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——Drawing a breath, she ventured into the tomb that had only just revealed itself.
Within the stone tomb where even moonlight was sealed out, the only source of illumination was the faint bluish glow emanating from the walls. In places where mana pooled thickly in the atmosphere, such natural luminescent phenomena were not uncommon for aiding visibility.
That said, it was rare for an artificial structure to glow naturally of its own accord. Presumably, the mechanism behind its construction was reproducing the phenomenon theoretically — like a magical tool that could be utilized as long as sufficient mana was supplied. That was the principle behind the tomb's luminescence, and feeling a logic not far removed from it, Emilia let out a quiet breath.
Inside this tomb, the presence of the minor spirits felt distant, far away.
That did not mean they were absent. Minor spirits, like the mana in the atmosphere, were everywhere. Whether you could perceive their presence, or they were powerful enough to be perceived — that was the only difference. There was no place where they truly did not exist.
The reason the tomb felt so unusual lay in the mechanism behind the wall's glow.
This tomb's environment severely restricted the flow of mana between its interior and exterior. The mana quantity inside was maintained at a fixed level — engineered so it would neither exceed nor fall below a set threshold.
The mana level at which the walls' glow was sustained — this was a quantity so minuscule it could barely sustain minor spirits. That was why the minor spirits' presence felt so faint within. Even those spirits that were here would only be able to grow into feeble forms in such an environment.
"For a spirit user, this is a really, really unpleasant environment."
Concluding as much, Emilia murmured with a pout.
Perhaps because passing the first "trial" had granted her some measure of release from the feeling of being cornered — this was the impression she now held of the tomb, having finally grown able to look around her.
For a mage who stored mana internally and drew upon it, this was not much of a threat. However, for a mage with fewer gates to begin with, it would remain a difficult place — once spent, there was no means of replenishment.
For Emilia at her current level, or someone as powerful as Roswaal, it would have virtually no impact on combat. Still.
"That's strange when I think about it… I can barely sense everyone who's supposed to be outside."
With her powers as a mage restored, Emilia's mana perception had grown acute. When she had been outside the tomb, she had sensed far more mana than she could control — picking up the mana and Od of nearly every living creature within her reach. The toll on her nerves had been extraordinary, and she needed to learn control quickly.
In any case, that quiet battle had been put on hold the moment she entered the tomb. In its place awaited the far greater challenge of the "trial," and she wasn't sure which was the lesser evil.
"
She remembered how Ram had bowed her head and pleaded with Emilia for the first time. Ram, who normally refused to show even the slightest vulnerability, had let so much emotion show. If Emilia couldn't answer that, how could she possibly repay all the days they had spent together?
There was also the trust Subaru had shown in leaving the mansion without witnessing the outcome himself. He had believed without a shred of doubt that Emilia could do it. She had to live up to that trust. No — rather, she needed to surpass his expectations and leave him surprised.
"I'm happy you believe in me, but that's a completely different matter from what I'm about to say."
She had to object to the fact that he had left here without even showing his face, however pressed for time he was. Showing her displeasure and making him sweat a little — that much should be permitted.
After all, with Subaru there were far more important conversations yet to come.
"And this atmosphere… the 'trial' is definitely here."
The instant she had entered the tomb, Emilia had felt it in her skin.
She had been only half-convinced that a single in-and-out trip would be enough to prepare the "trial." But the air inside the structure — so crisp it was almost piercing — conveyed that truth to her unmistakably.
There was no need to put it off.
The second "trial" awaited Emilia within the Trial Chamber.
"I've seen the past. So the next one is…?"
Summoning her courage against the thought of what might be waiting, Emilia patted her stomach to steady herself.
She checked her resolve against the steadiness of her breathing. Within acceptable range. Time to step forward.
——Unsurprisingly, the Trial Chamber greeted Emilia with the same appearance it had before. She had only been gone for less than an hour, after all.
As always, this room alone seemed to accumulate a higher concentration of mana, offering slightly better visibility than the corridors. And at the far end — that motionless door was still there.
Three trials to overcome, and what would await her upon reaching that door?
Just as that thought crossed her mind— 『——Behold an impossible present.』
"——!"
She heard it.
A whisper right beside her ear — unmistakably her own voice.
The impossible present — the instant she tried to grasp the meaning of those words, her consciousness went white.
A fierce sensation tore her consciousness and soul from Emilia's body, dragging her into a different world altogether.
Unable to resist, Emilia slumped against the wall and collapsed, eventually falling to the ground.
Her vision blurred, her thoughts scattered, and her awareness sank.
"Subaru…"
The last thing her lips had spoken — even that, she could not be certain of — before the trial began.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ "Come now, Lia. Where are you heading off to? Come here, dear."
Stopping at the gentle voice, Emilia turned around.
The woman beckoning Emilia toward the dining table had short, neatly trimmed silver hair. A sharp gaze. A soft voice. In every respect, she was the ideal woman in Emilia's eyes.
"
"…? Are you still half-asleep? You must have stayed up late again. You're not a child anymore, so stop causing yourself all that trouble."
Fortuna approached and, in a scolding tone, poked Emilia's forehead with her finger.
Emilia pressed a hand to her slightly reddened forehead and stared wide-eyed.
"Wow."
The exclamation escaped her involuntarily. The scene before her struck Emilia that deeply.
It was the first time she had seen Fortuna wearing an apron — sacrificing ease of movement for it. The frilly white apron, decorated with more embellishments than necessary, suited her beautiful appearance despite being entirely out of character for Fortuna.
"Lady Mother, you're adorable."
"——! What is that all of a sudden? Goodness, you really must still be half-asleep."
Her cheeks flushing ever so slightly, Fortuna grabbed Emilia's shoulders and turned her around. Then, giving her a push forward— "Go wash your face at the basin. A splash of cold water will sober you up, and you won't be saying strange things like that anymore. Though knowing you, even after waking up, that might not change."
"What—what are you saying, Lady Mother? That's not true at all. I wasn't half-asleep, and… besides, I never say anything strange."
"Where did you even learn expressions like 'that's not true at all'? I'm terribly worried that everyone's been filling your head with mischief. I'll have to have a word with Arch later."
Emilia pouted unhappily, but Fortuna simply gave a resigned nod and would hear none of it. Realizing her words were having no effect, Emilia slouched and trudged toward the washing basin.
"Oh, good morning, Emilia. You don't look too cheerful."
"That's true. Did you perhaps upset Fortuna? Staying up late again, I'd wager."
"Emilia's at that age, after all. There are times when you just want some time to yourself, right?"
Stepping outside and heading toward the basin, Emilia was greeted along the way by the elves of the settlement.
A group of elders sat around a table formed by a ring of thick tree roots, chitchatting. They were said to be Fortuna's contemporaries, and including Fortuna, all of them looked youthful to Emilia's eyes.
"Good morning, everyone. You're all up early."
"It's you who's late, Emilia. Helping with your father's work is all well and good, but you should spend some time on yourself too. You'll waste your youth at this rate."
"That's right, that's right. With Emilia being so cute, she needs to make the most of that cuteness and enjoy herself."
"If I were as cute and young as Emilia, I'd be going wild by now."
At the unfamiliar phrase "going wild," Emilia tilted her head in puzzlement while the women exchanged glances and burst into laughter. She didn't quite understand what they were talking about, but seeing everyone so cheerful was what mattered most.
A vague sense of happiness welled up inside her, and Emilia relaxed as well.
"See? That's so much better than sulking. Smile, smile — there we go."
"…Mm."
Pointing at Emilia's smile, the women then used their fingers to shape their own cheeks into grins.
Their arguments were perfectly reasonable, so Emilia put on the same smile and nodded.
Waving goodbye to them, Emilia continued on her way to the basin.
Climbing over the undulating tree roots, passing through gaps in the green leaves — all the while, the sound of babbling water grew closer from somewhere, and Emilia broke into a light jog, her face brightening.
"I've arrived!"
"Waah! Emilia?!"
The instant she pushed aside a branch and poked her face through, someone who had been wiping themselves off right in front of her cried out in surprise. The young man spun around, realized it was Emilia who had burst through, and his eyes went wide— "Oh."
"Ah—"
Before Emilia, who clapped a hand over her mouth, the young man lost his footing and toppled headlong into the river.
A loud splash erupted as he hit the water, sending spray flying in all directions.
"Arch! Are you okay?"
Leaning over the edge of the high bank above, Emilia called down.
After a moment in which only bubbles surfaced one after another, a blond young man rose from the depths. He wiped his face with his hand and, looking up at Emilia peering down at him, raised a hand— "Hey, Emilia! Don't interrupt someone when they're perfectly finished with their bath!"
"Sorry. I really didn't think anyone would be here… But I'm glad it was you, Arch."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
Letting out a sigh of relief, Emilia received his indignant shout as though it were an unjust accusation.
Putting a finger to her lip, Emilia hummed softly.
"Because if it's you, Arch, you're my closest friend, so you'll forgive me for sure."
"Ugh…"
"I've always thought of you like a big brother, so… I'm sure you'll understand that today was an accident and forgive me."
"'You're sure'? What's that supposed to mean. Dammit… who even asked…"
Standing firm on a basis that was no basis at all, Emilia looked up with a confident expression. Arch grumbled in frustration at Emilia's convoluted logic, his mouth pressed to the water's surface as he continued to blow bubbles.
Thanks to that, the latter half of his words were swallowed by the foam and went unheard.
"Besides, I came here to bathe too. Is it okay if I jump in next to you?"
"Huh? H-hey, stop it! A bath — out in the open like this? Absolutely not! Show some modesty! How long are you going to keep acting like a child?"
"Aww."
"Don't 'aww' me!"
"Hmm."
"Don't 'hmm' me either!"
Emilia had already begun stretching in preparation for her dive, but at Arch's bathing prohibition she pursed her lips. She didn't understand why he was so flustered, but today Arch was being especially mean.
Perhaps he was furious about having slipped and fallen into the river.
"Arch, I'm sorry."
"S-sorry? Wh-what's wrong, why so suddenly well-behaved?"
"I felt bad about you falling in. I'm sorry. So please let me bathe too. Otherwise, Lady Mother Fortuna won't let me eat breakfast."
"That's a kid's way of thinking!"
Arch clutched his head and cried out at Emilia's dejected words.
For a single instant, the hand that had been treading water went still, and Arch's body sank ever so slightly. In other words, for just a moment, he was distracted from Emilia.
"Hah!"
"Ah!"
A small shout, then a flash of light past her eyelids, and then — a feeling of weightlessness.
Her long silver hair trailed upward after her body, caught by gravity, and Emilia entered the water from her toes down with startling force.
From the tips of her toes onward, Emilia's body plunged straight down to the riverbed without producing a single unnecessary splash — in near-perfect silence.
Opening her eyes in the crystalline water, Emilia saw small fish and water plants swaying with the current. She pushed off the riverbed with her feet, savoring the ticklish sensation of the gravel before shooting upward.
Surfacing right beside Arch— "Ta-da."
"'Ta-da' is not the right response!"
Arch shouted, and Emilia pushed herself away with a backstroke, running wet fingers through her hair.
Arch still looked like he had something to say, his brow furrowed — but he must have realized it was pointless to say anything to Emilia, because he let out a heavy sigh and swam after her.
"That feels nice, Arch."
"Of course it does for you, since you jumped in on your own. I got shoved in and then drenched by your splash on top of it. I'm having a miserable time."
"I see. I'm glad you're having fun too, Arch."
"You really are an absurdly positive person…"
Feeling complimented, Emilia puffed out her chest while floating on her back.
Arch turned his face away from Emilia and scratched the tip of his nose with a finger. His cheeks were red. The water was cold, so why was he flushed?
"Could it be that you're not feeling well? Is that why you're angry about being pushed into the water?"
If that were the case, she deserved to be scolded for what she had done. She wanted to pull Arch out of the river right away and cast a healing spell or two on him.
"No, don't worry about it. It's not like that. …Emilia, don't be so defenseless in front of a man. Especially not in front of someone you don't know well."
"…? But you're the person I'm closest to, Arch."
"That goes for close friends too! Just… at least keep it limited to being in front of me."
"What about Lady Mother?"
"Lady Mother Fortuna, me, and that woman — in front of those three!"
Arch shouted loudly at Emilia, who tilted her head, his face turning even redder as he bit his lip. Then, groaning, he submerged beneath the water and vanished from Emilia's line of sight.
He surfaced moments later at the water's edge with a splash and dragged himself onto the bank.
"Come on, Emilia. Time to get out too. You came here to wash your face, not to bathe from the start — you said you'd just woken up, didn't you? I can't imagine Lady Fortuna telling you to go take a morning bath."
"Oh, come to think of it, you're right. …And I didn't bring a change of clothes either."
"What exactly have you been doing…"
At Emilia's actions — less defenseless than simply unplanned — Arch wore an expression of exasperation.
As Emilia swam toward him, Arch dashed into the forest and returned with a large towel cloak.
"Dry yourself off with this and drape it over your shoulders on the way home. Honestly, you never stop being a handful, do you?"
"Ahaha, sorry, Arch. I'll borrow this gratefully."
Even Emilia knew enough to feel properly chastened.
Letting herself be pulled from the river, she used the towel cloak to dry her long hair. The silver strands caught the morning light and shimmered, but once soaked they were terribly heavy.
"…Was my hair always this long?"
"What are you talking about? You've been growing it out for ages. Because it's the same pretty color as Lady Fortuna's."
As Arch said this, Emilia wrung the water from her silver hair into the towel. Something about his words stirred a vague sense of recognition, yet when she tried to recall the moment she had decided to grow it out, the memory eluded her.
Something nagged at her, but Emilia chose to dismiss it as a minor oddity. She thoroughly dried her hair and body, then peered into the river, intending to accomplish her original goal of washing her face, and reached out toward the water— "———"
The instant she saw her own face reflected on the water's surface, Emilia's throat constricted.
White skin. Deep violet eyes. Rose-pink lips. Long, shimmering silver hair. Every single feature was a perfect match for what she knew her face to be. Nothing had changed. Nothing was strange.
That couldn't be right.
Strange — that was all there was. Something wrong, something askew, something that had gone different. Nothing else.
"Ah… hah…"
Trembling, Emilia touched her cheek as she drew ragged breaths.
Her lungs felt seized, and she couldn't breathe properly. A sensation as though her insides were being wrung tight — an itch, an ache, a crushing pressure — coursed through her entire body.
"Emilia, what's wrong?"
Noticing her unusual state, Arch's voice came low and tight.
He touched her shoulder from behind — she was staring at the water, frozen — and stroked her head.
"Did you see something strange in the water?"
"…No."
"Did your stomach suddenly hurt? I can't use healing magic, so I'd have to carry you to someone, but…"
"It's not that."
Feeling Arch's concern in his voice and in his palm, Emilia could not tear her gaze from the water.
Arch followed her line of sight and realized what she was looking at. Hesitantly, he pointed at Emilia's reflection on the surface.
"Is something wrong with your face? You look the same as always — pretty as always, if you ask me."
"I've become an adult…"
"Ha?"
"An adult's face. …I've never seen my own face before."
The unfamiliar face floating on the water's surface made Emilia's voice tremble. That it could belong to someone else was refuted by the fact that her hand, reaching out to touch, mirrored her movements exactly. This face was hers — a face she had supposedly never seen before, yet it was undeniably hers.
"…I."
Once she noticed that one, fundamental dissonance, everything else began surfacing in rapid succession.
The body she was looking down at had a fuller chest. Her hair had never been this long.
Her limbs were longer than she remembered, and the size difference between herself and Arch should have been much greater.
The conversations she had had with everyone — the meaning behind their words shifted in her understanding.
How many times had they told her she was no longer a child? Countless.
And they were right.
"I have to go."
"Emilia?"
Standing up, Emilia gave a small shake of her head and turned around.
The forest she had come through, the settlement, and the home where Fortuna waited — she had to go back there.
She still didn't understand what, exactly, she needed to do, but that much was an immovable truth.
"Arch, I'm sorry. I'm going back to Lady Mother Fortuna."
"Ah, sure… but are you okay?"
"I'm fine now. Sorry for interrupting your bath. And this towel cloak — it's fine, really."
Removing the towel from her shoulders, Emilia pressed it into Arch's hands.
Once she confirmed he had taken it, Emilia sprinted off barefoot. She needed to reach Fortuna's home — their home — as quickly as possible. And on her back— "Emilia!"
Arch's voice rang out.
Her mind said there was no time to stop, yet her feet obeyed anyway — as though someone were telling her she must not miss a single word of what Arch was about to say.
Seeing Emilia turn around, Arch raised a hand in a small wave.
"I don't know what's going on, but if you're ever in trouble, you can always come to me for help! I'm… I'm like a brother to you, Emilia!"
He stumbled over his words for just an instant, but still Arch tossed those firm, strong words in Emilia's direction.
Why was it that hearing them made something well up inside her chest?
Without question, they were words that made her happy.
And yet — what surged up from the depths of her heart felt like something more than simple joy.
"Yeah…! Thank you, big brother!"
Waving her hand, Emilia responded to Arch's blushing face with a bright smile and took off running once more.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ "…You went off to wash your face, so how exactly did you end up coming back completely drenched from head to toe? Lady Mother finds that truly baffling."
Greeting her daughter who had returned soaked from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet, Fortuna looked on with an expression of exasperation and sighed.
Emilia had managed to dry her hair and visible parts with the towel cloak, but her white clothes clung to her skin, and since she hadn't wrung out her skirt, water dripped steadily from its hem.
"I'm sorry, Lady Mother. I was just… a little — a teensy little bit — still half-asleep."
"So you went to wash your face in order to cure that half-asleep state, and you came back in fighting form. Honestly, no matter how old you get, you're still a child. Did anyone see you in that state?"
She probably meant it would be embarrassing to be seen looking like a drowned rat. If that was what she meant, then Emilia thought it was a miracle that she hadn't run into anyone on the way back.
"Mm, it's fine. Only Arch saw me."
"I see… Arch. Well, he's probably… but lately, Arch's eyes when he looks at you seem a bit different from before…"
"Lady Mother?"
"Oh, yes, no, it's nothing. Anyway, welcome home."
Fortuna looked at Emilia with a helpless expression, stroked her head, and guided her inside. However, water was still dripping from her clothes.
"Lady Mother, the house is getting wet."
"We can clean it up later. More importantly, you have the towel cloak — use it to dry off while you change in your room. Once you're back down, we'll have breakfast."
The dwelling had been hollowed out from a great tree in the forest — a one-of-a-kind structure created by channeling mana into an ancient tree and reshaping it. Fortuna had built their home with her own hands, and it was surprisingly spacious for two people. Upstairs were their respective bedrooms, and the downstairs held a dining space.
Looking back now, it did seem like an extravagant use of space.
— "Looking back now." Even that thought felt strange.
"There you go."
"Blmbl."
A towel was pressed against her thoughtful face, and Emilia directed a protest-filled gaze at Fortuna. But her mother's hand on her hip and her unwavering stare defeated her instantly.
Sniffing the scent of sunshine lingering in the towel pressed to her face, Emilia dried herself on the way up to her second-floor room.
Her room, upon returning to it, struck her as simple.
Fortuna was the same way, but Emilia too had little interest in meaningless decorations. The room held only the bare minimum of furniture and a few modest furnishings. A wooden chest for spare clothes stood against the wall. Emilia crouched down, pulled out something suitable, peeled off her wet clothes, and changed without fuss.
Just like the room's interior, Emilia had no particular concern for fashion.
Pulling a short-sleeved one-piece garment over her head, she changed her undergarments and stepped out — consciously avoiding looking at the object beside the clothing chest.
"Lady Mother Fortuna. I'll wash the clothes I got wet myself…"
"My, my. That is a very filial thing to do, and I commend you for it."
"———"
The male voice that greeted Emilia as she descended the stairs with laundry in hand was warm, brimming with affection.
The gentle, kind voice made Emilia catch her breath. Then she looked toward the dining table.
At the table usually shared by just Fortuna and Emilia, there was one extra chair. It was the chair Fortuna brought out from the back of the house whenever a particular guest came to visit.
And naturally, the person sitting in that chair was a familiar face.
"Juice."
"Oh my, it's been a while, Lady Emilia. I trust you've been well?"
"I'm, well, same as always. And you, Juice — it's been forever. I never heard you were coming today, so why the visit?"
"Oh? I'm quite certain I made arrangements through my usual channels well in advance."
The gentle-faced man — Juice — placed a hand on his chin in a thoughtful gesture. He seemed genuinely puzzled, but Emilia knew the culprit at once.
Slipping past Juice, Emilia peeked into the kitchen area where breakfast was being prepared and found Fortuna covering her mouth, stifling a laugh.
"Lady Mother, you kept it a secret, didn't you?"
"Hmm, who can say? Perhaps I simply forgot about it too."
"That's impossible. Juice's chair is here, and breakfast is set for three."
"My, how observant you are. You're usually so absent-minded, but your instincts kick in at times like these."
Fortuna winked at the glowering Emilia, then whistled as she picked up plates. Setting them before Emilia, she said— "Now, Lia, you can help set the table. You can't make anything yourself, so surely you can at least handle the cleanup, right?"
"Hmm… she dodged it. And it's only because you never teach me, Lady Mother."
"You'd mix up sugar and salt every time without fail, and I can't very well let a girl who can't even hold a knife properly near the kitchen."
Deflecting Emilia's protests with ease, Fortuna carried dish after dish to the table. Even though she wasn't entirely convinced, Emilia followed meekly behind her.
Waiting at the table, Juice smiled warmly at the fragrant spread.
"Being able to partake in Lady Fortuna's cooking is a true honor. No matter how many times I'm treated to it, the joy never fades."
"You and your easy flattery."
"I'm merely expressing what I truly feel."
"That's exactly what I mean by your bad habit."
Fortuna set dishes down while Juice tilted his head with a helpless expression. Watching their exchange, Emilia couldn't help but laugh. Her earlier frustration at being scolded by Fortuna evaporated completely.
"If you enjoy Lady Mother's cooking so much, then Juice, you should just move in here."
"E-Emilia—!"
Placing a large platter of vegetables in the center of the table, Emilia seized on the thread of conversation and said as much. In an instant, Fortuna flushed red and shot furtive glances at Juice beside her.
"Don't say such reckless things! Juice has his own affairs to attend to, and he's taken time out of his busy schedule to visit—"
"It would be a most welcome proposal, Lady Emilia. If it were possible, I would very much like nothing more."
The contrast between Fortuna, who rushed to deny it, and Juice, who responded with calm composure, was striking. His words sapped Fortuna's momentum, and she shrank into her chair.
Watching the pair sit side by side, Emilia took her own seat across from them.
The scene before her looked utterly natural to Emilia's eyes.
"If neither of you mind, then there's no reason not to. Nobody would stand in the way. Ah… unless it's me? Am I in the way?"
It was clear from just looking that Fortuna and Juice held no ill will toward each other.
And yet perhaps the reason they never crossed a certain line was because of Emilia's own presence.
But that worry was— "That's not the case at all."
"Not in the slightest."
—dismissed at once, both of them denying it simultaneously.
Emilia's eyes went round, and Fortuna and Juice glanced at each other, surprised that they had spoken in unison, and couldn't help but laugh.
"I knew it — you two are really, really close."
"Oh, stop teasing already, Emilia. You scold him too, Juice."
"Indeed, Lady Emilia. Lady Fortuna is a remarkable woman. For someone like me to overstay my visit would invite unpleasant rumors and cause her trouble."
"Hmm. But I think that ship has already sailed."
Fortuna looked somewhat pained as Juice, in an effort to elevate her while diminishing himself, spoke in self-deprecating terms. Seeing the faint trace of sadness in Fortuna's gaze as she looked at him, Emilia raised a finger.
"Because when I go outside, everyone always tells me I mustn't cause trouble for Lady Mother Fortuna and Lord Romanecconti."
"———"
The two of them stared in stunned silence at Emilia's words, and she found their identical expressions rather amusing.
Pressing a hand to her mouth to suppress the urge to laugh, Emilia caught her breath and continued.
"It's the truth. Last night, I was so absorbed in comparing the old books and maps that Juice gave me, trying to fill in the gaps… and everyone was telling me how good I was for helping with Father's work."
"Wh—who says that…"
"Mrs. Tehena from across the way, Mitt, and Aunt Tanse, for starters."
"The Well-Side Three…!"
Fortuna traced three familiar faces in the air and bit her lip with undisguised resentment. Her sharp eyes narrowed, giving her a rather fearsome look.
Emilia soothed her with a "now, now," then pressed on.
"Anyway, everyone already thinks that way. And as for me, well, um, I've been thinking about it, and worrying, and… hmm, let's see… and then…"
"Lady Emilia, there's no need to overthink it so hard."
"N-no! I think it's a wonderful idea! It's just that… the thought of Lady Mother being taken away makes me a little unsettled, that's all!"
Everyone around them was ready and willing, but the two people at the heart of it — and Emilia herself — were the only ones still uncertain. Perhaps things like this were always like that, but if it were only their problem, it would be one thing; Emilia wanted to avoid being the one who got in the way with her own feelings.
Because from Emilia's perspective, the two of them were perfect for each other.
"I think it would be wonderful. So please, both of you, think about it."
"———"
"Everyone in the forest, and me — nobody would stand in your way! And I absolutely will not let anyone say it's wrong or something that shouldn't happen!"
Slamming her hand on the table, Emilia launched into an impassioned speech.
Only after finishing did she realize she had gotten carried away. Embarrassed, she smoothed her hair and slowly sat back down.
"S-so… I'll leave it to you two young people."
"Emilia, where on earth do you learn these things?"
At Emilia's words, Fortuna's familiar look of exasperation appeared — but it was quickly swept away by an irrepressible burst of laughter.
"P-pffft…"
"Ha ha ha. Lady Emilia… I see. You've grown so much. How blind of me to think you hadn't changed at all."
"That's right, Juice. She's my precious daughter, after all — of course she has."
"Yes, I've been shown the error of my ways."
Laughing, exchanging glances, Fortuna and Juice bantered back and forth.
The atmosphere between them had grown softer than before, and Emilia dimly sensed that her words had changed something. Warmth filled the space between them, and the gazes they shared must have carried a different hue than before.
It was an indescribably happy scene.
"…Emilia?"
Suddenly, Fortuna turned her gaze toward her and called her name.
Emilia drew a sharp breath and covered her eyes with her hand. She hurriedly wiped away the tears threatening to spill, then made a show of saying— "I think I got something in my eye. Something really big."
"That bad? Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. Only the size of a fist."
"A-a fist?!"
"I'm fine!"
Responding to the two worried faces, Emilia rubbed her eyes vigorously and stood up.
Leaving the table, she headed for the stairs to the second floor.
"I'll just go put in some really good eye drops. The kind that make your eyes feel so fresh you could throw them away."
"Your eyes are beautiful violet, just like your brother's — so don't go throwing them away."
"And the same lovely color as Lady Mother's."
She hadn't expected those replies. Emilia's words caught Fortuna off guard, and seeing Juice smile at Fortuna's profile, Emilia smiled too.
Smiling, she placed a foot on the stairs, turned back to the two of them— "Go ahead and eat without me. I'll be right back."
"If it gets cold, it won't taste good, so you really do come right back."
"Mm, right away, right away."
"Take your time, Lady Emilia."
Seeing them off with their words, Emilia took one deep breath.
Then she turned around one last time, looking at the two of them as their gazes dropped to the table— "I love you both."
With that, Emilia returned to her room.
Closing the door behind her, Emilia exhaled with enough force to empty all the air from her lungs.
A sensation of everything inside her being wrung tight — then, as if steeling herself, she slapped her cheeks, shook her head, and walked to the corner of her room.
Beside the wooden chest of Emilia's clothes lay a long, slender object draped in thin cloth.
Until now, Emilia had never once thought to reach for it— "But I know that nothing will begin unless I face it."
Give me courage.
Emilia gently touched her lips with a fingertip, recalling a warmth, and pulled her hand away.
The cloth fell.
There stood a full-length mirror, polished to perfection — one that would reflect her from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet— "What happiness that should have been yours — what did it give you?"
In the place where she should have been reflected, a white-haired