Reincarnated lord Chapter 116

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The Desmond Joint Defense Initiative (Part 2)

Chapter 116

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'Oh my, I've never seen you before.'

said the platinum blond fairy in the courtyard.

The garden here was well maintained. 

This garden fulfills one of the duties of the nobility, which is to show off their wealth. Nonetheless, a beautiful garden for the sake of showing off is different from a natural one. She never considered the difference before, but now the presence of this "real" fairy has made her aware of it.

It was funny to call a fairy real, but still.

"So you must be from this mansion."

　Her platinum blonde wavy hair scattered sunbeams. Wrapped in a one-piece dress, her skin was white and smooth, and her chest was already more mature than that of other girls her age. She was in her mid-teens, in the transition from girl to woman, and with a face that was both cute and beautiful, no one could help but expect great beauty in the future.

With a soft smile, her emerald eyes shone with interest.

The girl thought, 

　――Why?

　How can she smile like that?　How can she be so soft?　 Why is she so cute? Why does she sparkle so much? Why is she so...

――Different from me?

It is impossible for her to recall exactly what emotions she had at that time. Because at that time, she had already been taught to suppress any emotions.

Even so, with still immature emotional control, she was unable to suppress her emotions when confronted with the 'real thing'.

――Why was I even there in the first place?

The training she underwent was extremely painful, bordering on abuse. At one point, she even passed out. It is likely that she wandered off during a moment when the trainers were not paying attention, which is why she is in her current situation.

Quickly, as if striding through a dreamland, the fairy approached.

"Charlotte-sama, wait. Please do not approach some random person."

And there was the maid, still a girl herself, but with a fine posture with her back straight. Her red hair was neatly gathered, and she had narrow, brown eyes.

　The girl who had already begun her 'training' knew.

　She is the same as her. But also, fundamentally different.

Despite being born from the seed of noble all the same, ss <Shadow>, being born as a "tool" and trained as a "tool" are totally different.

　――Ah, what cruel brilliance.

But she didn't resent her, Because there was no way that the "tool" can feel that way.　　

"Are you injured!?"

"Ah?"

"Charlotte-sama, please listen..."

The fairy took the maid's hand, ignoring her maid.

"【Heal】"

"ah?"

A warm light surged through her hand, and it sank directly into her body.

　――Is this person a noble.....?

That was another surprise for the girl. This fairy possessed magic power. Commoners are sometimes born with magical powers, but generally, those with such powers are of highborn descent. She should have guessed that from the fact that she had a maid with her, but....

"You use magic on me....."

The nobles consider magic as a precious thing and use it only for themselves, thereby solidifying their prestige. This was the first thing they were taught. But it is not unusual for them to use magic to maintain their "tools". However, having just met her for the first time and didn't know who she was. Even though she was dressed in rags and tattered clothes......

The fairy looked at her with a puzzled expression.

　――So cute.

Although the other party was definitely older, she couldn't help but think so. No, that's not all.

"Of course. It's a noble's obligation! This is what a true noble gives to the common people! We don't choose our recipients!"

She puffs out her chest, which is starting to develop and snorts cutely.

Apparently, she was an angel, not a fairy.

"My big sister said so."

So she's a younger sister.

".................."

"You should thank her."

The girl jolted after someone whispered near her ears without showing any sign of it. It was a brown-eyed maid. ...She was the same as herself ―― but still different.

"Katherine, you mustn't startle her."

"Sorry, but Charlotte-sama, you must have noticed that this girl is someone you shouldn't be associate with...... ―― this one has magic powers."

"――Ah?"

The young angel's emerald eyes swam.

"She may not be noble from her appearance, but she is probably related to this house in some way."

The brown eyes stared at the fairy as if saying.

'Please be more thoughtful'

"*Cough*" the girl called Charlotte coughed.

"I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't tell anyone."

She said with a cute smile, a drop of sweat on her nape.

　The girl nodded at the fairy, slightly smitten with her...

"What are you doing here...?"

Charlotte stiffened her body. She suppressed her startled expression, while Katherine was calm.

"Peter-sama."

　Charlotte plucked at her dress and takes a splendid courtesy. The boy named Peter just nods and glances at her ――like this is something natural.

"And why are you here, Hermit?"

".................."

"Did you run away?" His blue eyes are cold. Although his face was handsome, she can see the shadow creep in on his face. "Inappropriate tools will be disposed of, you know?"

"――――――"

　The girl's eyes widened.

"..... No, I got lost and wandered here." she kept her eyes down.

"I see..." He stared at the girl intently, making disgusted snorts then glance at Charlotte. "I'll forgive you, just this time."

　The girl's face pale.

　Because, originally, she should have been disposed of, just as he said.

　Perhaps he was trying to show Charlotte a good part of himself. Being a generous and forgiving person.

In the corner of her eyes, she caught Charlotte having a slight smile on her face and bit her lips lightly.

She now knows what kind of existence the girl was. From the teachings of her elder sister, and the obligations of nobles, she should have spoken up for her just now. However, Charlotte was also a "tool".

"Charlotte, uncle Terrace is here. You should be hurried and change your clothes."

"Yes, understood."

She lowered her head respectfully, and the girl, Charlotte, who was like a fairy before is now a doll. Peter didn't even look at Katherine.

The small girl observed that scene with her eyes.

... Ah, I see, even this fairy will eventually end up like me.

I wonder what this feeling was.

In a daze, a "trainer" came and pulled her up and took her away.

　The artificial garden became solemn and silent again.

///

――I must have fallen asleep. I've been dreaming about this dream for a long time now...

《Ephemera》, the Shadow who was captured by Randolph woke up in the dungeon. It is in the basement under the mansion where Desmond is training his maid right now.

She looked at her hand.

　She felt as if she could recall her warmth at that time.

That girl became Peter's fiancée, her brother, though only by blood. She married into Swift's family, but in the end, they were divorced because she failed to conceive a child. Since then, she had been steadily advancing her "training" and had seen her from time to time in the mansion. She did not talk to her, but she wonder how she felt when she heard what happened to her.

　――I don't know, but perhaps, I was relieved.

　Then she heard that she had married Desmond, the third son of the Damwead family.  A "doll" remained a "doll" and is now even trapped like a caged bird.

This mission was to scout Aldora. He also told her to kill Charlotte and Desmond, depending on the circumstances. But now that she had been captured, she couldn't kill them anymore.

　――Maybe, I just wanted to see her.....

The 《Ephemera》exhales a breath in the agitation of emotions that tickling like drops of dew. It's true that the girl became a "doll" now. But if it was true that she was conceived, would she no longer be a doll?

"You're very quiet. good good ."

《Ephemera》Look to the side

　――there was a dog.

A small schnauzer.

It was similar to the breed in Desmond's past life. Gray fur. The fur around the fluffy face made it look like a small old man, a breed that would look good in a Santa suit. However, the idea of Santa does not exist here, and even if people try to imagine it from the description, very few perceive it as being joyful.

【Grayhound】

A magical entity.

It's magic that the legendary mercenary "Grayhound" Randolf Stainer himself control.

The eyes of the dog were looking at her from the other side of the cage. With clear, intelligent eyes that didn't seem like a dog's. White teeth peeked from the lips covered by the fur like a mustache.

"Hmm." she sniffed, "I told don't like to waste time. So you'd better finish this."

"Ho-ho, That's quite cold."

　The dog seemed amused. From behind it came the presence of a person. Three. One of them was Randolph - now he was deliberately revealing his presence. But also very 'natural'  - the other was a woman who specialized in informational magic, and the third was――

"Wha..." 《Ephemera》 blinked.

She cannot suppress her surging emotions.

　She stood there and smiled softly. She was said to be twenty-nine years old now. But her beauty, which still retains the appearance of that time, was still beautiful and cute.

Beautiful, cute, and emitting a fragrant aura.

Platinum blonde wavy hair, fair skin, and emerald eyes. Her body was full of promise even back then, but now it was ripe and voluptuous. Her breasts and buttocks were so full that they almost ripped her dress.

　However, it was not her beauty that surprised 《Ephemera》.

She was surprised at her appearance but more than that, 

　――She was neither a "tool" nor a "doll".

 She understood this well, as she herself was now a perfected "tool."

"Long time no see. I think you were called Hearmit back then, but now I think you're called 《Ephemera》?"

"――――――"

　From the other side of the bars, Charlotte looked kindly at 《Ephemera》.

"....So you remember?"

She wasn't used to speaking politely.

But she said it anyway.

Charlotte nodded, ――it's adorable,

 "<Shadow> Hermit. There were few memorable things when I live in Swift house, so you were very memorable."

"Is that so."

――What is this feeling?

―I don't know. but it didn't seem so bad.

"Hoho, that's interesting. So this should be easy to draw her in."

Randolph chuckles contentedly. At his feet is a Schnauzer-like hunting dog. The old man is really similar to the said dog. Romantic gray hair with bushy eyebrows and mustache. His expression is gentle and he has ash-colored eyes. As usual, the tailcoat butler uniform fits him perfectly.

"You really think so?"

　Charlotte asked him in what could be called an innocent manner. 《Ephemera》 is surprised by that as well.

Even though Randolph is considered a noble and the other party is the wife of a noble, it is rude to interrupt a second daughter from the earl's family. And yet, Charlotte asks Randolph back in such a friendly manner.

　Randolph is on Desmond's side - or Damwead's side and Charlotte are supposed to be on Terrace's side, even if she is useless now. But they act in a harmonious way without any social status hindering them...

"Personally, I can't be sure." said the old man in front of the amazed 《Ephemera》, as if such a display was natural. "But that's by my own personal account. It seems that Charlotte-sama has some secret plan in her sleeves. Let's take a look at your hands here."

"But I refuse!"

　――What?

　Even《Ephemera》 was stunned.

　Did Charlotte just say that.....?

Looking at the three people beyond the prison cell, Randolph's eyes slightly widened in amusement, while the other one, a woman who was proficient in information magic, had a stern gaze but seeming to be dumbfounded. Only Charlotte was composed.

――What is the meaning of this?

　Aren't they too close?　Too friendly?

――What is the meaning of this?　(I said it twice because it's important.)

Then Charlotte shrugged and shook her head. Her gesture was indeed cute, what happened to her after that? Back then she really liked picture books. Now that she came to this territory, seems like she was no longer a "doll" and became unrestricted in doing what she likes.

The gesture was over the top as if it was exaggerated.

　――What is the meaning of this?

　Somehow, she didn't want to know. Somehow, she felt like she was being forced into something really bad.

　But she didn't care about《Ephemera》oppinion.  "The issue is, I will do it, but I am afraid that Randolph cannot watch it. You can only see her once she has fallen."

"Hm, that's unfortunate."

Grandpa seemed truly sad. Next to him, the stern eye woman furrowed her brows and had a complicated expression. What's more, the gaze that is directed at her is filled with emotion, no matter how hard that stare, there's a feeling in that gaze - pity?

Of course, 《Ephemera》 didn't understand what they were saying.

"You will act? On me? You're going to kill me?"

A chill ran down Ephemera's back.

Randolph looks calm, the other woman's eyes are filled with intensity, and Charlotte is looking beautiful as usual.

"No, I won't do such a thing. What I will do is――discipline you."

She smiled, causing 《Ephemera》 to shiver.

　She can't believe it.

　――What is this?　What's going to happen to me?　What is this sensation.....

So far, there have been many times when she has been close to death. In training, she has repeatedly been pushed to the brink of death. She has also undergone torture, but death does not scare her. She does not want to die and she doesn't like wasting time, but even if she were to die, it would only be because she, a "tool", had stopped functioning.

Neither physical pain nor even death can be an excuse to avoid this loathsome existence.

　But this.

　A crisis of chastity.

《Ephemera》 did not know about it.

This is a world without eros. Having such a feeling is not normal.

Randolph remained unchanged, while the stern eye woman stare at her with pity.

"Well." said Randolph, "I think I'll take my leave, albeit regretfully. I am not allowed to watch it seems. But Charlotte-sama, as you are aware, the other party is the <shadow> that even has an alias called 《Ephemera》. Ms. Liz, can I trust you with the magic lock and the prison cell?　Just don't let your guard down."

"I know what to do."

　 The woman nodded.

　――Charlotte smiled, but her cheeks were slightly flushed. Now the shadow wanted to follow Randolph out of this place.

Randolph left and Charlotte smiled wryly. The scary eye woman named Liz seemingly gave up on speaking out something and began to activate and regulate the magic lock and cell.

The shackles on the 《Ephemera》 are magic locks, which seal magic and skills.  Moreover, this magic cell also takes away the freedom of the subject. Originally, she was able to suppress the excitation of life energy, but now her body has become too weak.

　What will they do to me now?

　Charlotte, a noblewoman, walked into the prison without a care.

　――There is a strange sensation in the air.

　A smile on her cute face. It is like an innocent little girl who has gotten her toy.

　She's confident she can withstand her level of torture, but...

――This is odd.

After all, is it normal to torture someone you are trying to draw into your side?

Despite trying to hide her emotions, 《Ephemera》 remains confused.

A twenty-nine-year-old stands in front of the captive shadow.

A "tool", The nameless assassin, she is a stunning woman with white hair and blue eyes who disguised herself as a man.

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