Chapter 272 - 272. Patricia and the Farewell Party (Part 1)
By the time we arrived at the fort, it was already evening. The fort was built to monitor an artificial lake in the mountains, and the lake supplied water to Migul via aqueducts. This water was used for agriculture and industry; further east lay the source of drinking water. The fort Marmie called her villa stood quietly in the forest. When they noticed our arrival, the sounds of several people bustling around inside the gate could be heard. They must have been monitoring our arrival from the watchtower. The welcoming party opened the gates. Only Marmie, looking exhausted and gaunt, stood alone as if forgotten while the Levante members entered the fort. She gazed vaguely at the welcoming figures, her eyes scanning them as if trying to confirm who was who.
"..."
She muttered something, but I couldn't make it out. Fam also looked at her, tilting her head in confusion.
"...Patricia's not here."
After drinking the water offered by the guards and forcing out her dry voice, she spoke. Patricia should have arrived at the fort ahead of us by carriage. She was supposed to see us off here before we headed to Fam's village.
"She might be inside. You should go in and rest," I said. At this point, she didn't need to walk on her own.
Taking it as a reward for her effort, I reached out to pat her head and pick her up, but she braced herself and refused to move. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"...Patricia went to the pine forest to gather mushrooms earlier. I told her that the transfer students liked mushrooms grilled over charcoal."
I widened my eyes at hearing this and glanced at Mizuki, who looked back at me with the same surprise. "W-wait, did she go mushroom hunting?" I asked.
"...Mama said that the transfer students enjoyed them grilled over charcoal." Marmie nodded.
I and Mizuki gulped. "Moe helped me learn this spell," I said, referring to the Light spell. "And Moe relies on me too."
"Is that so..." Patricia's voice was slightly hoarse.
"Don't make that face. We'll definitely come back to Migul," I said.
"Yes, I know that. It wasn't Moe-sama who lacked courage, but me..." She placed her hand on my shoulder and leaned against me as we walked.
"So, what were you doing standing there all alone?" I asked. Patricia flinched.
"What do you mean?"
"What do you mean, 'what do I mean?' Why didn't you come back with the soldier who went with you?"
"Th-that's..." Patricia stammered and looked away.
"I was lost in the beauty of the lake reflecting the sunset. Isn't that enough?"
"Enough, sure, but..." My words trailed off as she took a breath, looked up at the sky, smoothed her chest, and then shook her head.
"I'm still not ready to explain. Could I have a little more time?"
Patricia's answer only made things more confusing. The possibilities narrowed down.
"You were holding in your pee. I'll watch the area; go ahead." At my words, she clenched her fists, shrugged, and sighed.
"Well, I knew that was coming... You could have been more romantic in this atmosphere."
She straightened her back and started walking. The shoulder that had been touching mine was no longer there.
"Speaking of which, didn't Patricia say she liked someone 'of the same age, tall, kind, and strong'?"
"Yes, she also said she didn't want anyone who'd wear her pants."
Patricia added as if reminding herself of something important.
"Did you have someone specific in mind?"
She stopped abruptly at my question.
"You kissed and groped me, but you mean to assign another man to me...?"
Her fists were clenched tightly again.
"W-wait, I'm not letting Patricia go. I was just asking. You... have..."
Hearing my words, Patricia touched her arm. Beneath it was her slave mark. Her family had lost a political battle in a flower-kin city and were sold to House Starunion under the condition that the mark would not be removed.
"You really are that bothered by this mark, aren't you?"
Patricia forced a faint smile. "I'd feel bad taking someone who can't resist..."
"Moe..." She groaned, then looked up. "Perhaps it would be better if you got to know me more."
"It's more exciting that way," I said.
"... " She fell silent. Feeling a hint of killing intent, I stopped walking and took a step back.
"Sorry. I won't make fun of you anymore." "Please don't. To begin with, what a wonderful moon and stars. And Moe-sama..."
She stopped speaking and raised her hands to the sky, and I followed her gaze. A river of stardust flowed across the inky night sky, and the golden half-moon was about to cross it. We started walking again. The path deviated from the lake and continued into the depths of the forest, covered in trees. What kind of flowers was Marmie planning to have us pick all the way out here?
"I wanted to marry Weyke."
"Isn't he, like, an old man compared to me? Are you trying to make me jealous by bringing up the names of men I know? ...Speaking of which, is Weyke at this fort?"
Patricia shook her head. "Weyke stayed in the city to support Lord Augustus and Lady Marina. Despite his appearance, he's kind to women and quite popular." "Well, I guess so."
Come to think of it, Maira was quite taken with him. Patricia looked surprised when she saw me sulking. "Are you jealous, after hearing it from Moe?"
"Shut up." "He has a wife and children, and even a newborn grandchild, you know," Patricia said.
"Oh, is that so? Then why?" I wondered if his family had been safe during the civil war in Migul, but judging by her casual reply, nothing had happened. If I had known about the birth of his grandchild, I would have offered congratulations. "Is it that I've never really fallen in love with anyone?"
"Muu, you're jealous even when I just mention Weyke's name..." She was right, but it was like picking at a scab – painful, yet impossible to resist. As I was thinking this, Patricia reached out and took my hand.
"I do like you, Moe," she said.
Her palm felt damp, perhaps from nervous tension, yet warm. I stopped talking and continued walking with her. As we did, the oppressive presence of the surrounding trees thinned, and the view opened up. Beyond the knee-high grass, pale purple flowers bloomed, blanketing the ground as if countless darts were stuck in the ground. The six petals, bathed in soft light, gently enveloped the orange stamens, as if protecting them from the night's chill. Even without wind, the tips of the slender petals swayed faintly, likely due to their thinness. The entire field reflected the moonlight, releasing a soft, dreamlike glow into the surroundings.
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