Declared Dead, Exiled, and Betrayed— Now I Walk Away, but I'll Save One Who Cared - Chapter 40

On the Road to the Capital (Shifa)

I never imagined my sister was still alive.

Let alone that she had given birth—and to a son, no less.

I had assumed she was dead, just like Jekyll and the others.

Because of that, when I sought the royal family’s support, I never officially requested to inherit the Riofendarl Viscountcy.

I thought it was a given.

As long as my sister never returned.

More than that—

As long as she hadn’t given birth to a son, there would have been no need to acknowledge a criminal like her.

This… this was our mistake.

Maybe it was bad luck.

Maybe it was fate.

But I feel guilty.

For the people of the city.

For Lax.

Lax would likely be ennobled.

Our marriage was set to take place under royal protection.

I had thought it would happen in Riofendarl, but now…

Now, it would take place in the royal capital instead.

For the royal family, this was actually better—they could keep Lax closer to them.

But at the same time…

It meant they would have less influence over this entire region, which was controlled by Duke Horneld.

I’m sure they were already considering their next move.

I had no way to contact them since I couldn’t take my magic communication device with me.

But once I reached the capital, I would plead for royal protection.

Because I had nowhere else to go.

My sister…

She could kill Father at any moment—even tomorrow.

Wouldn’t it be easier for her if she just became the lord immediately?

Or would she hesitate at the thought of being branded a lord-slayer?

I had no idea what she was thinking anymore.

But if she laid a hand on Father, I would never forgive her.

Not that my feelings mattered anymore.

We had completely severed ties.

She saw me as nothing but an obstacle now.

She used to be kind.

A little wild, fiercely curious, competitive—but kind.

At some point, her expression darkened.

That must have been after she was trapped in debt at the casino.

I never noticed.

I thought she was just fooling around in town…

Maybe having a few bad experiences here and there.

I never imagined she was so deep in trouble that she had to commit fraud just to cover her losses.

Then came the stampede.

Then Lax arrived.

Then… I fell in love with him.

And then…

My sister took him from me.

In the midst of it all, I forgot.

I forgot how much she had been suffering all along.

Then Lax went missing.

And she must have lost all hope for the future.

That’s when Alessandro ensnared her.

She could never escape now.

Even if Alessandro died, even if the former duke retired, the current duke was still in power.

Maybe my sister had her own ambitions.

Maybe she genuinely wanted to see her son inherit the title.

Or maybe…

Maybe she just wanted a comfortable life for herself.

Maybe she didn’t care who the father was.

And yet…

Because of this Riofendarl succession struggle, the people of the city were suffering.

The guildmaster, who had just arrived.

The craftsmen, whom we had asked for help.

The adventurers, who braved the dungeon.

The guards and knights, who defended the city.

And the ordinary citizens, who supported them all.

They had celebrated my engagement to Lax.

They had cheered us on as we explored the dungeon.

And now, they were being betrayed.

My sister would never care for them.

If anything—

She would oppress anyone who opposed her.

Once, she had respected the people who worked for her.

But that was gone now.

Now, she only gave orders and expected results.

If the results weren’t good, she would dispose of them without hesitation.

With her growing dependence on Duke Horneld,

the casino would reopen.

And the profits from the city would be drained into the duchy.

She was being used.

She was already under their control.

Or maybe… she had been from the start.

Duke Horneld was not a fool.

Even the royal family had to carefully plan their next steps against him.

I’m sorry.

All I could do was run.

And as I fled, I could do nothing but silently apologize in my heart.

To save everyone, I had no choice but to drag Lax into this mess.

And that…

That was…

“Shifa… thank god. You’re safe.”

Lost in thought, I suddenly heard a familiar voice.

“Lax!?”

I quickly peered out of the carriage—

And there he was, floating in the air.

He had come after me.

“It must have been hard on you.”

Lax stepped into the carriage and pulled me into his arms.

He was warm.

“Lax… my sister…”

“I know. I was shocked when I got back and found Eranda there. I’ve figured out most of what happened.”

He understood everything.

And he still came after me.

That thought alone made me selfishly happy.

I knew I was clinging to his kindness.

I knew he would comfort me.

I knew he would take me to the capital.

There, I would receive a noble title.

There, I would marry him.

And we would live far away from Riofendarl.

Under the royal family’s protection,

Lax would continue using his abilities to conquer dungeons.

That would serve the kingdom’s interests.

But…

I’m sorry.

I want to take back the Riofendarl Viscountcy.

I want to save Father—and everyone in the city.

This all happened because we were too naive.

And I have to take responsibility for that.

I refuse to let Duke Horneld and my sister do whatever they please.

I refuse to let everyone suffer.

“Shifa, what were you planning to do?”

“……”

I have to say it.

I have to share my resolve.

It’s a path that will likely separate me from Lax.

But still…

I can’t abandon the place where I was born and raised.

The place that nurtured me with kindness.

Maybe that makes me a failure as a noble.

But…

“You want to take it back, don’t you?”

“…Huh?”

How…?

“Why are you so surprised?

Isn’t it obvious?

This is the place you’ve always sworn to protect, right?

I’ve always planned to stand by your side and support you.”

“Lax…”

My vision blurred.

“See? I knew it.

Then let’s go together.

We’ll take back Riofendarl.

That’s why you were heading to the capital, wasn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

“Good. That’s more like it.

But why did you hesitate to tell me?

That kind of hurts, you know?”

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

I threw my arms around him and burst into tears.

Thank you, Lax.