When one of the children took off running, the others followed suit, and before I knew it, they had run off into the distance, out of sight.
"Hehe, they're all energetic and good kids, aren't they?" (Curtis)
Watching the children disappear like the wind, Captain smiled at Captain Cyril, who then lowered his eyes slightly and replied.
"Yes, I hope that they will live healthy and happy lives here." (Cyril)
"You can't go wrong with land ruled by Captain, you know." (Fia)
When I answered with confidence, he smiled with a troubled look on her face.
"I guess so. At least the kids saw me and ran off." (Cyril)
...Th-that's right.
The locals did not have good feelings towards the knights or the lord's family. Since Captain Cyril had changed into knight garb, it's unlikely anyone would have known that he was a lord, but it might be true that the reason they ran off was because he was dressed as a knight, whether that be Captain Cyril or Captain Curtis.
I glanced up at Captain Cyril and Captain Curtis.
…Yeah, they're both a lot taller than average. To shorter children, these big men may seem scary.
"Um... are Captain Cyril and Captain Curtis good friends?" (Fia)
Deciding that it would be wise to continue this conversation any further, I asked a simple question to change the topic, and Captain Curtis answered me.
"I was originally a member of the First Knight Order and worked under Captain Cyril. So, it's a bit presumptuous to say we're close." (Curtis)
"What? Captain Curtis was a member of the First Knights?! If so, that makes you an elite!" (Fia)
I was so surprised that I blurted it out out loud, and Captain Curtis laughed amusingly.
"And you, a member of the First Knights, are saying that? Then isn't that the case for you too?" (Curtis)
"Heh?" (Fia)
"...Whether Curtis and Fia are superior or not is a difficult question that I have not yet been able to answer, so please reserve the answer for now." (Cyril)
"What? I thought that Captain Cyril had better judgement than anyone, but is there someone even Captain can't judge?!" (Fia)
When Captain Curtis heard what Captain Cyril said, he stared at me in surprise.
"Well, red hair and golden eyes are the same color as the Great Saint. I can understand why Captain Cyril can't make calm decisions..." (Curtis)
Captain Curtis muttered something under his breath and turned to talk to me.
"Captain Cyril promoted me to Captain of the 13th Knight, even though I was just a simple knight at the time. At the time, I didn't have the achievements or skills to become a captain, so there was a lot of opposition, with people saying 'Why should someone like that get the job?!', but Captain Cyril pushed me through." (Curtis)
Hearing Captain Curtis's words, Captain Cyril narrowed his eyes nostalgically.
"Curtis belonged to the First Knights for five years, and accompanied us on annual visits to this area. The people of this area had a dislike for knights, and we knights were constantly avoided. However, for some reason, Curtis was the only one who was accepted by the residents as if he were one of their kind. At the time, the captain of this area was having trouble being accepted by the residents, so three years ago, I recommended Curtis to be the Captain of the Thirteenth Knight." (Cyril)
"Hehe, compared to the other knight captains I may lack strength, but I was selected as a captain because of my affinity with the residents." (Curtis)
As Captain Curtis spoke in a light-hearted manner, Captain Cyril gave him a reproachful look.
"Curtis, your strength is more than sufficient. Otherwise you would not have been chosen to be a captain." (Cyril)
"Thank you for your concern. However, I'm fine. The time when I felt depressed and realized that I was weaker than the other captains is over. Now, I have a proper understanding of my own abilities, and I am doing what I should do based on that." (Curtis)
"...My apologies. You are truly the knight I had high hopes for."
After Captain Cyril answered Captain Curtis complimentaryly, he sighed softly.
Then he turned to me, feeling a little nervous.
Wondering if there was something he needed, I stared back at him, when Captain Cyril pursed his lips tightly and walked towards me with a look of determination on his face. Then, Captain Cyril stopped in front of me, bent down, and got down on one knee to bring himself at eye level with me.
"C-Captain Cyril...?!" (Fia)
I cried out in surprise at his kneeling position, and he grabbed one of my hands.
"Fia, I have a favor to ask of you. I'm asking you as a friend, and you have the right to refuse." (Cyril)
"Y-Yes?" (Fia)
...P-please? Is there something more formal?
"This land has a strong faith in the Great Saint, so the residents have a strong attachment to red hair. Just as the children earlier called you 'Great Saint', red hair in this land is reminiscent of the legendary Great Saint. However..." (Cyril)
Then he stopped speaking and shifted his gaze to my red hair.
"You must have heard about the 'Sutherland's Lament' that occurred ten years ago, right? The cause of that incident was my mother, who had red hair. That, combined with the fact that she was never accepted by the local people in the first place, has caused residents of a certain age who know about the incident to have a rejection reaction to red hair. However, even as they reject it, there must also be a desire to accept it because it is the Great Saint's hair color. There are still many emotions settled in this land. Your hair will have an impact on the local people, for better or worse." (Cyril)
"………………" (Fia)
Well, this was getting rather complicated.
"...Time has stopped in this land for ten years. And that is not helping anyone. That's why we need a cardiac stimulant to break through this situation. You, with your red hair, can be that." (Cyril)
"Heh?" (Fia)
"...You probably don't remember, but you once spoke of how a Saint should be. When I heard it, I felt like my heart was being grabbed. ...Any woman with red hair could be a stimulant in this land, but to turn the situation around in this land, a strong will is needed. I would like you to take on that role." (Cyril)
"......Um...." (Fia)
"The sediment that has settled in this land has sunk deep, and using common sense, it is not something you can do on your own. Therefore, you need not worry even if you leave this land in ten days with nothing changing. However, if there is anyone who can change something, I believe it is you, Fia." (Cyril)
"......Eh, ah, um..." (Fia)
……W-what should I do? Wh-what? This is starting to sound a bit presumptuous...
"As I said at the beginning, you have the right to refuse. The residents have very strong feelings about red hair, so in some cases you may find yourself feeling uncomfortable or even in danger. If you refuse, you will be working within the mansion for the duration of your stay, so you will not have to appear in front of the residents... However, whatever your choice, I want you to come here and see the current situation with your own eyes before making a decision. I apologize for the delay in explaining this to you." (Cyril)
"………………" (Fia)
I couldn't immediately say anything and just stared at Captain Cyril.
Even in such a situation, he had a calm expression on his face, not forcing or pressuring me to do anything. However, upon closer inspection, his blue eyes were dark and clouded.
...Captain Cyril was suffering.
As I listened to Captain's story, I felt his suffering and the residents' desire to do something. I think the Captain has probably tried many things in the 10 years since he became lord. However, nothing has worked, so they were grasping at straws and turning to me for help.
This was the relationship between a captain and a simple knight. Even though a simple command would have been enough, he made the effort to establish a friendship with me, giving me the opportunity to refuse.
A surprisingly kind knight.
I felt bad that this kindness wasn't conveyed to the residents.
I also found it unpleasant that the cheerful and kind residents of Sutherland continued to harbor negative feelings.
I remembered the deserted streets on my way here, with few inhabitants to be seen.
The occasional residents we spotted just kept their distance and didn't seem the least bit welcoming.
My reaction to Canopus, who was the lord in his previous life, was a world of difference.
——Yeah, this kind of relationship wasn't good for anyone.
"...I think that Captain Cyril is a fine lord, and I like the residents of Sutherland. There are no bad people anywhere, so I think it's wrong that we can't get along with each other. ...I don't know how much I can help, but please let me help." (Fia)
I looked Captain Cyril straight in the eye and answered in a clear voice.
Captain Cyril smiled with a look of weakness I'd never seen before, and murmured, "Thank you."
"You may think that you have made this decision of your own free will, but I am aware that I have had a great deal of influence over you. Therefore, now that you have made this decision, I will absolutely guarantee your safety. Either I or Curtis will accompany you at all times. Having Curtis, who has earned a certain degree of trust in this area, accompany you will also show the residents that you are a safe person." (Cyril)
Captain Cyril stood up and turned to look at Fabian.
"As you heard, Fabian. I'd like you to guard Fia if anything happens." (Cyril)
"I understand" (Fabian)
Fabian replied to Captain Cyril in a serious voice.