Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [41]
Bronya's head hung low, her heart weighed down with an overwhelming sense of helplessness and frustration.
"As the heir to the Guardian, I've undergone endless training and conditioning, yet all I can do is watch Silvermane Guards sacrifice themselves on the front lines each day. And after that? Lie to their families, telling them that their loss had some noble purpose."
"I know that the underworld suffers, but I can't offer any help, nor have I ever found the resolve to challenge Mother. Without this journey, I wouldn't even have known how terribly the people's homes had been ravaged..."
Through her strands of hair, Venti could see her gaze, burning with a fierce mix of resentment and self-blame.
"I... and so many of the Silvermane Guards fight at the front. Is this really the future we're fighting for? If so, what have we actually protected...?"
This was a side of Bronya she had never shown to others—one filled with disillusionment.
From childhood, she had kept all this pressure bottled inside, exerting herself to the fullest to prove her worth. But now, it felt like all her efforts were nullified.
Had she not endured previous trials, her will might have already shattered by now. Inevitably, however, doubts crept in, shaking her commitment to the path of preservation.
In the past, Bronya could convince herself that she was exceptional, that she was the chosen heir destined to safeguard the people's future. But since she entered the underworld, everything she had learned seemed to be built upon the suffering of others.
This reality clashed violently with her ideals, even striking her as absurd.
"—Are you hoping I'll offer you some comforting platitude, or would you prefer a harsher truth to awaken your resolve?"
Venti's gaze held back Seele, who seemed ready to lash out the moment she'd heard Bronya reveal her identity.
If Seele were to voice her anger now, any attempt to reconcile the two later might prove difficult.
However, this consideration only served to deepen Bronya's self-loathing.
"...Don't be so kind to me."
She shook her head, her tone fraught with struggle.
"I don't deserve anything that precious. Maybe I was never meant to be chosen, much less suited for this role..."
"Hey—haven't you said enough?"
Unable to hold back any longer, Seele snapped at her.
"...Huh?"
Bronya, startled by Seele's outburst, momentarily lost her pained expression.
"Since earlier, I've wanted to yell at you. You're whining, and it's annoying!"
"I..."
The words hit her harder than expected, stinging her eyes with the urge to cry.
Even Venti hesitated, watching the two with uncertainty as the inevitable clash erupted.
It was unavoidable—now that Seele knew Bronya's identity, conflict was bound to arise. And it wouldn't be the last time.
But, they were sisters raised in the same orphanage; perhaps letting them put aside the weight of their roles and argue openly might be for the best?
"You think I'll pity you just because you've moved yourself with your own words? Compared to what everyone in the underworld goes through, what right do you have to wallow in self-pity, you privileged brat!"
Seele glared at her, fists clenched as if ready to strike if Bronya showed any more weakness.
"While people like you are living in palaces, people down here are shivering in leaky tents in the mining camps;
When you go to the front, you don't have to risk your life, yet people here are fighting each other over a sip of water;
And while people in the upper world throw away whole meals, who knows how many in the underworld go without one!"
"..."
From Seele's gaze, Bronya could see it clearly—this wasn't just anger directed at her; it was hatred for the unfairness that surrounded them.
Seele's anger stemmed from a deep resentment toward the Guardians who had abandoned the underworld and at the same time, a scorn for Bronya's display of vulnerability.
But... was Seele wrong for feeling this way?
Bronya lowered her gaze, feeling guilt-stricken.
"You're right..."
Bronya's self-reproach only irritated Seele further. She raked her fingers through her hair, her tone growing colder.
"That's why, from the moment I met you, I hated you, you high-and-mighty princess. Always with the biggest psychological burden. So now that Venti's not around, you can't handle anything?
If you want to protect everyone, then don't cry over every little setback. Isn't there something more important to do than shedding tears?"
Those words seemed to snap Bronya out of her despair. No... rather than snapping her out of it, it was precisely these words she had hoped to hear, which was why she allowed herself to show such vulnerability.
Without criticism from others, she feared falling back into that space where, no matter how deep her sorrow, all she heard were comforting reassurances. Even her mother had always been like that—
Softly and steadfastly, her mother would tell her, You can do it. Any momentary failure meant nothing. But the truth was, her attention had always been spread thin by endless responsibilities.
That kind of guidance left Bronya without any true sense of the consequences of her mistakes, as if everything could be forgiven, as if they could all be overlooked.
Now, for the first time, she felt a raw, unfamiliar emotion coursing through her.
"…Thank you, Seele."
She clutched her chest, her gaze reflecting a newfound gratitude.
Seele, however, seemed even more annoyed, merely glaring at Bronya and letting out a huff.
"Don't thank me. If Venti weren't here, you'd have a nice bruise from my fist by now. While I'm in a good mood, hurry back to the upper world and stay out of here."
With that, she grabbed her scythe and turned away, leaving Bronya with an impression she would never forget.
Bronya watched her retreating figure intently, then looked to Venti, who had maintained his neutrality throughout. He seemed a bit troubled, yet he still showed concern.
Like an older brother watching his two younger sisters quarrel...
Bronya shook her head softly, pushing aside her turbulent thoughts as she spoke with a hint of apology.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drive Seele away with my words..."
"It's alright. Problems out in the open are better than those hidden in the dark, just waiting to explode."
Venti didn't see it as a bad thing. Although he'd initially intended to play the role of the "bad guy," it seemed he now bore the responsibility of cleaning up the aftermath.
"Anyway, since Seele's banished us, we should head to our last destination. If we stay here much longer, we'll risk stirring up trouble in both the underworld and the upper world—"