“The only thing we request of you to do, Miss Reyha, is to keep the whole event together. Oliver and I need to have a private talk with the king as we forge an alliance with nobles here through Princess Meriyal and Demon Lord Ivy. Our allies outside will keep an eye for anything.” Falikh explained to Reysha in one of the private room in the Einhart’s manor.

“That’s a rather normal job you are requesting of me. I thought that this is something grand but I guess it only means you guys are going to move in the dark.” Reysha shrugs with a default face.

“We try not to get you involved as much as needed, Miss Reysha. It’s also preposterous of us to use your birthday to get our plans together, despite that, you paid it no mind.” Oliver interjected with an apologetic countenance as she bows.

It was dawn before Reysha’s birthday celebration, an event where a lot of nobles will be pulled, a place where the plan for Princess Meriyal and Demon Lord Ivy to appear and to forge an alliance. Despite the rumors that Reysha has already chosen a man for her, it didn’t stop people who wanted to be a part of Einhart Household to get ahold of her.

“By the way, the rumors going around about it. Don’t think I don’t know what the hell you guys are doing.” Reysha squints her eyes and sharply glared at Falikh with a little bit hostility.

“Errr…ummm…that’s…to thin out any solicitors, you know! We don’t want anyone bothering you that much so…I had those rumors spread…” Falikh hangs his head trying to avert from Reysha’s judging gaze.

“…Well, this is convenient too. I need to prepare a lot of things and I bet that you and the other bandits need to prepare their own. Go now.” Reysha said as she heaved a sigh.

“Yeah…okay…” Falikh only answered with relieved escaping from his lips.

With that, Falikh and Oliver took their leave boarding the dummy merchant carriage. The left after greeting the people who are available at the place, Yrsha, and Mirsha.

The peeking light of the summer sun from the horizon slowly sinks and the heat started turning into a chill. The smell of the fresh cold night started wafting together with the breeze of the tree.

The sound of the horse galloping together with the carriage’s wheel steering into the ground resounds together as Falikh and Oliver sat side by side in the coachman’s seat.

As the silence seemed to have settled in, Oliver immediately broke it.

“Sir Falikh, I find it illogical.” Oliver said in a cold voice.

“What is?” Falikh replied without looking away from the road as he was holding the reins.

“Spreading the rumors. Is it really something significant? However I analyze it, there’s no ideal outcome that could hinder our plans nor improve it. So, why?” Oliver’s voice got a little high pitched as her tone became a little anxious.

“…Now that you asked about it, I wonder too. I think…it is personal…or something. At best, I feel glad that there will be fewer people going to aim for Miss Reysha.” Falikh said as his expression softens like a sudden nostalgia overcomes his mind.

“I see…I don’t understand.” Oliver muttered to herself as she casts her eyes downwards.

“I don’t understand it too but…she reminds me of the one I loved a long time ago. Before I even came to this world…there was this person that I love…But…well…there’s no point talking about it.” Falikh smiled with cheeks tinged with a little redness.

“Sir Falikh…” Oliver drew her hands closer to her chest with a sullen face.

The night drew closer as Falikh and Oliver traverse the road lit by lamps. They traveled in silence, side by side like there’s nothing they really want to utter.

During that time, back at the Einhart Manor, Reysha takes a bath to clean herself of any sweat sticking into her.

Stolen novel; please report.

She is currently soaking herself in their house’s large bath with warm water while staring at the ceiling with listless eyes.

“All I need to do is keep the whole event together. Well, I guess assisting Meriyal and Ivy would be the least I can do. I can’t do anything as brash as I will be the center of the event. I should at least manage to keep the two of them in touch with anyone who is willing to hear their opinions.” Reysha thought as she slowly sinks herself.

Reysha ponders a lot of things.

Loopholes, reasons, back up plans, and even something to cover up Falikh’s plans if something wrong were to happen.

Reysha is aware of the backlash of her involvement with Falikh’s band of bandits. If one were to find out that she is together with a group of criminals, her house’s reputation will plummet.

And so, she ponders a lot of things to consider…

“R-E-Y-S-H-A!” The door to the bathroom suddenly opens and there, Yrsha appeared and ran towards Reysha.

“Hey, that’s dangerous!” Reysha quickly reprimanded Yrsha who almost slip but got into the huge pool with a dive.

SPLASH

The end result of Yrsha’s stunt is a huge wave of water splashing.

“…You made quite a mess. You spilled a lot of water.” Reysha said with half-opened eyes.

“Eh? Are you saying I’m fat?!” Yrsha snaps a question to Reysha with widened eyes and shocked countenance.

“Hmm? I wonder? I didn’t even mention anything.” Reysha played it cool and fool as she averts her eyes from Yrsha’s questioning gaze.

“You’re mean! Reysha, you can’t talk about that with me from now on! Also, let me sleep with you today!” Yrsha suggested as she swam closer to Reysha.

“Hmm…it’s quite hot today so I don’t want to.” Reysha flat out rejected Yrsha.

“Puuu…you’re always like that.” Yrsha sulks.

“Anyway, what’s up? Is there something you want to talk about?” Reysha urges Yrsha to speak because she already saw that there’s an unrest within her eyes.

“Sharp as ever, huh…” Yrsha sprouted a faint smile but her eyes are a little sad for some reason.

Reysha tilted her head as Yrsha made that face.

“Reysha, I’ll be blunt. I have the gist of what you guys are planning. I know you already noticed that I have a little inkling knowledge that you are the black knight. Reysha…I want to talk these today with you…” Yrsha bit her lip as she said those words in succession.

“I see…I am a criminal, Yrsha. I am traitor, for our kingdom, for our family.” Reysha only said as she refused to look at Yrsha due to the guilt building up inside her chest.

She wasn’t nervous, she doesn’t feel agitated. Towards the girl who is her older sister in this world, Reysha could only feel guilt for betraying her together with the whole family she grew up with.

It was so sudden that it’s the only emotion that Reysha felt.

“I’m a disgrace. I am involved with criminals and I have plotted against another kingdom without any notice of our own. So, what is it, Yrsha?” Reysha tried expelling the guilt by putting up a tough front as if Yrsha’s sudden confrontation sounded like she is already persecuting her.

Yrsha snaps a glance at Reysha.

Her eyes was not that of anger or disappointment, those are eyes on the brink of breaking down to tears. Her lips are trembling and she is squeezing her hand tightly.

“Why are you still stoned-face? Shouldn’t you be more panicked?” Yrsha tried to crack a joke to lighten the mood but her countenance didn’t help.

“You suddenly confronted me here. I don’t even know how to react. Since you are already onto something, It’s better to say it up front now. Yrsha, like I said, I am criminal.” Reysha replied while keeping her eyes fixed on Yrsha.

“No…I don’t care about that! I don’t care a single thing about that!” Yrsha suddenly shouted as she dove on Reysha and wrapped her arms on her head.

“Yrsha…!” Reysha could only say with a gasp.

“I already noticed it back when we fought back at the Mesola Kingdom Capital. I looked into the record about the black knight and your fight with Ersha and there are things that I can only come to one conclusion. These days, those people will come to discuss their plans with you, not the plan of marriage, but something else. I know that! But I don’t care in any of that. There are these thorns started spiraling in my chest that I have to let it out immediately.” Yrsha barrages Reysha with words as she kept her face buried in her chest.

“What do you mean…Yrsha?” Reysha could only mutter as Yrsha bare her emotions to her.

“Reysha…we are celebrating the day you were born. It’s the day that you came to our family, the day you came to us and made our family happier. It’s the day that you came to us…and yet…you yourself don’t seem to give it importance and I hate that.” Yrsha said those words with heartfelt emotions as buried her face on Reysha’ wet hair.

She was speechless.

Reysha, upon hearing those words, felt Yrsha’s warmth even though right now, her skin should be cold.

Reysha, back when she was a man, has her urge lessened to celebrate such event because of her age. Sometimes, it even became bothersome for her but this time around, it has become a tool for her, to further someone else’s ambitions.

It’s not that she never felt any familial love from her current family, in fact, she knows she is being showered by love but… Reysha, whose mind is of an aged man, automatically dismissed it as a usual thing.

She could not find it in her heart to give it any attention.

Until now…

Not until Yrsha said those words that shook her heart.

Earlier, she was also thinking of how to take advantage of such day, not trying to understand that there are people who wanted to celebrate it because they truly love her.

“I’m sorry…” Reysha can only say as she wraps her hands around Yrsha’s back.