“Ugh…”
“Mm~ This food is delicious.”
There were four people at the table, having breakfast.
Luna was eating, her demeanor much like that of a frightened puppy.
Opposite her sat Astina.
Robert and I alternated glances between the two as we ate our own meals.
Seeing this, Robert quietly asked me,
“What exactly happened here?”
I could only respond with an awkward smile.
Astina had suddenly shown up.
I wonder how she had managed to find us.
Even when I asked Astina how, she only smiled without giving an answer.
"This... shouldn't be happening..."
"Hmm~? What's wrong, Luna?"
"...Ugh. It's nothing."
At Astina’s question, Luna looked disheartened.
Though she had declared her intentions to charm me during the trip, Astina's sudden appearance seemed to have thrown her plans into disarray.
Professor Robert observed Astina in silence for a moment before speaking.
“Astina, it doesn't matter that you've come, but I won't be providing you with meals, accommodation, or transportation.”
Though Robert spoke firmly, Astina merely responded with a slight smile.
“That's fine. I didn't come expecting any of that.”
Saying so, Astina cast a fleeting glance my way.
"Is everyone ready then?"
We nodded in response to Robert's question.
Two carriages stood before us.
One was for Luna, Robert, and myself.
The other, parked a distance away, was the one Astina had arranged for herself.
“Alright, get on.”
With Robert's words, I got into the carriage.
As I took my seat, Luna also entered.
“Hmm?”
Luna then moved closer to me.
As I looked at her in confusion, she simply took the seat next to me without a word.
“Luna?”
In response, Luna snuggled up to me, holding onto my sleeve.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})“Why…?”
She looked at me as if questioning what the problem was.
“...Never mind.”
It seemed she wanted to make some kind of move, given that Astina wasn’t in this carriage.
But then...
“...?”
Robert climbed into the carriage and looked in our direction.
For some reason, Luna was snuggled up right next to me.
“Hmm.”
“Ugh…”
When Robert stared intently, Luna, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed, shifted a little away from me.
There was no way Luna could do anything when Robert was in the carriage with us.
Luna was already quite shy even in front of me, so how could she openly cling to me in front of Professor Robert?
Robert observed the two of us for a moment before taking a seat opposite us and starting a conversation.
"Should I get off?"
"Oh, no! That's..."
As Robert spoke, Luna extended her hand and said.
Her face reddened and looked unsure of what to do.
Still, she pouted her lips and looked at me with a disappointed expression.
Her eyes hinted that she might do something even in Robert's presence.
It was a gaze like that of a predator eying its prey.
While Luna might be looking at me with such intentions, to me, it just looked like an innocent puppy giving me a threatening look.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Let's set off."
"Understood!"
With Robert's words, the carriage began to move.
As time slowly passed,
The carriage started to shake heavily.
The roads near the academy were reasonably well-maintained, so it didn't shake this much, but as we approached the Railer territory, the carriage's shakes intensified.
Just how underdeveloped was this place...
I was both concerned and excited.
The places I had seen so far were more developed areas like the capital and the academy.
The capital and the academy were in an excellent state due to magic.
So it felt slightly different from the typical fantasy feeling.
Of course, I had been to the north and other places, but I hadn’t been to the outskirts of the kingdom, so I couldn't experience that feeling.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Aren't these rural villages the real essence of a fantasy world?
A village that truly gives off a fantasy vibe.
Most of the people were farmers, and it was a small territory without even a proper castle.
The thought made me anticipate even more.
The carriage shook.
Thud-
Luna's head touched my shoulder.
Turning my head, I saw Luna, who earlier was staring with an intense gaze, now sound asleep.
Sleeping with an innocent, childlike face.
Why on earth is this girl trying to make me fall for her?
But, looking at Luna's innocent actions, my heart was inexplicably moved.
Seeing Luna's innocent actions always swayed my heart.
She acts determined when she needs to be, but when I see her innocence in her daily life, I always find myself unknowingly smiling.
Not that Luna knows about it.
"Umm..."
Luna seemed uncomfortable in her position and shifted.
She leaned more comfortably against my shoulder and soon gave a satisfied smile.
I gently brushed her hair aside, thinking it might tickle her.
That's when Robert, who was in front of me, spoke.
"What will you do?"
"I thought you were sleeping..."
"Are you just going to leave them like this?"
I couldn't answer Robert's question.
Unable to respond, I just looked away.
"Tsk tsk... you're so indecisive."
Robert clicked his tongue and folded his arms in annoyance.
I didn't expect him to be paying attention to us like this.
For someone who seemed so indifferent about everything, I assumed he would just ignore it.
Yet, it looks like he knows more about the situation than I thought.
Wasn't it Robert who advised me to pay close attention to my surroundings last time?
Robert stared at me for a moment before speaking.
“When you're learning dark magic or making other decisions, you act decisively. Why do you hesitate now?”
"Wouldn't my choice hurt someone else?"
"Do you not realize that by dragging this out, you could cause even greater harm?"
I couldn't argue against his words.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Certainly, making a choice now might be better for everyone involved.
Choosing now, even if it's late, could minimize the pain.
But I felt like things have already gone too far.
Their feelings and mine were already deeply intertwined.
“Rudy Astria.”
As I was lost in thought, Robert spoke seriously.
“There's a good law for you in the empire.”
“A good law?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Robert nodded.
“Polygamy.”
“Excuse me?”
“The empire allows polygamy.”
“Professor?”
“What would you do after chasing after several rabbits? You can't let them all slip away. The only option is to catch them all.”
Robert clenched his fist.
“If you leave things as they are, they might end up fighting amongst themselves. You need to take action.”
I just stared at Robert blankly.
Robert nodded several times as if understanding everything.
“It's surely a difficult path! But what can you do? Give it your best shot!”
“Luna.”
“Mm... Yes?”
“Luna, wake up.”
“Huh...?”
Slowly opening her eyes to the sound of her name, Luna saw Rudy right in front of her.
“Eek!”
She exclaimed in surprise and backed away.
‘What's happening? What's this?’
She was confused.
Luna had been deep in thought.
With Professor Robert in front, she had been thinking about what could be done in such a confined space.
Though she was thrilled just by being close to Rudy, it wasn't enough.
‘Should I link arms with Rudy...?’
‘Perhaps sneakily hold his hand without Professor Robert noticing?’
Luna had all sorts of wild thoughts.
However she had fallen asleep.
Luna had stayed up the previous night, devising plans to charm Rudy.
After exams, the rocking of the carriage and her lack of sleep, she couldn't help but drift off.
The problem was Luna's current situation.
"Luna, we're almost there."
At Rudy's words, Luna cautiously looked at his shoulder.
Wondering if she drooled in her sleep, or if her head was too heavy on his shoulder, or if she had sleep-talked and said something strange.
Many worries flitted through her mind.
'Oh no!!!'
She had already felt threatened by the sudden appearance of Astina.
'I made such a mistake...!'
Luna thought it fortunate that Astina hadn't boarded the carriage with them.
However, when such an opportunity was given, instead of seizing the moment, she fell asleep.
"...Rudy."
"Hmm?"
"Did I... do anything weird? Like..."
"Like?"
"...you know."
Rudy then chuckled.
It was a laugh as if finding her behavior amusing.
Seeing Luna's puzzled face, Rudy placed his hand on her head.
"You slept peacefully. Don't worry."
Luna felt the warmth of Rudy's gentle touch on her head.
It was even more affectionate and warm than usual.
Relieved by Rudy's words, Luna let out a sigh and laughed.
"We're almost there, so get ready to disembark."
"Ah! Really?"
Luna looked out the window.
This was Railer territory.
Her hometown.
A farming landscape spread out, and mountains were visible in the distance.
Seeing the familiar and comforting view, Luna brightened up.
It had been about a year since she last visited her territory due to her studies at the academy.
Although she hadn't come here of her own volition, she had missed it.
Looking outside, Rudy then turned to Luna, smiling.
"It's beautiful."
"Right?"
At Rudy's comment, Luna beamed.
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