c4 (1/2)
Lucia, Bidding Celes Farewell
“And so, when will you depart?”
When I asked that, Sir Celes sighed before answering me.
“In half a month……. From now on I’ll be busy with the preparations so I won’t be able to come anymore. My apologies.”
Looking dispirited, the cool handsome guy somehow turned into a cute handsome guy.
Regardless of what expression he has, he won’t change from being a handsome guy. Sir Celes is kind of amazing that way. Whatever he does, he’s still a handsome guy. No matter how hard I try, it’s an impossible task for me to be like that.
However, seeing him so downhearted, is it alright for me to a.s.sume that Sir Celes also looks forward to meeting at this time? Am I……not the only one looking forward to it?
If that’s the case, I’m really happy. Really very happy.
Truthfully, to not be able to meet anymore is lonely. After all, I’m always looking forward to this time everyday.
“How long will it take?”
“Well……it is the protection duty of Her Holiness while she embarks on her purification journey. The closest Heavenly Crystal Tree will take 1 week by horse, but to accompany Her Holiness who has ridden neither horse nor horse carriage before, I’m not sure how it will turn out……”
The transportation methods in this world, is either by walking or by horse, otherwise it’s the horse carriage.
In this 100 years where monsters are widespread, the number of horsedrawn carriages in the city have decreased, and civilian horsedrawn carriages have even ceased operations.
However, there are now horsedrawn carriages operated by the country as a replacement. Even though the number is small, people are now mainly transported by caravans or the country’s horse carriages.
The country’s horse carriages are protected by a magic gem made by the Academia’s students and even guarded by soldiers. They connect the various cities together. When I came to the Royal City (Al Tado) from Hathawes, I also used the national horsedrawn carriages.
For the Royalty and n.o.bility, they have their own horse carriages protected by employed guards, which is far beyond the likes of us common folk.
Putting that aside, for Her Holiness who came from the other world, to think that she has never rode on a horse carriage before.
Was it a lifestyle that required no travelling, or was it that the other world had transportation methods other than the horse carriage?
Although I will have no chance to meet with Her Holiness, I’d like to ask her if we ever get to meet. Well, it’s not like it’s something that a commoner like me can freely ask such a person though.
“It’s to be announced tomorrow but, His Highness the Crown Prince will also be joining the journey. So, although we will be travelling via horse carriage, we won’t be able to cover much distance daily. Half a year, or 1 year……I believe I will be away from the Royal City (here) for a fairly long time.”
“For that long!?”
“Yeah……although I wish to return quickly, the purification of the Heavenly Crystal Tree is important.”
1 year……although it feels like a long time to not be able to meet, thinking about it, the purification of the Heavenly Crystal Tree will settle the issue of rampant monsters and return the peace. To think that it will happen in about a year, that is actually quite a near future.
“May you be victorious. Sir Celes, please take care.”
After I said that, Sir Celes thumped his chest and nodded with a beautiful smile.
“Yeah, I’ll definitely return. And then, let’s meet here again.”
He left a promise that made me really happy.
****
“Welcome back, Lucia.”
At 1 in the afternoon, I returned to the laundry worker’s rest area and met up with my co-workers Mrs Kikka, Ms Rossera, and the twin sisters Ms Gina and Ms Gino.
Mrs Kikka handled the First Corps, Mrs Rossera the Second Corps and Ms Gina and Ms Gino handled the Third and Fourth Corps.
“Ah! Lil’ Lucie!”
“You had a different ribbon in the morning!”
Girls are perceptive to a girl’s change.
Ms Gina and Ms Gino are twin sisters 4 years older than me, and have looked out for me ever since I became the laundry woman for the Knight Order. Gentle and beautiful, they are like big sisters to me.
“What happened?”
“It’s unexpectedly cute! Lucie really fits pink.”
The two of them who had rounded to my back placed their hands on my shoulders and brought their faces closer to inspect from both sides.
“So, is this a present from your boyfriend?”
“Gah……! No! Such an outrageous thing!”
Boyfriend!
To be talked of in such a manner, my face turned red before I knew it.
No, even though it’s true that Sir Celes is a male, he’s not my boyfriend! It’s only a relation of spending time together alone in the afternoon!
“Lucie?”
“Fufufu, won’t you be honest with your big sisters? This, is from your afternoon boyfriend right?”
While I flailed in embarra.s.sment, Ms Gina and Ms Gino were snickering. Uuh, with my shoulders caught, I can’t escape even if I wanted to. Your cute faces are changing into villainous ones, Ms Gina, Ms Gino!
And from that direction, the more senior Mrs Kikka and Mrs Rossera looked over with interest. They’re not going to help me……
“Um, although it is true that it was given, there is no way that-!”
Moreover, this ribbon is from the Lily Brizzi store, even if it’s higher quality than most, it’s not a ribbon meant for the hair!