CH 59

Two days after the conversation with His Highness Ash.

Early in the morning, I packed my bags and left the workshop.

After confirming the lock on the door, I set off for the meeting place at the gate of the castle, but first I went to greet Head Department Laura-san.

“Nee-san!”

“Oh, Fusaki-kun.”

On the way, Fusaki-kun ran over.

“Are you ready?”

“I’m good. I didn’t have much luggage to begin with.”

“I see. But are you okay with this?”

“What do you mean?”

He tilted his head with a puzzled look.

I am heading to His Highness Ash’s territory from here.

I will be leaving the palace for a while until the request is completed.

I don’t know when I can come back.

It might be a long time, they say.

“I just hope everything is okay with Irina-chan while I’m away and can’t come back to the palace for a while.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I talked to the Princess about it, and I’ll go see her as soon as I’m done with this work.”

“I hope that’s okay with you two.”

“It’s fine! It’s not like this is our last farewell or anything.”

He smiles with a calm smile.

I’m scared because that kind of line can become true later on.

“I am Nee-san’s bodyguard! It’s my duty to accompany her on her business trips!”

“I see.”

If he is fine with that, then I have nothing more to say.

“Let’s hurry up!”

“Okay.”

Fusaki-kun and I ran to the castle gate.

A carriage was parked at the gate.

I thought we would ride on horses behind someone, like we did in Floria, but it seems to be different this time.

Not just us, but also some knights are with us.

I also saw Ash-sama giving instructions to the knights.

“Your Highness.”

“Hm? Oh, you guys came.”

“Good morning, Ash-sama.”

“Hey. Fusaki also decided to come.”

“Of course!”

Fusaki-kun also knows His Highness Ash.

They met while serving as Irina-chan’s guards, and their energetic personalities seemed to fit well together.

The two of them bump their fists together.

I don’t really understand it, but maybe it’s a greeting between men.

I look around for “him”.

“I’m over here.”

“Ah——.”

Suddenly a voice comes from the side.

He pops his head out from behind the carriage.

“Good morning, Aria.”

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

“I always get startled, so I wanted to be the one to greet you this time.”

I was a bit frustrated and sulky.

To be honest, when I confess this, Yuren-kun laughs lightly.

“Huh, is that what it was all about? I’m relieved that you’re not nervous or anything.”

“I am nervous though. But more than that, I feel excited that my power might be useful to everyone. It’s probably insensitive, huh.”

“Nope. It’s better than keeping it to yourself. If you want to make others smile, you have to start by smiling yourself.”

With that, Yuren-kun shows an exaggerated smile.

To uplift people who are in trouble, to comfort those who are suffering.

To provide reassurance.

He is a role model for bright smiles, not mocking ones.

I also want to become someone who can smile like him.

As we were having this exchange, Ash-sama, who had been watching us, tapped Yuren-kun on the shoulder.

“What a great expression, Yuren! Yes, a smile! A smile is the most important thing. You know what I’m talking about, right?”

“I was taught that by my older brother.”

“Ah, that’s right. I forgot about the old days.”

“You forgot too much.”

His Highness Ash hits Yuren-kun’s shoulder vigorously as he makes an astonished face.

“That’s good. What’s important is now.”

“That’s so like you,Brother.”

“I am who I am. Now then, since we’re all set, let’s go——”

But then His Highness Ash noticed something.

His gaze is directed upward, toward the direction of the Royal Castle.

He smiles and moves his head to guide our attention that way.

Four pairs of eyes focus on one person.

“Fusa-kun! Onee-sama!”

“It’s Princess! Nee-san, look! The Princess is waving her hand.”

“Yeah.”

Irina-chan leans out of the window of the castle and waves her hand vigorously.

She shouts loudly, her voice coming from the bottom of her stomach and audible from far away.

“Please be careful!”

“Princess too! Don’t push yourself just because you feel better!”

“I’ll come back as soon as possible!”

“Yes! I’ll be waiting!”

She squeezed her voice from her stomach and watched us go.

She is such a brave and straightforward girl.

Just like Fusaki-kun, all the children I met in this country are honest and have kind hearts.

Maybe that’s because of the country itself.

If that’s the case, it makes me happy.

“Please do your best too, Onii-samas!”

“Yeah!”

“Leave it to us!”

She waved her hand to her two brothers as well.

His Highness Ash and Yuren-kun gaze at her figure feeling sentimental.

“Irina seems to have recovered well.”

“Yes, thanks to her.”

“Yeah, that’s why I have high expectations for her. She’ll surely save us from this predicament.”

“I think so too.”

Their conversation was barely audible.

Expectations and hopes were placed on me.

I’ll do my best to meet those expectations.

In the past, I might have been too scared to face this kind of situation, but now I have a bit more…confidence.