Chapter 27: Lady Lucia…? – 3

Chapter 27: Lady Lucia…? – 3

‘…I’m crazy, why would I suddenly say something like that here…’

It was clear that Lucia said it as a joke.

But, I reacted to it unnecessarily.

Who would be such a fool as to say that they would really get a house for her when she said, “It’s not like you’re going to buy me a house anyway”?

Suddenly, the situations leading up to this flashed through my head.

A little while ago, when I was grilling the administrators for their still inadequate report preparations, Lucia suddenly came.

To be exact, it seemed like she was going to go out again after seeing the atmosphere… but she was a mess.

She had wounds all over her body, scratches all over her skin, was covered in something black, and was panting.

The moment I remembered seeing the report that Lucia’s house was in the 2nd District, the emotion that boiled up inside me was… anger.

It was a strange and bizarre emotion, but the only clear thought was that I had to catch the guy who made Lucia like this and kill him.

Thanks to the administrators and Lucia who stepped in to stop me, I couldn’t go directly to the 2nd District… but when Lucia said her house exploded, I almost ran out.

…Lucia herself said that it was an accident that happened while she was making potions, but it was hard to believe completely.

And, at that moment, a good idea came to mind.

I thought I’d just give her the adoption proposal this time.

Although the plan to propose it indirectly was broken, and I couldn’t be sure of the adoption because I hadn’t told my father about this yet… it would still be a good condition.

…Surely, it would have been.

“Christie.”

Lucia’s calm, firm, and perhaps slightly angry voice preceded her.

Lucia rejected this proposal right away.

Rather… she was satisfied with the daily life she was living now and wanted to make more potions.

In the process of persuading Lucia, I was even hit with a counterattack.

…How could I not know better than anyone else? I never thought I would hear such a thing.

But, in all honesty, I didn’t want Lucia to live in the outskirts again.

The atmosphere in the outskirts has been unusual recently, and what if she’s unlucky again and raiders or strange guys attach themselves to the area where Lucia lives?

That’s why I might have told Lucia, who was confidently saying that she would live as a homeless person, that the head of the Defense Force’s job also includes eliminating homeless people.

…I wonder if I said I would just get her a house as an answer to Lucia’s words that followed.

…Actually, I know.

I was cherishing Lucia more than I thought.

Since I had money piling up in the bank that I wouldn’t use anyway, it wasn’t difficult to spend money itself.

A decent house? If you just get a little away from the Imperial Palace located in the very center of the capital, there are many houses that are currently being traded, so this wasn’t difficult either.

That’s why I might have said that I would get her a house lightly.

…The fact that I subtly attached the title ‘sister’ means that I want Lucia to call me ‘sister’ instead of ‘Christie’ in the future, so it’s not just a light word, but anyway.

‘Will she like it? Will she hate it?’

There were many other thoughts, and I also thought that it wasn’t too hasty.

Buying a house itself can be said to be just a gift to Lucia, but Lucia herself might reject it.

Lucia didn’t seem used to receiving help from others either.

But apart from that, I also had a strong desire for her to accept this gift.

Just as nobles give their friends luxurious items and all kinds of ornaments, I am putting the concept of ‘gifting’ a house below… but Lucia is not.

She may think that these ‘gifts’ that come from the wealth unique to nobles are actually a burden to me.

Lucia also has a mature side that doesn’t match her appearance.

…Thinking that, I was thinking about what methods to use if Lucia refused…

“Sister! You’re the best!”

I was a little embarrassed thanks to Lucia, who gave me a very different answer than expected and hugged me.

…I didn’t know that a child who coldly and firmly rejected the opportunity to become a duchess would show such a reaction to just a house, not even a mansion.

Of course, I liked everything from the title she called me to her actions.

Even now, my hands are automatically stroking Lucia’s hair.

‘…It’s so soft. She doesn’t seem to do any special care, but her hair is…’

…I had a momentary thought, but I quickly came to my senses.

Even if Lucia accepts my ‘gift’ and lives inside the capital, it doesn’t mean that I can completely protect her.

Therefore, I decided to give her a piece of equipment.

Equipment that is perfect for this girl who looks so weak and needs to be protected.

***

After choosing the equipment to give to Lucia, I immediately got up from my seat.

There was a pretty good piece of armor that I used to use in the past in the equipment room.

Armor that even Lucia, who is far from combat, has no combat experience, and is obviously weak, can easily use.

“Oh, would you like to come with me for a moment? I’m thinking of giving you a piece of armor as a gift?”

“…Isn’t that expensive? If Christie has it, it seems like it would be very expensive.”

“Isn’t the house expensive?”

“…”

Lucia quietly turned her gaze away, saying that.

It was a reaction that was like Lucia.

“It’s okay. I’m going to give you what I used to use in the first place.”

“…Then what about now?”

“I have something better now. It’s like passing down a sword or equipment that I used to use to my younger sister.”

“…Don’t you usually pass down the clothes you used to wear?”

Unfortunately, I was more familiar with weapons such as swords and armor than clothes, so I didn’t really react to Lucia’s words.

Still, I was relieved to hear her voice, which had become much lighter and more comfortable.

Lucia had the effect of brightening the atmosphere just by being next to her in a subtle way.

“But, Christie.”

“Yeah?”

“…Isn’t the Defense Force on emergency alert right now? Is it okay for the head of the Defense Force to be so relaxed?”

“Well, the administrators will take care of the report on their own.”

At those words, Lucia opened her mouth while pretending to be even more surprised.

“Wow. Christie was really shameless just now.”

“I learned something good from a friend. And if they feel wronged, the administrators can report it at the Imperial Palace on my behalf.”

“…That’s really a bit much. Reporting at the Imperial Palace where dangerous people are everywhere… Ugh.”

Lucia said that while fussing about how much she must have suffered next to me.

The words that would have felt annoying if someone else had said them were heard as fun and pleasant stories because Lucia was saying them.

Of course, one of the reasons was…

“Anyway, this damn potion is a problem because it has side effects? If you make an attack-type potion, the side effect is that it can’t distinguish between friend and foe. It really doesn’t make sense?”

It was in the fact that she brought up her own stories in the middle like this.

Thanks to that, I was able to learn a lot about Lucia’s ‘potion’ in a subtle way.

Of course, it seemed to be an incomplete technology, as she herself said that research was needed… but its potential was by no means low.

It can’t be mass-produced, but if it were possible, the military power of the empire would really double.

A consumable that allows even low-ranking soldiers who can’t use magic to use magic.

“…Don’t tell anyone about this. You’ll be…”

“Used? I know. At the same time, I also know that Christie won’t use me.

Christie, no, sister likes and cherishes me, right?”

Lucia said that and smiled brightly.

…I tried to give her advice, but I didn’t seem to get anything back, but that smile had the effect of making me feel good just by looking at it.

“Of course, I like sister too. So, you don’t have to worry about me using sister.”

I’ll correct that. It’s not just that it makes me feel good just by looking at it, it’s a smile that captivates people. That’s it.

…Sometimes I see a fox monster that captivates people overlapping with Lucia.

“Wait a moment. I’ll bring it out.”

It was really fortunate that we arrived at the equipment room at the exact timing that Lucia said that.

…I’m still not used to Lucia’s words, so my face keeps turning red.

***

“Here, take it.”

Perhaps because it took time to enter the equipment room and regain my composure, Lucia’s expression, which seemed bored, changed drastically.

I handed the ‘still’ shapeless armor to Lucia, who was sparkling with interest.

“It’s a material that changes its appearance according to the user’s wishes. I put layers of defensive magic on that material.

Therefore, it can’t be helped that it becomes somewhat of an armor shape.”

“Still, it’ll definitely be useful. Hmm? It’s not that heavy? It’s rather light.”

“It’s an item made so that even people with weak strength like you can use it.”

“…I’m strong, you know? Kind of.”

Lucia said that and looked at me with a sulky expression… but there was no way that word could be believed.

Lucia’s body was too slender to be strong.

“You’re thinking that it doesn’t look like that right now, aren’t you!”

“…No.”

“Your answer is late, Christie?”

Lucia, who smiled playfully, thought for a moment and then grabbed the armor I gave her.

And, the armor changed its appearance according to Lucia’s thoughts…

“…Christie? You clearly said it was somewhat of an armor shape, didn’t you?”

“…I, I thought so too.”

It became a beige cardigan.

…It was a bonus that it looked very warm.