***Arc 7 One Who Bare Their Fang on Reason, Chapter 162 Celestial Maiden, Dancing in the Palm Part 1***

"...You idiot. What do you mean it’s nothing serious."

“My apologies...”

After a while, the sun went down.

Selene comes back to the estate with Kreschenta and Anne.

Then, she immediately heard about the situation from Elvena, and then sighed deeply after hearing the story directly from Bery who was sitting on a chair with her face down.

Anne looked unable to sit still after hearing the story and left the room to find Krische.

Kreschenta wrinkles her brow and sighed as she looked at the two exasperated with her chin resting n her hand while Elvena makes her a cup of tea with lots of honey.

“Haah, Argan-sama is in some ways even more annoying than uncle (Ojii-sama). The one who is endangering the kingdom the most right now is Argan-sama, even more than the three kingdoms. Do you understand?"

“...my apologies”

Bery simply replied.

Without even looking up, her shoulders trembled quietly.

Seeing Bery like that, Kreschenta’s eyes swam around a bit.

"Ah, this isn't the time to apologize. What I want to say is..."

“Kreschenta, either shut up for a while or go to another room.”

"...A-are you giving me an order?"

"If you don't, I'll get angry for real."

Being glared at by Selene, Crescenta fell silent while looking dissatisfied.

She sipped her tea and put it down rather roughly, perhaps because it was too hot.

Selene turned away from Kreschenta and looked at Bery.

Sitting down on a chair and keeping her face down.

Her petite body looked even smaller and her slender shoulders looked even more delicate.

There was none of her usual composure.

But this must be Bery.

She was a small woman who always tried her best to put on the face of a guardian.

Selene went behind her and hugged her from behind.

She stretched out her arms encircling Bery’s body as her shoulder jumped and pressed her cheek against hers.

Her golden hair flowed freely and slid down Bery's neck.

While looking at it, Selene quietly opened her mouth.

"I wonder why you are like that. I told you to let me to take care of you once in a while and let me look after you didn’t I. I wonder if I'm still that unreliable."

It was the same when her mother died.

She was always there to comfort Serene as she cried, while doing various things as usual, and arranging the funeral.

She was always a splendid servant.

Bery spent more time with her mother than anyone else, and Selene’s sure she was the one grieving the most.

When Bery spent time with her mother, she seemed to be just a little bit spoiled.

She looked just a little bit younger.

She must have left all that behind a long time ago.

‘If you keep being so silly, stubborn, and force yourself, you'll become a child like Bery who can't be spoiled honestly. Children should be like children and let their mother take care of them, really.’

‘Nee-sama, um… I don’t want to interfere in your daughter’s education, but could you please stop using me like a bad example? It's very tough for me...’

‘Because it's the truth isn’t it. Fufu, you’re welcome to prove me wrong you know?’

"...absolutely not."

Selene recalled the two of them, and narrowed her eyes.

"I don't know how painful it would be to lose your sense of taste for someone who loves to cook so much...but I know that's not the reason why you hid it."

If it was just painful, she would have told them rather matter-of-factly.

Saying it’s not painful, that she’s okay.

As if as usual, with a troubled smile.

She’s that kind of person.

The reason she didn't do that must be something else.

“You were afraid Krische would be disappointed, weren't you?”

Bery's shoulders jumped as she said that.

Selene sighed in exasperation.

"It’s you after all, of course I can see through you. Do you know? I've been watching you ever since I was born."

If it was her mother whom she respected more than anyone else, then it was her whom she admired more than anyone else.

She had the talent to do anything, she is a hard worker, and yet she is neither arrogant nor conceited.

She did everything with ease., as if it was a matter of course.

She's the same as Krische.

She never once won against her at anything, and even when it came to problems that Selene would twist her head around, she would solve it without a second thought.

Unlike her mother, who was somewhat gap, she was a perfect super human.

She would answer anything she asked, and if she wished for something, she would make it come true.

A different existence from her, she probably had nothing that worry her.

Even if there was, it was something that Selene couldn't comprehend——there was a time when she thought that, but it wasn't until Krische arrived that she realized that wasn't the case.

After Krische came, something seemed to be peeling off, she seemed in tatters.

'I hope...we will continue to be together like this for a long time to come.'

As they were heading to the royal capital, she heard the words, and she remembered well the earnestness of the words.

She looked like she has everything, but she looked like she doesn't have anything.

‘――By Krische-sama’s side. I suddenly realized that my meaning was there. In that case, I thought my name belonged to Krische-sama. ...That that’s what I’m for, that’s what I desired.’

She and Krische were similar in a way.

She's troubled by something she couldn’t find an answer to, and seems to be drowning in it.

That was probably because she had the ability to obtain anything with just a little effort.

“As far as I'm concerned, both of you is the same, Bery. You think you can solve everything by yourself, that there's nothing you can't do, and that's the only way you think about things, and that's why you can't tolerate such trivial things, you idiot.”

"that kind of thing is……"

"That's what I think. Both of you, together both have high self-confidence."

They don't have a single little setback and they don't even know any limits.

That's why the smallest flaws within themself stand out so much, they couldn’t tolerate it, afraid, and a coward.

Even though they were more skillful than anyone else, but they were more clumsy than anyone else.

"Does your worth disappear just because you lose your sense of taste? Does that mean that Krische will be disappointed in you and no longer love you?"

“That’s...”

"Really, what an idiot. If that's what you're saying, then what am I, can't cook, can't do housework, and even when I did my best at what I’m good at it’s just a ‘so-so noob’ to Krische”

Selene spits out words like a storm and glared at Krische.

"If you say too much, I'll get angry, okay."

“I-I won’t. ...Unlike you, I can at least read the air.”

Kreschenta, who was about to quip in, hastily averted her gaze.

Selene sighed sullenly, and hugged Bery tightly.

“Even though you're usually acting so high and mighty, lecturing us, I wonder why you're so timid when it comes to your own affairs. You have a habit of saying that you don't care about Krische’s flaws, Kreschenta’s flaws, or even mine, but you can't forgive yourself for your own flaws? Are you saying that other people will never accept or forgive that side of you?”

"Hg..."

Kreschenta looks dissatisfied as she tried to say that she has no flaws, but Selene glares at her and silenced her.

Bery kept her face down and silently listened to Selene's words.

"Are those words you say a lie?"

“It’s...”

“In that case, please give me a little more trust. I think your cooking is wonderful, but your value to me goes beyond that, and no matter how many flaws you have, you're still my beloved family member and a sister I look up to and. Don't you believe me?"

Bery shook her head slightly and grabbed Selene's arm.

"It's the same with Krische, you silly. Do you think she went somewhere because she was disappointed in you? You were stabbed, she risked her life to save you, and she cared about you so much that she even challenged a dragon. ...if you seriously think like that, then even if it’s you I will slap you, Bery."

Bery's hand, weak as a child's, gripped Selene's arm.

‘Geez’ Selene smiled, closing her eyes and leaning against her cheek.

"Once you've calmed down a bit, let's go look for her together. If you say you won't go, I'll comfort Krische gently in your place, then I'll sleep with her, saying all kinds of bad things about you. Is that okay with you?"

"...That way of saying it is cowardly."

"It's because you won’t obediently let me spoil you. Just so you know, I'm a little angry okay."

Selene said and untied her arms.

Then, crouching down, she wiped the tear drops that were dripping down Bery’s cheeks.

“Is it really that humiliating to be comforted like this by an unreliable Ojou-sama?”

"...Maybe so."

“Y-you...”

"But just a little bit... Ojou-sama looked like Nee-sama."

Selene presses her forehead against hers with satisfaction and looked into her light brown eyes, wet with tears.

"Fufun, whose daughter do you think I am?"

“Nee-sama’s and Gotoushu-sama… fufu, Ojou-sama is similar to Onee-sama huh. Really clumsy...”

Bery smiled and pulled away, wiping her eyes.

"But acting all big despite that, really very similar."

"You're the one who's always acting big towards your master, Bery. ...What a foul-mouthed servant."

Her peach-colored lips softened into an innocent, girlish smile.

“I mean, it’s not a bad thing.…after all the part Ojou-sama is similar to Nee-sama is all the parts I love.”

Her red hair swayed freely.

She kissed Selene's forehead.

Her young face had become somewhat mature, and there was the usual berry face there.

Kreschenta, bad manneredly rest her chin in her hand, let out a sigh.

"Just when I thought you’re a little better, you're also a crybaby just like Nora huh. I wonder if you're not embarrassed."

"My apologies, Kreschenta-sama. I showed you something embarrassing."

"If you think so, you should reflect on it, really. ...I don't care if you cry or scream, but I'm worried that Onee-sama might do something stupid because of it. You should reconsider your position and role."

She crossed her arms dissatisfaction, puffing out her cheeks, and rocks her chair.

"And... I wonder what you're going to do with my dinner. No matter what the circumstances, it's dereliction of duty if you don't do it."

Playing with her gold glittering red hair, Kreschenta said while glaring at her.

“If you're done talking, go find Onee-sama quickly, and once that's done, cook my meals and take care of my bath. It’s only after that you’re allowed to waste time like that. ...Really what a poor servant, that you won't understand unless I tell you.''

Bery widened her eyes a little and looked at Kreschenta.

She then giggled and smiled.

"...Yes, my apologies. It was disqualified as a servant."

“If you’re aware of that than fine. One useless servant is enough. I hope you won't expose your incompetence any further.”

Elvena, who was standing next to her, looked at Bery anxiously after hearing the harsh words of the Queen, but she just nodded strangely and happily.

Then she stood up and bowed politely to Kreschenta.

“Yes.…I’ll be careful.”

"...Bery aside, you're the one acting big the most, Kreschenta."

"You don't seem to know, so I'll tell you. I'm the greatest queen in this country, and your role is to serve me wholeheartedly so that I can spend my time comfortably――I’m not acting great, I am great."

Selene smiled wryly and patted Kreschenta’s head.

"True, I forgot. I hope you will forgive me, Your Majesty."

"...Are you making fun of me?"

“I am doing my best to serve you, my beloved queen.”

Serene laughed and hugged her.

Kreschenta snorts at her in dissatisfaction, but she didn’t resist.

At that moment, the front door was opened roughly and the sound of footsteps could be heard.

Understanding who it is even before she opens the door, Bery quickly opens it.

The one who jumped in was Arne――and, a little later, Nagal, the Craftsman squad leader, saluted.

“A-Argan-sama…”

"...I'm sorry for your concern, Anne-sama."

She bowed her head to Anne who looked relieved.

Anne hurriedly shook her head from side to side, and Bery smiled and turned her gaze to Nagal.

“So, Nagal-sama…”

"Yes ma’am. Giterns-sama told me that you were looking for Krische-sama...she showed up at our place a while ago, so I’m here to report it."

"...Is she there now?"

“No. Krische-sama is now in a room in the basement of the palace that she used to occupy.”

"...Thank you. Ojou-sama, may I excuse myself?"

Selene laughed exasperated.

"Asking me that. And it’s already night, so it's dangerous to be alone, so I'm going too. Nagal, I'm sorry, but could you please tell Dagra that it's time to search the surrounding area?"

"Yes ma’am. Your Excellency Marshal."

“Maintain standby, if there’s no follow up order disperse in one koku.”

Nagal saluted again.

After hearing about the situation, Selene immediately informed Kilik and the others who were guarding Kreschenta, and sent them to search for Krische.

“I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused.”

"If you think so, then let’s go right away."

"……yes"

"I'm sure you understand, but please don't take it too big of a matter."

Kreschenta said grumpily, and the two of them nodded.

Then, as they were about to leave the room, Elvena called out.

"... Bery-sama, um"

“…? What’s the matter?"

Elvena nodded as she thought for a moment.

“I was just continuing the conversation we had before Krische-sama left..."”

Then she smiled.

Then they went to the royal palace.

After confirming with the sentry soldiers, they entered the basement and proceeded through the dark corridor illuminated by the light of the constant magic lantern, and after a while, Selene stopped.

“...Ojou-sama?”

"Go alone from here, Bery. It's going to be complicated if I go."

Selene folded her arms and leaned her back against the wall.

"In the end, I think the problem is inside your mind. I've said all I have to say, it's up to you how you want to take it. That's the way it is, isn't it?"

She played with her golden hair and stared at her.

Selene smiled wryly.

“Honestly, I'm so jealous of you, Bery. You can do so much more than me, and you're loved so much by Krische, even by Kreschenta. Easily accomplishing things that I probably wouldn't be able to...I respect you enough that if I could I wanted to be like you."

“...Ojou-sama?”

“I'm sure you'll say that you’re just pretending, but unlike you, I don’t lie. You know?”

Selene smiled mischievously and looked at Berry.

Bery nodded quietly.

"...That's right. Fufu, that part of Ojou-sama is different from Nee-sama but is similar to Gotoushu-sama."

Selene looked at her with satisfaction and pulled out the sword from her waist.

She held it upright and held it out.

"But no matter how jealous I am, I can't be you, and I can't be like father. You too can't be like mother, and you are you and I am me. After all, we are different people, leading different lives and learning different things. …It’s your words, Bery.”

"……yes"

"...... I think you need convincing. And I'm sure that's all you're missing. So I have no fear, I leave it to you."

Selene sheathed her sword.

As she approached Bery, she stood on her tip toe just a little.

She gently kissed her forehead.

“You gave and Krische receive. To me, this matter is as good as over. ...And you're stubborn anyway. You've never listened to me, so you can do whatever you want.''

Selene glared at her and smiled.

"I'll do my best to protect you. Do whatever you want."

Then she turned her back.

Bery looked at it for a while and lowered her head.

“Yes. … Selene-sama.”

She whispered her name.

She stayed like that until Selene was out of sight.

Then she too moved forward.