48. Vesteria Kingdom and the Elite Guard [11] – part 2
Then we navigated straight through the capital, Arlond, with Ria at the lead.
After walking on a flat road for a while and climbing a gentle slope – we arrived at our destination, the Hill of Hope.
「Fuu, so this is the place…」
Many people gathered there even though the sun had already set.
「Over here, Allen!」
「Aa.」
I was called by Ria and headed towards the edge of the hill,
「……」
I beca speechless in front of the beautiful view that spread in front of .
「…Beautiful, right?」
「…Aa, it’s the first ti I’m seeing an amazing scenery like this.」
A number of lights erged in the dark of the night.
The light of fluorescent lamps from the stalls, and the light of lanterns from the people who walked on the main street, were moving as if it were living.
(The kind which is different from natural beauty… I guess this kind of thing is called a『picturesque scenery』)
And when we were both enjoying the beautiful scenery,
「-Thank you.」
Ria suddenly thanked .
「Eh?」
「I was very happy that Allen fought for . Thanks to Allen, I can continue to live with you. So – thank you.」
「Aa, you are welco.」
……Looking back, it was a really hectic three days.
When I thought I could take a break after the sumr camp, I was suddenly attacked by Claude-san, and the next day I went to Vesteria.
On that day, I t with His Majesty Gris imdiately after lunch. The duel at the Great Arena was decided, and in the middle of the night, Claude-san was naked… Let’s forget this part.
And today – it was settled that I and Ria would be able to learn swordsmanship at Thousand Blade Academy by defeating the three swordsn His Majesty had sent out.
(I really want to take a break soon…)
I was ntally tired rather than physically.
When I was thinking about that,
「My father… what did you think of him?」
Ria asked a question that was quite difficult to answer.
「E-Err…」
He was a very distinctive person, but to summarize in a single word,
「Let’s see… He is a man who cares a lot about Ria.」
「Ahaha, yeah that’s right. Though occasionally he overdoes it…」
「Un, I have no comnt regarding that.」
In such a place where there were so many people, I was a little hesitant to bad-mouth the king.
Then, as we both were admiring the beautiful scenery – Ria began speaking in whispers.
「You know… Actually, my mom… died right after she gave birth to …」
「Is… that so…」
I was surprised at the sudden serious talk, but I managed to reply.
「Un… Mom was originally weak and couldn’t bear the burden of childbirth… That’s why I only know my mother’s face through photos… Father said she was a very bright and strong person.」
「I see…」
「I heard this from soone who has been serving us for a long ti… It seems that father, made a promise to mother right before she died that『I will definitely protect our child at all costs!』… I think that’s why he takes care of a little too much.」
「…I see.」
The late queen – so he was pouring in her portion of love towards Ria as well.
In that case, it makes a lot of sense that he dotes on Ria.
「The case this ti though – it’s 100% father’s fault that he added the set-up to Allen’s sword… But that too is due to valuing too much… So that’s why… I don’t want Allen to hate father…」
「Aa, understood.」
It seems that Ria is a family-minded girl.
「Thank you… and I’m sorry… for suddenly bringing up a gloomy story…」
「It’s alright, don’t worry about it.」
As I addressed her kindly, Ria murmured「thank you」once again.
「……I wonder why, but… I just wanted Allen to know… It’s a little heavy, isn’t it?」
「No, that’s not true. I’m so happy to know more about Ria.」
Then I started talking about myself.
(It’s a little different from『returning the favour』…)
I also want Ria to know .
「…It’s the sa for too.」
「Eh?」
「In my case, I don’t have a father. He died of an epidemic as soon as I was born.」
「……Is that so」
Ria looked a little surprised and stared at .
「Mom, as a single woman, raised so far. She works hard every day… and I am very grateful.」
「I see… I’m sure she is a strong person.」
「Aa, I respect her.」
Then, after I finished talking, Ria said to .
「…I would like to go et Allen’s mother next ti.」
「I feel happy but… I’m sure you’ll be surprised because it’s in the rural countryside! There are far more livestock than people.」
「Fufu, it’s fine. It’s the place where Allen was born and raised, so it’s definitely a nice place.」
「I see. I’m happy that Ria has taken a liking to it.」
After that,
「……」
「……」
There was silence between us.
However, it wasn’t suffocating.
It’s a gentle and warm silence – for us to understand each other.
A few minutes later.
「…Nee, Allen. Since we’re here already, how about making a wish?」
Ria brought up a proposal.
「Wish…? Aa… speaking of, the Hill of Hope was said to make『any wish co true』, right?」
I rember Ria talking about that when we flew on the plane from Thousand Blade Academy to Vesteria Kingdom.
「Yes. Look, you can see that big tree over there, right?」
「Umm… Aa, that one.」
At the place where Ria was pointing, there was a large tree that was so tall that the top was not visible.
「That tree is said to have been growing for hundreds of millions of years… I don’t know if it’s true or not though.」
「Hee, is that so…」
Hundreds of millions of years…huh.
(This tree, too… I’m sure it had a hard ti…)
For the first ti in my life, I felt a deep sympathy for a tree.
「That’s why, if you put your hands together under that tree and think of what you want from the bottom of your heart – it is said that any wish will co true.」
「Hee, that sounds good. Let’s give it a try.」
「Un!」
Then we moved to the base of the tree.
And then we looked at each other once – quietly put our hands together and prayed for our wishes in our hearts.
(-May I be with Ria forever.)
(-May I be with Allen forever.)
After we finished our wishes, we opened our eyes and quietly returned to our original spot.
「Nee…」
「Nn?」
「What did you wish for, Allen?」
「Nnー Let’s see… It’s a little embarrassing to say it out loud, so it’s a secret」
It’s a little embarrassing to say「I want to be with you」in front of the person in question.
「Muu… then, at least a hint!」
「Hint huh… If I must say… I would be happy if Ria wished for the sa thing.」
When she heard the answer, she smiled happily.
「Fufu… Perhaps, we wished for the sa thing after all.」
This is how I spent my last day at Vesteria, with Ria.
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