Maria Realizes the Value of Companions

We searched for Lucia and Celes the next day, but we had no luck at all. The rain that day had swollen the river up, and it was flowing too fast. While it looked as if it was only one, it split in a few places later on, making our search even harder.

We spent two days searching, but...they were nowhere to be found. When Fer called off the search, exhausted, no one blamed me. In fact, they were all really worried about me. I knew that I had always been super selfish, so I couldn’t believe that they would all treat me so kindly. Everyone was fond of Lucia, and Celes was their comrade and the strongest in the group. Even though it was my fault they were gone, no one blamed me at all.

“Sacred Maiden, you must be hungry. I’m actually quite a good cook, despite my looks. Please have some soup. The recipe is my sister-in-law’s.”

“That’s right. You can’t do anything on an empty stomach. My wife’s special soup’ll warm you right up!”

“Sacred Maiden, do you wanna ride behind me next?”

Since I really didn’t want to see Ed or Fer, the other three were always beside me, protecting me from them. I finally had my harem, but I wasn’t happy about it.

“Kyuu?” Shiro squeaked up at me, as if he was worried I was sad.

Since he couldn’t fly well yet, he had always traveled in Lucia’s pocket. Since she was gone now, I held him all the time instead. His tail, with its sparkling, veil-like fin, rubbed against my arm, comforting me. All I could do was look downwards and hug Shiro, unable to reply to their kindness. But I had to respond to the next voice I heard.

“Would you allow me to talk to you for a moment?”

It was Fer. He looked uncomfortable, but I couldn’t feel bad for him. He might have talked big before, but he was lying to me. I couldn’t forgive him, just like I couldn’t forgive Ed. It might be unjustified, but if they hadn’t been plotting like that, none of this ever would have happened.

“No, she will not! Stay away, Commander!”

Though Fer had been trying to be tactful, Eric’s response definitely wasn’t. Even the two knights, his subordinates, stood beside the little Mage, silently intimidating.

I’m being protected. But...it just feels so, so bitter. After all, the first person to protect me wasn’t here anymore. Because I—

While I was at my limit, nearly ready to scream, Fer continued, troubled, “I know you may not want to hear it, but... Please, let us explain ourselves. It’s hard on both you and His Highness for this misunderstanding to continue.”

◆ ◆ ◆

“Maria, I’m really... So sorry for hurting you. I should have apologized right after, but the search for the Captain and Lucia took precedence,” Ed spoke to me, lowering his head. Fer followed in suit.

I couldn’t say anything about how long it took for them to apologize. I was the one who avoided them and made searching for the two our priority. This was actually the first time I’d seen their faces in days.

Taking my silence as a good thing, Ed and Fer sat across from us, and raised their heads as they told us what circumstances they were under. The King had ordered that I be assassinated. While outwardly acting as if they agreed, they had been searching for a way to let me live. Once they finished, they bowed deeply to me again.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me...” Gaius growled. He leaned forward, hiding me behind his back. “You think we’re gonna accept that apology!?”

There wasn’t even a trace of his usual brightness in his voice. I couldn’t think of how to respond myself, even though I was the one being apologized to.

“I thought the same thing with the little lady, but you big shots just think of people as pawns, don’t you!?” Gaius yelled. “That’s fine for us soldiers. That’s our job. But Her Sacredness and Lucia aren’t knights, or soldiers, or even Mages. They’re normal citizens, the people we’re supposed to protect! How do you get off hurting them for your own reasons, Sir Commander? And you, oh Crown Prince, aren’t you the least bit embarrassed!?”

Ed hung his head, a serious look on his face. “...You’re completely right. No matter how we apologize, we can’t take back the fact that we did something unforgivable.”

Fer hung his head dejectedly too and said, “I understand that you won’t be able to believe us yet. But both His Highness and I will do everything in our power to regain your trust. Sacred Maiden, we will do our utmost to protect and support you.”

They were right. Even with their apology, I couldn’t believe them. I definitely believed that they had been observing me, and that it was on orders from the King of Banfield. He honestly was really haughty. But the part where they said that they had been searching for a way to keep me alive. I didn’t think I could believe that completely yet... But still...

“Or I look for a path that I won’t regret while doing that job.”

I remembered what Fer once said to me. That one line stuck, and that was what made me start to believe them. Some part of me may have wanted to believe them. I might not have wanted to think those days were a lie. If they had really been searching for a way to save me, even while ordered to do something so cruel... If I could really believe them... I felt like we may be able to become true companions, then.