7. Thanks

I spent another three days after that making Sky Lily seeds without tiring myself out. Since their seeds multiplied after blooming, unlike their Blue Lily cousins, I was told that I didn’t have to make that many. And so it went by faster than it would have otherwise.

While I was busy making seeds, the former Emperor Lord Bearsley’s questioning had finished. It seemed he might have been negatively affected by the miasma. According to him, the moment the Spirit Tree cutting was planted, it was as if a fog lifted. When questioned, he readily told them everything that happened since he became Emperor, leaving nothing out. He also said that the fake fortune teller had been the one to tell him he should steal the cutting, saying that he’d get preferential treatment in other countries because of it.

We still had no idea where the fake fortune teller had gone afterwards. From the man’s personality, Lord Royz guessed that he might have already left the capital and headed outside the country.

«We have no idea what a weirdo like that may do, so please be careful,» Rene said, nuzzling me.

“So I’ve planted the cutting and made lots of Sky Lily seeds. Is there anything else?” I asked Lord Glen, only for him to shake his head.

“We can head back to Chronowize soon.”

“Alright,” I replied with a nod.

It would take years for all of the miasma in the Radzuel Empire to be absorbed by the flowers. I would have liked to see it happen, but I could come back to Radzuel’s capital via the tree to see it after returning home.

“Can you make a little time for me once we get back to the Royal Research Institute?” he asked, looking kind of meek.

I nodded again, not seeing any reason to refuse, and he gave me a happy smile, different from his usual one. For some reason, it made my heart squeeze painfully.

I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to know what he wanted to talk about immediately, so I asked, “Can we talk now instead?”

While he started thinking of how to answer, Miss Micah came to the guest room to lead us to the parlor.

＋＋＋

When we arrived, Lord Royz, the deer-eared official, and the rabbit-eared official were all there, greeting us with smiles.

“I wanted to thank you again,” Lord Royz said, standing as Lord Glen and I sat on the sofa. The officials stood at the same time. “I thank you for planting the Spirit Tree cutting for the Radzuel Empire.”

All of the men bowed to us.

“Our countries will have to discuss reparations for Chronowize sending their research fellow at a later time, and I will give what is best. But other than that, I would like to thank Lady Chelsea personally as well.”

Not knowing what I should do, I looked over at Lord Glen for help, but he just smiled gently at me.

“So? What would you like?” Lord Royz asked with a grin, sitting directly in front of me.

I had nothing I wanted. I’d already been taken from the barony and given food, clothing, and a place to live. Since I’d become a research fellow, I didn’t need a place to work or money, either.

As I sat there worrying about how to answer, Ele hopped up onto my shoulder in his kitten form. «Lady Chelsea frequently overuses her mana and faints. Would you have any items that could increase her mana pool?»

Does something that handy actually exist?! I looked around at the others in shock, but they were all seemingly racking their brains. That probably meant that it didn’t...

After thinking for a while, Lord Royz plopped his fist on his other palm. “I’ll give you Micah, then!”

“What?!” Miss Micah isn’t a thing... How can you ‘give’ me her?

While I worried, Lord Royz looked at me with a devilishly daring smirk on his face. “Micah’s a great chef, so she should be great for increasing your mana pool too, right?”

I thought back to when we ate her cooking to celebrate Lord Royz’s recovery. It was incredibly delicious, and I had thought it would help my mana pool...

“I love Chelsea, and I’ve wanted to try foreign food, so this’d be great~! I’d love to go with you~!” Miss Micah said, sitting down right beside me and meeting my gaze. She seemed worried, since her tail was all puffed up.

“Miss Micah isn’t a thing, so I can’t accept her as a gift. But if she would come along as a chef, I’d be very happy,” I replied, only to get a gentle pat on the head from Lord Glen.

“Yay~! I’ve been sick of taking care of Lord Royz~! If I’m gonna serve anyone, I want it to be a cute girl~!” The foxwoman raised both of her hands, cheering.

Lord Royz had a very odd look on his face when she said that. It was angry, sad, annoyed, happy... A myriad of emotions packed into a smile.

“I’m kid-ding! I had to get back at you for treating me like a thing to give~!” she said, sticking her tongue out and laughing. Everyone else laughed, too.

＋＋＋

After our talks had finished and I’d returned to my guest room; the Fire Spirit Rene came to me in her bright red bird form. The only other people around were the guardian knights. Ele was over in Lord Glen’s room.

«I’ve got something I must tell you, Lady Chelsea.»

“What’s wrong?” I asked, confused.

Rene lifted one of her wings and gestured towards the bracelet on my wrist. «The Spirits in charge of your personal storage room are upset that you haven’t asked for their help.»

Thinking back, I hadn’t used it once since being told how it worked and put my bag of cookies inside.

“Ah... I’m sorry.”

«They don’t want you to apologize. They’d just like for you to use it,» the Spirit said, bringing out paper and a pen. «Seeing as how it must be difficult for you to think of physical things to put inside, I’ve thought up an alternate usage method. Please correspond with me.»

“Corre...spond?”

«I’ll give the Spirits in charge of your storage room letters for you from myself. I’d like for you to read them and send me letters back.»

“So it’s just writing letters?”

«Yes.»

Though I read, I hadn’t had many chances to actually write anything myself. Since my blueprints were basically the only thing I wrote out, I really wanted to try letters!

“Um... Is it okay if my handwriting is messy?”

«You can use your letters to practice.»

“Okay. I’ll write you letters, then.”

Hearing my response, Rene started spreading her wings happily, but held herself back once she realized. Had she spread them fully, the vase next to us would’ve definitely been broken...

«If you find yourself too busy to send any letters, you can leave a message for the Spirits. Please, do so.»

After that, she told me about how I could send items through my bracelet, or give the Spirits things as gifts. There’s all kinds of things I didn’t know about this...

«You may also use the Spirit Trees to travel to the Spirit World.»

“Really?”

She gave a small sigh when I asked. «Lord Element really should have been the one to explain things like this to you... He’s such a typical, useless man,» she murmured, lowering her tone. «By going to the Spirit World, you can travel between Spirit Trees. You would be able to go from Radzuel to Chronowize in an instant.»

I’d heard Ele talk about that before, but no one mentioned that I could do that, so I wasn’t sure what I should do... Seeing my worried expression, Rene shook her head.

«I’m not asking you to force yourself to use it. I’d just like for you to remember that if there is ever a time you’re forced to evacuate Chronowize, you can escape to Radzuel.»

Understanding that she was just worried about my safety, I nodded.