When I met Lucia again, I discovered she was a sweet, sunny, optimistic girl. There was nothing extravagant about her looks or behavior, and she had a warm, gentle air that made me relax when I was with her.
I wanted to get to know her as Celestino, not “the Dragonslayer,” so I only introduced myself with my nickname, Celes. I did wonder if even that would give me away, but I wanted her to call me by my name, not a made-up one. Lucia, with her innocent honesty, didn’t make the connection between “Celes” and Celestino Clementi, and just gave me the same warm smile that she had before.
Being with her seemed to wash away all my weariness. Unlike the noisy crowds of noble ladies in the palace who were drawn by my rank or looks, Lucia simply cared about me. Her kind words were like pure water soaking into my heart.
At first, she’d been carefully formal, due to my status as a knight. But I managed to ease her concerns, until we were close enough that when the weather was clear, we would spend our lunchtimes together. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
Apparently, her mother had died sometime after we met. Left without any other living relatives, Lucia had sold her childhood home to pay back the debts she’d incurred caring for her mother, and come to the castle to work as a laundrymaid.
“I’m so lucky! I mean, I managed to get a position as a live-in laundrymaid. And in the castle, no less! Isn’t that amazing?” Lucia laughed.
There wasn’t even a hint of shadow in her smile. She was honestly rejoicing in her good fortune, so much that to my eyes she practically glowed with it. Even though her mother had died, and she’d lost her old life in order to pay back her debts, Lucia never looked back. Would I have been able to smile like that, in her position? I doubted it.
“I just love these clear days. The laundry dries well, and I get to spend time with you, Sir Celes.”
I don’t think there’s a man in the world who wouldn’t fall in love if the person he was interested in said something so sweet to him.
Yes. I was in love with Lucia.
When I was with her, I could just be myself. Not “Captain Celestino Clementi,” but just “Celes.”
People were often misled by my flashy good looks. But on the inside, I was a regular, boring person, really. I didn’t have any great interests, or special talents. I was a regular knight from a family of commoners: good with a sword, handy with magic, strong, but no more than that.
Ever since I’d killed that dragon and gotten saddled with the title “Dragonslayer,” it had gotten even worse.
I’d gotten so tired of wearing the mask of someone who had it all together — as the commander of the Third Regiment, and as a knight who protected the kingdom and its people. People who treated me like a normal person, people like Lucia, were hard to come by.
The days when I hadn’t even cared if it was cloudy or clear were over. Now I was simply a fool in love, waiting impatiently for the sun to shine.
Then my happy bubble burst when Sir Agliardi pulled me aside one day.
Knight Commander Fernando Agliardi was the leader of all the knights of Banfield, and a man I deeply respected. The king and crown prince apparently both thought very highly of him as well, and frequently had him at their side.
“Captain Clementi, I imagine you’ve heard about the purification expedition?” he asked.
I had heard that not long ago, the five kingdoms and the mages of the Academy had worked together to summon the Sacred Maiden from another world. Until now, the maiden — Maria — had been cloistered in the Academy, learning about our world and training to control her purifying light.
“She’ll be setting out soon,” Commander Agliardi told me. “This is still confidential information, but it appears that you, I, Lord Reynard, and a mage from the Academy will be her primary escorts.”
“Me, sir?”
“Well, naturally the Dragonslayer is needed in the party. Both for your combat skills, and as a symbol.”
In that moment, the only thing that went through my head was, But then I won’t be able to see Lucia. I really had become a fool for love.
Commander Agliardi continued, “It appears they’re running into some problems choosing attendants for the Sacred Maiden, but the plan is to make the announcement in three days at the latest. We’ll set out half a month after that. Good?”
I could hardly say no. The world needed this purification. It was only a matter of time before monsters attacked the kingdom of Banfield directly. And if the monster in question were a dragon, I didn’t think that our still-recovering knights and the Academy would be able to hold out.
If I wanted a future with Lucia, then I had to fight for it.
When I realized I would be leaving Lucia, I thought of giving her a gift. But, I’d never given anything to a woman before. I couldn’t think of anything to give her. What would be appropriate? Jewelry or something?
As I mulled the problem over in the regimental office, someone behind me cried, “You don’t give jewelry to a woman you’re not actively courting!”
I jumped, wondering if I’d accidentally spoken out loud — but apparently the words weren’t directed at me.
“That’s what hand cream is for, my good fellow!” the speaker continued.
“Wait, hand cream? Not perfume?”
The conversation was between two members of my regiment. The fellow recommending the hand cream was Fedele Blitz, to a skeptical Jeremiah Ascari. They were both veterans of the regiment, who had participated in the dragon hunt a year ago.
“Lily Blitz’s hand creams are very popular with the ladies! Surely you know that, Jeremiah?”
“Oi, Fedele. I’m single, I don’t even have a girlfriend. How would I know what people think of a shop like that?”
“Ah, truly a tragic story. Poor thing.”
“What was that!?” Stung, Ascari started up out of his chair.
Blitz held up a hand to stop him. “Now then, ladies have preferences when it comes to jewelry and perfume! But with the hand cream, even if the scent isn’t perfect, they still have something practical to use. In other words, you won’t accidentally give her something she doesn’t like. You see my point?”
“How’s that different from perfume? They’re both smelly,” Ascari asked.
“But they’re not the same,” Blitz corrected. “A perfume should surround a person, to let them make a stronger impression, yes? A hand cream’s scent is much fainter. It’s meant to relax the person using it, to improve their mood, to smooth their skin. In short, it makes a lovely gift!”
He was right! Lucia was a laundrymaid. Given how hard her job was on her hands, hand cream would be the perfect gift for her.
Lily Blitz, was it? That’s right, Blitz is from a merchant family. They run that store. Still reviewing my knowledge of my subordinates in my head, I stealthily continued to eavesdrop on their conversation.