The Way of Love -3-
Smiles bloomed across our faces. They were smiles brimming with tears, yet they carried none of the weight of sorrow.
"...Truly."
"..."
"You’ve worked so hard."
The words trembled as they left my throat. The road had been long, but the fruit it bore was breathtakingly beautiful. Memories flashed before my eyes like a lantern show—the moment the young lady, robbed of her legs, chose to shut herself away.
—I’m not going out.
—...The weather is lovely today.
—I said I’m not going.
—There’s delicious chocolate...
—You think you can go out looking like that? It’d be embarrassing.
And the ridiculous memory of nearly turning Olivia into a boiled lobster in the bathtub.
—Glub glub glub.
—My lady?
—Hic... I’m drowning.
—My lady!
Countless scenes flickered past like film reels, each one swelling my chest with fierce emotion.
"...Heehee, mm."
Hope dreamed of a small future. The future danced, yearning for happiness—as if to announce that the time for joy had finally arrived.
"You worked hard too, Ricardo."
She was dancing.
*
An afternoon when years of effort finally blossomed.
"Ahem!"
"The weather is nice."
"It is."
The young lady and I sat on a bench in the mansion’s garden, facing each other. We had cried ourselves out earlier, leaving a faint awkwardness between us, but the bright sunlight was already washing it away.
"..."
Slowly.
I watched the fidgeting young lady and thought, How admirable.
"..."
When our eyes met, she offered me a small smile.
"Heehee."
"...What’s with that cheeky grin?"
"Heeheehee."
I smiled back at her inexplicable laughter.
"Why?"
"Heehee... Ricardo."
"Yes."
"I walked."
"Well done."
She peeked her head forward, lips pursed in a pout.
"That’s all?"
"You were magnificent."
"Right? Aren’t I amazing?"
"Yes."
"Aren’t I cool?"
"Of course."
"Heehee... Praise me more."
I burst out laughing at the shy crown of white hair she thrust toward me. She looked far too innocent.
—Pat.
"Well done."
My fingers brushed through her hair. It felt like stroking a fluffy puppy, the softness traveling down to my fingertips.
"I’m incredibly proud of you."
She seemed to enjoy the touch, her eyes gently closing as she leaned closer.
"You’re the most wonderful person in the world."
"Heehee, I know."
I indulged her childishness, continuing to stroke her hair until she was satisfied.
Nice.
It was good that her body was improving, but what moved me more was the fact that she had taken those steps herself. The old Olivia had been passive, someone who never acted on her own.
...
I knew some things couldn’t be forced, so her willingness touched me even deeper. Courage. Passion. Those things didn’t appear just because someone told you to have them. The fact that she had tried to walk, knowing she might fall—that, more than anything, filled me with gratitude and admiration.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected to cry.
—Huh...?
...How embarrassing.
Recalling that moment made my face burn. I had never been close with tears, so the thought of crying right there had never crossed my mind.
What was certain was this:
"Heehee..."
I was happy.
After petting her head for a long while, I knelt before the young lady on the bench and met her eyes.
—Whoosh...!
"?"
The moment our gazes met, she turned away. No matter which way I turned my head, she dodged with another "whoosh," then smiled at my bewildered expression and teased me.
"Crybaby."
Who was calling who a crybaby? She had seen me cry more times than I could count. I let out a wry laugh at her bold words and looked up at her.
"You cried too, my lady."
"I cried because I fell."
"That still counts as crying."
"You just cried for no reason."
"No, I didn’t."
"Eeeek."
Smiling at her sulking face, I answered.
"I cried because I was happy you stood up."
"...Eek?"
"Hehe."
She clenched her fists and shouted.
"Why are you admitting it?!"
"Why not? It’s the truth."
"Eek...! Eeeeeek... Ehee!"
I gently pinched her cheeks and laughed. Then, taking a deep breath, I looked her straight in the eye and asked.
"So, my lady."
"Mm."
"How does it feel?"
"What feeling?"
"The feeling of standing on your own after so long."
"Heehee..."
She smiled shyly, the corners of her mouth curling upward before she tried to hide it. She was embarrassed. She glanced at me, then nodded, fingers fidgeting.
"It was nice."
Her bright answer made me nod softly and offer my thanks.
"I’m glad too."
"Heehee."
I took her hand and met her eyes, my heart already stepping forward.
"Then, my lady."
"Mm."
"Shall we try?"
—Nod.
"If it hurts, tell me right away. We’re having meat today."
"Meat...!"
"Well then..."
"Huu... Just a moment."
Her trembling voice still hadn’t calmed. Her heart was pounding too loudly. The excitement of her walking again made it race—thump. Looking at her treasure pouch—thump. After all the hardship, seeing even this small progress felt like a dream.
She was the one enduring the hardest part of rehabilitation, yet...
"Shall we try together?"
I wanted to cheer her on. I wanted to support and encourage every step she took forward.
She nodded heavily.
"Mm."
Our hands met. Her cold fingers and my sweaty palm touched.
"I’ll pull. Try to stand as much as you can."
"...Okay."
She squeezed her eyes shut.
"One..."
"Huu..."
"Two..."
"Hiiiik."
"Three."
I remembered the first time I tried to help her stand. Back when she was drowning in despair, I had stubbornly pushed forward, desperate to show her that a better future existed. That day she had cursed at me. That day I had cried alone in her room. It had been sad. Bleak. I had thought I would never see that mischievous side of her again—the wild, unruly Olivia everyone called a madwoman. In that moment, I had been furious at my own powerlessness.
So—
"Huu."
"Ricardo, your hands are soaked."
"...Haha, so they are."
"What if you get even more nervous?"
"Says the one whose hands are shaking."
"Huuget!"
Two cowards, trying to muster great courage today.
"Let’s start again."
"Okay."
I gripped her hand tightly once more, offering just enough strength for her to rise on her own.
"Uuuuugh..."
She squeezed her eyes shut, body trembling as she furrowed her brow. Unused muscles wouldn’t respond quickly, but one thing was certain—she was giving everything she had.
"Ugegegegege!"
It was a bit noisy, but—
"Good."
"Uuuuugh!"
"Excellent!"
After countless attempts of pushing from her seat, the young lady, drenched in sweat, let out ragged breaths.
"Haa... Haa... Huuik..."
She looked ready to collapse from exhaustion, yet after a sip of water, she reignited her passion and looked straight at me.
"Again."
"..."
"I’m doing it again."
"Yes."
"Huu."
Her determination was remarkable.
And—
"Kkuhing.. Kkuhiheehing."
Adorable.
"Huuuiiiik!"
With a thunderous battle cry, her eye level rose.
"Huh...?"
"Oh..."
She stared at me with wide, trembling eyes, clearly bewildered by what had just happened.
"Ricardo."
"Yes..."
"You’re not using a ton of strength, right?"
"No..."
"Did you use magic to lift me?"
"You know my magic is useless, my lady."
I smiled at her.
Her shaking legs. Her trembling eyes. Truly...
"You’re standing..."
"...Yeah!"
"Really..."
I wasn’t supposed to cry again. For a moment, I fought back the tears threatening to spill and smiled at her.
"You’re magnificent...!"
"Thank you."
Neither of us spoke it aloud, but we were both astonished. I was in awe of her will. She was overjoyed by the fruit of that will. Of course, a little help from Rehabilitation Hand had played its part, but if we kept at it...
"..."
She would stand on her own. I was certain of it. Because it was the future I had chosen. Because I would make it happen. Someday, she would run—I was sure of it.
"..."
This might be a small beginning, but good days always find their way to us. Happiness doesn’t belong only to the protagonists. The light that once shone only on others was finally turning toward us.
I squeezed her hand, my eyes moist.
"...My lady."
"Mmnya."
"You’re incredibly cool, you know that?"
"I know."
She was never one for modesty. The mood had softened, so I teased her lightly.
"I don’t think I’ll be able to carry you anymore."
"...It?"
"You’ll be walking on your own."
She pouted and shook her head.
"Eek... No. You’re still carrying me."
"...Pfft! Trying to suck me dry to the bone?"
"Yeah. I’m gonna suck you dry."
I laughed at her bright, spoiled complaint.
"Sounds nice."
We looked at each other, hands clasped. We didn’t know how long this journey would last, but we believed it had an end.
"Let’s try again."
"Okay!"
"Alright...! One. Two. Three."
—Thud!
"Ugek!"
***
In a dark room, Apostle Elysia’s eyes trembled.
"I... didn’t see it wrong."
She shook with fear. With bottomless terror. Because that man’s death had already appeared countless times before.