I couldn’t imagine a future in which Edwin and Eleanora ended up together—or rather, it seemed a near impossibility. I gave Patrick a look that asked, “What should we do?” Patrick seemed just as troubled as I felt and simply shrugged his shoulders.
Still, we didn’t know the future. After this trip to the Royal Capital, I realized that Eleanora had countless possibilities before her. If she were to really throw herself into producing fragrances, she would probably be incredibly successful. That was an accomplishment she could achieve through her own skills, and because of the kind of person that she was, everyone around her would support her with everything they had.
The church was also ready to welcome Eleanora at any time. If anything, they might extend an offer to her.
Eleanora had endless potential, so perhaps ending up with Prince Edwin was actually possible for a girl like her. She might even end up having a fated meeting with someone else (or even marry me).
The girl had many possible paths ahead of her, but for the moment, she was seated in a carriage heading to Dolkness County. She opened her mouth and said, “I must train for puttara when I get home.”
Oh, I guess she’s decided to set off on the path to becoming a menko champion. It’s difficult to make a living off of menko. After saying goodbye to the man she loved just moments ago, Eleanora was already making plans for what she’d do when she got home, and she seemed to be looking forward to it.
“There’s also going to be the roasted potato contest,” she went on. “I’m going to be very busy.”
“Oh, right,” I said. “I remember you mentioning something like that.”
Well, she seems to be having a good time, so I think it’s fine for Eleanora to stay the way she is.
She’d inspired me to also think about what I was going to do once I arrived at home. I needed to check if there had been any problems while I’d been gone, look through all the documents that needed my approval, tell Daemon about anything related to the county that had happened in the Royal Capital... I guess I should tell him that we now have a relationship with the Archiam family. What else happened? I tried to think back to what had happened over the past few days.
“Oh! I wonder if Ryuu would use this,” I said, pulling out the pacifier. I guess he’s already three, so he might be too old for it.
Patrick seemed horrified by the pacifier. “Throw that away! Don’t bring it back!”
“But that would be such a waste,” I protested.
“Don’t tell me you brought the other things with you.”
“They’re all packed up. I have the bib and the baby bottle... Oh, I have a rattle too.”
“I can’t believe there was another thing that I didn’t know about,” he groaned.
I’d ended up not using the rattle in front of my parents, but it had been a great purchase. I hadn’t expected it to make such a lovely sound. It was going to be a gift for Ryuu. He was a dragon that appreciated art even more than I did, so he would probably enjoy it.
“If Ryuu doesn’t want it, you can have it, Lady Eleanora,” I offered magnanimously.
“That’s not necessary,” she declined firmly.
“It makes a beautiful sou—”
“That’s not necessary.”
I see. She doesn’t want it. I turned to Patrick, but he stopped me before I could say anything.
“I don’t want it either.”
“I see...”
When I’d returned to Dolkness County (though I would clearly be listening to the beautiful sound of the rattle all by myself), what awaited me were busy but peaceful and fun-filled days. If I had the time, I could even engage in silly banter with Patrick or go watch Eleanora play in a menko match.
Although I had been in the Royal Capital for less than a week, I missed my home. As I listened to the noisy, clattering sound of the carriage wheels, I impatiently waited for us to arrive at Dolkness County—my precious home.