He paused.
"She would say, 'Mr. Higashino, could you do this for the Holy Kingdom? In exchange, I'll do that for you.' Sounds fair, right? But over time, you'll find that these things have become a mess. Not just because she's greedy, but because it's her instinct; she's always lived like this."
Kurumi's right eye curved into a crescent moon.
"You have a good eye for people."
"It's not about judging people accurately."
Higashino Makoto shook his head.
"I hate being schemed against. Even if the scheme is well-intentioned, measured, and with good intentions, I still hate it."
He lowered that finger and raised the other one.
"Certain Death."
Kurumi's eyebrows rose slightly.
"What is your opinion on the Certain Death, sir?"
Higashino Makoto remained silent for a long time.
"She..."
He paused.
"He's a pitiful person."
"Pitiful?"
"Yes, pitiful."
Higashino Makoto's voice softened.
"She was raised as a weapon from childhood, she had no childhood, no friends, no family. The only person she could trust was the old woman who made her pancakes. The only thing she was capable of doing was killing."
He paused.
"She killed people her whole life. Enemies of the Slane Theocracy, traitors of the Slane Theocracy, people the Slane Theocracy deemed 'deserving of death.' She didn't know what else she could do besides kill."
"So, what does Your Excellency think she needs?"
"She needs someone to tell her that you don't need to kill to live."
Higashino Makoto's voice was very soft.
She needs someone to eat egg pancakes with her, to chat with her, to sit with her on the steps lost in thought. She needs someone to wait for her to come home. She needs a home.
Kurumi was silent for a moment.
Why won't the adults give it to her?
Because I can't give it to you.
Higashino Makoto's answer was concise and to the point.
"I'm not the kind of person who can settle down. I like novelty, I like to travel, see the world, and get into trouble. I can't give her a home. I can't give her what she wants."
"Then why does the adult still treat her so well?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Because..."
He paused.
She deserves to be treated well.
The carriage fell silent.
Kurumi looked at Higashino Makoto, a complex light flashing in her right eye.
"Sir, do you know what you look like right now?"
"Like what?"
"Like a fool who's incredibly soft-hearted but insists on pretending to be cold and heartless."
Higashino Makoto glanced at her.
"... Kurumi."
"Exist."
"It seems you haven't learned how to get along with your superiors."
"Oh dear, this is just an accurate description of the superior's personality."
Higashino Makoto shook his head and didn't reply.
He leaned back in his seat, his dark eyes gazing at the roof of the car.
Therefore, the Dragon King Princess is the most suitable.
He finally said.
"What she needs is power. The power to protect the country. That's actually the easiest thing for me. I'll just give it to her, money and goods settled."
"Cash and goods settled..."
Kurumi repeated the word.
"Sir, do you treat feelings as a transaction?"
"It's not just about transactions; at least I wouldn't do that to someone I don't like."
Higashino Makoto shook his head.
"It's a choice."
He turned his head and looked at Kurumi.
I chose her not because of what I could get from her, but because she wouldn't use what I offer to tie me down.
He paused.
"She needs the power to protect the nation, so I gave her an angel. She needs security, so I gave her security. She doesn't need me to stay, doesn't need me to marry her, doesn't need me to give her a child; she just needs the Dragon Kingdom to be safe, and that's enough."
"Therefore, what the adults gave her was a gift, not a shackle."
"Right."
Higashino Makoto nodded.
"Gifts are given to others, shackles are put around one's own neck. I don't like having anything around my neck."
Kurumi stared at him for a long time.
"Grown ups."
"Um."
"Have you ever considered that perhaps what the Dragon King Princess wants is not just angels?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Maybe."
He said.
"But at least, she didn't say anything."
What if she speaks up?
"We'll talk about it later."
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes and leaned back in the soft chair.
"But she hasn't said anything yet. So I don't need to think about it too much."
Kurumi didn't ask any more questions.
She lowered her head and reopened the book.
The black cat "Zafkiel" rolled over on her lap, purring softly.
Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting golden dappled patterns of light into the carriage.
The carriage continued its journey, heading towards the Re-Estize Kingdom.
The rhythmic sound of wheels rolling over the road entered the carriage, like an ancient, wordless ballad.
Kurumi.
Higashino Makoto suddenly spoke.
"Exist."
"Next stop, the Re-Estize Kingdom."
Kurumi raised her head, her right eye curving into a crescent moon.
"The adults aren't playing dice anymore?"
"I'm not going to roll anymore."
Higashino Makoto opened his eyes, his dark eyes staring at the roof of the car.
"We rolled the torrents before, and the result was the Re-Estize Kingdom, but it ended up in the Dragon Kingdom halfway through."
He paused.
"Now, it's time to deliver on that promise."
"Yes, sir."
Kurumi bowed slightly.
"My lord, what do you intend to do once you arrive in the Re-Estize Kingdom?"
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"I don't know. Let's wait and see. Let's see what's worth my attention about that country that's being suppressed by the Baharuth Empire, has its nobles scheming against each other, and has a weak and incompetent king."
"Only that monstrous princess and the Blue Rose are somewhat interesting,"
What if they weren't so interesting?
"Then let's keep going."
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes.
"The world is vast. There are always places and people worth visiting."
Kurumi didn't ask any more questions.
She lowered her head and continued reading.
The black cat "Zafkiel" was purring on her lap.
The carriage continued its journey, heading towards the Re-Estize Kingdom.
The sound of wheels rolling over the road echoed in the morning breeze, gradually fading into the distance.
On the distant horizon, the Re-Estize Kingdom's borders were faintly visible.
It was a country that had been tormented by war, poverty, and internal strife for far too long.
It was a country without Hero, without hope, and without a future.
At least, that was the case before Higashino Makoto arrived.
But now, he's here.
A person with long black hair and black eyes who always says "I know" and is very annoying.
He's here.
What will the Re-Estize Kingdom become?
Nobody knows.
But at least--
Change is always a good thing.
Inside the train carriage, Higashino Makoto closed his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly on the handrail.
The image of Draudillon standing by the window flashed into my mind.
Long black hair, a white dress, and black eyes filled with reluctance.
She did not try to stop her.
She just stood there, watching him.
"Draudillon..."
He murmured the name, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Be a good queen, and don't let down the angel I gave you."
Outside the window, the wind blew across the open field, swirling up a few withered yellow grass blades.
The carriage continued its journey, heading towards the Re-Estize Kingdom.
Moving on to the next story.