Chapter 21: Little girl by the roadside, part 6
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Translator: Denryuu
Lord Bardell told me everything I’d wanted to know about Meiri.
「She’s a princess hailing from the kingdom of Vadenhaag. As you already know, it was desecrated by the Demon King’s army. Even though the kingdom itself no longer exists, there have been efforts made to revitalise the region.」
Vadenhaag was one of nine kingdoms that once existed. It and one other have since fallen, leaving only seven today.
「That girl who you call Meiri… Alias. Princess Alias Vadenhaag, to be precise. It is not known how she escaped the carnage that descended upon her kingdom, but according to the slave trader, she was found alone.」
There’s a silver lining to being found by a slave trader. At the very least, they make sure that their victim doesn’t die. In Meiri’s case, she’d been sold to the baron.
「She was recognised as the princess as she had a small brooch inscribed with the royal coat of arms in her possession. At that point, however, she could not even recall her own name, let alone recent events… most likely the result of something greatly traumatic. Seeing that he’d brought her to me, a noble who does not dabble in warfare, I’d wager that he’d taken pity on her as well.」
And that’s how Meiri became his slave. Ambitious as always, he’d probably taken custody of her in order to use her for his own gains. He’d hired an assassin just to bring her back. A refreshing type of ambitious person, I’d say.
That night, as Meiri slept, I told Lyla all about it over a bottle of wine — what her army had done, Meiri’s amnesia and the whole princess affair. Sitting beside me on the sofa, she grabbed my arm the entire time.
「Penny for your thoughts?」
「There might still be people who were separated from her and have no idea about her whereabouts…」
「Perhaps we can find out.」
「How?」
「We could somehow ask King Randolph…」
「…you’re right.」
Arriving at the same conclusion, we decided to follow through with it. However, despite now knowing her roots, it’s not like either of us was happy to let her go. Lyla put her head on my shoulder. Our hands interlaced, and we twiddle our thumbs together.
This sad feeling… what could it possibly be?
Lightly stroking Lyla’s hair, I could smell her fragrance. Looking into her eyes, I could see my own reflection in her red pupils. When she closed her eyes, it was apparent that she had long eyelashes.
It wasn’t just me who was awash with melancholy.
◆Meiri
When was it –?
All of a sudden, she remembered. Who she was and what she was doing here.
It could’ve been before bedtime. Perhaps when training with Roland? Or maybe when playing with Lyla? Anyhow, she remembered.
Warm memories resurfaced. Memories that had been locked away and frozen. A doting father, a beautiful mother. Her siblings. A carefree life. Everyone died, and yet she had lived. Probably.
The warmth of the odd couple had thawed the icy prison of her mind.
That night, she made her way to Roland’s room and snuggled in his bed.
「What’s wrong?」
Even when making as little noise as possible, she had woken him up. However, she knew that he wouldn’t object to her intrusion.
「Oh, it’s nothing.」
Like a kitten craving warmth, she crawled into Roland’s embrace. He stroked her head. Wanting to be doted on, she held tightly onto him.
「Ahem. R-Roland? I just finished taking a bath. I’ve kept you waiting, haven’t I…?」
Hearing a voice, Meiri snuck her head out from under the blanket and was greeted by the sight of Lyla wrapped only in a towel.
「Lyla-chan, if you don’t wear your pyjamas, you’re gonna catch a cold.」
「Wha–!? M-Meiri? What are you doing in this guy’s bed!?」
While complaining, Lyla gently dropped her towel and slipped into the same bed, wearing nothing but panties. Meiri was sandwiched between the two of them.
「Lyla-chan, your boobies are showing.」
「It’s fine, I’m in bed.」
「Roland, where will you be going?」
「Oh. I’ll be leaving for two days.」
「Where to?」
「…it’s just work.」
「Meiri, you’ll look after the house with me.」
Roland had told her that if she’s bored, she can always look for quests at the guild.
Feeling a sudden tinge of melancholy, she continued hugging him. He hugged Lyla from the back, and Meiri was once again sandwiched between the two. She felt a little sad, but not sad sad.
「It’s warm.」
「It is.」
「It’s a little hard to breathe.」
By the time she woke the next morning, Roland had already gone to work. Not even so much as a shadow remained.
◆Roland
「Oi, King Randolph. Wake up. Wake up.」
He lightly tapped the snoring king’s cheek.
「Unguoh…? Huh!? I was wondering who it was, but it’s you, Roland –」
It was the wee hours of the morning, and Roland was in the king’s private room. He had feared being turned down if he requested a meeting during the day. As such, he had decided to visit at night, when the king would certainly be present.
「You surprised me… anyway, what do you want!? Could it be that… you’ve come to assassinate me!?」
「I thought you knew that I’d quit.」
Coming to his senses, the king put on his gown.
「At any rate, that was terrifying. The impending sense of doom when you suddenly appear isn’t a laughing matter at all. You’re even scarier than the grim reaper…」, he complained. 「Well, what brings you here? Didn’t you say that we wouldn’t cross paths again?」
「I come not as an assassin, but as a humble commoner. I need you to do me a favour — there’s something I’d like to confirm. I couldn’t think of anyone more suited for it.」
「What…?」
I told him all about Meiri.
「The princess of Vadenhaag. Hmm…」
「I was wondering if there was a link to the Ferland royal family. I’m here to find out if there were any survivors. It’s not important where they are right now. Does anything come to mind?」
「I… provided shelter for Leyte Vadenhaag.」
「Oh, Meiri’s mother. What became of her?」
「Ah. With our backing, she’s working hard to rebuild the kingdom. I’m not sure about the rest, though…」
「I see. Well, I’d like her to know that her daughter is safely under my wing.」
I disclosed the location of my house. It’s the only one in the area, so it shouldn’t be hard to find.
「I owe you a favour now.」
「I’m greatly indebted to you, so don’t see it that way.」
「Nah, that was when I was an assassin. It’s a personal matter this time.」
「An honest man as always. If that’s the case… I have a request too.」
「Okay. What is it?」
「It’s about the first princess and Hero, Almeria.」
Having finished our little discussion, I returned home. I told Lyla everything, and then we made our decision.
It was in the morning two days later that we heard the sound of large, clattering wheels. Whatever was making that sound stopped nearby. I got up from breakfast, exchanged glances with Lyla and went outside. A horse-drawn carriage accompanied by four knights and stallions had stopped in front of our house. Taking the coachman’s hand, a noblewoman alighted from the carriage. I bowed a little to pay respects.
「I am Roland Argan. I am an employee of the adventurers’ guild.」
「I am Leyte Vadenhaag.」
The queen curtsied. Lyla, taking Meiri by the hand, brought her out to meet her mother.
「Alias!」
Tears welled up in her eyes. Meiri noticed this too.
「Mother?」
My eyes met with Lyla’s. As I thought, Meiri’s memories had returned at some point — I had feared that she wouldn’t recognise her own mother. The queen rushed up to her and gave her a big hug.
「Thank goodness, I’ve found you at last…」
Meiri started crying. The tears just wouldn’t stop. Come to think of it, she had never acted her age. She was never a cry-baby, never raised a tantrum or complained about my lessons. Finally, the original Meiri had resurfaced.
「How… how should I reward you?」
「It’s fine, I only started taking care of her a while ago.」
「No, not like that. I’ve spoken to his majesty. He deeply regrets that he has nothing to offer you for your service.」
「No, it’s okay, really! We didn’t do this just for a reward!」, shouted Lyla, straining her voice.
I felt the same way.
After that, the queen couldn’t stop expressing her gratitude.
「We will never forget your kindness for as long as we live.」
Taking Meiri’s hand, she headed for the carriage, but Meiri stood her ground.
「Say goodbye to them, Alias.」, said the queen warmly as she climbed on board.
Meiri turned to face us. She’d already stopped crying, but tears started flowing again.
「Roland…」
「Yes.」
「Lyla-chan…」
「Bye!」
Her lips trembled.
「Thank you for taking care of me…」
She couldn’t control the stream of tears.
「…You made me happy!」
Lyla bit her lip.
「Ah, same here.」
Tears streaming down her cheeks, she spoke through her sobbing.
「It was so… warm. I remembered everything… oh, and, and… I could run a lot! I was an adventurer, too! Thanks to you… every day was fun!」
Eyes swollen from crying, she ran over to us. We kneeled down and gave her a big hug.
「Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa –」
I patted her head. Lyla, looking like she was about to cry, pressed her cheeks against Meiri’s.
「This isn’t our final goodbye. Meiri… no, Alias Vadenhaag. You can come visit us any time.」
She nodded.
「I’ll send letters… please write back to me!」
「Of course!」
「Oh and Roland, I’m gonna marry you someday, please love me like you do to Lyla-chan!!」
「Hm. Okay.」
「What do you mean, ‘okay’!?」
Lyla socked me in the ribs. Meiri, who had been crying all this time, finally smiled. Waving her hand, she mounted the carriage and left for her kingdom. Both she and Lyla waved for a long time.
Once we lost sight of the carriage, Lyla finally began to cry. I clutched her tightly. The weather was perfect, without a cloud to be seen.
‘Meiri’ — it means ‘blue skies’.
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