Published: March 21, 2026
"Um… Lady Amelia?"
Ria looked at me with a timid expression.
I stopped to match her pace.
"What is it?"
"Ah, um—sorry. I overheard your conversation earlier."
Ria bowed her head apologetically; I shook my head.
Then I started walking again.
Ria hurriedly followed behind me.
She must have noticed already the moment she entered at that timing.
I don't have a presence detection skill like Akira, so I don't know when exactly she heard it, but only someone who had been listening would come in just when the conversation broke off.
"It doesn't matter. …Ria, what did you think? Did it look like Akira forced me to come along?"
Ria looked a little sad, then nodded modestly.
"It might be prejudice, but when the hero summoner is with the Elf race, people assume either they're party members or that one was dragged along. In the case of my stepfather, he knows Lady Amelia's strength, so he probably assumed the former."
In other words, they think I was made a party member.
They were sympathizing with me without permission.
"Of course, not everyone thinks that! I—of course, everyone in this castle has noticed!"
Ria fidgeted nervously and I tilted my head. She glanced briefly at my left hand.
"The ring on your left ring finger is the act rumored to make lovers forever happy, right? There was a mark on Akira-sama's left ring finger too, and there are several couples with the same mark in the castle, so I noticed right away!"
Ria's eyes sparkled as she spoke.
I hadn't realized it was such a famous thing.
Back then both Akira and I were in an odd state; the pain that hit after sleeping and the stinging in the bath hadn't occurred to us. If we had known, we might've hesitated.
"Is it popular?"
"Yes! I'm pretty sure it was written in a book from the Human territory. It became fashionable among humans, and many in the Beastmen territory read it too!"
I wondered if Ria had actually read it as she led me to the courtyard where Akira probably was.
"One or two drinks won't hurt!"
"If you can't drink, you won't become a proper adult!"
"I said I won't drink!!"
The courtyard was noisy; there were Akira and the kingdom's generals gathered.
"After that, soldiers came wanting to spar with Akira-sama, and after dealing with most of them, he was offered drinks by the generals who arrived later. Akira-sama is well-liked."
From Ria's explanation I grasped the situation.
In Akira's country, apparently you can't drink alcohol until you come of age.
"Anyway, if we don't get back by sunset we'll have to sleep outside. Move!"
Akira was trying to push through the soldiers, but there were too many and he was getting swallowed up.
"I'll deal with the soldiers, so Lady Amelia, go to the ship with Akira-sama. I'll visit the inn tomorrow!"
Without waiting for my reply, Ria went off toward the soldiers.
"General Zarath!! Is today's duty over?"
"Uh, Lady Ria…"
The generals all scowled the moment they saw Ria's face.
"And General Sheela should have a prohibition on drinking issued by his wife!?"
"Riura… did you tattle to Lady Ria?"
While Ria admonished the generals, Akira slipped out from among the soldiers.
"Oh! Ria-sama's lecture is starting!"
"Ria-sama scolding the generals is so cute…"
Ria claimed to be adopted and all, but the castle people accepted her.
Having Ria treated like a mother figure while she's more of a little sister to me was a bit much.
"Akira, hurry or we'll have to sleep outside."
When I said that, Akira snapped to attention, took my right hand, and ran.
I looked down at the ring finger of Akira's left hand, which was holding my right.
The ring had been cut deep and still stained a dark red.
My left hand bore the same ring.
"Sorry, Amelia, let's hurry!"
I squeezed Akira's left hand.
Mentioning Ria's name had apparently made the ship, which was already prepared to depart, ready for us to board.
Akira sank into the sofa and exhaled.
"In the end, we didn't get to date that much, huh."
Akira muttered softly.
I shook my head.
"It was the first time in a while seeing you fight. I like seeing you fight. You were cool today too."