SDFG 07

Chapter 7

 Sasha’s Destination

“From now on, Sasha will grow up under the Grenfell family’s guardianship.”

“Pardon? Are you saying you’ll personally take her in? If we bring that child into the ducal house, the whole world will surely start talking. Do you want her to be pointed at and ridiculed?”

Aizen approached him as if prepared to risk his life. But the man only looked at him with an indifferent expression.

“Lieutenant Aizen.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What difference is there between you and me?”

“Pardon?”

“Once the mark of ‘Inferna’ is stamped on someone, there’s no place for that child in Salvatore anyway.”

“….”

“And I hope you understand your position. If she grows up in the ducal house, at least she won’t suffer as much. She’ll have someone to crush anyone who tries to bully her.”

Looking down at Aizen with eyes full of faint disdain, the lieutenant made a face as though exhausted and shook his head.

He may act clever and strong—but his heart is soft. That girl could never possibly trample anyone.

Still, being supported by the ducal family would undoubtedly be better than staying in her current home.

Suppressing his humiliation with difficulty, Aizen bowed curtly and turned to leave.

“Lieutenant Aizen.”

Just as he was about to exit the designated barracks, he stopped and turned around. The lieutenant was fastening the buttons on his shirt sleeves, smiling lazily.

“By the way, would you like to be charged with embezzlement of combat rations?”

“…Eh? Yes?”

Aizen responded blankly, startled. The lieutenant stepped toward him.

“What I’m saying is, I’ll be the one taking care of Sasha. So make sure you conduct yourself properly.”

He patted Aizen twice on the shoulder before walking out first. As he left, Aizen’s previously stiff face slowly twisted with suppressed frustration.

That—young man’s tone!

The words he couldn’t utter rose up like a boiling rage.

Was the lieutenant planning this from the beginning?

He couldn’t know. But one thing was certain—this would be good for Sasha.

The Grenfell family had begun moving. And so had the Verus Army. They were advancing into the outer districts of Force, the central city of Inferna. Reinforcements from other units had already been requested upon confirming the infiltration.

However, the Grenfell family’s vehicles would arrive a week earlier than all other forces.

Since Inferna was in a wartime state, civilians could not easily enter the region. That made relocating Sasha—who was an Inferna native—to Salvatore nearly impossible.

Yet he was the kind of man who would accomplish even that without hesitation. His recent busyness had been due to negotiations with His Excellency Dwight.

The man had agreed to serve as Dwight’s chief strategist and see the war through to its conclusion.

Some might call it foolish—giving one’s life for a mere war orphan.

But he wanted to take responsibility for the life he had chosen to save.

Sasha, who had carried the burden of loneliness and longing for her family at such a young age simply because she survived, had continuously unsettled his thoughts like a stubborn irritation.

To be precise, he wanted to protect her bright smile.

Recalling his final phone call with Dwight—“I wish you success”—he arrived at the barracks.

Through the open doorway, Sasha peeked out, her head appearing like a foal’s. Her large eyes, clear and shimmering, reflected his face.

When she spotted him, her expression brightened instantly. She waved both hands. Watching her, he suppressed the smile threatening to appear.

“Did you eat?”

In response, Sasha lowered her head to her notebook and wrote something, then showed it to him.

[ I ate with Uncle Aizen! ]

After reading it, he nodded and removed his coat. As he was about to hang it on the stand, Sasha took it from him.

He frowned slightly and leaned down toward her. Without hesitation, she handed him the notebook again—apparently having prepared something in advance.

[ May I know your full name? ]

He tilted his head at the question. He could easily tell her—but seeing the hopeful sparkle in her eyes, mischief stirred within him.

“What would you need that for?”

Sasha pouted in disappointment. Then, as if expecting this response, she flipped to the next page.

She must have written it beforehand.

[ Uncle Aizen said he would help me. It’s a good opportunity for me, and it’s close to where you are, sir. If I know your name, maybe I could meet you by chance someday. ]

The writing was neat, but it seemed to have taken considerable thought.

“Sasha.”

At his lowered voice, she flinched and quickly hid the notebook against her chest.

“If you go with Aizen, you will never see me again.”

That was both true and not entirely true. When the war ended and he returned, the world would be stirred up—though that had been part of his intention in joining the war.

Sasha would only be able to see him in newspaper articles.

That was the undeniable truth. Aizen and he lived in completely different worlds.

What kind of world would you want to live in?

He suddenly became curious. Sasha, who never lost her bright smile no matter what, might actually prefer something simpler than a lavish ducal life.

[ Why are you saying such negative things? ]

She wrote again and showed him. Her hands trembled slightly. She closed her eyes tightly, as if holding back tears, then opened them again.

She already knew the lieutenant was blunt, but this felt excessive.

Tears welled up despite her efforts to suppress them.

Pouting, she looked up at the lieutenant. He let out a faint chuckle.

Even in this situation, his confident smile felt irritatingly elegant.

As if sensing her thoughts, he pretended not to notice and lay down on the cot.

Is he really not going to tell me?

Sasha stood stubbornly, looking down at him. His eyes remained tightly closed.

Just as her frustration threatened to overflow—

“…When you go to the Grenfell family, you’ll naturally find out.”

At that, Sasha blinked in surprise.

The Grenfell family—she had heard of them before.

Yes. Uncle Aizen had mentioned it.

Overjoyed, she quickly wrote something and shook him awake.

[ Oh my! Does that mean I’m going to the Grenfell Ducal House? Really? You’re not teasing me again, are you? What will I be doing there? Will I become a servant managing the mansion? Or a gardener? Ah! Don’t worry that I’m thin—I’m actually quite strong, and I’m very good with flowers! ]

Reading her long message, the man looked between the notebook and her excited expression. Then, suppressing the corners of his lips from curling up, he lay back down again.

Her reaction pleased him.

“…Just go to sleep.”

At his words, Sasha’s heart pounded wildly as she hurried to lie down on the sleeping mat on the floor.

Although Uncle Aizen was kind, she wanted to share peaceful everyday life with the lieutenant who had first found her and extended his hand.

Overcome with happiness, she dreamed that night.

In a garden in full bloom, she was planting rose seedlings. Wearing a straw hat, Sasha stood beside the lieutenant.

The tiny seeds scattered across the garden like transparent summer light.

Under the warm sun, the man standing there was nobler and more beautiful than dew-covered roses.

But the happy moment did not last.

His expression gradually hardened, turning angry.

“How dare you deceive me?”

Startled, Sasha jumped up, trembling.

She had forgotten something important.

Currently, he believed she was a boy.

The room was dark.

After standing for a long time, staring toward the cot with a somber expression, Sasha hesitated before lying back down.

Maybe she could tell him tomorrow.

If it were the lieutenant—if she proved her usefulness—wouldn’t he accept her?

She comforted herself with such naive thoughts.