Bab 55: [Chapter 55] He realized that he himself was a living being, just like...
This meant that he had come to believe in this side (of the story).
Neris felt a bit uneasy. She wasn't going to betray Clewin, but this was burdensome.
It was as if he had become a sworn brother just because he had saved her life once.
No, was it even possible for someone of the same social status as him to become a sworn brother?
Looking at how he had almost died this time, it was clear that Clewin was not as flawless as the impression Neris had received from him in the future.
Then, wouldn't his relationship with someone as evil as her be poisonous to him?
If one's values were distorted from a young age, who would take responsibility?
If Neris's current thoughts were spoken out loud, Clewin would have laughed, finding it ridiculous. Who was talking about values and age?
As far as he was concerned, Neris had returned from the past, and she was actually much older than him, but he didn't know that.
However, she didn't need his permission to think whatever she wanted.
Neris's mind was complicated with various thoughts. After finishing their communication, Clewin came out and slightly raised his black eyebrows at Neris's gaze.
"Why?"
"Because of my senior, my focus was disrupted."
"Good job."
Clewin sat down again across from Neris. The length of the tables in the library's reading room varied depending on the year of manufacture, and the tables in the Zakaria Library were quite short, being the same age as the building.
So, there was only a distance of about three books lined up between Clewin and Neris.
"I was going to give you this today."
"What is it?"
Clewin handed Neris a mysterious envelope. Neris received it and opened it.
Inside was a document several pages long. As Neris quickly read through it, her eyes widened in surprise.
She took a few deep breaths, finished reading the document, and then looked at Clewin with a calm gaze.
"Why are you giving this to me?"
"A gift. Do you dislike it?"
There was no reason to dislike it. It was an excuse to leave her hometown, Rohez, which was annoying her during the summer vacation, and even her mother could come along.
"When did you talk to Pariher?"
Rohez was not geographically far from Pariher, but due to the lord's political inclinations, the influence of the ninth marquis did not reach the beautiful Pariher.
The Lady of Pariher usually resided in her father-in-law's territory, the Wicastor Earl's domain, but during the summer, she would move to Pariher, which was famous for its beautiful scenery.
The document stated that Neris's mother had been selected to work as a lady-in-waiting for the Lady of Pariher this summer.
It was a short-term employment, but during that period, the mother-daughter duo's living expenses would also be taken care of.
Neris knew the character of the Lord and Lady of Pariher to some extent. They were people with strong pride and self-esteem.
This condition was believable enough, and at the very least, Neris could guarantee her mother's safety while she was by the Lady's side.
Clewin slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
"I didn't say anything. I just made some adjustments to the application submitted by Lady Trued."
"Did my mom submit an application?"
Especially, positions that served the nobility were never publicly recruited. Nobles preferred to introduce their servants through personal connections, just like how Hedda had entered Valentin's service.
But how did Neris's mother, who had few friends in the rural town of Rohez, get this opportunity?...
At that moment, Neris fully understood Clewin's words.
Yes, he didn't directly tell the Lady of Pariher to 'give a job to so-and-so'.
Instead, he created an environment where Neris's mother would coincidentally hear about the job opportunity, submit an application, and then have the Lady of Pariher receive the document with the names of more qualified and experienced applicants omitted.
Clewin might trust Neris, but Neris didn't completely trust him yet. So, she was a bit worried, but she was thinking of just going to Rohez for the summer.
Believing in the ninth marquis's pride, Neris hoped that he wouldn't trample her and her mother too much, since he had already punished her at school.
However, even if the ninth marquis didn't do anything, Anagara wouldn't stay still. So, Neris was prepared for some trouble.
If worst came to worst, she would use the Elantria family's name, so the situation wouldn't escalate too far.
But Clewin had fundamentally solved that problem.
"...Thank you."
Clewin must have known that Neris didn't completely trust him, even though she had already received help related to the ninth marquis and hadn't asked for his help yet.
Neris was surprised and bowed her head in gratitude. Clewin still had a slight smile on his face.
"It's a birthday gift."
Birthday?
'Ah.'
It was only then that she realized today was her birthday.
Her birthday had become a burdensome day, rather than a day to look forward to, because she hadn't been properly celebrated for so long.
In the Elantria family, Neris's birthday was unknown, and when she was the crown princess, her birthday was just an excuse for the royal family to receive gifts from nobles under the pretext of celebrating her birthday.
She had never received a genuine, heartfelt gift, not even a present chosen especially for her.
When her mother was alive, she was the only one who truly celebrated Neris's birthday, but since her birthday fell during the school semester, Neris couldn't celebrate it directly.
So, Neris had almost forgotten her own birthday for nearly 20 years.
But he knew that.
She didn't know how to react. Neris thought she had forgotten how to express gratitude when receiving congratulations.
'Thank you for celebrating my birthday.'
It was just a simple phrase, one that she had repeated countless times in front of nobles, but why couldn't she say it out loud now?
It was as if something was stuck in her throat.
It was only later that Neris acknowledged the emotional significance of this moment.
Perhaps Clewin had just said it casually. He had investigated Neris thoroughly, so knowing her birthday was no big deal.
And anyway, if he was going to give her something today, he could just call it a birthday gift. In fact, he could have given it to her a week ago and still called it a birthday gift.
But it had been too long since she had received something that made her happy on her birthday.
It had been too long since someone had remembered her birthday without any political necessity.
The familiar smell of books in the library gave Neris a small opening.
An opportunity to take off the mask of 'Strong and Flawless Neris Trued' that she always wore, and perhaps reveal the 'Weak and Trusting Neris Trued' that she hadn't shown since her childhood.
So, it was. For a brief moment, she ignored the 30-year-old crown princess Neris, who was screaming that this was unacceptable and that she would be used again.
Neris showed Clewin a soft smile, and then bowed her head in gratitude, similar to before, but with a slightly different meaning.
"Thank you."
After all, what's the big deal about smiling once?
***
The bright sunlight that illuminated Neris's face was a coincidence.
Books are weak in sunlight, so the amount of light entering the library was limited. However, there were no windows in the building to save candles and for ventilation.
The sunlight that entered through the small, distant window shone golden and illuminated Neris's face.
Clewin thought her smiling face was like a small flower.
How amazing is the vitality of a wildflower that blooms anywhere, piercing through the wind and stone? A flower that blooms with dazzling white and blue petals, even without anyone to care for it.
But who can say that the flower that grew strong was originally strong, and that it wasn't difficult for the flower?
In fact, the individuals that failed to bloom died. There was no choice for the individuals that bloomed.
They had to live somehow. If not, they would die.
The way they lived was beautiful, but was it not a freedom given to everyone to appreciate that beauty?
Clewin knew why he was here. He had saved the life of the only member of the ducal family, so she should receive compensation.
She didn't ask for it first, so he brought her something she needed. It was no big deal to simply lend a hand to the simple and kind Pariher family.
Yes, it was just a common reward. Until she looked up with tears in her eyes.
Her face, which widened in surprise as she received a few sheets of paper, was quite lovely. Neris usually hid her expressions well, so Clewin knew she was pleased with the gift.
But then, he thought she might put up a useless guard again. So, he added the phrase "birthday gift".
Look, was there a reason to give a gift? He had already found out it was her birthday during his previous investigation, so pretending not to know would be strange...
Her small face, which had been thinking something, slightly distorted.
It was as if a stone or tree had just realized it was alive, and that fact was very unfamiliar and awkward.
That face was far from the dignified and ladylike expression Neris usually showed, but Clewin thought this side of her suited her better. Even the faint smile that appeared a moment later.
Unfortunately - why that was unfortunate, even Clewin, who was clever, didn't know - that expression soon disappeared. Neris spoke with her usual calm face.
"Thanks to you, I'll be able to spend this summer well. If I make a good impression on the Lady, my mom will also have a way to earn money every summer. How do I contact you if I need to?"
"I'll let you know the method when you get there."
In the quiet Pariher, there would be plenty of time to think. Time to plan, and time to execute the plans she had made.
Neris nodded, finally able to look forward to the upcoming summer vacation with a comfortable mind.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone