Ms. Meissa sat down and cheerfully said.
"It's a waste if only I know of something so fun… Ah, Delris. I don't need your tea, okay? They're worse than poison. I don't want to drink them."
"Did you come here as you please just to nitpick?"
Ms. Delris placed a deep red tea in front of Ms. Meissa… It wasn't something for humans. And it wasn't only red, it looked to be simmering, but I wonder if I was just imagining it.
Ms. Meissa's mouth twitched.
"N-No way. It was just a little joke. Delris, it was my bad. I won't tease you anymore, and I won't tell other witches about these children. So, okay? Spare me."
"… Tsk."
"You just clicked your tongue!"
"… It's a precious tea though."
"Your 'precious' is frightening! What should I do if my stomach churns!"
"No way. I wouldn't make something like that."
"I can't trust you!"
With her eyes wide open, Ms. Meissa flared up at Ms. Delris. Ms. Delris paid it no heed and looked at Ms. Meissa with cold eyes.
"And? What happened to make you come here? Moreover, you aimed specially for when these children are here."
"Nn? Aah, that?"
In an instant Ms. Meissa recovered her original attitude. She returned the tea to Ms. Delris and turned her gaze to me.
"Rather than aimed, I've had business with these children from the start. Especially with this child."
"Huh?"
"Aah, after all it was that."
Ms. Delris seemed convinced, but there's no way I'd have an idea. I tilted my head and pointed at myself.
"Err, me?"
"Yeah. I said it, right? That I hoped to meet you after the wedding."
"Ah."
That's right. Come to think of it, she did say that.
I met her on a date with Freed, and once the fortune-telling ended, she said that and disappeared.
As I nodded, Ms. Meissa said in a teasing tone.
"Say, I thought your husband would be with you. You didn't bring him? That handsome husband who's madly in love with you."
"Err… Freed has work."
"Being the Crown Prince, he's got no spare time, huh. Shame."
I vaguely nodded as Ms. Meissa's naturally called Freed the Crown Prince.
But I see. After all, when she called out to us, she knew who we were.
However, her impression is very different from the last time we met.
At that time she was hiding her face with a veil so I couldn't see it, but she had a more elusive feeling.
While I was having such thoughts, Ms. Meissa said as if she'd read my mind.
"Of course, I met you as a fortune-teller first. I had to be at least a little 'similar'."
"Similar?"
"Yeah, similar to a fortune-teller, right?"
The moment Ms. Meissa said that, a crystal ball appeared in her hand.
"To celebrate our reunion, I'll tell your fortune… Your luck lies south. You should make friends with the people you'll meet. In the future, it will bear fruit. And then――."
"Meissa! Don't say anything unnecessary. Witches do not involve themselves in the world beyond necessity. Have you forgotten that?"
Ms. Delris threw a harsh rebuke. I unconsciously blinked my eyes at her strong tone completely different from normal, but Ms. Meissa only pouted her lips.
"Stringy, Delris. I know that. But isn't that much fine? I think you've been involved with that child more than enough too. I also want to get along with her."
"Get along?"
"Yeah, that's the reason I came today."
Ms. Meissa looked standoffishly unconcerned and complained to Ms. Delris.
"I will have to ask this child for a big request one day. So that she readily agrees at that time, I must make her feel indebted to me by getting along with her and giving her some hints. So stay silent."
"Eh?"
The words feel indebted were much too disturbing. And while I was worrying about what I'd be made to do, Ms. Delris said in a low voice as if to restrain Ms. Meissa.
"Meissa, what do you intend to make this child do? Depending on what it is, I won't allow it."
"Secret. But whether I ask or not depends on that child… so I might not even ask. But I'll have to make it up for that child, so I'll do what I can then."
"Make it up? Perhaps… you've messed up again?"
Ms. Meissa awkwardly averted her eyes at Ms. Delris's question.
"Don't remind me. I've only messed up once in the last few years! Cough… Well, this and that happened. Right, this and that. Anyway, that's how it is. I understand you treasure that child, so I won't put her life at risk. And you, what's your name?"
"Eh… It's Lidiana."
There was no way she didn't know, but I certainly had never introduced myself to her. Thinking so, I told her my name, and Ms. Meissa smiled with satisfaction.
"Thanks. If I remember correctly, your husband called you Lidi. I wonder if I could also call you that."
"Yes."
I agreed. Then Ms. Meissa turned her gaze to Cain.
"Mr. Red Shinigami. You are? I introduced myself, right?"
"… Cain."
"Thanks, Cain. I'll also tell your fortune. ―― An unexpected reunion is close. Ara, it's not a matter of life and death, so relax."
"… An unexpected reunion? … With Scheat?"
As Cain spoke the name of Black Apostate, Scheat, I knit my brows. Ms. Meissa softly narrowed her eyes.
"I wonder? I won't go as far as telling you who. After all, this is just a simple freebie. It's so simple even Delris could do it."
When Ms. Meissa turned her eyes to Ms. Delris, she let out a large sigh.
"Well… That much isn't a problem. But be careful."
"I know that. I'm a witch too. I won't do something to distort the set fate."
"… Really?"
Ms. Meissa only responded to Ms. Delris's suspicion with a smile and stood up. Even that gesture was beautiful when done by her.
"I managed to introduce myself, so for now I'll go back. Lidi, the next time we meet, introduce me to your husband. I have a request for you, but I also have one for him. It's very important, so please."
"Eh, you have one for Freed too?"
"Yeah, it's the same as the request for you. It's alright, I'll give you a right to choose properly."
"… I understand. I will convey it to Freed."
I wondered why even Freed is involved, but for now I nodded. When I go back, I'll talk to him. While I was thinking such thoughts, Ms. Meissa this time smiled to Cain.
"Please do. ―― Cain, you… Let's see. You managed to survive, so don't live recklessly. Enjoy your life more. You're still too young to look at the long term. You can do that after you've lived for at least a hundred years."
"A hundred years… People are normally dead by then?"
Ms. Meissa prettily laughed off Cain's retort that I was about to unconsciously nod to.
"Ara, it's a short time for a witch. Then, see you. Lidi, when the time comes, I'll meet you. But I'd be happy to eat your sweets before that."
"Ah…"
I was so startled, I completely forgot to serve the Japanese sweets I entrusted to Cain.
For the first time in a while, today I brought strawberry daifuku. Ms. Delris's favorite.
Because I drank a shocking tea and then Ms. Meissa came, I completely forgot about them.
"I-I'm sorry. If you like, certainly please eat them. I made a lot."
"I'm good today. I'll come eat at the next opportunity, so I'll give you a freebie as much as I can then."
"Freebie?"
"Yeah. Then, goodbye for now."
While pleasantly laughing, Ms. Meissa disappeared from the spot.
"… What an incredible woman."
Cain muttered so, and I fully agreed with him.
"Yup. She was like a storm."
They're both witches, and yet she was completely different from Ms. Delris. However, the witchiness that showed in every word she said made it clear that she was indeed a witch.
She was such a woman.
While I was astonished by her presence, Ms. Delris spoke bitterly.
"Meissa is always like this. If you don't like something, say it clearly. Otherwise, you'll be smoothly sweet-talked and bled dry before you notice. It's a normal thing for her."
"Errr, yes, I'll be careful."
Although I nodded my head to the advice given with a serious face, I asked her.
"Ms. Delris, you don't know about Ms. Meissa's request?"
"I don't know, or rather, I'm not interested. There are some witches that amuse themselves observing other witches, but I find no meaning in it."
I wanted to know more details because Freed is involved, but unfortunately Ms. Delris didn't seem to know.
"Is that so…?"
"But, if Meissa really says something, talk to me first. I'll judge whether that request is dangerous or not."
"Thank you."
I'm sure I won't be able to judge, so it's a great help. When I nodded with relief, Ms. Delris said.
"You brought strawberry daifuku, right? I'll make tea again, so let's stop thinking about it. Really, even though you finally visited, Meissa barged in…"
'Indeed."
"Hey, will it be a decent tea?"
Cain sharply reacted to Ms. Delris saying tea. She gave an astonished reply.
"You make it sound as if I usually don't serve a decent tea. It hurts, so I want you to stop talking like that."
"Didn't you only serve a decent tea once!? If you're going to serve a strange tea, just give me water! No, I'm fine with water! Please, give me water!"
Looking down at Cain who finally began begging, Ms. Delris said.
"Hum. If you ask so much, on the contrary it makes me want to live up to your expectations…"
"Please stop!!"
Cain raised a tearful voice, and I was in complete agreement.
While watching Cain being trifled with by Ms. Delris, I supported him in my heart.
Chapter end
Report
|
Donate
Oh o, this user has not set a donation button.
|