Future Plans
That night.
At Amira’s earnest insistence, Lillian ended up sleeping in her room.
Tonight was my turn for the late-night patrol, so I left the light on in the station and passed the time by reviewing paperwork until it was time to head out.
Back when I was stationed in the capital, incidents came in day and night without end. But ever since coming to Curtis Village, I’ve been living a life free of such emergencies.
Thanks to that, I’ve been able to get more proper sleep, and my health’s improved quite a bit.
As I worked, Elina came by.
She’d said she was going to bed early since she’d be on shift starting at dawn, taking over from me... but it seemed she was still worried about Lillian.
“Can’t sleep?”
“Senior... doesn’t it bother you?”
“You mean about Miss Lillian?”
“Yes.”
Elina isn’t a noble, but she does come from a respectable family. So when it comes to marriage, there are certain obligations and expectations. That’s probably why Lillian’s situation doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem to her.
It also explains why she spoke so forcefully to Lillian earlier.
Still, Elina’s father—Vice-Commander Bellows—is an understanding man.
If his daughter were truly opposed to something, he’d probably reconsider a marriage arrangement.
Hank’s case was a good example.
That guy had a decent lineage too, so if he had sensed that Elina was interested in him, he would’ve done everything he could to win her over.
But Elina disliked Hank.
Because of that, Vice-Commander Bellows didn’t push the match too hard.
Of course, things might be different if they were actual nobles.
Even then, though, I don’t think he’d ever force his daughter into a marriage she hated.
Unfortunately, the Glaberson family doesn’t seem to be quite so understanding.
If anything, that’s the more common kind of story.
As a commoner, I can only sympathize.
I’ve heard of cases where someone was suddenly forced to marry a person they’d never even met before.
But there’s nothing someone like me—a mere knight with no real connection—can do about it.
“... Anyway, I’ll report this to Lord Doyle tomorrow.”
“Got it. —Wait, doesn’t that mean you won’t get any rest, Senior?”
“I’ll catch up on sleep after I get back.”
Back in the capital, I once fought for three days and nights straight without sleep deep in the forest.
Going a day without rest is nothing now.
Besides, I really do want to help her somehow.
She seems like a genuinely good person.
At any rate, the first step is to bring this to Lord Doyle.
Everything starts from there.
What do you think about this chapter?
