Chapter 28

Living with my parents for half a year.

I don't intend to spend this time idly.

There are many things I need to do to ensure that my father and mother can live peacefully.

The most important is Shurtem, the mayor of Slanita.

I need to investigate his movements. If he has no interest in my mother, then that's fine. But if he is still targeting her—

"Milady, I heard you called for me!"

Before I finished the soup my mother had made, Samyue appeared.

She slid into the house and quickly knelt beside me, who was sitting on a chair.

She must have rushed over, as her cheeks were red and her breathing was uneven.

How did she know I called for her?

"Samyue, thank you for coming."

"No, not at all! It's an honor to be called by Milady..."

"How did you know?"

"I heard it from the Queen."

"From Mom?"

But Mom had been here the whole time and didn't seem to be doing anything...

Tilting my head, Mom chuckled.

"I'll tell you the secret of the elves, Rini."

"The secret of the elves?"

"Elves are long-lived, but they don't have many children. That's why when a child is born, everyone takes great care in raising them."

"Yes, all elves feel like family."

"Is that so?"

"Among them, young elves become guardians of young children, which is a special bond."

"Guardian?"

"Yes. A guardian protects and nurtures a young elf to keep them safe. It's a special contract that only elves can make, allowing young elves to grow by interacting with children."

"Actually, my guardian is the Queen."

Nodding, Samyue smiled happily.

"When Samyue was born, I was only 140 years old. It feels so long ago."

"Huh?"

Wait, wait. I just heard a strange number.

"Mom, 140 years old?"

"Oh, that was when I met Samyue. I'm much older now."

"...How old are you, Mom?"

"I think I'm 270 years old now."

"270 years old"

She looks like she's in her late twenties... The numbers are off by a zero.

"Samyue... how old are you?"

When Samyue was born, Mom was 140 years old. And now Mom is 270 years old. So...

"I'm still a young elf. I just turned 130."

"130 years old"

She looks younger than my pre-reincarnation self. She looks like a middle school student... The numbers are off by a zero.

"The secret of the elves is amazing."

I was shocked. This was the most surprising thing since my reincarnation.

So this is what it means for elves to be long-lived...

Mom and Samyue chuckled at my stunned expression and continued explaining about the guardians.

"When a guardian contract is made, no matter how far apart we are, we can communicate without speaking."

"It's called [Telepathy]."

"I used it to call Samyue to this house."

"When I found Milady in Slanita and when the village was near, I contacted the Queen."

"That's how it was..."

When I returned from Slanita to the village, my parents were waiting at the entrance because they got information from Samyue. It's a relief to know they weren't waiting the whole time.

"Rini, listen."

As I was processing this, Mom looked at me intently.

"I was thinking, when you go on your journey, would it be okay if Samyue comes with you?"

"Samyue, too?"

I looked away from Mom and met Samyue's eyes.

Samyue's beautiful blue eyes were looking at me earnestly, with a slight frown.

"Of course, if Milady wants to travel alone, I can't force myself to come. However, Milady is still small, and traveling alone might make you stand out."

"Mom and Samyue have a guardian contract, so they can communicate through [Telepathy]. That's why Mom feels much more at ease with Samyue around. ...I want to know how Milady is spending her days, even the small things. I want to feel Milady's growth."

"I will never be a hindrance. I will definitely... definitely be of use! So, please..."

I looked back and forth between Mom and Samyue.

I can understand Mom's feelings. Since I'm still young, it's reassuring to have Samyue with me. If I have a guardian, Samyue, who can communicate with Mom through [Telepathy], it's the best choice.

But...

"Samyue, are you okay with this?"

She's trying so hard, but I don't think it benefits her.

Will Samyue enjoy traveling with me?

Samyue seems to really like Mom, so she might want to fulfill her request. But it seems like a waste for her to follow me just for that. Samyue has her own life.

So, I tilted my head and looked at her.

Samyue bit her lip and then started speaking.

"I've always had a dream. The Queen became my guardian and taught me many things. I admired and looked up to her. ...And when I became self-aware. I thought that if the Queen ever got married and had a child, I should be the guardian of that child."

Her blue eyes were very strong—

"For a hundred years, I've been working hard. I wanted to be the strongest elf. I needed to be to become the guardian of the Queen's child. I lived every day with that as my goal."

Samyue had been thinking about me even before I was born.

Through hard times and difficult moments. Thinking about the child of the Queen... thinking about me, she overcame everything.

"When the Queen lost her magic, I lamented my own powerlessness. When I heard that the Queen would marry a human man, I resented the human. ...I thought my dream would never come true. ...But the Queen's happiness was all thanks to the human man... I felt so helpless, so powerless, so weak."

Samyue's strong eyes wavered.

Her voice was hoarse when she said "weak elf."

"When the [Telepathy] from the Queen, which had been cut off, resonated again. When I heard about a child named Rini, I couldn't stop the emotions welling up in my chest. I wanted to meet her as soon as possible... I wanted to see her."

That's how Samyue came to meet me.

From this small village to Slanita.

"When I met Rini... I'll never forget it. Silver hair and golden eyes. She appeared before me, bathed in the light of the stars, and flew into my arms."

I met Samyue when I jumped out of the basement of Slanita Finance.

She caught me as I fell, stabilizing my position.

Her shiny golden hair. Her beautiful blue eyes.

...I remember it too.

The day I met Samyue. I'll never forget it.

"I thought..."

Samyue's blue eyes narrowed.

Happily. Blissfully.

"—I've been living for this person."

Her eyes were so beautiful, I felt like I was being drawn in.

"I wanted to show Rini my good side... I wanted to help Rini do what she wanted. But I only showed her my pitiful side..."

...Samyue, who can think so much about someone that she can't control herself.

Samyue, who can easily shoot down distant monsters with a bow and arrow, leaping over high walls.

Samyue, who supports me rather than stopping me.

"Samyue is cool."

I reached out my hand to Samyue.

"Samyue, let's go together."

Let's do many fun things together.

"...Rini...!"

Samyue tightly gripped my outstretched hand.

"Ah, impossible, noble, impossible, crazy."

She rolled her eyes and fainted...