Chapter 152 (1/2)

Volume 2

Chapter 131

「…so the magic warrior that defeated that evil magic bear lived with the childhood friend, a girl, and they lived happily ever after. The end.」

「What? The end? Miss Lucia, read it again…」

「No, that’s all for today. If you don’t sleep now, you won’t be able to wake up tomorrow. You need to be ready to celebrate my marriage.」

I said to the village girl as I finished reading the book and closed it with a clomp.

「Hey, hey…why did the warrior not choose the princess? He could have been king? Kings are good, right?」

「You’re right. But he loved his childhood friend. More than anyone and anything. The power of love is strong, no matter what tragedies you see, it has the power to overcome all. Just like Keril and I…」

I covered her in her bed and blew out the candle.

After rubbing her arms over the covers a bit, I could hear her sleeping soundly.

Tomorrow is my marriage.

I thought that Keril would have arrived in the village yesterday, but there was news that he had some trouble and would be a little late. He would arrive tomorrow with Woojes and Katrea, who were set to arrive today.

It was normal that Keril would run into trouble, but I wish he would take care of himself on days like this. If he would, we could have a few days to act more like lovers before the occasion than just a marrying couple.

「Hee hee, Right. Keril and I are finally marrying soon.」

Keril and the marriage.

It’s a day that I’ve always looked forwards to.

So that Keril would look out for me.

So that Keril would let me do what I want.

So that Keril would love me more than anything.

Cooking dinners for Keril, getting dressed up for Keril.

Doing my best, best, best.

Working my hardest, learning magic, finding an ally through marriage.

Getting over many enemies that looked to tear up our relationship.

No matter what, Keril would always trust me.

With that in mind, I’d be willing to do anything.

There was only one childhood friend with the power to stop that, and since I chased her away long ago, she must be dead.

That time, the adults had hidden it from us children, but I knew that her and her mother were sold away as slaves.

No one’s going to get between Keril and I.

(Wake up early tomorrow, and make a pie full of different fruits. Keril will be happy.)

On that snowy day, a pie just like then, when I chased that bothersome magic girl away.

Thinking of the happy future that I would give Keril, I would do anything, ANYTHING to keep it.

(Hee hee hee, I wonder if tomorrow won’t come quicker.)

I would get that happy red fruit, tomorrow.

The next day, the snow that had been falling since yesterday afternoon stopped, and the clear sunny sky shown down on the snowy landscape.

In that icy wonderland, it felt good to feel that fuzzy step of collected snow under my instep.

I awoke early to cook a pie, but I woke far earlier than I expected. That’s why I decided to waste some time sentimentally, and walk around the village while I thought over the memories that I had with Keril.

I ran to the open grounds and looked at the empty house that we used to play hide and seek in, and the church we made our promise.

Today’s wedding will be in that church as well.

I guess right about now the village father that will wed us will be waking up.

I opened up the church to its main hall.

No one was there, and the hall was filled with silence.

In front of the altar, I took a minute to pray.

「God, thank you. Please make Keril and I happy. Please watch over us from today onwards.」

Then, behind me I heard a creaking of an opening door.

An old, kind man with a large white beard entered.

「Oh, Lucia. Have you awoken early to pray?」

「Father. Good morning. I woke early so I decided to say my thanks to God.」

「I see, I see, well the good Lord is watching over you Lucia. You’ll be fine, both you and Keril will find happiness together.」

The old man smiled at me.

His smile was filled with grace and warmth.

My mind was filled with an image of the village coming together to wish happiness for us.

「Yes, father. I…I will find happiness.」

「Yes, yes, good. I’ve been praying for it from long ago. Even in that foolishness with those beast-humans coming here to the village, I noticed it. I couldn’t help you from being bullied by that beast-child, so to see you two finally be so happy, I, AGH!!」

Drip, drip…someone’s blood fell.

「Well, seems you’ve awoken early again, father. You’re in my way though, so could you?」

「Whaa? What the…?!」

I was so shocked I couldn’t move, because in front of me, squish, the sound of a fruit being sliced arose, as a blood-covered sword was pulled from the father’s belly.

「Nahhggg…ugh…uh..B…blood…oww…help…」

「Stop exaggerating. Your heart and large vessels haven’t been cut. You won’t die soon.」

「Ughh…」

A woman appeared before me, and she smiled calmly, as if she was a long time friend.

She suddenly kicked the injured father onto the ground.

「Ah…ah…I don’t want to…die…」

「You’re fine. God is watching, right? That’s why you’ll be happy, right?」

He put his hand into the hole in his stomach and cowered.

Seeing all of this happen made my mind go blank.

「Right? Lucia, what do you think? If a God that’s watching me does nothing, he can’t give anyone happiness. Don’t you think the same?」

「M…Minnalis, is that you?」

Beige hair and eyes, and those long rabbit ears.

With her alluring smile, her thin arms and womanly body, covered in a maid’s uniform.