THE next morning, the group scrapped their Griffinids plan and went back to the drawing board. The Griffinids had been visible the previous night, but just as Velrey explained, there was too much light in the royal capital to see them.
“What should we try next?”
“One of the maids mentioned a new general store in town, but—”
That was when Mell and Zara entered the room. The others greeted them naturally so as not to arouse suspicion.
“Good morning, Ahto, Medic Risurisu.”
“Good morning.”
“Morning, June.”
Liselotte was next to arrive. This was unusual, as she usually stayed outside to be near Amelia and Rih.
“Oh, is something wrong, Sorcerer Lichtenberger? You don’t usually come to the break room in the morning.”
“Mell and Zara Ahto told me they wanted to speak with me.”
“Speak with you?”
Ulgus looked over at Mell and Zara, finding them both with smiles on their faces. He cocked his head curiously.
Charlotte poked her head into the break room next.
“They tell me to come here too.” Charlotte took the seat next to Velrey.
“I’m sorry to gather you here first thing in the morning.”
“We thought about telling Vice Captain Velrey separately, but since you’re already here…”
“That’s all right. What’s this about?”
Ulgus sat up straight. Hearing that they had something to discuss suddenly made him feel nervous.
“You see, the two of us are going to get married soon.”
“Whaaaaat?!” Ulgus let out a cry of shock. Liselotte, who was next to him, told him to quiet down.
“Congratulations, Zara, Medic Risurisu.”
“Thank you, Anna.”
“Thank you very much, Vice Captain.”
The two explained that they’d only made a casual agreement to get married and hadn’t settled on any definitive plan yet.
“But yesterday, as we watched the Griffinids, we started talking about granting wishes with the shooting stars.”
Both of them had prayed for a happy marriage that night.
“When we realized that, we decided we should go ahead with it and get married already.”
The gloomy expression on Sly’s face had blossomed into one of delight. She threw her hands up in the air, rejoicing.
Garr’s ears were perked up and his eyes opened wide—both from shock and joy.
Velrey, overcome with emotion, had tears in her eyes.
Ulgus was weeping openly. He was so moved to know their romance was finally growing into a lifelong love.
“Oh, Ulgus! Why are you crying?” Mell asked.
“B-Because I’m so happy y-you’re getting married…”
“You’re crying for us, June? You’re such a sweetie. Thank you.” Zara wrapped his arms around Ulgus.
Ulgus began to sob into his chest.
But Mell and Zara’s marriage wasn’t the only news they had to deliver.
“The Royal Order has a rule that husbands and wives can’t be in the same squadron. But the Second Expeditionary Squadron needs Melly, right? So I went and requested a transfer. However…”
Ludtink told them it was Mell, in fact, who would be transferred.
“Whaaaaaat?! M-Medic Risurisu’s leaving?!”
“Um, it isn’t set in stone yet, but the Royal Order had already been coming to Captain Ludtink to request that I transfer to a new department they’re planning.”
Ludtink had denied their requests each time, supposedly. But now that Mell was getting married, it was finally the right time for her to transfer to that department.
“Does that mean we’re getting a new combat medic?”
“Probably. But don’t expect them to do all the things Melly does, okay?” Zara warned.
“Right…”
Ulgus felt sad and lonely. He’d always believed that, no matter what hardships he faced during expeditions, he would always be able to get by as long as Mell was there with them.
“Ulgus…even if we’re in different squadrons, you’ll still spend time with me, won’t you?” Mell asked.
“Of course. I’ll be…your friend forever…Medic Risurisu.” As he tried to get the words out, tears began to stream from his eyes again. “You’ve helped me over and over again since I met you, Medic Risurisu.”
When the battles were long and exhausting, Mell made him delicious food. It was hard to describe just how much strength that had brought to his heart. Mell’s outgoing, positive personality was a source of salvation. She was the person who brought comfort to the Second Expeditionary Squadron.
“I really don’t know how to thank you…”
“You helped me plenty of times too, Ulgus.”
“I…did?”
“That’s right.”
The Second Expeditionary Squadron was a group of elite knights. They were all grown-ups who didn’t let trivial things get to them. But Ulgus was different.
“Whenever I thought something was shocking, scary, or funny, you always felt the exact same way I did. Sometimes I felt like the Second Expeditionary Squadron didn’t even need me so long as you were there with them.”
“Medic Risurisu!”
Mell took out a handkerchief to wipe the tears from Ulgus’ messy face. “Ulgus, you’re crying way too much.”
“You’re crying too, Medic Risurisu.”
“You started it.”
It had turned into something emotional, but Mell and Zara’s decision to get married was a big step forward. Ulgus struggled to imagine anything that could make him happier.
“Congratulations, Ahto, Medic Risurisu!”
It wasn’t just Ulgus. Liselotte, Charlotte, and the members of Zara and Mell’s Romance Support Squad all congratulated them on their marriage.
Mell and Zara thanked them, grinning ear to ear.