Chapter 9: Ralph・Redford
“. . .Ugh.”
“Are you awake, Lisette-sama?”
As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar pure white ceiling. Right beside me was the figure of a young woman who seemed to be a maid.
Startled, I sat up and noticed that I was wearing a comfortable negligee. The room, predominantly white, clearly belonged to a noble lady.
“Um, where is this. . .?”
“I will call Ralph-sama right away.”
Without answering my question, the maid said that and quickly left the room.
Upon hearing the name Ralph, I remembered losing consciousness after encountering a monster in the forest and being saved by him.
“. . .Thank goodness, I’m alive.”
I opened and closed both hands, feeling grateful from the bottom of my heart for being alive and well.
And just as the maid left, Ralph rushed into the room.
“Lisette-sama, you’re awake. . .!”
“Yeah, Ralph saved me, right? Thank you.”
“No, it’s only natural.”
He sat on the chair right next to the bed and gently took my hand. With his larger and warmer hand, he lightly stroked my fingertips as if confirming my existence, making me feel uneasy.
His smiling face, looking straight at me, was so dazzling that it hurt my sleepy eyes.
“Where is this place?”
“It’s my house in the capital. When Lisette-sama collapsed, I was very worried. We immediately brought you here and had a doctor examine you.”
“I see. . .I’m sorry. I have troubled you.”
“It’s not trouble at all. On the contrary, I would be honored if you could stay here for the rest of your life.”
“Um. . .?”
While feeling a strange sense of relief from him as usual, I looked around again. Everything here looked like top-quality items. It seemed that he had been taken in by a considerably wealthy noble family.
Moreover, this room doesn’t feel like a guest room. It feels like a room that was carefully made for someone, definitely not a place someone like me should be using.
“Ralph, you live in a really nice house.”
“Yes, it’s a Marquis family’s house after all.”
“I see, if it’s the Marquis family’s, then it’s imp-impressive, right?”
“Yes.”
While he smiled beautifully, I was starting to feel confused. I really want him to wait for a moment. . .I had assumed that he might have been adopted by a baron family in the countryside. A wave of dizziness hit me just thinking about it, yet Ralph continued speaking.
“Let me introduce myself again. My name is Ralph Redford, and I am a hero of this country.”
Of course, I knew the name Redford Marquis. But more importantly, what did he just say?
“. . .A hero, you mean, um, a hero?”
“Yes, I believe I am that hero.”
Ralph said it as if it’s no big deal, but the news of the existence of a hero had reached even that rural village. After defeating the Demon King with his comrades, he became a hero of the country.
It’s unbelievable that Ralph, who visited me every day and worked in the fields, was that hero.
But with that strength, and the fact that he, an orphan, was adopted into the Marquis family, everything made sense.
“T-That’s amazing.”
“Thank you.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise, to the point where only such a foolish comment came out. Surely, him having a conversation with someone like me right now is close to a miracle.
At the same time, I remembered how I had made him, who is both the Marquis’s son and a hero, do such farm work and treated him poorly.
“Um, Ralph-sama, I’m really sorry.”
“Lisette-sama?”
“For making you do farm work and chores as a hero. . .”
“Why are you apologizing? I asked for it and made you agree to my request even though it was unreasonable. Besides, you had said you disliked nobles, so I couldn’t easily mention that I’m being taken care of by the Marquis family. . .I apologize.”
Anyway, I want you to treat me as you always have. He said that with a troubled expression, but it was indeed a difficult request.
Even though Ralph suggested having a meal together if I felt better, I couldn’t stay at the Marquis household forever. There’s a limit to being out of place.
Besides, this time, it was I who was saved. Ralph undoubtedly did more than just repay a favor.
I realized that our worlds are different, and I thought it was time to truly put an end to it. Yes, that’s what I thought, but. . .
“I should be going soon. . .Ah!”
As I was about to express my gratitude and leave, I remembered that monsters appeared in the sanctuary and broke out in a cold sweat.
That place might already be unsafe. Once again, everything in front of me turned pitch black.
“Um, do you know the cause of the monsters appearing in the sanctuary. . .?”
“I don’t know the exact reason, but I heard that the protection there has significantly weakened.”
“Huh.”
──The protection of the sanctuary has weakened?
I had intended to live there for the rest of my life. I never imagined that something like this would happen.
“. . .What should I do?”
Only four months left until my 20th birthday. It’s a dire situation.
As I started to panic, thinking that I might be eaten and die again in this life, Ralph tightly held my hand and looked straight into my eyes.
“. . .Lisette-sama, will you tell me everything?”
“Huh?”
“I noticed that you have something troubling you. Is it related to living in that place? I am on Lisette-sama’s side. I will do anything for you.”
“That’s. . .”
Even though I had decided not to involve anyone else, being told that in this situation made me want to rely on him.
Once again, he looked straight into my eyes with amethyst-like eyes and said, “Please.”
. . .. . .
“I know my story sounds too unbelievable, so I can understand if you don’t believe me. . .”
“I believe everything. I won’t doubt Lisette-sama.”
Above all, even though we’ve only known each other for about a month, I couldn’t help but think that Ralph might believe me.
“. . .You know, this is my fourth life.”
And so, I began to tell him about everything that had happened until now.
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