Having a moment to spare, I conversed with Mori.
Even during our talk, I was resolved to release Mori with a generous heart. I felt there was no need to keep by my side a knight who clearly disliked me.
However, Mori, for some reason, seemed to have experienced a change of heart from our conversation.
Having declared he would not leave, he spoke with Zigore, and judging by the atmosphere, it seemed to have been resolved well.
That much was fine, but...
[Captain... What on earth did you say to Mori?]
Unable to bear it any longer, Zigore asked me as if lodging a complaint.
I was curious too. How on earth did Mori interpret what I said?
Suppressing my vexed feelings, I gazed at the scene before me.
A puppy suddenly running into the Roam residence, and specifically the room I was staying in, was something I had experienced in the past, so it wasn't surprising.
Whether it was Lilia or Sayri, someone must have brought it.
And that puppy running around by itself, tripping and hurting its leg... well, I thought such a thing was plausible.
However... Mori's presence was unexpected.
[I-I'm not interested!]
At Mori's brave shout, Minte beside him looked at him with pitying eyes.
[...Mori, anyone can see you're concerned right now.]
Yes, anyone could see that Mori couldn't take his eyes off the puppy with the injured leg.
[It, it does look painful but... no! W-what do you know!]
The small, round snake head swiftly turned away from the injured puppy.
Yet, the tip of his tail anxiously thumped the floor, clearly showing how worried he was.
Pondering for a long while over this incomprehensible behavior, I asked in a voice that wondered if it could be true.
"Mori. Are you perhaps imitating me now?"
At my question, Mori flinched and looked up at me. Just that reaction told me my words were correct.
「Th-then I'll continue being the successor.」
I was about to ask if the successor he said he would be wasn't the successor to the former Captain, but I just gave up. I remembered that once Mori starts crying, he doesn't stop easily.
If Pallides was the type to wail loudly, Mori was the type to shed fat tears silently, drop by drop.
I already had no talent for comforting crying people; how was I supposed to comfort a snake with brimming tears?
"Of course, it's true that I have no interest in all things, but you don't need to imitate even that. Did you forget what I said about doing as you please?"
[Are you... driving me away...?]
"No. If you want to help, go and help."
I almost made him cry again!
Startled, I corrected my words, and Mori pondered for a moment. Then he slowly slithered toward the puppy.
Seeing the snake slithering toward it, the puppy jumped in surprise.
[Waaah!]
Mori seemed hurt by that sight.
"Just come here, I'll handle it myself."
When I called him with a sighing voice, Mori returned with a dejected look. I opened the mouth of the silk pouch and placed it on the floor.
Watching Mori enter the silk pouch familiarly gave me a strange feeling.
'A silk pouch containing a snake.'
In fact, I had even suggested to him that he could stay in the subspace. But Mori refused very firmly, saying he wanted to stay by my side.
He was so earnest in listing his uses that I found his effort admirable and couldn't suggest it again.
'At least it's fortunate he's a small snake.'
Mori's size was small enough to fit on a palm. Naturally, he could also fit into the silk pouch hanging at my waist.
Other Dullahans looked at this with envious eyes... but, well, I couldn't openly carry a snake around.
"Pallides, go out and call a passing maid. Tell her to take this puppy away."
[Waaah, it hurts! Mommy!]
Suddenly, I don't know whose puppy this is. Did Lilia let a puppy loose, wanting to recreate something from the past?
"It says it hurts. Call someone quickly."
When I gave the awkward order, Pallides said she understood and opened the door.
However, as she was about to leave the room, she quickly stepped aside. Someone had suddenly rushed in.
"Jusy!"
The one urgently scooping up the injured puppy was Sayri. She seemed to have heard the puppy's whining and come in.
Sayri, who was checking the puppy with startled eyes, belatedly noticed me in the room and flinched in surprise.
"Si-sister..."
Meeting Sayri alone like this was the first time since returning to this residence.
Partly because Sayri was inherently timid, but also because Mother had skillfully kept Sayri away from me.
If I had to say, Sayri was the last bastion Mother held.
"Is it yours?"
[Waaah! Mommy!]
The puppy struggled in Sayri's arms.
It was likely one of two things: either it was in so much pain it couldn't recognize its owner's touch, or Sayri wasn't the owner to begin with.
Sayri hesitated, not answering, and watched my reaction.
I glanced at the puppy held in Sayri's hands, then indifferently averted my gaze. Either way, it wasn't a matter for me to intervene in.
"Take it away."
At my words, Sayri slowly backed away, then quickly dashed out of the room.
She should be quite grown up by now, yet she's exactly the same as before.
I clicked my tongue softly and shook my head. No wonder she becomes a target for the likes of Lilia.
"By the way, when will Zigore arrive?"
I gazed out the window with a bored expression. Zigore, who had gone to check on Father's movements, still had no news.
But I was certain. Soon, Father would summon me and push me to reveal myself as the Resurrected One.
It was time to visit Father's office.
It was also time to go check what Minte had diligently found.
* * *
"I have informed His Majesty that I have found you."
As expected, Father summoned me and said the words I anticipated.
"Is that so? Then will you appoint me as a minor duke now?"
When I asked in a light tone, Father fell silent for a moment. Then, in an uncharacteristically cautious voice, he began to speak.
"His Majesty... has grown deeply distrustful of those around him lately."
"My, the position of a monarch over all is inherently lonely and solitary."
"He seems on the verge of not even believing that you exerted yourself for the imperial family. It seems we need to instill a bit more trust."
I gazed intently at Father, who was carefully choosing his words, then let out a soft laugh.
"Ah, are you saying a Resurrected One who has lost His Majesty the Emperor's trust and is treated as a fraud cannot become a minor duke?"
Father frowned as if to deny my words and parted his lips. But before he could, I continued.
"Father, I think you have the order wrong."
I sighed pointedly and turned my head nonchalantly. Pretending to be indifferent, but actually scanning Father's bookshelf meticulously, I shrugged my shoulders.
"Originally, it was Roam that wanted to bind me. I never clung to staying here. I am the Resurrected One who serves the will of the goddess and wanders the world."
Third row, eighth book.
Remembering the book that was in the place I glanced at, I naturally turned my head elsewhere. This time, it was the ordinary inkwell placed on Father's desk.
And finally, beneath this carpet I was standing on.
The secret spaces Minte had discovered were more numerous than expected. Could I obtain something useful?
"Anelli. Roam took great risks to bring you here."
While internally choosing a date to ransack the office, I outwardly smiled faintly.
"Yes, and in return, I abandoned the imperial palace and came here. I think the mere fact that the Resurrected One's residence has changed is sufficient compensation."
I applied pressure with my toes, firmly pressing the carpet. Groping around, shifting positions inconspicuously and stepping with my foot, I confirmed a spot that felt slightly more raised than elsewhere.
The difference was so subtle one would pass over it carelessly if not feeling carefully.
"You must have heard that Lilia's foresight has returned?"
Deliberately lightly changing the subject, I swiftly turned my body. The family portrait still hanging on the wall came into view.
"I thought you no longer believed in it."
"I heard that child foresaw Her Majesty the Empress's affairs. If that is true..."
"So is Lilia saying it again? That I will bring ruin to Roam?"
Perhaps because I kept my gaze on the family portrait for a long time? Father's blunt voice softened a little.
"She didn't say such a thing. I am... saying that I cannot easily send Lilia outside of Roam. Since Phrygian caused an incident, the engagement between Lilia and the Crown Prince must be maintained for now."
It was only regrettable that the terrifying option of handling Lilia internally because she couldn't be sent outside after regaining her foresight wasn't even being considered from the start.
'Can't be helped.'
Indeed, if Roam were to discard Lilia, it would be because she was useless. A useful Lilia might be used, but she wouldn't be someone to discard.
Just like me.
"If that happens, there's a possibility of falling out with Prince Heinri. You are acquainted with him, aren't you?"
Father's words were packaged to sound as if he were concerned about my personal relationships.
But with a little analysis, it wasn't difficult to see that it was a statement telling me to distance myself from Prince Heinri.
"He must have been pleased to finally gain an opportunity; he'll be disheartened if he loses Roam's support again."
When I nodded indifferently, Father let out a sigh of relief.
"The monster attack occurred at the Lindea River. Seeing that additional victims have occurred, the matter is serious. Since it's such a frequently used route and cannot be controlled indefinitely, Roam intends to take the lead in showing initiative."
Wanting me to lead Roam's knights and elevate Roam's name?
Struggling to hold back a snickering laugh, I spoke.
"Father, I heard His Majesty considers this incident to be magic."
At my words, Father furrowed his brow. He seemed to want to ask the source of my information, but I pretended not to know and continued.
"If His Majesty believes this incident is not the work of monsters, then what use is it for me to lead the knights and cause a commotion? He might even think Roam is participating in a fraud."
"...Then what do you propose?"
"I heard the Temple has already concluded this incident is the work of monsters. Then, let's also get official certification from the Magic Tower."
"The Magic Tower?"
At Father's suspicious question, I nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. Shouldn't everyone officially and clearly recognize the current problem, so that when the second daughter of Roam, chosen by the goddess, resolves it, it creates a great stir?"