Shimahara Nao is not independent.
She takes care of my mansion—though it's not really mine anymore. If I prove myself, it might be returned to me in the future, but for now, it's just an empty house. The country won't provide funds for its upkeep.
Well, if you say I'm her employer, then that's that. In other words, I have an obligation to reward her for her work.
That's why it's my job to prepare food for her.
Right now, I'm carrying bags of vegetables in both hands. These will be for the dinner I'll enjoy with Nao.
Nao is a great cook, so I'm really looking forward to it.
Lost in thoughts of the delicious meal awaiting me, I keep walking—
And then, I notice it.
"Eh…?"
The Hero's mansion is on fire.
The poor visibility along the tree-lined path and the fact that the fire was still small made me slow to realize. But as I got closer, the acrid smell of smoke and the red glow illuminating the surroundings became undeniable.
"...Nao?"
I drop the vegetables in my hands, cold sweat running down my cheeks. If Nao got caught in that fire…
For just a moment, I imagine her body, charred and disfigured.
"Nao!"
I break into a sprint.
To confirm her safety—even a second sooner!
Emerging from the tree-lined path, I reach the mansion's garden.
There, standing in her maid outfit, is Nao.
She isn't engulfed in flames. But she's being restrained by two young female soldiers, her arms held firmly in their grip.
"Stop it!"
Nao's voice rings out—directed at Tsugumi, the President, standing before her.
Relief washes over me, but I'm also a little surprised.
That loud voice doesn't sound like the Nao who always hides in the shadows and barely speaks.
"This place… Shimojou-kun entrusted it to me! Please, don't burn it!"
Nao struggles desperately against the soldiers' hold, but her frail frame makes escape impossible.
Don't burn it?
Does that mean Tsugumi is the one who set the mansion on fire?
Tsugumi runs a hand through her proud red hair, visibly irritated, and glares down at Nao.
"What 'Shimojou-kun'? What 'entrusted'? It makes my skin crawl watching a woman like you grovel for a man's favor. Are you really satisfied just cleaning an empty building? Ah, but this is for your own good, too. Burning this mansion might finally make you grow a spine."
"Cruel… this is just…"
Nao collapses to the ground as if her legs gave out. Freed from the soldiers' grip, her hands cover her face, hiding her tears.
"Stop it!"
I can't stand it anymore.
I rush forward and immediately scoop Nao into my arms. Her small body is light and soft.
The surrounding soldiers make no move to stop me.
"Shimojou-kun, I'm sorry… I couldn't protect… our home."
"It's fine. You don't have to push yourself so hard. As long as you're safe, that's all that—"
"I'm sorry for being so clingy. But I was… scared."
Nao buries her face in my chest, sobbing. All I can do is gently stroke her head.
"Oh, you're here too? As you can see, I'm burning down the mansion."
Tsugumi says it so casually.
"Cut it out already."
Her words pour fuel onto the fire in my heart.
"Fine, hate me all you want! I never intended this, but I have said things like turning you all into slaves or selling you off. I get why you'd dislike me. But Nao is a girl! She's your classmate, your comrade, isn't she?! Why do you have to take her home away from her?!"
"The Hero's mansion is no longer necessary. This vast land will be fairly distributed to the poor—either as farmland or commercial property. Are you really so selfish that you'd hoard a luxurious estate while people starve?!"
"You're not wrong! But there has to be a better way!"
Akaishi Tsugumi isn't evil.
She didn't burn the mansion just to spite me or Nao. I know that.
But that doesn't mean I can forgive this.
"You're the worst!"
"You need to think on a larger scale!"
Nao, crying.
Me and Tsugumi, getting furious..
Our harsh words know no end. The dark emotions welling up from the depths of our hearts feel infinite.
What finally stops us is one of the female soldiers who had been silently observing the scene.
"Madam President, please restrain yourself. Any further will draw unwanted attention."
She's a guard.
Though her words are directed at Tsugumi, they snap me back to my senses a little, too.
Even with the spacious garden and tree-lined path, this is still near the royal capital. A fire this big will undoubtedly draw crowds wondering what's happening.
Looking around, I see people gathering at a distance.
"...It seems I lost sight of myself for a moment."
Tsugumi is the President. She relies on public support and wants to maintain it.
She can't afford to look undignified—even if it's to berate a villain like me.
"I've arranged alternative lodging for Shimabara Nao. One of my soldiers will fill you in on the details."
Tsugumi isn't evil. I'm sure she thought she was doing the right thing—both redistributing the land to the poor and pushing Nao toward independence.
That's why she prepared another place for her to stay.
But her methods are clumsy and heavy-handed. Human emotions don't work like revolutions. Just eliminating what's 'bad' won't change anything.
Well, I Takumild at least be grateful she arranged temporary housing for Nao.
"...I don't need it."
The words come from Nao, still clinging to me. Her eyes hold a determination unlike her usual self.
"N-Nao? You don't have to worry about me. The mansion wasn't mine to begin with, and you'll be in trouble without a place to stay, right? I know it's sad that it burned down, but you Takumild take her up on the offer. Absolutely—"
"I want to stay with Shimojou-kun."
She says it.
...Huh?
"Do what you want."
Tsugumi flips her cape and walks away.
All that remains is the still-burning mansion—and me and Nao.
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