Volume 7 Chapter 2 The Hero Usually Comes Through The Window
I prepared my lunch, filled my water bottle with cold tea to keep it chilled with the Ice Magic Stone, and changed into my outing clothes.
I wore a dress with a light blue ribbon and got myself ready.
"Alright, everyone, let's go!"
I called out to the Eir-Eirs who were following me closely as I moved.
Carrying the basket with my lunch, I headed towards the tables in Lobelia's shop.
"Princess, I heard the news."
"Sir Rail!"
Even though I didn't sense or hear him, there he was sitting by the open window.
I wondered how he managed to open it since it was locked, but since this wasn't the first time, I decided not to ask and ran over to Sir Rail.
His white hair fluttered in the wind. With his golden eyes and pale skin, he looked like a spring fairy.
Though he seemed a bit delicate, he was bright and cheerful when he spoke.
"It's been a while since you came in through the window, Sir Rail."
"Yeah, I'll try to come in through the window more often as a hero."
"I'd prefer if you came in through the door; it's a bit surprising..."
"Heroes are supposed to come in through the window. I can't give that up. Plus, your surprised face is cute."
Sir Rail easily jumped down from the window, closed it properly, locked it, and stood in front of me.
"Princess, you're going to see the mysterious cherry blossoms, right? When I came to visit you, you seemed busy cooking, so I was eavesdropping outside."
"Uh, can you really hear me that well?"
"I have good ears. Anyway, Princess, why didn't you invite me? I feel lonely."
"Uh, I'm sorry... I thought you might be busy."
Seeing Sir Rail looking downcast made me panic.
Now that I think about it, I don't really invite him that often.
Since it's a special cherry blossom viewing, I should've invited everyone. But I thought they might be busy, and knowing the mysterious cherry blossom legend made it even harder to ask.
Because, you know, it might feel like I'm asking them to go pledge their love with me or something.
"Not busy at all. Actually, I'm free."
"Free, huh..."
"Yeah. I'm doing hero stuff, but mostly I just take on requests from the adventurer's guild. I work whenever I want, and then I'm free. I usually just wander around town, helping people in need. Oh, and not as Fox Mask, but as Rail Girard, the Duke's wayward son."
"I see. Sir Rail, um... should we go together?"
"Yeah, definitely. But it feels a bit random for just the two of us to go together. So, while the princess was getting ready, I sent letters to everyone using magic butterflies. I told them to bring food and drinks and meet in front of the mysterious cherry blossom. Let's have a cherry blossom viewing!"
"To everyone?"
"Yep. To the princess and all my friends. They should drop everything and come. It's a holiday for the mysterious cherry blossom. It's nice to have days like that sometimes, and even though Stefan is technically the king before his coronation, he can establish a new holiday."
Sir Rail started calling Sir Stefan by his name instead of "His Majesty." He said that being called "His Majesty" felt distant and painful. "I see my Rail and Roxas as my little brothers," he said.
Sir Rail and Sir Roxas were like, "Stefan really is lonely, huh?" "Yeah, when he says it so honestly and straightforwardly, it's kind of surprising," they said, looking a bit exasperated but also a little happy.
Me, Sir Rail, and Eir-Eir left Lobelia.
Sir Rail carried the basket with the lunch.
On top of Sir Rail's head is Eir-Eir, and Ms. Famine is perched on his shoulder. Holding a basket and cradling Nel-Nel under his arm, Sir Rail looks a bit cute, like he's carrying a bunch of stuffed animals.
I'm walking side by side with my married dad under the soft spring sunlight.
"Hey, princess. You know the legend of the mysterious cherry blossoms, right?"
It's quite a distance from Lobelia to the hill of the mysterious cherry blossoms.
Walking there takes about an hour, I think. I've never been, but I have a general idea of where it is.
In front of the houses on the street, colorful tulips are blooming in planters, and the planters hanging from the streetlights are bursting with lively viola flowers.
"I know. If you pledge your love, it becomes eternal or something..."
"Exactly. I wonder if it'll be me and you, princess, who get there first. If that happens, I'll pledge my unchanging love to you."
"Uh, um..."
"Is that a no for me?"
"...It's not that, but are you teasing me, Sir Rail?"
"Hmm. I'm not sure. I have this feeling of wanting to keep you all to myself, but at the same time, it doesn't feel right to hog the kind princess all to myself."
Sir Rail chuckled awkwardly and said, "Actually, I was thinking of going to see the cherry blossoms just the two of us without telling anyone."
"But just like I like you, I also like Roxas and Stefan, and Lucian and Ciel are friends too. So, since we're at it, let's celebrate the arrival of this gentle spring together!"
"Yes!"
I'm really happy that Sir Rail thinks of me and everyone as friends.
I smiled brightly.
When I hear someone say they like me, I get a little nervous. But when I'm called a friend, I feel at ease.
It felt a bit strange.
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