CH ss - 43

[Alfine: Shaking Heart]

It is late at night when we returned to the house lent to us to stay at after receiving the warm welcome and having dinner with all the villagers under the order of the village chief of Devon village, Eugene.

“Whew, everyone sure was enthusiastic and friendly. I got drunk because of the festive atmosphere, now it feels like I’m filled to bursting.”

“Yeah. They shouldn’t have overdone it though… See, there’s the matter of the mine too after all, and I heard that this isn’t a prosperous village in the first place.”

I just intended to stay the night normally because of Eugene’s goodwill, but it ended up becoming a merriment like a village festival.

To end up making them taking out alcohol and elaborate dishes, I feel bad.

I wonder if having us staying here is just a nuisance for the villagers.

“That face, are you thinking that having us staying is inconveniencing the villagers?”

Meila who has put Maribel – who has fallen asleep in the middle of festival – on the bed is looking at my face before I know it.

“Eh? Yeah, maybe I thought so a little…”

“Al is soo serious~. That warm welcome is the survival strategy of the villagers. We’re the people who have a connection with the lord of the place where they’re going to migrate to when they abandon the village. If they are in good terms with such people, it would be easy for them to get help in the unlikely event they get into trouble, right? That was why they gave us the best hospitality.”

“Even if they don’t do that, I’ve said that I would help those in need, and Maribel’s father – Marco is there as well, so——”

“Verbal promises aren’t that strong, y’know. Relationships break in an instant.”

Meila looks a little lonely as she strokes the sleeping Maribel’s head.

“That’s why, they, too, would be relieved if we receive their hospitality gladly, you know. Because they can make a beneficial connection, not just a verbal one after all.”

“I wonder if that’s the case… I’m stupid, so I don’t understand worldly affairs at all.”

Even though Meila seems to be a no-good adult who is taken care of by a little girl, she’s more familiar with the world than I am, as she’s been wandering around the world alone.

The eyes of that Meila are looking firmly at my face.

“Besides, the reason we’re staying today is because you haven’t been able to sort your mind in regard to Finn-kun yet, right? Moreover, there’s that rumor about the Crimson Magic Swordsman – Frick being the fiancé of the daughter of Frontier Count-sama – Noelia-sama.”

Meila unreservedly attack me with the thing that I haven’t thought about since learning Finn’s identity at Youg Hannotes.

Finn who had strayed to Youg Hannotes and changed his name and appearance often acted together with Noelia the daughter of the Frontier Count as adventurers; even when he passed by me, even now in Inbahanes, he traveled with her.

“———nh!?”

“Right on the mark. Unlike Al, Noelia-sama we met here in Devon village seemed to be frail and delicate, the kind of woman who men fond of, right?”

Meila’s words pierce my chest.

Noelia, the daughter of the Frontier Count, we met in here in Devon village seemed to have the exact opposite nature to me in every sense.

Even I who is ignorant about love affair could sense her deep love for Frick from the attitude she showed when we were meeting face to face in Devon village.

“I’ve said it before, but it’s Finn-kun who decides, y’know.”

“U-un. You’re… right. There’s no way Finn’s going to choose me, right. I ended up having various thoughts when I thought I can meet him.”

Finn will never choose me who had done such terrible things to him this whole time.

I understand it in my head, but it seems that my heart can’t understand it.

When I think so, tears begin to blur my view, so I face down so that Meila can’t see my crying face.

“Love is something that people do, so no matter how inferior you are, you won’t know until the very end, you know.”

Meila who said that pulls the cheeks of me – who is facing down – with her both hands tightly.

“But… itsh debinitly imposshible.”

“Is that so, I wonder? I only heard about the past Alfine from rumors so I don’t know, but I think the current Al is a very attractive girl.”

“Rweally?”

“Yeah.”

Thanks to Meila’s words, I feel like I get a little bit of courage to meet Finn.

I’ll properly apologize for the things I’ve done until now, and though it may be a bother, I’ll tell him my honest feelings and listen to his answer.

Then I have to accept the result.

After deciding so, I take Meila’s hands that are pulling my cheeks.

“Tomorrow, we’ll be leaving for the city of Inbahanes.”

“Okkay. Then, we have to go to bed early. Come now, Al is here.”

The next day, we thank the villagers, entrust the village chief Eugene with the letter written by Maribel to the Frontier Count, and leave for the city of Inbahanes where Finn is.