I was out getting some air on one of the balconies of the royal palace’s banquet hall .
Turning my gaze to the sky, I saw the twinkle of the stars and gentle moonlight .
Having retreated from the clamor of the banquet hall, I hoped the tranquility of nature would soothe my heart .
“I get that celebrations are important, but I’ve never liked being the star of the show…”
Tonight, a ceremony at the palace―no, celebrations across all of Bauer commemorated our victory .
Having defeated the Three Great Archdukes who had ruled over the demons, we dropped the curtain on our long standing conflict with them . Tonight, the entire country celebrated together .
Here at the royal palace, people who had distinguished themselves during the conflict were invited to receive gratitude and awards, directly from King Sein .
I was one of those people as well, but had been overwhelmed by the amount of people who called out to me .
While the storm of praise from people who I had never even seen before had felt good at first, I very quickly grew tired of it .
I had never been huge on large gatherings in the first place .
In particular, I was troubled by the occasional request for a dance .
I wasn’t very good at dancing .
Though I had improved through practice, there was no way I could partner up with the celebrities that would request a dance at this kind of event .
―Would you show me the fruits of your practice?
Come to think of it, I vaguely recall dancing with high nobility before .
I get the feeling that I had been able to do so without feeling so melancholy…
I really wondered, when exactly had such a thing happened?
“Ah, so you were here after all . ”
My worries looped within my head as I exposed myself to the night wind . As I stood, looking out from the balcony alone, a gentle voice called out to me from behind .
“Lily-sama…”
“Is it okay for the star of the celebrations to be all the way out here?”
Though the dress code was formal, Lily-sama was in her usual Spirit Church habits .
It seems for the faith’s followers, those clothes were considered formal .
While Lily had previously been demoted to a regular nun, it seemed some voices were calling for her return to Cardinal due to her recent contributions .
Naturally coming to my side, Lily-sama offered me a drink .
Not an alcoholic one, but water .
I was grateful .
“Give it a rest already, I can only keep up the act for so long . ”
“Wouldn’t it be fine if you just acted as you normally do?”
“But I mean, the people invited here are all elites, both from Bauer and the other countries, right? I wouldn’t want to do something that might disgrace King Sein . ”
“Fufu . Even though you appear thoughtless, you’ve properly thought things out . That really is like you, Rei-san . ”
Lily-sama giggled .
“Appear thoughtless… How could you say that . Even I have a lot on my mind…”
“S-sorry . I didn’t mean that in a bad way . So, for example, what are you thinking about now?”
“Now? Well… about what I want to do from now on, I suppose . ”
“From now on?”
Lily-sama tilted her head in confusion .
“The threat of the empire is gone, and our fight with the demons has ended . So, what should I be doing from now on?”
“I-isn’t that just simple? It’s fine to just live a normal, happy life . With Lily and us, four and one . ”
I understood what Lily-sama was trying to say .
She simply wanted me to return home .
In truth, I had yet to return to our home in Bauer .
Under the guise of receiving medical treatment, I was still borrowing a room from the Spirit Church’s treatment facilities .
Though my wounds had more or less all healed, there was something within me that rejected the thought of returning home .
“Lily-sama, should we ditch the ceremony?”
“… Eh?”
“It seems… I’m in the mood for a walk . ”
“E-eh? Do you think that’d be okay?”
“I mean all the formal functions are over, all that’s left is the banquet . I’m sure even if we slipped away, it wouldn’t cause anyone trouble . ”
“T-that’s true . Then, I’ll accompany you . ”
After she returned our drinks to one of the waiters, Lily-sama and I walked side by side .
“… Where are you going, Rei . ”
“Ah, father, mother . ”
“Even involving Lily-chan… Aren’t you two both the stars of tonight’s celebrations?”
It was my parents―Van Taylor and Mel Taylor .
Having heard that I was in a comatose state after our final confrontation with the demons, they had rushed here from Euclid out of concern .
I was glad that I was able to show them that I was fine .
“Just… stepping out for a bit . ”
“Together?”
“Yup . ”
“The stars of the banquet shouldn’t―”
“Dear, don’t say something so boorish . Isn’t that right, Lily-chan?”
“E-eeh!? Uhm… yes…”
As though she had figured us out, she said those words and winked . Lily-sama’s face was flushed as she nodded in response .
“Is that so . It’s dark out there so be careful . ”
“We will . ”
“Then excuse us, father, mother . ”
“Have a good one . ”
As my parents saw us off, we left the banquet hall .
Having left the palace, it appeared the capital was quite lively as well .
All over the area, people were cheering, celebrating the victory .
As photographs did not yet exist in this world, there weren’t many who recognized my face .
Thanks to that, we were able to walk through the town without interruption .
“Where are we going?”
“To the academy . ”
“That place holds many memories for Rei-san, doesn’t it . ”
“Yes . ”
The royal academy and the royal palace were not too far apart .
Before long, we had arrived . Following the procedures at the gate, we received permission for nighttime entry and went inside .
The academy at night was very quiet in comparison to the town .
Though it seemed that the students had been celebrating as well, it was already past curfew .
While some lights were still on in the research tower, it seemed that most of the academy had settled into sleep .
“While you were at the academy, you shared rooms with Misha, right?”
“That’s right . She really looked after me . ”
For a cool beauty that could otherwise seem cold, Misha was quite caring . In a variety of ways, she had watched out for me .
Especially― .
… Huh?
Especially in regards to what again?
“… Rei-san?”
“Sorry, it seems that I spaced out . ”
“It’s likely the fatigue from the ceremony . Shall we sit?”
Lily-sama pointed at a small rest house in the courtyard .
With no reason to decline, we sat under the gazebo .
“Did you have fun while at the academy?”
“Yes, it was very fulfilling . I had immersed myself in what I loved and even had a part-time job . ”
“Is that right? That sounds so nice . If only Lily could have attended the academy, she could’ve met Rei-san even earlier!”
“Fufu . ”
Responding to Lily-sama with a smile, I couldn’t help but feel something tugging at me .
What exactly was it that I had loved so much…?
What had I immersed myself into?
What exactly had I done for my part-time job?
“Rei-san, why are you shaking?”
“… Eh?”
I hadn’t realized until she had pointed it out .
But I was definitely shaking with my arms wrapped around myself .
“Are you cold? You’re not quite back in top form yet, so you shouldn’t push yourself, okay?”
Lily-sama held my hand .
It felt warm .
However, my shaking didn’t calm in the least .
“Lily-sama, I can’t help but feel that I’m forgetting something really important . ”
“Something important…?”
“Yes, something that I should never have forgotten, something absolutely vital to me . ”
“…”
Lily-sama’s face showed that she was at a loss for words .
As I tried to suppress the shaking, I continued .
“The world has found peace . The threat of the empire is gone, and our fight with the demons is over . Lily-sama, Mei, and Alea are all still with me . There shouldn’t be anything to feel dissatisfied about, and yet―”
“… And yet?”
Lily-sama kindly urged me to continue .
“And yet, it’s not enough . I feel like I’m missing something absolutely core . ”
“Rei-san…”
“No matter how peaceful the world is! Even if no one else holds the same doubts! It’s something that I cannot allow myself to forget! To me, that something is absolutely necessary!”
I wondered if Lily would recoil at my sudden outburst .
I wondered if she would resent me for saying such a thing even though I had ignored my beloved family and refused to return home .
Or perhaps, she would break down crying as she usually did .
Even while fearing such outcomes, there was no way that I could hold those words back .
Lily-sama’s response was―
“Is that so . Then, please make sure you properly remember it . ”
It was none of the responses I had feared, but a warm smile filled with affection .
“You’ll… trust me…?”
“Of course . It’s something that none other than Rei-san said . Until now and forevermore, Lily-sama will always be Rei-san’s ally . ”
“Lily-sama…”
I was at a loss for words .
It was likely that Lily-sama had realized .
That whatever I was trying to remember would break my current happiness with Lily-sama .
That if I were to just accept the present, I would be able to live happily with Lily-sama .
Even so .
Even so, Lily-sama unconditionally accepted my choice .
“Why… why would Lily-sama go so far…”
“It’s simple . Because I love Rei-san . Rei-san’s happiness is Lily’s happiness . Having Rei-san maintain this forced smile, is something that Lily-sama can’t do . ”
It appeared that Lily-sama had realized long ago that I had been acting strange .
“Sorry… I’m so sorry, Lily-sama…”
“Ahaha… actually, Lily thought that it was strange as well . That someone like Lily would be next to Rei-san . ”
“That’s not…!”
“It’s fine, it’s not like Lily’s given up . Once Rei-san has remembered what she’s forgotten, Lily will do her best so that we become lovers again!”
Lily-sama smiled, as though telling me to resolve myself for it .
Her smile was heartrending… and yet, absolutely genuine .
“Lily-sama… I…”
“Rather than that, the problem is what it is that Rei-san is forgetting . Do you have any clues?”
Interrupting my attempt to make amends, Lily-sama pushed the conversation forward .
Though I wanted to somehow justify my actions, I swallowed those words and responded .
“I don’t have anything concrete… However, I sometimes remember someone’s voice . ”
“A voice?”
“Yes, both prideful and full of confidence, but also just slightly fragile… That kind of voice . ”
Even though I only had fragmented memories, I wondered why I was able to describe it so specifically .
Amidst my confusion over that fact,
“Hm, I see . It appears those shabby suggestions were too shallow after all?”
I suddenly heard such a voice .
Turning to face behind me, a girl wearing the academy’s uniform stood there .