Chapter 199: Encounter (13)
As I stepped out of the Room of Memories, the first thing that caught my eye was the sight of two people.
Velita and Cecilia.
For some reason, just like when I had entered earlier, the two of them were sitting side by side, facing the door.
“Hmm.”
There was a slightly tense atmosphere in the air.
As soon as Velita saw me, she gave a small wave, making the mood even more awkward.
“I’m the last one to arrive, it seems.”
I said that while casually glancing around.
In a corner of the room, Windy May was sprawled out again, looking completely drained, just like last time.
“……”
That was when Arpentia’s final words suddenly came back to me.
Valen Zeisho.
Even setting aside Arpentia’s message for him, I recalled the request Valen Zeisho had made to me.
‘…Perfect timing.’
With that thought, I turned my gaze to Velita.
She had clearly told me I owed her, and that I should feel free to ask for anything I wanted.
“Your Highness.”
I quietly called out to her.
Velita turned her head gently to look at me.
As always, her lips were adorned with a graceful, faint smile.
“…?!”
On the other hand, for some reason, Cecilia looked slightly startled.
It was the kind of reaction one might show when betrayed by someone they trusted.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Do you remember the promise you made before?”
“…Ah, I do recall. You’re referring to when I said I’d grant you a request, yes?”
“Yes, exactly. If it’s alright, may I make that request now?”
For a moment, Velita’s eyes widened, then turned into a mischievous smile.
“Oh my, of course. If it’s something utterly outrageous, I’ll still grant it.”
“I don’t think it’s that kind of request.”
“Hmm, well… If it’s something amusing, I might give it more thought. For example… a date, perhaps?”
Her tone lifted playfully at the end of her sentence.
At the same time, Cecilia’s shoulders, who stood beside her, began to tremble ever so slightly.
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
I shook my head firmly without a shred of hesitation.
Velita exaggerated her disappointment with an expression, but her eyes still sparkled with curiosity.
“Then what is it? Would you tell me?”
“…I heard that a High Elf’s corpse is being put up for auction.”
I continued, keeping my voice calm.
“I’d like you to confirm whether the auction is truly happening, and if so, when and where it will take place. And if it is real, I’d appreciate your help in allowing me to participate in it.”
“……”
Velita’s expression stiffened for a moment.
She looked at me silently for a while, then let out a faint, incredulous laugh.
“…Hmm, well, that’s not exactly a difficult request. But may I ask one thing?”
“Yes.”
“I did say I’d grant any request, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“And you’re using that precious opportunity… hmm, on something like this? I suppose I shouldn’t say it myself, but doesn’t it seem like such a waste?”
At her question, I slightly bowed my head.
“I’m counting on you.”
My answer remained unchanged.
After staring at me briefly, Velita finally let out a small sigh and nodded.
“Huu… Alright. Since you insist that much, I can’t very well refuse, can I? I’ll get in touch with you as soon as I find out.”
With those words, Velita rose from her seat.
She bowed her head slightly toward Windy May, who was still lying in a corner of the room, looking exhausted.
“Thank you, Professor Windy May. Thanks to you, I was able to put one of the worries in my heart to rest.”
“Neeehhh…”
Windy May weakly raised a hand in response, still lying down.
With her usual smiling face, Velita turned to Cecilia this time and spoke.
“Thank you for everything today, Miss Cecilia. I hope we can continue to be on friendly terms.”
“……”
Cecilia didn’t respond.
She simply bowed her head slightly.
Looking at Cecilia with the same gentle smile, Velita turned on her heel and stepped out the door.
And just before leaving, she made sure to add a few last words to me.
“I’ll be in touch soon.”
After Velita disappeared, an awkward silence settled over the room.
“……”
Cecilia sat still, lips parting as if to speak, eyes fixed on the floor—as though she was trying to figure out what to say to me.
…In fact, ever since we had come out of the Room of Memories, she had been mentally preparing what to say to me.
Because she had no idea when such a chance might come again.
But now that she was face-to-face with me, it felt as if her mind had gone completely blank.
These past few days, Cecilia had been frequenting the library, reading every book she could find about romance.
She had borrowed so many that, eventually, the librarian started helping her through the checkout process with a peculiar look of support in her eyes.
‘Symptoms of falling in love… You can’t stop thinking about that person… That definitely fits.’
‘You keep noticing that person… This one too… hmm…’
‘You wait for them to talk to you or contact you first…’
Flipping through the pages, comparing her symptoms one by one, Cecilia finally came across a line that made her freeze and face the truth.
‘The very act of opening this book and carefully reading to this part is itself undeniable proof that you’re in love.’
…Yes, perhaps she didn’t truly understand this emotion just yet.
To be more honest, she had always been poor at forming relationships or expressing emotions.
That’s why even now, she still wasn’t entirely certain if what she was feeling was really the ‘affection’ or ‘admiration’ described in those books.
She didn’t know the details.
But she did know one thing—she didn’t want him, Lian, Lian Gwendil, to go far away.
If this feeling was what people called love…
And if he, even just a little, felt the same way about her…
Then that would truly make her happy.
‘Let me express my feelings. Little by little, steadily.’
…Despite having come to that conclusion, the moment I was face-to-face with Lian, all the words I had prepared for days—even losing sleep over—vanished without a trace.
Just earlier, when we had run into each other by chance outside Windy May’s office, I had barely stopped myself from letting out a sharp scream. At that point, hadn’t I already said it all?
‘…So, what should I say?’
I recalled the lines I had rehearsed dozens of times in my head.
‘My sister said that even within the Holy Sun Church, the rules differ slightly depending on the sect. Just like you said before, Lian. So, I mean… well, since we never know how life might go… maybe it would be better to choose a sect that allows marriage…?’
I shook my head slightly to myself.
That’s way too out of the blue.
Then how about…
‘Is there anything you’d like to ask of me instead of Velita? I just… I really want to be of help to you somehow, and I don’t know what to do.’
…No, that’s even weirder.
Without realizing it, I slightly lowered my head in dismay.
While I was caught in this inner struggle, Lian was explaining to Windy May what had happened earlier with Arpentia.
‘…Alright.’
Once again, I resolved to be brave.
“Um… Lian.”
I opened my mouth carefully.
“Would you… like to have dinner with me later?”
It was a proposal into which I had poured every bit of courage I could muster.
But that proposal was swiftly and mercilessly shattered by a single sentence from Windy May.
“Huh? Lian and I actually made plans just a moment ago to go somewhere together this evening. There’s something urgent we need to check on… O-oh! That look again! That wicked look! You shouldn’t look at your master like that! Nice eyes! Eyes filled with admiration and respect, that’s how you should look at me!”
Windy May, flustered, exclaimed with panic written all over her face.
I felt a sudden pang of emotion, but I also worried that Lian might find me strange, so I quickly glanced at him.
Thankfully, his expression hadn’t changed. He was simply looking at the two of us.
‘…In that case.’
I swallowed my disappointment and spoke again.
“Then… how about lunch instead? Since it’s the festival period, the academy should be quiet. The cafeteria too. We could take our time talking…”
…But my second proposal was interrupted once again—this time by an unexpected visitor.
“Lian.”
As soon as we stepped outside the building from the Room of Memories, Allen appeared, as if he’d been waiting, and called out to him.
“Even just for a moment, please… could you spare a little time?”
Then, in a desperate tone, he muttered,
“My brother… his condition…”
Lian looked troubled but nodded in response to Allen’s earnest plea.
“……”
I could only bite my lip, just slightly.
“…You’re saying Kyren’s condition has worsened again?”
Following behind as we walked, I asked. Allen couldn’t hide the anxious look on his face as he nodded.
“Yes. Ever since the incident in the Forest of Secrets, he’s been wasting away, and recently, he’s been collapsing unconscious more frequently. And since yesterday…”
Allen trailed off.
His voice trembled with deep worry and unease.
“…They told us to prepare ourselves.”
“…Then I’m not sure I can be of much help.”
I spoke cautiously, but Allen replied firmly.
“I know that. But still…”
Allen grit his teeth once more.
“I just feel like I have to do something… anything…”
“……”
I couldn’t refuse any longer.
We quickly made our way to a rather antique-looking building.
It was where the academy accommodated important guests from outside.
“This is where Father is staying.”
Allen carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
I followed behind him.
After walking for quite a while, we finally arrived at Kyren’s room.
“Hoo.”
Allen took a deep breath and gently opened the door.
And then—
“…Huh?”
Allen’s startled voice rang out as he looked inside.
I, too, couldn’t hide the puzzled expression on my face.
“…Hmm?”
Kyren, who should have been lying bedridden, was surprisingly sitting up—leaning back halfway in bed and staring at us.
His eyes were too bright for someone sick, and his complexion looked perfectly healthy.
“Allen, and even Lian Gwendil…?”
Kyren simply glanced between us, looking just as confused as we were.