Rishe gently wrapped her hand around Myria as she tried to rub her eyes.

Is that why you said youd stop being wayward earlier?

Her small head bobbed.

Evidently, the Order didnt do anything to her.

It was probably something Myria decided by herself after a long contemplation in order to avoid hurting anyone else any more.

Im sure my real mom and dad abandoned me because Im a cursed childJust like with Leo, Bishop Schneider asked Papa for help, and thats how I became Papas daughter.

It dawned on Rishe.

When they were having lunch with Leo during the day, Myria told not to say Father carelessly since they werent related.

It was an uncharacteristically cold thing for Myria to say to Leo and Schneider.

However, those words were not directed at others, but were Myrias own introspection.

She has long known that she wasnt related to her father.

That was why she told herself that she should keep her distance from the duke.

But Papa is so kind. I know that there was no use waiting for him to drive me away if I was going to give all my love back to him for raising me when I wasnt really his daughter.

So, you got the location of the orphanage from Leo and tried to leave on your own?

Um

Myria looked into Rishes eyes and cried out, wailing.

Im sorry. I intentionally lost the ribbon that you tied for me!

She tightly embraced Myria , who was soaking in tears, over again.

I should be the one saying sorry, My Lady.

Hiccup, h-hiccup

Sometimes, you looked so desolate, but I couldnt pet you like this. Truly, to the very end.

She wished she hadnt done such things as leaving Myria alone.

Even when she sulked about wanting to be alone, she should have hugged her and asked her why she was so sad.

Youve been working so hard to protect your father, havent you?

Y-yeah

Youre a wonderful girl. Your father will surely cry a lot if you tell him youre going away.

What, Papa?

Rishe smiled and nodded in response to her disbelief.

In fact, the Duke of Jonal had been shedding buckets of tears on the eve of Myrias wedding.

The presence or absence of blood ties didnt matter to him at all.

Lets go back to your dad, Myria-sama.

However, Myria still shook her head.

No, I cant go home!

Myria-sama

I dont want to be around the people I love! How I wish its me who dies, not Mama or Papa or anyone else

Myria-sama!!

At that moment, Myria pushed her away with all her might, a bit away from her.

?

Then a popping-like sound echoed.

A hard-sounding noise, like the clang of metal against metal. Rishe reflexively looked around and noticed the heel of Myrias shoe.

Then, she noticed that the heel, which was about an inch high, had what looked like a very thin string tangled around it.

No way

It only took a moment for a series of thoughts to occur to her.

The reason why Myria was crying here, and the metallic sound high up in the air. She surmised that she must have fallen into something that used a certain string technique.

!

She marveled if there was ever a time in her former lives where she saw a trap entangled in the preys legs and set the target in the direction the string was pulled.

She was pretty sure that was a trick with a poisoned arrow.

No!!

Rishe reached out as fast as she could.

She grabbed Myria by the shoulders and embraced her in a shielding hug, trapping her in her arms.

!!

Immediately afterwards, pain struck her neck.