Can I Go for a Short Walk?

I didn’t love him from the beginning.

At that time, I was so preoccupied with the thought of hiding my identity that I was just doing everything a girl of that age could do.

‘Who does our daughter love the most?’

‘I love Daddy the most!’

Even if it meant whispering love to a man younger than my previous life.

I thought that the only way for me, suddenly dragged into this strange world, to survive was to completely depend on them.

‘I love Seine too.’

And fortunately, my second father was a very gentle person.

Although loving one’s child would be the same in my previous life too, there was something that could be called composure in this person’s heart towards me.

‘My daughter, my treasure. The proof that I am alive in this world… Just by your existence, I can say that I have been rewarded for all my life until now.’

Sincerely.

The voice that considered my existence as a reward for his life.

‘So please, just grow up healthy and strong.’

As I repeatedly heard those gentle whispers, I realized that at some point, I had developed special feelings for him.

I thought that under such a person, unlike my previous life, I could dream of a good family…

I even thought that the day might come when I too would sincerely feel love for him as family.

‘Daddy, where are you going?’

‘…I’m sorry Seine, Daddy has something to do.’

Still, it’s a ducal family.

Although the mother takes on the role of the head of the family, I could understand him being busy going around outside as a member.

But the reality was completely different.

It was in the fifth year after my rebirth that I learned he was working in places unrelated to family affairs.

It was around the time when unhealed injuries were plastered all over his body.

‘In your current state, it’s difficult to recover even with the Lord’s power. It’s dangerous to go to the battlefield with such a body.’

Injuries so severe that even the clergy tried to dissuade him.

Although he had to rely solely on natural healing, he always tried to leave his sickbed as soon as he finished recuperating at home.

‘No, I can’t retreat yet.’

An era gradually realizing the limits of divine power in the midst of a harsh war.

If everyone realizes that miracles from God alone can no longer save everyone, all those living in this world will eventually fall into despair.

The moment they doubt God’s existence, salvation for the living will lose its chance, and the gradually crumbling faith will even deny the afterlife, rendering the sacrifices of those who died meaningless.

In such an era, he was striving to spread new technology that could become a new hope. I too, influenced by him, followed the path he was taking, so I understood how noble and pure his heart was.

But no matter how upright one’s heart is, isn’t it ultimately the individual who lives in the world?

Consideration for others should be faithful to one’s own desires, and should be given only to the extent that one can afford.

Why is he trying to leave his ideal family while even throwing away his own life?

‘Mom…’

But what I understand even less is.

That the person who awakened love for him before me doesn’t follow him.

‘Why isn’t Mom going?’

‘…Because someone has to protect the family.’

‘But Daddy could do that too.’

A body that knows nothing but swinging a sword.

With no talent for politics or domain management, she could have given that role to her husband instead of herself.

In such a situation, what’s the reason for not stepping into a place where force is needed?

‘But Mom is strong, right? Stronger than anyone else on this continent… Couldn’t Mom go and fight instead?’

No matter how much he pursues a great cause.

If she, with her overwhelming power, stepped forward, a situation where he wouldn’t need to come out would unfold.

‘Seine.’

To me, who couldn’t understand such an attitude.

She quietly said with an expressionless face.

‘Having power doesn’t always mean you have to take responsibility.’

It wasn’t about a great cause.

It wasn’t even about presenting a logic like mutually assured destruction, where they check each other with overwhelming force.

‘…What do you mean by that?’

‘I didn’t take up the sword for war. I think it’s enough for Mom to just protect you and keep a place for Daddy to return to.’

An infinitely selfish reason, thinking only of oneself.

That was all the reason a mother gave to a 5-year-old girl.

‘Although Mom can’t stop Daddy from leaving, if it’s him, I’m sure he’ll be fine, so Seine should wait too. Someday when the war ends, we’ll all live happily…’

‘Stop this nonsense.’

Yes.

To me, with an adult’s mind, it was too pathetic.

‘You, you are a duchess.’

At that moment, I gave up on acting as the ideal daughter.

I had no choice.

My ideal of a proper ‘family’ that I had hoped for, seeing his gentleness, something I couldn’t grasp in my previous life…

It all crumbled with that statement.

‘Everything you enjoy comes from this family. It’s what the people who built this country passed down to you. And yet, after enjoying all those rewards, you’re going to avoid that responsibility?’

‘…Seine.’

‘You call yourself a leader of this land? You claim to be a pillar supporting the imperial family!’

Of course, I too…

I too was someone who wished he wouldn’t go.

I don’t deny that my feelings were the same as the person in front of me.

But if it were me, I wouldn’t have just stood by.

The one who should decorate an aspect of the family that could be built together with that person shouldn’t just wait for his return.

When I left the family, unable to bear being swayed by such a person.

I finally had the time to directly face the tragedy I had only encountered in games.

Feeling the weight of what was expressed only in numbers directly with this body, I kept repeating my hatred towards one person.

‘Celia Bertayu.’

A barren land where enemies and allies were buried mixed together.

To avoid being swept away by the madness that filled that place, I had to create someone I could call an enemy to myself.

While others chose those belonging to the opposing side as their target, I…

Only I, who knew the future of this world, couldn’t express hatred towards victims in the same situation.

Unlike them, I knew that my second mother was a being loved by the creators.

Yet I knew that in none of the endings I knew of the future did she show her face.

‘It seems the day I’ll come to love you will never come after all.’

And yet, without enduring any responsibility or pain, you just wait for this terrible tragedy to end.

Isn’t it natural not to want to understand?

---

-Arf!

As such recollections were nearing their end, a sharp cry was heard.

-Arf arf! Arf!

It was the sound of Gaechu barking loudly at the tightly closed entrance door of the infirmary.

Damn, since when had I fallen asleep?

If I make a visitor wait while I’m sleeping, I’ll have to write an incident report, but if that puppy hadn’t cried, I might have missed the shadow standing in front of the door.

“Seine Velvet. Are you there?”

“Yes, yes, I’m coming out.”

I immediately got up from the bed, roughly threw on a white gown, and headed for the infirmary exit.

The time was around sunset.

Opening the door while shaking off my sleepy mind at that time, I faced a middle-aged man wearing a rain-soaked raincoat.

Although his body was tightly wrapped, I could immediately recognize his black hair and black eyes.

A face that clearly existed in my memory… Yes, he was definitely the captain of the Black Knight Order protecting Haide’s Black Saint.

“It’s been a while, Brother Vincent. Have you been well?”

“……”

“…What’s wrong, brother?”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d mind your language.”

“Oh come on~ Why so formal between us? Even if you’re a father, there’s only a ten-year age difference, so we can be like siblings, right?”

“Ahem.”

Brother Vincent, clearing his throat unnecessarily even though he could have scolded me right away.

Seeing his slightly reddened cheeks, it seems he’s quite embarrassed at being called ‘brother’.

I felt it when I first met him, but he’s really someone fun to tease.

“Anyway, coming through this rain and wrapping yourself up so tightly to visit… Has something serious happened?”

“I’m not sure of the details, but the Saint has summoned you.”

“…The Saint?”

“Yes, the Saint also asked to bring you quietly. Can you come along?”

“Well… If it’s urgent business, I suppose I should go. I’ll get permission from the director first.”

I should usually leave a proxy and vacate my position, but since tomorrow is a holiday anyway, it shouldn’t be a problem to leave it empty for one night.

Above all, since the Saint has specifically named me, the school, which wants to maintain a close relationship with Haide, will consider it important.

But Vincent’s expression, who came to fetch me, was seriously hardened.

“…I’d appreciate it if you could keep the report to the person in charge to a minimum.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the Saint called for you immediately after meeting someone who visited the confessional.”

“Ah, I see.”

Certainly, if that’s the case, I can understand.

The sacrament of confession performed in the confessional is established because the believer swears to God to maintain perfect silence. Naturally, spreading what was heard inside to the outside is something a religious person should avoid.

Yet, there’s only one reason why a priest who heard a confession there would request help from outside.

It means that the person making the confession desperately wants help from the outside for reasons that cannot be widely disclosed, and the Saint chose me as someone who could solve it.

“I’m glad you understood right away.”

“Well, I’ll come as soon as I’m ready.”

If the Saint called for me, it must be related to medicine.

If so, let’s at least pack some basic first aid supplies, I thought as I looked around the infirmary, when I noticed Gaechu wagging his tail.

-Whine?

“…Alright, you can come too.”

Of course.

No matter how serious it is, surely nothing stranger than walking a cabbage could happen, right?

---

“Teacher Seine, is it possible for a virgin to get pregnant?”

“…Pardon?”

The Saint averts her gaze, seemingly aware of how absurd her words sound.

Then the Saint faces me again and quietly asks.

“Well… I was asking if it’s medically possible for a woman to become pregnant without having sexual intercourse.”

I couldn’t help but look blank at these words coming from none other than the Saint.

So, what is it?

Is she asking if you can have a baby without having sex?

-Whine?

At that moment, Gaechu looks up at me from within my arms.

Looking at that face, I understood why Teacher Ranfa walked the cabbage.

“Can I go for a short walk?”

Of course.

All sorts of things happen here, so it’s understandable to want to maintain composure by walking a cabbage.