"Lady Emilia's failure to come back together means that the "trial" is not over yet."
The three of them were sitting on the sofa in the living room. There were freshly brewed black tea and cups on the coffee table. Faced with Frandelica's first words after making the tea, Subaru looked at the steam on the mouth of the teacup.
Nodding in reply
"Well, I'm really grateful to hear from you so clearly that you understand the situation, especially after talking to a guy who clearly knew the situation but prevaricated or changed the subject."
"The person who emerged from the bottom of my heart after hearing this description seems to be the same as Subaru-sama."
"Right? Even if you are seriously injured but still don't forget to put on your makeup, that is completely intolerable and paranoid."
"Alas"
Frandelica happily accepted Subaru's sarcastic answer. After a slight jab, Subaru leaned forward and entered the topic.
"——First it was the "Sacred Domain", and then it was the "Trial". When you sent us away, you deliberately concealed the information you already knew... Is it because of the oath? You still can't say it now?"
Frandelica, who told Subaru and the others where the "Sanctuary" was, always used "can't say" to explain the known facts.
The reason for insisting on doing this, Frandelica said, is because of "the oath"
Are those shackles still there? Faced with Subaru's question, Frandelica shook her head.
"I am very sorry that I cannot respond to your expectations. The oath is still valid... However, the oath is different from the contract and the covenant. It has no force and is just my personal determination."
"Since there is no coercion, why can't we provide convenience? Even if it violates your morality, you also know that we have a situation here, right?"
"——Ten years, seven months and thirteen days"
Frandelica suddenly said this to Subaru who was persuading her earnestly. Subaru was confused by this as he had never heard of it before. Frandelica quietly put the tea cup to her mouth.
"This is the day when I leave the "Sacred Realm" and serve the master. It is also the time when the oath begins... Master Subaru wants me to give up this period of time?"
"...The topic of time was just mentioned to me by Ram."
Seeing that she spoke calmly, Subaru scratched his head and took a deep breath before continuing.
"——I think it depends on the situation. I want to respect the time you spent and the feelings you accumulated, but if it interferes with something important, it should be broken."
“It’s easy to put it”
"I'm not asking you to tear it up with a serious face, but if you just agree to tear it down."
As soon as she made the motion of tearing up the paper, Frandelica narrowed her emerald eyes. Neither party would give in, forcing their opinions on the other party without even being called a negotiation. Subaru also knew that this would bring nothing.
good results, so we decided to attack from other directions
"...I understand that you are very stubborn, so let's talk about something else, Frandelica, look at this."
"Subaru-sama?"
Subaru put his hand into his arms and handed the things that others had entrusted to him to Frandelika. The pyroxene shone with blue light. Frandelika looked surprised when she saw the light, and then she noticed something.
"This is the pyroxene I gave you...no, isn't it? This necklace...eh?"
"Although it looks very similar, this is another one. Take it over and check it out."
Frandelica blinked and took the necklace with trembling hands. She stared at the pyroxene in her palm and confirmed the touch several times before speaking.
"This is Jiafei's pyroxene...is it?"
"Exactly, it's Jia Fei's pyroxene. The guy gave it to me before he left... But just give it to Ram."
"Anyway, the title Jia Fei is only used by close people, like Ram, Miss Lutz... and you, I always feel that I can imagine what your relationship is."
"...You didn't hear what Jia Fei said, right?"
"You can tell your blood relationship just by looking at your face. Besides, I guess you are a sister, but after all, it's just based on your attributes. It's just a wild guess on my part."
"Although I don't understand what you mean by "attribute", you are right. I am Jia Fei's... Jia Fei's biological sister."
With a faint smile, Frandelica touched the corners of her eyes with her fingers. The act of wiping away her tears with her fingers made Subaru feel like he had seen something he shouldn't have seen, so he looked away.
"Oh, Subaru-sama is surprisingly timid."
"Any man would be at a loss when he sees a girl crying. This handkerchief has been washed."
"It's not the handkerchief Petra gave you...you are unexpectedly a gentleman."
The habit of carrying a handkerchief was developed in his hometown. While thanking his mother for cultivating his good habit, Subaru blushed at Frandelica's teasing.
"In short! I don't expect this necklace to bring much change. After all, it is just used to create a topic opportunity to enter a more important topic."
"What's the important theme?"
"Yes, theme - why do you set a trap that will trigger a transfer when you reach the "sacred area"?"
"...?! Isn't your question too abrupt?"
Yuexing, who was drinking tea at the side, almost spit out the tea in his mouth when he heard Subaru's questioning words.
"Answer me, Frandelica, or is this something that cannot be said because of the oath?"
"————"
"If that's really the case, you are not allowed to remain silent here. You must tell me."
Subaru stared closely at Frandelica in front of him, not missing her every move.
Without Ram, it would be dangerous to step into the core
"——Subaru-sama"
Staring at Subaru who was nervous as he prepared for a showdown, Frandelica briefly called
Subaru responded to her call by sharpening his vision.
Subaru's black pupils and Frandelica's emerald pupils were facing each other head-on——
"...What is the transfer you are talking about?"
"--,----,----,Huh?"
Frandelica answered with a question mark on her head, and Subaru was stunned and opened his mouth.
"Just, even if you look at me like that...if you don't know something, you just don't know it, and I can't answer it."
"Wait, wait, wait, I won't be deceived! If you don't know anything, it's subverting the premise! You should be a conservative or a status quo faction in the "Sanctuary", otherwise you are helping them.
!?"
"Be conservative? Maintain the status quo? What on earth are you talking about... Can you explain it from the beginning?"
"You want me to explain to you the matter of the "Sacred Domain" from the beginning!?"
Frandelica insisted that she didn't understand it at all, which was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Subaru.
The original purpose of this conversation was to ask Frandelica what she knew about the "Sacred Realm", but now the position is reversed.
"Uh, isn't this your acting skills...or your inner drama?"
"————"
Seeing Subaru clinging to this possibility, Frandelica shook her head in pity.
Such an action made Subaru's soles collapse. Of course, he didn't completely believe Frandelica's words. Although he didn't believe her completely, she didn't look like she was lying.
"——Leave Ram behind and challenge Frandelica alone. It seems that Balus is desperate for his life."
When I heard this sentence, the door of the reception room was opened boldly.
Ram appeared with her arms crossed and an arrogant attitude. When she saw Subaru with a stunned look on his face, she sighed softly and said:
"It turns out your assumption is wrong. It's so pathetic that it's hard to stand."
"Yeah, I'm so sorry... I mean, wait a minute! This wrong assumption originally came from what you said about the status quo faction in the "Sanctuary" and that Frandelica might be helping them.
ah!?"
"It's just a possibility. Rather than finding fault with others, it's better to do something more constructive."
"I can't accept it!!"
Ram, who had been belted with a hard belt, ignored Subaru who was holding his head. Instead, he sat openly next to Subaru, picked up the black tea he had not yet drunk and sipped it.
"...It seems that your tea-making skills have not improved during your absence."
"Oh, obviously the only thing I'm good at is making tea, you're such an unlovable kid."
"Ram doesn't need to be cute, because Ram is already extremely cute. If he continues to be cute, the world will be very dangerous."
"Really, you still dare to speak with your mouth! It's really...very your style."
Frandelica bared her teeth and swore, but there was a soft tone at the end of her words. There was also a little affection in the 101 non-trampling expression on Ram's face.
Colleagues who have worked together for a long time, or closer to childhood friends or friends, give people this feeling
"Although I haven't been away for a long time, are you still okay?"