Chapter 37
“Chiharu . What happened? You do know that we have to go back soon? You shouldn’t be so angry . ”
Chiharu didn’t answer . She just kept walking .
“Chiharu’s just venting . ”
“If you say so!”
Chiharu was fuming as she replied .
“We were able to travel safely because of those two . At least for the first half of the trip . But I remembered the sadness of playing the part of that quiet younger sister . ”
“What? So you weren’t getting angry on my behalf, Chiharu?”
Edwy said with a little disappointment .
“There was a little of that . Right Maki-chan? But we were sort of angry at being treated like children again . ”
“For Chiharu, she is usually very talkative . So it was painful to have to be silent . ”
“Exactly . ”
“But that’s just your own fault for dressing as children . ”
“You say that, Edwy, but it was even worse when we dressed as adult women in Greige . ”
“You did that… Really, you two are too much . ”
Edwy was amused and exasperated .
“I feel a little better knowing that you weren’t enjoying it the whole time . ”
“You’re terrible!”
“Ah, Sauro and Saikania!”
They had now reached the bird people .
“So you got found out then . ”
“We sure did . ”
Though, they had known that it would come, ever since they left the capital and headed for Gromble .
“Since you came all the way here, why not fly in the night sky with us, Edwy?”
“Yes . I think I will, Sauro . ”
“Maki and Chiharu too . ”
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“Yes!”
“Yes!”
The three of them flew together for the first time . Flying in the night sky like this was incredibly fun and it was something they had not been able to do back at the castle .
“Maki, Chiharu, I will have to tell the people at Midland about this . ”
“I know . But allow me to talk to Aeris first . ”
Chiharu said, after making up her mind .
“You should do that . I’ll tell me him to come and meet Sauro . ”
Edwy said and then left .
“I wonder if Aeris will be angry?”
“Of course, he won’t be . It’s Aeris . Chiharu, we’ll have to apologize . ”
“Yes . ”
After a while, a tall elf walked quietly from the mansion .
“I heard you wanted to see me, Sauro . ”
Aeris said after glancing at the two children to the side . Chiharu had not seen him in a while and thought that he looked tired .
“Ah, yes . Hey . ”
Sauro muttered and then pushed Chiharu forward . Aeris narrowed his eyebrows .
“What? Do you want an autograph or to shake hands? Regardless, it is too late for children like you to be out . I will meet you tomorrow, go back to your bed now . ”
He said with a kind expression . The White Philosopher . Everyone’s hero . He was clearly used to this kind of thing .
Chiharu took out a magic stone from her pouch and handed it to Aeris .
“Thank you, boy . But I do not accept gifts . Let me return this to you . Wait…”
Aeris stared intently at the stone now . Then his other hand rose towards Chiharu’s cheek . It was shaking .
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“Your face . Let me see your face…oh…”
Chiharu allowed her cheek to touch his hand . He was silent as she raised her face to look at him . His eyes were closed and tears were running down his face .
“This isn’t a dream, Aeris . ”
“Chiharu . Chiharu!”
“I’m sorry . ”
As Aeris hugged her tightly, Chiharu could do nothing but apologize .
“Maki . Where is Maki!”
“Right here . ”
“Maki!”
He hugged Maki with his other arm .
“I was so worried about you two!”
“We’re sorry . ”
“We’re sorry . ”
“And why are you dressed as boys? What would you have done if you encountered danger!”
“We’re sorry . ”
“We’re sorry . ”
“I was, I was so!”
“We’re sorry . ”
“We’re sorry . ”
What else could they say to the worrywort elf?
“I kept telling you that they were alright . ”
Sauro muttered with annoyance .
“How could I believe you until I saw them for myself? Oh, was it very hard for you two? Did you have enough money?”
“We sold the scales from the merpeople to get money . ”
“Merpeople! Those free-spirited sea creatures! They are called the birdfolk of the sea! How could this have happened?”
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Aeris said in despair . These Saintesses attracted the worst people .
“And what’s wrong with being free spirited? It’s better than being a worried shut in . ”
Sauro continued to mutter .
“I tried to search for you!”
“Aeris, thank you . ”
They said . And Aeris hugged them tightly again .
“Now, let’s return to the mansion . ”
“Huh? We’re not returning . I just wanted to tell you that we’re safe . ”
“What! But where are you going?”
“To the tent that we were given as cooks . ”
“That’s too dangerous . ”
“It’s not dangerous at all . ”
“How can you sleep in such a place?”
“We slept just fine?”
These two!
“Maki and Chiharu . You two don’t possibly mean to go all the way to Gromble while looking like…”
“We are . ”
“We are . ”
“Unbelievable!”
Aeris was in shock .
“People would just be confused if we came out at this point . ”
“The mayor especially . ”
“Ah, I’m relieved now that we’ve been found out . Now I won’t feel anymore guilt!”
The two of them smiled gleefully . And so Aeris gave in .
“Everyone thinks they are boys . They should be fine, Aeris . ”
“Saruo . It must be nice to always be so carefree . ”
Aeris said with a sigh . Still, he was relieved that the problem that had been worrying him for half a month had been resolved .
“Then I will sleep in the tent too . ”
“That will draw too much attention! The White Philosopher in a tent!”
“And in the Saintesses’ tent . ”
“We’re disguised!”
“Then I will also wear a blonde wig . ”
“You’re still the only elf here . They’ll recognize you!”
“Then what do you want me to do!”
“Go back to the mansion!”
“Go back to the mansion!”
“Maki, Chiharu…”
Don’t look so sad…
“Fine . ”
“Huh, Maki? What is?”
“You can carry Chiharu for a while . That should tide you over until tomorrow . ”
“What?”
“Hmm . In that case…”
“Whaaat?”
Aeris sat on the stairs and placed Chiharu on his lap . Then he rested his chin on her head .
“Hmmm . I like the way you think, Maki . This is good . ”
“Maki-chan! Aeris!”
“Think of it as a penalty for worrying him!”
But you did the same thing, Maki .
“Then Maki can be with me . ”
“But we always fly together!”
“Hmph . ”
Chiharu laughed at them arguing . Then she realized how warm his hand was and how warm her back felt against him . It wasn’t so much a penalty as a reward .