Chapter 4 - II -
“Well, and so, the reason I came here is…” the Saint said in-between sips of tea. I thought Her Holiness got hungry while divulging all that information to me; she ended up requesting for the food to be brought to my room.
But man…she eats a lot, huh?
“Ahem.” Her Holiness read my mind again, “I think that a growing girl like me needs proper nutrition, thus I have to eat, Mister Kuro.”
Growing, huh?
Well, looking at the Saint, I could guess that her age was around 16 years old. Here at Chersea, it was said that she ‘passed 1,236 seasons’. I didn’t know the equivalent years of that back on Earth, but that’s how they measure the age of people here.
“…”
Yeah, her youthful appearance suggested that she has to eat well…
“…”
But man, that chest needs no more nutrition. It’s almost about to burst.
“Mister Kuro…” Her Holiness had a mischievous smirk on her flustered face, “While I appreciate your praises for my beautiful body and looks, I think we’re going off-topic here.”
She needs to stop that nasty habit of hers, peeking into my thoughts.
“A-anyway.” Her Holiness gave me a plate, “The food’s going to get cold if you don’t start eating now, don’t you think?”
“Err…thanks, Your Holiness.” I chomped down on my food.
“And so, as I’ve said before, I went to your room to ask for your favor.”
“Which is?”
“Can you continue pretending to be like Lily’s brother?”
“Ack!” I choked; Her Holiness quickly got up and began massaging my back. Fortunately, we freed my throat before I lose air. Still couldn’t believe what I just heard, I asked her again, “You want me to continue what?”
“Pretend to act like Lily’s brother.”
“Why?”
“I know it’s unreasonable for you…” Her Holiness’ seriousness added to the tension I’m feeling as she explained, “But this is the first time I saw Lily being lively after for so long. As her master and friend, I don’t want her to go back to her sad, lonely state again.”
“…”
I had to admit, that’s a pretty hard request. As someone whom the Head Maid saved and trusted, I also would like to be of help to her. And I could understand the worries of Her Holiness as well, that’s why she’s asking me this…
However, pretending to be someone I am not is worse than cheating on the Head Maid…
“Kuro…” Her Holiness took it further, and suddenly bowed before me, “I don’t care if I’m the Saint; for my servants and friends, I’m willing to humble myself.”
“Uh…Your Holiness, please don’t—” I rushed to her side to stop her. Man, this is getting too difficult for me to refuse.
“Please…” she never raised her head, “I may have the power of the gods, but I can’t completely sway a person’s heart, without manipulating it with magic; I simply don’t have the ability.”
“Ugh…”
Her Holiness remained in that position until I spoke. She may be a little capricious and spontaneous, but the Saint honestly cares for the people around her…And as a human, I can’t simply ignore her pleas.
“Please raise your head, Your Holiness.” I gave her a head pat, “Don’t worry, I understand your feelings.”
“Ah thank you—”
“However, I won’t do what you ask of me. I am not the Head Maid’s older brother, and never will be. But, I will help her. Please trust me in this.”
***Meanwhile, in the Head Maid’s room. ***
While Kuro and the Saint were having their discussion back in the guest house, the Head Maid was lying on the bed in her room, shrouded in total darkness. Though she could hear the loud downpour behind the closed curtains of her windows, the sounds of her heart’s beat drowned the noise outside.
Why does she have to run earlier?
The Head Maid closed her eyes. In the pitch darkness, she saw her brother’s form walking away from her, donned in the clothes that she gave to Kuro.
“…”
She could feel her cheeks getting wet and warm.
“Arthur!” she called out.
Her brother turned around, and the Head Maid stopped in surprise, for in place of her brother’s face was that otherworldly boy’s form…
“K-Kuro?”
She opened her eyes.
“Why did Kuro appear instead of my brother?”
In the Head Maid’s mind, the memories of the first meeting between her and Kuro emerged once again.
How her prayers for her dead brother got interrupted by the exploding windows of the palace…
How she saw a helpless Kuro after falling from the second level…
How Kuro protected her when she exhausted her magic and almost got killed himself…
“Brother…” the Head Maid muttered as tears continued to fall down her cheeks, “It seems like you want me to forget you completely. You even sent someone to take your place!”
However, she knew that her brother and Kuro weren’t the same.
“I don’t want to forget you but…”
The Head Maid then pondered for a while. Her heart had been in disarray for quite some time now, but suddenly, she had thought of something.
“If this is how it’s going to be, then I must make my decision too, brother…”
Taking a deep breath, the Head Maid steeled and resolved the chaos in her heart.
It’s time to end everything right at that moment…
**Kuro**
Hello, Kuro here!
If you could see me right now—though sadly, you could only read this—I’m currently on the run. Why, you may ask? Well, I just saw the Head Maid.
“…”
Yep, in my hands I had the clothes that she gave me, originally belonging to her older brother. I’m planning to return it to her.
However, I think that will have to wait for later.
“Fuck, I won’t be able to reach her in time!” Pardon the colorful language. I guess anyone in my situation wouldn’t be able to keep themselves from uttering those words.
Especially when you’re witnessing someone about to jump to their death…
“Your Holiness, can’t you cast a flying spell or something?”
“Uh, yeah, just a moment!” Her Holiness was already panicking, but she knew she had to keep herself together.
“And call the guards, quick!”
“Kuro, this one’s much better! Teleport!” she cast a teleportation spell and transported me to the roof of the Servants’ Quarter in mere seconds.
Uhh…Her Holiness could have teleported me right next to the Head Maid, but well, I guess this is better than nothing.
“Head Maid, what do you think you’re doing?” I called out to her, even though our voices were being drowned by the noise of this heavy rain, “If you fall, it’s all over, you know?”
“Don’t come near me, Kuro!” the Head Maid screamed as she stepped back, “This is the only way left for me!”
Yeah, I knew our feelings were running high, so I took a cautious approach. One mistake, and this could end badly.
“Head Maid—no, Lily! Why don’t we talk this over? I know you’ve been hurting, but that is not the only way to solve it!” The maids, guards, as well as some nuns, had already assembled below and were watching everything as it unfolded.
“I tried my best, Kuro!” the Head Maid’s face contorted and her voice shook, “I tried my best to keep my brother’s memories alive!”
“Yeah, I’m sure you do. And you did an outstanding job!” I showed her the clothes she gave me, “See, these clothes still look fine after being kept for so long.”
“But I don’t remember his face anymore, Kuro!” even though we’re soaking wet, I could tell that the Head Maid was crying, “I’m a failure as a sister!”
“No, you fucking don’t!” I shouted back, “Do you think your brother would want to see you like that?”
“He only has me, Kuro, so I have to do this!”
“Get angry at me if you will, but the moment you jump to your death because of him, I’ll punch his sorry face in the afterlife!”
“Ha?” my words confused the Head Maid suddenly, “Jump? What are you talking about?”
“Eh?” I, too, got taken aback, “You’re not jumping?”
“Why would I? I was just about to shout my feelings from up here.”
“Oh…” I sighed with relief. Though my efforts and worries went to nothing, I think it’s fine as long as no one’s hurt.
“Ah, anyway Kuro. I’m sorry I made you worry.” Brought back to her senses, the Head Maid then carefully walked towards me and was about to reach out her hand, “Shall we go do—kyaaaaaa!”
“!!!”
Just as I was going to hold her hand, a loose roof tile eventually gave way and the Head Maid fell to her death. Stunned, I didn’t know what to do…save for this one thing…
“Lily!” my mind was in disarray. Panic seized my body as I jumped after her, catching her in mid-air. As she and I were about to fall to the pavement, I embraced and pulled her head to my chest so that my back will hit the ground instead.
“Float!”
At once, I felt our body become light, and we landed softly on the grass. The maids, nuns, and guards immediately surrounded us and checked for the Head Maid’s injuries. Her subordinates went as far as hugging her tight while the nuns were heaving the sighs of relief.
Oi, you can at least worry about me too, you know.
“Ah, don’t fret, Kuro.” it was the Saint. Her holy garments were as soaked as ours. “I won’t let you die; you helped us so much after all.”
Talk about cliché development!
Sometime later, after that rainy incident…
Her Holiness allowed the Head Maid to rest and recuperate after I saved her, but not before going through a stern and thorough sermon about the value of life. Of course, the Head Maid repeatedly apologized for making us worry.
“…”
But yeah, I guess she understood and appreciated the concern Her Holiness was giving her. And then, when the opportunity to visit arrived, I knocked on the door of the Head Maid’s room.
“Come in!”
I let myself in. There she was, sitting on the bed while Her Holiness was peeling some fruits for her. The Head Maid greeted me with a smile and invited me to sit on the vacant chair beside her.
“Not only you are a Defender of My Nether Regions…” the Saint had a sarcastic grin on her lips, “You’re also a ‘Ruthless Playboy’.”
Huh? Where did that come from, Your Holiness?
“Why don’t you ask Lily?” Her Holiness had a smug expression on her face, “After all, you made a threat to her brother in the afterlife.”
“Err…that’s a…uhm, s-sorry.” Damn, Her Holiness brought up that lame line I blurted out while I’m all charged up emotionally. Anyway, as I had no excuse, I apologized, “And I am returning his clothes to you. It’s important to you, after all.”
“Kuro, please.” the Head Maid gently handed it back to me, “I’d feel bad if you return those.”
“But…”
The Head Maid smiled, but it was a bittersweet one, “You know, I wanted to move on and forget my brother’s memories.”
“Uh…I don’t want to say this given the occasion, but…” I took a deep breath, “I don’t think you have to forget your loved ones before you can move on.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, even if they die, the fact remains that we spent good times with them while they are still alive. No one can truly erase those memories, you know. Even if you force yourself, you’ll always end up getting reminded everywhere and with anything that you did together.” I explained slowly, carefully taking into consideration the Head Maid’s feelings, “I think the only time that you’ll forget them is when you hit yourself in the head, and suffer from amnesia.”
I meant that last line as a joke, but I could see tears welling up in the Head Maid’s eyes.
Should I go on with what I am about to say?
“Go on.” it was Her Holiness who encouraged me.
“R-right…” so I continued, taking a glance at the Saint to make sure she’s supporting me, “Say, for example, if you got a wound and tried to remove the scab, isn’t it painful? I can also say the same thing about the death of a loved one; the more you force yourself to forget, the more painful it will be. So let go with the flow.”
Tears fell from the Head Maid’s cheeks.
I really should stop this.
“Continue, Kuro.” Her Holiness reiterated, “She should get hurt in what is true now than live in a lie.”
Wow. You just went philosophical at that one, Your Holiness.
Anyway, I added, “Besides, immersing yourself in the wonderful memories of your loved one isn’t that bad, as long as it gives you the will to carry on with life.”
“You want to say anything else, Kuro?” Her Holiness asked.
Oi, I think I’m already going over my limits now, Your Holiness. I better keep my mouth shut.
“Come on, say it.” Her Holiness was sending me glares, “I think that’s the best part.”
Err…oh well, here goes nothing…
“Head Maid—no, Lily…” I gently tapped on the Head Maid’s shoulders, “As long as you keep your brother’s memory within you, then he’s not completely dead.”
“…”
The Head Maid just silently wept while Her Holiness and I joined her in her moment of sorrow.
“Ahhhh…I feel refreshed!” the Head Maid stretched out her hands after she cried her heart out, “It’s been long since I cried that hard. Now I guess it’s time for me to head back.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re fine now.” Her Holiness remarked as she pushed her friend back to the bed, “But please take some more time to rest.”
Oh yeah? Did I just hear you say that you’re happy she’s fine? You keep on prodding me to say those words to her in the first place!
“May I remind you keep on blabbering your philosophies?” Her Holiness turned her eyes away from us, “I just thought that Lily would like to hear it.”
Tch. This girl…
“No, it’s fine; Your Holiness, Kuro.” the Head Maid intervened, “Mister Kuro’s words felt better than going to the rooftop to shout in the middle of heavy rains.”
Ah, yes. Please don’t do that again.
“Oh, and by the way, Kuro, I want to apologize to you.”
“What for?”
“Honestly, I thought of you as my brother’s replacement.” the Head Maid confessed, “But the more I get to know you, the more frustrated I become because I keep on associating him with you.”
That…hurt. A little. At least.
“I’m always wondering if…I’m only concerned for you because you remind me of Arthur.”
“Hmm…” I pretended not to feel anything, “I don’t mind it, though if possible, I’d like you to see me as a different person.”
“Yes, I do. At least right now, my feelings towards you are true.”
“Ooookaayy?”
Did I just hear a confession? Nah, that’ll be impossible.
“Thanks for saving me, Kuro.” the Head Maid bowed in gratitude, “To be honest, I think of you not as his replacement anymore, but as someone he sent to me.”
“Oh…” Well, that’s nice to hear. I’m glad that she saw me in that way; at least, I know now that I got a little value.
“Head Maid,” it was Her Holiness, “Kuro is belittling himself once again.”
Tch. Really, this girl…
“Please don’t do that, Kuro!” the Head Maid’s eyes were on me, as if piercing my soul, “I don’t want you saying bad things to the person precious to me.”
“Y-yes, sorry.”
Wait. Did I just hear—
“Don’t get your hopes up, Kuro.” Her Holiness chirped in, “It’s almost time for the next arc.”
“Ha?” I got confused on what she’s saying, “W-what are you talking about, Your Holiness?”
“Well, whatever.” Her Holiness rolled her eyes and sighed.
Ugh, this is stupid.
