Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 549

549.

“Wow, this is really good.”

The apple pie, generously topped with thinly sliced apples, emitted a sweet aroma. Taking a large bite, Sibelius couldn’t hide his admiration once again. Seeing him so delighted like a child made me smile.

“Do you know you’ve been saying the same thing for a while now? It seems like you like all the food here.”

“Yeah, it’s not particularly special, but it feels somehow nostalgic. Especially this pie. Maybe it’s because I used to eat it a lot when I was young?”

“You ate apple pie often when you were young?”

“Someone used to make it for me. They were clumsy, so most of the first attempts were failures, but it got better over time. I think they practiced on purpose to give it to me. That’s why I liked it even more. Come to think of it, who was that person?”

“…I see.”

Is his body remembering even though he lost his memories? Now that I think about it, apple pie was the snack Sibelius made most often. It was also the first food he gave to As when he hatched. It seems like it was because of that time. Maybe Sibelius learning to cook was because of that too. I didn’t know how to start the conversation, so I just gave an awkward smile. I was even envious of Arel, who had left early on the pretext of running an errand. The person who put me in this mood was just excited.

“Did you enjoy the dessert, sir? As the maker, I’m happy to see you enjoying it so much. I ended up making too much while making it, so would you like to take some with you if you don’t mind? I won’t charge you extra.”

It was more like an offer than a question, as he had already packed the food in a basket. There was even more than what we ordered. Sibelius, who had unknowingly received the basket, looked flustered.

“Thank you, but something like this…”

“It’s okay. As you can see, it’s a small shop, so we don’t have many customers. Even fewer people order dessert. It’s going to be thrown away anyway, so I’d rather give it to someone who likes it.”

“But…”

“If you feel burdened, just spread the word to your friends that it’s delicious. It would be even better if you came again next time.”

There was no ulterior motive in his kindly smiling face. He just seemed like a kind-hearted owner trying to secure regular customers. His attitude was so natural that Sibelius, who had been wary, gradually relaxed.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

No one in the world dislikes free things. Especially if it’s delicious food. Sibelius, who was carefully holding the basket, also had a slightly flushed face. Seeing Rigleo, the restaurant owner, gently gazing at him, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Please don’t tell that child my name. He’ll hate it because it’s the name of someone who betrayed the clan.”

His earlier request lingered in my mind. Of course, even if he hadn’t said that, I couldn’t have revealed it on my own. In fact, Sibelius’s reaction when he heard the name wasn’t very good either.

“You really liked that apple pie. Should I write down the recipe for you?”

“Is it okay to do that?”

“Of course. It’s not like there’s any special secret in it.”

But wouldn’t the shock be greater when he finds out all the facts later? I sighed again, watching the brothers who were lost in their own world. The harmonious scene was so fitting that it was all the more bitter.

“Father knew, didn’t he?”

At my muttered words, Eluien sent a silent gaze. It’s very rare for all the processes to coincide by chance. Just like encountering Arel here, I thought it was also a problem to point out that the place we arrived at was in front of a unicorn-run store. After realizing that the owner was Sibelius’s brother, I couldn’t help but know that it was a deliberate result.

“I just heard that a Heavenly Demon [a powerful being] who broke his own wings has recently been forming a small relationship with a clan.”

As expected, Eluien didn’t deny it. He had made arrangements for me, who was only deepening my worries ahead of visiting the Unicorn Village. Or perhaps, it was an arrangement for the brother who used to make apple pie with clumsy skills for his younger sibling.

So I decided to just shut my mouth. Even if I get resentment from Sibelius later, it couldn’t be helped. I just wanted them to share good memories now. I hope that the man who is already full of scars doesn’t have to bear the memory of his beloved brother looking at him with resentment. That would eventually become another wound for Sibelius.

* * *

I met Arel again a few days later in the afternoon. The meeting took place again inside the restaurant run by Rigleo. Sibelius, who had already opened his heart on his first visit, greeted Rigleo with a smile and easily fell into a chat about cooking.

Arel, who arrived late, paused when he found the two people in a friendly atmosphere, then sat down without showing any sign of knowing them. He tried not to show it, but it was inevitable that he looked complicated. My expression must be similar to his, so I quickly got to the point.

“I got permission.”

Fortunately, the news he brought was positive. Since they were lending it, it must have been difficult to be picky. It was also thanks to Arel explaining to their clan that I was a ‘Dragon’s proxy.’

“However, they attached one condition. Our representative will accompany us while we are borrowing the Divine Object.”

Did they think I might run away with the Divine Object? Well, I would prepare for the worst if I were them. I was about to nod casually, thinking that Arel could take care of it, but he looked embarrassed.

“The Elder also wanted to designate the person in charge directly.”

“Hmm, that’s troublesome. Can’t you just take care of it?”

“I don’t want to give you this answer, but as a result, I will be with you too. It seems like the person I’m escorting will be in charge.”

“What do you mean… Ah, no way…”

I frowned at the ominous feeling, and Arel nodded.

“That’s right. It’s Lady Weldy.”

I wondered why things were going so smoothly for once. Of course, the more important the item, the more they would want to entrust it to the most trusted person. There is no one as trustworthy as blood relatives, so I understand why the Elder made such a decision. But it was more difficult for us because it was his granddaughter. This is like bringing the enemy’s scout into the base. She seemed to have a good personality when I saw her before, but that was a problem regardless of her personality.

“Then there’s no choice. Sibyl, we’re going to act separately for a while…”

“No, I want to be with you too.”

I was about to start by saying that I was going to deal with the unicorns alone while borrowing the Divine Object, but Sibelius’s answer came back right away. He met my gaze with calm eyes as I looked at him in embarrassment.

“What are you thinking? There’s a limit to just covering your face. You’ll definitely get caught.”

“Yeah, probably.”

“Then why…”

“Weldy is okay. She’ll probably be okay.”

Unlike when he stepped out confidently, his tone was not confident at all. He smiled bitterly as I looked at him suspiciously.

“It might be a good opportunity. Weldy is the child who is scheduled to be the next Elder, and she is the most reasonable person among the current Elder’s aides. We’ve grown up together since we were young, so we know each other well. If I can persuade her, it will be much smoother in the future. On the other hand, if I can’t even persuade her, I won’t be able to stand properly in the future.”

“…You don’t have to force yourself to do something you don’t want to do. I don’t want you to have a hard time.”

“No, El. This is what I want. I’ve been thinking a lot about it for the past few days. It’s not the life I wanted, but I was born like this. I don’t think I can just keep avoiding and running away. I want to try to face it.”

He answered confidently, with a carefree face, free from a long agony. Was it because his relationship with Arel was resolved smoothly? The life he had been away from the village for the past few years may have brought him some leeway.

It was me who couldn’t make a decision. He doesn’t know the future, so he can think more simply. But I wasn’t. I shouldn’t be optimistic about this issue either. Shouldn’t I consider more aspects and make a careful judgment? I can’t erase the feeling of pushing an innocent child who doesn’t know anything into the abyss of evil with my own hands.

“El, it’s really okay. Trust me.”

But I had no choice but to nod at the following words. How can I put my unilateral judgment and decision ahead of someone who asks me to trust them? If I ignore these words now, I will become the same person as his clan who couldn’t trust Sibelius until now.

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

If it doesn’t work out, there’s a way to run away again. Well, something will work out. At least the tragedy of Sibelius being sealed in front of my eyes shouldn’t happen. That was the goal now.

* * *

There are many reasons why humans try to hunt unicorns, but the biggest reason is their appearance. Most unicorns are born with outstanding looks that are noticeable at a glance even from a distance. Elves are also a handsome clan, but unicorns had a mysterious and strange atmosphere that seemed untouchable. In particular, unicorn women were said to be gorgeous and sweet like they were made of sugar.

In that respect, Weldy was a person with the typical appearance of a unicorn woman. Clean and white skin like it was glowing, a cute and delicate face, jewel-like eyes reminiscent of high-quality rubies. Her rich and gorgeous silver hair had a subtle pinkish hue. If you were to make a person out of cotton candy, it would feel like this. Since she had an appearance that you couldn’t help but remember even if you passed by, there was no problem recognizing the leader among the escorts.

“Hello. We meet again.”

The meeting place agreed upon in advance was in a forest a few hours away from the city by carriage. It was also an area under the jurisdiction of the elves, so there were few people.

“You are…”

Weldy, who had been waiting for the meeting in a tense state, also recognized me at a glance. Her disheveled face was full of embarrassment that she had never thought that I would be the Dragon’s proxy. Of course, it was nothing compared to the shock of discovering the person behind me.

“Could it be, Lord Sibelius…?”

“It’s been a while, Weldy.”

Sibelius, who had come with the intention of facing her anyway, readily took off the hood he was wearing and revealed his face. Weldy, who had been facing him head-on, froze as if she had been frozen, as if she didn’t know it would be real even though she had guessed.

The unicorn escorts who recognized him were also shocked and stirred.

“Arel, you…?”

One of the men looked back at Arel with a confused face. It was Karian, who was escorting Weldy along with Arel among the three unicorns who had been caught that day. Starting with his words, all the unicorns’ gazes turned to Arel. Arel calmly accepted the gaze.

“What, what is going on, Arel? There was no such thing at all.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Weldy. I couldn’t tell you in advance.”

“What the heck…!”

“Don’t blame Arel. I told him not to say it.”

Sibelius, who stepped out in a hurry, tried to calm the chaotic atmosphere. Weldy, who had been glaring at Arel with a stiff face, seemed to have finally come to her senses at those words and turned back to Sibelius.

“I don’t know what’s going on. I came out after receiving a mission from my grandfather. I heard that the Dragon’s proxy was temporarily borrowing the Divine Object of Heiten. But did you deceive everyone?”

“I didn’t deceive you. El here is the Dragon’s proxy. We’re meeting because of the Divine Object, and I’m just accompanying El’s party.”

“But that person is human.”

“Yes, that’s right. He’s human. Is there a law that humans can’t be the Dragon’s proxy?”

Weldy couldn’t answer readily at the smiling question. Instead, she bit her lip as if she was upset.

“I thought you weren’t an ordinary person when I saw you before. But I didn’t know you had a relationship with the dragon. What are you trying to achieve by dragging me out with the Divine Object as an excuse? I’m sorry, but whatever your purpose is, you won’t be able to achieve it.”

In an instant, the escorts’ momentum became fierce, and everyone went into alert mode. Was Sibelius’s appearance too shocking? It seemed like they had misunderstood something strange.

“Well, my purpose is to take the Divine Object back. I heard that it’s difficult to return it right away, so I’m just borrowing it for a while.”

“Is that really all?”

“I don’t know why you think there’s another plan. I don’t think I was the one who decided whether to dispatch the unicorn side or who to appoint as the person in charge in the first place.”

As they know very well, it was all their Elder’s decision. Again, Weldy couldn’t answer anything. Then, as if she realized something, she suddenly turned to Sibelius with a brightened face.

“I’ll believe those words. Then, are you coming back to us now, Lord Sibelius?”

“…No.”

“No?”

Weldy, who had fallen into shock again, looked at him with an unbelievable expression.

“Why? Do you know how much we’ve been looking for you? You came out knowing that you would meet me here. Doesn’t that mean you’re coming back?”

“It’s the opposite, Weldy. I’m here to tell you to give up now because I have no intention of going back.”

“Lord Sibelius!”

“Lady Weldy, it’s not something to be so excited about. Please listen to Lord Sibelius’s words first.”

Arel, who was next to her, hurriedly opened his mouth. Weldy glared at him resentfully.

“What story am I going to hear here? Didn’t Arel hear what Lord Sibelius just said? He said he has no intention of coming back! The grandfather will not allow this!”

“Lady Weldy, Lord Sibelius is a Rune.”

“What the… !”

“No one in the clan is higher in status than the Rune. If the Rune needs to ask for permission, the only person to ask is Lusef.”