I've Been Exiled, But I'm Alive and Well

As I was flying into a rage at the criminal for his despicable act of using many insects, the woman who had been lying on a couch in the distance woke up.

I approached her as she was looking around to see where she was, and asked, “Are you okay?”

This time she did not faint, but she was very surprised.

“You are from earlier… why?”

I explained step by step to the woman who tilted her head in wonder, and she gave me an apologetic look.

She lowered her stretched legs to the floor and slowly bowed her head, words of apology coming out of her mouth.

“I’m sorry for having caused you trouble.”

“It’s nothing…”

“And thank you very much for carrying me away.”

“It was the man over there who carried you… the one with disheveled appearances.”

It seems that Jed overheard how I described me so he let out “Oioi…” disgruntedly at me.

“Umm, can I ask you for your name, Young lady?”

The woman asked me, so when I answer,ed “I’m Elle.” Strangely enough, she smiled happily.

I don’t like the way she called me Young lady so naturally.

I’m a commoner now. How long will I have to feel like the daughter of a Duke?

As I was thinking this, she also told me her name.

“I am Giselle.”

Giselle.

As soon as I heard her name, I thought of a girl my age who had been my personal maid at the Duke’s house.

Giselle had been my ally as my enemies increased.

“Lady Elle?”

I got shivers getting called lady.

I looked back at her and saw a different face from the Giselle I knew so well, looking up at me curiously.

It’s not polite to mistake Giselle for this Giselle just because they share the same name.

“You can call me Elle.”

“Then, please call me Giselle, too.”

“You seem to be older than me, it wouldn’t be polite.”

“I’d really like you to call me Giselle.”

“A, alright. I will call you Giselle then…”

I agreed to call her Giselle under her pressure.

“Giselle, can you tell us how you came to the scene earlier and why you started screaming?”

“The reason I came across t scene was because I wanted to go to the store behind the alleyway. And as for the reason I screamed, well, I’m ashamed to say it… but I hate bugs.”

I know, I know your feelings very well.

I didn’t scream myself, but I was grossed out, too.

“By the way, you fainted because…”

“I was suddenly called out by someone while startled by the bugs, so… I think I fainted because of too much shock.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Ah, no, it wasn’t your fault, Elle.”

Giselle said with a wry smile.

She was the one who switched the mood that had become too delicate.

“Still, what a terrible prank.”

“Truly. I also hate bugs, so I can’t let the culprit get away with this.”

“La- Elle, so you also hate bugs! Why don’t we catch the culprit together, if you’d like?”

I was surprised by the sudden proposal.

Jed who had been standing behind us let out “Wha-…”

“I, in that case, I will help you too!”

“Elle and I are enough for this.”

I don’t really feel like asking Jed or Giselle to help me.

But this time the culprit will use insects.

It’s dangerous to investigate alone, isn’t it? Yes, dangerous.

It’s not that I don’t want to see that many bugs on my own.

“W, why don’t the three of us cooperate?”

I suggested with a wry smile.