Dressed in a pure white shirt with a cross-tie and knee-high half-pants, he had the appearance which was exactly like a painting of a young boy coming from a distinguished and noble family.
Hirasawa Kazuki had become Harold Stokes. It seemed hard to accept, but with this, he had practically confirmed that this was the truth.
Neither the reasoning nor the process was understood. Well then, should this situation be gathered as possessing a person or should it be fine with viewing it as a frighteningly real dream. Or maybe, Hirasawa Kazuki had switched places with Harold Stokes, or it might also be that the consciousness of Hirasawa Kazuki had been birthed by the delusions of the owner of this body that had gone crazy.
「……Come in」
(Ah, but I wouldn’t abruptly tell them to 「Come in」)
Anyway, he, who becomes a refreshing agent to the heart in the event related to the highly ranked and valued Stokes house, stepped into Kazuki’s (Harold’s) room.
「Excuse my rudeness」
「What business do you have?」
「To be honest, I want to consult Harold-sama about…….」
「Perhaps, are you feeling unwell? Then…….」
「There’s no problem」
「But your complexion is――」
「I’m telling you that there’s no problem」
He thought about speaking at a later time, but looking at Harold’s eyes which were screaming – 「Hurry up and speak」, Norman continued the conversation.
「…….Then, I’ll be brief. I am requesting for reduction of the punishment imposed on Clara」
In short, Colette was the main heroine and if Clara was saved now, she wouldn’t encounter the protagonist, which would be a huge deviation from the story. Kazuki realized this and was at a loss for words.
(If that is true, then the events of the original work can’t be avoided and my future would be pitch black. Let me assume that a power like that doesn’t exist)
(For that purpose, if I take actions which deviate too much from the original work, I would lose an advantage, which would be a poor plan. Without changing the scenario in a broad sense, if I could guide only the conclusion to a decent direction, then……..!)
「Clara is that servant, right? Bastard, are you telling me to act for the sake of rescuing her.」
Naturally, as though he was dispirited, Norman’s expression became clouded.
(This is bad!)
「If you want to help, to start with, move on your own. I will listen to your words after that」
「In, in that case……..!」
「Importunate. Get out immediately」
While that may be true, he couldn’t just tell – 「As expected, shall I give up」. If the worst situation was to be assumed, the situation where death in this world would, without a doubt, be the death of Hirasawa Kazuki, which would be extremely troublesome. There might also be a possibility of returning back to his original world by dying here, but the risk was too high for him to put it into action.
And so, what was it that Kazuki ought to do now. It was to gather information, to get a good grasp on the present situation.
「Oi, bastard」
「Ha Ha!」
「Lead me to the dungeon where the servant called Clara is imprisoned」
「To the dungeon?」
「What? If you have any objections, I’ll listen to them」
「No, I don’t! This way please!」
With brisk movements, the soldier took the lead. The armor was clattering noisily. It looked like it would be an annoyance if he wandered around in the mansion during night.
「This is the dungeon」
「How many people are imprisoned?」
「For now, it should be a single person, but…….. 」
If it was like that, it seemed that the only one inside was Clara. For Kazuki, this was convenient.
「You remain here and keep a lookout so that no one comes inside」
「Ce, certainly」
Making the soldier stand outside, only Kazuki entered inside the building after opening the wooden door.
「Ha, Harold-sama!? Uo!」
In the narrow room, which had the appearance of a guardroom, there was the form of yet another soldier. Lying down upon the chair which was lined up, was the posture of the soldier indicating his blatant idling.
The soldier, hurriedly trying to rise up, tripped and fell down from the chair. Kazuki ignored that and extended his hand to an iron grill, furnished on the ground in the left-hand corner of the room, which appeared to lead to the dungeon. When he pulled it, he found that it was locked tightly.
「Hand over the key」
「Ye, yes!」
The soldier handed over a key to Harold, from the ones hung on the wall. He inserted the key into the keyhole and when he turned it to the left side, the lock opened with a loud clank.
「I have to talk with the person in the dungeon. Don’t you dare enter」
The prison had a total of 4 cells, 2 on each side. Each cell only had something which seemed like a bed made only out of straw and a simple toilet out in the open. On the wall at the other side of the prison was a small window, with a height of 20 cm and a width of 30 cm, through which a small amount of light was illuminating the prison.
Kazuki stopped his feet in front of the cell situated at the interior right hand side, in which Clara was imprisoned.
「There is no mistake that you are Clara Emerel , right?」
「Harold-sama……?」
「Perhaps……….Has that time already come?」
But the reply from Harold was something which greatly deviated from her prediction.
「If that is your wish, then I will do so. But currently, it’s for a different matter.」
「A different matter, is it?」
「Just confirmation. You only need to answer my questions without any lies or deception」
「……..Okay, I will answer all the questions you ask me」
The vigor with which Clara could show agreement, was only by nodding. It was completely different from how he normally behaved, where he always wanted to have his own way. She was swallowed by the atmosphere given off by Harold, who was emitting a calm and composed aura and was unbecoming of his age.
「What is the composition of your family?」
「I have a single daughter」
「What is her name?」
「She is called Colette」
「What about blood relatives or close family members other than her?」
「I left my hometown with my husband, which was similar to running away, and from then on it was a state of isolation from my house. 3 years ago, due to a disease, my husband……..」
(So there was reason like that for Colette not having a relative other than her mother)
「The age of your daughter is?」
「She becomes 9 this year」
「Do you have any experience in martial arts or using any magic?」
「No, things like that in particular……..」
「That’s it. Well then」
「Wait for a moment please」
Clara pleaded for Kazuki, who was about to leave, to halt.
「……..What?」
「If I die, then my daughter………Colette will be all alone. At that age, she wouldn’t even be able to survive if she is left alone……..」
Clara tells that while shedding tears.
「Therefore, after my death, please take care of my daughter! That girl has done no wrong. Please, please I beg you…….! 」
「Unsightly. That appearance and also the utter stupidity of being seized by needless and meaningless anxiety」
For Harold, this seemed to be consoling words. Up to what extent does his haughty attitude go.
「That is, what do you mean by………..」
Without answering Clara’s question, Kazuki starts to walk away. If he were to stay in front of her any more than this, it seemed as though he would start crying out of sympathy. Turning his back on her, Kazuki briefly told her –
「If you love her to that extent, never again let go of her」
「This despair is needless anxiety, is it……..? Can I once again embrace Colette with these arms……..?」
