Side Story 2: An Outing with Father (Siraiya’s Perspective)
ONCE everyone else left, Cynthia and I spent a few days together at the inn. Since she couldn’t leave her room or meet with anyone, I brought her all her food and clothes, combed her hair, and even swapped out her futon covers. She insisted she could do the latter herself, but I told her I enjoyed it and wanted to keep doing this for her.
I pitied Cynthia, the sociable woman who was currently stuck talking to me and me alone all day. But strangely, I also felt satisfied.
When I told her that, Cynthia got a serious look and mumbled, “It’s his yandere side showing… I have to get him back on track…”
I didn’t know what she was talking about, but at least I was having fun. There was nothing better than a vacation with just the two of us.
Mother and Father arrived at the inn after I’d gotten to hog Cynthia all to myself for a few days.
“You two have been through a lot, haven’t you? Well done, both of you. I heard you weren’t injured, but I’m sure you were frightened.”
“I was so sorry to hear your couple’s trip got ruined. I wish we could’ve made it here sooner.”
Cynthia’s wings startled them, but as soon as they understood the situation, they gave her big hugs—then did the same for me. It was still hard to comprehend that they loved me as if I were one of their own children.
Prince Adelberd had also given us permission to fill Mother in on the details of the cursed book, now that its effects were transferred to Cynthia.
“I’m happy to see you, Mother, Father.”
“Thank you very much for arranging the festival. I believe the palace will be sending you a formal letter of thanks soon, but Prince Adelberd gives you his heartfelt gratitude as well.”
“Is that right? I’m glad to hear it was helpful.” Father smiled, but he looked a bit pale to me.
“You must be tired, Father. Why don’t you rest for a while?” When I suggested that, Mother placed her hand to her cheek, looking troubled.
“Siraiya’s right. You spent many sleepless nights planning the festival, and you couldn’t get any deep sleep in the carriage either. You need to rest, dear.”
“Oh, Father! Please get some sleep. We don’t want you to get sick.”
Father removed his square-shaped glasses briefly to rub his brow. “Right, I’ll be making even more trouble for everyone if I go and collapse on you. I think I’ll sleep for a while.”
“Let me take you to your room. Mother, you and Cynthia can catch up a little.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Thanks, Siraiya.”
“Thank you, Siraiya.”
“Just leave Father to me.”
I showed Father to his room as promised. I didn’t want to waste time calling for an employee to set up his futon, so I decided to do it myself.
“Sorry about this, Siraiya. I just need to lie down for a little while. I still plan on having dinner with the three of you.”
“Of course. I’ll come and get you before it’s served.”
“I appreciate it.”
Father removed his jacket and crawled into the futon. Then he placed his glasses on the tatami floor next to him.
I was on my way out of the room, not wanting to disturb his sleep, when Father sat up again.
“Is something wrong? If you need water, there’s some on the ta—”
“I just haven’t slept alone in so long, and now, I’m a bit lonely. I brought a portrait of my wife along, so I’m going to keep it here next to me.”
I see. I understand how you feel. I couldn’t sleep without gazing at Cynthia’s portrait either.
“Is it in your luggage? I’ll get it for you.”
“No, I can do that much myself.”
Father stood up and put one foot down on the tatami floor…but that was when we heard a crack. He’d forgotten about his glasses.
“Shoot…!”
“Father! Are you injured?!”
“No, I’m fine. But it looks like my glasses are done for.” Father held up the glasses to show that the frames were broken near where they would rest on his nose. “At least I have a backup pair. It’s just too bad these ones had to go to waste.”
He placed them on a separate surface, mumbling under his breath as he retrieved another glasses case from his luggage. Losing a single pair of glasses didn’t seem like it should be a big deal to people as wealthy as the Rhuddlans, but Father sounded really upset by it. I wondered if he took particularly good care of his belongings, but then Father cried out for a second time.
“Oh no! These are the pair I brought?!” Father had retrieved his spare set from his luggage—a pair of round frames.
“…Is something wrong?”
“The square ones! I need my square glasses…!”
“But…what for?”
I’d never worn glasses before, so I didn’t understand why the shape mattered. Did they make things look different somehow?
“My wife mentioned those glasses when we were both listing a hundred things we loved about each other!”
I didn’t know what was happening anymore.
Father donned his round glasses for now, but he’d launched into a passionate speech. “I could think of far more than a hundred things I love about her, but she didn’t have any trouble coming up with that many for me either. I made up my mind that I’d maintain everything she listed about me for as long as I possibly could. That way, she would love me forever!”
That’s a good idea. I should do that with Cynthia sometime.
“That was one of the things she listed… She said I looked handsome in my square glasses…” he muttered sadly.
I gasped. Now that I understood why Father was so flustered, I squeezed my hands into fists. If Cynthia told me she loved my square glasses, but then I only had round ones as a backup, I’d…!
“F-Father…!”
“Siraiya…! Will you come with me?”
“Of course! Let’s go!”
We need to find some square-shaped glasses as soon as possible!