Chapter 645: It’s All Right

“Wow…”

Lady Fabienne stared at the sight and uttered a sound that combined surprise, exasperation and resignation.

I felt exactly the same. I was probably gazing into the distance just as she was.

“Let us harvest the cacao fruit first. Once that’s done, Lionel and the knights should return to the estate ahead of us and deliver it to the head chef.”

“Understood. That appears to be the cacao plantation.”

Lionel indicated the trees laden with yellow fruit that had abruptly appeared in House Heine’s garden. Either he was already accustomed to such things or had attained enlightenment, because he remained perfectly calm.

Perhaps inspired by him, the knights accepted the situation and began moving briskly.

We gathered as much cacao fruit as possible, and the wagon filled in no time.

Giving this entire quantity directly to the head chef would be unwise. We changed the plan and decided to have it carried to the storeroom, with a message sent to the head chef.

“As you command, Lord Julius. Then we shall return first.”

“Thank you. We shall probably test a magic potion in the near future—the Holy Droplets I mentioned.”

“Understood. I shall formulate a plan.”

Lionel and the knights returned to the estate.

A plan? What sort of plan?

“Lord Julius, what exactly do you intend to do?”

“I don’t know either, but… perhaps he intends to test it in combat?”

“You can’t mean that we shall hunt ghosts?”

Lady Fabienne must have disliked ghosts. Although nothing had been decided, she already clung to my arm.

Aware of how much she had grown, I struggled to keep my expression under control.

“Even if that’s the plan, you may remain at home, Lady Fabienne.”

Having a terrified Lady Fabienne cling to me might be pleasant, but I couldn’t risk traumatising her. I absolutely wouldn’t bring her.

“Uuu… You seem completely untroubled, Lord Julius.”

“We only need to defeat them with magic.”

I had fought countless ghosts in the game. Physical attacks were weak against ghost-type monsters, but magic damaged them without difficulty. Since I could use magic, I could handle them easily. If necessary, I could eliminate the entire group with purification magic.

With the trembling Lady Fabienne still attached to my arm, we entered the clover field.

The green carpet felt soft beneath our feet. I felt a little guilty about trampling the plants, but such stimulation was what caused four-leaf clovers to appear.

I secretly wondered whether it might similarly prompt the birth of Holy Clover. There was no harm in testing the idea.

“There. That’s Holy Clover.”

“So that’s it. It has seven leaves, and it sparkles so beautifully. It seems a shame to pick it.”

“I agree. That’s why we must never waste it.”

I silently apologised to the Holy Clover and thought I heard an immediate reply: “It’s all right.”

Was that because of the Green Spirit’s blessing? I felt as though I could hear the plants’ voices.

I wondered whether telling Lady Fabienne would frighten her, only for her to cling even more tightly to me.

Oh! It appeared there was no longer any need to visit a haunted house.

“L-Lord Julius, I thought I heard the clover around us say something… ‘It’s all right.’”

Wait a moment. Why send the message in every direction? I silently protested, but gently embraced Lady Fabienne so that she wouldn’t be afraid.

Nero, renowned for reading the room, had already turned his back.

His reaction was frighteningly fast. Even I nearly missed it.

“It’s all right, Lady Fabienne. I heard the same voice. It probably spoke because I apologised to the Holy Clover.”

“Is that so? Then I shall… I’m sorry, Holy Clover.”

Once again, I thought I heard “It’s all right.” Lady Fabienne heard it too, and the force of her grip eased.

“You’re right. But why?”

“I suspect the blessing is responsible.”

“I see. Then it makes sense.”

Thank goodness. I had avoided frightening her. It seemed she would still be able to sleep alone and visit the lavatory at night.

Having accepted the phenomenon, we began gathering Holy Clover.

The blessing did indeed appear to be responsible, because Nero couldn’t hear the plants.

He looked disappointed, and I felt the same. As far as I was concerned, Nero was a member of the family. Yet the unbreakable relationship of master and servant remained between us.

This was the nature of nobility and the foundation of the present age. I would have to accept it.

Feeling slightly lonely, I silently continued gathering Holy Clover.