Why are they smiling?
"Our son has already grown up. It has been too quick, Joseph!"
"Oh dearest Maria! It is alright! We expected this when we sent him to the academy!"
"But 7 days is too quick! I was hoping we could hold on to him just a little longer!"
Wha- what are they saying? Is this what parents are like? It's more terrifying than nanny chasing after me with her feather duster.
"Claud, do you understand what they're saying?" Sophie whispered.
I shook my head.
"Neither did I..."
Suddenly, the Count slammed his staff.
"Send a convoy bearing gifts and a letter requesting their daughter's hand in marriage to Lady Sophie's family! Prepare a feast! Our son has found his lifelong partner!"
Pardon? Marriage?
"L-lifelong partner? Me with Claud?"
We both locked eyes for a while.
Huh... In this world, is it logic to marry the person you bullied?
That's so abusable... you can just bully anyone that you want to marry. Wait! That's why if they asked if you reciprocate each other's feelings... It's not just about marriage. If one tried to take advantage of the custom, both perpetrator and victim would be executed. This is like an honor killing! How despicable. The other world's customs have horrifying ramifications.
"Claud, we're getting married..?"
I nodded.
Yeah we have to now. Otherwise they're going to put us on the chopping block, look at how happy they are. If we ruined this atmosphere, heads will roll.
"Claud, Sophie. Look how picture perfect you two are. So adorable! Claud, the chefs prepared your favorite meal to celebrate, I'm sure Sophie will love it too."
I feel relieved for now. Don't say anything to get us in trouble, Sophie. Just keep smiling. Yeah... Actually you're smiling at me a bit too much, doesn't that seem unnatural? This is practically an arranged marriage scenario.
Good idea, Sophie. Holding hands shows off a united front for people to see... I read about this in a child rearing guide. The Hero's self preservation instincts are improving.
Sophie, don't lower your head. Why are you turning red? We aren't being executed, just appear confident!
We were led into a hall with an unnecessarily long table. Sophie and I sat next to each other on a whim but I hope this is proper seating etiquette... Umm, you can let go of my hand now... but I can't exactly waste Willpower to tell her or abruptly shake her hand off, everyone's watching.
"Eat to your hearts content. There is plenty of food to go around."
Awkward... Everyone's just eating silently.
"How has the academy been? Have you met any comrades you'd like to fight alongside with?"
-Willpower: 3/12-
"It's been fine, Mother. Sophie and I made a promise to form a party with Lady Adrian of Hildegard and Sir Adelard in the future. All 4 of us shared our intents of being Paladins."
"Oh my. Even dear Sophie? She would make an adorable Paladin~"
The conversation stopped again. Because of our level of etiquette not even the cutlery made any sound, resulting in dead air.
"Claud... you're being very formal. You're not your usual vibrant self... Are you perhaps still angered with us?"
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'Vibrant'. You mean he was a tyrant.
"Sending you to the academy... it was not an easy decision."
Ah... I'm starting to get the picture here. The old Claud must have been upset with his parents for what he perceived as sending him to his death. This noble kid had probably never held a sword or worked a day in his life. I did notice these hands didn't have a single callus.
Claud was probably the talkative type who lead the conversations in the family... Without him, it's quiet here.
-Willpower: 2/12-
"No, Mother. I am not upset that you sent me to the academy. Because there I got to meet Sophie... Currently I am overwhelmed with joy."
"Ah... we're glad to hear that."
Although they said they were glad, the looks on everyone's faces told me they weren't convinced. I don't have enough Willpower left to keep up a convincing act if I pretend to be Claud. I think it'll be fine to leave them thinking that Claud is still a bit mad at them.
That way less conversations will be had.
The rest of dinnertime was conducted quietly with minimal words exchanged. Sophie and I went to my room.
"Claud, you should get along with your mum and dad. Your parents are lovely."
I nodded at her remark. I did get the sense that they're good parents.
But they're not my parents.
Sophie's brows furrowed slightly. Did my emotions leak into my expression? Meeting Claud's parents must've caused a complex feeling, given how hers acted. Is she angry or perhaps she's sad that her parents weren't like Claud's?
She might have even been upset at me because I didn't want to converse with them.
I wish I could tell her that I felt similarly.
"You should talk to them-"
She had a determined expression now. The Hero sure does adapt quickly...
But what would I say? I'm not their son. I'm just someone who possessed their son's body.
-Willpower: 1/12-
"I'm sorry, Sophie. I don't know what to say. Talking with my parents is something that-"
I've never done.
"- is difficult. Confronting them with my emotions... doesn't feel right."
Because these feelings aren't directed at them in the first place but rather... my real parents.
"Talking with your parents is difficult? You... You're a jerk, Claud..."
They're not my parents, Sophie.
"You can only say that because... only because you-"
-9/50 Bad deeds completed. Distress successful-
They really aren't my parents...
"Because you have parents who love you... Uuuuweeehh.."
-11/50 Bad deeds completed. Distress successful-
Their love is not meant for me-
"You should just.. hic... just love them back, you big dummy..."
-13/50 Bad deeds completed. Distress successful-
-it's for their son.
"Uuuuu.."
Stop it. I don't want to hear that sound.
-15/50 Bad deeds completed. Distress successful-
Shut up, system. I don't need this right now.
"I wish my mom and dad loved me too..."
I wished for the same thing as well...
"Uuuuuu..."
I hate that sound.
-Willpower: 0/12-
"It's okay, Sophie. It's okay... You can cry-"
It wasn't your fault.
"Uwehhh..."
You couldn't choose your parents.
"Uwahhh..."
You didn't choose to be born to them!
I want to tell you that you did nothing wrong!
-Willpower has reignited. Willpower: 12/12-
-Willpower: 11/12-
"-It's okay! You didn't do anything wrong! It's not your fault! It was never your fault... I'm here for you. You can cry... You can let it out..."
There was nothing wrong with you. They didn't leave you because you did something wrong.
-Willpower: 10/12-
"I'll never leave you, Sophie. I promise..."
It's nice to be comforted at times like this, isn't it?
"Waaah!"
----------------------------------------
She looks like a sniveling mess. It's not a sound or sight I haven't experienced before. Hearing a cry in the night, sleeping next to everyone in the orphanage. It wasn't uncommon.
I hated it. Seeing it, hearing it. Cause it made the others start to feel the same too.
So I lead by example. I wanted to be their source of strength.
The older children finally learned to take care of the younger ones... when our seniors before us never did such a thing.
"Uuuuu..."
But right now, I might look even worse than her... Despite it being me who's trying to comfort her. It hurts so much that I can't tell what kind of expression I have on my face... I don't want to be seen like this... I promised not to cry ever again...
Do you feel the same, Sophie? Even crybabies don't want to be seen crying too right? That's why you're burying your face in my chest...
-Empathy (Common) trait added. Comforting someone with common ground doesn't require Willpower-
"I'll cover you... I won't let anyone see."
I'll hide you between my arms.
Because you want to be strong, you can't be seen crying... You can't show that you're vulnerable. You're strong, Sophie.
"But you can cry to me... I'll always be here."
In this world, I can be the strongest. I can protect both of us.
"I want to be your strength, Sophie..."
"D-don't cry, Claud... I don't want Claud to be sad because I'm sad... I'll be your strength too... You're my best friend..."
"Hic... You're my best friend too, Sophie..."
"Hihi... I'm Claud's best friend... hihihi... Mmm... Claud's cheeks are so red and puffy. I've never seen you cry before."
Pfft. What is that smug look? It looks ridiculous on her...
"Hahaha! We both look ridiculous right now... You're happy that you've finally seen me cry, huh? After all, I've seen you cry so much... Hahaha~"
She didn't respond. She just kept smiling at me.
Why is she staring at me so intently? It feels like she's seeing through me.
"You know, Claud? I can see your personality traits with my skill, you know?"
-Willpower: 9/12-
"Oh what..? Really?"
That worried me... I had theorized that was the case but I ruled it out because why would she stay with someone like me?
"You have the Empathy trait now... I knew you were a good person, Claud..."
I see. She trusted me...
No.
A more accurate way to put it would be, she believed in me.