Only with Your Heart

The return journey took two more days from then, and Chizuru was learning less about the present Lucrov.

That is, Ruklov was indeed granted the status of Duke by the King four years and a little while ago, and lives as the ruler of this strip, the eastern tip of the country. That is, that he has no wife and is single and has no intention of changing the status quo at all.

And with his fellow Knights fourteen years ago, who also spent time with Chizuru, he said that he glanced at one exception and now has no more interaction at all.

"Only loans still come to stay every year. If I found out you were in the mansion, I'd be driving a horse right now."

and explained a large bright knight with red hair.

There are a few others, who I miss and would like to see again if I could, but Ruklov refused to give an account of their current situation. Thousands of cranes stopped asking questions, more than that, that maybe there's not much good news in his thrusting tone and cold expression at that time.

Fourteen years.

I wonder what happened to him, to them.

Has it cast a dark shadow on them that Chizuru has gone away after doing so? Is that why Luklov has such painful eyes when he stares at Chizuru......

When the castle town approached, Chizuru could feel its vibrancy from afar without having to be briefed by Luklov once and for all.

Through the idyllic countryside, lined with small houses with ranches, the roads are cobbled up, turning to pleasant streets lined with shop-like houses and artisan workshops everywhere.

"Duke, Master Ruklov! Welcome home soon!

Quite a few townspeople threw their greetings gladly as they saw Lucroff on horseback through the street. Some people give Lucroff fruits, meat pieces, and other local sweets that they don't know what they're selling.

And a few of those courageous people also asked questions about Thousand Cranes, which fit softly in Ruklov's arms.

"Who is your beautiful woman?

Ruklov's response was always the same, as he pushed in his judgment.

"I used to know him. Stay in the castle for a while as a guest. When you see her in the city, treat her with the respect it deserves."

At some point, Ruklov stopped using the word "castle" about his residence. Of course, as for the Duke, not something as small as the potato mansion of Rodolgo, but the corresponding majestic building, Thousand Cranes' imagination swelled irresistibly.

Maybe a giant ancient castle where a small city goes into a pond, and Thousand Cranes gets run over by a guest in a corner completely far from Luklov and hardly ever sees him? But I don't even have the courage to ask that.

As Junma, with the two of them on board, passed through the castle town, the idyllic road, surrounded by greenery for a while, continued loosely, and... appeared to soar at the end of the horizon... it was still the castle.

"Is that... but?

Luklov leaks his whispered voice to Chizuru.

"The big one is just because this is the border. It's not that luxurious."

Chizuru gazed at him and saw him in a huge stone building that seemed to be good enough to call a fortress. The perimeter is covered in walls for defense, and by the way, there is something like a tower for shooting arrows at external enemies. I also saw the guard outposts patrolling over its walls.

Is the castle built to soar within the outer walls close to the early Gothic architecture, if not the original world? Earthy stone construction, wide, pointed roofs ahead are everywhere. The watchtower was prepared in two places, front and rear.

As the horse carrying Chizuru and Ruklov approached the walls, the outpost, which had been erected by both sides of the gate, opened its door recliningly.

The castle gate makes such a heavy noise that it slowly opens its mouth.

Once in, it's such a heavy move that I don't think I'll ever get out again. Chizuru sipped the sauce. Above the castle gate is the Duke's flag flickering.

There was an embroidered dragon on a black ground like a velcro with red thread.

Once inside the walls, there was a further hundred meters or so to follow the actual building, and the training grounds for the knights were widened to consolidate both sides of it. The knights with armor used their swords to train in combat as they rolled up the dirt and dust, but when they noticed Luklov, too, they took off their helmets and knelt.

"Keep training. I'll be down in a while, too. Have a training sword ready."

To Ruklov's ordinance, the knights raised their red faces and were deliberately obsessed with excitement.

─ ─ I remember even Thousand Cranes. How strong and beautiful the sword judgment of Ruklov was. Luklov's sword, which was strong enough to overwhelm everything in the world, was such a divine skill that even the bare gesture of training would make him fall in love.

"Even now... you fight?

When Chizuru inquired, Luklov didn't really understand, he made him look like that.

"To keep your body and arms from rusting, yeah. Few big fights around here... but not at all"

After asking, Chizuru noticed the relaxation of his senses. They are knights. And the times are medieval... no matter how many evil dragons perished and peace came, strife over territory and power is a world with swords. They won't let go of their swords until they die, unless they give themselves up to fishermen or even peasants.

That's how hard it is to live in a world, so maybe fourteen years for him was a lot longer than Thousand Cranes thought. My chest hurts again when I think about it.

Across the elegant vaulted layers, there was first a place that seemed to be the Great Hall.

Anyway, the ceiling is high, and the walls definitely continue upstairs to a position that seems to pack. How do we warm up in the winter? A large tapestry decorated part of the wall and a long wooden desk was attached to the centre. It is clean and spacious, but is it certainly a little different from luxury?

Several boys with a working style are running around fine, and middlewomen with cloths and dishes are busy moving to sew between them. And after all, like the training ground, every face looked at Luklov and he bowed his head and showed respect.

"Call Alde here."

And, Ruklov called one of the women to order.

"Alde? Is that, um... Alde?

Chizuru, whose arm was taken by Ruklov and who was walking beside him, stopped by a surprising amount of legs. Alde is a girl who was close enough by the last time to be known as her sisters, with the help she had on Chizuru during her last stay. He was one of a few I would like to see again besides Ruklov.

Slightly, Ruklov affirmed.

When Chizuru tried to give him a voice of joy, he cried out, one foot faster than that, and the blonde woman from the door had already turned her face.

"Dear Chizuru! Well! Isn't that Master Chizuru!

The blonde quickly rushed over and broke her knee to collapse as she crept in front of Chizuru and Ruklov.

"A, Alde... what is it?

Surprisingly, Chizuru's voice seemed to turn around.

At the time, Alde was only a cute little girl who had just turned fourteen or fifteen years old and remained blushing on her skin. That's the tall, sophisticated adult woman in front of you. Dressed in women's clothes, she wears a white scarf on her head, but makes her feel beautiful and tasteful.

Alde cried with tears all over his blue eyes, grinning and other expressions.

"No way... I can't believe this day is really coming... Oh, Master Ruklov, Master Chizuru, it was worth the wait. For so long...... Aah!

With the joy of gushing up and confusion, Chizuru lost his words.

A year and two months for Chizuru.

For them, fourteen years.

Alde continued wiping his tears as he took the handkerchief out of his hips. "You haven't changed, Master Chizuru. I thought it was a dream..."

Now Chizuru almost cried.

"It's only been a year and a little while in my world. Alde is the one who's beautiful. I didn't know right away."

Slowly as Alde stood up, the two women took their hands in their hands and smiled.

"A year? Ma, well, that's..."

"I didn't think Alde was here. Could it be that you've been with Lucroff ever since?

When Chizuru asked, Alde turned his surprised face towards Luklov instead of answering.

"Master Ruklov, did you not explain this to Master Chizuru?

"Huh."

Chizuru solidified, struck by the feeling of his whole body getting cold from the tip of his leg.

No way......

Beautifully grown Alde also looks, by now, much more in tune with Luklov at his age. Especially not that it was under Lucroff's command. I don't know what she's been serving him for fourteen years...... no way...... but did it have something to do with it?

Chizuru also turned his gaze to Luklov, but he was only frowning between his deep brows, which he had already become familiar with, and the others were cold faceless.

Only Alde stares at them alternately in confusion.

"Now, there's nothing to explain... Alde, don't say anything extra, show Chizuru to his room."

"... Yes. Um, are you sure you want to stay in the example room?

Ruklov turned around and said coldly, thinking he stared at Thousand Cranes with a bitter face like he had been stabbed by several needles on his skin.

"Some other rooms are ready. Hurry up."

Chizuru had never regretted returning to the original world, even temporarily, as much as at this moment now.