Layla's
Footsteps 4
「Not only the civil officials. Even
Her Royal Highness the Princess...」
「Eh! Don't tell me aquariums are
going to be placed in the royalty's rooms too?」
When
I asked back thinking no way, I was told "That's right" as if
it were obvious.
「When my mother gets involved, things
tend to become a big deal, you see.」
「Um, I've been wondering this for a
while, but just who exactly is the Director? Even as the wife of the
former Prime Minister, I feel her influence is far too strong.」
I
can understand the Pharmaceutical Department, but to easily get things
approved by the Knight Order, involve a stratigrapher, and on top of that, even
get the royal family to cooperate.
Even
though I pressed him, saying I would have him tell me today for sure, Ashren-sama
nonchalantly pasted the algae onto the metal fittings of the aquarium. Looking
at his profile, he has no intention of talking today either, does he. I had
only been seeing his gentle side recently, but come to think of it, Ashren-sama
was originally that kind of person. He is clearly enjoying my impatient
reaction.
「Don't pout so much. I've been gagged
about it too. More importantly, about Her Royal Highness.」
That's
right. The conversation was about how even Her Royal Highness the Princess is
cooperating.
「Her Royal Highness had been
suffering from rough skin for many years. She has a cute face, but she would
worry about the blemishes and apply thick makeup, which only worsened it. I
don't understand that kind of worry, but she seemed to take it very seriously.」
「Have you ever met Her Royal
Highness, Ashren-sama?」
「Well, yes. And when I gave her the
cosmetics you made on the ship, Layla, it seemed to work very well, and
her expression has brightened completely lately.」
At
those words, the blood drained from my face. When did he give that to Her Royal
Highness? If I recall correctly, I brought the cosmetics I made to the
laboratory at Flora's request and just left them on the shelf. To think
they ended up in the hands of Her Royal Highness.
「A-Ashren-sama. That was an
item made from whatever was on hand; it is absolutely, absolutely not an item
fit for Her Royal Highness to use!!」
Even
as I protested while trembling and clenching my fists, Ashren-sama
laughed lightly with an unfazed face.
「She likes it, so there is no
problem.」
「It doesn't work that way.」
If
I were a man, I would have grabbed him by the collar and thrown him. When I
glared up at him sharply, he waved his hand flutteringly, saying "Now,
now."
「Anyway, she was extremely pleased
and is cooperating on a grand scale, so it's fine, right? Furthermore, His
Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen are also cooperating, grateful not
only for solving their only daughter's worries but also for your track record
so far.」
「...Why are you so close to the royal
family, Ashren-sama?」
「As for the King, he even shifted the
position of his bed to make space for an aquarium by the window...」
「W-Wait a minute!! Answer my
question...」
「Her Majesty the Queen, who loves
flowers, always decorates the windowsill with a vase, but she says she will
place an aquarium there instead for a while.」
Oh,
what in the world. To think the matter had become so big in a place I knew
nothing about. Wishing I could just collapse on the spot, I placed my hand on
my forehead and looked down, but Ashren-sama firmly lifted my chin.
There, instead of mischievous eyes, was a serious gaze I was seeing for the
first time.
「Layla, look around you.」
Not
understanding the meaning, I looked around as I was told.
「The Pharmaceutical Department,
the knights, the maids, the civil officials, and the royal family. Everyone is
grateful to you, Layla. Everyone is moving willingly not just because
the Director asked them to. It's because it's you, Layla; because
they were saved by your medicine, that's why they are cooperating this much.
The one who moved the people here is you, Layla.」
I
moved them? Even though I only made medicine?
Passing
knights patted my shoulder, saying, "That medicine was good." The
maids carrying water also called out to me, "Please make the chilblain
medicine again this winter."
Lacking
amiability or charm, and not being quick-witted, my only redeeming quality was
making medicine. So I made it.
Hoping
that the medicine I made would be of use to someone.
My
vision blurred, and tears streamed down my cheeks. Ah, even though I'm in front
of people. I've become quite weak since coming to this country.
The
drops flowing over abundantly spilled down again even when I scooped them up
with my fingers. But my heart was filled with something warm, and for the first
time, I felt proud of what I had done.
「Ah, Ashren-sama made Layla
cry.」
A
small child grabbed my skirt and reached out a hand holding a handkerchief to
wipe my tears.
「N-No. I didn't do anything.」
Finding
the flustered Ashren-sama amusing, I was crying while bursting into
laughter, and more children gathered and started jeering at him.
When
Mark-sama threw a tease, saying "This is where you're supposed to
hug her," Ashren-sama turned bright red and retorted, "As if I
could do that in a place like this!" The onlookers, who were incomparable
in number to those at the Pharmaceutical Department's warehouse, were
watching us from a distance and smiling.
Because
Ashren-sama, red up to his ears, was wiping my tears while flustered, my
laughter and tears wouldn't stop even more.
「Please, Layla. Stop crying.」
「I don't know how to stop tears of
joy.」
At
me shedding tears while giggling, Ashren-sama became so flustered it was
unimaginable from his usual two-faced self.
At
that moment, something soft and gentle enveloped me.
「You did very well, Layla.」
A
warm voice and warmth just like a mother's. The Director's slender
fingers gently stroked my hair over and over again.
「Don't forget the sight before your
eyes. This is the path you have walked.」
The
Director's words seeped into my heart, making my tears overflow even
more.
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