Even after we returned home, Mizera seemed completely normal.
If anything, she might have been a little ‘too’ lively.
It still felt like she was forcing herself to act that way… and as I lay in bed thinking about it, I found it harder and harder to fall asleep.
「Ah… this isn’t working. There’s still the festival tomorrow, so I really need to sleep…」
Resigned, I sat up and headed for the kitchen.
When I can’t sleep, this is the usual remedy.
I warmed some milk, added egg yolk, vanilla, and honey, and stirred it all together into a simple milkshake.
After pouring it into a pot and storing it in my magic space, I planned to drink it back in my room, but as I entered the living room, a breeze came through the terrace window.
Thinking someone might be there, I peeked outside.
There, sitting on one of the folding chairs I’d made before, was a girl gazing out at the city lights.
「…Mizera?」
「Ah, milord?」
When I called out to her, she turned around, startled.
Her face looked a little red, perhaps from the glow of the city lights.
「What are you doing? Can’t sleep?」
「…Yeah. Just a little.」
「You’ll catch a cold out here.」
「I know…」
That was all she said before turning her gaze back toward the city. She shifted her chair slightly to make space for me to sit.
I sat down beside her, and together we looked out over the town.
Beyond the magically lit streets, I could still see clusters of orange light, seems the celebration hadn’t ended yet.
「The festival’s still going, huh…」
「Yeah. That’s the night part. The taverns are open till morning, apparently.」
「I see… Aren’t you going? Didn’t someone invite you?」
「…Who told you that?」
「Fufu, that’s a secret.」
Mizera laughed softly, and I couldn’t help but smile too.
I took out the pot from my magic space and poured her a cup of the warm milkshake.
「This works best when you can’t sleep. You’ll be out in no time after drinking it.」
「Thank you… it’s warm.」
Mizera cupped the drink in her hands, feeling the warmth before taking a small sip.
「It’s sweet and delicious.」
「Glad to hear it. I just made some for myself too.」
「‘Too’? So, you couldn’t sleep either, milord?」
「Ah… well, yeah.」
I tried to dodge the question as I sipped from my own cup.
The milkshake was still hot enough to burn my tongue, rich and creamy to the point of being almost too sweet.
「…Could it be that you’re worried about me?」
「…」
When I stayed silent, Mizera lowered her gaze.
「You’re so easy to read, milord. But really, I’m fine.」
「…You’re not forcing yourself, are you?」
After what happened today, it wouldn’t be strange if the wound in her heart had deepened.
Then Mizera, still looking down, stood up and walked over to the terrace railing. She set her cup on the handrail and turned toward me.
And the expression she showed was,
「You know, I feel like I’m finally moving forward.」
a radiant smile.
「Ever since you taught me alchemy, little by little, I’ve felt like I’m taking steps toward the future. Every time I talk to people in town or with adventurers, I can feel myself growing, even if just a little…..」
She lifted her hands toward the starry sky above.
「The world I knew used to be so small. I never imagined the world could be this bright, this fun. I never thought people could be… this kind, this wonderful.」
Then she slowly lowered her hands and tilted her head upward so that her expression was hidden from me.
「…When those men shouted at me, I was terrified. Shiro held my hand, but I was still so scared. My mind went blank, I couldn’t think at all… But then」
She lifted her face again, and smiled brightly.
「I saw you, milord. You looked a little scary, but I could see you coming toward me behind them. And when I did… somehow, I felt completely safe.」
Her smile glowed softly, touched by the warm orange lights of the city behind her.
「The people in town stood in front of me, forming a wall to protect me… I was so happy. They called me their companion. It made me realize that I’d been accepted, that all my effort had been worth it.」
「Yeah… I was happy too.」
「Mm. That’s why… thank you.」
「Thank me…? That’s something you earned yourself, Mizera. You don’t need to thank me for that.」
She was recognized because she had worked so hard.
It wasn’t something I’d done for her.
「No. Please let me say it. There are so many ‘thank-yous’ I want to tell you, milord.」
Mizera sat back down beside me, turned toward me, and gently took my hand in both of hers.
「Thank you for reaching out to me. Thank you for pushing me forward. Thank you for teaching me alchemy. Thank you for helping me meet so many people. Thank you for helping me grow, for believing in me, and… for making me happy.」
Each word of gratitude she spoke carried deep emotion and a gentle weight.
And I accepted every single one of them sincerely.
「I’m glad I met you. Thank you.」
Her final words of thanks came with a radiant smile.
I couldn’t help but be captivated by that sight, holding her words firmly in my heart.
「…No, thank you, for putting up with my selfishness.」
The moment I finished speaking, a stream of light surrounded both Mizera and me.
A magic circle had formed beneath our feet, with thick and thin strands of light spiraling upward toward the sky.
「Kya…!」
「What the hell is this…?!」
The lights rising into the heavens began to wrap around us, one by one, until they formed a single glowing sphere.
I pulled Mizera close, shielding her head, holding her tightly so I wouldn’t let go no matter what happened.
But soon, the sphere cracked and was absorbed into the magic circle below.
Then, the circle itself vanished.
「W-what was that just now…?」
「Mmm… mmmph, !」
「Ah, sorry! Are you okay?」
「Phaa… yes, I’m fine.」
It seemed I had hugged her too tightly.
Her face was flushed red, probably from lack of air.
Come to think of it, something like this had happened before too…
「…Could that just now have been…」
「Mizera?」
She opened her guild card.
And then….
「I knew it…」
「What is it?」
「That was a ‘Vow for Life’ (Only One).」
「Wha…」
A ‘Vow for Life’, that’s the one, right?!
For a half-elf, it’s the one time in their life when they choose the only person they can give their body and heart to…
Without meaning to, my gaze flicked from Mizera’s face down toward her body.
「H-hey, what are you thinking all of a sudden?」
「No, sorry. But… are you sure? About me…?」
「Why not? It happened by instinct. Or… do you not like frail, skinny girls like me?」
She wasn’t frail at all.
She had a lovely figure, a slender waist, and thanks to regular meals at home, she’d filled out nicely lately, but that wasn’t the point.
「Still… it’s a serious thing, isn’t it?」
「It’s fine. Besides, I wanted it to be you. It has to be you.」
…Hearing her say that…
Alright then. I’m a man. I’ll take responsibility like one.
I wrapped my arms around her back and held her tightly.
「W-wait, all of a sudden?! And for my first time to be outside like this…」
「I’ll make you happy. Just like I promised. From now on, always.」
That day, when Mizera had confided her past to me, I swore I would make her happy.
「…Yes. From now on as well, please take care of me, milord.」
「Yeah. Likewise.」
Mizera leaned gently against me, and together we gazed at the lights of the town.
「Ah, the milkshake… Hey, can I have a sip?」
「It’s right there, you know?」
「Yeah, but it’s too much trouble.」
「Now then, what am I going to do with this lazy girl?」
「How mean. You’re the one who said it’s not bad to rely on others, remember?」
「That was supposed to be for when you really have no other choice…」
「Well, this is one of those times. I don’t want to move away from here right now.」
With a soft smile, she gently took my arm and rested her head against it.
With that expression, there was no way I could say no.
Maybe I really am too soft… But tonight, just this once, I’ll grant her anything she wants.
「Sigh… Can you drink it yourself, milady? Or shall I feed it to you mouth-to-mouth?」
「Idiot.」
We both chuckled quietly, continuing our lighthearted talk.
About all that had happened, about people Mizera didn’t know.
About the hot spring we owned, and the rice porridge she loved so much.
Before long, she began to nod off, drifting in and out of sleep.
When she finally started breathing softly, I carried her in a princess hold back to her room, careful not to wake her.
「Good night, Mizera.」
「…Mmm. Milord…」
I couldn’t help but laugh at her sleep-talking.
Maybe, in her dreams, she was continuing from where we left off.
Well, we could always do that again anytime.
Anyway, tomorrow, or rather, later today, is the final day of the festival.
I guess I’ll get some sleep too.
I’ll probably sleep soundly tonight.
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