459 - Potted Plant, Letter, and the Spirit's Bag
When I told Bart that I would put Kalisa, who had become closer to ashes than remains, into a pot, he was a bit surprised, but he quickly prepared a pot more than one size larger. It deviated from the original purpose of growing flowers in the pot I received from Leonardo, but since I was putting in the ashes of a whole human being, the original pot was too small. That said, I also worried that the pot might now be too large for a single bulb, but I decided to hide that loneliness by decorating the top of the pot. It was a pot, but Kalisa was sleeping here. To make sure she wasn't lonely, it seemed like a good idea to decorate the pot like a miniature garden.
"Is it Kokumaro?"
"It's curry rice. ...Ah, since it's small, it might be a half-size or a ladies' size."
Deciding to decorate the pot where Kalisa slept, I attached a pick to the black dog doll I had been stitching since morning and thrust it into the soil of the pot. Salisa must not have seen it, but there was a large stuffed dog Kalisa had made in the detached palace of the royal capital. It was a guardian of the bed, modeled after a black Shiba (Kokumaro) and a giant bear stuffed toy.
...Kalisa is sleeping here, so a guardian of the bed should be fine, right?
I might have been better off making a black Shiba. While I was thinking about that, Bart brought me various things as I began to decorate the pot.
...It feels smaller than a planter, but it's like a little bit of gardening.
In my previous life, I had seen photos of people using broken pots skillfully to create small houses or gardens inside them. I didn't feel I could do something that elaborate, but I should be able to decorate the surface vibrantly.
...Maybe I'll try making a small house?
It would be nice to do something other than embroidery or bobbin lace once in a while. By joining small pieces of board Bart brought me to make a square box and placing a triangular roof on top, it should look reasonably like a house. Making windows seemed difficult, so I attached buttons to make it look the part.
Just as I began to think it was starting to look like a candy house, Rannvald, who had become free after finishing the handover of his work, joined in to help make picks for decorating the pot. Even the house I had made haphazardly was neatly tidied up by Rannvald's hand, so he might be surprisingly dexterous. Since he had apparently blended into the common folk and worked for himself to make a living after leaving the castle, he probably had experience with carpentry.
"Is this... me?"
"I thought Kalisa would be happy."
I had wondered what Salisa had been making since around the time I decorated the black dog doll, and it seemed Salisa had been making a doll of me. It was a doll of a girl with black hair and blue eyes, wearing a pale pink ribbon and a one-piece dress. It was likely me wearing the cherry blossom (Arcus) dress Kalisa had made.
Since I was there, I made a doll of Leonardo. In the meantime, Salisa made dolls of herself and her sister and decorated the pot with them. Taking advantage of the lack of restraint, Rannvald worked on upgrading them, adding a chimney to the first house and making the windows I had given up on, and once that was finished, he made a Mirshe doll in a maid outfit.
"...And so, it has become quite luxurious in a single day."
When I reported to Leonardo, who had returned home, and Alfred, who had shown his face for the first time in a while, that Kalisa wouldn't be lonely now, Leonardo held his head in his hands, and Alfred pinched my cheek. It happened so suddenly that I didn't understand what the guardians were holding their heads over or why my cheek was being pinched. Since I didn't understand, I complained and asked what they were doing, and both my cheeks were pulled. Apparently, I had made a mistake for which no rebuttal was permitted.
"Tina, didn't I tell you not to give a name to that bulb?"
"...Ah!"
That's right, I realized the source of Leonardo's worry. Indeed, I might be scolded for this. I had been warned about this in advance.
"B-but, that's not it. I didn't name that bulb Kalisa just so the buried Kalisa wouldn't be lonely! I called the entire pot Kalisa, not the bulb..."
"I hope such sophistry works."
Or, I can only pray that it really is just a plant. It's hard to believe a bulb that brings advice in dreams from a little demon (shisha) to bury the remains is truly just a plant. Before I knew it, I had naturally started calling that pot 'Kalisa'. Now, I can only watch quietly to see what happens next.
"Christina has calmed down quite a bit."
"I am a person who has just been pointed out to have made a great mistake and is holding my head in my hands, but do I look like I've calmed down to you, Alfred-sama?"
"...No, in that sense, you look like you haven't calmed down at all."
Alfred said that compared to when I first returned to Grenore, I looked considerably calmer. My memories are clear from the night of the Divine King Festival, but Alfred had heard about me for a while after I returned to the city of Grenore in the form of reports. Certainly, if compared to the me before the Divine King Festival, who could only be listened to, the current me could be said to be calm.
...Huh? Come to think of it?
Speaking of returning to the city of Grenore, there is one person missing from around me. I've already heard about Kalisa. I've also heard that the reason Aaron joined shortly after my return was that he had been training at the fortress, trying to see if he could continue his duty as a guard even while losing his sight. But, one more person. There was a person who should have been by my side who wasn't here.
...Why didn't I notice until now?
Now that I've noticed, the extent of my own heartlessness is terrifying. I hadn't noticed until this very moment that one person was missing.
...If I recall, Giselle was...?
The fact that it's not in my memory means it's a change from the last two years. That means there must have been something about Giselle in the stories Leonardo told me, so I searched my memories. And indeed, information was dug up.
...Leonardo-san told me properly about Giselle too, but I completely forgot about Giselle...?
I wonder why, but now is not the time to worry about that. Giselle had apparently been kidnapped with me to the Zoogary Empire and had been devotedly taking care of me there. If we were together the whole time, it's strange that Giselle isn't in the city of Grenore now. And I had also heard from Leonardo the reason why Giselle was left behind in the Zoogary Empire.
"...What happened to Giselle?"
She had suffered terrible injuries and her body was not in a state to endure a long journey. Therefore, Leonardo told me that he had left Giselle in the care of a trustworthy person. Giselle was injured in the summer, and the last time Leonardo saw her was in the autumn. Since it is now spring, her strength to travel should be returning soon.
"I think she's fine because I left her with Carlotta-sama... let's see. Indeed, it should be about time to call her back."
"Speaking of Carlotta-sama... um, was she the person who hid Leonardo-oniisama in the Empire?"
"About that Carlotta-sama..."
Since the conversation continued, I realized my memory of Carlotta had also become vague, so I must have been fond of the woman named Carlotta. It's rare for me to become fond of others when I'm away. I searched my own memories for what kind of person she was, but other than not having any bad feelings, I couldn't remember anything else. Since I didn't have any bad feelings, I think I liked her.
"Why don't you send a reply to Carlotta soon?"
"A reply?"
I wonder what he means, I looked up at Alfred. To send a reply to a letter means that we must have received a letter first.
"You should have heard the story that bobbin lace was advertised to obtain information on Christina, right?"
"I heard. I heard that rumors were spread so that it would be easier to move in the Empire."
"Another aim was to find people who had received kindness from Aurelia."
"From Aurelia-san...?"
According to Alfred, besides Alfred's mother Evelina, there were other people who had received bobbin lace from Aurelia with affection. If they were people trusted enough to be given bobbin lace by Aurelia, they would likely cooperate in the search for me, who was also given bobbin lace, so Alfred and the others decided to look for them.
Thus, they spread bobbin lace within the Ivizia Kingdom, moved the provisional king (Remihio) of the Divine King Territory Quebia using merchants (Cody), and by spreading the bobbin lace instruction manual, letters arrived for me from several people who had also received bobbin lace from Aurelia. One of them was apparently Carlotta.
"...Wait. How long ago was that?"
This is the first time I've heard about a letter addressed to me. My memories have been vague for about the last two years. If it's a letter that arrived during that time, it means I've left a reply ignored for up to two years. Hearing the flow that letters arrived after spreading bobbin lace, it shouldn't be the maximum of two years, but still, a considerable amount of time must have passed. Even just since I returned to Grenore, it's been ignored for two months.
"Roughly over a year ago."
"In other words, I received a letter from Aurelia-san's friend and haven't sent a reply for over a year."
What a breach of courtesy, I wanted to hold my head in my hands the moment I heard it, but it seems Alfred has followed up to some extent. He had apparently sent a reply explaining my circumstances and received another letter saying they would lend a hand if anything happened.
"...Therefore, Christina doesn't need to worry that too much time has passed before writing a reply. Along with writing to Carlotta, you should write replies to their letters as well to let them know you are safe."
After that, he sent Solana to the mansion, carrying letters from them, saying I could interact with them or talk about memories of Aurelia as I liked. Solana was Alfred's maid, and it seemed she had come to the city of Grenore accompanying Alfred.
...Ah, yeah. I must have been fond of her.
This was my first impression upon glancing through the letters I received from Solana and seeing the letter from Carlotta. Following a formal greeting written in elegant characters, it entered the main topic, mentioning bobbin lace and that she knew a woman who made bobbin lace, asking if that person was the woman written in the instruction manual, and then listed Aurelia's personality. Judging by the character assessment of Aurelia, Carlotta seemed to have gotten along quite well with Aurelia. She used phrasing that put on the act of a lady, but her evaluation of Aurelia was unrestrained. Of course, in a good way.
...Still, putting the part about Aurelia-san in the instruction manual was a coincidence, but it moved in a good direction.
In this way, Aurelia's acquaintances came forward and reached out a helping hand to me. This was surely Aurelia helping me.
Holding the letter from Carlotta, which gave only a good impression, I asked Leonardo about the actual image of Carlotta. Unfortunately, my memories have become vague, but from Leonardo's perspective, Carlotta's impression was like a 'heroine wearing the skin of a lady'.
...What's that, I really want to meet her.
If it were just 'heroine', there would be a possibility she's a person too energetic to get close to, but 'lady' is attached to the front. She must be a dignified woman with a straight back. She might have some tomboyishness (powerfulness) that could sweep me away, but since 'lady' is attached, she should be able to cover it up.
...She's the ideal figure!
I felt that if I told Leonardo this impression as it was, he would make a sour face, so I swallowed it. For me, I thought Carlotta was the ideal woman, but for Leonardo, who seems to want to raise me as a lady, he probably wouldn't want me to be influenced by Carlotta.
...Huh? But among the ladies around me, many people have a '?' attached to the end...?
Hermine, who was the teacher of lady education, had acquired horsemanship and self-defense as the accomplishments of a lady. The woman Alfred called the lady among ladies also had an evaluation that made one tilt their head as to whether she could truly be called a lady, saying she had never held anything heavier than an iron fan. Felicia certainly behaved like a lady, but can a naked princess be called a lady in the first place? I wondered if it was only my aunt Sophia and Sigwald's wife Michaela, then I excluded Michaela. This is only a premonition, but I can't imagine that the wife of Sigwald, who served as the commander of the Silver Knights, could fulfill the role of a lady-like lady.
...I probably won't be able to meet you in the Zoogary Empire, Carlotta-sama.
The Augun Territory where Carlotta is located is on the other side of the Erath Mountain Range. Unlike my previous life, the transportation network is not that developed, so unless one is a traveling merchant like Cody, it's a distance one would almost never go. Even if I went on a trip, it would be within the country at most.
...Since I only went to the Empire because I was kidnapped, a second time is impossible. I wonder if I can go to the Saenard Kingdom someday?
As for Lugmirama Fortress, if I begged Leonardo, I could probably go immediately. Even to the royal capital, I should be able to go with a carriage for pickup if necessary. If it's within the Ivizia Kingdom, it's not that much of a problem.
...Well, going out is impossible for the current me anyway.
I feel like I want to meet Aurelia's acquaintances someday. Truly, it's a story for someday. For the current me, the fact that I have goals or places I want to go is rare in itself. My heart is always turned inward, and I almost never think about wanting to go out. I must cherish this feeling.
After finishing the replies to Aurelia's acquaintances, I sent Mirshe to the Persewash Church. The Persewash Church is a church that enshrines Persewash, the god of messengers and communication, playing a role like a post office in my previous life. Letters to Aurelia and Basilia had been smuggled in through the Black Knights via Leonardo, but since this letter would be carried to a neighboring country, the Black Knights couldn't be used. Therefore, I had Mirshe deliver the letter to the Persewash Church, and while I was thanking the returned Mirshe, Alf and Alfred were behind Leonardo, who had returned to get lunch. Both of them were apparently having lunch at the mansion today.
"It's a good trend that Christina has started to take an interest in the outside."
"Going out is still impossible, though."
As usual, I said I can go to the backyard and reported on the state of the flowerbed. The Enomena flowers that were blooming in the backyard had already passed their peak, and according to Bart, they are now growing bulbs for next year. Incidentally, the Enomena pot that I had naturally started calling 'Kalisa' remained as a sprout. However, its size had become about three times larger. Even I can tell that this is an odd way of growing for an Enomena flower. I can tell, but I can't pull it out now, so I can only watch it as it is.
"There is a method to have Cody carry the letter to Carlotta..."
"I was also taken care of by Cody. I have to thank him."
Regarding my rescue, Cody apparently played a huge role. Carrying letters, guiding Leonardo, who was disguised as a mercenary, into the Zoogary Empire, and so on, it's a huge role just hearing about it. Regarding the return, I had apparently been carried in Cody's wagon, but I have no memory of being able to thank him when I returned to the mansion in winter, so I definitely want to thank him the next time he comes to Grenore.
"Speaking of Cody... I wonder what to do about the reward."
When reviving the secret arts of the saint Yuta Hiraga, Cody had been asked to do reckless things to collect materials. Leonardo apparently hired Cody so he could compensate for the intangible losses suffered at that time. He intended to pay a reward equivalent to the customers Cody lost, but he had been helped a bit too much. For Leonardo, a reward alone didn't seem enough, and Alfred seemed to feel the same. If Cody wished, they could provide him with immigration to the Ivizia Kingdom and a shop, but that would be difficult, and they seemed to be worrying about it, which was rare.
"In that case, the reward will indeed be monetary... but Cody is too good of a person."
"Indeed, there is anxiety about giving Cody a large sum of money."
Alfred and Leonardo's worry seemed to mainly mean 'he'll likely be deceived by someone'. Indeed, I think giving a large sum of money to the virtuous Cody is like inviting danger. If Cody were attacked by bandits with the money given as a reward, it would be more than just a bad feeling when sleeping.
"...I know. If you want to give Cody a reward, I have something good."
Ignoring the worrying guardians, I had Salisa bring a bag from my room. This bag, said to be made by a spirit, is an amazing bag that holds more than it looks. Since he helped me so much, I want to give a reward as much as my gratitude, but there is anxiety that giving a large sum of money would bring danger. As a reward for Cody, there could be nothing more perfect than this.
"I verified various things with Salisa, but it seems that the contents cannot be taken out unless it's the owner, and an infinite amount of things can enter the side pocket."
After several bottles of cocoa came out of the side pocket, I tried it because I was curious. I wondered how many things could be stuffed into this pocket.
As a result, I found that everything in my closet could be stuffed into the side pocket. I couldn't try it with the bed or closet since I can't carry them, but I've been able to put in vases and chairs. Despite that, I hardly feel the weight of the things put inside when I lift the bag.
"Also, even if it's hidden by someone, it seems it always returns to the owner the next day."
Since it was a mysterious bag, I tried everything I could think of with Salisa to see what mysterious things it could do. Other things I found were that the contents don't get wet even if put in water, and if permission is given, people other than the owner can take out the contents, making it a high-performance bag.
...I really think it would be more useful and the bag would be happier in the hands of the merchant Cody than being left to rot in my closet.
As a bag for Cody to put valuables in, I think it's a very reliable bag. To add to that, since it's a bag made by a spirit, it's something that couldn't be bought in a shop no matter how much money was piled up.
"Tina, are you okay with giving your bag to Cody?"
"I think a bag is happier in the hands of someone who can make use of it. The design is modest, so I think there would be no sense of incongruity even if Cody used it."
I feel like I once thought it was plain for my belongings, and that was probably for this reason. Perhaps the bag was made from the start to become Cody's.
...I've become so used to mysteries that I feel like I can believe that coincidences don't exist in this world, really.
When I presented the spirit's bag as a reward for Cody, Leonardo and Alfred decided to stuff the reward money into it. They thought that if no one other than the owner can take it out, it would be fine to let Cody have a large sum of money. The issue became a conversation about the amount to stuff in, so I quietly stepped out of the circle of conversation. It's probably better if I don't stick my face into conversations about money.
...I'll keep quiet about the fact that the bag probably has eyes and ears.
It seems the mysterious bag will be received by Cody.
Typos and omissions will be handled next time. The title was too literal... it seems fatigue has accumulated. Therefore, I will take a break from updating for about two days, and the next update is scheduled for the 24th.