After that, we talked a lot about what was going to happen next, like my wedding to Sir Celes. We also talked about how Miss Maria was going to return home, and might be able to come back afterwards.
Horrifyingly, I learned that they weren’t sure if they could send her back to the same time she was summoned from. Eric said that according to legends and magic circles left in Vatis and the Remora Temple, she should theoretically return to the same time, but there was no way to be sure. The fact that she’d not only been summoned against her will, but had no certainty she could even return properly floored me. Having heard all of this while I was gone, though, Miss Maria just quietly smiled at me.
“I know. It’s okay.”
“Miss Maria...” I said, sadly.
“And you’re still going to try to go home, Sacred Maiden?” Sir Celes asked. Miss Maria gave him a firm nod in response.
“I’m going home. And then, I’ll come back on my own terms. It’ll be fine. Shiro is with me. He wouldn’t do anything that would hurt me.”
“Hey, I helped out too! I drew out a magic circle that’ll definitely bring her back! She’ll come straight back to Arldat Castle when she uses it!” Eric said proudly, puffing his chest out.
When I asked if she was alright with that, she replied, “Yes, since I can come back here, I want to try. I want to come here by my own will, not just because I was forced. So this is just me being selfish.”
She held my hand, giving me her usual cheerful smile. I knew she was trying to cheer me up, but I just couldn’t smile back.
“It’ll be fine! I trust Eri-kun. Just like Celes is your place to return to, this is mine. I decided it — I chose. I’m going to live with you and Ed here of my own free will, not anyone else’s. But I just want to go home once to say goodbye to my parents. I need a fresh start. I don’t wanna stay here like this.”
“I’ll wait however long it takes. I wish I could go bring you back myself, though, like Celestino did,” His Majesty sighed.
“I’m not asking for much. Just that you don’t marry anyone else while I’m gone.”
“Maria, you’re my only Queen. I promised you, didn’t I?”
“Yeah. But I want to make absolutely sure. I’ll repeat it as many times as I can, just to make sure it sticks.”
Sir Gaius burst out laughing at King Edoardo and Miss Maria’s flirting. That set everyone else off, filling the room with laughter.
✦ ✦ ✦
After our talk, we moved to the rooms prepared for us. I was staying in Miss Maria’s room, as per her request.
“Now then, I think it’s time I head on home. You get some rest, little lady. Relax and treat the castle like your home.”
“Thanks for everything, Gaius.”
“Thank you for coming to get me. Tell your wife I said thank you!”
Sir Gaius picked up his bags and ruffled both my and Sir Celes’s hair before heading home with a smile. I watched him go as I thought about our promise to go meet his wife a few days later.
“I’m gonna head back to my lab at the academy!”
“I’ll be returning to my office, too. Miss Lucia, I’m really so sorry about everything. Take it easy until your wedding.”
“I have work left, so I’ll be heading back as well. I’ll come see you again later, Miss Lucia. Please get some rest.”
And with that, everyone left one by one.
“Lucia, I’m going to head back to my office for now. There are things that need doing if I’m going to quit, and I want to thank everyone for taking care of things while I was away.”
“Okay. Si— Celes, you must be tired too, so don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I know. I’ll pop in to see you when I can. Once I can get some time off, we need to go look at proper bracelets.”
Sir Celes reluctantly picked up his things. I was a bit sad to see him leave, but this wouldn’t be the last time we saw each other, so I would be fine.
“You just leave Lucia to me and do what you need to do. You got to hog her all through your journey, so it’s my turn now!”
Sir Celes gave Miss Maria a strained smile as she clung to me, lowering his head quietly.