Chapter 69: Celebrations and Tears

　Two weeks have passed since the incident at the dyehouse.

　It was mid-March, and beautiful flowers were beginning to bloom in my backyard.

　Henry brought someone to the hideout before I closed, which was quite unusual. The person who came with him was Mr. Harrison

“Welcome.”

“Hello, Mai. It’s been a while.”

“Welcome, Mr. Harrison. It’s rare to see Mr. Henry here with someone.”

“I refused, but Mr. Harrison insisted on coming with me.”

“Don’t be so cold, Henry. Mai, do you have any liquor here?”

“Yes, there is.”

　They  sat down at a table away from the other dining customers, and Harrison puts in his wine order in good mood.

“I’ll just order some snacks, please.”

“I got it”

　First, I put out wine and glasses, two types of cheese, vegetable sticks, mayonnaise, and grilled sausages. Then I thought about what to make. I thought to myself “That’s it,” and seared the chicken wings I had bought for myself. The two of them talked about something, and occasionally Mr. Harrison laughed happily. Mr. Henry also laughed a little. It seems that something good happened at the castle.

　　Illustration (By Mitemin)

　I love chicken wings, even though they are a little difficult to eat because of the bones. I served it with broccoli and boiled eggs. Henry said, “The crispy skin is delicious. This seasoning goes well with wine,” while Harrison ate in silence. They both seemed to like it.

　After the other customers left, Henry and Harrison were the only ones left, so I hung the closing tag on the door. I was about to go back to the kitchen, but Mr. Harrison held me back.

“I’m in charge of the legal department, and today I had a big argument with the minister of Justice  about a matter concerning the laws of the kingdom. The Minister didn’t seem convinced, but Henry managed to get an incredible person on his side and succeeded in persuading the Minister.”

“Oh, what person?”

“His Majesty the King.”

　Across from Mr. Henry, who was drinking his wine with a delicate expression on his face, Mr. Harrison told me, “Please don’t tell anyone else.”

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

　Minister of Justice Maurice Heatley furrowed his brow and looked back and forth between the papers and Henry.

“Is that sentence really necessary, Head Civil Officer Howler?　The laws of the kingdom exist for the people of the kingdom. You know that it does not apply to visitors from other countries.”

　Henry put on a deliberate smile on his handsome face.

“The civil servants of the Kingdom of Arcetheus and their servants will be here soon. If we wait until something happens to them and then slowly work out a bill, we will be too late to respond and it will create a bad impression of our country.”

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that something will happen.”

“Minister, if we include this sentence in the bill, the security personnel on the ground will be able to respond swiftly to any incidents involving beastmen.  The people of our country will not suffer any disadvantage as they will only have to refrain from discriminating against them. By including this sentence, it will act as a deterrent to those who would do anything insulting to the people of the Kingdom of Arcetheus.”

　But the minister wouldn’t agree, so Henry made this suggestion.

“How about following His Majesty’s decision?”

“Without going through Congress?　That’s ……”

“The decision rests with Parliament, but I believe His Majesty’s opinion is also important.”

　The King, whom they had hastily requested an audience with, had a blank expression on his face, and it was unclear whether he was in a good or bad mood. King Eldor VIII looked at the Minister of Justice, Henry, and Harrison with his handsome face, golden hair and green eyes.

“I’ve heard what you have to say. What doesn’t please you, Maurice, about including that sentence?”

“Is it necessary to change our country’s laws for the sake of the people of the Kingdom of Arcetheus?”

“Why not? If a citizen of our country injures a citizen of a neighboring country, we will apply the crime of assault in our country, yes? If a beastman was harmed in the same way, Maurice, what would you do? Would you say that beastmen should be left alone because he’s a beastman?”

“No, nothing like that. ……”

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

　After letting me hear that much, Mr. Harrison closed his mouth. Is he trying to hold back? I want him to tell me the rest of the story. I can’t help but listen.

“Did you end up including that sentence?　Was it rejected?”

“It will go in.”

　Mr. Harrison says with satisfaction. Huh?　He’s a common aristocrat, but he’s looking out for the beastmen?

“Was that his Majesty’s decision?”

“Yes. Yes, His Majesty is a man of great foresight. But it was Henry’s words that decided the matter.”

　Then Mr. Henry finally spoke up.

“Even though we have opened diplomatic relations with the people of the Kingdom of Arcetheus, we cannot allow discrimination against them for coming to our country. We should take precautionary measures to avoid any disasters that can be avoided. We opened diplomatic relations for the sake of our country’s prosperity, so it would be pointless if it led to war due to prejudice.”

　That night, Henry and Harrison shared wine until late into the night, and Mr. Harrison left in a good mood. Henry saw him off, supporting him.

　 I waited until he had returned to the dorms, then used message magic to call out to him “Good job,” I said, and received a happy voice in return.

“I was hoping to hear your voice just now. I got the pleasure to meet you today, but we were disturbed.”

“We will see each other again tomorrow, won’t we? I look forward to the day the bill is passed. I hope that by the time Sophia-chan grows up, there will be less prejudice.”

“I had the same thought too. That one sentence will create a new future for this country.”

　Mr. Henry is looking far into the future of this country.

　We talked a little about other things, said “good night” to each other, and ended our chat. Then I lay in bed and think.

　Mr. Henry is striving to be a bridge between the beastmen and the general public. His past experience as a civil servant supports this. I want to move forward too, even if it’s just an inch a day.

　In this world, in this next life, I will no longer live only for myself. Now that I have already lived one life, I want to use this one to help someone else. I keep remembering Mr. Glidden’s words.

“I traveled around the poor areas of the royal capital, looking for young children with high magical powers. When I found such children, I provided them with financial support.”

　I was moved by Mr. Glidden’s deep thought. I have never forgotten those words ever since.

　I will follow in his footsteps. I will use my grandmother’s parting gift of magical knowledge and magical power. I will be the next to take action so that a young child with high magical powers from a poor family will not be deprived of his life because of his ability.

　Once I made that decision, I heart felt lighter. It was the first time I had felt this light since coming to this country last May.

　The next morning, Mr. Dion, who had brought Sophia with him, looked at me suspiciously. When I asked him what was wrong, he replied, “You look kinda sharp this morning, Mai-san.”

“You can tell. I’ve found something I want to do in the future.”

“Something you want to do……”

“Yes. I know it’s probably going to be a difficult task, but I want to bet the rest of my life on it.  It’s just an idea I’m working on right now, so I don’t want to brag about it.”

“When you get around to wanting to talk about it someday, let me know.”

“Yes, I will. Please listen to me then. “

　When Henry came to the store that afternoon, I told him about it. I had decided that he would be the first person I tell.

“Helping to protect young children with high magical powers from poor families?”

“Yes. I think I’m the right person for the job.”

　Mr. Henry is silently surprised. Stunned would be a better word. I had expected him to smile and say, “That’s a good idea.”

“Are you perhaps against it?”

“No. I agree. I’m just surprised you thought of it.”

“Hm?　What do you mean?”

“Your actions…… will make up for the long, difficult and painful life of a certain someone who will remain in my memory forever.”

　Henry’s eyes were watering. Perhaps because I had startled him, he slumped down and hid his face with one hand, but his tears fell onto the table. It was the first time I had seen this calm and strong-willed person cry.

“Ever since I was a child, I’ve tried to be careful never to let my emotions get the better of me. But since I met you, Mai, my emotions have been so strong that it’s troubled me. I’ve shown you my embarrassing side.”

　Henry smiled at me with tears in his eyes, he was so beautiful.

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