By Zephyria It was only a week’s journey from the capital to Count Ernhardt’s estate.
However, having secured ample time with the first portal installation, our party leisurely stopped whenever something interesting caught our eye. We were all the more relaxed because there were no Ranunculuses coming and going, a testament to how much Ruben had worked for months for this very moment.
The wedding gifts sent to each territory were funds meant to be entirely spent during the reception period. Perhaps because of this, every citizen of the Empire we encountered, whether in inns or restaurants, sang praises of the golden age. They hummed with happiness, sharing travel stories, wedding tales, and tales of delicious food, counting the gallons of wine sold.
Every village we passed through was buzzing with a festive atmosphere, allowing our party to easily blend in among those who had come from afar and those who were about to depart.
On the morning of the fourth day since setting out.
Ruben and I deliberately layered robes with deep hoods over our clothes. It was quite strange, but we saw many same-sex couples walking hand-in-hand, just like us. This, too, seemed to be an achievement brought about by the legalization of same-sex marriage. Thanks to this, we didn’t have to worry about drawing people’s attention.
Leaving the carriages at a quiet inn, the group that had disembarked naturally stopped in front of a bustling market.
“We’ll go grab some snacks over there. Michael and Senior, you’re going for a walk, right?”
“Mm.”
“Yes, we’re going to take a look around. We’ll be back at the lodging after enjoying ourselves, so don’t worry about us.”
“You two are the last people anyone would worry about, even if the whole world was in distress. Have a good trip!”
My companions, who trusted my strength completely, helped Ruben and me have time alone like this during every break. The two knights initially felt awkward leaving Ruben’s side, but after I asked if they wanted to protect me, they readily found their own places to enjoy themselves.
Spiritus, who I had worried about the most, seemed to have unexpectedly bonded with Boulder. The elderly and affectionate wizard doted on Spiritus, attending to his every need with utmost deference, which Spiritus apparently found pleasing. I couldn’t tell if his remark that Spiritus was good because he looked and acted like a goblin was a compliment or an insult.
Benjamin and Marianne often looked after Jenny, but Jenny seemed more comfortable associating with Baron Burnold or the two knights. In any case, as long as they could ensure each other’s safety, I didn’t pay it much mind.
Thanks to the consideration of my friends, Ruben and I, hand-in-hand, set out to find a quiet street, just as we had done the day before.
Most of the Ernhardt territory was flat, open land. Even at the edge of a village, one’s gaze could reach far into the distance.
“That area seems to be all vineyards.”
“Yes. It’s about time for the grape blossoms to appear. Would you like to see them?”
“Is that alright?”
“This is Ernhardt’s domain too. Someone will probably recognize me when we reach the orchard. They say the wine tastes exceptionally good when drunk locally, so I want Ruben to try it too.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
All of Ernhardt’s grapes were grown on white birch poles.
The trees forming the fences were brought from a specially managed birch forest to obtain uniform, straight timber. The sight of green grapevines stretching endlessly along the white fences was a spectacle in itself. We walked quietly, observing the landscape, which seemed perfectly divided into a straight line between the blue sky and the green land.
Ruben’s steps gradually slowed as we walked along the embankment next to the vineyard, so I stopped with him.
“Why?”
“No, it’s just… I realized what a beautiful landscape this was.”
“Have you been here before?”
“Not during the day, but at night.”
Ruben, who had been looking into the distance, pushed back his hood, which he had pulled down deeply. He raised his head and looked directly at my face.
Had there been another reason to gallop to the Earldom Ernhardt in the dead of night? Knowing exactly when the child would speak, my words caught in my throat. After gazing at my face for a long moment, Ruben raised his hand and cupped both my cheeks. I meekly lowered my head and gave him a brief kiss.
Ruben smiled faintly and turned his gaze away again.
I was impatient, eager to know what the child was thinking. After waiting quietly for a moment, I pulled Ruben’s body closer and embraced him. Ruben leaned his back against my chest and giggled, so I playfully kissed his hooded crown and cheeks.
With no one watching, Ruben also pulled back his hood. He gently nibbled and released my lips on the lobe of his left ear. The child pushed against my chest with his back, letting out a sigh as if he had no choice.
And then he said.
“You know, Mika.”
“Yes.”
“When we arrive at the Earldom Ernhardt… should we visit Grandpa first?”
“Grandpa?”
“Yes. He must have been very worried about you.”
He wanted to visit the Ernhardt family mausoleum.
Knowing perfectly well why Ruben wanted to go there, I nodded readily.
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
“Let’s buy flowers, and bring his favorite foods, if he had any.”
“Wine would be good.”
“Wine? Because he was Count Ernhardt?”
“No. Where I used to live… we mostly poured alcohol on graves. It reminds me of that time.”
Perhaps in that land, well-tended graves and disturbed graves lay side-by-side. The place where a buried coffin had been would undoubtedly be empty. It was proof that even in the moment I dared to leave Ruben’s side vacant, Ruben had always stayed by my side.
Ruben slowly began to walk again. I walked beside him.
“How many days should we stay in the Earldom Ernhardt?”
“Well. While I’m with my siblings… I don’t want to show any embarrassing sides, so I think about a week would be enough, wouldn’t it?”
“…If you get scolded by the Countess Ernhardt, don’t blame me.”
“It’s alright. Seeing her this time, it seems Mother favors Ruben more than me.”
“Is that possible?”
The warm summer sunlight cast deep shadows of eyelashes across Ruben’s pale cheeks.
The sight was astonishingly, piercingly beautiful.
“Rather than staying at the Count’s estate for a long time, it would be better to stay in inn rooms frequently for a while.”
“…I think so too. In the carriage… honestly, it’s a bit… difficult…”
“Even though you like it.”
“Liking something and finding it difficult are separate things.”
“After that, we’ll go to the Duchy of Valentia, right? Where in Valentia do you plan to install a portal?”
“I’ll go to Demon Port. It’ll be good for expanding Valentia’s port, and it’s not too far from the Ducal Castle. Also, it would be better for attracting exchange students from Biban or Yulan to the Valentia Academy.”
“Mm, that would be good too. Ah, I have a cabin of my own near there, besides the family villa…”
“…Can our entire party fit?”
“No, not really. It seems perfect for just the two of us. There are also many luxurious inns nearby, so it’s fine to have acquaintances stay separately.”
“Won’t Miss Philodendore scold you?”
“Well. Won’t she consider it my fault for tagging along on your honeymoon?”
Ahaha, her clear laughter was so endearing that I embraced her waist and kissed her forehead once more. She shook her head, telling me to stop, and I helped her gather her disheveled hair and tie it into a ponytail. The way her pale ears turned a faint red was also quite lovely.
“What about the Yeldidus Duchy?”
“There… well. Hestia said to make it near the west gate of the Ducal Castle… I think it might be near the Saras River. She said that upon exiting the portal, one would be greeted by a wide, large river, and be completely captivated by Yeldidus’s beauty.”
“Mm.”
“…Ah. Did you know Poplar Kiadris ran away from home?”
“Yes. Well, I didn’t worry about it, thinking he’d manage on his own.”
“You should have told me.”
“I was busy with wedding preparations… Ruben, you probably know where she is, don’t you?”
“Hmm, he said she went east on the continent for now. At first, she wanted to go on a pilgrimage like us, but the mercenary group she hired apparently told her to go later due to security concerns.”
“Does Young Lady Hestia know about that too?”
“Roughly. But she’s in a situation where she needs to get her mind right before her body, so I just let it be.”
“…Indeed, Ruben is good at that.”
“At what?”
“Capturing hearts, not bodies.”
“…Are you talking about yourself?”
Ruben stopped abruptly and pushed my chest with his shoulder. It felt like he wanted to be held, so I embraced him tightly with both arms. With a face full of laughter, he pulled my hand and nibbled again. I remembered how my heart fluttered every time the child acted like this. Nibbling and releasing his shoulder, I whispered.
“What about Kiadris?”
“He said near the south gate of the Ducal Castle would be good. He wants it to be convenient for Biban and Yulan to travel back and forth. Ah, he said they’re short on soldiers these days and asked for reinforcements… is there anything we can help with while we’re there?”
“Don’t worry too much about that guy.”
“…I really want to know, Mika.”
“Yes.”
“Why… no, why are you so wary of Edwin Kiadris?”
“Doesn’t he resemble me?”
“Huh?”
“His hair color, and… he looks a bit like a fox.”
“No? Of course, you’re better. No, no. You’re much better, of course.”
Rubel shook his head vigorously, utterly flabbergasted. The way he shook his head so violently made the front strands of his hair flutter, looking incredibly funny and adorable. I deliberately feigned ignorance and turned my head to the side, pretending to be hurt.
“…Mm. I know.”
“Wait, what? You don’t believe me now?”
“No, I believe you. And Ruben, you also misunderstood Shayden for no reason…”
“….”
“Didn’t you?”
“…It’s just, sometimes my heart feels that way. I wonder if that’s why you didn’t come to this wedding either…”
“Why do you say that?”
“Senior Edwin couldn’t bear to see Ruben become my bride…”
“…Is that possible?”
Ruben laughed, almost sobbing. I put an arm around his waist to prevent him from stumbling and urged him to continue.
“What about Withrow?”
“He said inside the castle gate would be best. He asked for it to be made into a facility for civilian evacuation in case of an emergency, so I told him I’d decide after seeing it.”
“Are they not trying to barge in from Owen anymore?”
“Yeah. Strangely quiet… I figured if there was anything strange, the gods would notice, so I’m just watching.”
“You still don’t have any ambition for unifying the continent, do you?”
“No. Still… I’m afraid of taking on unnecessary worries. And also…”
“And?”
“Because I have no intention of sending you to the battlefield.”
“Why?”
“Humans should solve human affairs.”
“Indeed, that’s true.”
The child’s gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, and his lips chattered, painting the future.
Six portals, the education of the child to be born, monster training…
It was a story perfectly suited for the season when grapes ripen.