AFTER having our long-awaited reunion with everyone, we enjoyed a dinner party at Sereniel’s mansion until late in the evening, and then Julius and I returned to Elle Village well past midnight.
Elle Village is the picture of silence in the middle of the night.
Julius and I walk slowly along the dirt road of the pitch-black village, relying only on the light of the lamp.
I feel light on my feet after meeting with our old friends, hearing what they’ve been up to, and having a good laugh together.
And more than all of that, I was the most surprised by the secret of my parentage…
I never knew. Well, I did think that Sereniel picked on me and hung around me a lot for us being complete strangers.
Julius grabs my hand, disrupting my pensive thinking.
I glance up at him.
“The sun set and the date has changed. The day I couldn’t hold hands with you is over. Now the day has come where I can hold your hand again,” Julius says quickly as if he’s making excuses for it.
What’s all this about?
I search through my memories until I finally remember.
Oh yeah, I told him he couldn’t hold my hand for the rest of the day because I was in a bad mood. I was in good spirits soon after that, so I completely forgot about it, but it seems like Julius didn’t.
I lace my fingers through his and squeeze.
Some of the tension leaves his tight cheeks as though he’s relieved I didn’t reject him this time.
“I’m glad it’s okay now. Thank you, Elle.”
Julius is so precious that I say “I’m cold” and nestle up against him.
Hehe. It’s chilly late at night. Besides, no one is around, it’s dark, this is Elle Village, and that’s the perfect setting for invincible Elle to become bold!
“Elle, I want you to know that…I’m sorry for hurting your feelings because of my other fiancées.”
“It’s fine. It doesn’t matter anymore. Oh, but! I won’t forgive you if you start looking at other women now that we are a couple!”
“That will never happen,” Julius tells me with a small smile.
Hehe. Delighted to hear that, I give his hand another squeeze.
I love holding hands with Julius.
We decide to take a detour on the way home, so our stroll takes us to a nearby lake.
Snuggling up against Julius and just going for a walk during the still of night is…incredibly fun.
“…It’s strange, for some reason I feel the most free in this very moment,” Julius quietly murmurs as we’re enjoying our midnight ramble.
“Of course you do. We’ve long since defeated the Demon Lord and are living how we want to with everyone in Elle Village!”
He shakes his head. “No, that’s a piece of it, but I had a lot of authority in Analia. I knew that I could overcome most things with sheer power and was capable of doing anything without remorse if I thought it was on the Demon Lord’s order… But now I become a depressed mess when I can’t hold your hand and am executing restraint not to use my power for my friend because that is what is best for them. I’m sure my past self would find the way I currently swing from happy to sad over the smallest things the absolute opposite of free. But the me of now feels like I am experiencing the greatest freedom in the world,” Julius explains as the night breeze caresses our cheeks.
I can smell the chill of the cool night air and the earthy scent of my beloved Elle Village.
“I feel the same way,” I agree, and since it’s feeling colder, I nestle in closer. Julius is warm.
“The night breeze is cold. Take my coat,” Julius says, letting go of my hand to take off his coat. He faces me and drapes it over my back.
Surrounded by his warmth, I discover something insightful about what he just told me.
“Hey, Julius, guess what? I might’ve just come up with something awesome! What you just said makes a lot more sense and fits super well if you change out the word free with happy.”
Illuminated by the lamp in his hand, Julius thoughtfully rubs his chin, then nods.
“You’re right. It does. I see. So that’s the concept that was missing. It makes so much more sense now,” Julius exclaims, having fun with the new discovery, which makes him extra lovable to watch. “So when do you feel free?” he asks me.
“I’m the glorious Elle Village’s grand sorceress mayor. I’m free all the time! But if I had to say it, there are the occasional—really just occasional—moments where I feel a lack of freedom.”
Julius gives his head a concerned tilt. “When is that?”
“Well, you see, this is just an example, but like when I want to kiss you but can’t reach you… Like right now…”
How charming he’s being and the mood in the air gives me the courage to say bold things. Julius’s eyes bulge, but an affectionate smile immediately takes over.
“Elle, please don’t say such adorable things. I won’t be able to hold myself back… Close your eyes,” he says, placing the lamp on the ground. He leans over and caresses my cheeks in his hands.
I lift my chin and close my eyes.
The sensation of my love’s lips on mine and the warmth of his hands make me feel the greatest “freedom” in the whole universe.