NOVEL NEXT Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Laura's Feelings ②
Chapter 120: Laura’s Feelings ②
Looking back on my life, I feel like being born a noble hasn’t brought me any real benefits. Particularly in social gatherings, I’ve always felt out of place. Among nobles, I stand out as a weirdo who can’t hold a proper conversation, and among commoners, I’m feared as a mage.
Of course, I never managed to make friends and even got bullied a bit. Still, my family is quite close. I was even celebrated as a prodigy in my teenage years. Reflecting on it, I think my downfall as a noble was due to the fatal mistake of failing in my marriage.
“I was proposed to by a fairly influential noble family when I was twenty. Although he was three years younger, he came from a reputable, financially prosperous family. It would have been extremely beneficial for my family. But I was completely inept at dealing with other nobles and couldn’t meet the expectations of my husband and his parents. I was sent back to my family after just one year.”
“From my perspective, Laura, you don’t seem that bad at dealing with people. At least, I enjoy talking with you.”
“Th-Thank you, Bonus. Noble communication is quite unique… I can understand the negotiation-like interactions, but I find them meaningless… When faced with such people, I struggle to speak fluently. Even if I don’t, someone like me who speaks their mind is not suited to be a noble.”
“Ah, I see…”
“Initially, my husband’s family was tolerant, but they gradually became disheartened by my behavior at tea parties and gatherings. Eventually, they stopped inviting me. Even the servants avoided speaking to me. Perhaps things would have been different if I had a child, but my husband wasn’t interested. It seems I wasn’t very attractive as a woman,…”
“No, no, Laura, you’re quite appealing in your own way! I find you attractive! If it were me, I’d have been delighted to approach you. Maybe your husband was just too immature.”
“Bonus?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry, Shiro. It’s just a hypothetical scenario!”
Bonus’ kind words were meant to comfort me. They made me happy, though a bit embarrassed. I hope my face isn’t red… But I mustn’t take his words too seriously. I’m not that young anymore, and I don’t find myself particularly attractive. Especially when I see Shiro, Gisella, and Kuro around Bonus, it’s hard to feel confident.
“As the stress of not meeting expectations and my reclusive lifestyle grew, I gradually lost my appetite. Naturally, my health deteriorated.”
“That must have been tough to endure for such a long time…”
“But what was expected of me was standard for a noble… My husband’s family must have been quite perplexed. About a year after I got married, I was sent back home for health reasons.”
“Did that lead to the divorce?”
“Initially, it was supposed to be for observation and recuperation. However, our marriage was annulled a year after I returned home. Then, my supposed husband remarried another woman.”
“Oh… that’s quite something…”
As I recounted my story, Bonus’ eyebrows furrowed deeper and deeper. For some reason, I wanted Bonus to know about me fully. Normally, there’d be no need to share such a story. This might be the first time I’ve shared my background so thoroughly. Remembering my feelings back then is painful, but it also feels somewhat liberating.
“To be honest, I felt quite relieved when I heard about the annulment. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. And ultimately, it was my fault for failing to fulfill my duties as a noble. I might have handled things better now, I was utterly useless back then… When I learned my ex-husband had remarried, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.”
“I see… And have you been in Savoia ever since?”
“Yes, that’s right. The rumors already spread widely. Even though I was still young enough to remarry, there were no more marriage proposals after that.”
“Personally, I think there’s no need to force marriage if it’s not right for you, but I guess that’s not how nobles see it. Still, the kingdom’s marriage system seems surprisingly flexible… Oh, by the way, does your lord father have an heir?”
“My father’s noble rank is high because he is the king’s brother, but he’s only a frontier lord for his generation. The roles of the king’s siblings have been established for a long time. And for their children, like me, it’s common to marry into another noble family or be adopted. Except in cases like mine, it’s usually easy to arrange a match given our bloodline. If the parents pass away while the child is still unmarried, they become a bureaucratic noble without a territory in the capital. But… what will happen to me, I wonder…”
Thinking about it makes me feel gloomy. I don’t want to become a bureaucratic noble in the capital. Even as a bureaucrat, I wouldn’t be given any real work. I would just be receiving a pension and living a modest life. If I were more socially adept, I might enjoy city life, build connections in high society, and help my sister and parents… but that’s not me.
“I can continue living here in Savoia as long as my parents are still alive. But beyond that, I honestly don’t know. I don’t want to talk about it… Ah, where is Kohaku?”
“L-Laura, it’ll be fine, really. Look, Kohaku is right here!”
“Meow?”
Kohaku seemed to be getting some boiled meat from Bonus. It walked over to me and placed her front paws on my lap, looking up at me with her round eyes. Though I’ve heard it’s only just been born, she seems incredibly intelligent and kind. And oh, how adorable she is. With her by my side, I could be happy anywhere even if it’s not in the capital. But I shouldn’t wish to take her away from such a wonderful environment…
“Here! Pound cakes! Banana and fruit mix, honey, and chocolate!”
“Clear the table, I’m going to slice them up,”
Mil and Zamza were each carrying a large cake. They brought four in total. The incredibly sweet, enticing aroma drew cheers from everyone around. I, too, let out an embarrassing sound.
I watched them prepare the cakes. With such delicious-looking fruit, chocolate, honey, and lots of sugar, it’s no wonder they smell so good. The wait to get a piece felt excruciatingly long. Once the four types of pound cake were beautifully arranged on my plate, I couldn’t stop myself. I devoured the cakes one after another. In no time, half of what was supposed to be a large serving was gone before the coffee was even brought out.
“—Oh… this is just… wow…”
“Banana cake is amazing!”
Oscar shouted next to me, and I understood his feelings well. I, too, struggled to find words to express how delicious the cake was and felt like shouting. I couldn’t stop myself despite having eaten so much already.
Of course, I love sweets, but this goes beyond that! The slightly hard, crunchy texture on the outside contrasts perfectly with the moist, soft sponge inside. The wonderful flavors of the fruit, chocolate, and honey enrich the firm sweetness of the sugar. It must be the unique ingredients from the plants grown in the depths of the Hell’s Cauldron. The deliciousness of the cake made my entire body tingle with joy, as if my brain was melting.
Moreover, the coffee brewed by Kuro washed away the residual sweetness with its strong flavor and bitterness, resetting my palate with a deep aftertaste. And before I knew it, my hand was reaching for more cake. There seemed to be plenty of seconds left…
I feel like I wouldn’t mind if my stomach burst right now.
“Hey, Mil, this cake is especially delicious this time.”
“Well, it’s because we improve it every day. Plus, we can use ingredients freely at the hideout.”
“After eating something like this, I just…”
This is no time to feel gloomy. Once Father returns and my role as acting lord is over, I absolutely want to live here. Forget about what nobles or traditions dictate. Just look around—common sense has no place here anymore.
A mighty and dangerous Kidanakemo lies protectively, with two beautiful and refined oni women gracefully smiling while leaning against it. Meanwhile, the supposedly rough oni man is quietly helping a dwarf while wearing an apron. Additionally, a small imp is sitting shoulder to shoulder with a human. They are even feeding each other cake like lovers.
In my arms, there’s an unbelievably adorable Kidanakemo child. This beautiful yet absurdly extraordinary daily life is too alluring. I want to always live as part of this beautiful scenery, not just now. If I were to lower my head and ask, perhaps Bonus-sama might surprisingly accept me without hesitation…
“Oscar, I want to discuss the watchtower after lunch, so don’t eat too much and become immobile.”
“Ah—? Got it, got it!”
“Um, if there’s anything I can help with, please let me know!”
“Thank you. But, Laura, you’ve been doing great in Vaintz Village, so take it easy at the hideout.”
The members of Bonus Trading Company are all so wonderful. I don’t have the confidence that I am worthy of joining them. Unlike Oscar-san, I don’t possess any special skills. Although I’m better at magic than most, I don’t know if it will be useful to Bonus Trading Company. They might even see me as a burden or a danger due to my noble status.
Despite that, I still want to be accepted by them. I’ve never longed for something so much in my life. So, I’ll gather my courage and ask them.
“Mo—more… please…”
“Laura, you sure can eat a lot.”
“Here you go!”
But, it seems… I need a little more time for that. In the rebuilding of Vaintz Village, I felt like even someone like me could be of some help. If I can complete this project, I’m sure I’ll have the confidence and determination to ask Bonus-sama.
Ah… I wonder if Bonus-sama really thinks I’m charming. If he even thinks a little of me that way, I—no, that’s not good. My head’s spinning. For now, I’ll just eat this cake and work hard from tomorrow onwards!