3 bar menu

Chapter 39.7 – Leonhart (Part III)

After returning to the inn once to tidy himself up, Leonhart headed back to the market with one of his men who also wanted to shop. The bustle had not yet faded. Looking around, he spotted the Witch, speaking with Ilai, the merchant hosting the fair. …Naturally, she did not notice Leonhart’s return.

「The clothing and accessory shop is here, Captain. Witch-dono seemed to be looking earlier too, shall we try here first?」

「Let’s do that.」

The shop seemed to stock apparel for all ages and genders, but ready-made clothes were expensive, so customers were few. The fabric stall next door was far busier. Here, aside from Leonhart and his subordinate, the only other customers were Ritter and the small purple Mandragora sprout on his shoulder.

「I wanted to give Purple-chan some clothes, but human sizes are too big, even children’s. Isn’t there some way?」

「Oh my… what a splendid proportion, truly wonderful. It’s like a miniature version of Witch-sama herself, such beautiful balance! I’ve been wanting to design something for Witch-sama, so consider this practice. If you’ll let me decide the design, I’ll do it at a bargain.」

「Really!? That’s great! You hear that, Purple-chan!?」

Ritter was reliable in battle, but in front of women his behavior tended toward the dubious. Yet with this shop’s female owner and designer, he spoke normally. …Perhaps because his heart no longer wavered, he had already chosen. Leonhart’s mind refused to process that fact, so he stopped thinking about it. Tearing his gaze away from the sprout posing atop the counter, his eyes fell upon some ornaments further inside, and he walked toward them.

「Captain Leonhart, you can stand this atmosphere well… I almost suggested another shop.」

「There seems to be no other clothing store here. And more importantly, even I, who know little of such things, can tell these are good. If Witch-dono bought her veil here, it should match her tastes.」

The owner was eccentric, perhaps very eccentric, but the clothes were bright and pleasing to the eye. Leonhart could easily imagine how well they would suit her. He stopped at a display of ornaments and picked up a hairpin that drew his eye. Shaped like dangling droplets of glass, linked by delicate chains, it caught the light as it swayed, sparkling with a clear, chiming sound.

「Oh, that’s beautiful. …Captain, you don’t look very hesitant for someone who asked our advice.」

「Not so. …It’s just… I could clearly picture her wearing it. I thought it would suit her.」

The Flower Witch always adorned herself in blooms, glorious in their beauty. Those must be sustained by her magic, real flowers, fresh and alive. For someone so adorned, Leonhart thought an ornament shaped like water, the very essence of life to plants, would be fitting.

「I see. Then it’s something you truly want to give her. I think it’s perfect. …I hope Witch-dono uses it. Well, I’ll pick something for my own girl too. Captain, you go ahead with the purchase!」

Smiling as he began earnestly comparing handkerchiefs of similar design, his subordinate seemed intent on choosing what best suited the one he had in mind. Leonhart glanced toward the owner, who appeared just finished speaking with Ritter. The clothes would not be ready immediately, designs took time. For now, Ritter was done.

「Next, the plant shop! I’ll get you a fine tonic, Purple-chan!」

The purple sprout clung happily to Ritter’s arm as he carried it out. The knight’s foolish grin stretched ear to ear. …Neither knights nor villagers would ever steer him back to the 「proper path.」 More and more, people simply accepted Ritter and the Mandragora as they were. Habit was a frightening thing.

「Oh, customer, will you be taking that?」

「Yes, please.」

「That will be one large silver coin.」

Leonhart paid, had the hairpin wrapped in a handkerchief, and tucked it into his breast. His subordinate too bought what he had chosen, and together they left the store.

The Flower Witch was still speaking with the merchant. Her voice, however, could not be heard by anyone but Leonhart. It was her attendant, Noel, who read her intent and spoke in her place.

(She seems busy today. I’ll visit again tomorrow.)

He had no wish to intrude. He only wanted to express his thanks. He would not trouble her.

***

The next day, the merchants closed their stalls and sought goods in the village itself. Though small, thanks to the Witch there were many rare things. Ilai oversaw it all, but he could not handle everything alone, so merchants wanted to strike deals with villagers or the Witch if they found items of use.

(It almost feels like tourism… could Bit Village become a tourist spot one day?)

This had been a dangerous frontier, avoided by all. But with the Flower Witch’s arrival, the land had changed. …Though danger still remained.

Leonhart left the village and walked toward the Witch’s house. Around the river bloomed purification flowers, perhaps from her power, and greenery flourished. Autumn would soon bring a great harvest. For now, summer’s blossoms and greenery still shone bright. In the Witch’s garden too, flowers bloomed. He saw her there with Noel and the village girl Ellie, looking after two children. She was kind and well-loved by them, often playing with them like this.

(…Now’s the time.)

Leonhart drew out the wrapped hairpin and looked toward her again. The children, who had been sitting in the garden, ran up to the Witch.

「Witch-sama, here! Please take this!」

Ellie offered a crown woven of flowers. The Witch, today without her veil, smiled and accepted, setting it upon her head. Already wearing a hat-like array of blossoms, she wore the crown without the slightest discord.

「The veil is lovely too, but really, flowers suit you best, Witch-sama!」

Even from afar, Ellie’s high voice carried clearly. At Noel’s words, Leonhart’s hand tightened unconsciously.

Indeed, it was true. For the Flower Witch, nothing suited better than real flowers. She was like the incarnation of plants themselves. Any ornament would only be in the way. Realizing he had gripped the hairpin too tightly, he took it from the cloth. …The shaft had snapped. It was ruined, unfit for a gift.

(Something like this would only trouble her. …I’ll give it up.)

As the hairpin glittered in the sun, a bird dove and snatched it from his hand. All that remained was the broken shaft, the ornament part gone. He did not even feel like chasing it. With his errand void, Leonhart turned back to the inn.

「Welcome back, Captain… did you manage to give it to her?」

「…No. Circumstances prevented it.」

「Ah… well, these things happen. There’ll be other chances.」

His subordinate looked at him with gentle sympathy. But there would be no 「chance.」 The hairpin had been carried to some nest, no doubt used as nesting material. He kept the broken shaft, unable to discard it. It was only trash, but he clung to it. Why?

(…No, it’s not that my wish to thank her is gone. That must be it. I’ll give her something else. Something she’ll truly like… something plant-related, perhaps.)

This time, something that would bring her joy. Resolving so, Leonhart went to her house days later, intending to ask her or Noel what she might want.

Then he saw it, upon the Witch’s head was the very hairpin, the one the bird had stolen.

「Witch-dono… that hairpin…」

She smiled gently, silent as always before others. The droplet-shaped glass glimmered as her head tilted, as though a shining stream flowed. …It suited her exquisitely.

(…Did she see? Did she know?)

Perhaps she had noticed him that day, even at a distance, and reclaimed the hairpin when he gave up. Perhaps she accepted it knowingly.

「…It suits you… very well.」

The words forced from his lips trembled faintly. His heartbeat raced, his body hot, his skin prickling. The smiling Flower Witch shone too brightly, and the eye not hidden beneath his patch felt close to burning.

『Purple-chan is dazzling. You know, Leonhart, when you like a girl, she looks dazzling. Fall in love and you’ll see. It’s the same for everyone.』

…He recalled a comrade’s words. But he wished they wouldn’t compare him the same way.