ITYVA 32🔐

Chapter 32

“Auntie, you can just send the message to the Imperial Palace. If you say it’s for Einra, that’ll be enough.”

“Mm, all right. The Imperial Pala—whaaat? The… the I-I-Imperial Palace?!”

The woman, who had been answering casually, suddenly widened her eyes to their very limits.

“Y-you, you, you—are you working in the Imperial Palace?! A… a government official?!”

“Well… not exactly an official, but I am a civil servant, technically….”

I gave a somewhat awkward smile and lowered my eyes.

To explain more precisely, I was a civil servant under the Emperor himself—responsible for handling natural disasters….

After filling out the paperwork just as the woman instructed—her jaw looking ready to drop at any moment—I returned home with As.

“Okay… time to start packing.”

Fortunately, most of the furniture would remain as part of the house, so all I really needed to gather were my clothes, books, and other personal belongings.

Besides, I hadn’t intended to live here long-term anyway, so my possessions weren’t all that many.

Still… what a pain…

The moment I looked around the large house, my motivation vanished completely.

Maybe I should just throw everything out and leave?

If I needed anything later, I could always buy it again. It’s not like I was short on money.

I was frowning seriously at the thought when a small hand tugged at my arm.

“Einra, we need to pack properly.”

As’s crimson eyes curved beautifully as he spoke.

The moment I met those eyes, every thought I’d just had disappeared. Enchanted, I nodded.

“Mm, you’re right. We should.”

As said we should pack.

Of course, we had to pack.

After organizing what I’d take with me and cleaning the house, I spent the rest of the time baking cookies to share with the villagers.

I’d known them for nearly ten years. They’d helped me a lot and I’d grown attached to them, so I wanted to at least express my gratitude with cookies.

When the cookies had cooled and were packaged, I carried a basketful and went around the village with As, handing them out.

The villagers were delighted at first, but when I followed it with a farewell, their expressions turned sad. Even so, they wished me health, happiness, and good fortune.

Of course, mixed in were a few comments like, “It’s a shame, you and Millen seemed like a good match,” but I pretended not to hear and quickly drew As away from them.

By the time we’d finished distributing the last cookie and were heading home, someone suddenly called out:

“Einra!”

Startled, I turned to see Uncle Charles running toward me, waving.

“Uncle Charles? Is something wrong?”

Breathing heavily, he nodded while catching his breath.

“Y-yes… phew, I’m exhausted. It’s Millen—he says there’s something he really wants to tell you before you leave….”

“…Millen?”

I frowned slightly.

He was the one who had only ever embarrassed me; I wasn’t eager to talk to him.

Just as I was about to refuse, Uncle Charles quickly added,

“He said he realizes he was a bit too much with you before and really wants to apologize!”

“Ah…”

“He told me to ask you to give him a chance, otherwise he’ll regret it forever.”

“That’s unnecessary.”

As, who had been quietly listening, cut in firmly.

Both Uncle Charles and I widened our eyes at him. As, however, only smiled gently and added,

“Please tell Brother Millen that his feelings have been conveyed.”

“But, uh… Millen really wanted to say it directly….”

Uncle Charles scratched his head awkwardly.

“Look, Einra, we all know we pushed too hard trying to match you with Millen. That must have made you uncomfortable, and I’m sorry for that.”

“Uncle…”

“And Millen too—he got carried away with our encouragement and ended up pressuring you. He admits it himself.”

“…”

“So, at least for my sake, why not meet him just once more? Talk things through, clear up misunderstandings, and lighten the burden on both of you. Wouldn’t that be better?”

He suggested it carefully.

Beside me, As twisted his lips unhappily, but Uncle Charles’s words weren’t entirely without merit.

If I left without untying that knot, I’d carry nothing but an unpleasant memory.

After thinking for a moment, I nodded.

“…All right.”

“Einra.”

“Good choice! If you part on bad terms, it’ll just weigh on you. Better to talk, get an apology, and leave all the unpleasantness behind!”

Uncle Charles laughed heartily, clearly pleased.

As furrowed his brow slightly but soon smiled faintly up at me.

“If that’s what Einra wants, then do it.”

His smile eased the nervousness in me a little.

I smiled back and asked,

“Uncle, where is Millen now?”

“At the Delish Café, you know the one in the middle of town? He said he’d be waiting in a private room.”

“Thank you. As, let’s go.”

I started to walk with As, but Uncle Charles hastily stopped me.

“Ah, Einra, Millen asked that you come alone.”

“…Alone?”

I looked at him with some displeasure. He looked just as reluctant but nodded awkwardly. Then, glancing at As, he leaned closer to whisper,

“Millen says As doesn’t seem to like him. If As is there, he won’t be able to talk sincerely.”

“Hmm…”

I hesitated.

It wasn’t like we’d be talking long, and Delish Café was always busy—Millen couldn’t possibly try anything.

And if he did, I could use spirit arts again starting today.

The only problem was…

I don’t like leaving As alone…

We’d been attacked by assassins not long ago—twice!

And the side effects of the nullification spell haven’t appeared yet either.

Sensing my hesitation, Uncle Charles quickly offered,

“I’ll take As with me to the bookstore.”

“Ah… will you be all right? As, are you okay with that?”

Concerned, I asked. Uncle Charles just laughed heartily.

“Of course, it’ll be fine!”

As, who had been watching him silently, met my eyes and curved them in a smile.

“I’ll be fine too, Einra.”

Then he added lightly,

“As long as you come back quickly.”

“Of course, I’ll be back soon.”

I answered firmly without hesitation.

His crimson eyes curved even more.

“Then it’s fine.”

With that, As walked over to Uncle Charles.

I watched them grow smaller in the distance, took a deep breath, and turned toward Delish Café.

Let’s finish this quickly and get back to As!

Meanwhile, in the bookstore—someone who shouldn’t have been there appeared.

“Huh? Millen? Aren’t you supposed to be at Delish Café talking with Einra?”

Uncle Charles, who had been trying to sell fairy tale books to As—who kept wandering toward advanced reference sections far beyond a child’s level—blinked in surprise.

Millen, scratching his head sheepishly, replied,

“Sorry, Uncle. I thought about it, and I realized it’d be better to apologize to As as well. So I came to fetch him. Oh, don’t worry—I already cleared it with Einra.”

“Oh, I see. That’s smart! After all, Einra and As are a pair. Ha ha!”

Laughing, Uncle Charles gestured to As.

“Go on, As. If you follow Brother Millen, you’ll get to see Sister Einra.”

As cast Millen a chilly glance but answered politely with a smile.

“…Yes, Uncle.”

“Come on, As. Let’s go.”

Millen extended his gloved hand.

As looked at it briefly, then declined without losing his smile.

“I’m a bit shy with strangers.”

Looking embarrassed, Millen withdrew his hand with an awkward laugh.

The two left the bookstore, keeping a measured distance between them.

As quietly observed Millen walking ahead of him.

He didn’t believe Millen’s claim about “coming to fetch As.”

There were far too many inconsistencies.

But Uncle Charles trusted Millen deeply.

Refusing to go in front of him would only look suspicious.

So As planned to follow for now—then slip away at the first chance.

If only Millen hadn’t stopped so suddenly.

“Keeping up with a child’s pace really isn’t easy.”

Millen turned back with a gentle smile and strode quickly toward As.