I accepted Leah's invitation to spend the day with her at the Vestioria.

　The time was midday.
　I hadn't eaten lunch yet, so I decided to go sightseeing and eat.

Oh, look, look, Allen!　They sell potato butter!　Let's eat it together!

　Leah immediately found her favorite food and pointed to one of the stalls with a twinkle in her eye.

"Hmmm... Yeah, that's good.

"Yes!

　I nodded, and she smiled like a flower and ran to the stall.

Excuse me, two potato butters please!

Two potato butters, please!　Hey, isn't that you, Ria?

　The owner of the stall was a bear-like woman wearing a blue happi coat.
　She was about a size smaller than Paula.
　--I mean, very big.

　Then the bear-like woman shopkeeper said.

"Hmm?　Is that cool guy over there your ...... boyfriend?

　The bear-like woman owner asked with a grin.

"Uh, yeah, .......

　I couldn't reply immediately.

(How should I answer this? ......)

　As of now, due to a misunderstanding on the part of His Majesty, Grease, we're supposed to be lovers.
　But this is a story between us and His Majesty.

(A lover's relationship with a princess of a country: .......) Isn't this a story that shouldn't be spread too widely ......?

　And as I was pondering all this.　

"Yeah, hehehe ....... Actually, yes, it is .......

　I'm not sure what to do.

I've been thinking about it a lot, and I've been thinking about it a lot. Anyway, congratulations!　Okay, I'll add one more for you!

"Thank you!

　After that, we received the potato butter and left the stall.

I'm sorry, I said .......

Are you okay?

Yeah, yeah!　We'll be fine. ...... I'm sure!

　Then we went around to different stalls and ate different things.

I'm sure you'll be fine. I invited myself over here and ...... hmm!　When you're done, go home. ......!　You're a very selfish father!　It's ...... so good, Allen!

　As Leah ate her strawberry ice cream, she talked about her mixed feelings of anger towards His Majesty Grease and her thoughts on the ice cream.

"Oh, that's good ice cream. It's a good ice cream. ...... And you know, if we stay here too long, he might change his mind.　If you think about it, it's not a bad idea to leave here tomorrow.

　I replied carefully, one by one.

That's ...... possible. ....... Yes, let's definitely go home tomorrow!

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

　As the two of us were happily enjoying our food walk in Vesteria.

"Oh, I can see it now. That's the National Vestellia Museum, one of our tourist attractions.

　She pointed to a large building in the distance.

She pointed to a large building in the distance. "...... Oh, that's huge.

　The National Vestellia Museum.
　It has an architectural style reminiscent of a temple.
　It is about three stories high, but it is very wide.
　If it were just a simple area, it would be larger than the Vestellia Castle.

Come on, let's go in.

Oh.

　There didn't seem to be any particular admission fee, so we went through the main entrance and went inside.
　There were a lot of tourists inside the museum, but .......
　The museum itself is very big, so it doesn't feel so oppressive.

　The museum itself is very large, so it doesn't feel so oppressive, and I can look at the exhibits calmly.

But still, a 'museum': ....... This is the first time I've actually been here. ......

"Oh, I see. ...... Okay!　Then, Dr. Leah will be able to explain the exhibits to Allen!

"Hmm, that would be great.

　Then I went around with Leah to look at the various exhibits.

　Skeletons of giants that are said to have existed long ago.

　A stone statue of Gran-Vesteria, the legendary hero of Vesteria.
　As the name implies, he's an ancestor of Lear, the Vesteria family. Legend has it that he defeated an evil dragon that once plunged this country into terror.



　A historically famous painting.
　If I remember correctly, I've seen this one before in a textbook.

It is said that the artist, Henry, wrote this strange painting while blindfolded. That's why there are so many different colors on the frame.

"Wow, that's true. ......

　Leah, who was educated as a gifted child, had a wealth of knowledge in the arts.

　Not too shallow, not too deep - she gave me just the right amount of explanation, and I enjoyed it very much. She probably adjusted the amount of her talk based on my level of interest.

　As I was walking through the museum, looking at the various exhibits, I heard a voice saying

"......

　One thing. There was one mural that really caught my attention.

　It was a painting of seven beasts, including dragons and wolves. ...... The painting had a mysterious charm.
　It was a little strange that no one was looking at it, even though it was displayed in the middle of the hall.

"Hey, Leah. What is this mural about?

Oh, this one: ....... The artist, date and place of creation are all unknown. It's a veritable 'mystery mural.

It's an enigma at .......

Yeah. It doesn't meet our exhibition standards, but for some reason it's been on display for a long time. I asked my father once, "Why would you hang a painting that no one sees in such a nice place? I asked him. ....... He just brushed it off.

　Leah shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh, ....... I'm not sure if that's what you mean.

I'm not sure if that's the case or not. I've been here with him a few times on inspection tours and the like. ....... I always stared at this picture .......

Yeah, I see. ....... It's a really mysterious mural. ......

　We then enjoyed the variety of exhibits and by the time we left the museum, it was already dusk.

"Hmmm. ......

"Mmm ......

　After being in the room for so long, we both stretched at the same time.

"Whew. ...... Thanks, Leah. Thank you, Leah. It was a lot of fun.

"Hmm, that's good to hear.

　Her smile was beautiful against the sunset.

"Well, well, ....... It's getting dark now, so let's go home.

"Oh, wait a minute. There's one last place I want to go, ......?

Oh, where will you take me this time?

Oh, where are you taking me this time?

Of course!

　Then I headed straight for the capital city of Arlondo, with Leah as my guide.
　After a short walk along a flat road and then up a gentle slope, we arrived at our destination, the Hill of Hope.

"Hmm, here we are. ......

　The sun had already set, but there were still many people gathered there.

"Come on, come on, come on. Come on, Allen!

Oh.

　Leah called me over to the edge of the hill.

".......

　I was at a loss for words when I saw the beautiful sight before me.

"...... It's beautiful.

...... Oh, I've never seen such an amazing view before.

　A number of lights emerged from the pitch black darkness.
　The lights from the street vendors, the fluorescent lights, and the lanterns held by the people walking along the main street were all moving like living things.

(This is a different kind of natural beauty, but ....... I guess this kind of thing is also called a "spectacular view. ......)

　As we were both enjoying the beautiful scenery.

"Thank you!

　Leah suddenly thanked me.

"What?

"I'm so happy that Allen fought for me. Thanks to Allen, I can continue to live with you. So thank you.

Oh, you're welcome.

　...... Looking back, it was a really hectic three days.

　You can find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the most out of their life.
　The next day, I went to Vesteria. On that day, I had a meeting with His Majesty Gris right after lunch. A duel in the grand arena was decided, and late at night, I saw Claude naked. ...... Let's forget about this.
　And today - after defeating the three swordsmen sent by His Majesty, it was decided that I would be able to study swordsmanship at the Thousand Blade Academy with Leah.

(As you can see, I need to take a break. ......)

　I'm tired, not physically, but mentally.

　When I was thinking about it.

"How was my dad ......?

　Leah asked me a question that was very difficult to answer.

"Well, let's see, .......



　He was a unique person in many ways, but if I had to sum it up in one word, it would definitely be this.

Yes, ....... He was a man who cared a lot about Leah.

"Haha, yes. A little too much of that sometimes. ......

Yeah, I'll leave it at that.

　I was a little hesitant to speak ill of the king of a country in such a crowded place.

　Then, as we both gazed at the beautiful scenery in a daze, Leah began to speak in a quiet voice.

"You know, ....... In fact, my mother ...... died soon after I was born. ......

...... Oh, really?

　I was surprised by the sudden seriousness of the conversation, but I managed to reply.

Yes, ........ She said that her mother was originally weak and couldn't bear the burden of childbirth. ....... That's why I only know her face from pictures. ....... My father said she was a very bright and strong person.

I see. ......

I heard this from someone who has served me for a long time. ....... I heard from someone who has been serving me for a long time that just before his mother passed away, his father promised that he would protect his unborn child no matter what he had to do. ....... I think that's why he cares for me a little too much.

"...... I see.

　So he's doting on Leah as much as he did on his wife, the deceased queen.
　That would explain his doting on her.

It's 100% your father's fault for tampering with Allen's sword,....... But he did it out of love for me,........ I don't want Allen to hate his father. ......

Oh, I get it.

　It seems that Leah is a family-oriented girl with a really good heart.

Thanks, ........ But I'm sorry ...... for talking about something so damp all of a sudden. ......

It's okay, don't worry about it.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

I don't know why ....... I wanted Allen to know. It's a little ...... heavy, isn't it?

"No, it's not. I'm just happy to know more about Leah.

　Then I started talking about myself.

(It's not exactly a "return gift," but ......)

　I also wanted Leah to know something about me.

"...... I'm with you.

What?

In my case, I didn't have a dad. He died of an epidemic right after I was born.

...... Oh, yeah?

　Leah looked at me with some surprise.

"My mother raised me this far on her own. She worked her ass off day in and day out, and I'm ...... so grateful.

So ....... You must be a strong man.

Yeah, I respect that.

　I'm sure he's a strong man.

...... Allen's mother. I'd like to go say hello to her sometime.

It's nice of you to say so, but you'd be surprised how far out in the sticks ...... you can get.　After all, there are far more livestock than people.

It's okay. It's where Allen was born and raised, so I'm sure it's a lovely place.

Oh, well. I'm glad you like it, Leah.

　And then.

"......

"......

　A silence fell between them.

　But not a suffocating one.
　It's a gentle, warm silence that allows us to understand each other.

　A few minutes later.

"...... Hey, Allen. Why don't you do me a favor?

　Leah suggested.

"A favor ......?　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

　I remembered her talking about this when we were moving from the Thousand Blades Academy to the Kingdom of Vesteria.

"Yes. You see that big tree over there?

"Well, ......, that's it.

　Leah was pointing to a tree so tall that I couldn't see its top.

It is said that the tree has been growing for hundreds of millions of years. ...... I don't know if that's true or not.

"Oh, really? ......

　Hundreds of millions of years .......



(I'm sure this tree had a hard time with ...... too. ......)

　For the first time in my life, I felt deep empathy for the tree.

"So. It's said that if you put your hands together under the tree and pray for what you truly wish for, whatever you wish for will come true.

Wow, that's great. Shall we try it?

Yes!

　Then we moved to the base of the tree.

　Then we moved to the base of the tree and looked at each other once, then silently put our hands together and made a wish in our minds.

(May I always be with Leah.)

(May I always be with Allen.)

　After we finished making our wishes, we opened our eyes and quietly walked back to where we came from.

"Hey, .......

Hmm?

What did you wish for, Allen?

Hmm, well, ....... I'm a little embarrassed to talk about it, so I'll keep it to myself.

　I'm a little embarrassed to say that I want to be with you in front of him. ...... I'm a little embarrassed to say that I want to be with you in front of him.

It's a little embarrassing to say "I want to be with you" in front of the person .......

"Hint? ....... I'm sure you'll be happy to know that ...... Leah wishes the same thing.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

She smiled good-humoredly when she heard the answer. Maybe we're wishing for the same thing.

　And so I spent my last day in Vesteria with Leah.