She stopped under a large tree, which was more than 20m tall. In a view where cherry blossom petals were fluttering about like in an illusion, she turned towards Kazuki.
「Greeting you again. I am Tasuku Sumeragi’s daughter, Erika Sumeragi」
「Harold Stokes」
As soon as they finished giving their names, silence descended again. Harold’s speech didn’t express any kind of friendly atmosphere at all.
(Or rather, when did this tone return………)
Come to think of it, he recalled that even in the original work, Harold would always speak in a harsh tone with Erika. Perhaps, he could use polite language only in front of his superiors.
Honestly speaking, it was an unsuitable topic for children to speak about frankly, but for Kazuki who was familiar with cherry blossoms, it was a suitable material for him to bite onto.
「Do you know about Sakura?」
Although Erika was expressionless until now, her eyes wavered slightly at his reply.
「No, it’s probably something different with a similar appearance. Well, that kind of thing doesn’t matter」
(Come to think of it, out of the people who appear, the only one that Erika loathes is me)
「In other words, does that mean you hold no interest towards the Sumeragi house?」
「Interpret it as you wish」
「………Is that so. After all, the only thing that you people want is the name of the Sumeragi, right?」
「You have nothing other than the name. Aren’t you mistaking it for that? Other than name, it doesn’t seem as though the Stokes house is inferior. Even though you people are called as prominent and prestigious nobles, it is pathetic that you can only sit and cry inside the house」
「What do you know……….!」
「………What might this be?」
「Shut up and accept it. And after we leave, hand it over to your father」
「I refuse」
「Ah, is that so. If you want to let the people in your territory, who are suffering, die, then do so」
「………..There is a way to save them?」
「It can’t be said that there is. But it is worth trying out」
A gust of wind blew by, and the cherry blossom petals fluttered as though wrapping around the 2 people. After staring at each other briefly in silence, the one who moved first was Erika.
「It isn’t as though I believe in your words, but……..」
「There is no need to believe without any reason. Decide based on the results」
◇
Without knowing even a bit of Erika’s distress, Harold spoke ill of the Sumeragi house. It was an act which couldn’t possibly be forgiven.
「Forgive me, Erika………」
Those words leaked out in a regretful tone from Tasuku, who was standing next to her watching the carriage leave. He couldn’t honestly be delighted at making someone, who she didn’t even want to be with, marry her.
Even so, if he had to make a mortifying choice to protect the lives and livelihood of several tens of thousands of people, then it was his duty as the head of the house to do so.
「Please don’t mind it, Father. This is also for the Sumeragi and the people who live here」
「Father, this. Harold-sama asked me to give it to you after they left」
Taking out the letter, she held it out to Tasuku.
「From Harold-kun?」
While thinking that he might have been instructed by his parents to greet them for the engagement, he received the letter. Even if it was so, even handing it via Erika, Harold had specified an odd timing for it to be given to him.
「Then, I will return to my room」
「Ah, rest at ease」
「……….There’s no use even if I think about it now」
Spontaneously, power started filling his hand which was holding the letter, and by the time he had finished reading it, the whole letter was deeply wrinkled.
「Is anyone there!? Call Kiryuu!」
「What is it, Master」
「We can’t speak here. Come」
The place which Tasuku chose was the office, where nobody was present. There, he made Kiryuu read the letter from Harold.
As soon as Kiryuu finished reading, Tasuku started talking.
「That letter is from Harold-kun. What do you think?」
「……….Frankly speaking, I think this is suspicious」
「Agreed. But even if this is true or false, there is no benefit for the Stokes family」
「If so, then is it the work of a third party? At the very least, it is hard to think that it was written by the boy himself」
「At the most, he was just used as a go-between, is it」
「The problem is, whose work it is. If it were some supporter of the Sumeragi, there would be no need to choose such a roundabout and unreliable method」
「Then, it’s the work of someone who is against the Stokes house?」
「And that too, someone who is close enough to Harold-kun to make him accept their request, or someone who could manipulate him to any extent. To a degree of brainwashing him」
「It might be bad for the Sumeragi house if we try to pry into them, but……….」
「If we do that, compared to the things we might gain, the risks are too high. Offering a few words, right now, the Sumeragi are in a predicament. If we watch carefully, even without hurrying, it will take the form we desire」
It was as Kiryuu said. As long as a solution wasn’t found, eventually the Sumeragi house would disappear without financial support.
「In other words, if it is that the sender of this letter doesn’t want for that to happen,………」
「It is highly possible that the contents written down are true」
「Kiryuu, gather the required materials at once. And after explaining the risks, employ those who still have hope」
