Chapter 52 – Abduction – The Day.

“Hey, handsome brother.”
A soft voice rustles in my ears like a spring breeze. Spring has already passed by, but summer, where I live, still reminds me of the past season. Do you still want to hibernate in the embrace of spring? Even the overgrown grass was waving helplessly, so I closed my eyes pretending not to hear the girl’s words, wanting to be a little lazy.

“Brother. Wake up.”

Then a warm hand shook my shoulder vigorously. I want to say that I have already woken up, but for some reason I miss those warm touches, so I deliberately leave them alone. I know that you have to wake up But I don’t want to.

“If you don’t wake up, will you kiss me?”

“Really?”

At the sweet temptation, I opened my mouth without even realizing it. Then, as always, the girl playfully taps me on the forehead.

“Of course not. Hurry up. The sun is already in the middle of the sky.”

That’s not natural As soon as the morning sun rose, I came here and lay down. Fatigue had already run away for a long time, but I deliberately frowned and turned over.

“I want to sleep in tonight. I’m so tired right now.”

“What did you do all night?”

“Well. What do you think?”

Then I slowly open her eyes and look at her. Soon, she notices her cheeks flushed red.

“You’re flattering unnecessarily. I won’t let you down for saying that. It’s Mr. Pervert.”

I tried to answer it calmly, but it was already clear that the tip of her neck to the lobes of her ears were already burning red. This is why I can’t stop teasing. I couldn’t hold back my laughter and laughed peek peek, then finally got hit.

“Ouch.”

“Don’t smile strangely. Come on, wake up. I’ll hold your hand.”

“Okay. I got it.”

In the end, I couldn’t break that stubbornness and held the girl’s hand. The soft, warm scent of her mint flowers wafted out as soon as he held her hand.

“Hello, Ellie.”

“Yes, yes. Goodbye. Luca. Okay, get up.”

Ellie was greeted with annoyance and pulled my hand as hard as she could. But instead of getting up, I deliberately relaxed my body and held on. Then Ellie twitched her lips and furrowed her eyebrows slightly.

“What kind of joke is this again?”

“Um… I’m not joking. I didn’t say a word about getting up.”

“Ohh. I’m going to get out like that. I have to get bitten again to come to my senses.”

“Wow, look at that. It really hurts.”

“Or should I crush you? No. Would that rather be a reward? It’s because it’s covered under the butt of the most beautiful girl in Laurenheim.”

“The best beautiful girl in Lorenheim. Who decided that? I don’t think anyone calls her that.”

“This is real…”

Ellie looked at me with fierce eyes, pretending to be angry, but eventually she couldn’t contain it and burst into laughter. Then she let go of her hand and sat down beside me.

“Ha ha. Alright sleep now. I’m here to tell you the good news, but I’ll just leave it.”

“What is that? Sera is moving?”

“…You guys always quarreled needlessly.

“You’re always the one who touches me first.”

“It’s not because Sera has bad intentions, Luca. Don’t be too mean.”

Because you’re too soft on Sarah. I stopped talking about it. It’s not going to change just because you say it anyway. Instead, she stretched out and looked up at Ellie.

“So. What’s good news?”

“I won’t tell you.”

“Don’t do that. How can even a hint work? Is that good news for me only? Or for all three of us?”

“Well.”

At that time, a dark cloud hung over Ellie’s bright face for a while. It was a fleeting moment, but a clear gloom passed by. I asked cautiously with a serious expression on my face.

“What’s wrong? Are you serious?”

“No, that’s not… It’s not.”

When I pointed it out, Ellie bit her lip and looked down at me with a serious expression. And she brought up a rather outlandish story.

“Hey, hey Luca. What’s your dream?”

“…Are you suddenly asking that?”

“Please answer me. What is your dream, Luca?”

He asked in a playful tone, but his voice was still serious. I already know what my dream is. However, it was a bit embarrassing to spit it out on my own, so I said something different.

“What makes a good husband?”

“Don’t be realistic like that. You know, a dream I’ve had since I was young.”

“You know why do you ask?”

“I just wanted to ask.”

Ellie hugged her lap in a lonely voice and rested her chin on it. Her dark hair cascaded over it.

“So, do you still dream of becoming a knight, Luca?”

“Well… It’s like a dream I’m living with. Of course, I’m not thinking about it seriously. I just want it to happen someday.”

“I see.”

Her last words were hard to hear as she was crushed in Ellie’s arms. Turning her head to look at Ellie’s side of her face, I suddenly noticed that there was dirt on her cheeks and around her, and I raised her hand. But Ellie looked this way and pushed my hand away.

“You got something in her hair, Luca.”

“So you are…”

“Um…Wait a minute.”

Ellie gave a sudden mischievous smile and she came towards my head. Then she bowed her head over it.

“Hey. What are you doing…”

“Stay still.”

Along with the soft voice, long hair flowed over my face and tickled my cheek. I met her eyes as she came too close and shut her mouth.

“I won’t do anything weird.”

Before I knew it, a mischievous smile returned to my lips. I stared at the brown eyes that were infinitely close to chocolate, and a little embarrassed, I slightly averted my eyes and said.

“…I can do weird things.”

“What are you talking about when your earlobes are all red?

“Look at that…”

In the end, there was a choking sound. I shut my mouth in shame and Ellie started stroking my hair with her delicate touch.

In the heat of early summer, a soft, moist hand brushed over his forehead, as if slightly sweaty. I felt drowsy as my tiny fingers tumbled through my hair and the occasional stingy fingernail tickled my top. However, the unique scent of mint flowers wafting from Ellie’s body pierced her nose, awakening her spirit again and again, forcing her to meet her eyes.

It’s a face I’ve been looking at until I’m tired of thinking. Every time I looked at it, my heart pounded and a fluttering energy permeated my whole body. That smile of yours Long eyelashes flowing down it. And when I saw a clear smile, I would unknowingly gulp and get nervous. And this time too, I unknowingly swallowed and moved my dry lips.

“Hmm…”

“Why. Are you nervous? Because such a pretty girl stroked her hair?”

“I’m afraid I’ll bite you again.”

“Did you notice it already? Then just stab me. Because I have to leave teeth marks.”

“Look at me please.”

I finally couldn’t stand it and woke up. Ellie let out a sigh as she put her hand away somehow bitterly. I dusted off my pants and looked back.

“Okay. Now that you’re awake, tell me. What’s good news?”

“That’s it.”

Ellie took a few steps with her hands behind her back and stood in front of me. And she hesitated a little before opening her mouth.

“…The chief called you.”

“Chief?”

“To be precise, he called all the villagers. But he specifically nominated you to come.”

“Uh…Me? Why?”

“That…”

What. I don’t think I did anything wrong this time. While she was racking her brain, counting the sins she hadn’t committed, she said in a clear voice, as if Ellie had made up her mind.

“A knight from the capital is looking for you.”

“Uh?”

…

What?

“What did you just say, Ellie?”

“I heard you.”

“No…Uh…No. I think I heard it wrong. Can you say it again?”

“The knight from the capital is looking for you.”

The moment I heard Ellie’s words again, I froze and only looked at her lips. From the capital…Is the knight here? And you’re looking for me?

“You’re not lying, are you?”

“It’s not a lie. Why would I lie like this?”

“Are you a real knight?”

“Yeah. I think so. He showed me the coat of arms of the Knights Templar. The armor is gorgeous. He…He said he’s looking for you.”

“Why? Why are you looking for it? Did you tell me the reason?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can’t you guess? Was there any sign or anything like that?”

“Yeah. I’m not entirely sure.”

When I asked in full excitement, Ellie lowered her head slightly and answered. And she added very quietly.

“…So…I’m anxious.”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

Ellie said with a bright smile. But she had a clear darkness in it.

It was the look I hated the most. So I deliberately asked in a playful way.

“Why. Do you think that knight will take me and leave here?”

“…If that’s the case?”

But to that playful question, Ellie answered very seriously. I was a little taken aback, but I tried to answer her by shaking my head.

“Oh, how could that be? Just doing a census or something like that, right?”

In fact, the corner of her mouth kept climbing because she had hoped that the knight would take me to the capital. Ellie looked at me like that, and she soon regained her smile.

“Is that so?”

“Probably so. Then let’s go, Ellie. We mustn’t keep the knight waiting.”

I stretched out my hand towards Ellie. Then Ellie hesitated a little and grabbed my hand. As soon as I felt a certain weight in her hand, I jumped forward.

“Kyaaak! Joe… Slow down a little Luka!”

“What? Can’t you hear?”

“Go slow!”

“I can’t hear you, Ellie! Let’s go quickly!”

Suddenly there was a hint of laughter in my voice. In the end, I spurred the ground with all my might, laughing without hiding it.

A cool breeze brushed my cheeks and ran forward with me. The sun shone dazzlingly brightly on my forehead, and the feeling of touching the soles of my feet was very reassuring. I lifted my head, smelling the fragrant soil smell rising from the floor.

Today, for some reason, seemed like it would be the most special day of my life.