I pat Haku's head as he sleeps soundly. It's already been several hours since the fight with Haku. The sun has already risen, and it's time for some people to get up now.

　After saving Haku, I take him home to nurse him. Aeris and the others have offered to nurse him too, but this is just me being selfish. I couldn't let them all do it, so I got them to go to bed.

　Pricia was reluctant to finish, but I forced her to go back to her room. Pricia had probably heard those words from Haku. Pricia loved children, and that was probably too hard for her.

　She politely asked the soldiers who came here to leave, saying that she would explain to the king later. All of the soldiers had pulled a face, but why?　That's the only thing that makes me wonder.

　As I'm patting Haku's head while thinking about it, the door opens a little bit with a giggle and May appears from there. However, regardless of that, Ekla comes into the room.

'......Good morning, brother.

'Oh, good morning May. Good morning, too, Ekla.

Kyu.

　Mei-chan greets me a little apologetically, but when I smile back at her, she smiles at me. Then she walks into the room, trying not to make a sound. You're so sweet, Mei-chan. Ekla gets on my head, where she is positioned.

'How's Haku-chan doing?'

He hasn't woken up yet, but he looks good.

Thank God. I was so worried that I couldn't sleep well. Pricia was praying all the time while looking at the moon.

'Well I appreciate that, but I'll be sad if Pricia gets sick from it. May, can you tell Haku that Haku is fine and Pricia said I was telling her to go to bed?

Okay!

　Mei replies cheerfully and leaves the room. At the same time Ekla follows her, Aeris comes in to replace her.

'Ray, good morning.'

Yeah, good morning, Aeris. What's going on?

Oh, no, not good morning. You don't sleep at all, do you?　Why don't you get some sleep?　I'll be watching you.

　I shake my head, though I appreciate what Aeris says, but I shake my head.

'I told Haku I'd take care of him until he wakes up. I have to be there for him until he wakes up. Aeris is the school, right?　Isn't it almost time?

By the looks of it, you're not going today. Huh, okay. I'll talk to Master about it myself, so you can tell me more about it again. ........hmm.

　Aeris says, and pokes her lips out at me. I chuckle.

Thank you, Aeris.

　He kisses her just enough to touch her with a kiss. Aeris smiles with a satisfied smile and leaves the room. I watch Aeris leave and then walk back to my side of the bed again. I slowly stroke Haku's head as I wait for him to wake up.

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

Mr. Ray, would you like to have lunch?

　I don't know how many times I've had to change the towel on my forehead, and Pricia comes in slowly. May and Ekla have gone to play and Roy has gone with her escort. I hope they don't get lost.

'Yeah, we'll eat here. Pricia can get some rest today. You haven't had much sleep, have you?

''If you say so, Ray-san doesn't sleep at all. Besides, I'm worried about Haku-chan too...

　I laugh bitterly at Pricia, who turns her head down saying that. She's so sweet. I beckon to Pricia to come to my side, tilting her head. Pricia tilts her head and comes closer to my side, but I hold her hand, smiling at her.

In that case, you can spend the day with me.

"....!　Yes!

　Pricia replied happily and hurriedly left the room. She probably went to get lunch.

　Then Pricia brought lunch for me and myself to my room and we ate lunch together. She said she had given Mei and the others some money, so they would buy their own.

　Afterwards, I talked with Pricia about things while I nursed Haku. She told me that Mei-chan has become friends with various animals and wants to take them home, that Roy's swordsmanship has improved to the point where even a novice can understand it, and that she wants to send money to the sisters in the Papal States so she can go to work when she has time.

　Maybe it's because Mei's can understand animal language. Hmm, I'll have to think about it. As long as Mei-chan can raise them properly, I don't mind bringing her home. You don't have to bring dozens of them back to me.

　I think Roy's swordsmanship is improving really fast. If he keeps improving at this rate, maybe I won't be able to beat him with a sword either. When I get to that level of skill, I'll use a Rowga instead of a sword.

　As for going to work, Pricia didn't give up on me. She's been doing the house thing for me and I'm giving her money for it, so how about sending it back to her?　He says that he wants to use the money for May and the others.

'I'm really happy. I get to spend every day with the people I love and I get to do what I want. Besides, if you indulge us too much, Alexia and the others will be mad at you, won't they?

　So he says he doesn't need any more money. He also says that he's going to finish his house errands in the morning, and he wants to do something in the afternoon because he's free. If you say so, I won't stop you any longer.

Just don't force me to do anything, okay?

　I gently stroke Pricia's cheek as I say this. Pricia also takes my hand and rubs her cheek happily.

　As I'm nursing her while talking to her like that...

Ummmmm...

Huck!

Haku-chan!

　Haku shrugs and opens his eyes a little more. And then he scurries around the ceiling in a daze for a little while, and then he notices us, and now he looks blankly at us. And then.

Oui?

　You know me. He calls out to me. Pricia is too happy to cry. I smirk at Pricia and hold Haku's hand.

Yeah, it's me. Morning, Haku.

　I'll give you a reply. Haku also got caught up in the tears of Pricia.

Morning. Hi.

　And he returned it. ...I'm glad you're awake and safe. Looks like I've moved on from Prussia's too. Sweat is pouring from my eyes.

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

　Nanor-Warvest border

You're finally through the worst of it.

"Yes, sir. We're almost to the capital of the Kingdom of Nanor, little boy.

"...stop being a little boy, Selschan. I'm going to be 20 soon. You're not old enough to be a little boy.

Ho-ho-ho. To me, you will always be a little boy, no matter how old you are.

Totally. Is Clarrier okay?

Yes, that's all right, Herr Mist.

Okay. Don't work too hard. You've done a lot for me.

'Yes. Master Mist is completely useless, you know.

''I wish you would stop spewing your venom naturally from time to time.

Ho-ho-ho.

　The carriage proceeds.