We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Cerise’s Days
“Creacio. Are you going again today?”
“Good morning, Cerise. But what else can I do? Even if he’s an idiot, it’s pathetic if no one is waiting for him when he comes back.”
I have no choice, I have no choice. Muttering such complaints, Creacio went to the site of the eastern victory gate again today to wait for Slaton’s return.
Watching Creacio’s retreating back, Cerise thought as she saw him off, she understood her feelings now.
Waiting for a man who might not return for an unknown time was so painful.
Ever since Listea was chosen as the previous Hero and stood as the new Hero. She had always been by his side.
At first, she was chosen as his betrothed because their ages were the same, as if to forge a new bond between the Holy Sword and the Royal Family. When she was younger, she had been discontent, wondering why it had to be her and not her free-spirited sisters.
But now, thinking back, she felt happy to be Listea’s betrothed.
He was a rare Hero overflowing with a sense of justice and beloved by all. Any woman who saw Listea would let out a sigh of admiration. He stood taller than the average man. Not just tall, he had a well-balanced, muscular physique. And his features were androgynously sweet.
When he was a little younger, he was praised as a beautiful boy. However, recently, his features had begun to change, developing a more masculine contour, transforming from a feminine face into that of an adult man.
When Listea was not yet so active as a Hero, his status was “Hero Listea, the betrothed of Princess Serice, the Fourth Princess.”
But before she knew it, the roles had reversed to “Serice, the betrothed of Listea.” Cerice was happy about this. As a woman, she wanted to be led by a dependable man.
However, how many days had passed since that dependable and beloved Listea had departed? The northern lands were untamed, and regular correspondence could not be expected. In fact, her track of him beyond the Wyvern Hunting Ground had completely disappeared.
The trial to marry the priestesses Kiri and Inea. A despair-inducing quest to find a legendary flower called the Full Moon Flower. Cerice had helped them search for materials and documents before they departed. That was precisely why she knew. That trial was of a difficulty that seemed absolutely impossible to achieve.
And then, with Listea gone from her side, she thought about it.
An impossible trial. He was not allowed to return until he found the Full Moon Flower. Furthermore, there were instructions to separate the clergy from themselves. Could it be…?
There were days when she was consumed by anxiety.
But Listea was acting together with that Elnea. It would surely be alright.
When she felt like she was about to be crushed by anxiety. She found herself wondering about Elnea’s remaining family and visited his family home. His sisters had been staying at his parents’ family home since Elnea’s departure. However, when she visited, she was surprised to see them living their usual lives, without any sign of worry. Their strong bond, their unquestionable trust in each other. They likely understood the convoluted nature of the trial, and perhaps arrived at the same conclusion as she had. Yet, not a single one of them doubted Elnea’s return.
“Ah, Elnea-kun has truly grown into a capable and great man,” Cerise marveled at the growth of the cute boy from before. And at the same time, Listea was acting with him. Therefore, he would surely return, and her anxiety diminished from that day onward.
However, what about Creacio? Slaton, who had parted ways last year, saying he would form a deep bond with the Earth Dragon Duranel. It was simply a journey back to the Armēdo Kingdom from the Yorttenitos Kingdom, but his return was unusually late. If it were just late, she might have been able to dispel her anxiety like they had, but Slaton had gone missing.
According to Elnea, Duranel was still a young dragon. In reality, she had seen many Earth Dragons larger than the dark-colored Duranel. However, even as a young dragon, any creature accompanied by a dragon would stand out. Those who acted together with dragons were, with the exception of the Dragon King Elnea, only the Dragon Knight Order of the Yorttenitos Kingdom. Anyone else seen with a dragon would stand out and become a topic of gossip. Indeed, until they crossed the Elnea Great Bridge, she had heard rumors about Slaton’s movements. However, beyond the Yorttenitos Kingdom, his tracks had completely vanished.
Knowing Slaton, he must have gotten himself involved in some foolishness again. However, Slaton might be fine with it, but it was unbearable for those who were kept waiting. Unlike Listea and Elnea, Slaton often made mistakes. However, his good point was that he would find a new path from his failures, but what if it had worked out for the worse? What if something had happened to Slaton? Creacio’s anxiety, as she continued to wait for Slaton, who gave no news and whose whereabouts were unknown, must have been many times greater than what she had experienced.
Nevertheless, Creacio was a splendid woman, maintaining a brave and cheerful demeanor. Slaton’s parents also recognized Creacio’s mature behavior. Slaton’s parents were undoubtedly worried too. However, they had entrusted all matters concerning their son to Creacio, his future wife. Every day, Creacio went to greet him, and on her way back, she visited the temporary housing where Slaton’s parents lived.
Cerise watched Creacio’s figure disappear into the landscape of the still sparsely built capital city, lost in thought. Then, a sleepy voice called out from behind her.
“Cerise, gooood morning…”
“Naimi, you need to be a bit stronger in the mornings.”
“That’s not it! I’m really strong. But while Listea is gone, I want to be lazy!”
Naimi, always energetic. Her messy bedhead hair bounced and twitched with her movements, which was cute. Honestly, if you’re awake, you should at least tidy yourself up. Cerise and Naimi were staying at the temporary royal palace. And in the time it took to get from their sleeping quarters to the outside, they had exposed their slovenly appearance to many people.
“As the Hero’s wife, you must maintain your appearance properly.”
Cerise nudged Naimi, who was yawning widely, and returned to the temporary royal palace.
“So, are we going to Elnea’s family home again this afternoon?”
“Yes, that’s right. There’s nothing we can do here.”
In the morning, Mistral and her sisters were out and not in the capital. Mistral was apparently the caretaker of the Guardian Dragon in the Dragon Forest. She had apparently met Elnea there as well. And in the morning, everyone had gone out to take care of the legendary giant dragon. So, they could only visit in the afternoon.
The capital was busy with reconstruction even in spring. Even the lazy Rudoriado was working tirelessly every day. But for them, waiting for Listea’s return, there was no particular work to do. The advanced academy that nobles and promising citizens attended one year after their departure would start in the summer. Until then, reviewing their studies was all that sixteen-year-olds could do. Well, they had endured a demanding year. It was probably the honest feeling of young people to want to rest and play for about half a year, Cerise understood.
“Hello!”
And in the afternoon, Cerise visited Elnea’s family home with Naimi. Elnea’s mother greeted them and informed them that Mistral and the others were in the garden out back. Elnea’s parents seemed unaccustomed to a luxurious lifestyle. The clothes they wore, which they claimed they were not used to, surprisingly suited them. Their demeanor had also begun to change, taking on a slightly noble air. Their son, Elnea, had been so active and had become an important figure in the Armēdo Kingdom. This lifestyle was unavoidable, and they had to accept it. However, the staff working in this mansion were all strong individuals who had served the twin sisters. They would surely be supporting this woman who was living an unfamiliar life.
Led by the head maid Karen, Cerise went around to the back of the mansion. There, Mistral and the others were relaxing.
“Hello, everyone.”
For the past few days, the Young Girl Group had not been seen. They seemed to be out playing somewhere. Priscilla-chan, the lovely Mimicho Race. Nimia-chan, who always relaxed on top of her head. Fiorina and Rim, whose appearance was indeed dragon-like, were small and cute. It was a shame not to see such adorable young girls. Nevertheless, Cerise, while admonishing her twin sisters who were lounging so casually in their future-in-law’s home, even though they were her future husband’s family, managed to dispel her anxiety today as well.
“Seiya!”
“You’re too soft, Cerise.”
“That won’t work, Cerise.”
“Ugh. Why doesn’t this technique work against my sisters?!”
One of the reasons Cerise and Naimi visited Elnea’s family home was to spar like this. Cerise unleashed her “flying technique” with all her might. However, her sister, who received it with what could be called a greatsword, a golden-colored sword, was not blown away, nor did she even budge the sword. Cerise was facing both twin sisters simultaneously. Even now, she couldn’t tell whether she was facing Fiorina or Rim. She felt indebted to Elnea’s family, who could distinguish between the two. No, no, now was not the time to be thinking such frivolous thoughts. Why was her flying technique not working?
It wasn’t just the twin sisters she was facing. Mistral of the Dragon Race, and even the slender and delicate Laira, were unaffected by Cerise’s flying technique. Even that Listea could be easily blown away by this technique. Speaking of which, when she fought Ruiseine during the Rite of Declaration, didn’t she also not get blown away? Her techniques were ineffective against those skilled in Dragon Arts. It made her sad to have the results of her training shattered, but at the same time, she was happy to have opponents who could strike her sword with all their might.
“Ugh! This is strange. I can’t keep up!”
“Your speed, producing afterimages, is remarkable, but your movements are monotonous.”
In another location, Naimi, who prided herself on her speed, was being toyed with by Mistral’s movements, unable to keep up. Laira, however, sat in the shade, meditating. Over the past few days. She had noticed since she started visiting Elnea’s mansion. That one of them would be meditating like that during the day. Whether it was training or something else, she couldn’t tell, but those who meditated like that seemed to spend the entire afternoon seriously, not playing. Cerise and Naimi had spent the last few days sparring with whoever was available and engaging in leisurely chats like women.
Suddenly, Mistral stopped and looked up at the northern sky. Elnea’s mansion’s grounds were vast, spanning an entire district. Even a noble would not own such a large plot of land within the capital. So, why was this one boy, even as a hero who saved the country, given so much land for his family home? It was also to secure a landing space for the dragons who were his family, should they fly in. And in the sky beyond the scenic garden. Two giant dragons, Elnea’s relatives, were flying in at high speed.
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