Chapter 55
She had finished getting ready and was wrapped in the sky-blue coat her younger sibling had bought her.
She came face-to-face with Tarmin, who had been waiting outside the door.
In the dim light of the fire illuminating the room, her longtime friend cast a much larger shadow than usual.
He was taller than her even in broad daylight, but today he seemed even bigger.
Tarmin was looking at her with concern.
“Enya, how do you feel now that you’re up? Are you okay?”
Enya smiled brightly and spun around in place.
Her golden hair and skirt lifted lightly, then slowly settled.
After completing a turn, she said in a clear, bright voice,
“Ta-daaa! How do I look?”
She looked at him confidently, as if to say, Well?
Would Taal like it, or would he criticize her in that twisted tone of his, saying she was kicking up dust?
Tarmin turned his head away slightly, ignoring Enya.
“You’re making such a fuss, so I guess you’re fine.”
“…Sheesh.”
It was one of the reactions she’d expected, but seeing it in person was a little disappointing.
Come to think of it, he could have said something a little nicer. She’d gone to the trouble of moving her still-aching body to spin around, but what was the point if she got nothing for it?
For some reason, Enya felt defiant. Pretending she hadn’t heard him, she spun around prettily once more.
Her long skirt swayed softly with her movements.
“Ta-da! How about that?”
“What?”
“…I asked how I look.”
“Yeah, you look very healthy.”
Tarmin maintained an utterly deadpan demeanor, barely moving his lips as he spoke.
Enya glared at him, cheeks puffed out a little.
Tarmin carefully gauged her mood, then cleared his throat and said,
“Uh, ahem. Well, let’s get going.”
“…”
Enya’s eyebrows rose, and her cheeks puffed out even more.
Tarmin floundered, then sighed and said,
“What do you want me to say?”
“…Taal, don’t you have anything else to say?”
“Sorry, but I don’t know. Could you tell me?”
Even though he should have known, Tarmin was pretending not to.
But Enya couldn’t exactly tell him herself. That would be like asking for a compliment outright.
When she hesitated to answer, Tarmin looked at her for a moment, then turned his back and started to leave.
Enya was beginning to get really angry.
This awful Tarmin!
He’d been kissing and sucking on her whenever he pleased, but he couldn’t even tell her she looked pretty once?
Was her body all he wanted from the start? Did he not care about her feelings at all?
Idiot! Blockhead!
She was showering him with silent curses and punching the air when—
She felt slightly out of breath from her vigorous movements, and just then Tarmin turned his head.
The ceiling tilted.
“Ah?”
Her body was tilting. She’d lost her strength, lost her balance, and was falling.
The hand she thrust out to catch herself slid against the wall.
Anticipating the impact that was about to come, Enya squeezed her eyes shut.
A loud clatter erupted.
“…”
She felt no impact.
When Enya cautiously opened her eyes, she found herself held in Tarmin’s arms as he lay sprawled on the floor.
He must have thrown himself over quickly to catch her.
“Whoa, h-huh, whoa, ha, that was close. Scared me. Enya, are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
Tarmin was breathing hard as he looked at Enya, who had fallen into his arms.
Wincing from the pain of hitting himself in several places, he felt along her arms, checking her condition.
“S-Sorry.”
Enya apologized in a fluster.
She flailed her arms and legs, trying to get up, but she couldn’t get her legs under her, and Tarmin was gripping her shoulder tightly, so it wasn’t easy.
In the end, she got up while still in Tarmin’s arms.
Tarmin’s eyes were even watering from the pain as he looked at the black bow slung over his shoulder.
“Ugh… Good thing I switched bows. If it’d been wood, it would’ve broken from that tumble. Though my body hurts more instead.”
“You’re hurt? I’m really sorry.”
“…Come here!”
Tarmin pulled Enya, already in his arms, even tighter, as if it would ease the pain—as if he meant to get compensation for every bit of it.
Feeling his strong arms wrap around her waist, Enya had no choice but to look up at Tarmin.
This time Tarmin raised his eyebrows, and Enya flinched.
“Hey, you! I told you to tell me if you were hurting! How many times did I ask?”
“I-I’m not hurt! I can stand on my own.”
“Then why did you suddenly fall over?”
“Ugh, that’s…”
Enya had nothing to say and only blushed.
How could she tell Tarmin that she’d gotten dizzy after twirling around to get him to praise her, then pretending to punch him in the back of the head? She probably wouldn’t be able to tell him for the rest of her life.
Feeling guilty, and meeting his heated gaze while nestled in his arms, she felt dizzy all over again.
In the end, she couldn’t say a word. She looked away and buried her face in his chest.
Tarmin’s clothes smelled of the earth of Quaalid.
Words of concern came from above her head.
“At this rate, can you even go out? Should we just not go?”
Enya shook her head.
As she did, she naturally rubbed her face against his chest.
“Mmm, no. I’m okay. You want to see them, don’t you?”
“Not that badly. If it’s too hard, let’s not go.”
If they didn’t meet tonight, it would be difficult to get another chance to see that person.
Seeing Tarmin so readily give up, Enya decided to add a small lie.
“I want to see him too. It’s been a while.”
“Really? In that case, all right.”
Tarmin moved his hand and gently stroked Enya’s hair. Then he let her go, sat down, and turned his back to her.
“Get on.”
Enya was startled and refused.
“What? N-No, I’m fine without a piggyback.”
“What if you fall again? Quit complaining and get on.”
She’d said she wanted to see them, but being carried in front of someone they knew was another matter.
What if the prince saw her like that? How much would he laugh at her?
“I just tripped, so I’m fine…”
“Ahem, aren’t you getting on? Or did you want me to carry you like a princess?”
Tarmin reached out with both hands as if he were going to pick her up, and Enya recoiled in alarm.
The thought of meeting someone she knew while in his arms was humiliating enough.
She was worried about other people looking at her, and with his broad back right in front of her, even clinging to Tarmin felt a little embarrassing.
As she hesitated, Tarmin’s eyes quickly narrowed. It seemed his patience had run out.
Startled by his expression, she hurriedly said,
“W-Wait a second! Taal, I’ll walk on my own, so—Aaaah!”
Once again, the ceiling tilted.
Enya felt his strong arms lift her legs and let out a scream.
“Aaaah! Tarmin!”
***
Five minutes later.
The reunion of the party of heroes who had once saved the world began with a rather underwhelming exchange instead of an exuberant welcome.
The prince, who had been staring at the two of them with a dumbfounded expression, spoke first.
“Judging by the looks of it, you two are getting along quite well? Enyaril, Tarmin.”
“I brought Enya, just like I said I would, Your Highness.”
Though it would be more accurate to say he’d carried her here.
Enya was in Tarmin’s arms, desperately covering her face.
Enya whispered softly from within Tarmin’s embrace.
“…Put me down, please.”
It seemed she had no intention of moving her hands until he put her down.
The prince briefly ran a hand through his hair, then, perhaps for the sake of Tarmin (and Enya), whose hands were occupied, opened the door wide.
“Hahaha. Well, come on in, for now.”
The prince laughed cheerfully and disappeared into a house that looked like an ordinary private home.
Tarmin watched him for a moment, then whispered in Enya’s ear, which was burning with embarrassment,
“No. I’m not putting you down again today.”
“You bastard! Do you know how embarrassing this is?”
“Then who told you not to take care of yourself?”
“I’m never kissing you again.”
“…Pfft,”
He burst into laughter at the adorable but rather threatening ultimatum.
Wasn’t this the sort of moment when you’d say you wanted to bite someone?
If Enya had struggled, Tarmin would have had no choice but to put her down, but she was simply pouting in his arms.
Tarmin briefly wondered how long he could go without kissing her, then shook his head. He clearly wouldn’t last even a day.
Pretending to set her feet on the ground, he slipped his face into Enya’s neck and took a deep breath.
“Ah…”
Seeing Enya’s body tremble slightly at his breath, Tarmin finally couldn’t resist bringing his face toward hers.
Thinking he’d lost count of how many times it had happened today, he leaned toward her small lips.
But Enya’s palm stopped him.
“Mmph.”
“Taal. Are you crazy? We’re outside.”
“Oh, uh, yeah. Right.”
Enya pushed Tarmin’s face away completely, then primly straightened her clothes.
After fixing her clothes and smoothing down her hair, she entered the house as if nothing had happened.
Anyone would think she’d walked here on her own.
Did she even know the way here?
Tarmin followed behind with a wry smile.
**
“Let’s toast our reunion after all these years.”
The prince led the two of them into the reception room and had them sit down.
Aside from the comfortable sofas, the reception room was full of things you’d expect to find in a command center.
Along with a map of Akhraba unfamiliar even to Tarmin, countless documents, portraits, and reports hung on the walls.
Seeing where he was looking, the prince said,
“This is a safe house for spies. No one’s here right now.”
As he spoke, the prince took out some glasses and poured a clear liquid.
Thinking it was water, Tarmin took a sip, then grimaced and stuck out his tongue.
“Ugh! This is too strong.”
“It’s arhiya. Not to your taste?”
“They charge money for this? It tastes like I’m drinking poison.”
“It’s a fairly high-end liquor. Maybe it’s too early for you.”
It tasted like swallowing a ball of fire.
Tarmin shook his head and reached a hand out in front of Enya.
Enya stuck out the tip of her tongue to taste it, but he snatched the glass away.
“You absolutely can’t drink this.”
“Aw, why not?”
At Enya’s protest, the prince chuckled and lifted his glass.
“That’s right. Enyaril can get drunk now, too. I take it you already knew?”
“Yeah. I’ve already learned that the hard way.”
“Do you know why?”
“Because she lost her blessing?”
“That’s right. Which brings me to this, Tarmin. Before I explain, I think I should ask you about it first.”
The prince looked at Enya and said,
“Enyaril, why didn’t you tell Tarmin?”
Enya narrowed her red eyes and looked at the prince.
*****