Side Story 1 – Chapter 9

 

* * *

 

The next day, Loretta woke up in the same bed as Melody.

Seeing a small towel lying nearby, it seemed Melody had placed a cold compress on her eyes throughout the night.

“……Sorry. Melody. You must have been tired.”

Loretta gave Melody a quick kiss on the forehead and slowly got out of bed.

She carefully stepped out into the hallway, trying not to wake Melody, and bumped into Isaiah who was passing by.

“Oh my, Captain!”

“Sir Mullern.”

Loretta approached him with a bright smile.

“You startled me! I thought I was being assassinated.”

“Does that mean I’ll have a stamp with my face on it next year?”

Isaiah was famous for winning countless martial arts tournaments, and even more so for having released as many commemorative stamps as the Emperor thanks to those victories.

“If it’s a stamp with Captain’s portrait, the Duke and Master Claude would buy them all. Because they don’t like the post office’s seal stamped on top.”

Realizing that was probably true, Loretta chuckled.

Isaiah carefully observed her mood with a slightly worried look.

“I’m fine, Sir Mullern. I’m not forcing a smile, nor am I trying to act strong.”

“N-no!”

Isaiah denied it in a flustered manner, but eventually scratched his head and confessed honestly.

“I’m relieved if you’re truly alright, but still, this is your home, Captain.”

“…”

“Meaning, there’s no better place to freely grieve.”

Loretta thought about her feelings for a moment, rolling her eyes back and forth.

“You know, I… think I’m doing better than I expected.”

She nodded slowly. Of course, there was still some sadness left, but not enough to bring tears to her eyes.

“It’s strange. I thought I would be crying for days, unable to do anything. Like in the novels. Maybe I… didn’t like him that much?”

“No way.”

Isaiah shrugged with a grin.

“It’s probably because you did your best with those feelings, Captain. To the point of leaving no regrets behind.”

He lowered his voice and added, ‘Because I did the same.’

“Then… will you be able to slowly let go of those feelings now?”

“Hmm.”

Isaiah couldn’t give a clear answer to that question. Loretta decided not to press him further and smiled.

“Anyway, thank you for your concern, Sir Mullern. I’m really fine. I’m even hungry and want to see something fun.”

“Shall I arrange a schedule? The play that Mel… I mean, Mrs. Baldwin was looking forward to has opened.”

“No, it’s alright.”

Loretta fiddled with the ends of her messy hair.

“Thankfully, I have an appointment today. His Majesty invited me to see a fun performance and have a delicious meal.”

“His Majesty the Emperor did?”

Isaiah asked in surprise.

Loretta had always found meeting the Emperor quite bothersome.

“Yeah, I ended up showing him a bit of an embarrassing side. And I’m indebted to him. It’s a good thing, actually.”

“I’m relieved if you’re okay with it, Captain. Then I’ll accompany you to the Art Academy. It’s better for me to go when working with the Emperor’s escorts.”

“Thank you.”

Loretta nodded lightly at Isaiah and returned to her room.

She casually glanced out the window and greeted the new morning sunlight.

‘Good morning.’

The feeling of waking up on the morning after deciding to give up on love was surprisingly… not bad.

 

* * *

 

After August’s wedding, Loretta and Evan hadn’t contacted each other once.

There was no reason to, really.

Even with mana stones being widely used throughout the capital, Loretta was still able to maintain her emotional stability by Melody’s side.

As her most important feelings were not shaken, the explosions caused by her physis constitution didn’t occur either.

And Evan had no other business with Loretta unless Jeremiah requested something.

That’s how autumn completely passed, and winter arrived.

One day, Evan stared blankly at the small calendar on his desk. He saw a mark he had carefully made on today’s date.

It was the day Loretta had asked, ‘Would it be alright to visit the Magic Tower again when winter starts?’, setting an appointment.

Of course, back then, they hadn’t expected that incident to happen at August’s wedding…….

‘She won’t… come.’

Evan sternly scolded himself for thinking such a thing.

It was only natural, wasn’t it? Considering what he had done to Loretta.

“Haah.”

Evan let out a big sigh and banged his head on the desk.

“Meow.”

Just then, he heard a familiar cry from behind his back. Evan quickly turned around in surprise.

“Echo!”

Despite his happy greeting, Echo didn’t show much of a reaction. It seemed he had done his part by announcing his return and had no other business.

“Echo, when did you come? Are you back from the Duke’s residence?”

Echo just turned his head and laid down flatter, ignoring Evan’s question.

“A-are you… angry at me?”

It seemed the clever cat had also learned about what happened between Evan and Loretta.

He turned his head haughtily and walked out the slightly open door.

“Echo?”

When Evan called out, Echo turned around as if saying, ‘What are you waiting for? Follow me.’

‘…Could it be.’

Evan followed Echo, a strange sense of anticipation rising in his heart, even though he had resolved to give up on such hopes.

‘That’s impossible… Miss wouldn’t… anymore.’

He tried to think rationally, but as he watched Echo’s gently swaying tail, he couldn’t help but harbor foolish expectations.

Evan’s heart began to race.

When Echo, having descended all the stairs, headed towards the Magic Tower’s reception room, his breathing became short.

‘…C-could it be that Miss is really…’

What should he do?

Evan wiped his sweaty palms on his robe.

“Magician Evan!”

Magician Pierce, who happened to be nearby, approached him from afar.

“M-Master Pierce.”

“You should have told me beforehand if a distinguished guest was coming. The Magic Tower kitchen is in chaos right now!”

“I’m sorry.”

Evan quickly bowed.

He usually informed the Magic Tower kitchen a week before Loretta’s visit and secured expensive tea leaves…….

“Anyway, go inside. They’re waiting for Magician Evan.”

“Waiting for… me?!”

When Evan asked in surprise, Pierce answered as if it were obvious.

“Such a distinguished guest, how could you keep them waiting? It would have been a problem if this wasn’t the Magic Tower.”

“S-sorry.”

Evan bowed his head repeatedly and rushed to the reception room.

He had resolved to forget about Loretta, but the thought of seeing her again brought back all his unwavering feelings.

‘…Miss.’

Hiding his hands behind his back, where magic power had formed despite his best efforts, he took a deep breath. Then, after counting to ten in his mind, he finally opened the door.

“Fancy seeing you again, Magician Evan.”

However, the voice from inside the reception room didn’t belong to the person he was hoping for.

“…Your Majesty.”

Evan belatedly bowed and raised his gaze.

Echo was curled up on the young Emperor’s lap.

“I apologize for the sudden visit, but…”

The Emperor gently stroked the cat lying comfortably on his lap, a troubled look on his face.

“Loretta’s Echo insisted on returning to the Magic Tower today.”

“…”

Evan just stared at Echo and the Emperor, speechless.

“Why…”

“The Magic Tower’s cat was as clever as they say. I was honestly impressed.”

The Emperor lifted the cat in his arms.

Echo, who usually disliked being held, seemed perfectly content in his embrace.

“Thank you… for bringing Echo.”

The Emperor smiled faintly at Evan’s heartfelt thanks.

“I should be thanking Echo. Thanks to him, I was able to write several letters of comfort to the Lady, evading the Duke’s eyes.”

‘Meow.’ Echo snuggled into the Emperor’s arms with a soft cry.

The Emperor explained how Echo had become a guest of the imperial family.

“On the day of the appointment, he followed the Lady and stared at me with an appraising look.”

The Emperor stroked Echo’s chin with a familiar hand.

“…I apologize.”

Evan bowed.

It was wrong for the Magic Tower’s cat to stare at the highest authority of the empire in such a manner.

“No, it wasn’t bad. I was actually curious.”

“Curious, Your Majesty?”

Just then, a knock was heard. It must be Magician Pierce with the tea.

But neither Evan nor the Emperor looked in that direction.

“Whether you had abandoned your position, and I could take your place.”