Chapter 5: I forgive you. I will also repay the favor
“I’m really sorry!”
As soon as they entered the cabin, Leon prostrated himself, causing Diana to jump up in surprise.
“Huh?!”
“Thomas, the third son, was disrespectful to Diana-sama. . .”
“L-Leon, calm down.”
“And even the villagers were proudly dividing and selling off the loot from Diana-sama. . .”
“Um. . .”
“If Ojou-sama wishes, I will beat them all up, so please. . .”
“It’s okay, it’s okay, please lift your head!”
Leon raised his pale face.
“Ojou-sama. . .”
“Well, um. . .it’s fine. Even if we do that, it won’t bring back the cityscape or my parents. . .”
Upon hearing Diana’s words, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“I’m sorry. . .”
“No, it’s okay. Actually, I feel much better now. I was able to buy so much sugar!”
There were three barrels the size of Diana’s waist.
When she opened them, they were filled to the brim with smooth white sugar.
“I wanted something sweet to eat.”
Diana scooped up some sugar with her finger and licked it.
“Mmm, it’s sweet.”
Leon looked at it with a puzzled expression.
“Oh, right. I didn’t explain properly. Of course, I won’t eat all of it. I thought I could sell it as it is, use it as preserved food, or process it and sell it.”
Leon finally seemed to understand.
“I see. Ojou-sama had plans for its use.”
“Yes. Because. . .I want to live a better life and eat good things.”
Leon hung his head.
“I’m sorry. . .”
“It’s fine. It’s just something I want to do. By the way, do merchants like Dennis-san come here regularly?”
“That hot spring also serves as a gathering place, so there are people here every day for one reason or another.”
“Really?! I want to go there more.”
“But. . .are you okay?”
“What?”
“Probably, stolen goods will continue to gather in the streets of Latgip from now on.”
“. . .”
“I don’t want you to see those kinds of things too much, Ojou-sama.”
Diana squatted down to meet Leon’s gaze and said this.
“Just call me ‘me(ore)’ or ‘I’, it’s fine.”
Leon’s eyes widened.
“Well, because our first-person pronouns are all mixed up, it’s better to stick with what we usually use. And also, let’s drop the honorifics and, um, stop calling me Ojou-sama.”
“But, still. . .”
“Look, if you call me Diana-sama, people around us will figure out that I’m the daughter of Heinz Trading Company. If that happens, it might become troublesome and I’ll be targeted for various reasons. So, just use my name without any honorifics. Treat me like any other girl around here.”
Leon thought for a while and then nodded as he stood up.
“Indeed. . .that makes sense.”
“So, there you go.”
“Yes, Ojou. . .I mean, Diana.”
Diana stood up as well and couldn’t help but squirm at being called by her name.
“Yes, I’m just Diana. Let’s go with that for a while.”
“Yes. By the way, Diana.”
“What is it?”
Regarding the plans for the future. . .”
Diana tensed up a bit.
“It seems that the situation of the war is still unstable. When it calms down, let’s send a letter to Ilsa-sama, who married into the neighboring country. She might be able to help us.”
Diana visibly slumped her shoulders.
“A letter. . .what should I write?”
“We’ll ask to live there. This remote mountain cabin is inconvenient.”
“It’s not. . .inconvenient, though. . .”
“And because Diana is of marriageable age, Ilsa-sama might prepare a good marriage proposal.”
Being brought up with such a topic while being called by her name, Diana felt a deep wound in her heart. She had tried not to think about it, but it was inserted so easily and naively.
“Anyway, I just want you to leave this gloomy place as soon as possible.”
“It’s. . .not gloomy. It actually smells nice.”
“We’ll endure it until then, Diana. If anything happens, please tell me. I promise to do everything I can.”
“. . .Thank you, Leon.”
This person is very kind.
But also a bit dense.
The benefactor who saved her life in the midst of the flames.
(While I’m here, I hope I can do something to repay him.)
Diana looked at the barrel of sugar and then shifted her gaze to the nearby mountainside.
When she caught sight of beautiful wisteria flowers, she suddenly remembered something.
“Hey, Leon.”
“What is it, Diana?”
“I have a little favor to ask.”
“Hmm?”
“Could you please get me those wisteria flowers? And if you come across any citrus fruits, please bring them too.”
Leon furrowed his eyebrows at her sudden request.
