CH 35

Sauro and Saikania were very happy to have been able to fly with Maki and Chiharu again. Chiharu was able to fly much better than she had back at the castle, and they felt that traveling and growing was the best thing for humans to do.

It was mostly because Orne had bragged about flying far with Maki or about how much fun he had with Chiharu. Maki and Chiharu were theirs.

“Sauro. You looked like you were having fun.”

What a surprise. It was Edwy. He was standing in the shadow of the mansion’s entrance.

“Ah, yeah. It is fun to fly with children.”

“Yes. But you never flew with any children besides me back in Midland. Actually, you never had that much interest in people to begin with.”

“Is-is that right? Maybe it means that I’ve grown since then.”

“Huh. But those children seemed like they were used to it. But flying with birdfolk is quite difficult.”

“They were just really physically capable.”

“The small one didn’t look too strong.”

Edwy said teasingly. What’s this? He seemed different today. Then Edwy turned to Saikania. 

As if to defend the ‘small one’ the Edwy referred to, Saikania said,

“He was flying perfectly fine.”

“There was a lot of flailing.”

“No there wasn’t!”

“I thought the kid would fall at any moment.”

“Don’t make fun of Chiharu like that! She has improved so much!”

Saikania… 

It was hard for the birdfolk to trick people. Sauro sighed and looked up at the sky.

“Chiharu?”

Edwy laughed.

“No-no-no. Uh, Ryan. Yes.”

“Sauro?”

Edwy ignored Saikania as she frantically made excuses and looked at Sauro. Sauro looked away. Edwy continued.

“I wonder what Aeris will say when he learns that you two have been hogging Maki and Chiharus and having all the fun.”

“Wait!”

“What will happen?”

What will happen?

“Even when they have returned to the castle, they won’t give you any information about Maki and Chiharu.”

“But…”

He wasn’t sure about Aeris, but the elves would definitely do that.

“Of course, I won’t tell you anything either.”

“Edwy.”

Sauro looked ashamed. Edwy continued.

“I thought we were friends.”

“I’m sorry. But I couldn’t betray Maki and Chiharu’s trust. I wanted to free the Saintesses who felt like they were being trapped.”

“Sauro, have you, as the future chief, or even me, have we ever been free? People say that you do as you please, and I am able to leave the castle in disguise, but we are still bound by our duties as princes. Maki and Chiharu were treated well at the castle.”

“That’s…”

That was true. However.

“Hey, Edwy. I’m sorry. But Maki and Chiharu did their duty by your country. And they were brought here by force and made to work for this world. We can’t compare ourselves to them.”

“I know! I know that, but I was so worried! And yet! You were all so carefree! And you yourself tried to take them away by force in the beginning!”

Sauro looked a little troubled as he patted Edwy on the shoulder. There was no point in digging up the past. This was the sadness of those without wings. The Saintesses had often been so close by.

“At least, Maki and Chiharu are now with our troops. They are in your sight. Isn’t that fine?”

“It’s not! You can go to them and say that you like children, but what excuse can a prince use to talk with some cook apprentices?”

So that was it. Sauro laughed.

“Kaider would have barged right in.”

“That meathead!”

Kaider had left to become an Adventurer as soon as Edwy was born, and so they were not very close.

“By the way, he said that they traveled together.”

Edwy scowled in irritation.

“Amusingly, he had no idea who they were.”

“Still! I wish I could have been with them too…”

“You can accompany them the next time.”

“Next?”

“Do you really think Maki and Chiharu will return to being shut-ins in the castle?”

“…No.”

“As for me, I’ll follow them anywhere.”

“Sauro.”

“Me too. Especially since Chiharu can fly much higher now.”

“Saikania.”

They were too free. Edwy started to sulk a little. Then Sauro said,

“You could always expose their identities and then protect them. But instead of sulking about being left behind, I suggest your observe Maki and Chiharu a little. They are so different now then they were at the castle.”

Even after hearing this, he still felt that they had caused him to worry so much. Tomorrow. One day. Yes, he would observe them for one day. Edwy looked at the group of tents once and then turned back to the mansion.

The morning of the next day, Maki and Chiharu pulled their aching bodies off of the hard ground and dragged themselves out of the tent in order to help with breakfast. Breakfast consisted of soup, bread and a lot of sausages which were cooked on the large grills. While they were called sausages, they weren’t encased in a skin. It was ground, seasoned meat in the shape of a thick bar, like a meatloaf. So all they had to do was slice it before cooking. This could then be placed on or sandwiched in bread.

As for lunch, they had asked the town of Lapondo to prepare it. And so the food for the soldiers was brought from several inns. This was a good way of spending money on each town they visited.

After breakfast, they accompanied Paulo on his shopping before departure.

“The cheese in Lapondo is very famous. But it doesn’t last long, so we’ll eat it today. Look forward to it for dinner.”

Aside from the cheese that would be eaten quickly, they bought hard, long-lasting cheese and some root vegetables.

“Ah.”

Chiharu suddenly stopped. She smelled something sweet. A batter made of flour was being spread over a pan. Then it was flipped over and an amber mixture was poured over it. Then it was folded in half and then three more times before it was complete.

“Do you have any change?”

“Huh?”

“Do you have money with you?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, you can go then.”

“Really?”

“But come back quickly.”

“Yes! Madame, I’ll take two of those!”

“Coming right up.”

“What is that amber colored stuff?”

“This? It’s boiled tree sap. It has an interesting flavor, but is very good.”

The two of them bit into it.

“It’s hot, but delicious.”

“Ahh, hot.”

“Right? It tastes the best when it’s hot.”

Maki and Chiharu bit into their food as they returned to Paulo.

“Is it good? Tree sap tastes different in every country. You should remember that. Still, haven’t you just eaten breakfast? I guess it’s different when you’re still growing.”

Indeed, Chiharu felt that they might be eating too much. They both looked down at their stomachs. Hmm, it was probably still fine. They were moving, so it would be alright. They hurriedly ate what was left. Now, to carry the baggage.

After that, they continued to follow Paulo and help with his work. Then they got into the carriage and stared at the sky. In the afternoon they rested and played with the birdfolk. Edwy watched them the whole time.

“What’s up with you today, Edwy? You’ve been staring at the cooks all this time. Are you really so interested in those children?”

“He’s still eighteen. Maybe he wants friends.”

Kaider and Nyran said to him. But he didn’t care.

How hadn’t he noticed it before? How cute she looked when she turned up to face Paulo and nod. The way she ran around. She was easily distracted and would stop in her tracks. It was almost always because of food. Even with her different hair and boy’s clothes, it was definitely Chiharu. It was even more obvious with Maki next to her. They covered their foreheads with large handkerchiefs, and today they had removed another magic stone from it.

And why did she always seem to be thinking about Aeris? Whenever Chiharu had time off, she would always look worried and search for him. But Edwy was there too. Grudo as well.

His heart ached. Still, it was as Sauro had said. He had never seen Chiharu look more lively. Never seen her look at the sky with such calm, peacefulness. Never seen her run with so much energy. Never seen her open her mouth so wide to bite into bread.

“Hey, Edwy. It’s time for dinner.”

“Sorry. I’m going to eat with the soldiers today.”

“Uh, hey.”

“You’re the prince of Midland, though. Ah, oh well.”

Kaider and Nyran watched as Edwy walked towards the soldiers. How would they explain this to the others?