Chapter 84 - Episode 83: From Now On, Together ②
Because Matilda is the one who stays closest to Noein for the longest amount of time, she understands Noein's convictions better than anyone.
What Noein desires above all else is to be happy himself. And, as the flip side of that, for everyone living in the Arqvist territory to be happy.
The happiness of the people living in the Arqvist territory is Noein's happiness. That is precisely why Noein would not want Clara to marry into the Arqvist Baronet family while harboring such feelings.
So, what should be done? Would it not be best to make Clara feel that she is neither a nuisance nor a mere ornament?
As a result of this thought, Matilda decided to make a proposal to Clara.
"A request... from Matilda-san, to me?"
"Yes. Knowing it is impolite, if Clara-sama would be so kind, I would like to speak with you."
"...Impolite? Not at all. Please, I would love to hear it."
Clara responded, but her face was anxious, wondering what she was about to be told.
"Then... Clara-sama. From this point forward, would you be willing to join hands with me and become a comrade who supports Noein-sama with all your might?"
Perhaps Matilda's request was far beyond her expectations, for Clara's eyes widened.
"Me, a comrade to Matilda-san? B-but... wouldn't I be a nuisance to you, Matilda-san?"
"My happiness does not consist simply of monopolizing Noein-sama as a woman... For me, the important thing is for Noein-sama to live happily, and for me to be by his side. Noein-sama's happiness is, as it were, my own happiness."
Matilda spoke, looking straight at the bewildered Clara.
"Therefore, I want you, Clara-sama, who will become Noein-sama's wife, to support Noein-sama and make him happy in a way that is different from mine as a beastman slave. If that happens, there is no way you could be a nuisance to me. Rather, you would become a comrade who supports Noein-sama's happiness together with me."
This was a proposal Matilda had devised to wipe away the dark feelings Clara harbored, so that Noein, Clara, and herself—everyone—could be happy.
"B-but... how could someone like me possibly be a support to Noein-sama?"
Matilda's proposal could be a salvation for Clara, but Clara lacked the confidence to respond to it. She simply did not know how she, who was merely the daughter of a high noble, could be of help to Noein.
"It is not a difficult thing. For example, in settings where you socialize with other nobles, just by striving as a wife to reduce Noein-sama's burdens and mental strain, you can be a great support. I cannot speak or act in such situations."
Matilda began to explain the ways Noein could be supported specifically because of Clara's position.
"Furthermore... since I have been attending Noein-sama's side and listening to your conversations, I know that Clara-sama loves academics, and history in particular. In relation to that, is there anything you would like to try doing?"
"...I spent much of my time at home, so by touching upon academics and history, I was able to learn the vastness of the world. If possible, I wish to convey and spread such knowledge to many people. And personally, I would like to deepen my understanding of history further."
"Then, how about making it your goal to establish a school to teach academics and to research history?"
Matilda proposed a path that could utilize Clara's interests and knowledge, based on her own thinking.
"I also had Noein-sama teach me reading, writing, and arithmetic, so I believe I understand the importance of academics. Teaching and spreading academics in this land would expand the possibilities for many people, and by extension, lead to expanding the possibilities of the Arqvist territory. That would lead to Noein-sama's happiness."
As she listened to Matilda, a light began to dwell in Clara's eyes.
"And the research of history should also become nourishment for the Arqvist territory. The fact that Clara-sama, the wife of the lord, pursues a field of study should lead to the cultural maturation of this territory. There will surely be occasions where the historical knowledge Clara-sama masters will be of direct use to Noein-sama."
"...Those, those proposals are very attractive. But is it alright for someone like me to do such things? Should I not just stay quiet and avoid unnecessary behavior?"
"Rather, Noein-sama should desire for Clara-sama to pursue her own path. For Noein-sama regards the realization of each person's happiness living in the Arqvist territory as his own happiness."
Taking in Matilda's words, Clara's face looked as if she were about to cry.
"...Is it truly alright for me to be happy here? Instead of being a nuisance to Noein-sama and Matilda-san, can I be happy together with the two of you? Am I permitted to have my own reason for existing, not just the position of a wife?"
She could only be an ornament, a "noble's wife." She believed she could only lead a life of staying quiet so as not to be a nuisance as an ornament.
To Clara, who had believed this completely, Matilda's words were too full of hope, too kind, and for that very reason, she was afraid to accept them.
"Of course. Here, anyone can pursue happiness. Noein-sama will make us happy. And we, in turn, will be of use to Noein-sama and make him happy. From now on, let us be happy together with Noein-sama."
"...Yes. Thank you, Matilda-san."
Looking firmly into Clara's eyes—it was only then that Matilda suddenly became surprised at her own overly bold manner of speaking.
"I-I am terribly sorry. Despite being a slave, I have spoken far too insolently to Clara-sama..."
Matilda had spoken frantically, hoping it would be for the sake of Clara and, by extension, Noein, but suddenly her words and actions felt like she had overstepped. She panicked, wondering if she had done something unnecessary and presumptuous.
"Insolent? Not at all. As someone by Noein-sama's side, you are far more of a senior than I am, so please, I ask that you guide me from now on. Please let me learn many things about the mindset needed to support Noein-sama."
When Clara smiled gently, Matilda blushed slightly as if embarrassed and smiled back awkwardly.
.....
Noein, who had stepped away so that Clara could talk with Matilda, decided to return to the two of them when the time seemed right.
Had some conversation blossomed? Had there been any change in Clara by interacting with Matilda?
While thinking this, he walked down the corridor leading to the garden—
"My, so Noein-sama has such a spoiled side to him as well."
"Yes. It is likely a reaction to the fact that, as the lord, he believes he cannot show his weak points to his subordinates and the people of the territory. At night, he treats me with a very innocent face. That face... how should I put it, it tickles one's protective instinct."
"Is that so... when you say at night, you mean, uh, sharing a b-bed... right...?"
"Yes. And accompanying him in the bath as well."
"The bath! O-oh, the b-bath is together too... That's how it will be for me once I marry, right...?"
"If it is alright with you, I am available for consultation at any time regarding how to behave to make Noein-sama happy."
"Fuah!? I-I understand..."
Hearing such a conversation, he instinctively stopped his feet. A bit ahead of Noein, the attendant holding Clara's outerwear was frozen, appearing hesitant about whether it was okay to step into the middle of such blatant girls' talk.
Matilda as well, but Clara's tone of voice was very, very bright. What on earth had happened in this short amount of time?
"Even so, it's surprising... but Noein-sama has androgynous features, and is relatively small, so the expression he makes when acting spoiled must be cute."
"Yes, very... however, because of those features and his build, he seems to worry that he lacks dignity."
"My... so even Noein-sama has things he worries about."
"Yes. Noein-sama possesses wonderful talent as a lord, but as a single human being, there are times he feels worries and anxieties quite normally. That is precisely why we should support him."
"Yes. Because each of us is a one-and-only existence to Noein-sama!"
As expected, it was becoming embarrassing to keep listening. Thinking this, Noein took a plunge and started walking, passing the still-frozen attendant to reveal himself before Matilda and Clara.
"I've returned. I apologize for keeping you waiting."
"N-Noein-sama!?"
"E-excuse me."
Clara was shocked by Noein's sudden appearance, and Matilda also stood up, flustered in a rare display.
"Um... I'm glad to see you two have become quite close."
"W-were you listening?"
"...Yes, from around 'such a spoiled side to him'."
When Noein spoke awkwardly, Clara flusteredly covered her face. When he glanced at Matilda, she was trying to maintain an expressionless face but failing completely, her eyes swimming.
"I'm sorry, I didn't intend to eavesdrop... but I'm glad that Clara-sama is spending her time happily."
Saying this, Noein smiled at Clara. While her face was bright red, Clara returned Noein's gaze.
"...Matilda-san gave me words that became my salvation. Noein-sama, please forgive my dark behavior until now. In a position different from Matilda-san, I will live here with all my might so that I can be a support to Noein-sama in my own way. I want to be happy here as well."
The expression on Clara's face as she spoke was completely different from before; it was remarkably bright, refreshing—and from Noein's perspective, so charming it was captivating.
While he was unintentionally entranced by that face, Matilda slid closer to Clara's side.
The two of them looked at each other with eyes full of certain trust, like long-time best friends whose hearts were in sync, and then turned their faces toward Noein.
"Noein-sama, please, let me support you as your wife from now on."
"I also ask you once more, Noein-sama. Please accept our devotion."
Though their positions differed, they were two women who would spend their lives with Noein from now on. Receiving those powerful gazes and words, Noein gave a short laugh.
Until now, Noein had thought that if he could get along with Clara at a moderate distance after marriage, that would be a success.
To produce children as a noble's duty, to act as a harmonious couple in public, and meanwhile, to have Clara find a hobby, a study, or some purpose in life to live happily. He had thought that even if building true trust and affection as a couple was difficult, they could live happily in that manner.
However, Clara, and Matilda, were far stronger than Noein. In the short time Noein had stepped away, the women who would stand by Noein's side from now on had supported each other and decided their resolve to live truly happily.
He didn't know how Matilda had moved Clara's heart in such a short time, but he decided to set that aside for now.
"...Thank you, both of you. Let's live together from now on. Let's be happy... no, I will make you happy."
"We will make Noein-sama happy as well. Right, Matilda-san?"
"Yes... I will continue to support Noein-sama by his side so that he may live happily."
"I see. That is very reassuring, and I'm happy."
Facing Clara and Matilda, who had become completely friendly, Noein gave a wry smile.
On this day, Noein accepted Clara from his heart as his wife, and resolved that the three of them, including Matilda, would live happily together.