Chapter 48

We couldn’t stay at the plaza the entire time, we entered the elven castle…or rather, something that seemed to be a building that was built on the side of the sacred tree .

Rather than saying that it’s a building, they were using trees that were tall and in good condition and living in them, or perhaps I should say, it was complicatedly entwined with the trees and looked like a castle… .

In any case, it was hard to describe .

It seemed like it would be troublesome if it rained, but every generation’s king inherited the skill to manipulate the weather within the elven territory, among other things .

I would like to learn that skill by all means .

I hated the rain the most .

「Now then, you guys are, more or less, trespassers, but do you have some kind of explanation?」

The king was sitting at the head of the long table with his hands clasped together and looking towards us, and Kirika was sitting next to him, glaring at us .

It seems that the king was much calmer than before .

He didn’t stop glaring at me though .

「Before that, that younger sister over there is the number one problem though?」

She manipulated her own father, the king, and exiled her older sister .

It didn’t go so far as treason, but she should be punished for it .

When I said that, the king suddenly narrowed his eyes and smiled .

「I have already punished Kirika . In addition, perhaps because my subordinates had been idle for too long, most of them are cowards . This time’s matter would be a good wake-up call . The effects of the charm will be gone by tomorrow as well, so there’s no problem . 」

Too, naive .

When I was about to refute all the more, this time, the one who stopped me was someone I didn’t expect .

「Akira, it’s fine already . 」

「Amelia . 」

Amelia gripped my arm, and quietly shook her head .

「Since this happens every single time . I’m an unwanted child . From the very beginning, I don’t even have any expectations of being loved by my parents . 」

「…what is going on . 」

My voice hardened before I realized it .

Kirika smiled with an unsightly look on her face, and the king was expressionless .

Amelia explained with her head hung low .

「Kirika and I are twins . It is said that in this world, twins were not a good thing . Since, without exception, one of the twins, or both of them, will bring about a calamity when born . 」

Even though it wasn’t like she wanted to be a twin, it was a cruel institution .

I furrowed my eyebrows without saying anything .

「To begin with, when I was born, my hair and eye colors were completely different from my parents . As you can see, Kirika has blond hair and blue eyes, taking after otousama . However, I had white hair and red eyes . The color did not bear even the slightest resemblance to okaasama . Otousama was the one who let me, who should’ve been killed at birth, live . He let me, who was an unwanted child, live, no matter what the other elves said . That’s why, I’m thankful . 」

The king expressionlessly looked at Amelia .

In those eyes, there were no emotions at all .

If Amelia was an unwanted child, and even if she truly brought calamities, wasn’t it abnormal for a father to think to let a child live,

Besides, as far as I can see, it could be seen that the king properly loved Amelia as well .

Or rather, it could be seen that he doted on her .

If he really didn’t love her, would he come rushing out when he heard that Amelia returned .

Was he angry, when Kirika tried to kill Amelia .

Would he apologize .

I, can not understand what’s going on in Amelia’s mind .

It wasn’t because I was an idiot or anything, it’s because her way of living and way of thinking were undoubtedly different as well .

Or perhaps I should say, Amelia had nothing but negative thoughts .

「Naa, Amelia . Do you know the kind of personality that I hate?」

When I said that kind of thing that was completely unrelated, Amelia nodded although she was confused .

I had told Amelia, the other day in the dungeon .

「I think you said that you hated ‘people who are perfect’ . But, what about it?」

I turned my gaze towards the king and Kirika .

「You say that that guy is perfect, but I can not see that . Rather, she’s full of flaws . 」

「Wh, what did you say!?」

Kirika raised her voice hysterically .

See, it’s full of flaws, her personality .

「Besides, you said that you were not loved by your parents, but I think that the king is, on the contrary, an overly-doting parent, or perhaps I should say, he loves you a lot? That’s why, I don’t understand how you came to the conclusion that you were hated by your parents . 」

「…Akira-kun, you really will be crushed later . 」

The king who had been listening quietly until now said that with his veins popping up on his forehead .

Ooh, how scary, how scary .

「I don’t know what kind of circumstances you have, but right now, this is what I believe . 」

That self-important elf that I took hostage of–I had forgotten his name–was, certainly frightened of Amelia .

It was already to the point where he even wanted to say that he would be killed if he didn’t kill her .

It was the same for the other elves as well .

They were seriously emitting killing intent .

With the exception of Kirika .

Perhaps, the institution about the unwanted child itself, was it not a rumor spread by people who saw Amelia’s hair and eyes .

However, if that’s the case, why did they not tell Amelia .

「But, Kirika drove me out with her charm skill, and I was betrayed by everyone… . 」

As one would expect, I was not a psychic either, so there was no way I would understand everything .

However, I felt like there was an actual reason why .

No, it’s written there that I have the Negotiation skill .

「…a-ah, this is a mess . 」

Suddenly, Kirika, who was on the opposite side of the long table, used a hand to comb her hair .

The look on her face that made it seem like she had a terrible personality that she had just now, disappeared .

It’s just their hair and colors that were different, but because they were twins, she truly looked exactly like Amelia .

Her personality was the complete opposite though .

At the magnificent change that even an Academy award-winning actress could not compare to, Amelia was at a loss .

The king gave another sigh as well, and placed his elbow on the table while resting his chin on his hand .

It was a languid posture one wouldn’t be able to imagine from the aura of the perfect king just now .

Perhaps this was the first time she’s seen her father like that, Amelia was at a loss for words .

「As expected of the man that my beloved daughter brought . I had wanted to see Amelia trembling in fear for a little while longer though . 」

「Otousama, as expected, you have a terrible personality . Oneesama is so pitiful . 」

「Kirika, is saying that?」

「My acting was perfect . 」

The strained atmosphere suddenly dissipated, and turned lackadaisical .

As expected, I too did not know what was going on .

「Wh, what is…why?」

「Look, otousama, oneesama is trembling . 」

「Ah, it’s true . 」

Completely different from before, Kirika was using honorific language with Amelia .

The king rested his chin in his clasped hands, and gently smiled .

「Don’t worry, I will properly explain . As expected, I was thinking that I should tell you soon . And yet, because of Kirika, Amelia went to the human territory for some reason . 」

「I apologize for it turning out like that . However, that was result of Liam, not me, behaving recklessly . 」

Even though he said that he would explain properly, it was completely disregarded .

What nerve .