“And now, just for you... Ta-dah!” From seemingly nowhere, Blitz produced a small package neatly tied with a ribbon and showed it to Ascari. “Here we are, Lily Blitz’s prized, most popular item, hand cream! It’s a little pricey, though. Three small silvers!”
“...Is that the only scent it comes in?”
“No? This flower-scented type is the most popular, but there are also fruit-scented kinds...”
“Fruity is better.”
“Oh, come on! I figured you’d want this one, I didn’t bring any of the fruit type!” Blitz pleaded. “This kind is by far and away the most popular, and it’s hard to get. Do you have any idea how much trouble it was to get this one?”
“Then work on your sales pitch, you merchant!”
“I am a knight!”
Listening to Blitz’s words, I pictured Lucia. Flowers or fruit... Somehow, I thought flowers would suit Lucia better.
“Well then, when I ask her out, maybe we’ll swing by Lily Blitz,” Ascari said.
“Oh-ho, making a move, are we? It’s high time you showed some courage. Well, if you take my recommendation, she will certainly enjoy it. Although, if you visit the store, then you really should look at the cosmetics...”
“Oh come on, you pushy peddler!”
“It’s a cosmetics store! Those are our primary wares!”
“You are such a merchant...”
Sighing with disappointment, Blitz moved to return the package to his pocket.
“Blitz. If you don’t have any use for it, could I buy it?”
...Saying those words took every bit of courage in my body.
In my quarters in the bachelors’ dorm for the knights, I stared at the present I’d acquired, and fretted.
Once we left on the purification expedition, we would be gone for a long time. I couldn’t be sure that someone else wouldn’t notice Lucia during that time. If, say, one of the other survivors of the dragon-slaying expedition were to meet her, it was possible that they’d fall for her just as hard as I had. Given that, I really wanted to give her something to wear, something visible.
And...I wanted something of Lucia’s, to carry with me as a token. Men with wives or lovers would often tuck something from their ladies into their pockets whenever setting out on a monster hunt. I’d never really paid much attention before, but now I understood how they felt.
Something of Lucia’s... A handkerchief, maybe? No...if possible, I really wanted something a little more personal.
As I was thinking, my eyes fell on the ribbon tied around the package. Come to think of it, Lucia always had her hair tied back with a ribbon. If she were willing, borrowing that would be perfect.
But if I take her ribbon, her hair would get in her way. So I can give her a ribbon as well.
Decision made, I left my room.
Ultimately, I was able to get her to accept the gift. She very nearly turned it down, but overall, I thought it had gone very well indeed. And Lucia had even held my hands! I was so very lucky. Thank goodness I had put the effort in.
Her hands were much smaller than mine, with slender, delicate fingers. Yes, they were chapped enough that you could see the roughness, but that was because she worked hard. I found them far more beautiful than the prettily manicured, white hands of noble ladies. I suspect she had no idea how hard it was to let go.
I also succeeded in acquiring something of hers as a token for my journey: her hair ribbon, the same violet color that her eyes were when the sunlight caught them.
It was strange. When I put the ribbon into my pocket, somehow I felt as though Lucia herself was walking beside me. No wonder the other men wanted to carry something from their wives and lovers. Suddenly, I felt as though I truly understood where they were coming from.
Also, Lucia was so cute with her hair loose.
Normally, she wore it tied in a ponytail so that it wouldn’t get in the way as she worked. Seeing it fall loose from her usual ponytail with a soft, pleasant smell of soap... Well, to be honest, it was a little bit awkward. That was much too dangerous. I didn’t want her to do that in front of any other man. She was just too vulnerable like that.
And yes, I was the one who’d asked her to take her ribbon out in the first place, but still!
She’d also used the ribbon I’d wrapped around her gift in place of the ribbon that she’d given me. Even though I’d planned from the beginning for her to notice it, I’d been a little nervous when she picked up the ribbon of her own accord. But as I’d hoped, the ribbon looked adorable on her. I was so glad I’d drummed up the courage.
Reflecting on the happiness Lucia had given me, I found myself thinking, What do I do? I’m almost too happy. I feel like I’m going to pay for it in the future, somehow.
...Which led me to the present moment. Because apparently, my worries had been on target.
“I’m sick of this! I don’t want to see your faces anymore! Stay away from Ed and Celes, you!”
“But, Sacred Maiden, that wasn’t our intent at all! We just wanted to see if His Highness wished for a change of clothes, and if Sir Celestino would like the fraying in his uniform mended...”
“What, so I’m supposed to stay quiet while you go cozying up to them!? Oh, you’re all eyesores! We had an agreement! I save your world, and you make sure I live in comfort! I agreed to give up on going home and save you lot, so be grateful and stop making me uncomfortable!”
We’d completed the rituals praying for victory and set out for the Cristallo Sacro, but the purification expedition was already falling apart.
The culprits were the black-haired girl shrieking at the attendants, and, unfortunately, His Highness the crown prince.
Prince Edoardo was so infatuated with the Sacred Maiden, he humored her tantrums as charming willfulness. Not only did he humor her, he went out of his way to grant her whatever she wanted. Even now, Prince Edoardo was speaking with Commander Agliardi about something. Almost certainly, it was about the attendants. Poor things. They hadn’t actually done anything wrong.
Still. Did His Highness have a fondness for pushy women, then? Honestly, just watching her verbally lay into people was scary enough. Personally, I would never be able to handle her.
For His Highness to see the Sacred Maiden as charming, he had to be a truly tolerant person. I suppose that was our crown prince for you. Just to emphasize again, that was far beyond me.
So of course, once she’d railed at the attendants, the Sacred Maiden came straight to my side.
“Celes, why don’t you come over here? I’ll sew that for you. I might not look like it, but I’m very good at sewing.” She stared up through her lashes with large, glistening eyes, not a trace of her earlier menace to be seen. She looked sweet and charming, someone to be protected at all costs.
She clearly knew exactly what her weapons were, and wasn’t afraid to show them. I had to fight the urge to back away. I was out of my depth when it came to two-faced women like this.
“You are Prince Edoardo’s fiancée, my lady. It would be inappropriate for me to approach you. The fraying doesn’t concern me, so...”