The two of us walk through the city gate, greeted by none other than Stronl sitting on the other side. She was awaiting our return after we sent back the scout who confronted us close to the city.
“So it’s true? You guys wiped out the entire army?”
”Yes, or close to. There is no chance of them re-coordinating for another attack.” Rainel nods.
“…” She just stares at us for a couple seconds, looking the two of us up and down, clearly wondering how the two people in front of her accomplished such a feat.
“And where’s your third?” She resumes her questioning.
“We left on amicable terms after the battle. She wanted to travel to Oliviand in order to settle some personal matters.” I respond this time.
I was slightly miffed to let Celestia get away with everything she did, but both Rainel and I agreed this was the best course of action.
“… You’re not lying are you?”
“There should be emissaries arriving shortly to confirm everything.” Rainel says.
”No, about Celestia.” As always, her perception was unmatched, immediately honing in on our prevarication.
The two of us look at each other.
”We are not lying. There’s more to the story, but at this point it’s unimportant.” Rainel offers.
Stronl closes her eyes. “Alright, if you’re the one to say so, then I won’t sweat the smaller details.” She turns. “Let’s head back. Someone’s been anxiously awaiting your returns.”
I unconsciously beam as soon as I hear that. Rainel watches me with a side-eye and shakes his head with a smile.
“Well, any updates on the warfront?” He asks Stronl as we start walking.
“We’re awaiting further confirmation, but the last message we got was that the siege of Rondas was a success. So far we’ve been able to move forward practically unopposed due to our Tetsudo advantage, but that’s only because Oliviand’s been strangely delayed in deploying their Tetsudos. This fight however, I believe we managed to win even with a reportedly opposing Tetsudo.”
Fiao’s doing her work huh?
“And if the Rondas siege is successful then—“ Rainel says excitedly.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance when the time comes.”
Kaldros after Rondas huh. It was such an important center for communications, supply lines, and shipwater access that taking it back would certainly shift the war to our favor, and Rainel… I glance at him. Well, of course it would be an important battle for him.
I look around. The streets were strangely empty right now for the time of day, no one stirring even within their houses. Although a couple people were conducting business as usual.
”Where is everyone by the way? There’s almost no one walking around except us.” I ask.
“Everyone is gathered around there.” Rainel points towards the center of the city. “I can hear Prince Hanafin giving an address near the castle.”
“Yep, that’s where I’m taking you two right now actually. Yesenia is also there.”
“Righty then.”
…
Looks like nothing noteworthy happened here, and Stronl doesn’t seem to care enough to ask about the details of our battle, so we don’t have much to talk about.
…
Both Rainel and Stronl were very reserved and serious people… Maybe Rainel wasn’t as taciturn as I thought, given how much we talked during the trip back, but he still gives off that sort of idea. Well, I guess I’ve made the same impression as them. I didn’t want to break that facade of mine either, by suddenly making small talk.
…
I mean, is it a facade? Isn’t that how I actually was… A couple days ago?
I think back to my time spent in the fire. That image of the burning tree, my father, the feeling of another presence hidden within my mind.
Was all that stuff real? Did I actually change? I had completely given up, but suddenly I was a bit more in control of my thoughts now. But I still retained the freakishly strong Tetsu from before. Which is why I couldn’t bring myself to dislike Celestia either. What the hell happened—
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“Yo!” I’m broken out of my train of thought by a new arrival moving to greet us. A man with curly hair and whimsical looking eyes strolling next to us. I think I’ve seen him before as one of the unit commanders reporting to Stronl.
”I’m working. Go somewhere else.” Stronl growls. For some reason that growl felt kinda…
“Can’t I spend time with my precious fiancee? You’re always working all the time.” He complain— Wait what?
Both Rainel and I turn to Stronl at the exact same time, but she immediately grabs the back of our heads and turns our eyes back forward.
“This cold-ass woman? You’re telling me someone caught her heart? More importantly, also fell in love with her too?!” I blurt out unintentionally.
“It’s political.” She swiftly says.
“Your house hasn’t had a single political marriage for 40 years. In fact your grandfather, the current lead is one of the most outspoken against it.” Rainel joins in.
“How do you even— That is none of your business.”
“That’s right, you think her family would approve a marriage to a commoner like me, if it were political?” Stronl’s fiance beams.
A commoner!?!
“Brad, please—, I mean Bradley, please leave us at once.” Her voice slightly shakes, betraying the truth.
“You’re kidding!” “Since how long?”
The two of us waddle up beside her as she looks down furiously blushing.
“What are you two? Prepubescent girls? I thought you guys aren’t the type to gossip.” She says in a low voice, before suddenly yelping as Bradley snatches her waist.
“No need to be embarrassed about showing off a lover... It’s kinda cute actually, no need to change, keep doing it.” Bradley laughs heartily before turning to us. “Hey, you guys want to know how I did it?”
The two of us nod furiously.
“Hey!”
“Well, let me tell the two of you a little secret. She’s not actually as cold-hearted as you think. You see, the reason she acts the way she does is because when people talk to her about menial things, she doesn’t actually know how to make small talk back, so she berates anyone who tries to be friendly with her.”
”Wait-!”
“But, if you keep trying. Her heart eventually melts like butter. She gets all flustered and tries to return the conversation, in a way that you know she’s been thinking about it all night about things to say. It’s adorable!”
“Stop describing me like a child!”
“Oh you don’t like getting called cute and adorable?”
“… I didn’t say that.”
Ahhhhhh. I stare at the two together, mouth agape. This doesn’t feel real somehow. I turn to Rainel, similarly struck by the situation. In fact, he seemed even more shell-shocked than I was. Well, he’s probably known her for longer so it must come as a bigger surprise to him.
Suddenly, an image pops into my mind. A lone figure, standing against a white background, her long brown hair flowing down across her back.
…
I love Yesenia. It has to be true at this point. Back at the mountain, traveling with Celestia was the first time I thought about it. Now seeing these two together was making my heart throb, but it practically confirmed it.
Damn it. I look down. What should I do after I see her? Telling her this would be unimaginably selfish given how much was currently on her shoulders. At the same time, am I okay with this? Silently admiring her from a distance?
…
”By the way, Cain, do you mind repeating what you said, something about me being cold?” Stronl glares daggers at me.
“Huh? Ah.” I think I said something really rude a couple moments ago didn’t I?
I look back at Stronl, not taken her eyes off me once. Then look back at Rainel, chatting with Bradley to the side.
I could feel her gaze piercing straight through me, twisting and turning through my very soul.
“… Sorry.”
I was soon saved however, as my ears perked up.
“And with that I bring the good news.”
That’s Hanafin. I can hear him now.
“Rondas has been retaken with the help of the Tetsudo of the north capital.”
And that means that Yesenia is…
“We all share in your hardships, just last week the long awaited statute to draft everyone equally, rich or poor, was finally passed.”
A vast assembly of people materialized before our eyes as we turned the corner, their numbers stretching as far as the eye could see.
“Taxes have also been adjusted to relieve some of the load off those who are less well off. Know that the new taxes imposed should also mostly affect the wealthier.”
I scan the crowd for any sign of her, that cheerful smile, always looking like she was on the verge of breaking out in joyous laughter.
“Oh he’s really got it bad.” Bradley says to Rainel.
“Yeaaaaaa.” Rainel says in a pensive tone.
”The issue of food shortages has also come up many times, as we’ve had to divest much of our crop to the war front. However, many of the projects promised last year are completed or nearing completion, and food resources are projected to return to pre-war levels soon, possibly even in surplus.”
Where is she? Shouldn’t she be somewhere near the stage? Next to Hanafin?
“The end of our ordeal looms near, my friends. Victory beckons, and within a month’s time, we may see the last of the Oliviands retreat from our domain.”
Suddenly a white dress pops out from within the crowd.
”Huh?”
“Princess!”
Yesenia squeezes her way past shocked onlookers dragging her frilly expensive looking dress on the ground, making her way towards us with a wide smile on her face.
“I expected this.” Stronl sighs. Of course she was going to be the one making her way to us, not the other way around. “And she’s supposed to be speaking after Hanafin…”
“And so hold tight and hold fast, our darkest hour has passed and we will soon flourish once again!” Hanafin finishes his speech.
The ground trembles as cheers flood the ether. Yesenia finally slows down to a stop as she comes face to face with us, but instead of saying anything she simply giggles like a child for a couple moments.
“I knew it. I knew you would be able to do it.” She finally says, before taking a deep breath.
”Welcome ba—“
END OF PART 2