“Your Majesty, the designer has arrived,” I heard Alicia say, prompting me to close my book.
“Oh, really?” I replied. “You did well to find me, Alicia.”
“You do love the library.”
“I suppose I do. It is relaxing to spend time here.”
For a shut-in like me, this was one of the few places I could enjoy myself.
“So, what sort of designer is this?” I asked.
“The one who will make your Genesis Festival dress. You’ve been too busy for a standard appointment, but we’re running out of time! Production needs to start soon!”
“A dress? Hmm…” I put the book away and approached Alicia. “I’ll entrust the entire task to the designer, then. My measurements haven’t changed in the slightest, so they shouldn’t have any trouble crafting something without my input.”
Alicia was rather disappointed to hear this. She always did love to sew dresses.
“In exchange, might I ask if you have made any arrangements for the rest of the day, Alicia?”
“Any plans? Just work…”
“Then it’s decided!” I said. “We’re taking a walk.”
“A w-walk?! You’re going outside, Your Majesty?”
“I am. Now’s as good a time as any. Can you help me get changed?”
“Um, shouldn’t we bring some guards with us?”
“It will be fine,” I said, pushing her along. “Now, let’s get going.”
We got our things together and left the palace. As soon as we were outside the walls, I had a good stretch.
“Thanks for your help, Alicia. It’s fortunate that you are friends with the gate guardian.”
Alicia was unusually nervous, looking left and right.
“Relax,” I said. “We’ll be fine.”
“But, Your Majesty, we have no guards with us. If anything were to happen to you, I—”
“Your concern is appreciated, but don’t worry. Your deft hands dressed me up quite well.”
“Still…”
“More importantly, we finally get to have our stroll around town! I’ve been looking forward to this for so long.”
Alicia was confused. “What do you mean, ‘our stroll’?”
I gasped. I’d been referring to the promise we made on my birthday eleven years ago. Because of her amnesia, she wouldn’t know what I meant. It was only natural she would be puzzled by it.
“I mean, you’ve talked so much about what goes on outside the palace, right?” I said. “I’ve been curious about exploring the capital with you for some time now.”
“It’s an honor, Your Majesty.”
“So how about we enjoy ourselves? Don’t be so formal with me. Call me ‘Lux’ while we are out.”
We departed after I gave my order. I was in such a good mood that I ended up walking at a rather brisk pace. Alicia looked like she wanted to say more, but she followed my lead. We ended up crossing quite the distance. The central streets of the capital bustled with activity.
“There’s an awful lot of people around so late in the evening,” I said.
“We should be safe as long as we avoid the alleyways.”
“Good to know.”
Brian’s ideas to enhance security around town seemed to be paying off. I made a note to commend him for it later. We looked around some more, and one storefront in particular caught my eye.
“The prices seem a tad higher than I remember.”
“They sure are,” Alicia said. “Prices have been rising lately, especially the price of food.”
It was likely due to rumors about the oncoming war. To manipulate prices so brazenly was despicable. But I was here to enjoy leisure time with Alicia—my duties could come later.
Once we’d had our fill, I turned to Alicia with a smile. “I had so much fun today.”
“Me too, Your Majesty!”
“Now, now, dear. Don’t say it so loudly, lest you—”
In that moment, a strong gust of wind blew past us, catching my shawl and sending it flying. Alicia took off after it.
“Oh…”
The memory of how I almost lost her eleven years ago burst into my mind, sending shivers down my spine. Perhaps seeing her run so fast for the first time in ages reminded me of that fateful day.
No! Alicia, don’t go!
My throat locked up; I couldn’t form words. I stood as still as a statue, the sharp gusts of wind piercing through me. Urgency rattled through my mind. I can’t leave her alone. I thought back on our conversation, deciding she must have entered a nearby alleyway. I dashed after her.
Alicia was in the alley, and a little boy stood behind her. Three brusque men surrounded her, fixing her with sinister glares.
“What is going on here?” I demanded.
“Oh! S-sorry, I ran into this boy after I grabbed your shawl…” Alicia’s worried response was adorable.
I approached her, ignoring the boy and the three men. “Are you all right? No injuries?”
“Y-yes, I’m fine. You can leave me here and go back…”
“You know I would never leave you.” I stepped in front of her, glaring at the boorish men. “Now then, would you gentlemen tell me what business you have with her?”
“We have no business with this woman! We just want the brat!”
I ventured a glance behind me, making sure to keep my guard up. The little boy quaked with fear, poking his head out around her legs.
I sighed, then captured the ruffians’ gazes once more. “I’m sorry, but this boy is under my care now. So, again, what business do you have here?”
“This ain’t about business. That little rat stole our money!”
The child averted his eyes when the men glared at him. I sighed a second time and pulled coins out of my purse. “Sorry about that.”
The pocket money was enough for them to leave peacefully and quietly. Honestly, I’d expected them to make more demands after I presented the cash. Maybe they weren’t terrible people after all.
“The bad men are gone now,” I told the little boy. “You should go on home now. Learn from this and do better, all right?”
The child became flustered and muttered something under his breath.
“What was that?”
“I said, I don’t have a home to go back to!” he shouted. Tears welled in his eyes as he stared up at me.
Alicia crouched down to his level. “Goodness. Did you have a fight with your parents?”
“No! I’m… I have magic!”
“Ahh, do you now?” I heaved yet another sigh, startling him. “Relax. Alicia and I are mages too.”
“You’re lying!”
“I am not. See?”
I let out a little bit of my magic, which he quickly recognized. His tears flowed freely.
“Judging by your appearance, I take it it’s been some time since you were disowned. How have you made it this far?”
“I came to the capital after my village banished me,” the boy explained. “I thought maybe there’d be some way a kid like me could make it, but nobody would hire me. Stealing is how I survive.”
“Is that so?” I picked the child up, walking off with him in my arms.
Alicia’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Wh-what are you doing, Your Majesty?!”
“You will come with me,” I told the boy. “I will feed you and teach you. As your patron, I will provide you shelter, education, and magic practice. You will hone your skills and grow into a man who can care for himself. Fret not, for I will never abandon you. I will look after you until you no longer need my assistance. And if I ever lose the ability to care for you, I will ensure my associates will.”
“Wh-why…?”
“Because I can’t stand this,” I muttered.
The boy didn’t understand, flailing in my arms.
“If my kindness doesn’t feel real to you, then pay me back later. I will wait as long as I must.”
The boy calmed down, and we returned the way we came.
At the sight of the palace gates, he panicked again. “Wait, huh?! Wh-where are we going?!”
“Where? Why, right there,” I said, pointing directly at the palace.
“Huh?”
“That’s my house.”
“Wha…?”
We entered the palace, with the boy stunned into silence. Unfortunately, I had to reveal my identity to the guards in order to let the boy in. The guards were quite unhappy that I’d snuck off without protection. Oh well. Their nagging honestly amused me.
I leaned close to Alicia and whispered in her ear, “That was so much fun. How strange…”
“I feel the same. I loved our time together,” Alicia whispered back.
A genuine smile spread on my face as I remembered her old self, along with our time together today.