CHAPTER 45…………………………………..
I had briefly considered telling him that my counterpart was the Duke of Northdian as originally planned, but in the end, I decided to postpone it as much as possible.
“That noble?”
“…That noble even asked me to go along with him.”
If I told him now, he would probably make a huge fuss and tell me to leave the house immediately, just from hearing about the Duke.
“So, if we happen to run into him at the banquet, I’d like you to just say we know each other through work. If it gets out that we’re close, he might cause trouble in various ways.”
At my request, Ripei’s expression stiffened. I had never seen him look like that before.
“That makes sense. Even if it’s just a contractual relationship, the head of a noble house would be annoyed if people misunderstood that she was having an affair with a mere mercenary.”
What? An affair?
His expression twisted strangely, almost like a duke’s.
“The higher the noble, the more they suspect things like that routinely. They think everyone is like them.”
“Wait, that’s not what I meant!”
What on earth is he talking about right now?!
I waved my hands at my burning face and explained the reason, talking about the awkward situations that could arise if he met the Duke.
Fortunately, Ripei seemed to understand quickly.
“So that’s it. You want to prevent unnecessary probing in advance. Makes sense—after all, a year from now, he’ll just be another stranger. No need to give him unnecessary information.”
He nodded as if he was satisfied.
“So, you came all the way here to say that? You could have just used a comm device.”
“What are you talking about! I don’t want you to get into trouble. You’re my only friend.”
At my words, the hand holding his glass of juice froze.
“Huh? Why’s that?”
“Friend… ah, right.”
“What? Aren’t we friends? Why do you look so reluctant?”
He glanced at me, then downed the juice in one gulp. Afterward, he let out a quiet chuckle.
“No, we’re definitely friends. You’re my only friend, too.”
“What? But you’re popular. So why am I the only friend?”
I thought Ripei, ever the cheerful one, was just teasing me to make me feel better. Then he made an even subtler smile and shook his hand.
“That’s enough, enough. Anyway, I’ve kept Risha waiting too long. Is it alright if I bring her in now?”
“Of course!”
At my answer, Ripei stepped out briefly to fetch her. As I sipped my juice, Risha approached smiling, draped in a black cloak.
“It’s been a while. What brings you here? I was surprised when Ripei said he was suddenly coming to see El.”
“We’ve been staying near the capital. I heard the two of you were here, so I came to meet you for a moment.”
“Oh, I see.”
I clasped her hands in both of mine and greeted her warmly.
“Here! Can I get the menu, please?”
I raised my hand to call a server. It was still just past midnight, so we had some time to chat.
When I called the server, it seemed Risha noticed my wrist.
“Oh, that bracelet is from Shidonggu!”
“Haha. You recognized it right away.”
I smiled awkwardly and extended my right arm. How does everyone recognize it so easily?
“Well, old accessories are usually from Shidonggu unless someone has an unusual taste. And this one… ah, this isn’t from Shidonggu.”
“This one’s a keepsake from my mother. It’s pretty worn, right?”
“From your… mother?”
Was she disappointed it wasn’t from Shidonggu?
“Yes. The strap broke, but I plan to repair it soon.”
Risha’s mood seemed a little off.
“Risha?”
“Oh, sorry.”
At that moment, the server came over.
“Here’s the menu you requested. Would you like to order?”
While Ripei and I placed our orders, she seemed lost in thought.
After the server left, Risha asked:
“If it’s alright, may I take a closer look at your bracelet? It seems familiar to me…”
“Ah, sure.”
My mother had been an ordinary mage who loved magical research. She met and married Count Uberis while traveling.
I didn’t expect anything special about my mother’s bracelet, so I readily offered my wrist. The duke had tied it so tightly that I couldn’t remove it even when washing, so I had no choice but to show my wrist.
Risha examined my bracelet carefully for a while, then shook her head.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t the one I’m looking for. Thank you for showing me.”
“You’re looking for something similar to this, then?”
“Yes. It belonged to someone precious who took it with them.”
Her eyes darkened as she spoke. It seemed like there was a story she couldn’t share.
‘Well, it makes sense. A mercenary mage would have a story.’
Even Ripei had details he didn’t share. Any unnecessary probing between us would be pointless.
I smiled softly and said the only thing I could.
“I hope you find it.”
“Yes. Thank you for showing me the bracelet.”
“Your food is here!”
At that moment, the server brought out three mugs of carbonated beer and a generous serving of sausages on wooden plates.
“Wow! This looks delicious!”
“As expected of the capital. Even the sausages are glossy!”
“Let’s eat quickly.”
We cheered and happily shared the sausages.
As dawn deepened, we left the Umte Mountains.
“Ha… that was really fun.”
I stepped out of the shop, pleasantly tipsy.
“But El, are you really okay?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Startled, I tilted my head.
“You’re coming to the banquet, right? You’re the real hero of this incident.”
Seeing her concerned expression, I waved my hands.
“No, it’s fine. I just read the situation as I saw it. I even got a reward. Oh! By the way, about the pouch of gold you gave me last time… there was a bottle of that medicine inside.”
“Oh, really? No wonder one was missing.”
“But I accidentally broke it…”
“That’s alright. Everything regarding that is already settled.”
“Really?”
“Really. You don’t need it anymore.”
Risha smiled kindly.
“Good. That’s a relief.”
The truth was, the duke had taken the medicine for safety, so I couldn’t return it even if I wanted to. I felt genuinely relieved by Risha’s words.
“El!”
Perhaps I had drunk more beer than expected—when I regained my senses, Ripei was supporting me.
“Ah, sorry.”
I held my forehead and stood up. Even after just one beer, the world was spinning.
“Can you go alone?”
“Of course! My door is automatic.”
“That’s good then. Just stay standing. I’ll watch you go.”
“Haha, there really is no one like Ripei. Well then, Risha, see you at the banquet.”
I waved at Risha, still smiling gently. The moonlight was so strong that shadows seemed to fall across her face.
“See you, El.”
Her black hair fluttered softly in the wind.
Ripei supported me as we walked away from the inn. I couldn’t let Risha see me open the door.
Once we were out of her sight, I felt I could walk alone and started off. After about a block, Ripei spoke.
“El… your birthday’s coming up, right?”
“Huh?”
I paused, realizing my birthday was not far off.
“That’s right, it is.”
I had completely forgotten with everything going on lately.
“This is an early birthday gift.”
He removed his hood and pinned a small hairpin on my hair. The other one, part of a pair, he gave me to hold.
It was a tiny hairpin with peridot, about two finger widths in size—adorable.
“So cute. Thank you.”
Ripei always made a careful effort to remember my birthday, even though I barely remembered his. No one in my past life had done that.
“I always forget your birthday, but you always remember mine. Sorry about that.”
He smoothed my hair and chuckled softly.
“It’s okay. Just remember that I’m always by your side—that’s enough.”
“Of course.”
Hearing that, he smiled more gently than usual and rubbed my cheek. The soft full-moonlight illuminated his face.
“I want you to be happy, El.”
I widened my eyes at the sudden words.
“Why so suddenly shy? Did you get drunk too?”
As I tried to push him away, he held my hand. I tilted my head at his unusual demeanor.
“Ripei?”
“El… I…”
He gently stroked my hair. Ripei always handled me carefully so I wouldn’t be scared.
His light touch traveled over my cheek, and his face seemed closer than usual.
“Are you okay?”
He gave a faint, somewhat bitter smile. Had he stopped moving closer? Or maybe I was just dizzy from the alcohol and imagining it.
“I’m okay. For now.”
“Really?”
With a slightly lonely expression, he stepped back. I wasn’t sure what was okay, but if he said he was, then it must be.
He let go of my hand.
“Ripei, if anything happens, tell me anytime. You’re my most precious friend.”
“…Alright.”
Returning to his usual expression, he playfully put the hood back on me.
“Be careful going back.”
“Ugh! I can’t see!”
“Haha.”
With the hood adjusted, I grabbed a nearby shop’s door handle. I was a little concerned about him, but it was time to head back.
“[I’ll go back.]”
As I murmured, a white light began to glow from the door gap.
“See you at the banquet.”
“Yeah. I’m counting on you then.”
“Sure.”
Ripei waved at me. Just like always. I waved back and opened the door to return to the Duke of Northdian’s residence.
It was a brief outing on a full moon night that no one knew about.
“Then I’ll see El off. You go in first.”
“Got it. See you tomorrow.”
Risha smiled and waved at Ripei supporting El for a while. After they disappeared from view, she turned around.
Her face had changed completely—cold now, nothing like the gentle smile El had seen earlier.
‘That necklace…’
She recalled a necklace with a familiar design she had seen earlier.
‘The name was El, right.’
The name given was probably not her real name, or it was a nickname.
Risha returned to one of the largest inns in the capital, arranged by the client.
Click.
Closing the door, she drew the curtains over the window with the full moon shining brightly. She didn’t particularly like the glare.
She tossed her black cloak onto the bed and sat cross-legged on a chair.
“Millene.”
For a moment, Risha spoke the name of someone she had long forgotten.
