Along Millede's Path
The young lady had grown a little more honest. They had only meant to part ways after eating ice cream at the shop, but Edgar’s suggestion changed that. The four of them would continue on together—what people called a double date.
The problem was that it wasn’t Ariel who had looked reluctant, but Shuri. She already felt guilty for having been caught secretly tailing her mistress, and now she was being asked to spend the entire day with them? Her nerves weren’t strong enough to accept such a proposal without hesitation. Still, a servant’s sorrowful fate was to obey when her master commanded. When Ariel suddenly chimed in, declaring it a wonderful idea, Shuri and Ronan were left with no choice but to accompany the pair.
Even for Edgar, the outcome had been somewhat unexpected. Ariel wasn’t fond of moving about in groups, and he had assumed she would prefer to be alone with him. He had only made the suggestion because he thought it might be enjoyable for everyone to spend time together for once, and that he and Ariel could always make time for themselves later. Yet it was the unexpected intervention of Ariel herself that had sealed the arrangement—on one condition: they would split up before dinner.
“Shuri, you don’t mind walking with me, do you?”
“O-of course not! It’s a pleasure, truly……!”
As they walked, Ariel draped an arm around her personal maid’s shoulders and asked the question with an air of friendly familiarity. To any third party, it would have seemed warm and affectionate, but from Shuri’s perspective, it was the very picture of an overbearing superior.
Watching from the side, Edgar shook his head with a pitying smile. At this rate, he worried less about whether they could enjoy themselves and more about whether Shuri’s stomach would survive the day without developing a hole.
“You must have it rough, dealing with such a mischievous mistress.”
“Not at all. I often hear that she treats me quite well, despite appearances.”
When Edgar muttered the remark under his breath while observing the contrasting pair of women, Ronan replied in his characteristically blunt tone, coming to Ariel’s defense. It wasn’t because he felt obligated to side with the daughter of the household that employed his lover; rather, it was because of something he had heard from Shuri time and again.
“Really? I’d have thought she at least complained about you.”
“She does tease me on occasion, but otherwise she’s said to be quite kind. From what I’ve heard, it was thanks to your advice, my lord……”
“Advice? I only spoke to her as a friend.”
In the past, Ariel had never been particularly warm toward her subordinates. She hadn’t gone so far as to hurl teacups or resort to physical punishment like the villainesses found in stories, but Edgar had always sensed that she viewed servants as nothing more than the word itself implied. There had been times when she vented her anger on Shuri, and she could be coldly distant as well. He hadn’t gone so far as to call it wrong, but he had still wanted to offer a word of counsel—that she should treat her servants more like friends, without being overly familiar or disrespectful. Helene and Shephy had served as excellent examples, and he had used them as a reference.
He couldn’t say for certain how Ariel had behaved afterward, but judging by Ronan’s words, it seemed the advice had borne fruit. That alone was a result Edgar found more than satisfactory.
“Edgar, where should we go next?”
“Does it really matter? Is there anywhere you want to go?”
While Edgar and Ronan were searching for common ground in their conversation, Ariel suddenly slipped between them, holding out a piece of paper as she asked the question. From the glance Edgar had caught earlier, it seemed she and Shuri had already come to some sort of decision. Since Ronan was unlikely to offer any strong opinions, Edgar figured it would be best for him to take the lead and choose. He examined the paper carefully.
“How about this? ‘Millede’s Walk.’”
“Huh…? D-did you overhear Shuri and me talking?”
“Not at all.”
It was the truth. He hadn’t been eavesdropping on the two women; if anything, he had been occupied with his own conversation with Ronan. Still, from Ariel’s brief reaction, Edgar could tell that this was the place she had secretly wanted to visit. By coincidence, their choices had aligned perfectly.
“I didn’t hear you, but I had a feeling this was where you’d want to go.”
“You know me far too well. It’s almost unsettling.”
“It’s only natural.”
Edgar shrugged with a casual flick of his eyebrows and shoulders. Without another word, Ariel simply smiled brightly and turned on her heel, heading toward Shuri. With their destination decided, all that remained was to set off—and Shuri would know the way better than anyone.
“Millede’s Walk” was a flower-lined promenade, though with a notable difference: the flowers weren’t naturally grown, but conjured through magic. Because of this, even flowers that struggled to thrive in the cold northern climate could be artificially created, making the path a refreshing sight despite being an ordinary walking trail.
“The more I look, the more amazing it is. It really is magic?”
“I was quite surprised the first time I came here too. I thought it was just some kind of illusion spell.”
Shuri nodded vigorously in agreement with Ariel’s exclamation. After all, the flowers blooming brilliantly all around them swayed and fluttered in the breeze as though they were real. In other words, they existed in a strange state—real, yet not entirely so.
“I can’t actually touch them… How is something like this even possible?”
When Ariel bent down to brush her fingers against the flowers, they scattered like mist the moment she made contact, only to reform the instant she withdrew her hand. Even Ariel, who was more knowledgeable about magic than most, found herself at a loss. Naturally, the other three could only marvel at the sight.
What surprised Edgar most wasn’t the magic itself, but the fact that Ariel couldn’t explain how it worked.
“It’s strange to think even you don’t know the principle behind it.”
“Well, I’m no scholar from the Magic Tower, and I’ve never studied magic in depth.”
“Fair enough.”
Edgar nodded in understanding and reached out to smooth Ariel’s hair, which fluttered in the wind along with the flowers. She could use tools created by others with great skill, but she had never tried making them herself. Naturally, she wouldn’t know the materials or methods involved in their creation. Yet that was precisely why she could enjoy the promenade without overthinking it—an unexpected advantage.
The path was long enough to circle the village, and by the time they reached the midpoint, Ariel cast a subtle glance toward Edgar. It was a small gesture that Shuri and Ronan wouldn’t have noticed, but it stood out clearly to him. She clearly had something she wanted to say.
“Ah, the path splits here.”
Just as Edgar was debating whether to speak first, the trail forked into two directions. A helpful sign indicated that turning left would lead back to the village, while continuing right would allow them to enjoy more of the promenade.
“My lady, what would you like to do?”
“Oh, well……”
Ariel glanced at Edgar once more before letting out a thoughtful hum. Sensing that she wouldn’t speak up easily, Edgar decided to take the initiative and tapped Ronan on the shoulder.
“Ariel and I are going to walk a bit farther along the path, so let’s part ways here.”
“What? There’s no need to……”
“We don’t mind……”
“Shuri isn’t very strong, so walking for too long would be difficult for her. Go back and rest with a cup of tea.”
Edgar persuaded the pair by promising they would catch up soon. Though Shuri and Ronan were left somewhat bewildered, the request wasn’t particularly burdensome, so they agreed. Once the two had headed left toward the village, Edgar and Ariel were left alone. Instead of turning right, Edgar tapped Ariel’s shoulder and asked if she had something to say.
Unlike her usual self, Ariel hesitated, her cheeks flushing. Then, squeezing her eyes shut, she reached out and gently grasped the sleeve of his right arm.
“Well, it’s just……”
“What is it?”
Edgar lowered his posture to meet her gaze. Ariel’s lips moved soundlessly for a moment before she blurted out in a small voice, as though being chased.
“I just… thought it might be better if it was only the two of us, since you don’t really like noisy places……”
“……”
Just the two of us. Her words were surprisingly direct, yet still managed to conceal her true feelings. Edgar couldn’t help but smile. Compared to before, it was a remarkable improvement. At the very least, she had managed to convey that she wanted to be alone with him—an effort on her part.
Those who made an effort deserved a reward. Edgar took hold of Ariel’s hand, which was still clutching his sleeve, and led her down the right path. A relieved smile spread across her lips, but the moment their eyes met, she quickly turned her head away.
“Then let’s enjoy a quiet walk, just the two of us.”
“I-if you insist……”
To Edgar, it seemed Ariel had shown considerable consideration by agreeing to the group outing in the first place. In the end, however, she hadn’t been able to resist sending a signal because she preferred being alone with him. He found her adorable and couldn’t help but gently pat her head. He felt a little sorry for the two waiting back at the village, but it looked like he and Ariel would need a little more time to themselves.