The Elder Sister Who Ran Away After Being Cheated by Her Fiancé and Younger Sister - Chapter 5

I left the house just like that and wandered aimlessly through the town.

I should have been terribly sad, but I felt hollowed out, as if a gaping hole had opened inside me, unable to feel anything.

What should I do now?

At the very least, I no longer wanted to work at Petrak Trading Company.

I thought I got along well with my colleagues. I didn’t dislike them.

But for a while, I didn’t want to see Theo’s face or Clara’s face either.

I hated myself for feeling that way, but then I reconsidered and thought it was only natural to feel that way.

I wanted some distance.

Perhaps what I needed now was distance and time.

But if I went home, I would be pressured about that proposal.

—Where, exactly, was my home to return to anymore?

When Estelle reached that thought, she felt a sudden chill run through her, as if her body temperature had dropped.

After returning from school, she had mostly gone straight to Petrak Trading Company, only returning home to sleep.

During busy times, she even stayed overnight at the Petrak residence. Of course, not in a guest room, but in a cold, damp bed in an available servant’s room.

There were even times when she hadn’t seen her family’s faces for a week. It wasn’t a household where everyone being together was a given due to the company’s demands, but even so, she remembered that in her childhood, they had dinner together as a family whenever possible.

When I was working late into the night, did my parents and Clara have dinner together without me?

Clara was always at home, so they probably did.

It was fine if I wasn’t there.

Estelle laughed softly, “Heh heh,” with the setting sun at her back.

It wasn’t that she particularly wanted to be doted on by her parents.

She just wanted to be treated the same way as her sister, the same way as Clara.

She didn’t want to be looked at with the same eyes they used for the servants.

She didn’t want to be thought of as just a convenient tool.

She wanted to be useful to Theo and the Petrak Trading Company.

She studied hard, worked to pay her tuition, researched stores in the capital, and never went out to play with friends.

Because she liked Theo.

Because she thought it would be for Theo’s benefit.

Because she wanted Theo to like her.

Because she wanted him to think marrying her was a good idea.

But Clara is better!

I see.

Well, there’s nothing to be done about it then.

◇

Estelle continued wandering aimlessly through the town when suddenly, a certain sign caught her eye.

“Royal Army Training Grounds – Recruiting Volunteers”

The Royal Army referred to the kingdom’s military forces here in the Kingdom of Hanzelka.

Come to think of it, I learned about that in school, Estelle recalled.

The Royal Army always accepted volunteer soldiers from the common populace.

From the moment you signed the enlistment papers, you came under the army’s custody, losing your freedom but having food, clothing, and shelter guaranteed, receiving training at the training grounds. You even got paid during training.

After training, there was a mandatory service period for a set number of years, but once that was over, you were free. You could choose to continue serving in the Royal Army or be discharged.

That’s how she remembered the system working.

Estelle drifted towards the sign, passed through the open door beside it, and approached the counter.

A soldier who had been leaning on his cheek idly in the back of the counter saw Estelle, started, and stood up.

“Miss, this isn’t a shop. This is the Royal Army office.”

“I know, I saw the sign. I’d like an enlistment form, please.”

“Huh?”

“I want to enlist. Please give me the enlistment form.”

“…Seriously? Is this not some kind of… you know, penalty game or something?”

“I want to enlist. Please give me the enlistment form.”

Estelle repeated.

I want to disappear from this town.

I want to go somewhere without those people.

But on my own, I can’t go anywhere.

If it’s the Royal Army, they’ll take me away somewhere by force.

That’s what Estelle thought.

Besides, if I become part of the Royal Army, the military’s will comes first, followed by the soldier’s own will.

Not even parents can interfere.

“Um… I’m sorry, but volunteer soldiers are limited to males.”

“…Huh?”

“Females are not eligible.”

Thinking about it, it was obvious. She realized it belatedly.

There are female knights. They’re necessary for guarding noblewomen.

But knights are generally graduates of the Royal Academy, which is attended by the children of nobles.

There was no provision for female soldiers in the Royal Army.

“…Right.”

Estelle slumped down dejectedly.

The soldier hurriedly came out from behind the counter and guided her to a chair.

She sat down on the chair as directed and hung her head.

Nothing goes the way I want it to.

While those people get everything their way.

Why am I so useless?

As Estelle sat there despondent, a pleasant fragrance suddenly tickled her nostrils.

Slowly raising her head, she saw a plain cup placed on a side table, emanating a rich, aromatic scent.

“Here. Have a drink and calm down.”

Raising her head further, she saw another soldier standing there alongside the perplexed-looking soldier from the counter.

His uniform was different from the counter soldier’s. Much more impressive. Probably an officer.

He looked sharp, tall, and well-built.

He had eyes the color of young leaves, rare in these parts, and soft-looking light brown hair tied back at the nape of his neck.

She’d heard that soldiers in neighboring kingdoms shave their heads, but here in the Kingdom of Hanzelka, it’s a matter of personal choice.

Long ago, warriors grew their hair long to hide the vulnerable back of the neck, and even now, many military personnel, especially officers, keep their hair somewhat long. Or so she learned in school.

He had a face that looked very capable.

Estelle wasn’t very good at judging male attractiveness, but she thought he probably fell into the category of what people would call handsome.

Not that it mattered.

Estelle thanked him and picked up the cup.

It really smelled wonderful. It must be high-quality tea leaves.

Taking a sip, she was surprised by the floral aroma and even a hint of sweetness in the taste.

To serve such fine leaves to a confused young girl who wandered in.

The army seems like a nice place, Estelle thought.

“I heard you came to enlist. —Pardon me, I am Christoffel de Fretes. It has a reputation for being hard to pronounce, so please just call me Fretes.”

Despite his appearance, he seemed quite affable and held out his hand in a friendly gesture.

Estelle shook his hand with the practiced motion she had learned. It was the handshake done before and after business negotiations.

“…Yes. But women aren’t allowed, right? Now that you mention it, that’s true. I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

Estelle bowed her head to the counter soldier as well and made to stand up.

“Please wait. First, could you tell me about your circumstances? I believe I can be of assistance.”

“Really?”

Estelle sat back down. She felt like she was clutching at straws.