Seiun wo Kakeru

It was outside the town of Nazioni.

The township made of stone remains unchanged from the outside.

The carefully organized stone house looks sturdy and very different from the wooden house where the gap breeze in the village of Siena is likely to come in.

But there were some signs of loneliness from around the house that they weren't being taken care of.

Make sure Age passed in front of the house, Dante said.

"This is Catalina's house."

"Thank you, Dante. I know you said it first, but don't tell me what you're doing here."

"Wow, there it is. I promised you I'd keep my mouth shut."

I blurt out, but when I promised not to bother to say anything, he guided me out of sight.

It's not like you'll never mind.

The way home is this way, after admitting Dante's hindsight as he walked away, Age knocked on the door.

There was silence for a while, and the door opened quietly.

It's dim in the room. It seems to represent the mind landscape of the owner of the house.

A man with an impure mustache stood there.

Cloudy, invigorating eyes. Tired and scabbed cheek skin.

Is this what that naive Catalina father looks like?

Age didn't know and was deeply shocked by her heart.

Stay with me. I guess I've come to tell you an important story.

Age puts life into herself and cares for the most gloomy look possible.

"... Yes"

"Mr. Catalina's, can't you be wrong about your father?

"Yeah. What's wrong with my daughter"

"We have an important story to tell about her future. Mind if I come inside?

"... come in"

The man seemed hesitant to invite him into the house, but still opened the door, as he had decided to be ready.

As soon as I realized that one arm of the man was pointing in an unawares direction.

I guess I stayed broken and didn't get the proper treatment.

Twist it outwards from the elbow than it should be and make it feel strongly uncomfortable with what it sees.

Was his leg any worse too, dragging one leg, shaking his body loudly, and walking tilted.

I don't know what the hell caused that injury.

But the most likely thing is probably due to the war.

Even after the war, the scar thus continues to linger.

Or was it an accident at the carpentry job or a fall from height?

Even if the bone breaks and it heals as it is, people have to live.

No matter how much that becomes a burden, the days go on.

Each person, of course, has different circumstances.

Everyone struggles out of sight.

But Agee thought that would be all that hard for this man to live.

"Please have a seat. This body doesn't offer much hospitality."

"No, no need to worry"

"So, what's the story? Something about my daughter."

"Before we do that, let's name it. My name is Age from the village of Siena. Katarina is currently working in my workplace, at a blacksmith, in the form of a disciple"

"Oh, oh."

When Age thanked him, the man seemed to be a wolf.

Damn, I shake my head gently.

And when I made my dwelling right, I thanked him.

"I'm sorry, I seemed to lose a little peace. My name is Stefano. Really, my daughter is at your place. I'm looking after you. Isn't your daughter bothering you?

"No, you're doing very seriously well. I get help every day."

"Really...... I'm relieved. Is that kid going to this town now?

"No, she has a reason and remains in the village. I'm here today to tell you why."

"Why don't you come home? … let us know"

Stefano nodded with a distressed look on his face.

Age talked about Catalina's circumstances.

That she is receiving the life of a lord, apparently adopted, and that she is about to be daughtered under Age.

Stefano was listening to the story.

The look takes you to listen and just gets tense.

"Really...... It's probably to protect me."

"Protect, is it?

"Yeah. I'm this body, so I can't work properly. That's why my daughter is taking care of her lord and she's exempt from taxes."

For some reason. If you can't work properly, you need to protect it.

But in this hard world to live in, it seemed like some kind of price would have to be paid.

Like modern Japan, I guess because organizations can't afford disability certification or just making people get life support.

That's a tough story.

"So you volunteered to be my apprentice, too?"

"Perhaps so."

"So, Mr. Stefano, what do you think of this story?

To Age's question, Stefano answered nothing for a while.

What the hell is going on...?

Stefano's eyes sink slowly.

Reminds me of the deep sea, it was out of light, dark eyes.

"I can't do such a great thing as state my thoughts, etc. If that girl chose it, I'll just accept it."

"Oh no... why would they say that?"

"I am someone who can manage to live thanks to that girl. How can someone who can't even take care of himself give an opinion? Mr. Age, you seem like a very good man. If there's anywhere you can't get to that girl, will you support her? Please."

Deeply bowed his head, Age lost her words.

The sight in front of me was too unusual from Age.

How can there be anything that parents can't say about my child's marriage, an occasion that is also politically exploited?

"I understand your point, Stefano."

"Did you understand?"

"Yeah. So I can't help it. I'll just share my opinion."

"What the hell is that?

"I'm already my wife. I do not intend to enter into further marriage with Mr. Catalina. I'm here today to say no to my lord."

"Oh yeah...... but does that go through?

"It's not about going through or not. I'll go through."

Age said with impatience.

That's right.

Do you want to do what the lord wants? It is punishment to be used as good.

"You seem like a very willing person...... Otherwise, I can't take the Lord's life and turn it down."

"I would have liked to hear from Stefano how Catalina shakes herself, if she could, but that's also going to be difficult, apparently"

"... I can't seem to help you"

If this was at least enough.

As I whispered, I thought I heard such a whine.

"Okay. I'll think about it a little bit so it doesn't get any worse."

"I'm sorry. That girl is a really good father. Please help him."

"Because she's my apprentice. I won't do anything more irresponsible than take care of you once."

"Thank you"

Deeply bowed his head, Agee could not say anything at the earliest.

If it's true, I was going to ask Stefano to help me make a statement that would make me avoid marriage, but that's not going to happen either.

Age decided to resign from the spot so that it would not become a burden for Stefano any more.

When Age told him he was leaving the house, Stefano seemed incapable of moving, leading him to the exit.

Slowly, the door closes.

I don't know.

Age was feeling a little vain.

Because Stefano's reaction I had hoped for was very different from reality.

Agee thought that if he was to help his daughter, he would cooperate in any way.

And if you'd cooperate, I would have moved you to the village of Siena and managed to take care of you.

But the result didn't.

I had no choice, and Age, trying to leave the scene, heard a small voice through the door.

"Katarina, I'm sorry... I'm sorry...! Forgive my impudent father...!

I hear a leak, in a whimper slightly mixed with a push-kill voice.

Agie turned her back and left the spot behind, as she could not hear.

My hand was holding my fist.

When I let him definitely do something about it, he held only his vows to his chest.