Chapter 6.9

“Miss Brienne! Over here!”

After breakfast, time passed quickly as Brienne organized the luggage she had spread out over the past two days. Because she arrived at Mashern Harbor earlier than expected, she worried she might miss Lusell, but fortunately, he was waiting for Brienne at the dock.

“Lusell! You came out early. I was worried I’d arrive too soon, but thank you so much.”

“Not at all, Miss Brienne. I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes with your request. Have you eaten?”

“Yes, how have you been, Lusell?”

“Of course, I’ve been well. I saw my family for the first time in a while and rested well, so I’m in great shape today.”

“Really? Oh, come to think of it…”

Lusell’s face, which always looked tired under the eyes, seemed more lively.

“I’m really glad you’re doing well. I won’t feel bad borrowing you for a day.”

Brienne smiled playfully. Lusell glanced over Brienne’s shoulder and lowered his voice.

“Um, but Miss Brienne.”

“Yes?”

“Where are your maid or attendants? You didn’t come all the way here alone, did you?”

Lusell asked with a rather flustered face, tilting his head.

“Yes, well…”

Brienne couldn’t finish her sentence and looked around. At the same time, Lusell’s eyes widened as he spotted Herace standing at a polite distance from her.

“Wait, that gentleman is…?”

“Oh, he didn’t come with me. We met by chance. Herace also has business in Roeta.”

Brienne finished her sentence with an ambiguous smile, glancing back. Where Brienne’s gaze landed, Herace stood in a thin linen shirt.

His silver hair shone beautifully under the bright Rontiano sunlight.

“By chance?”

“Yes, he said he has business at the Mage Association.”

Brienne answered calmly, keeping her eyes fixed on Herace and raising the corner of her lips. Herace, who seemed even more perfect today and annoyed Brienne for it, simply responded with a smile.

In the end, Brienne did not look for Herace until she got off the ship. And Herace was the same.

Brienne, who had secretly hoped he would come to her, felt even worse, but Herace showed up right before disembarking, looking as composed as ever, and casually checked her complexion.

“Brienne, how are you feeling?”

“…I’m fine after a good sleep. Thanks to you, Herace.”

“That’s a relief. Still, just in case, don’t overdo it when you get to the Academy.”

“I will, thank you for worrying about me.”

Brienne smiled as usual but made it clear how she felt by not meeting Herace’s eyes. However, Herace seemed not to notice at all.

“Oh, come to think of it, I didn’t get to thank you for covering me with the blanket. Thanks to you, I slept warmly. It was worth guarding the room until you woke up.”

So, he pretended not to know that she was afraid to reach out to him first and get rejected again, and even made a polite joke.

How could such a perceptive man end up like this?

“…Are you teasing me right now?”

“No, of course not.”

After his light laugh, it was time to get off, so the conversation ended. Still, Brienne thought about asking Lusell to give Herace a ride to the Association. Seeing Herace alone, it seemed he hadn’t brought an escort either.

Meanwhile, Lusell approached Herace and bowed politely.

“I see. It’s an honor to see you again, Sir Herace! Let me introduce myself properly. I am Lusellion Bartshire of the Marquis Bartshire family.”

“Ah, I know the Marquis Bartshire family well. So you’re a noble of the Holy Kingdom of Roeta.”

Lusell, who seemed somewhat excited, offered Herace a handshake, and Brienne glanced around for no reason.

Trying not to think about Herace, Brienne’s gaze stopped across the street. Among those waiting for the stagecoach, Diashi was tying up her navy hair.

‘Ah, Miss Diashi…’

Come to think of it, Brienne hadn’t run into Diashi since that day. Diashi said she was also on her way to the Academy.

‘Would it be too late to greet her now?’

Brienne, distracted by Diashi, hesitated and took a step toward her. At that moment, Diashi, who was looking around, met Brienne’s eyes.

“…Lusell, I’ll just go say hi for a moment!”

Without hesitation, Brienne ran toward Diashi.

* * *

“Miss Diashi, just a moment!”

Without waiting for Lusell’s answer, Brienne crossed the street and stopped in front of Diashi. As soon as Diashi spotted Brienne, she stepped out of line, and the stagecoach began loading people.

However, even as the coach filled with people and prepared to depart, Brienne couldn’t say a word.

Brienne had run over to greet Diashi, but she was afraid of how Diashi might react.

‘…What if Miss Diashi hates me now?’

Diashi liked Herace. Maybe she felt like she’d lost someone she liked right in front of her.

It was common for someone to dislike Brienne, but it never got easier. Sharp gazes always hurt and scared her. Even knowing it was a frustrating thought, she couldn’t muster the courage.

But…

Brienne didn’t want to drift apart from Diashi, no matter what.

“Miss Diashi, um…”

The moment Brienne finally opened her mouth with her eyes tightly shut, Diashi, who had been waiting upright, stepped closer.

“I thought you had something to say, so I waited, but this won’t do. Listen, Miss.”

As expected, Diashi’s expression was stiff. Brienne held her breath nervously and looked up at Diashi.

But—

“How are you feeling?”

“…Pardon?”

“No, I mean yesterday. I felt so bad for eating bread cluelessly while you were sick…! It’s because you stayed up late with me, right? You caught a cold.”

But Diashi said something completely unexpected. 

‘Sorry?’

Brienne blinked, unable to understand.

“Miss Diashi… You’re not mad at me?”

“Huh? Mad? What do you mean?”

Diashi opened her eyes wide as if she truly didn’t understand. Brienne, staring at her with trembling eyes, let out a faint sigh.

She’d assumed Diashi would be angry. Was she unconsciously confusing Melosi and Diashi? The memory of Melosi turning away after learning about Brienne’s relationship with Kaiden came to mind.

‘…Miss Diashi isn’t Melosi.’

She hadn’t realized such a simple fact.

Even if she was afraid of Diashi’s reaction, she’d been too narrow-minded. Even though she knew Diashi was a good person, she’d misunderstood, and she couldn’t forgive herself for that.

Diashi, realizing what Brienne had been worried about, exclaimed.

“Ah! You mean Herace, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Wow, was it that obvious?”

When Brienne nodded cautiously, Diashi’s eyes softened in an uncharacteristic way. Brienne looked up at her with a faint smile.

“Actually, I already knew. I heard about you from Shylo. I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Shylo…?”

Diashi muttered in surprise, and Brienne hurried to explain.

“Ah, Shylo didn’t say anything bad. Shylo is my brother. He was just telling me about the Academy…”

“I knew it!”

“Huh?”

“No wonder! The hair and eye color are the same, and you have a similar vibe!”

Diashi clapped her hands, raised her voice, and examined Brienne’s face. People started to look, but Brienne bravely turned her head side to side so Diashi could see her properly. Diashi burst out laughing.

“No, no, you don’t have to go that far! But it’s funny. When you called me Miss Diashi, I kept thinking of Shyl.”

“Did you just call him… Shyl?”

Surprised by the familiar nickname, Brienne asked again. But Diashi just grinned and changed the subject.

“Yes, Shyl. Anyway, don’t worry about it. I’m just happy to know that the lady Herace likes is such a pretty and lovely person.”

‘The lady he likes?’

“What do you mean…?”

“Well, it’s embarrassing, but I’ve already confessed and been rejected a few times. Was it the third time I confessed? He said he’d liked someone in his homeland for a long time.”

Diashi glanced across the street, lowered her voice, and leaned in.

“Of course, he said it was unrequited love.”

‘Unrequited love, and for a long time…’

Brienne wasn’t foolish enough to wonder who that could be. Only then did she realize the meaning of Herace’s words, and her cheeks flushed.

<I was going to say you’re beautiful. So much so that none of the time I spent waiting feels wasted.>

<…Just how long did you wait?>

<Well, longer than you probably think.>

The day Herace came to escort her. She finally understood the meaning behind his words. Diashi, reading the embarrassment on Brienne’s face, laughed out loud.

“Anyway, I gave up a long time ago after hearing that. No matter how many times I tried, I realized he was a man who wouldn’t budge. Honestly, I never thought we’d meet again like this!”

To add one more embarrassing story, on graduation day, Diashi said she tried one last time and, for the first time, felt a sense of danger from Herace’s face. Diashi shuddered and straightened her posture again.

“So don’t worry about other people. Just think about yourself and how happy you make him.”

“Are you really… okay with it?”

Brienne looked at Diashi, who spoke so casually, with disbelief. How could someone be like that? She herself could never be as calm as Diashi.

The moment Brienne saw Kaiden with Melosi, she remembered how it felt when the gentle smile and gaze she thought were meant only for her turned toward another woman.

She still couldn’t forget.

Of course, Brienne didn’t assume Diashi’s feelings were exactly like her own, but at least, the emotions Brienne knew were all she had.

But Diashi was truly cheerful.

“Of course! There are so many good things and happy moments in the world. If I miss out on that happiness by comparing myself to others, I’d feel too sorry for myself.”

“……”

“And most importantly, you’re my friend now.”

Diashi smiled kindly and held Brienne’s hand tightly. At that moment, Brienne felt she understood why Shylo liked Diashi.

‘How could anyone not like someone like her?’

“…Thank you for saying that, Miss Diashi. Really.”

“Hey, there’s nothing to be thankful for over this! Instead, hurry and go to Sir Herace. Next time we meet, don’t be sick, okay?”

“Yes, I will. Until we meet again, Miss Diashi, take care too.”

Brienne calmed her fluttering heart and smiled at Diashi. It was a short meeting, but a beautiful farewell. Brienne wished she could be an even better person when they met again.

And the moment Brienne made that resolution, Lusell crossed the street and approached them.

“Um… Miss Brienne, if this person is also headed to the Academy or Association, should I give her a ride to the capital too?”

“Pardon…?”

“……”

Brienne, who had just been hugged by Diashi, looked at Lusell with an awkward face.