Chapter 81: Eternal Minato (2)

Eternal Minato (2)

On the evening of the Holy Night Festival Saori, the head of Eternal Minato, summoned Yukishiro, who had been under house arrest, to her room.

Yukishiro was clearly worn out and weakened after having spent close to one month in the small room reserved for house arrests.

“You called for me, Mother?”

“Since I have to leave for the Holy Night Festival, I’ll keep it short.”

Given her house arrest, Yukishiro had no idea about the current situation in the outside world. Lilika had regularly visited her to take care of her needs, but she hadn’t heard anything about the events outside the Minato residence.

“Your direct affiliation with Takuya-sama will be resolved on March the 31st next year.”

“…I see.”

Saori used resolved, not called off or canceled. In short, it wasn’t a cancellation after being exiled from Takuya’s class, but a cancellation based on both parties’ agreement. Of course, it didn’t change the fact that it’d be recorded as cancellation.

“I hear that he loudly whined about not wanting to declare that he’s going to exile you from his class or rescind your direct affiliation to him. Good grief…why must men always be so self-centered.”

After the evening ball Takuya had been asked about the chain of events by his caseworker. His answer was incoherent and made no sense, leading the caseworker to decide that he needed a break.

Once Takuya had calmed down a bit a while later, he declared that he had no intention to kick Yukishiro out of his class or let go of her as his direct affiliate, showing no will to part with her.

Even so, Saori informed him that Yukishiro would be removed as his direct affiliate by the end of march next year, or in other words, at the same time as he would finish his first year at high school.

Yukishiro didn’t know whether Takuya agreed with that. All she knew was that her removal as his direct affiliate was set in stone.

“What is going to happen to the indirect affiliates?”

“I will inform them about the situation from our end. Very likely all of them will leave Takuya-sama’s class. If any of them stays back and aspires to become his direct affiliate, they’ll be free to do so. ..But, there’s likely no girl willing to serve Takuya-sama together with that female fox.”

Akari and the other Minato-related girls are going to leave Takuya’s class as well. But, what is going to happen to them afterwards? Because of my foolishness…because I was so stupid and naive…

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Yukishiro’s heart was clad in darkness.

“Takuya-sama will basically be put under complete surveillance by the state. At this point, his fate has become completely unrelated to the Minatos.”

“…Okay.”

The sound of Saori hitting her palm with her fan filled the room.

“As soon as your direct affiliation with Takuya-sama has been resolved, I will have you, Yukishiro-san, marry a man of my choosing.”

“Eh?”

“He’s a 22 years old man who just recently became D-Rank. He has a lover but no wife. Become his first wife.”

“……”

Yukishiro couldn’t say anything. Her thinking had stalled as well. Her head was filled with a constant playback of what Saori had said just now.

After a short spell of silence, she was finally able to form some thoughts again. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

…So he rose to D-Rank thanks to the power of Minato.

The thought about this man actually being an E-Rank was at most an inconsequential attempt to escape from reality.

“Your house arrest has been lifted. Return to your own room.”

“……Yes.”

“Iori-san might say something about this to you, but ignore her. I plan to give 『Tiny World』 to that girl.”

“Eh?”

Tiny World was something that would be prepared for a man. A Tiny World for women shouldn’t exist.

“She’s such a troublemaker. She came here and told me that she’d be suited for the post of family head due to the latest chain of events. Well, it’d have been fine if she had left it at that, but Iori-san apparently told Katsuya-sama that she’d be able to become the family head of Minato.”

Saori intended to let Iori realize her romantic love affair with Katsuya. Tiny World was intended for that.

“For this reason, I decided to make Iori the family head of the Minatos through Tiny World.”

“M-Mother, that’s…”

“It’s not the Tiny World where men are being sent to, so don’t worry. We just need to make it a world where Katsuya-sama believes that Iori is the family head.”

Saori’s heart had been broken. And even though Yukishiro voiced her agreement, she was internally scared of Saori’s thinking.

And then…

Ah…me too…I too will be broken, won’t I…?

“You’re the next family head of the Minatos. That’s all. Step back now.”

“…Excuse me.”

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As soon as Yukishiro left Saori’s room, she was greeted by Lilika who had been waiting in front of Saori’s room.

“Yukishiro-sama, are you hurting somewhere?”

“Lilika-san… I’m fine. I’m not hurt anywhere. I was just informed about my future… There was no guidance this time.”

“I-Is that so? So what did Saori-sama say?”

“…My house arrest was lifted.”

Lilika smiled in response to Yukishiro’s reply.

“Thank you for telling me. I have kept your room tidy so that you are able to return at any moment. Let us go back right away. I will bring your things from the house arrest room later on.”

“Yes…thanks…”

Lilika was delighted about Yukishiro’s release from her house arrest, but she immediately noticed that the state of Yukishiro, as she went back to her room, was somewhat weird. Seeing her mistress staggering, Lilika couldn’t help but feel very worried.

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“So clean…”

Entering her room for the first time in a month, Yukishiro was stunned how tidy and pretty everything was.

“Please take a seat. I shall prepare a warm milk tea right away.”

“…Thank you.”

Yukishiro vacantly watched Lilika brewing the milk tea, her eyes lacking all vitality.

I wonder whether I will have an imaginary love story created for me as well…just like Mother. I will become the fiancée of the man prepared for me, marry him, and give birth to his children… I will carry on as head of the Eternal Minato family… And I will also cause trouble to Akari-san and the others…

Yukishiro grasped her hand so strongly that her fingers became white.

At that time…at that time, my heart rejected Takuya-sama’s confession out of pure sincerity. I didn’t consider the Minatos or everyone else. I simply…followed my heart…

Her current situation was the outcome of that.

Takuya-sama will be placed under complete surveillance by the state… If he doesn’t change, he will definitely be sent off after graduating from high school. I…I was unable to guide him properly.

Yukishiro had continuously interacted with Takuya for the three years of junior high and the eight months of high school. Back when she had seen Takuya during the 6th grade of elementary school at a social gathering, she had only considered him a rude and rowdy boy. But, that impression didn’t only apply to Takuya, but to all the boys who had been present at the gathering.

Even though he was rude and rowdy, Yukishiro had decided for him, who demonstrated his superiority among the other boys, to become her husband and offered him her heart.

The conclusion of this whole chain was her rejecting Takuya’s confession.

Akari-san and the other girls too… I think the Minatos will make sure that they can continue as high families, just like they did during mother’s time, but…for things to have turned out like this… Just how powerless I am.

Akari and the other girls, who had been following Yukishiro out of adoration, planned to uphold their family’s high status by having Takuya take them as wives or lovers after Yukishiro had married him. Their plans had fallen through, forcing them now to look for new partners.

It’d be great if the man, who had been prepared by the Minatos for Yukishiro, also accepted Akari and the others, but Yukishiro suspected the possibility for that to be low. Saori had said that he already has a lover, but if you consider that he was actually E-Rank at the age of 22, one shouldn’t expect much when it came to the question how he treated women.

Because…Because I’m no good. All of this…all of it is my fault…sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

“Yukishiro-sama, here have some warm milk tea.”

“…Thank you.”

“Please take a good rest. I will immediately prepare your bath as well.”

“…Okay.”

“Yukishiro-sama…did something happen?”

Seeing Yukishiro’s pale face as she answered, Lilika feared that something terrible must have happened. When her eyes met with Yukishiro’s, Lilika felt as if Yukishiro was caught in a deep darkness.

“…It’s…nothing.”

Lilika gently placed a hand on Yukishiro’s back in response to the response.

“Yukishiro-sama, please drink a sip of the milk tea first.”

“……”

The milk tea brewed by Lilika was Yukishiro’s favorite. But, the hand she tried to use for grabbing the cup trembled so hard that she couldn’t get hold of it.

“Yukishiro-sama… Yukishiro…-chan. Yukishiro-chan.”

Lilika tightly clasped Yukishiro’s trembling hand.

“It’s okay. Big sis is by your side.”

“Yeah…”

That was an important anchor. An indispensable anchor which would never vanish.

“You can rely on Lilika-onee-chan, if things become scary or difficult.”

Nicknames for just them two…which they had also kept secret from Ena. When they were alone, they called each other Lilika-onee-chan and Yukishiro-chan.

Lilika-onee-chan accepts a pampered side of me which I can’t show to anyone else.

Her hand’s trembling stopped. Led by Lilika’s hand, Yukishiro slowly lifted the cup.

“Now then, that’s your beloved milk tea, Yukishiro-chan. Trink it slowly.”

“…Oki.”

Once she drank a sip, the milk tea passed through her throat and gently warmed up her belly. With her belly feeling pleasantly warm, her mind and heart calmed down as well.

“Are you going to talk to onee-chan?”

The kind voice of Lilika-onee-chan. One she could fully depend on.

Ena had trained Yukishiro in Saori’s stead as Saori’s heart had been broken. Ena was a strict and gentle person. Thanks to her, Yukishiro managed to grow into a fine lady.

But, Ena never pampered Yukishiro, the next head of the Minato family. The one engulfing Yukishiro in love without asking for anything in return was Lilika.

“I-I…”

I want to be pampered. I want to fully rely on Lilika-onee-chan. I want to cream out the pain in my heart and get her to console me.

“I..I’m…”

Even though she opened her mouth to speak, no words came out. Instead, tears trickled down from Yukishiro’s eyes. Lilika immediately pressed a handkerchief on Yukishiro’s cheek.

“I…sob…I…”

“Yukishiro-chan, take it slow. Allow your heart to calm down while telling me what happened.”

For some time Yukishiro’s sobbing continued to reverberate in the room with her tears continuing to fall.

I’m…who am I? What am I? I’m…the next family head of Eternal Minato. I’m not someone who is allowed to merely rely on Lilika-onee-chan’s help. I’m…I’m…

Once the sobbing and tears stopped, Yukishiro’s voice returned to that of the next family head.

“My direct affiliation with Takuya-sama will be resolved on March the 31st next year.”

“gh!”

Lilika had also noticed Yukishiro’s voice and expression.

“Afterwards…I will become engaged to a man prepared by Mother.”

“Wh-!? T-That’s…!”

“That was all Mother had to tell me.”

“Yukishiro-sama…”

Despair. Lilika fell into a head-splitting despair.

It’s the same… Mum has…it’s the same appearance of sadness and grief my Mum showed when I saw her for the last time. And the same despair.

I can’t do anything for her.

Just like it was for Ena who couldn’t save Saori.

Is there anything…anything I can do…?

She was breaking. Yukishiro had broken just like Saori.

No…nothing…the only thing I can do…is to stay by her side…

“Lilika-san.” This time Yukishiro gently placed her hand on Lilika’s. “Thank you.”

Lilika couldn’t restrain her tears after hearing those words from Yukishiro.

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While her tears kept streaming down her cheeks, Lilika headed to the house arrest room after preparing the bathroom in Yukishiro’s room. She wanted to carry Yukishiro’s things back to her private room.

On the way Iori intercepted her.

“Lilika-san.”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to take care of my Elder Sister again? You are my personal attendant, aren’t you?”

“I am serving the Minato family. As such, I am not your personal attendant, Iori-sama.”

Iori glared at Lilika.

“I have received permission from Mother to have you work as my personal attendant.”

“Forgive my rudeness, but Saori-sama hasn’t ordered me to be your personal attendant, Iori-sama. I just followed your words of doing whatever I want.”

“That’s what I mean! It’s obviously proof of you being my personal attendant!”

“If Saori-sama directly orders me to become your personal attendant, I will serve you as such.”

“What’s wrong with you!? Didn’t you obey me until Elder Sister caused all this ruckus!?”

Lilika clenched her fists due to Iroi’s remark. She had been acting as Iori’s attendant out of consideration for Yukishiro to smooth the waters within the mansion. Yukishiro was following Ena’s teachings and wouldn’t get a personal attendant until she became the family head.

Even so, Lilika believed that she should have been at Yukishiro’s and not Iori’s side back then. Her guilty conscience and regrets were so intense that they had transformed into anger towards Iori.

“This is all I had to say, so I will take the liberty to excuse myself at this point.”

“Humph! If you keep following Elder Sister, you will regret it dearly before long! Mother is planning for me to be the next family head!”

“I have not heard anything about this. Excuse me then.”

Even though she hated the idea, even Lilika had heard the rumors about the succession of family headship being passed on from Yukishiro to Iori.

Saori-sama had talked to Yukishiro-sama about the cancellation of her direct affiliation with Takuya-sama, the release of her house arrest, and her engagement to another man. If Saori-sama was truly planning to pass the succession of the family headship to Iori-sama, she wouldn’t let Yukishiro-sama get engaged to another man.

In other words, Saori-sama should still see Yukishiro-sama as the next family head. But, why are rumors about Iori-sama becoming the next family head circulating within the mansion?

Ignoring Iori who was yelling something behind her, Lilika headed to the room where Yukishiro had spent her house arrest. There wasn’t overly much luggage to be found inside the small space. Hence she quickly gathered everything, trying to return to Yukishiro as soon as possible.

Oh? This is…

When she held an accessory case in her hand, she heard the scraping of paper from within. The case wasn’t locked. Even so, arbitrarily opening Yukishiro’s personal box wasn’t proper for Lilika.

And yet, despite that, Lilika opened the case.

These are…the letters from before.

Several envelopes were stacked inside the case. Lilika had delivered those letters to Yukishiro during her house arrest. The senders were the girls of Takuya’s class who adored Yukishiro.

Akari-san…

Lilika was well aware of Akari. She was the clever and wise girl whom Yukishiro trusted the most among her classmates.

Considering the possibility of her letters not reaching Yukishiro if she sent them to the Minatos, Akari had contacted Lilika. This had allowed for the letters to safely reach Yukishiro through Lilika’s assistance.

Lilika wouldn’t do something like opening an envelope and reading the letter. But, even without doing that, she could imagine what the letters said.

They should be full of words expressing their worry and concern for Yukishiro-sama.

Thinking back on the expression Akari had made when she handed the letters to her, Lilika could easily tell as much.

It’s not just me. There are many girls who like Yukishiro-sama. But, what should I do…? It’s heavy. Way too heavy. The post and responsibility of being the next family head of the Minatos is too much of a burden.

Lilika grieved over her own lack of strength.

If only I had the power…I’d take away Yukishiro-sama from here right away!

But, there was no way she could do something like that. It’d be an act that could be described as kidnapping and when it came to the target being the next head of the Eternal Minato family, it’d be impossible to hide it.

I’ll stay by her side as much as possible… Yep, let’s be with her at all times.

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Time passed on and soon it was December the 31st. New Year’s Eve.

As the weather forecast predicted heavy snowfall on that day, many people opted to spend the New Year’s Eve at home instead of going outside. As such, you could barely see anyone out on the streets which were covered by a thick layer of snow.

The residence of the Eternal Minato, however, had fallen silent for another reason.

On the day after the Holy Night Festival, Iori had met with her mother Saori after learning about Yukishiro’s release from house arrest. The face of Iori after she left Saori’s room was so haggard that you’d think she had lost all of her youthfulness as 15-years old.

After this, Iori had rarely left her own room and Katsuya had stopped to visit the Minato residence, too. Once the voices of Iori and Katsuya, who had enlivened the Minato residence, vanished, time inside the buildings started to trickle down quietly, almost as if it heeded the sadness hanging in the air.

“Yukishiro-sama.”

Lilika was visiting Yukishiro’s room after brewing a warm milk tea. After knocking on the door, she waited for Yukishiro to answer. And usually this would happen right away.

But today no answer could be heard from within the room.

“Yukishiro-sama?”

Thinking that she might have gone to the restroom, Lilika waited another minute before knocking and calling out once more. Yet, the room still remained silent.

“…Yukishiro-sama? It is only me.”

Lilika knew that Yukishiro’s reply would be delayed whenever she retrieved certain items from her hidden stash. Hence Lilika suspected that Yukishiro might be quickly putting away everything out of worry of it not being just Lilika in front of her door.

However, even this didn’t yield her an answer.

Lilika grabbed the door knob and turned it around. The door wasn’t locked. Yet, Yukishiro would always lock her door when she took out the items from her secret stash.

“…Please forgive my rudeness for entering without permission.”

Once Lilika resolved herself and entered the room, she realized that Yukishiro wasn’t present, despite the lights still being on. There were no signs of the secret shelf having been opened.

“Yukishiro-sama?”

She couldn’t sense the presence of someone from the restroom either. In the first place, the lights were out in that room. Even so, she opened the door and checked just in case. But, as she had expected, Yukishiro wasn’t there.

The lights in the bathroom were off as well. She checked this place just in case as well, but the result was the same as before.

“Yukishiro-sama? Yukishiro-sama!?”

Lilika’s voice gradually became louder. Yukishiro wasn’t in her bed and once she opened the closet…

“Ah!”

Yukishiro’s favorite, long, black coat was gone.

“Yukishiro-sama!!”

Once she scanned the deserted bedroom, she discovered the keyboard in front of a display. A letter addressed to Lilika was placed on top of it.

“Yukishiro-sama…no…no way!!”

Her mind didn’t have the composure to read the whole letter. When she came to, Lilika had already dashed outside where the snow was coming down heavily.

『Please forgive me, my beloved Lilika-onee-chan』