonora's Return
「……ahー, so peaceful」
I muttered while looking at the scenery outside through the window as I sit on the chair in my room.
It was the unchanging scenery of the blue sky and the beautiful green mountains and plains.
A magnificent and beautiful scenery incomparable to my previous life’s Japan.
How happy it would be if I could blankly stare at them every day.
When you spend your time so busy every day, you won’t be able to calmly appreciate them, and you can’t enjoy the scenery. For this reason, I think that my current situation where I can enjoy the scenery with time to spare is a good fortune.
It is currently summer, the season where the greeneries are growing in abundance.
The plants are doing their best to receive the sunlight shining down on them.
The leaves of the trees are greener than in spring.
But it won’t be the same with humans. Rather, the hot temperature would even make us lose our appetite and we would become thin.
But well, I can maintain the comfortable temperature inside the room using Ice magic anyway so I’m fine.
I pick up the salted cucumber on the plate while thinking about that kind of thing.
I let out a crunchy and pleasant *pori* sound when I bite into it, and the juice from the cucumber spreads along with a little saltiness as if it burst inside my mouth.
Ninety-five percent of cucumbers are water. They have the effect of cooling the body, and they’re perfectly suited as a snack for summer when it’s hot and when you often need to drink.
It was freshly picked from Koryatt village, and it’s much more delicious than usual, I guess because it’s in season.
「Al, give me some for me too」
Just when I’m crunching the salted cucumber *poripori*, Sylvio-niisan - who read a book while sitting down inside the room said that to me.
That’s because he knows that I’m maintaining the temperature inside the room to a comfortable level using Ice magic. So rather than reading a book inside his hot room, he decided that it was better to just read his book inside a cool room together with me.
「Yeeーs」
I moved the plate with the salted cucumber using Psychic and move them toward Syolvio-niisan’s direction.
「Thank you」
After Sylvio-niisan pick up the plate, he take only one salted cucumber and thanked me.
Unlike a certain sister from somewhere, he didn’t grab a bunch of it or snatched the plate, keep it to himself, and ate them all.
He also properly thanked me, truly a refined person.
「Are you reading Kagura’s book right now?」
「Un, it’s a book about Kagura’s history. They have an extremely different belief compared to the Kingdom, it’s very interesting you know」
Aah, it’s the one that he talked about with Nord-tousan yesterday, huh.
The country that we lived in - Misphilt Kingdom -, the neighboring country - Aldonia Kingdom, the Holy Empire of Istania, and the Kingdom of Lazur all believe in the Creator God, Misphilt-sama after all.
It’s a little strange that the Creator God is not worshipped by people from beyond the continent.
「As you can see from the story of Water God-sama, it seems that there is a lot of naturally-occurring damage from tsunamis or storms, not to mention that Kagura was also surrounded by the seaー. So the people over there just abandoned Misphilt-sama since they felt that there is no meaning even if they worshipped him?」
「……certainly, that might be the case」
「No no, I only said that as a joke you know?」
I was just joking about it, so I’ll be troubled if you took it as a truth.
「I know. But, that’s an interesting view of things」
Though that was the brief summary I heard from Shuichi and Haru.
The book in Sylvio-niisan’s hand was probably written by a smart guy with the correct reason and the correct conjecture.
Compared to that, my view would rather seem to be childish.
Half regretting saying that, I open my mouth to change the subject.
「At any rate, spending our time quietly like this is great, isn’t it. Maybe it’s thanks to Eleonora-neesan not being here?」
「Indeed, it’s quiet when neesan is not here」
Hearing me say that, Sylvio-niisan answered so while smiling wryly.
If Eleonora-neesan were here, then she will say things like, the temperature is hot, ask for more food, ask for tea, said that she’s bored, and in the end, she will invite us to practice together.
Thinking about the time we will be able to spend peacefully like this is soon going to be over it can’t help but makes me feel dejected.
Tomorrow is the day when Eleonora-neesan will return.
Thinking about the time we will be able to spend peacefully like this is soon going to be over it makes me feel dejected.
Aーaah, there are still a lot of things I wanted to do.
Just when I sigh in my mind, Sylvio-niisan says while looking at me,
「……but, as expected, it feels lonely without Eleonora-neesan」
「Ehー, really?」
「Yeah. The mansion also feels quiet when Eleonora-neesan is not around」
Well, certainly, the mansion feels really quiet when there’s no Eleonora-neesan.
Most of the family members of Slowlett house are all the quiet and calm type, and none of us are as energetic as Eleonora-neesan.
「But, it’s great that you can read your book calmly since it’s quiet, right. You also didn’t get asked to practice together」
I won’t admit that I feel a little lonely with the mansion’s lack of liveliness but, I can say that we have a free and peaceful time because of that.
「Yes but you know, neesan kicking up a fuss, asking us to practice together, then Al will obstinately resist practicing. Even I got caught up in it, then Elna-kaasan and Nord-tousan would occasionally throw in a suggestion even while smiling. I love that kind of family with lively voices and atmopsphere」
Sylvio-niisan said while broadly smiling.
I wonder, how could this brother of mine say such an embarrassing thing directly like that? I’m getting embarrassed just hearing it.
Could this pure personality be the clear difference between Sylvio-niisan and me, who had been dirtied by the world?
「……is that so」
「Al also looks lonely even while saying that」
「Which part of me?」
Sylvio-niisan giggled when I tilted my head in confusion.
「The time when you arrive at the breakfast table, you look lonely when you look at Eleonora-neesan’s seat」
「No, I just got a bit restless since something that should’ve been there is missing」
Like when you see a gap in a bookshelf full of books. It’s the same feeling when you want to arrange it and properly fill that gap.
Sylvio-niisan laughs 「Ahaha 」and looks amused when I firmly insisted like that.
Why are you laughing while looking at someone’s face? Isn’t it rude?
「In other words, to Al, it’s natural for Eleonora-neesan to be near you, right?」
I wasn’t able to immediately refute Sylvio-niisan’s comment as he said that with an expression that looks like he was smiling.
◆
I felt uncomfortable being on receiving end of Sylvio-niisan’s somewhat warm gaze, so I left the room and headed for the living room.
Maybe it’s due to the conversation with Sylvio-niisan, it bothers me that the mansion is strangely quiet.
Since the hallway of the second floor is empty of people, the only sound that was my footsteps sounded strangely loud. I can hear a faint sound of someone preparing for meal coming from the kitchen when I go down to the first floor.
I can’t hear the sound of the maids - Mina and Sara - sweeping the garden or doing other chores.
At this time, Nord-tousan is working in his office, while Elna-kaasan often spends her time relaxing in the living room.
Of course, we all gathered together at mealtime and talked to each other, but there was also such a quiet time when Eleonora-neesan was at home.
However, without Eleonora-neesan, the whole mansion seems quiet somewhat.
「……it’s kinda annoying to admit but, it’s really quiet without Eleonora-neesan」
In the end, I wonder if I had been trained by Eleonora-neesan to extent that I become lonely when she’s not around. No, that shouldn’t be the case.
As I walk to the living room while thinking about that kind of thing in my mind, I heard the sound of the entrance door being opened suddenly.
This manner of opening the door in a hurry, I wonder if that’s Mina? When I look there while thinking that, it was Sara who was there. She’s holding a broom in her hand, I guess she was sweeping and cleaning the garden
For the polite Sara to come in in a hurry like this, that’s rare.
「What’s the matter? It’s unusual for Sara to be so hurried」
「Alfried-sama. Eleonora-sama has returned」
As soon as she saw me, she told me something I don’t quite understand.
「Hm? What’s that?」
「Eleonora-sama came back to Koryatt village」
When I asked her for the second time, she told me that clearly.
No no, that’s strange. Eleonora-neesan should be back tomorrow, right?
It makes me want to involuntarily question her again but, if I do that then it would seem like I’m doubting her so I’ll refrain from saying it. Eleonora-neesan hasn't even written a letter about the schedule of her return after all.
In my case, Tori was the one who took care of everything in detail, so it seemed that they are reassured because of that.
I encountered Eleonora-neesan in Kikka the day before yesterday. Considering the time it takes from going Koryatt village from Kikka by carriages, it should take around three days.
Today is just the afternoon of the second day. Could it be that they arrived half a day earlier?
「……maybe you just mistook someone else for Eleonora-neesan?」
「Even when you look at it from a distance you can still see the crest of the house, so I think it won’t be wrong to assume that Eleonora-sama is inside the carriage」
Ooh, that’s a feature that can’t be missed.
I guess that’s true. Regardless of whether you saw the person herself or not, our family is the only one who has such a distinctive crest on our carriage. Because of that distinctive crest, it also makes me unintentionally almost agree in my heart that it’s her.
「Are you really really sure that she came back?」
「I’m really really sure that she is back」
「Are you really really really――」
「Alfried-sama, you will see it yourself if you go out. If you don’t believe me then please go outside to check it. I have to inform Elna-sama and Nord-sama, so please excuse me」
Just when I’m in the middle of my question to escape from reality, Sara was finally fed up with me and entered the living room.
Eleonora-neesan is back.
I want to go out and check whether it’s true or not. I want to make sure of it, but I’m also scared to go outside.
But even so, I still nervously went out after changing into my outer shoes while having the feeling of seeing something scary inside.
I walk through the courtyard and arrive near the mansion’s gate.
There was the straight open road with a good view of the village, and I saw a carriage with a familiar crest approaching that road.
The moment I saw that carriage, a strange chill travels up my whole body.
It’s the same feeling that I felt back in Kikka.
My intuition is sending me a warning, informing me that Eleonora-neesan is getting closer.
Thanks to this feeling, I’m confident that Eleonora-neesan is back even without seeing her appearance in person.
When I was looking at it with the feeling of giving up, the entrance door opened, and I felt the sign of everyone coming out one after another.
「That’s our carriage. Neesan is back!」
「Mou, she finally came back. Really, she didn't even send a letter home」
「It seems to be Eleonora, she makes you worry, isn’t she」
What Nord-tousan means, he should be worried about how she shouldn't be causing any trouble rather than worried that she’s doing something dangerous, huh. I don’t think that the monster that is around the road can beat even a fragment of Eleonora-neesan’s ability.
When I think about that, the distant carriage began approaching us steadily.
Along with the approaching carriage, I can see the coachman, Row-san. Looking at his complexion, it appears that he looks a little exhausted.
Maybe, he came back as soon as possible by speeding up the carriage? Eleonora-neesan herself has the stamina and strength, so it seems that she let him do it because she wanted to quickly return.
Of course, they need to consider the horse’s stamina but if they shorten the time for their meals, rest, and sleep, they can speed up the traveling time. As for me, I definitely won’t do something so tiresome, so after considering all that, I’m convinced that they can return earlier than the expected time.
As expected from the sister who always has excessive stamina and forces others to do something unreasonable.
Then, the carriage that Eleonora-neesan and Mel rode stopped in front of the gate.
After the carriage completely stopped, the carriage’s door was vigorously opened.
And the person who came out of the carriage, is a girl with a reddish-brown ponytail. With dignified looks and red eyes, white short-sleeves, and purple short pants. Her limbs are slender, and no matter how I see it, it was the figure of my older sister, Eleonora-neesan.
There is a bit of distance between the carriage and the ground, if it were an ordinary lady, she will elegantly get off the carriage by using carriage steps or after asking for a servant’s help, but that doesn’t apply to Eleonora-neesan.
As if to say that she doesn’t need that kind of thing, Eleonora-neesan jumped off *pyon*.
Seeing such action unbefitting for a lady, Elna-kaasan - who is standing beside me - sighed 「Haa」.
Nord-tousan and Sylvio-niisan also wryly smiles at her.
However, I thought it is precisely because of such low femininity that makes me fully realize that she’s Eleonora-neesan.
Eleonora-neesan raises her face after she landed and looked toward us.
I felt like the air surrounding me changed just with that action alone.
I guess it’s because we didn’t see each other directly back when we encounter each other in Kikka, huh? I feel like the atmosphere around her is different from the Eleonora-neesan before I left for Kagura.
I can’t accurately express what I feel about this difference but, it seemed like her atmosphere was getting sharper than before.
I heard she was practicing with the Knight’s Order in the royal capital, but could it be that the practice with the Knight’s Order was so severe that it made Eleonora-neesan evolve?
Just when the atmosphere was somewhat tense that it made me nervous, Eleonora-neesan silently walked toward us.
「Welcome home, Eleonora」
「Welcome back Eleonora」
「I’m back! Tousan, Kaasan!」
Nord-tousan and Elna-kaasan welcome Eleonora-neesan.
Though she said that Eleonora-neesan didn’t write any letter back home, Elna-kaasan doesn’t complain about it now. Now it looks like she just decided on completely celebrating her daughter’s return.
「Welcome back, neesan」
「Yeah, I’m back Sylvio」
After that, Sylvio-niisan and Eleonora-neesan also greet each other the same way.
It’s kinda different from the time when I was back, I feel like everyone genuinely welcomes her by saying ‘Welcome back’. It feels like I was welcomed more crudely……
Even while having such a slight doubt in my mind, I also welcome Eleonora-neesan.
「Welcome back, Eleonora-neesan」
「……………」
I said that after Sylvio-niisan, however, Eleonora-neesan didn’t say anything in return.
She looks as if she saw a monster with a strange appearance.
Huh? I wonder what’s wrong? I’m not using the water ball today, you know? I don’t remember being looked at with such a strange gaze though………
As I was thinking about such things, Eleonora-neesan lowered herself, then she rudely pinched my cheeks and stomach.
After touching my body for some time, Eleonora-neesan finally look at my face and say,
「…what is this? So awful………」
「I think it’s even more awful of you to say ‘So awful’ to a person's face like that」
「How could you be this unsightly? Your eyes are already narrow and look dead, and now you look even more hopeless you know?」
Guh! I know what she means, but it feels like something is stabbing my heart when bluntly said it like that.
Eleonora-neesan mutters, when I slumped after receiving mental damage.
「……you need to lose weight now」
From my experience so far, I know what will happen to me after hearing that kind of remark.
So I turn to the right and dash-ed off so I won’t hear the following words.
But, Eleonora-neesan already cut me off with a faster speed and faster reflexes that surpass me.
How strange. Even though she should be moving later than me and was a good distance away!
If it was before, then she would grab my neck after chasing me around.
But, now she immediately went around to cut me off and blocked me from my escape route.
From her flow of magic power, she should be improving her physical ability using Body Strengthening Magic. She can now activate the magic smoother than before, and she was able to use the magic more efficiently. Just that alone already demonstrated Eleonora-neesan’s growth.
Thi, this is the result of her practicing with the Knight’s Order in the royal capital………… I don’t know who that person is, but that person taught my sister troublesome things.
Eleonora-neesan - who stood in front of me - grins and says.
「Now then, let’s go have some practice! Al!」
It was something I shouldn’t be happy with, but after hearing that I felt somewhat nostalgic and happy.
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