Chapter 289: I Want Everyone To…

It was past twenty-two. I was soaking in the bath in the living space, brooding.

After that we joined the queens and Karimarl-san and everyone enjoyed drink.

I am sorry, but I laughed at Adom-dono and Galt-dono being teased and teased.

If a confession contest happens in front of you anyone would laugh.

Galt-dono had tomorrow off, but Adom-dono did not, so it closed at twenty-two.

As if it were a set piece Nimi and Elysia handed tonic to the queens and Karimarl-san. Seeing that Adom-dono and Galt-dono’s cheeks twitched.

All I can say is please do your best... condolences.

Come to think of it as they left Adom-dono told me Relia and Tia seem to be looking into my wartime.

He cannot stop the two of them but he would let me know. He patted my shoulder lightly, smiled, boarded the carriage, and went home.

At that timing another carriage arrived. Galt-dono went home with Karimarl-san too. We cleaned the tavern and now I am in the bath.

I washed my face with bathwater, pasha pasha, let out a fuu, and looked at the ceiling.

Relia and Tia are looking into me? Then I think they should just ask me directly.

King Adom and the Chancellor cannot speak from their positions, but it is not that a gag order was put on our unit.

I will not talk from my side, but if asked I mean to answer... I wish they would ask.

If I am asked whether I want to talk, I do not want to talk much, but I think I will talk to people I trust.

And Relia and Tia we protected in the unit. They have a right to know.

While I thought that the bath door opened and Hiero, already undressed and naked, came in with a grinning smile.

I immediately took my eyes off Hiero’s beautiful naked body, let out a big sigh, and spoke.

"Hiero, it is after drinking... um. You smell of drink."

"Nn fuffu! I do not mind so it is fine. Today was hard, right? I will be your healing! Come, open your legs, open them."

Hiero rinsed her body with hot water, came up to the tub, and settled between the legs I opened with a wry smile.

I wrapped both arms around the belly of Hiero leaning her back into me and held her. "Nn... fuu..." She let out a glossy voice. Trouble.

What do I do if my lower half reacts. Even without that the beautiful pink nipples I can see over her back, the chest that looks like it is floating in the water, the feel of her skin I cannot stand.

And as a finisher Hiero’s scent coming to me. I strengthened the hold without meaning to.

Whether she knew that feeling of mine or not, Hiero let out a breath like relief and pressed the back of her head against my right shoulder, gui gui.

Healing, huh. I am being healed, true... holding Hiero puts me at ease.

I nuzzled the left side of that Hiero’s head and enjoyed the feel of her hair. Hiero leaked a happy voice, "Nfua~."

For a while I nuzzled with slow movements and enjoyed a smooth feel that should have been wet. Then I remembered something I had to confirm with Hiero, lifted my cheek, and spoke.

"Hiero, sorry this is late... will you come with me to Santony?"

"Nnn~~~? I meant to come along anyway so it is fine. You asking me, Raide. What is it?"

"I want to teach you how to buy this."

I said that, gently took Hiero’s right wrist, lifted it from the water, and showed the Black Bracelet.

There is something I have to prepare by one year from now when we head to the Gri ruins. That is the Black Bracelet I changed with words.

If on the eleventh basement floor of the Gri ruins they find something with the People of Rieralia sealed, I want to free them at once.

But as someone who knows from Hiero’s explanation that they have no bodies, I cannot free them as they are.

Because the instant they are freed it would be fine, but as time passes they cannot keep their power and will vanish.

Then like Pafa and Hiero, if they put on a Black Bracelet right after being freed we should not have to worry about vanishing.

I explained that far, stroked the bracelet Hiero was wearing once with the right hand holding her wrist, and went on.

"Only, as a premise they have to take form. So what to do with those whose minds broke, what you told me before... that will fall to you, Hiero. And there is a purchase limit... five every thirty days, so I do not know if we will make it in a year."

"That is fine. I am braced... but there were about two hundred of us? I do not know how long the purchase limit will take, and in the first place I do not have that kind of money."

"Wrong, Hiero. I want you to ’help’ me buy them because I want them. As you know there are many uses. I want to buy toward a goal of three hundred."

I sank Hiero’s limp right arm back into the water and kneaded the right hand that had gotten a little cold.

If we have three hundred it will without a doubt be enough, right? I murmured that close to Hiero’s ear. She shook a little, then dropped her face and started talking in a small voice.

"Raide is sly..."

"Aah. I know."

"You know I treasure everyone... you know I will not refuse that proposal... underhanded."

"I am aware."

"You go that far for me. What should I do for you, Raide? There is nothing left I can do for you..."

"I have already received it."

Ready to get scolded later I moved both arms around Hiero’s belly up under her chest, pulled her tighter against me, and held her.

To support Hiero’s shaking body, to tell her to be at ease, that it is fine, I strengthened the hold just a little.

I cut Hiero off and kept talking, trying to keep my voice as kind as I could.

"Hiero promised she would stay beside me. This is thanks to that Hiero. Thanks to an important person who lets me spend happy days."

"A Handful... are you not...?"

"Haha. This time I am aware."

Hiero’s sobs like she was holding them in stood out a little in the quiet bath. I nuzzled Hiero’s side-hair and raised how close our bodies were.

I knew Hiero truly wanted to head to the Gri ruins at once and save her people.

I can tell even watching the days she spends with Pafa, and I had not missed the lonely look Hiero showed now and then.

That is why when I asked Hiero to wait a year I lowered my head desperately.

And I knew she was holding in sad feelings, telling herself she had to get a hold of herself.

In fact even now she clenched her teeth and held her mouth with both hands so sobs would not leak...

I have only heard it from Hiero so this is only my guess... but the one who cornered the radicals to the last moment, was that not Hiero?

When she told us in the principal’s office Hiero did say, "They are dangerous people but we left them to watch..."

And from how she told the details of that time I can also guess she saw it in front of her.

From Hiero’s character I do not think she would leave them, and she was probably told by other comrades to watch, and reluctantly agreed.

Hiero who noticed something wrong cornered the radicals to the last moment, even in front of her. But... it was carried out.

I do not know her true age, but how much sad feeling has this small body carried... it is enough already.

Sad feelings should be enough up to here, right?

In order, next is the turn to feel happy things.

By some fate I met her. The event is not tied in, but I will have her let me put everything I have into it.

I held Hiero’s shaking shoulders tight again, gyu, and spoke gently with a smile to her holding sobs in with both hands.

"I want Hiero to become happy too. Because you are an important person who promised to stay beside me. And I seem to be a Handful... give up?"

Hoku hoku hoku. Hiero nodded again and again. Until she settled I kept holding her while soaking in the water.

Suddenly Milish’s words "Lady Riera’s guidance" went through my head. I remembered my own words answering "coincidence" and smiled wryly.

Even if it is not Lady Riera’s guidance but "coincidence," I will thank the "coincidence" that let me meet Hiero.

Not only Hiero. I met my lovers and important people too, so I am happy...