Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 55: A Prayer and the Past (1)
Gilbert and Flora sat side by side at the rear of the wagon, backs against the wall, working silently. Gilbert carved leaf-shaped wooden buttons while Flora embroidered a shirt.
The objects were gifts for Lionel, Dolph, and the mercenaries and soldiers who had accompanied them from Kelvim.
Inspired by Barbara, they had begun this small act of wish-making to pray for their companions’ safety. Barbara called it sharing blessings, so both the buttons and embroidery used ivy motifs.
Ordered to remain inside the wagon, they had already finished every preparation for the journey south along the Ureri River. They spent the free time together, quietly crafting and praying for the safety of newly trusted friends.
Gilbert blew shavings from a finished button, stroked it to inspect the shape, then placed it in a bowl and looked up.
Flora’s profile filled his vision. She smiled softly over her work while pale-green thread formed vivid ivy leaves beneath her needle.
Watching might make her uneasy, but Gilbert couldn’t turn away. In that quiet moment, creating something tangible with another person in mind felt like perfect happiness.
Even amid danger and uncertainty, moments of peaceful contentment existed. That calm gave him confidence that they could repel whatever horror approached.
“Wonderful! Everyone will be delighted, don’t you think?”
“Yes! It’s so lovely that I want to make one for Gilbert and one for myself.”
Barbara smiled brightly over the finished shirt.
Flora paused, looked up, and returned the smile with faintly pink cheeks.
Heat rushed into Gilbert’s face. He covered half of it with one hand and looked away in confusion, but his gaze quickly returned to Flora.
—Damn. She’s adorable. I want to keep watching her.
The country’s crisis made such thoughts feel inappropriate, but emotions resisted control. He wished those fleeting, peaceful moments of silent work together could last forever.
Gilbert’s present dilemma, inexperienced with women for many reasons, was concealing his desire to move their relationship forward.
He tightly gripped Flora’s nearly completed gift inside his breast pocket. It felt like holding his own heart.
If the gift contained only blessings, there would be no problem. But lately he feared that wicked desires—to approach her, even touch her—might enter it. Consequently, he had made little progress.
—With the country in such danger, won’t the Goddess punish me for thinking such things?
That had become his chief admonition.
He had duties and people to protect, so he suppressed his improper feelings and tried to discipline himself.
◆◆◆
After two days of preparation, the recovered Clark summoned Gilbert and the others through Lionel. Duke Ziemeld had regained consciousness.
“The duke wishes to see the guiding magic user. This concerns more than your own interests.”
Gilbert left the wagon under the mercenaries’ guard and accompanied Lionel, Sydney, and the others to the audience.
From his bed, Duke Ziemeld looked from Gilbert and Flora to Dolph and Barbara, then burst into tears. His illness had left him so weak that even speaking was a struggle.
“A guiding magic user has returned to my domain…”
He rasped the words, trembling and unable to continue.
Clark, who had served since before the duke’s illness, rubbed his back and spoke in his place.
“First, do any of you know the story of the previous holy sword?”
“Previous? Do you mean the holy sword manifested in a small southern country one hundred and eighteen years ago?”
Sydney answered.
“Exactly. Few public records describe what followed. According to Ziemeld’s records, approximately one hundred and fifteen years ago, in our great-grandfathers’ generation, Ziemeld remained an independent kingdom. A massive attack by beasts, including undead beasts, led it to request aid from the holy sword’s wielder.”
“What? I’ve never heard this!”
Sydney exclaimed.
“The story was concealed because Ziemeld inadvertently killed the guiding magic user accompanying the holy sword’s wielder, unaware of that person’s identity.”
Several people gasped.
Duke Ziemeld lifted his gaze and continued Clark’s account.
“The records say the holy sword’s power vanished instantly, leaving Ziemeld in desperate danger. A neighboring country—modern Gilgrad—supported us. After ten years we finally repelled the invasion, but countless people died and enormous debt left our nation unable to survive. That’s why we had no choice but to accept annexation.”
Frail and worn by illness, the duke struggled upright and gazed into the distance.