CH 7

It was quite the luxury to have lunch prepared for you in the garden. They would not have been able to ask for it yesterday. However, it seemed that being overly modest here would probably only make them worry. Or so Chiharu thought, and so she had declared that she wanted to go out to the gardens.

The season seemed to be the same as Japan. As they looked at the garden with its beautiful rose-like flowers, a table was set out with some light dishes for them to eat.

“We prepared some refreshing drinks for you, but please call if you prefer some tea instead.”

So saying, the guards and even Sera moved away to where we couldn’t see them.

Chiharu and Maki sat down in their chairs. The wind was refreshing.

“I wasn’t able to ask about whether we could return.”

“There was hardly an opportunity to.”

“Yeah, I was too shocked.”

Both touched their smooth foreheads at the same time.

“…”

“…”

“Something’s growing again.”

“I hope it doesn’t fall off this time. Can you imagine accidentally dropping something worth a million?”

A small gem was already taking shape on their foreheads. But wasn’t it supposed to be just once a month?

“I know! What if you covered it with a net, kind of like those hothouse mangoes?”

“Aah, so it will fall off when it is ripe and the net catches it.”

“Yeah.”

“But then I’ll look like I’m injured.”

Chiharu protested. Maki thought about it.

“Oh, I know. That ninja thing.”

“Ah, a headband?”

“Yeah, you can put a Saintess mark on it.”

“Saintess mark? …like a third eye?”

“No waaay.”

“No way.”

Both of them looked up in despair. Then Chiharu said:

“Realistically, I think we should cover it with a ribbon and tie the bow on the side of our heads.”

“Ouch. I can’t do that as a 25-year-old.”

“Well, it’s better than a net or a bandanna. And dropping it too.”

“I guess so.”

“So in other words…”

“Huh?”

“He said ‘once a year’ at the end.'”

“Yeah.”

“That means we’ll die here without ever going back, doesn’t it?”

“…Yeah.”

The sky was blue, and the wind brought the scent of flowers with it. The food smelled good.

“Let’s eat.”

“We can’t fight on an empty stomach.”

“Because you’re a ninja now?”

“We already rejected that option.”

Their breakfast had consisted of rice balls, but lunch was centered around bread. The first thing that caught their eyes was the salad. It was shredded carrots and radishes that were marinated and placed into small white bowls. The subtly sweet and sour flavor was a great appetizer. Next was thin slices of what resembled French bread that was covered in blue and yellow pastes. There was also thin slices of ham and fat omelets that were half the size of the palm of your hand. There were also oysters that were cooked in a golden oil and stuffed with meat.

Once they took their first bite, they could hardly stop. Of course, this was not an amount that they could actually finish. However, the food had just the right kind of spices that kept the food delicious even after it cooled down. And they wanted to take at least one bite of everything.

Once they were satisfied, they tasted the drinks that had been prepared.

“It smells like grapefruit. Maybe it’s water with just the peels inside?”

“It’s not sweet, but it’s refreshing. I feel like I drank this before?”

“Last night, before bed.”

“Ahh…”

Some things were best left forgotten. The sky was so blue today. Maki thought.

“What should we do now?”

“Regardless of how much money we have, or our position as automatic gem production machines, I would still like to have a job.”

“That’s true.”

“But if we have clothing, food, and shelter secured for us, we should start with something that we want to do. I think that it’s part of our job to use the money as well.”

Chiharu said. They didn’t have to start some big initiative just yet, they should try and use the money that had been saved for them.

“I want to go to Rasche’s country!”

“You mean Zynis.”

“Right. I wonder if they are all like him. Do you think there are cat people too? What about pandas?”

“I doubt there are so many different types.”

“They also said something about a train.”

“Oh, that would be fun! I wonder if they sell food inside?”

“I bet they do. It’s an old style after all. There will be tea that’s not in plastic bottle and sandwiches.”

“Maybe the tea will be in unglazed pottery.”

“That you can toss out the window when you’re done?”

“Maybe each train station will have their own special foods.”

“Like lunch boxes.”

Both of them were now quite carried away with making future plans.

“I wonder what Aeris’ country is like.”

“He is an elf. They live in forests.”

“I read somewhere that they mainly eat thin cookies and avoid any meat.”

“And they like archery.”

“Why do they need bows if they don’t eat meat?”

“Well, maybe they do eat meat then.”

“We will have to learn more about this world if we want to travel.”

“Research first, huh?”

After that, they continued to discuss what they would do, until Sera called to them.

That night, Edwy was making preparations to go to sleep.

“I couldn’t ask them their ages after all, but they are probably close to mine. But they seemed pretty mature, so maybe just a little older.”

There were paintings of the past Saintess’ in the royal palace. They all had dark hair and eyes and were generally short in height. The prince had seen these painting since he was young and been enraptured. And now there was one before him. Specifically, Chihaaru.

Of course, Maki was splendid as well. However, while Aeris had gotten there first, the way Chiharu had fainted only to come back with the most pragmatic reaction was something he could not forget.

Of course, he had the resolve to protect his people as the next king. But he also wanted to protect Chihaaru… Edwy was already considering changing everything for Chiharu at a moments notice, if she would only ask. Just then…

“Edwy, do you have a moment?”

“Aeris, Zynis. It’s rare for you to come to visit so late.”

His senior friends had come to take him somewhere.

“Where are we going?”

“Well, you will see.”

They were headed for the Saintess’ room. There were two guards by the door, along with Sera, the King and even Grudo.

“Father, you’re here too?”

The king gestured for him to be silent. Quiet? But why?

This room was a normal guest room, there was no sitting room inside. In other words, Chihaaru was just behind the one door. Of course, so was Maki.

He tried to quiet the beating of his heart as he slowly walked closer to the others. And then he was startled.

There was a faint crying sound from the other side of the door. He couldn’t understand what was being said, but he could tell that they were taking turns saying something and crying. Edwy looked at Aeris and Zynis. They nodded. They had told him to not be fooled by how cheerful they looked. So that’s what they meant.

They kept watch by the door, praying together until the sounds disappeared from behind the door.

They prayed that the darkness would at least be kind to the two.