An Unexpected Encounter on Immanuelmas
At a restaurant on Immanuelmas... Amid thick tension, I checked my clothing once more. The outfit was nothing flashy, yet it gave the perfect impression of being neat and impeccable. After confirming its state in front of the mirror, I steadied my heart one final time and stepped out of the room.
And the moment I did, my eyes fell upon her. Today she wore light purple hair and fair skin. As always, she had altered her entire appearance, yet the thought that she was beautiful remained utterly unchanged. Looking at her, I felt a gentle smile rise to my lips.
“Shall we go, then, Your Majesty the Demon King?”
“Understood.”
With those words, the two of us cautiously ventured into the city streets. What greeted us was a colossal tree standing at the very center of the capital. A black star sparkled at its highest point, and magnificent decorations adorned its branches, reminding me of the Christmas trees one might see in the plazas of Western films.
“How magnificent. It feels entirely different from when I viewed it from afar.”
“I feel the same. To be honest, this is my first time seeing a tree this large in person as well.”
Even in my previous life, I had only ever seen such things in movies. Now I was beholding it directly, hand in hand with the woman I loved. The situation felt refreshingly new in every way.
Is it because I’m here with my lover? If I had seen it in the real world, I probably would have thought of it as nothing more than a pretty decoration. But seeing it like this, the feeling is completely different.
Using such an expression feels a little embarrassing, but it was as if the massive tree itself were blessing the space between us. Lost in that warm sentiment, the two of us stared at it with dazed expressions for a long moment.
Some time later, when it felt as though we had taken in enough, the Demon King turned to me and spoke in a calm voice.
“Then shall we head inside now, my hero? It would not do to be late.”
“Yes, understood, Esther.”
Agreeing with her, the two of us began walking through the city once more.
“Darling, how about we get this one?”
“Whatever you want. Today is a day prepared entirely for you.”
“Aww… you’re too much…”
“Flowers for sale! Flowers! We have black roses perfect for a wonderful day like this!”
“Restaurant seats available! Walk-ins are welcome even if you don’t have a reservation!”
All around us we saw couples much like ourselves, and the streets were packed with vendors calling out to them. It felt exactly like the real world’s Christmas, only with the palette slightly altered. In the past I used to feel irritated when I saw scenes like this, but now that I was one of the participants, I finally understood why lovers filled the streets on a night like this.
It probably won’t actually happen, but it feels like the whole world is catering to us.
The atmosphere continued to swell, feeding our joy and making it even richer. I surrendered myself to that feeling. Simply holding her hand as we walked filled me with deep happiness, and I savored every second of it as we made our way to the restaurant I had reserved in advance.
This was the most expensive and famous establishment in all of Jerusalem. Securing a table for Immanuelmas had required me to use every ounce of the hero’s overwhelming physical ability. I had gone through considerable hardship, but in the end I had succeeded. A profound sense of accomplishment filled me as I showed the ticket.
“Yes, two guests. Please come this way.”
After the confirmation, the Demon King and I stepped inside. Luxurious decorations, enchanting music, and the sweet aroma of food that tickled our noses. We made our way to our seats deeper within the restaurant and sat down.
“How would you like to order? Please tell me anything you want. Today, I will be treating you.”
“Hehe, thank you, my hero.”
My words could only be taken as a joke, considering the other party was the absolute monarch of this nation, the Demon King. She let out a light laugh and began choosing the dishes she desired.
But then—
“Hm?”
“…”
The sharp sound reached our ears. At the noise of a glass shattering, both the Demon King and I turned our gazes at once. What we saw was…
“H-Hero…?”
“Eli…sa…?”
* To try and change the mood even a little, Elisa had come to the restaurant with Nadan. The moment she realized where they were, she couldn’t help but be genuinely shocked.
No way… The place where she said she got the tickets by chance is here? How could anyone get tickets to this place by chance? This is Golgotha! The most popular restaurant in all of Jerusalem… how…
It was a place so exclusive that even money could hardly secure a table. On a night like Immanuelmas, it was said to be as difficult as plucking a star from the sky. Nadan’s claim that she had obtained tickets to such a place by pure chance was simply impossible.
“Hehe. There are some things in this world you don’t need to know, Elisa. Come now, let’s go inside.”
“Mmm…”
Though she still felt as if she were being tricked somehow, Elisa followed Nadan inside for the time being. The instant she stepped through the doors, her eyes were stolen by the dazzling opulence before her. She had worked in the royal castle, but the Demon King’s palace emphasized grandeur and a certain frugality rather than outright luxury. This glittering atmosphere was something else entirely. The banquet hall came closest, yet even that felt a step below the refined ambiance here. Elisa felt a slight burden on her shoulders as she sat down with Nadan.
“So, what do you want to eat? You like seafood, right? Should I order that?”
“Mmm… sure. Let’s go with that…”
The casual meal with a friend had suddenly taken on a much heavier atmosphere, but Elisa decided to simply enjoy the situation for what it was and focus on the food.
Well… it does feel a bit suspicious, but since we’re already here, I might as well enjoy it to the fullest…
With that thought, Elisa looked at the dishes that arrived far faster than expected. At the center was a lobster dish, her favorite. Feeling a subtle hunger, she brought a piece to her mouth. The tender, savory flavor that spread across her tongue was among the best lobster dishes she had ever tasted. As she savored it, the bewilderment and discomfort in her heart began to settle.
“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”
“Yeah… it’s delicious.”
“Hehe, I’m glad.”
Watching Elisa, Nadan expressed pure joy. Seeing her friend’s sincere happiness, Elisa thought once again how fortunate she was to have such a good friend, and a smile naturally rose to her own lips.
“Thank you… for going out of your way to prepare a place like this for me.”
“You’ve seemed rather depressed lately. Even though it’s Immanuelmas, there’s no rule saying only men and women can enjoy it, is there?”
“That’s true… I suppose you’re right.”
Agreeing with Nadan, Elisa took a sip from her glass. The sweet, smooth black wine slid gently down her throat, and she felt the weight on her heart lighten just a little. At that moment, Nadan spoke in a careful voice.
“Um… Elisa. Actually, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“Yes? What is it?”
Nadan’s voice had grown noticeably more serious. Elisa looked at her friend with mild curiosity. Nadan’s face flushed deeply as she continued with great caution.
“This might be a little awkward to say, but… what are you going to do in the end? About your relationship with the hero…”
“….Mmm…”
The mood that had just begun to improve sank again. Seeing Elisa’s reaction, Nadan spoke with a hint of urgency.
“Ah… no, if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to. I was just… worried as your friend…”
“…You’re right. Looking at me lately, it would be strange if you weren’t worried…”
With a voice heavy with self-mockery, Elisa slowly swirled the wine in her glass and began to speak.
“I call him the person I like and all that, but I haven’t even managed to confess. Meanwhile, that man is somewhere cultivating love with someone I don’t even know… Honestly, when I first learned the truth, I even considered kidnapping her, but I couldn’t even find out who the other party was, let alone attempt anything…”
“Mmm…”
“It’s pathetic, isn’t it? Someone who belongs to the Royal Guard can’t even handle something like this properly… Maybe a woman like me simply isn’t suited for romance. Lately I’ve even thought it might be better to just give up on everything…”
“Th-That’s not true!”
Nadan’s firm denial cut through Elisa’s self-deprecating words. The unexpectedly strong reaction left Elisa staring at her in blank surprise.
“Ny… Nadan?”
“It’s not true… Elisa, you are a far more wonderful woman than you think. From the first time I saw you, I fell for you at a glance… You gave purpose to my previously aimless life. You made me think, without fail, that I wanted to become your woman.”
“Wha… what?”
Nadan’s face burned crimson as she poured out words far heavier than Elisa had expected. Elisa stared at her in a daze. Nadan took her hand and pressed on with fierce momentum.
“I’ve loved you for so long. I… Elisa, I…”
“Ny… Nadan? W-Wait… does that mean…”
“…I love you, Elisa… Please… accept my feelings.”
Though her words had been a little jumbled, Nadan had expressed her intentions clearly. Elisa felt an intense wave of bewilderment at the completely unexpected situation and instinctively looked around. Fortunately, everyone else seemed absorbed in their own conversations and no one was paying them any attention. Even so, she had no idea how she was supposed to respond.
But then—
“…Huh?”
At that moment, a certain scene finally entered her vision. The instant she recognized what it was, Elisa felt the strength leave the hand holding her glass. And then—