After seeing Miss Maria off, we just stood there for a few moments.
“Let’s get back. I’ll have this room sealed for when Maria returns. Until then, I’ll make the ideas she’s given me into reality. I’ll make the parliament work, survey each part of the country, and make it so that the people can live safely.” Looking resolute, His Majesty smiled and asked, “Would you all help me?”
Wanting to do anything I could to help, I quickly nodded, as the others spoke up in agreement.
“As you wish, my liege. I will dedicate all that I have,” Sir Agliardi responded with a bow.
“I will do everything in my power.” Lord Reynard bowed as well.
“As the new Lord of Blanca, I will have our region lead,” said Sir Celes.
“I’ll get the Academy to help!” chimed in Eric.
“Yep, I’ll do anything I can!” Sir Gaius exclaimed with a grin.
“I’ll do my best as well!”
Though we might be lonely without Miss Maria, we’d all have to do our part in order to greet her with a smile when she returned! My hands were small, and there was only so much I could do myself. But, even though I was weak, it didn’t mean I was powerless. I would start with what I must. If I did things one by one, I’d eventually get there. It might be tough, and it might hurt. But one day...
I smiled to myself as I resolved myself once again. I wasn’t alone. It wouldn’t be all unpleasant.
Now, let’s all work together to build our new world.
Even without magic that could grant wishes, even if we were each weak, one day, we’d all reach our goals. Everyone has a chance at becoming happy, after all.
✦ ✦ ✦
A few days after Miss Maria headed home, I was bundled up in traveling clothes once again, with Sir Celes by my side.
“I’m gonna miss ya,” Sir Gaius said with a sniffle.
“We aren’t going far. You can come visit us!”
“You bet. Now stay well, okay?”
As he ruffled my hair, Eric, who was also ready for the road, laughed. He was leaving for Kyriest after this to study the Cristallo Sacro.
“Lucia, Captain, take care of yourselves!”
“You too, Eric. Pay attention to your health. Don’t overdo anything!”
“I know, I know! I’ll tell you all about my studies next time I see you. I bet there’ll be lots of new things to discover. I’m so excited!”
He looked like he was ready to take off at a moment’s notice to go lose himself in his beloved research. When I asked him where the other Academy research team members were, he told me that they weren’t leaving for another two bells.
“I’m sorry for keeping you,” I smiled, apologetic.
“It’s fine. Saying bye to you is important too! See you later, Lucia!” Eric came close for a hug, but Sir Celes silently pushed him back. “Man, you’re so mean!”
“I told you not to hug her!”
“You let the bear pat her head, though!”
“That’s...different.”
“That’s favoritism! No fair!”
While the two bickered, I turned to say goodbye to Sir Agliardi and Lord Reynard.
“Miss Lucia... Or rather, it would be Madam Clementi now, wouldn’t it? Please, take care of yourself. If you need anything, I’ll come running.”
“Take care of yourself, and be happy. Thank you for everything.”
“Thank you both, and good luck with your work. I’ll be cheering you on. Ah, and please, make sure that letter gets to Mister Guido!”
“Of course. He should be returning sometime today, but it’s a pity that you’ll be missing each other,” Lord Reynard nodded, holding up the letter meant for Mister Guido.
“Celestino may be leaving a big hole to fill, but we’ll do what we can. The monsters are no more, and His Majesty has no plans to go to war with any other countries. We’ll have to rethink the state of the Knights,” said Sir Agliardi with a quiet smile from beside him.
“Yeah, I’m sick of wars. Now that it’s peaceful, I want my country to be one where everyone can laugh,” nodded King Edoardo, smiling happily. Both the silver bracelet and gold ring on his left hand shone in the light.
“We should get going, then,” Sir Celes spoke up, having finished arguing with Eric.
“Alright!”
It was finally time to leave!
Since we’d sent our luggage ahead, Sir Celes and I got up on his horse, just like we did during our journey. Though we had been told we could have a carriage prepared, we had decided to take his favorite horse, since it was easier for us.
“I think this is the first time I’m going to be leaving from the south gate,” I commented, looking up at the gate in front of us. I’d gone through the north one when I first left on our journey, and when I was taken, it hadn’t even been through a gate. This would be the first time I exited the city from this gate since I moved to Arldat. It felt kind of fresh!
“Fresh is good for a new journey, isn’t it?” Sir Gaius gave me another grin.
“Yes, it is!” I said, grinning right back.
Sir Celes hopped up to mount the horse. He was much better at it than I was.
“Bye, everyone!”
Seen off by all of our friends, we started our journey.
“Let’s head to Hasawes first,” Sir Celes murmured in my ear.
“Okay!”
Before us was the sky, the same color as Sir Celes’s eyes, and a straight road continuing as far as we could see.
“Sir Celes, let’s do our best to be happy!”
“I don’t need to do my best. I’m happy just being with you.”
“So am I!”
As I laughed happily, he dropped a kiss on my head. “That’s a promissory kiss. I wanted to kiss you on the lips, but that’s kinda hard on horseback.”
When I turned back to look at him in surprise, he had a mischievous smirk on his face. Ah, right! I need to watch out at times like this!
“Don’t do that in front of other people!”
“As you wish, my lovely wife.”
Slowly, we set off towards what would become our new home. All to be happy with the person I loved most.