episode_0217

“You… weren’t you supposed to go back to Tailden?”

Marie merely maintained the same smile, offering no reply.

It was early summer when I gave Marie money to board a ship, just before I entered the royal palace. The fact that she was still here after such a long time meant…

“You didn’t go back.”

“…No.”

Until now, Marie had followed all my words without complaint.

There was only one time she had pleaded with me, holding my arm, asking me not to go to the royal palace. Yet, even then, Marie ultimately followed my will.

However, she did not obey my final command: ‘Go back to Tailden.’

It was the first time she had defied me.

So, if you ask if I felt unpleasant about it—

“It’s good to see you, Marie.”

No.

On the contrary, my heart pounded.

An irrepressible joy welled up, and a smile formed on its own.

It was as if I, too, was truly seeing Marie for the first time.

“What about the Doctor-nim? I sent them to meet you and board a ship.”

“I met with Doctor-nim safely. But neither I, nor Doctor-nim… wanted to go to Tailden.”

“Because of me?”

“Yes.”

When I was confined in prison and regained my composure, I often had such thoughts.

That I had been too focused on ‘myself’ during that time—and hadn’t paid careful attention to those around me.

What kind of feelings made Marie follow me?

Wasn’t it difficult for her to leave her hometown and follow me to this unfamiliar land?

Despite that, how could she never utter a single word of complaint to me?

As I pondered these thoughts, only one feeling arose.

“…I’m sorry.”

I should have looked Marie straight in the eye as I said it.

Pathetically, I still lacked the courage to do so, and could only turn my head away to apologize.

“I know mere words like these aren’t enough for forgiveness… but I’m truly sorry.”

Had it not pleased her after all? Marie remained silent.

I forced myself to turn my head and met Marie’s gaze. Without any change, she blinked, maintaining the same smile she had before.

“What?”

“I mean, I feel like I’ve put you through too much. That’s why I’m apologizing.”

“Ah…”

Marie, who had pursed her lips in thought, smiled again and spoke.

“It is difficult.”

“Hm?”

“When I work hard to make food and a customer isn’t eating it…”

“Ah.”

Only then did I notice the vegetable egg stir-fry placed before me.

“Sorry!”

I ate it quickly, and it was truly delicious.

And I realized that Marie was just as good a cook as Tia.

*** * ***

After finishing the meal, I asked for the shop owner’s understanding and took Marie outside.

Since she was working temporarily for money, she was able to finish her duties easily.

Marie and I walked through the city streets, and I listened to the stories of what had happened until now.

Marie and the royal physician ultimately decided not to board the ship and remained in Deseo.

The next morning, the entire city was abuzz with the news of the queen’s assassination attempt.

Marie, who had followed me and witnessed the entire incident, asked the royal physician for a favor.

‘Please return to the medical center now and meet with Tia Unnie.’

The royal physician immediately returned to the medical center and narrowly saved Fosao’s life.

The healing technique she used on Fosao was the very same one that had saved me when I was dying after a bear attack.

For her merit in saving the national consort, who was called a ‘hero,’ she was reinstated as the chief physician of the medical center. Thanks to the great honor she received, a meeting with the queen was naturally arranged.

From the beginning, Marie had aimed for that opportunity and sent the royal physician back to the medical center.

Although she managed to meet Tia again with such difficulty.

By then, the queen already knew everything.

To borrow Marie’s expression—she knew so much that her face seemed to know everything Marie wanted just by meeting her eyes.

‘Ritsu is fine.’

With that single remark, Tia eased Marie’s worries.

Perhaps it was because Marie had learned so much from Tia since she was young. They could understand each other’s hearts just from their expressions, gestures, and voices, and so not many words passed between the two of them.

However, Tia, who knew everything, that queen who seemed to have no more questions to ask—

She asked a simple question when bidding Marie farewell.

‘What’s it like… adventuring with Ritsu?’

That was probably.

Because it was an experience only Marie had, something that could never be uncovered even if one acquired my memories and all the surrounding memories.

Perhaps she wanted to hear, from Marie’s own lips, what she herself could not experience.

“Did you answer Tia’s question?”

“Yes.”

“What did you say?”

“That… umm—.”

Marie turned her hand behind her back, as if embarrassed.

“I’ll keep it a secret.”

“Huh, what? You’re not going to tell me?”

“Hehe… You’ll find out later.”

The girl smiled.

With eyes shining like those that once gazed upon the beautiful fields of Breezedawn.

Seeing that smile, I felt that I no longer had anything to worry about.

That thought came to me.

“Oh—look over there! That’s the Robert family mansion!”

Marie suddenly pointed to one side.

As we chatted, we seemed to have entered the noble district without realizing it.

“It’s big.”

I had never come here myself, but a faint memory of Tia having visited this place long ago allowed me to realize.

That the mansion looked completely different now than it did back then.

A family crest depicting a white wolf fluttered, and the garden was filled with beautiful white and red flowers. Perhaps it was the training time for their subordinate soldiers, as the clatter of wooden swords and occasional shouts of kiai could be faintly heard.

More than that, what caught our attention were the noble carriages lined up long in front of the main gate. Was a banquet being held? It didn’t particularly look like one.

The strange sight of young ladies strolling through the garden with bored expressions, diligently followed by maids, definitely seemed to require an explanation.

Marie said.

“I heard that it used to be a small family. But now it has become the most powerful family. Tia Unnie played the biggest role in her becoming queen.”

“That’s right. He’s a good person. An excellent knight. But there are a lot of young ladies here.”

“I heard there are a lot of marriage proposals these days. But it doesn’t seem to be working out. While I was working at the shop, I also heard talk that perhaps the woman Robert likes might not exist in this world.”

“Haha… probably so.”

Although he hasn’t found his match yet, he will still be happy.

Because he is diligently serving the woman he most respects.

Next, we went to the southern port.

The warehouse of the rare goods merchant, who used to sell all sorts of strange items, was currently being used by someone else. Marie said she hadn’t heard any news of what became of him afterward.

For someone who introduced himself as a big shot in Deseo, his departure was truly quiet and uneventful.

Indeed, honor built on money felt just as fleeting.

We also went to the nearby market. Its vibrancy remained. There were many foreigners, and all sorts of unfamiliar goods.

Marie, who had been a teacher in Deseo, was quite the opposite here. Perhaps it was because she was curious. She couldn’t easily pass things by and would ask me what they were. Each time, I took my time to explain. Interestingly, what Marie was curious about was similar to what Tia was curious about. So, I could easily answer.

As we walked out of the market outskirts and along the pharmacy street.

A desperate voice was heard from a little distance away.

“Please… Cough cough! I’ll definitely repay you by tomorrow, so…”

A man, dry coughing, was begging the pharmacy owner.

“This is troublesome.”

“I couldn’t go to work yesterday because of my cold. Cough! Once I get better, I can work again. I’ll repay you immediately once I get my daily wage. Please…”

This place still required a lot of money. If you had money, most things were easily possible. You could live in a good house, eat delicious food, and get well even if you were sick.

Now, I no longer questioned that way of life. Perhaps we, too, were slowly becoming people of Deseo.

Marie took a step forward.

“I’ll go help them.”

“No, wait a moment.”

The moment I extended my arm to block Marie’s path.

The pharmacist, who had been frowning in distress, let out a deep sigh.

“Haa—alright. Take the medicine as is for now, and please repay me tomorrow as promised.”

“Thank you! Thank you, Teacher-nim!”

I turned my head to the side and smiled slightly. Marie, too, wore a slightly surprised expression before smiling along with me.

Still, this city was changing little by little, very little by little.

One year ago. What did Tia think on this street?

Sitting on the bare ground with nothing, empty-handed, watching the rising moon. Did she resolve to change this cold Deseo?

If so… are these subtly changing scenes the world she dreamed of?

I couldn’t say for sure. But one thing was certain.

Tia was still on an adventure.

A difficult and long adventure… to create the world she desired.

*** * ***

That night.

It was while I was comfortably resting, staying at Marie’s lodging.

“It looks like they’re doing something outside.”

She squatted by the window and pointed outside.

“What are they doing?”

“It looks like a festival.”

“A festival?”

I got up from my seat and approached Marie’s back. When I leaned down to look out the window, the city’s night streets were truly bustling with people.

Such a thing was rare. Deseo usually became quiet at night.

A festival in Deseo. Only one thing came to mind.

“Is it the Autumn Festival?”

“Autumn Festival?”

“Ah, but that was around late November. It’s October now, so the timing isn’t right.”

“Do they hold festivals a month early?”

“No, usually not.”

Marie again looked out the window in silence.

Though she didn’t explicitly show it, her eyes clearly conveyed a great curiosity about the people dancing and playing outside.

“Why don’t we go out and take a look?”

It seemed she had been waiting for these words. Marie’s eyes widened.

“I’m fine. You should rest comfortably here.”

“No. Actually, I’m curious about what kind of festival it is too. Let’s go out together. Is that alright?”

Only then did Marie shyly nod her head.

“…Yes. That would be nice.”

And so, we went outside.

Once we were directly on the street, we saw that preparations for the festival were in full swing. It seemed these people had a fixed way of doing things whenever there was an exciting event; they naturally sold food and enjoyed games.

When we asked passersby what was happening, they replied as if astonished that we didn’t know.

“Haven’t you heard the news that Her Majesty the Queen’s childbirth is imminent?”

The news was that she had been experiencing strong labor pains since noon, and by evening, the signs were unusual, so all the medical center doctors had entered the royal palace.

“Finally, the succession of the Likene dynasty will continue again; how can this not be a joyous occasion?”

The commoners of Deseo didn’t scrutinize Tia’s past as strictly as the nobles did.

It was simply that ‘Queen Tia’ was the direct descendant of the Likene line, which had been thought to be broken. And it was nothing but the greatest fortune that, by giving birth, she would continue that lineage.

“Thus, we enjoy this festival, wishing for Her Majesty the Queen’s safe delivery. We even place bets with drinks on whether a prince or a princess will be born! The answer will be announced by the fireworks rising from that red castle. How about it, will you two place a bet?”

“No. We’re going home now.”

Marie urgently waved her hand. Looking at me the moment she heard the meaning of the festival, she seemed worried that I might feel uncomfortable.

I put my hand in my pocket. Fortunately, I had some change left from lunch.

Clink.

I held out a silver coin to him.

“A wise princess will appear.”

“Oh-ho! Indeed! Look forward to seeing whether this fireworks display will be blue or red!”

The bettor, having received the silver coin, walked to the other side to gather more people.

As he disappeared, Marie called out to me.

“Ritsu Oppa.”

“Hm.”

“Are you… alright?”

“I’m fine. I’m not bothered at all.”

I stroked her head.

“You just enjoy the festival happily. That’s more important to me right now.”

Even in Tailden, there were celebrations called festivals, but they were ant-sized in comparison to this. So, for Marie, this was her first experience of such a grand festival.

At this moment, when everyone should be joyous and reveling, I didn’t want to give her any unnecessary experiences.

And… I truly wasn’t bothered at all.

No, rather, I was wishing for the same thing as the people of Deseo celebrating this festival.

That Tia would be safe.