The crisp morning air.
In the dawn light that blended blue and orange hues, Fuuka sat drowsily on a bench in the village square.
Miyako ran over to Fuuka and spoke softly.
“Fuuka-chan.”
Curled up on Fuuka’s lap, Umi was breathing softly in sleep.
That beautiful, divine-beast-like appearance had long been shed, leaving the fluffy Persian cat form she had when she first contracted with Miyako. Seeing her like this, she really did seem like just an ordinary cat.
…Wait. So, spirits sleep too.
“Miyako. Has Shanly-san calmed down now?”
“Yeah, somehow.”
Miyako gave a wry smile.
The medicinal effects of the moonlight grass were immediate – the medicine Fuuka had compounded according to the pharmacology book she’d memorized had rapidly improved the condition of Shanly’s daughter.
Once they had overcome the critical situation of miasma generating within her body, all that remained was to cast white magic healing light with the water spirit’s blessing, and the situation was resolved.
Seeing her daughter go from critically unconscious to suddenly being able to speak clearly had made Shanly weep uncontrollably.
Particularly, Shanly had been deeply impressed by Fuuka’s compounding skills, and as long as Fuuka remained in the room, she showed no signs of stopping her machine-gun-like stream of praise, which was why Miyako had stayed behind alone with Shanly.
“Her daughter seems to be fine now too.”
“Yes. Thanks to you, Fuuka-chan. Shanly-san said that once things have settled down, she absolutely wants to hold a thank-you banquet. She said it’s continental-style hospitality.”
“Such… there’s no need to thank me.”
As she spoke, Fuuka couldn’t suppress her smile.
Seeing that adorable expression made Miyako happy too.
“Um, Miyako.”
“What is it?”
“I was able to be of help to Shanly-san, wasn’t I…”
“Yes, of course!”
“She was happy, wasn’t she?”
“Yes, she was incredibly happy! She was so grateful to you, Fuuka-chan! She said you’re her life’s savior.”
“Grateful! Life’s savior…”
Fuuka felt her chest grow warm and her heart go pit-a-pat.
Until now, she had always kept striving.
To be more excellent than anyone else.
To be more beautiful than anyone else.
But for Fuuka, that was merely an expected duty.
Similarly, her father, her younger sisters, everyone had treated Fuuka’s efforts and excellence as “only natural.”
No one had ever praised her.
No one had ever thanked her.
The only one who had called Fuuka’s efforts “amazing” was Miyako, who should have been her rival competing for engagement to a prestigious noble.
Accepting praise from a rival straightforwardly was something the eldest daughter of the Hamilton family could never do.
Therefore.
Being thanked by someone.
Being recognized by someone.
—This might be the first time in Fuuka’s life.
Being told “thank you” by someone was so—
“Being thanked, it’s so warm. It makes me happy.”
Fuuka murmured quietly.
Yes, it was truly—
“Happ…………”
“!!!”
She snapped back to awareness at Miyako’s expression, which was sparkling with anticipation.
That promise flashed through Fuuka’s mind.
‘If I can make Fuuka say she’s happy within these two weeks. I’ll let you return to your family home and live with Miyako forever.’
The promise they had made on the first day of this escape.
“Fuuka-chan!! What what, ‘happ’!?”
“~~~ H-h-h-h-h-hard consequences!!! Having to bear the hard consequences of searching for medicinal herbs all night is, well, not something I’m unwilling to do!!”
Blushing.
Then she thrust her index finger firmly at Miyako.
At Fuuka’s reaction, Miyako looked puzzled for a moment, then immediately broke into a broad smile.
“Th-that’s forceful!? But that part of you is what I like too, Fuuka-chan!!”
“Ky-kyah! Miyako, stop hugging me!”
“It’s fine, no one’s watching~!”
Their voices echoed cheerfully across the sunlit square.
On the knee of the villainous young lady who laughed with a radiant face, the fluffy water spirit gave a big ‘nya-fuu~’ yawn.