For You In The Cage

Episode 127: Honeymoon (VI)

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The next morning, Hartia gave birth safely. Anera was a seasoned midwife, and Canaren helped her with simple tasks or encouraged Hartia. Yulif waited nearby just in case something happened. He didn’t know if there would ever be a situation where he would have to use healing magic.

Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

「Haaa, it was so hard. I’m also exhausted watching her, but how hard must it have been for Hartia?」

「I’m glad they’re both healthy though.」

「That’s right. Has Yulif ever seen a newborn baby? Their faces are so small! Their hands and feet are even  smaller.」

Every time she talked about a child, Canaren’s eyes twinkled. She seemed to like children much more than expected. Like… When she first met Lucian, she was kind to him. Yulif just liked to see Canaren being honest and not hiding her feelings or thoughts.

The two went out of town, nodding their heads and intermittently joking around. At Anera’s order, she was on her way to find herbs to be used in medicines to help her recover.

「Oh? Muasa!」

「Canaren? You are in town?」

She ran into Muasa in a meadow not far from the village. Muasa was about to run towards her with a welcome expression, but when he found Yulif, he wrinkled his face. Yulif held Canaren’s hand tightly and stood close to her side. Muasa’s expression grew even worse.

「That person also came. Well, he isn’t at the castle, so I thought you’d be together.」

「Don’t call him that. Where did you come from? Pionia?」

「Yes. That’s right, But can you be this free?」

Muasa asked, glaring at Yulif. Yuliif tilted his head slightly with a look of not knowing anything. Hah. Muasa sighed and folded his arms.

「There was a lot of fuss about the married couple who disappeared without a word. You really don’t know? Or are you pretending not to know?」

「Really? Are they really mad?」

「Of course. I don’t know the name, but there is a wizard who is close to you. Her eyes flipped. If caught, she won’t leave you alone.」

「I think Roana is looking for us.」

「It’s not just that wizard searching. A man with brown hair looked horrible. That man looked like he was going to die soon. It was dark under his eyes. Calling, ‘Lord, lord…’ It was more terrifying than a ghost walking around.」

Even Derek! Canaren became desperate. She should have told both of them. Then, the problem would be her fearing that she would be caught and ending up not coming here. 

Upon receiving Canaren’s gaze, Yulif reassured her that it was okay and looked at Muasa. Muasa was dressed in an outfit that would not be strange if he left for a trip right away.

「Are you returning to the village?」

「It’s not…」

Muasa faltered in answering ambiguously. He hurried back to Pionia and went to sleep, and Canaren, who was urging Yulif to go, widened her eyes.

「What if you don’t come back?」

「Hmmmm. I’m thinking about it because I got an offer to work together. To do it or not.」

「Who? Muasa, are you deceived by a weird person? Last time…」

「No! This time it’s not weird. really.」

「Then who are you talking about? Why can’t you speak? It’s a strange person, isn’t it?」

「Ah, it’s…」

Muasa scratched his head. Muasa, who was always outspoken and cool, rarely hesitated like that. What? Who? What is he going to do? Muasa still knew how to use different weapons, so maybe he was suggested to do something dangerous?

Canaren grew up only in the village, and it was the same with Muasa in that he didn’t know much about the world. It was natural for Canaren to be worried about him. But Muasa only scratched the back of his neck, barely answering. Canaren’s suspicions grew bigger and bigger.

「Is it Rena Harrossel?」

「The lady?」

「Uh, uh, how did you know? She was probably that woman to you!」

「I roughly guessed.」

Muasa’s face turned red after falling for Yulif’s induced line. Muasa groaned and kicked the prickly grass with his feet. Seeing that he did not deny it, it seemed correct that the proposal was from Rena.

Canaren was more confused than before she heard the answer. She had so many questions about Rena, what she had to offer to Muasa, why she had made the offer to Muasa, and why Muasa was struggling.

Muasa looked at Canaren’s eyes that were shaking in confusion, and said urgently.

「Th-that girl asked me first! Does she want to work with me? She said she wanted to start a business, but needed an escort and a porter. I guess she liked how I protected her a few times in Pionia. Even if I go back to the village anyway, I wonder if I can just sit around and play… In that case, let’s make money together. Come to think of it, I’m getting angry. That woman treated me like I was unemployed!」

Muasa, who had been muttering over and over without prompt, was furious. Perhaps because of embarrassment, the reaction was much more intense than usual. Canaren looked at Muasa with curious eyes as he slowly entered his own world, then she asked Yulif.

「Is Rena doing business?」

「I don’t know the details. However, it is true that the Harrossel family needs money. Instead of being released, the Count will have to pay five times the amount of tax evaded.」

「Because of that condition, Lady Rena pretended to be in a relationship with you?」

Canaren narrowed her eyes. It was because of the unpleasant memories she didn’t want to think about again.

Yulif opened his mouth, but had nothing to say. He had no reason to, but it was the unforgivable thing that broke her heart. Sorry. Canaren ignored the apology from Yulif’s eyes. She approached Muasa, who was still raging.

「Since when are you doing that?」

「I don’t know. For more details, I’ll meet her at the capital to… No, I haven’t decided to do it! I’m thinking. Thinking!」

「Did you decide to meet Lady Rena in the capital?」

「Uhhhh…」

Muasa pulled his hair. Eventually, his shoulders drooped and he nodded. Rather than denying that this happened, admitting it quickly was the only way to become less ugly in front of Canaren. Muasa added it as a lame excuse.

「It’s not just because she’s the one asking. I’ve been with some good people… It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get to know her a little more. Anyway, I’m the strongest in the village.」

「That’s right. Yes.」

「I can deal with anything that happens, so it’s better for me to go and find out first. Because we can’t live in a village forever. There are quite a few guys who want to get out of town. I want to experience it first and tell them the truth.」

As his words continued, the voice of Muasa and the meaning contained within them became more serious. Muasa stared at the ground with straight eyes, immersed in his thoughts. It was a stubborn part that Canaren couldn’t understand, or a face that showed a tough personality that pushed through to the end when a decision was made.

Still, the reason why Canaren and the villagers liked and believed in Muasa was that stubbornness. Muasa never ran away from what he had to do. He did what he set out to do for the villagers, and Muasa always repaid the villager’s faith with his tenacity.

「Do you like Rena?」

「No! No! No! Canaren, don’t get me wrong! I am really trying to help the town? Why would I like her!」

「Okay. Or is it? Why are you agitated?」

Muasa’s face was about to explode at any moment. Canaren just smiled bashfully as if she knew everything about him. Absolutely not! Muasa’s cry rang out like a scream. Canaren patted the slouching Muasa on the shoulder.

「I’ll support you, Muasa. I think the two of you will get along well.」

「Y-you don’t have to support me! Because it’s not like that.」

「You shouldn’t be screaming like that in front of the girl you like, say you’re shy. Understand?」

「It’s really not like that…」

Muasa was almost crying now. As she cheered Muasa with an unwavering smile, Canaren shared the news of Hartia.

The three of them diligently plucked the herbs that Anera had asked for. Carrying a sack of herbs on the shoulder, Muasa sighed deeply as he watched Canaren chirping incessantly at Yulif. But his face wasn’t as dark as it used to be. Although he did not recognize it or admit it to himself, it was proof that the old season was ending and a new one was coming to him as well.

*******

After hearing about Roana and Derek from Muasa, Canaren immediately took care of Yulif. Yulif said it was okay, and that the two of them would be doing well. He tried to reassure Canaren, but he was unsuccessful. Canaren said he could come back to the village at any time, so she continued to nag him, saying that if Derek or Roana died, he would never be able to get them back.

In the end, Yuliif became afraid that Rena’s name would come out of Canaren’s mouth, so he had no choice but say they would go back tomorrow morning. Canaren, grasping Yulif’s weakness, triumphantly raised her chin.

When Anera heard that they were going back, she said it was all right and that sooner or later, she would send Randel to Pionia, so they could refine the laws of the territory. With Anera coming out like that, there was no reason to stay in the village any longer.

「Is it really okay if I go back?」

「Yes… it’s okay. You’ve already asked that question more than 10 times. Don’t keep asking, just sleep. Not good.」

Canaren mumbled in a sleepy voice and hugged Yulif. She had long missed her hometown and was laid-back enough to get tired. At least, until she met Muasa.

Yulif sighed, but calmly buried himself in Canaren’s arms and closed his eyes. As if to soothe a sleeping child, Canaren’s hand rubbing Yulif’s back slowly slowed down, and then she stopped at some point.

Her vision, which had been dyed black, brightened in an instant. Canaren looked around. She stood in the middle of a field full of colorful flowers. The clear blue sky stretched out over her head.

A dark figure appeared from the other end of the field. A straight posture with a slender body. It was Yulif. Canaren could recognize him at a glance even from afar.

It was the moment when Canaren tried to call out for Yulif.

Yulif? Where is Yulif? Where did he disappear to, leaving me alone? Her heart raced like crazy when she couldn’t see him, who was always by her side. And she wouldn’t be left alone. She wouldn’t be.

She started running towards Yulif. With every step she took, petals rose in all directions. But no matter how much she ran, the distance barely decreased. Canaren spread her wings. The wind blew with the powerful flap of her wings, and petals flew up and wrapped around her.

「Yulif!」

When she called his name, he came closer at once, as if he had used magic. Canaren saw him approaching her in an instant as she blinked and was startled. He wasn’t alone. A four-legged beast hung by each of his legs, and a small bird sat on his head like it had made a nest. Yulif smiled sweetly at Canaren.

「Canaren.」

A pleasant voice permeated into her chest. The two beasts hanging from his legs ran and whined and whirled around Canaren. Upon closer inspection, they looked like baby leopards or baby lions. One had black fur and golden eyes, and the other had golden fur and purple eyes.

As Canaren sat down with her knees bent and her arms wide open, the two snuggled into her arms as if waiting. The golden-furred one licked Canaren’s face with her tongue.

「That’s ticklish.」

Suddenly, the little bird sitting on Yulif’s head flew and sat on Canaren’s shoulder. The chirping voice that seemed happy to be stroked was the most lovely. In the field where the sunlight was warm and the scent of flowers was fresh, Canaren spent a pleasant time with the three animals.

「…Ah.」

Canaren slowly opened her eyes. Yulif’s breath touched the nape of her neck at regular intervals. Instead of the clear blue sky, she saw a familiar ceiling.

Dream… Must have been a dream. Canaren touched the cheek the baby beast had licked. Then she murmured, stroking the hair of Yulif as he fell asleep in her arms like a child.

「It’s been a long time since I’ve had a dream that feels so real… They are cute kids.」

Not long after, Canaren would find out that the dream she had on that day was not a mere dream. But the current Canaren hugged Yulif and went back to sleep without knowing anything.

Ame: This should have been the end, but the author graced us with special stories~