Anoseka Volume 2 Bonus SS

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

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Principality Sisters Part 1

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Heavy rain falls on a night.

Windows were rattling in gusts of wind.

The fireplace is lit in a large room with luxurious furnishings.

Normally, this is a place for families to spend time together, but today, there are only children to be seen.

The eldest daughter, [Hertrude Sera Fanouse], hugs her little sister, who is frightened by the wind and rain.

They were both girls with beautiful black hair and distinctive red eyes.

The name of the younger sister is [Hertrauda Sera Fanouse].

She has black hair tied at the back of her neck and tied into a ponytail.

"Onee-sama, have Otou-sama and Okaa-sama returned yet?"

A trembling Hertrauda seemed to be waiting for her parents to return to the royal castle as soon as possible.

She may be feeling a little anxious for being the only two of them, but Hertrude —— Rude feels the same way.

However, her awareness that she is the older sister makes her act like an adult.

She smiles to comfort her little sister, who is about to cry.

"Don't worry. They'll be back soon. But it's late today, so let's go to bed. Tomorrow, they'll both be home."

"I was told that they would be back——"

Her parents, who had left the royal castle on official business, were originally scheduled to return later tonight.

However, looking out the window, in addition to wind and rain, thunder is also occurring.

After the strong light, a violent thunder could be heard a little later.

They both let out a small scream "Kyaa" as they hugged each other, and Rude looked out the window fearfully.

"Maybe this thunderstorm is delaying them."

"Eh~, Okaa-sama promised to read a picture book to me today~"

Rauda makes a sulky face with tears in her eyes when she hears that they won't be back tonight.

In trouble, Rude decides to read a picture book in place of their mother.

"Then I'll read it for you."

"Onee-sama, can you read a picture book now?"

"I-I can —— just not all of it."

Rauda looks at Rude doubtfully, but stands up, goes to the bookshelf, grabs her favorite picture book, and hugs it.

It was a well-known picture book in the principality.

"If so, read this."

At Rauda's request, Rude looked at the cover of the picture book and smiled slightly.

"The Black Knight's Tale? Rauda really likes that picture book."

It was a picture book modeled on the great hero, the Black Knight Bandel, who is well known in the principality.

Rauda nodded with sparkling eyes.

"Un! Because Bandel in the picture book is so cool with his bushy hair mon!"

At the honest and cruel words of a young child, Rude, who is beginning to understand some adult situations, turns her face away.

It is evidence that Rude, despite her young age, has enough sense not to mention the head.

"O-Okay. But don't tell that to Bandel."

Hearing Rude's words, Rauda, who had no ill intentions, tilted her head slightly.

"Why?"

"B-By all means! It's not good! —— Come on, let's go to the bedroom."

Rude also stands up, pulls Rauda's hand, and leaves the room as it is.

When she opened the door, she found the soldiers and maids who were guarding them.

But they seemed restless.

When Rude and Rauda came out, they were slightly startled and hurriedly tried to regain their composure.

This situation caused Rude to feel a sense of unease.

(What is it? It feels tense)

Rude feels the tension around her, but as a child, she is unable to put it clearly into words.

Gradually, anxiety spread through her, but she tried to act stout because of her little sister, Rauda.

In order to show that it is okay despite her anxiety, she acts as if she is normal.

"I'm heading to the bedroom now."

The maids look at each other, then one bows deeply.

"Understood."

Escorted by a maid and a group of guards, they head to the bedroom.

The dimly lit hallway is illuminated by candlelight held by the maid.

They usually walked casually down the corridor, but today they were more nervous than usual.

At that moment, there was a figure walking from the end of the hallway.

The great hero of the principality, [Bandel Him Zenden] —— a big man with a scar on his forehead, looked very distressed.

Seeing Bandel, who is usually kind to them, Rude is happy to speak to him.

"Bandel!"

The moment she called out, Bandel's eyes widened as he saw Rude and Rauda.

Then, for a moment, he looks terribly pained, but he shakes his head and changes his expression.

He speaks to them in a gentle tone of voice that is hard to imagine from his stern face.

"You are still awake? You must go to bed soon, or you will never grow up."

Rauda's cheeks were puffed out at the reminder.

"After I read a picture book, I go to bed! I was actually going to have Okaa-sama read it for me."

The moment Rauda complains, Bandel raises his eyebrows and looks pained.

Concerned, Rude approached Bandel.

"What's wrong, Bandel? If you're having any pain somewhere, Bandel should get some sleep."

When Rude was worried about Bandel, it seemed that Rauda was also worried about him.

"Is Bandel sick?"

Seeing Rauda hugging the picture book and looking sad, Bandel forced a smile on his face.

With a stern look on his face, he is smiling as much as he can for the two of them.

The only time Bandel would go this far would be when dealing with Rude and Rauda.

"I don't feel any pain anywhere —— well, maybe a little bit of an old injury today? I'm going to sleep early. Princesses, please go to sleep soon."

After saying that, Bandel leaves them at a quick pace.

The maids and escorting soldiers who saw him off were nervous just as Bandel passed by.

——Fear.

He is feared and respected as the strongest knight in the principality.

Rauda squeezes Rude's hand tightly.

"Onee-sama, there was something strange about Bandel today."

"——Right."

From Rauda's point of view, today's Bandel was different from usual.

◇

When they arrived at the bedroom, they jumped into the big bed.

Prepare a light by the bedside and spread out a large picture book.

Rude begins to read the large letters written in the picture book.

"Once upon a time, there was a peaceful and beautiful floating island called the Principality Fanouse."

The picture book briefly summarizes the achievements of Bandel, who came to be known as the Black Knight.

The story begins when the kingdom of Horfalt invaded the peaceful principality and committed all manner of atrocities.

"Seeing the broken principality, the Black Knight makes up his mind. The kingdom cannot be forgiven!"

When she let out her voice a little louder with her feelings, Rauda, who had almost fallen asleep, woke up with surprise.

But she soon became sleepy and quickly dozed off again.

"Fufu, good night, Rauda. ——The picture book will be read to you again tomorrow by Okaa-sama."

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(It is unpardonable to take away the parents from two young children. But——But!）

After walking away from the two, Bandel was heartbroken from anguish.

With his right hand, he clutches the chest of his clothes.

Outside the window, rain and wind are raging, and even thunder is occurring.

He regretted it as he watched.

(I had no choice. I had no choice —— I had devoted my life only to avenge my family. I will not allow myself to stop avenging them now)

Make a fist with his left hand and clench it.

Bandel's face, reflected in the window, was grim.

(If you had not insisted on making peace with the Kingdom of Horfalt, for me it's —— why don't you understand?)

The expression on his face was one of murderous intent, but it gradually loosened and became inexplicable.

Bander's heart ached as he remembered the faces of the two of them earlier.

(I may have just been watching from the sidelines, but this is my sin.)

Bandel lowers his hands and looks at his pathetic face in the window.

(His Majesty, Her Majesty, I will not ask you to forgive me anymore. But I promise you that only the princesses will be protected by this Bandel at the cost of my life.)

He apologizes to the Lord he served and vows to protect the two princesses.