“Lu-Luman!”

I felt like shouting somebody’s name for no reason, like jumping up and down.

I wanted to brag that just now, I’d made a friend. A real friend.

But Temar was busy. And with Luman, because of something I’d said to him before, it felt awkward to start babbling. When I bit my lip, Luman crooked his hand at me again.

“What, did Lady Coco ask you to be friends or something?”

Luman asked with a grin.

I ran at him in a flurry, shaking the little pouch in my hand. Without realizing it, I raised my voice.

“Lady Coco gave me this!”

“Careful. You’re gonna trip.”

My breath was trembling all over the place. Luman nodded.

“Nice. Looks expensive. And?”

He tilted his head like he was willing to hear the rest too.

“A-and then... she told me to come visit later...”

“Oh! So you made a friend!”

Luman brushed a hand lightly through my hair.

“R-right?!”

The second I shouted that with my fist clenched, I got embarrassed.

But the moment Luman quietly smiled and patted my shoulder, the embarrassment turned into pure happiness.

It’s okay for me to be happy about this!

I’m allowed to grin as much as I want!

“That’s good.”

“Yeah!”

I beamed.

Luman’s hand, which had been hovering near my head like he was hesitating, finally plunged in and ruffled my hair all over the place. I used to hate being touched by other people. Weird. Somehow, when Luman did it, it didn’t feel bad. Maybe my stupid aversion to other people had actually gotten better?

I was embarrassed enough that I wanted to duck away and pretend I hated it, but then I remembered Luman would be leaving soon, and I didn’t want to.

I started chattering at him, trying to blow away the heaviness sitting in my chest.

I was sad I wouldn’t get to see Lante either. Luman just nodded along to the pointless things I said. Seeing as he wasn’t teasing me for fun, it seemed like Luman wanted this goodbye to end on a good note too.

“Please tell Lante thank you too.”

“I will.”

“You really have to tell him.”

“I said I will.”

“You can’t call him right now, can you? I’m not asking you to, though!!”

“No. He needs to recover his strength.”

“Okay.”

I nodded at Luman’s answer, and then a bright voice snatched our attention away.

“Oh! Sir Ren, handsome Hero!”

“Priest Kirky.”

I’d barely thought, That sounds like someone sprinting up the stairs, before Priest Kirky burst in. He looked delighted to see us, then before I could even refuse, he threw his arms around me in a huge hug—and then threw his arms around Luman too. He hugged Luman even longer.

“Well now. What’s this about? I prefer women.”

“I know! I heard you have a fiancée. Hehe. She must be beautiful, right?”

Kirky winked.

“This is such a shame! To think we’re parting this soon. But the world is round, so someday we’ll meet again! Won’t we?”

“Is that so?”

The line of Luman’s mouth softened. Kirky nodded hard and launched into a flood of words. He told us how much Coco had cried on the way back from the funeral, and how he himself had seen Shawn leaving with a white halo over him. Kirky was so passionately pouring it all out that there was no way to interrupt him, so we stood there for a while and listened to the whole thing, until somehow Coco found out and shouted hoarsely at the top of her lungs. Her voice was loud enough to punch right through the closed door.

“Kirky! Are you coming already or not!?”

“Gaaah! I’m coming, Lady Coco!”

Startled out of his skin, Kirky took off running down the hall, then stopped and turned back to us, calling out with a Hero’s salute.

“May your journey be full of blessings!”

Luman let out a short laugh, almost like a whistle, then his eyes turned serious.

“Ren, what do you think?”

“...?”

What did I think about what Kirky said? Or about the beauty of Lacus?

When I just stared blankly, Luman swept a hand back through his hair.

“About the handsome Hero part.”

“......”

He’s not wrong, but now that he’s asking me like that, I really don’t want to answer!?

“I don’t know!”

In the end I just blurted that and ran for the garden. Luman burst out laughing and followed after me.

Seton, Hugh, and his subordinate knights were lined up beside the carriage we’d be taking. My brother, who’d been talking with Seton, looked back at me.

And next to him was that physician too. The one who treated us in the hollow, stared right at me, and pocketed my herbs!!

“Why is he here?”

I’d thought I’d calmed down, but apparently not. God, I’m petty. The second I saw him, all my stress came rushing back.

“Ren. Watch your mouth when you speak to the doctor.”

“Are we giving him a ride on the way?”

I tried hard to hide the spite in my voice.

“Since Ren is frail, he’ll be traveling with the doctor for a while.”

“What?! He’ll just be a pain in the ass! I’m not frail!”

At that, everybody made the same awkward expression.

Temar shook his head like my opinion wasn’t needed in the first place. Damn it!

The physician hesitated, then stepped forward.

“Um... I’m {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} sorry for picking up your herbs without asking. It won’t happen again, so... could we try to get along? I’m a physician—my name is Jepeto.”

The doctor, who introduced himself as Jepeto, smiled awkwardly and held out his hand.

I mean, sure, he’s a doctor, and he looks nice enough, but still. I hate touching strangers. That’s separate from whether I’ve gotten a little less guarded or not.

When I quietly hid my hand behind my back, my brother’s face twisted into something terrifying.

“R-right. I look forward to traveling with you.”

The doctor pulled his hand back and bowed his head.

“......”

I only gave a stiff little nod.

But Temar didn’t look happy with that either.

Should I just suck it up and offer my hand first, even now? Yeah. Even if I hate it, I can endure it, can’t I? Why the hell did I act so rude just now? I made up my mind and started to reach out—then Luman gave my back a couple light pats.

When I turned around, he beckoned me over.

Now? Why?

“Come here.”

If I asked, would my brother start in on me again for being rude?

I checked the room, then shuffled over to Luman. There was a faint crease in his brow, like he was thinking something over. When I got close, he abruptly lifted his head and said something completely unexpected.

“I’ll introduce you.”

“Introduce me? To what?”

“‘Luvien.’”

The second I asked, Luman murmured the summoning words under his breath.

A very faint glow flared, and a white fox appeared.

Unlike before, when it had looked soft and luxurious, now patches of its fur were missing here and there, and it looked thin. But its eyes and nose were still gleaming black as jet.

Lante bared its teeth at Luman with a glare, but the moment it spotted me, it tucked them away. Then it narrowed its eyes in a smile. Total fox. Well, maybe not a real fox, but still.

Ughhh. Cute...

The little white fox, now small enough to fit in one hand, lifted its paw from Luman’s palm and made a low sound, like it was telling me to come closer. When I did, Lante licked the back of my hand.

The rough, warm feel of its tongue hit my skin, and all the tension drained out of me. Ah—ow, my muscles are cramping!

Carefully, I stroked Lante’s head with my other hand, and Lante licked me again.

Then it vanished.

“Ah.”

I didn’t get to say thank you again.

Luman smiled with his eyes curved just like Lante’s.

“I’ll tell him. You were trying to say thank you, right?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded.

Luman’s gotten really good lately at noticing what I’m thinking.

Could his power be mind reading or something?

“Come on. We should get going.”

For a second, I thought there couldn’t possibly be any words sadder than that.

Maybe that was why my brother used to leave in secret, without saying goodbye. In that moment, I felt like I understood him a little.

I bit my lip, then let it go. I already got to say goodbye, didn’t I? Seriously, this is the problem with people. We’re way too greedy.

“You really have to tell him.”

“Of course I will.”

Luman briefly squeezed my arm and let go.

I had no idea what that meant. Did Luman maybe want to shake hands with me too?

If that was it, I guess I wouldn’t mind.

When I stood there blinking at him, Luman shoved me lightly in the back, telling me to move it.

It looked like Seton and my brother had finished talking.

“Please send word once you arrive. We’ll investigate thoroughly on our end and contact you after.”

“Thank you.”

“No, we’re the ones who should be saying that. Thank you for rescuing Lady Coco. Hero Temar. Hero Luman. And Ren, who stayed by her side so bravely.”

Me...?! I-I don’t think I deserve to be thanked or anything. I just kept the promise I made not to leave her alone!

I was so caught off guard by being called out like that, I couldn’t even answer. My lips only twitched. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“It couldn’t have been easy to step forward bravely in a situation like that. I’m told Lady Coco was deeply moved.”

I had thought Seton was cold. Ruthless.

But with that cold face of his, he went out of his way to point out each thing carefully, one by one, and say something warm without overdoing it. His eyes seemed to soften slightly, and something like a smile flickered across his face.

Did I imagine that? No... did I really see it right?

“Hugh.”

“Yes.”

I’d been staring at Seton without realizing it, and then the knight Hugh limped over. I looked at him in confusion, and he held out the box he’d been carrying. When I just stared, he undid the clasp and opened the lid for me.

Inside was a jeweled necklace.

“Why are you giving me this...?”

“Lady Coco asked that it be delivered to you. This necklace was made with a special technique known only to the artisans of the ducal house. It bears a mark that can be recognized anywhere, so if you ever need the help of House Gannion, she said you should use it and come back.”