Chapter 90

"――Hya!"

As always, I'm not used to flying on Amelia. When will I be able to fly gracefully through the sky? Ugh.

Amelia landed elegantly in front of Zara's house.

"Can you wait on Zara's roof, Amelia?"

"Kue~"

"Thank you."

She's so cute, I'm worried someone might take her away. So, I have her wait where perverts can't reach her. After making sure Amelia had flown up to the roof, I knocked on Zara's door.

Is she still sleeping?

The milk bottle delivery box is empty. She must have had the energy to collect it in the morning.

I heard a noise from inside the house.

"Zara~"

I heard a thud. Is she okay?

The sound of someone running to the front door, and the door opened.

"Mel!?"

"Hello."

Zara, who peeked out, seemed much more energetic. Although, her complexion is still a bit pale. However, if she eats the snowdrop berry tart I made, she'll surely feel better.

"I came to visit you."

With the door only slightly open, Zara was frozen in place.

"Visit?"

"Yes."

"Did you come alone?"

"No, with Amelia. Oh, I forgot Blanch."

I saw her before I came here... No, maybe I was mistaken. She looked so regal, surrounded by maids, grooming her fur, that I might have thought she was a noble family's幻兽.

"I'll bring her later. And I made a tart to bring as a get-well gift—"

Zara was still frozen in place.

"Zara, are you okay?"

"Ah, wait, my hair is a mess, and my clothes are wrinkled..."

"You look much better than when you were in your room the day before yesterday."

Zara, holding her head, crouched on the spot. The door was about to close, so I let myself in.

"Your complexion looks much better."

"Yes, thanks to you. The soup was delicious, thank you."

"I'm glad."

"Oh, sorry. Please come in."

"I'll intrude."

I was led to the living room and offered a long chair. Zara sat opposite me.

I immediately handed her the tart I had made.

"This contains snowdrop berries, which help with fatigue and recovery."

"Oh, snowdrop berries... You found them well."

As expected, someone from a snowy region.

Zara knew about snowdrop berries.

"In our village's forest, there were often snowdrop berry thieves."

Apparently, they were highly valued. Snowdrop flowers were worth one gold coin, and the berries were worth five gold coins.

"How do you find them?"

"You make a contract with a fairy."

"Really!"

You find a fairy, make a contract, and have them guide you into the snow mountains to search.

"But only a few high-ranking fairies and幻兽 can find snowdrop berries—"

"Really!?"

"Many poachers entered the snow mountains without knowing and got lost, guided by fairies with half-hearted contracts, and lost their lives."

"Is that to break the contract?"

"Yes, that's right. Fairies are cruel creatures..."

Zara warned me to be careful around fairies.

"They're cunning, you never know what they'll do."

"Oh, um, the snowdrop berries were found by Album— the fairy contracted to the Marquis."

"Marquis? You mean the white weasel-like fairy we found?"

"Yes."

I explained the events so far.

Zara, looking a bit unsteady, came over and sat next to me, staring at me seriously.

"Mel, please, don't get involved with fairies."

"But, um, he's actually quite nice—"

"Nice? After he captured you and hung you upside down?"

"Ugh..."

Indeed, he is a bad fairy, but at heart, he just wants to eat delicious things. However, I don't know how to explain his good side. Sorry, Album.

"I'm worried about you, Mel. I don't want you to be deceived by bad people..."

"Zara..."

If Album were really a bad fairy, he could have led us to monsters or controlled powerful vines to capture us. We trusted him and followed, but the worst could have happened. But he didn't. He just helped to eat pancakes.

I understand what Zara is trying to say. She didn't grow up in a carefree environment like me, but in a harsh snowy region, witnessing many tragic realities.

"Zara, thank you."

I'm so lucky to have someone who worries about me like this. I'm glad I came to the capital. I truly feel that way.

After expressing my gratitude, I reported the news.

"Actually, Album wants to act with me."

"What!?"

"Well, during the snowdrop berry search, it was discovered that Album has excellent skills in finding ingredients. We hit it off, you could say."

"Mel, you're something else!"

"I'm really sorry, I'm really sorry."

Zara, for the second time today, clutched her head. I feel bad for causing her so much worry.

"I think a simple happiness suits you, Mel. I don't want you to get involved with nobles, fairies, or powerful people."

"Yes, I would prefer that too, if possible..."

But I ended up surrounded by them.

"But with Zara and the Second Squad, I think I'll be fine."

"What can I do...?"

"You worry about me and have protected me many times. I trust you completely, Zara."

"Such... such words..."

Zara covered her face with both hands. Did my words of trust feel too heavy?

Then, I noticed something. The lapis lazuli decoration on her earlobe.

"Oh, Zara, you're wearing the ear decoration."

"!"

Zara was startled by my words.

"Yes, thank you! I wanted to say thank you, Mel!"

I'm glad she's happy.

"I felt so guilty after... I couldn't help you well during the mission, and I ended up in bed with a fever... But the card said, 'You did well,' and I was so happy..."

That's right. I struggled a lot with what to write to Zara. "Thank you for your hard work" seemed a bit formal, and "Get well soon" might make her feel bad about being taken care of. It was a bit difficult.

If it were a normal situation, I could have written it more casually, but after everything that happened.

I thought "You did well" might sound a bit condescending, but it seems to have been okay.

"To give such a beautiful ear decoration..."

"It's a token of my gratitude!"

"I'm really happy."

I'm glad she likes it.

"Your body must still be weak, right? I can do anything. Cooking, cleaning, shopping—"

Then, Zara made a surprising proposal.

"Um, Mel, it's a bit of a bold request, but..."

"What is it?"

It seemed like a difficult request, as she hesitated to say it.

She looked uneasy, her eyes darting around.

"Please don't hesitate."

"Then... can I hug you?"

Does she want to hug me?

"Actually, when we first met, we were pretty close, right?"

"That... I'm sorry. I was trying to be more outgoing."

"Right."

The mystery of Zara becoming more reserved over time.

She must be a quiet person by nature, but was putting on a front.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Really? So easily?"

"Because it's you, Zara."

If it were the captain or Urgas, I would have refused immediately.

When I told her this, Zara finally showed a bright smile.

"...Thank you."

The moment Zara reached out to me—there was a knock on the door.

"Hey, Zara, I heard you collapsed. Are you okay!?"

A loud, rough voice from outside.

"Hey, I'm coming in!"

The door opened, and in came—

"...Oh, it's the captain."

Today, his face looks especially scary. I swallowed the words just in time.

"What, Liss is here too?"

"Yes."

The atmosphere became a bit awkward.

But, what's this, a sense of being caught in the act.

More importantly, where did the information come from?

"No, I received a message from the Lichtenberg Marquis family. They said Zara had collapsed. Sorry, I was busy and read the letter late."

"I see."

Zara's eyes looked a bit teary. She clenched her hand, which she had extended, and returned it to its original position.

"Captain... worrying about me... I'm really... happy."

"Yeah, don't worry about it."

The captain said, "If you're still feeling bad, you can take another day off," but Zara shook her head, saying she was fine.

"For some reason, I really feel like swinging my battle axe right now."

"Take it easy, though."

Is Zara okay? She looks paler than before.

"Mel, I'm fine."

"Okay."

"I brought some food, so don't hesitate to eat it."

"Thank you... really... thank you. Captain, I'll never forget this kindness."

"You're making it sound too dramatic."

With that, the visit came to an end.