Lucia Observes Shiro

“It looks like we’ll be able to stop and stay in Eres tonight.” Inside the carriage, the prince murmured as he looked at the map.

“About when should we get there?”

“Hmm, sometime after noon, I think. After Eres, we’ll be crossing the mountains, so we won’t be staying at inns for a while.”

I glanced at the map, and he was right. After Admina and Eres, there were no villages to be seen. There was a mountain named Shnoh Mountain a ways off from Eres though, and on the other side was a larger town.

“Is there anywhere we can camp?” Miss Maria asked.

“There are plains at the base of the mountain. Why?” His Highness pointed his well-formed fingers at the spot on the map, with a confused look on his face.

“We’ve been going slowly because I was always whining that I didn’t want to camp out, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So I’ve been thinking, aren’t normal people afraid of monsters, just like I am? Then we should finish purifying the Cristallo Sacro ASAP, and that would mean we need to get there faster.”

The prince smiled, and nodded along with Miss Maria. She looked back at him, and started speaking loud and clear, “I’m fine with camping, so let’s hurry up. I’ll do my best. I won’t whine and say I can’t sleep anywhere but a bed anymore. I’m not alone in the tent, so it isn’t scary anymore.”

She glanced over at me, smiling awkwardly. Her shy smile was adorable.

“Huh, to think you’d say something like that. You’ve changed since Lucia came, Maria. Alright. If you want to keep going, we’ll keep going. It’ll be rougher than you’re used to, but that will be fine, right?”

“Yep. I can do it. I’m sorry for you, though.”

“Oh, I’ll be fine. I actually quite like camping. It’s quite liberating.”

“Haha, a prince who likes camping! That’s hilarious!”

Miss Maria did seem like she had changed. It was if she had put things behind her. His Highness must have felt the same, because his happy smile never left his face.

“Fernando, Maria wants to keep going. We’re not stopping in Eres, but going straight towards Shnoh Mountain.” Prince Edoardo turned, opening the small window to the coachman’s seat, and loudly ordered Commander Agliardi, “From now on, we’ll head straight towards Hirsch, the capital of Vatis. Oh, and stop staying mainly at inns.”

“As you command.”

Confused by the exchange, Miss Maria spoke up. “The next Cristallo Sacro isn’t in that Hirsch place, though.”

“It’s in Foristarn. But both the Vatis Duchy and Dal Canto want us to meet their leaders, so we can’t head straight for the tree.”

It seemed there were some political issues.

“Being a prince must be tough.”

“Things to think about, things I need to do, things I need to decide... There’s no end to them. It’s all for the sake of my country, but...” His Highness’s eyes softened as he smiled at Miss Maria, and he whispered, “Before, I never would have hesitated to throw something away for the sake of Banfield.”

Deciding things not for himself, but for the country must be an incredibly heavy responsibility. He said “before.” Does that mean he’s hesitating on something now?

“Pshuu~”

“By the way, is that dragon getting bigger, or am I imagining things?” The prince changed the subject, pointing to Shiro, who was laying on my lap. His tummy was up in the air, and he was snoring as he slept peacefully. It was true, though... He was getting bigger. Now, he couldn’t fit in my pocket without bursting the seams.

“What does it eat?”

“He eats anything, really... He is getting big, though.”

“And you use Soap on him every day.”

“Yes. He doesn’t seem to be becoming hostile yet.”

As I watched his tail twitch, I thought back on how he’d been up until then. He loved it when I used Soap on him, and was always so happy afterwards.

“Hmm. As long as he isn’t becoming hostile. Don’t forget to use your magic on him,” the prince reaffirmed.

“Yes, I will.”

“Kyua~h...” When I pet Shiro’s tummy, he gave a quiet little cry.

I’d have to keep using Soap on him every day, so he stays calm, and to protect him.