Chapter 133 - Damn Reincarnation

Preparing for the Hunt

There is a saying that a newly arrived stone dislodges the one already in place.

Ciel Lionheart, twenty years old. A young lady of the illustrious Lionheart family who had never once found herself displaced since the day she was born.

Eugene had been adopted into the family when she was thirteen, but Ciel had never considered him a newly arrived stone. Of course, she did not consider herself a stone already in place, either.

She deserved the main family's love. Cyan apparently felt threatened by Eugene, but to the young Ciel, such fears were simply laughable.

Ciel had been born cute and lovable. And from a young age, she had known how to wield those natural weapons effectively.

Her foolish, slow-witted older brother did not know how to do that, and their mother frequently scolded him harshly. But not Ciel. She knew how to deftly skirt the boundaries of a reprimand, and how to behave to escape one when she ought to have been scolded.

She continued navigating life that way as she grew older. At the same time, she began adding efforts she had never made as a child, one by one.

Ciel had no desire to be a flower that was merely pretty and cute. Lionheart was an illustrious martial family. To earn recognition there, she could not simply smile sweetly and look adorable. She needed abilities worthy of the Lionheart name.

She took up a sword and swung it. Because she did so of her own accord, she received her parents' love without having to act cute. The knights loyal to the family set aside time to teach her even one more thing.

'... I wasn't wrong.'

She had been perceptive since childhood. She knew her mother secretly wanted a cute, lovable daughter. She also knew her mother wanted them to spend time together like a noble mother and daughter, holding teacups rather than swords and wearing dresses rather than uniforms and training clothes.

She knew, but she had not obliged. It was not that she disregarded her mother's wishes. Those wishes were only a passing impulse. The mother Ciel knew, Anisilla, wanted a strong, beautiful lion worthy of Lionheart, not a noble young lady as radiant as a flower.

'I wasn't wrong, but...'

This was cheating.

Ciel stared ahead, her fists trembling.

A ten-year-old girl sat on Anisilla's lap.

Ciel had sat on Anisilla's lap at that age, too. But she had stopped after the Bloodline Succession Ceremony. Completing that ceremony meant being recognized as a member of Lionheart. From that point on, she had to be a young lion, not a child.

It was Anisilla herself who had taught her that.

'... That's my seat...!'

It had been, at least until a few years ago. Even if she had never sat there after the Bloodline Succession Ceremony, Ciel could have sat on Anisilla's lap whenever she wished. That was a place reserved for Ciel alone in Lionheart.

Or it should have been. Some little girl had stolen her seat. What unsettled Ciel even more was the look in Anisilla's eyes as she gazed at the girl. Eyes brimming with love and joy, as though she were looking at her own young daughter!

'I understand... I do understand. Mother must have been lonely, too.'

But even so, how could she look at someone else that way with her own daughter right there? For the first time in a very long while, Ciel felt jealous. She wanted to shove the girl aside and sit on Anisilla's lap herself, right this instant.

"Isn't she adorable?"

Anisilla could not have read that quiet fury, but her timing was truly impeccable.

"She reminds me of you when you were little, Ciel."

"... I think I was cuter, though?"

Ciel answered with a bright smile. Her tone was distinctly challenging. With smiling eyes, she stared at the girl, Mer.

"This is our first time meeting, Lady Ciel, but Lady Anisilla has told me about you many times."

Mer answered as she nibbled a cookie.

"She said she had a very beautiful daughter who looks just like her..."

"Oh, you... Don't say such embarrassing things."

"But it's true. Lady Ciel is so beautiful!"

Mer put down her cookie and beamed.

That smile landed a punch deep in Ciel's heart. Without realizing it, she steadied her breathing and tucked in her chin.

'No wonder Mother is so enchanted...'

Something Ciel had inevitably shed as she grew older, year by year.

A child's innocence.

The girl before her still possessed what Ciel had shed. Moreover, she was not a Lionheart. She had no ambition to become a lion rather than a flower. That made her all the more capable of kindling Anisilla's maternal affection with pure innocence.

She wore pretty clothes as Anisilla wished, and ate whatever sweet treats she was given without worrying about her physique. All things Ciel had begun distancing herself from at some point.

'... Jealous of a little child. Honestly, what am I doing...?'

Belatedly composing herself, Ciel sipped her black tea.

'... Huh?'

A moment later, she realized something.

'I think I was cuter, though?'

The challenge she had issued first.

Mer had not agreed with it. She had merely responded with beauty rather than cuteness. That was no contest. Cuteness and beauty were different things. Beautiful was not a word that suited a ten-year-old girl.

'... Surely not.'

She was overthinking it. Keeping her smile in place, Ciel set down her teacup. Across from her, Mer picked up another cookie and slipped it into Anisilla's mouth.

'... It couldn't be...'

No.

She had been right. For just an instant, Ciel's eyes met Mer's. In the smiling girl's eyes, she recognized a slyness much like her own.

Ciel Lionheart, twenty years old. Past girlhood.

And that was why she had lost to a little girl.

"... Ahem."

Ciel did not want to admit defeat. So she sprang to her feet and sat beside Anisilla. She naturally linked her arm through her mother's and rested her head on her shoulder.

"I missed you, Mother."

"Oh my..."

"Lady Anisilla, try this one, too. It's so delicious!"

"Oh my... Oh my..."

Anisilla trembled with overwhelming emotion.

She was grateful to be a mother.

"Not bad."

After the tea party ended, Ciel left the room with Mer.

"To think you managed to enchant Mother so thoroughly in just a few days."

"I've never enchanted anyone."

Mer looked up at Ciel with a broad smile.

"Lady Anisilla simply finds me very adorable."

She had lived in Akron for hundreds of years. Its only visitors were stuffy mages. Rather than seeing Mer as the cute little girl she appeared to be, they had treated her as nothing more than a well-made familiar.

Consequently, Mer had never really appreciated her own cuteness.

But after leaving Akron, she could not help becoming aware of it, whether she wanted to or not. The outside world was full of unknowns she had never encountered.

"... You. You look like a child, but I hear you were actually created hundreds of years ago."

"But I haven't aged mentally. My personality is modeled on Senya the Wise's childhood self."

"What does that matter? Even if you were made that way originally, your mind would age after hundreds of years."

"I haven't grown old myself. Isn't the mind shaped by experience and the body's age in the first place? I've existed for hundreds of years, but I haven't experienced as much as you have, Lady Ciel. And of course, my body hasn't grown, either."

"... It's not as though I've experienced that much, either, you know?"

Ciel snorted as she spoke.

"Why are you two fighting?"

Eugene, who had finished his conversation with Carmen, intervened. He tilted his head at Ciel and Mer, who were sizing each other up in the middle of the hallway.

"Sir Eugene!"

Mer ran to him with a smile, as though she had been waiting for him. Watching her leap up and cling to Eugene's arm, Ciel felt a complicated pang of jealousy.

"... Fighting? What fighting? Why would I fight with a little kid?"

Ciel strode over and stopped in front of Eugene. She gave Mer, who was hanging from his arm, a dismissive look, then casually moved to his side.

On equal footing, meeting his eyes. She slipped out an arm and linked it through Eugene's.

"You're going to Black Lion Castle, right?"

"What's gotten into you?"

"Your arm feels thicker than last time. Are you still doing that ridiculous training?"

Ciel smiled with her eyes as she looked at Eugene—no, at Mer.

Then she realized something else. Mer felt no jealousy whatsoever over Ciel's behavior. Of course she didn't. Mer was a little girl, and she did not see Eugene the way Ciel did.

'... Ugh...!'

That realization brought a fresh surge of embarrassment. Linking arms with Eugene was nothing to be embarrassed about in itself, but she felt as though that little brat had made a fool of her.

"... Ahem."

Ciel released the arm she had gone to such trouble to take and stepped back.

"There's no reason to drag your feet, is there? Knowing you, you won't refuse. ... Anyway, did you enjoy your trip with Auxiliary Bishop Kristina?"

"You could say I enjoyed it."

"Really? Just the two of you. Just. The two of you. Traveling through a harsh wilderness... and you enjoyed it. I don't understand. How could that be enjoyable?"

Ciel stared at Eugene through narrowed eyes.

"The Great Forest of Samar isn't a city, is it? It barely has any proper villages. Wherever you go, it's nothing but trees and dirt. What did you do for lodging? You camped, I assume. Naturally. Don't tell me you shared a tent?"

"Don't get smart."

Eugene gave the interrogating Ciel's forehead a light push with his fingertip.

"Why are you prying in the first place, Ciel?"

"... Because I'm your big sister. I have a right to know about my little brother's 'delinquency.'"

The corners of Ciel's mouth twitched.

Eugene's face crumpled.

"You haven't become a juvenile delinquent who flies off the rails, have you?"

"I... I was wrong, so stop saying things like that."

"Whyyy? You're the one who taught me that nauseating pun."

"That's why I'm saying I was wrong."

Grumbling, Eugene turned away. Ciel trailed closely after him as he hurried along as though fleeing.

"Where are you going? To the warp gate?"

"The hunt doesn't start for another fortnight, right? Why would I go already?"

"So you are going?"

"Yeah."

The head of the Council of Elders might attempt to assassinate him. Considering that risk, it would be better to stay at the main estate rather than go.

But then he would never learn the truth.

'Genos will be there, too.'

The Black Lion Knights would also participate in the hunt. He could not trust the Council of Elders, but he could trust Genos.

"Since you're here anyway, you might as well relax for a few days and spend time with Lady Anisilla. I heard you went straight back the last time you visited."

Grumbling, Eugene looked at Ciel's waist.

An oddly shaped sword hung there. Javel, the Flying Sword. A weapon of Vermouth's that he had secretly coveted but failed to acquire.

"Isn't it impressive?"

Ciel noticed Eugene's gaze lingering on Javel. Smiling broadly, she tapped its hilt.

"I still can't use it properly, but I'm getting fairly used to the feel of it."

"... It's a difficult weapon to handle."

"How would you know that?"

"Ahem... I can tell by looking. It looks like a fucking nightmare to begin with."

Javel was a sword, but it was like a whip. The hundreds of blades that formed its blade extended and lashed out with every swing.

"Is Cyan doing well?"

"He's doing well enough. Physically, he looks like he's having a hard time."

Cyan had not returned from Black Lion Castle.

"The captains train him every day. Even today, Lord Genos was putting him through the wringer. Oh, my brother had a message he insisted I give you."

"What did he say?"

"He says he'll kill you if you don't join the hunt."

"How would he kill me?"

"It's just a figure of speech."

Giggling, Ciel pressed close to Eugene's side. Mer, who had been clinging to his arm, wriggled into his cloak.

'What's she doing?'

Not understanding Mer's behavior, Ciel gave her a sidelong look. Soon, Mer vanished completely inside the cloak. Ciel let out a startled sound and lifted it.

"Where did she—"

"I'm right here."

Mer answered, poking just her head out from inside the cloak.

"Would you like to come in, too, Lady Ciel?"

"She can't come in."

"It's really nice in here."

Mer smiled infuriatingly, and Ciel furrowed her brows and dropped the cloak back over her.

"... You heard that Eward is coming, right?"

"I'm surprised they allowed it."

Eugene smiled bitterly.

"They wouldn't even let him have his coming-of-age ceremony."

"... The family head did a great deal of persuading."

Ciel answered with a sigh.

"It's been three years. All that time, Eward has been shut away with Lady Theonis's family. They decided he'd spent long enough reflecting on his actions... and that they couldn't leave the 'eldest son' like that forever."

"It's so blatant it's funny."

"Yes, I think so, too. So does Cyan."

Cyan was the next family head.

Even if Eward emerged from his period of reflection, that would not change. Eward remained stripped of his succession rights.

"Quite a few people from the collateral branches will be joining the hunt, too. The elders want to use the occasion to cement the next family head's position."

Though Eward's transgression had been serious enough to disqualify him from becoming family head, his claim was the more legitimate one.

"Apparently, he kept practicing magic while he was secluded. But... you know better than anyone, don't you?"

"Even if Eward trained himself half to death for three years, he couldn't beat Cyan."

Eugene answered without hesitation.

"Of course not. You're adopted, and your abilities are already famous... but Eward is different. He's the eldest son, and his abilities aren't known. That's why they need proof. Proof that Eward is overwhelmingly inferior to Cyan."

"... But he's the one who said he wanted to join the hunt."

"Do you really think Eward wanted that? With his personality? Lady Theonis must have pushed him into it."

Eugene agreed with that assessment.

They had first met seven years earlier. At fifteen, Eward had been... weak-willed. A young boy whose eyes shone at Lovellian's magic, utterly captivated by it.

Three years ago, on Bolero Street in Aroth.

Eugene had seen what a pathetic bastard Eward was. He had been nineteen then, two years older than Eugene.

"... I think three years is enough time for someone to change, but..."

Eugene clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"He's not the sort to change. His circumstances don't help, either."

"... Lady Theonis is so overbearing."

"Exactly. If he really wants to change, he needs to get out from under Lady Theonis's skirts. But he couldn't do that, could he? He spent three years with her family, under her control."

Ciel shuddered as she recalled Theonis's fierce glare.

"... How awful."

If not for what had happened with Eward, Anisilla might have become that way, too.

"... Anyway, where are you going?"

"The forest."

"Why?"

"It's time to train."

Eugene answered nonchalantly, and Ciel's mouth fell open.

"... You're not going to spend time with me?"

"We can have fun while training."

Clicking her tongue in disbelief, Ciel followed Eugene.

* * *

"You don't need to worry so much."

His mother was a woman with so much love to give.

"I made this decision myself. Yes, I know. They won't like me."

He understood. It was only natural for a mother to love her son. Even if he was an inadequate son, a mother could not help loving him.

"That makes me want to prove myself there all the more."

Eward smiled broadly and put down his utensils.

His mother, Theonis, sat opposite him, wearing a loving smile. Eward liked seeing his mother smile that way.

At some point during his childhood, she had stopped smiling like that.

She had always looked at him with reproachful eyes, twisting her lips instead of smiling. Rather than whispering love and praise for her son, she had only scolded him, speaking of a future he did not even want.

It had all happened because Eward was inadequate, because he had done something wrong. Once he realized that, everything became simple.

If he changed himself, changing his mother's expression was very easy.

"You'll do well."

Eward nodded.

"Because you're my son. My beloved son, Eward. Lionheart's eldest son."

"Yes. I'm your son, Mother."

"Even if you can't become family head, you are still my son."

"Yes, that's right. Of course I am. I'm sorry, Mother. If I hadn't made that mistake, I could have become family head as you wished."

"Please, Eward. Don't call it a 'mistake.' It was all my fault that you had no choice but to do that. If I had loved you more and understood your feelings..."

"I'm all right."

Eward smiled and shook his head.

"Your scolding made me who I am today."

"Ah... To hear you say that... I'm so grateful..."

"You didn't do it because you hated me, Mother. It was all because you loved me so much."

"You'll do well."

"Yes."

"You're a gifted boy, Eward."

Eward felt his mother's love. With a radiant smile, he rose from his seat. A warm dining table. The sunlight streaming through the window was beautiful. Eward smiled at the birds chirping outside.

Today was a good day.

"I'll be leaving now."

Eward spoke as he closed the curtains. He liked this sunlight, but his mother did not care for it very much.

"Don't come out to see me off."

"Will you be all right without me accompanying you?"

"Yes, of course. Stay here and cheer me on."

"My love will be with you."

He left the dining table. Opening the door and stepping out, he saw the attendants standing in the hallway.

"Young master, you're leaving today, aren't you?"

"You'll do well, young master."

Passing the attendants' words of encouragement, he entered the mansion's hall. His maternal grandfather, Count Bosar, stood there.

"Oh, Eward. Are you leaving now?"

"Honestly, Grandfather... Didn't I say you didn't need to see me off?"

"Haha! How could I not? My beloved grandson is finally going out into the world!"

Though Eward looked embarrassed, he approached Count Bosar and embraced him.

"Thank you, Grandfather."

"The head of Lionheart? What does that matter? What matters is what you want to do, Eward. I respect your wishes entirely."

"Thank you. Truly, thank you."

Leaving his grandfather's embrace, Eward stood before the closed door. He gazed at it for a while, then turned to look back.

He had told her not to come see him off. Yet his mother stood beside his grandfather, smiling at him. Dozens of the mansion's attendants had all put aside their work and come out to cheer him on, too.

"Goodbye."

Eward spoke as he wiped away the tears that had welled up from emotion.