Chapter 64
Once they reached the station, Edwy was the first to jump out .
“Father!”
“Hmm . It seems you were able to fulfill your role . Good work . ”
Arthur said as he unfolded his arms and his expression softened a little . Zynis also nodded as he stood next to him .
“I’ll hear your report back at the castle . ”
Arthur said as he glanced at the train .
“Yes, they came back with us safely . ”
“I see . Sauro told me about it, but I wanted to make sure with my own eyes . ”
Edwy looked at him with suspicion .
“I know that you are worried about Maki and Chiharu . But for you to leave the castle…”
“Hmm . You’re a sharp little one, Edwy . ”
Zynis said .
“Previously, you would have just hopped around with joy at your father welcoming you . But now you’ve learned to think . ”
He continued with a nod . Arthur looked a little embarrassed . Edwy was a little exasperated that Zynis always treated him like a kid, but he wasn’t angry like he usually was . He wondered why .
It was, in fact, because he had accomplished a single great task . He had gained enough confidence that he no longer cared about what other adults thought of him . Of course, Edwy was not aware of this change yet .
“I would like to know the reason . But first, I will bring Maki and Chiharu and Kaidar and Nyran out . ”
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Edwy said . And then Arthur and Zynis replied .
“Yes . And we have carriages to take us back to the castle today . ”
“Though, the birdfolk were loudly insisting that they could carry them . ”
Edwy returned to the train and called to the others .
“Let’s go then . ”
Chiharu looked at him and whispered,
“Was he angry?”
Maki didn’t really care and was willing to accept what fate had in store for them . After all, they had been right to leave the castle . Edwy looked at them and laughed .
“It’s all right . You don’t need to worry . Now, let’s go . ”
He offered his hand, but…
“Well, since we’re here . ”
“Yes . ”
Kaider and Nyran escorted Maki and Chiharu out of the train first . Edwy wanted to click his tongue in irritation . Oh, well . There would be plenty of time with them at the castle .
Zynis saw Maki and Chiharu come out of the train and he laughed as if relieved . He lowered his posture a little and waved . Maki didn’t hesitate to jump into his arms . Somehow, she found his presence very comforting . Maki wondered why that was as she buried her face in Zynis’s stomach .
Zynis hugged her gently, this time carefully so as not to pick her up off of the ground . You must not pick up a Saintess . He knew this very well . He then nodded kindly towards Chiharu . Chiharu walked up to him, and he hugged her with his other arm .
“I was so worried . ”
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“I’m sorry . ”
Maki apologized willingly . Chiharu was saying something, but it was muffled, as her face was pressed into him . It was probably an apology as well .
“Well, I’m just glad you are all right . ”
Grudo and Aeris slowly came out of the train as well . And there was a sense of relief in the air for a while .
“Cough . Cough . ”
Maki and Chiharu looked up .
“Arthur . ”
“Arthur . ”
Arthur spread his arms out awkwardly . However, they could not jump into the arms of a king . Maki and Chiharu looked at each other and laughed .
“Now, there is your carriage . ”
But Arthur’s voice was drowned out by the sound of wings .
“Sauro and Saikania!”
Sauro and Saikania ignored Arthur, who was shouting, and they landed in front of Maki and Chiharu .
“So you were faster than the train after all . ”
Chiharu said with a careless laugh . Maki was surprised and was about to tell her something, when…
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Huh? Huh?!”
Saikania moved behind her back .
“See! I keep telling you to be careful so that you don’t get abducted!”
Maki groaned . But, Sauro and Saikania were friends? Why would I be cautious? Chiharu shouted in her head . But…
“You’re being abducted yourself!”
“Me! I’m just following you!”
As if! Sauro was holding Maki and Saikania was holding Chiharu . And before either of them knew it, they were up in the sky .
“While it wasn’t made official, your disappearance would have made the people worry . ”
“You should show yourselves to them . ”
Sauro and Saikania said . And so they flew over the town and towards the castle at a low altitude .
“That does make sense…”
Chiharu muttered . Maki nodded and whispered back .
“But they totally just want to brag about how they’re carrying the Saintesses . ”
However, the town’s people soon noticed Sauro and Saikania . And then they saw the black hair .
“The Saintess!”
“Hey!”
They shouted and waved their hands . The smaller children tried to run and keep up with them . At the same time, they saw the carriage driving away from the station at a great speed . While they knew that the others wouldn’t see their expressions, Maki and Chiharu smiled and waved . They were moved and felt warm inside .
“Oh, no . ”
“What, Maki-chan?”
“We’re wearing skirts . ”
“Oh . ”
Well, it couldn’t be helped . They waved at the soldiers by the castle gates and then landed in the garden like they always had . They would have been exhausted had this happened on their first day . But they were used to flying now .
Of course, that didn’t stop Chiharu from complaining .
“I told you not to do it so suddenly, Sauro!”
“But at least the people are relieved . ”
“You could have warned us!”
“But you would have chosen to go by carriage . ”
“Yes, I would have! Saikania!”
There was no point in arguing with Sauro . But Saikania only shrugged her shoulders . Hmph . You couldn’t talk to either of them .
Just then, Maki stopped laughing and grew tense . Maki-chan? When she turned around, Maki stepped in front of her and raised her arms as if to protect her .
Chiharu peered over Maki’s shoulder . Aeris? No . Some blonde elf was looking down at them . This person hadn’t been at the ceremony . The elf looked at Chiharu and scowled, before raising a hand to cover his mouth and look away .
“This generation’s Saintesses are a rowdy bunch . ”
The voice was cold, unlike Aeris . And then he turned back to them and said,
“You should stay in the castle and be quiet . Do you enjoy getting the world involved in your antics?”
Things never seemed to stay peaceful for long .