I was wandering around the city outside the castle after a meal served to me by my servants at Castle Mactoria.
As for the streets of Mactoria, there are many white stone houses, surrounded by trees and relatively warm.
And most importantly, trees blooming with peach blossoms were seen everywhere in the mountains, and a beautiful view of the red sun illuminating it, somewhere.
I lay my hand on the fence surrounding the winding road in front of the castle and when I am overwhelmed by that view for a while, I am accidentally spoken from behind.
"Beautiful, isn't it? It's called cherry blossoms."
"... Sophia"
"Anything, I heard it was a precious tree you can only see here in Mactoria. Besides, you think there's a very limited time when you can see it"
She puts her chest up well enough to show me the knowledge she's gained from somewhere.
I look at her like that and I laugh unexpectedly.
... Nothing, I don't think it's rude to have an irregular body compared to Mariarette.
I'm not, and I'm glad she seems to enjoy it somehow.
I could see something beautiful and call it beautiful, I could see her honestly.
That was enough for me.
"Sophia, what will you do next time you defeat the Sage Act?
"... Speaking of which, you never thought about it. What does Lazareth want to do?
"Me? Me..."
Ask the questions, but the truth is, I wasn't thinking either.
As for the heart, I want to be next to Sofia.
But there's no reason I can say such an embarrassment, and it's deceptive in moonlight terms.
"... me too, don't you see? But I'd like to think you're living a much better life than you are now."
"It's not like that below this. than the present situation where the country is occupied and accepted as a refugee by another country."
"Yes, you are."
... It's really good that you've grown so flamboyantly that you can make those jokes.
I stare at her flashy face, thinking of such fatherly familiarity.
"... you know, Sophia"
"Yes, what is it?
"What do you think it means to forget something?
Sophia with her neck hanging, without my thumping.
I understand it's a dream, but I still can't help but ask the person.
... I have heard that dreams are what I see because according to one theory, they are extracted from fragments of memories and left to me.
So are those horrible dreams...
But as opposed to that dream, she answered with a soft smile.
"I don't think I have a choice. Instead of forgetting the fun things, I can also forget the hard things. So we try to remember something fun."
"... well"
"Well, I don't remember the old days. They might tell me you're running, even if I say so."
She adds words and laughs lonely.
I look at her like that and I accidentally hug her.
"... Huh?
"I'll never forget you, either."
"What does that mean?
... Actually, I didn't tell her about my spell.
Because I don't want to worry about her extra.
Still, I know the spiciness of losing my memory.
Trying to remember, I can't really remember.
I regretted it, I used to wet my cheeks.
"... uh, sorry. Nothing."
"Oh... Yes."
I let go of her body.
... and when I calm down and think about it, I'm suddenly embarrassed.
And the soft feeling in my hand was fuelling the thought.
"... Lazareth, what is it? Something just seems a little different."
"Changed?
"Yes. Somewhere, the... grown-up, it feels"
Grown up, I question the meaning of the word.
... I haven't changed a thing. If anything has changed, it must have broken something important, too, when it killed Aruba.
But I can't help but tell her about it.
"Thanks, but I'm sure it's an illusion"
"... Really?
She stopped pursuing it in words any further, but her gaze still feels like she's exploring my changes.
As a distraction from her like that, I leaned against a bridge a little further from the castle and cut out the story.
"In the end, did Mactoria accept your support for Isel?
"No, His Majesty King Mactoria would accept the refugees because they are promises to His Majesty Isel, but would still like us to think about the conscription"
"... after all, it's not going to work"
"... excuse me. It's my lack of strength."
She drops her shoulders and falls on her face.
I glanced at her face like that and smiled.
"Yeah. Sophia's doing great. 'Cause that's something we're not gonna be able to do."
"... that"
"Yes, I'm sure it's tough for me to even gain acceptance for refugee reception."
... Unfortunately, I don't have any bargaining skills against the top.
From me like that, I'd say she's working hard enough.
"Thank you. I think it's a little easier."
"I don't mind. Besides, I'm a little easier too."
"... is that true?
She gave me a slightly mean grin about flattering my words.
But it's true that my mind cleared.
"Then I'll just walk a little and then I'll go home. And Sophia?"
"Me too, I'll walk with you and then I'll go home. Even if I go home, I'm just going to be chased by the executive."
"Are you skipping?
"Yeah. I'll skip it"
I laughed at her for answering that with a smile without any hesitation.
Walking down the ramp leading up to the castle, walking round trip to and from the castle town, it occurred to me that Fu had ever cared.
Something I haven't heard before, but I've actually been wondering.
Maybe the reason I wanted to hear about this was Sophia in my dreams.
"You know, Sophia."
"Yes."
"Sophia, why are you always respectful?
To my sudden question, she makes her eyes black and white.
I wonder if you heard something unpleasant for a moment and start thinking about the words of excuse, but Sophia's cute laughter echoed in the sky as if to block that thought.
"Hahaha! Hey, are you listening to that now?
"Sure, now, but I've been wondering!
"Haha! Well, that doesn't mean anything."
"Really?
"Yes. If it's not a tribute, I don't know how to speak. That's all."
Sophia answers openly.
Sure, I can't think of a little bit of Sophia that's not a tribute.
"But you don't want to distance yourself from Lasalles, do you? Somehow, I thought I didn't want to talk to them in a rude tone, so I'm just talking in a respectful way."
"Is it the one called disrespect?
"A little different, but not far away"
When Sophia breathes out after the conversation, she walks out on the path surrounded by the houses again.
The house in this city is white and monochromatic, but unlike Isel's inorganic feel, it was somewhere warm.
But when I was in love with such a city, there was suddenly enough fog to cover up and hide this city, and the sunset, which had been shining until earlier, was even more radiant.