Stop It! It’s Not Me That’s Strong… It’s the Sword…!

a?!”

Apparently, she was the branch manager.
Tiana rushed over to the woman and said, “Aah! Mommy's here after all! Mommy!♡” with a melting

smile…
What does she mean by “Mommy”…?

◆ ◇ ◆

“I apologize for showing you an unseemly sight.
My name is Fiana von Alitraly.
I am the branch manager here…
and the mother of that idiotic girl over there,” said Fiana, who politely introduced herself while Tiana cried and held her head (because she had been punched in the head).
They were quite a contrasting pair of mother and daughter.

“Mommy~….!”

‘Hmm.
Their atmosphere is completely different, but their appearance is so similar.’

They could even be mistaken for sisters.
Tiana's plump body, which was already good, and her lively, sparkling eyes that she changed into a squint, make her look like a younger sister.

They have the same peach-colored hair, and from a distance, you might not be able to tell them apart.

“You are Kurou-kun, right? Did this idiotic girl do anything rude? …Perhaps because I have spoiled her a little too much, she has selfish and lazy tendencies, and sometimes she takes impulsive actions like earlier,” Fiana said while Tiana sobbed receiving harsh criticism.

And when the branch manager asked, “For example, have you ever bullied a new employee due to some strange misunderstanding?” Tiana shuddered and trembled.
Hmm? Why did she react like that? I mean, I was grateful that she had been kind to me.

I decided to answer honestly, “Don't worry, Chief Fiana.
Tiana is a very kind person.”

“What, her…!?”

“Yes.
She approached me when I didn't know my way around and led me here.”

I'm really thankful to her.
I always looks unfriendly, so not many people want to approach me.
None of the girls in the village would even look at me.
Tiana is different.

She approached me and helped me even though I scared her because of a misunderstanding when we first met.
Yes, she's a really good person.
My judgment is not wrong.

“She introduced me to the town before we came here, showing me good restaurants and shops with a great selection of goods, as well as a place where cats gather.
I'm grateful for her kindness,” I added.

“Wha…
that's probably just because she didn't want to go back to the exploration mission and was just dawdling…”

Oops, if you say that, Tiana would look like a scumbag! That's disrespectful, you know? Look, Tiana seems hurt too, “Uh-oh!” she exclaimed.

I'm an absolute supporter of someone who has been kind to me.
That's why I'm protesting!

“Branch Chief Fiana, making statements that doubt the good intentions of your daughter without even checking the facts is not appropriate.”

“T-That's…!”

“I don't know what Tiana was like in the past, but to me, she's a kind and bright senior who deserves respect.
If you're her mother, shouldn't you believe in the 'current her' rather than the past?”

“Eek!”

When I said with a dignified tone, the branch chief fell silent, her face turning pale.
It seemed she was deeply affected by what had been said.

She eventually lowered her head and looked towards her daughter, apologizing, “I'm sorry, Tiana.
I was careless to suspect you like that, given my impression of you until now.

Even though you have your issues and complexes, and even though a few months ago you were beaten up by a younger knight from the Camblor family, Vita, who became the youngest knight through connections, and you cried after being beaten up by someone younger despite being a daughter of a samurai family…

I should have believed that you had changed your ways.
I'm truly sorry.”

In response, Tiana seemed nervous as she spoke, “Y-Yes! I really have changed! I haven't thought about bullying others or slacking off at all!”

“Well then, that's great, Tiana! I'm glad you've changed.
From now on, you'll practice diligently every day, right? And you'll study etiquette and manners as a noble, won't you?” the branch chief asked.

“Yes, I will! Waaahhh!” Tiana started crying for some reason.
Perhaps she was overwhelmed with joy at being believed by her mother.

The two hugged each other and cried, and I watched them with a warm heart.
It was a touching scene.