Volume 5 Chapter 4 Good Night, Your Happiness
We split up facing the alley and started making snowballs.
The snow was cold, even through the gloves Father Feldur gave me.
"As long as we don't damage the buildings, we can do whatever we want. I'll even allow the use of magic. We win if we defeat Ciel and Lucian. They win if they defeat us. Once a snowball hits, you lose."
"Sir Rail gave us permission to use magic. Ms. Lydia, I'll make the snowballs, so feel free to throw them."
"Thank you, Sir Ciel...!"
After Sir Rail spoke, Sir Ciel nodded and snapped his fingers lightly.
Fluffy snowballs started forming and floated around me.
"That's so unfair, Ciel. Brother, maybe we shouldn't have allowed magic?"
"No, because if we can't use magic, Roxas would get attacked and taken down right away."
"Don't worry, Roxas. I'll protect you."
"What do you mean, brother? Your Highness, don't try to protect me."
While Sir Rail and the others were busy making snowballs, Mx. Margaret and the others came outside from the shop because it was cold.
"We came to watch."
"I came to see because it looks fun."
"Are you ready yet? Is it okay? You need a referee for this kind of thing. We'll be the witnesses for the match... with Lyd-Lyd as the prize...!"
"I think it's cute to have the right to say good night. Lydia, who do you want to win?"
I didn't really understand why I was the prize, but I guess it meant who I wanted to say good night to.
"I... I want everyone to say good night together, is that okay...?"
"Good girl, Lyd-Lyd, good girl..."
"Not very charming... Margaret, your teaching is lacking."
"I can't help it... Lyd-Lyd grew up in the Rest priest family, you know? She's pure... really pure at heart..."
Mr. Tsukuyomi and Mx. Margaret were whispering something.
Then they turned back to us, looking ready.
"Okay, let's start!"
With Mx. Margaret's signal, Mr. Lucian quickly grabbed a snowball and threw it with such speed it was almost invisible.
It was aimed at Sir Roxas.
"Lucian, you really are a dark knight...! Targeting weaknesses like that is bold...!"
"Don't say I'm a weaknesses, brother!"
The snowball flew toward Sir Roxas at an unbelievable speed.
Sir Roxas raised both hands to block the snowball.
"Time magic, Soul Stealing!"
The snowballs that had their time taken away returned to their original form.
In other words──into water.
"Whoa...!"
The water from the snowballs splashed all over Sir Roxas.
Soaked, Sir Roxas slipped on the snow and fell. He really did fall.
I thought he might slip and fall, but he really did.
"Are you okay, Roxas?!"
Sir Stefan grabbed Sir Roxas's arm to stop him from falling.
He looked just like a prince.
"Roxas, if you take away time halfway, the snow will turn into water."
"That's true, but using too much power here... it's a narrow alley, and it could affect the other buildings."
"As I thought, Roxas would get attacked anyway...! Anyway, Ciel, you're going down!"
Sir Rail easily jumped into the air and threw the snowball he was holding at Sir Ciel like it was raining snowballs.
Looking up at the snowballs coming from the sky, Sir Ciel raised one hand lightly.
A thin barrier sparkled like a jewel appeared in front of Sir Ciel.
All the snowballs bounced off the barrier and, even though they were fragile, somehow bounced back toward Sir Rail in their original shape.
"Strong... as expected of the Mysterious Demon King."
"That name is... a bit much. No, I'll accept that name for now. I'm the Demon King. If you want to have Ms. Lydia, try to defeat me."
"Ha ha, you're really lively, Ciel! Are you feeling a bit better than before?"
"Thanks to you."
Sir Rail suddenly pulled out a dagger and knocked all the snowballs away.
I realized I couldn't just stand there.
I got ready to throw the snowball I was holding at Sir Stefan, who was helping Sir Roxas up.
"Sorry, Sir Stefan! This is a snowball fight...!"
"Lydia..."
I threw the snowball, and it hit Sir Stefan right in the face.
I didn't think it would hit him, and I thought he would dodge it, so I rushed over to him.
"Are you okay, Sir Stefan? Did it hurt?"
"No, I'm fine. Wow, Lydia. You hit me. You're really good at this snowball fight."
Sir Stefan smiled and praised me.
Sir Roxas looked at Sir Stefan like he couldn't believe it.
"What are you doing, Your Highness? Are you stupid?"
"N-no, it's just that Lydia is having her first snowball fight and threw a snowball at me...! It's only natural to praise her for trying so hard. I can't help but compliment such a cute Lydia."
"Are you crazy...!"
Mr. Lucian mercilessly threw a snowball right at Sir Roxas's face.
"Stefan, Roxas, you're out!"
Mx. Margaret's voice echoed harshly down the alley.
"Wait... isn't that too soon? You both are out too quickly! Don't you have enough awareness as heroes...?!"
"Sir Rail, I'm sorry. This is part of the game."
"Sir Rail, just give up."
Sir Ciel's protective wall deflected all of Sir Rail's snowballs, and then Mr. Lucian's fastball came flying in.
As he spun in the air and landed, Sir Rail looked unusually flustered, dodging and hitting the snowballs away.
"Heroes fight alone, but this is definitely unfair. I didn't expect His Highness to be this 'strong'...!"
"Rail, I'm really happy. I got to see Lydia having fun in the snowball fight."
"Are you like a dad at a sports day for your daughter?"
"Your Highness... I understand how you feel, but I wanted you to try a bit harder..."
Sir Stefan looked happy, while Sir Rail and Sir Roxas held their heads in frustration. They were such good friends.
"Ah, come on...! There's no way I can win this, right? I could use the Water of Youth, but... if the snow melts, it won't be a snowball fight anymore, and that would be boring..."
A snowball hit Sir Rail's shoulder with a splat.
"Heroes don't lose, but challenging the Demon King and the Dark Knight when your teammates are out... I couldn't save the princess... I still have a long way to go..."
"Rail, since you're out, what will we do? Will Lucian and Ciel fight?"
"A one-on-one between the Demon King and the Grim Reaper? That sounds interesting too."
Sir Rail used magic to dry off the soaked Sir Roxas, Sir Stefan, and my clothes.
Then he slumped his shoulders in disappointment.
Mx. Margaret and Mr. Tsukuyomi looked at each other, and Sir Ciel and Mr. Lucian exchanged glances.
"That's fine, but..."
"Ms. Lydia, you're feeling sleepy, right?"
"...Um, yeah, a little."
The snowball fight was fun, but hearing that made me feel sleepy.
The dark sky was starting to lighten. Dawn might be coming soon.
"...Lucian, you can win. I only used magic, and Sir Rail figured out the path of the snowball I deflected with magic. It was Lucian who hit Sir Rail with the snowball."
"Hey, when you suddenly say something so humble, it scares me. Be more competitive. Is it okay for me to monopolize Lydia?"
"I think it's good as long as Ms. Lydia is happy."
"Well, a competition is a competition. How about we decide it with a game of rock-paper-scissors, like the wise ones of old?"
Sir Stefan patted both of their shoulders and said.
Sir Roxas and Sir Rail smiled awkwardly and said, "Rock-paper-scissors, huh..." "That idea is pretty old-fashioned..."
And then──
I got my cold body cleaned up by Sir Ciel's purification magic and was carried to the bedroom.
Downstairs, Mr. Tsukuyomi and the others were still drinking, calling it the 'losers' party.'
Mx. Margaret and Mr. Tsukuyomi grabbed Sir Stefan and Sir Roxas by the arms, saying, "The New Year festival lasts until tomorrow night!" "The party goes on until tomorrow night! Come on, young ones!"
Sir Rail and Mr. Lucian were excited, saying, "Sounds good to me!" "We're in, both of you!"
"...It's really quiet here, even though they're still drinking downstairs."
In the bedroom, my dad, Eir-Eir, and Ms. Famine were sleeping soundly.
Sir Ciel gently laid me down on the bed.
Then, he softly stroked my cheek.
"Thank you for staying up late with me today, Ms. Lydia."
"...Sir Ciel, you really talk differently, don't you? I want to know the real you, properly..."
Maybe it's because I'm sleepy.
I feel a bit needy.
I held onto his hand as he tried to pull away and said. I felt a little lonely.
It always feels like there's a distance──
"...This is tough. ...When you say cute things like that, ...it's not good."
A deep, heavy sleepiness took over my body, like sinking to the bottom of a deep ocean.
"Good night, ...Lydia. ...I hope your happiness lasts forever."
His palm gently held mine. I felt something soft and warm touch my hand.
I closed my eyes.
My happiness is──
Everyone being able to smile.
I hope──Sir Ciel can be with us too. I wish for warm and happy days to continue.
I wanted to reply to Sir Ciel, but I felt like I couldn't speak anymore.
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