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Year 352 - Late Fall - Outskirts of Aves, Kingdom of Laurel
“Grandpa! Grandpa!” A girl ran with a bright smile. Her small feet took her before a man at about three times her height. “Grandpa! I want to come too!” She spread her arms wide, waiting for her Grandfather to take her by her armpits.
Her Grandfather chuckled as he turned his broad shoulders. “You seem full of energy, Amelia.” The silver hair he bore was similar to Amelia’s.
“Hmm?” She crossed her arms over her chest clothed in a frilly green dress and tilted her head. “But wasn’t it Grandpa who told me to keep going as is?” And again, she tilted her head, letting her shoulder-length hair brush her shoulders.
“Yes, yes I did.” The man expressed a smile over his thin-bearded chin. “Now then.” He kneeled over a patch of grass and offered his arms. “Where does my precious Granddaughter want to go this time?”
Amelia threw her fair arms into the air. “Anywhere! Anywhere is fine as long as I’m with Grandpa!” Her large blue eyes gleamed as she anticipated her Grandfather’s response.
The man, Randolf Laurel, laughed once more. “Well, well, what a fine Granddaughter you are.” His blue eyes flashed a gentle glint. Then he lifted Amelia to his embrace, unmindful of the creases that formed on his black coat.
“Say, Grandpa, when will Grandma return?” Amelia roamed her eyes. What she saw were the usually trimmed hedges around the Palace’s garden. The flowers, crocuses, fritillarias, and hyacinths, were in full bloom.
“Hmm… I’m not sure myself.” Shifting his hold on Amelia, Randolf walked towards the stone-paved pathway. “But maybe one day, when the butterflies return to this garden, your Grandmother will turn up by herself.”
His eyes looked past the garden and into the horizon—into the setting sun. Gradually, the stars peeked into the night.
“Grandpa, I want to try traveling around the world like Grandma.” Amelia looked up with asking eyes.
Randolf shook his head. “You shouldn’t, Amelia.” He returned Amelia’s gaze with half-closed eyes. “You shouldn’t leave everyone behind. Your Mother, Father, Argent, Mark, Elaine, and everyone else will be saddened. And besides, what would Erina, Mira, and Ria do without you?”
Amelia sank her sights to the palm of her hands. “I guess so...”
“Now, now.” Randolf placed Amelia on the ground. “Show me that smile again.”
“...” Amelia reached her hands towards her cheeks and pinched it. “Heeee.” Stretching her cheeks, Amelia imitated a smile.
Randolf snorted a chuckle. “Really.” Then with a smile, he ruffled Amelia’s hair.
Amelia giggled a laugh. “Gee, Grandpa! Erina would scold me if it gets too messy!” Despite her retort, she expressed a smile.
“Then let’s ruffle it more!” This time, with two hands, Randolf played with Amelia’s hair.
“Eh?!” Amelia crouched, covering her head with her arms. Every time she was able to block her Grandfather’s hands, she giggled. Again and again, they went on until Amelia was exhausted.
“Uuu… Erina would surely scold me for this...” This time, however, she was frowning.
“Then, as an apology, let’s visit the forest tomorrow.” Randolf climbed to his feet and offered his hand to Amelia.
Amelia looked up in disbelief. “Really?”
“Really.”
Then gradually, the corner of her lips rose into a wide smile. “That’s a promise!” As quick as a cat, she pounced on Randolf’s hand. “A promise is a promise, okay?!”
“I swear by Laurel’s throne.”
“Then that settles it!”
“Are you sure that’s all?” Randolf covered his mouth, trying to suppress his laughter.
“Eh? Why?” Amelia tilted her head.
Randolf lifted his left hand and pointed behind Amelia. “Look over there.”
“There?” Amelia blinked her eyes. Following Randolf’s hand, Amelia turned around. There she found a familiar face. “E-erina.” Her face grew pale. Her body quivered in fright.
“What is it, Her Highness? It seems like you have seen a ghost of some sort?” Over her oval-shaped face wore a twitching smile. Her long blonde hair trailed over her black and white clothes fitting for a Royal Maidservant.
“N-nothing!” Amelia tucked her hands behind her straightened back. Beads of sweat started to form on her forehead.
“I see, nothing huh.” Erina nodded and turned her eyes to Randolf. “Well then, Your Majesty Randolf, I will be taking Her Highness with me.”
“S-sure. Go ahead.” Still, he was restraining his laughter.
“G-grandfather, you traitor!” Amelia immediately turned around and ran. But alas, she was too slow.
Randolf burst out laughing.
“Where are you going, Your Highness?” Holding her by the hand, Erina expressed a mischievous smile. “We still have some studying to do, don’t we?”
“I-I’ll do that tomorrow!” Amelia protested. “I still want to play!”
“Hmm?” Randolf brushed his tears with his fingers. “So you won’t be coming along tomorrow?”
“Eh? Eh?! I can’t do both tomorrow?!” Amelia froze; her mouth gaped.
“Hmm? A trip tomorrow?” Erina glanced at Randolf. “I wasn’t informed of this, Your Majesty.”
“It was recently decided.” Randolf waved his hand in dismissal. “But if Amelia already has plans for tomorrow, then—”
“I’ll go! I’ll definitely go tomorrow!” As Amelia protested, Erina released her hand. “Now take me, Erina! I’ll even skip dinner!” Her eyes closed tightly, Amelia stretched her hands wide. Perhaps she thought she was offering herself to a demon.
This is! For! My! Freedom! Amelia thought.
Erina raised a finger. “Oh, let’s add breakfast to that.”
“Noooooo!” Amelia’s knees buckled and fell to the ground. “You can’t do that! I’ll starve to death!”
“You can live without food for a day.” Erina reached for Amelia’s hands. “Now, Your Highness, your dress will become dirty if you stay there.”
“Uuu...” Amelia pouted as she rose to her feet. “No fair.”
“Well then, Amelia, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Randolf waved goodbye.
Amelia returned a wave while she was being led away by Erina. “It’s a promise!”
Waiting for her near the entrance to the palace were two other Maidservants. Ria and Mira. Both were also part of Amelia’s personal Maidservants.
“...”
“—lia. Her Highness Amelia. Wake up.” Someone, a sleek arm, shook my shoulders lightly. “We’ve arrived, Amelia. It’s almost time to alight.”
A dream huh.
As I lifted my eyelids, Erina’s face greeted me. “Erina, how much longer?”
“Like I said, we’re almost there.” Her golden fringes swayed lightly as she returned to her seat.
“… I see.” Promptly, I shut my eyes. “Then, just a little more.”
But even in a dream, dear Grandfather, it’s nice to see you again.
“Amelia,” Erina called in an indifferent tone.
“Alright, alright.” I stretched my arms and yawned. Then I shifted my eyes beyond the glass pane—beyond the structures of wood and stone and into the sky. “Sunset huh, the same time as then.”
“Is something the matter?” Sitting opposite me, while the wheels clattered, Erina glanced at the direction I was looking.
“Nothing.” I shook my head. “I just had a dream with a similar time as now.”
“I see.” Erina began to rummage through the leather sack beside her. After taking out an ornamental comb, she sat by my side. “What was the dream about?” Then she began to comb my hair, which now ran down to my waist.
With a wry smile, I replied, “About Grandfather.”
“Was it a pleasant one?”
“Yes.” I closed my eyes and recalled the scene. A time when I used to play with Grandfather, the previous King of Laurel. “Truly, it’s a time for me to admire.” A smile naturally emerged on my face. “Erina, you were there too. As well as Ria and Mira.”
Erina chuckled and broke into a smile. “Then, indeed, it is something pleasant.”
“Yes. A truly pleasant dream.”
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