Chapter 231 - Luke's Apology

"Lielle, I—"

"Luke, you're so cool!"

"Yup, that's right—what?"

"Thank you for protecting me! You looked like a knight!"

Lielle's eyes sparkled as she gazed at me.

So adorable.

"Ah, you're not mad?"

"...That you kissed another girl aside from me? Of course, I'm mad! You've never even kissed me before, so why are you kissing another girl, huh!?"

"S-Sorry..."

"K-Kiss me too!"

"Eh!? R-right here!?"

"...You did just fine at the store, right?"

Lielle held out her hand toward me.

Ahh... so that's what it was...

She's fine with a kiss on the back of her hand.

For a moment, I thought she was asking for a kiss on the lips. A lot of curious onlookers had gathered around us after the commotion with Nard’s group, so kissing her on the lips would have been way too embarrassing.

If a hand-kiss would do...

"Ojou-sama."

I knelt and gently took her hand.

She said I looked like a knight when I protected her, so I'd play the part for now.

"I pledge my loyalty to you, Ojou-sama."

The crowd of onlookers erupted in cheers.

Lielle's face turned scarlet, though she didn't seem entirely satisfied.

—***—

"A lot happened back then, and things were pretty chaotic, but... it's unforgivable to kiss another girl in front of Lielle. I'm really sorry."

"...Even if it wasn’t in front of me, I’d still hate it."

"Y-Yeah, you're right. Sor— Bft!"

I was about to apologize again, but Lielle pinched my cheeks.

"Luke, you're so serious."

She chuckled, releasing my face, then gently stroked my cheeks where she’d pinched. She must have cast a bit of healing magic because the pain instantly faded.

"You didn’t kiss any other girls apart from that time, right?"

"Of course not!"

"Then it’s fine. You kissed me in front of so many people that day, so I already forgave you a long time ago."

"...Really?"

"Really. I was so happy."

What a relief. Lielle forgave me.

One of the things that had been weighing on me for so long was finally resolved.

"Is that all?"

"Eh?"

"Did you go out of your way to ask Sylph-sama for a favor and bring me to a place like this just to apologize for what happened at the school festival?"

Lielle gazed at me intently.

Eh, did she figure out my second reason—the real event of the day?

Lielle was fidgeting nervously, and her ears were turning red.

Well, it made sense. Considering I had brought her to this romantic spot, she must have expected something more.

Alright, time to live up to those expectations.

"Lielle."

"Y-Yes!"

"Thank you for dating me these past six months. Even though we can't see each other every day, thank you for spending so much time with me. I'm really happy."

"Me too! I'm so glad I get to be with you so often. But I won’t ask for something unreasonable like seeing you every day. Glendale is super far from here, after all."

"Do you want to see me, or not?"

"...I want to see you. I want to be with you every day!"

I visit Alheim every week whenever possible, just to see her.

There were times when we only had an hour together because of Lielle’s schedule, or times when I couldn’t come at all due to academy events. But no matter what, I’d make the trip whenever I could.

Spending time with Lielle was so much fun—it made me feel like these were the best days of my life.

"But, Luke, you come all the way from Glendale every week... Isn’t that too much of a burden? I don’t want you to overdo it."

Burden? I never saw it that way.

Whenever I was on my way to Alheim, my mind would be filled with thoughts of our time together. By the time I realized it, I was already at my destination.

"No, it's no problem at all coming here once a week. I’m so preoccupied with thinking about what we’ll do together that I arrive before I even notice."

"I-Is that so?"

"Yup. But still, I want to spend more time with you, Lielle."

"M-Me too!"

Lielle jumped into my arms, clutching my clothes tightly.

I took out the present I had prepared from my pocket.

"Lielle."

"...Yes."

We gazed into each other’s eyes.

"Will you marry me and come live with me in Glendale?"

I presented her with a pure white ring.

It was made from a rare ore called swearstone. It might not compare to the scarletite ring Halt gave Teacher Tina, but this ring was still one of the finest magical tools in the world.

I had made a vow on this swearstone to make Lielle happy before crafting it into a ring.

Tears welled up in Lielle’s eyes as she gazed at the ring.

"...If I accept this, Luke will face many hardships, you know?"

Lielle didn’t often talk about her family, but I had a vague idea of her background.

If she was from a noble family, her family head would likely oppose her marrying a mere human like me.

But if my best friend Halt could marry Teacher Tina, the heroine of this country, despite all the opposition, I could do the same.

Halt might be a walking cheat and a Bakemono, but I’m also a Sage Apprentice.

I was prepared to face any challenge to be with the girl I loved.

"Lielle, if you accept, I’ll dedicate my life to protecting you. No matter what hardships arise, I’ll overcome them if it means being with you."

I stared into her eyes and made my vow.

"Let me ask again. Lielle, will you marry me?"

"...Yes."

She held out her left hand to me, and I slid the ring onto her finger.

Whoooa!!!

Yesssss!!!

I’ve got an Elf bride!!!

I hugged Lielle tightly.

"Luke, I’m in your care from now on. Please take good care of me."

"I will! I’ll do everything I can to make you happy!"

"...Shall we meet Father tomorrow?"

Whoa, that’s a bit sudden.

But it’s fine. I’m ready.

"Got it. Let’s go."

"Thank you so much. Sorry for keeping it from you until now. My full name is—"

Lielle stepped back a little and dropped an unexpected bombshell.

"Lielle Alheim."

Huh... Alheim?

...Yup.

It was one of the possibilities I had considered.

Looks like I’m going to be Halt’s brother-in-law, huh.