Rixia, who had been absorbed in her thoughts, apparently hadn't noticed La Folia sneaking up behind her.
Startled by La Folia, who had placed both hands on her shoulders and peered at her from beside her face, Rixia jumped back…
Renya had noticed La Folia's presence when she came up to the rooftop, but La Folia herself had mischievously put a finger to her lips and winked, signaling him to stay quiet, so he had no choice but to keep silent.
'This princess, contrary to her appearance, seems quite playful. And though Rixia was off guard, getting behind Mao is no small feat.'
In Northern Europe, she was hailed as the second coming of Freya—though Renya had never seen the real Freya from Norse mythology—but Renya found that side of her endearing.
"L-La Folia-san! A-are you feeling alright!?"
"Yes, as you can see. It was just mild exhaustion. One injection was enough to recover."
Rixia, recovering her composure, pressed forward with obvious concern, but La Folia seemed not to take it too seriously, responding lightly.
"M-o-r-e importantly... it's about you, Rixia. It seems spring has finally come for my dear friend too."
"Sp-spring? It is certainly spring weather right now, but..."
"Oh, that's not what I mean."
To the confused Rixia, La Folia let out a soft chuckle, pressed herself close enough that their ample chests squished softly together, and whispered something in her ear.
"It means you've fallen in love with that man."
"Eh?!!?"
To Rixia, the content was utterly unexpected—like a bolt from the blue.
However, whether she had been conscious of it without realizing or not, once made aware, it blossomed within Rixia in an instant.
Rixia's face turned red all the way to her ears. She looked at Renya's face, then looked down.
"L-La Folia-san, you're so mean..."
"Hehehe. I'm sorry. You're just so endearingly pure, I couldn't help myself."
To Rixia, who spoke in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's, La Folia smiled and winked playfully in reply.
Then, gently patting Rixia's shoulder, La Folia stepped forward, passing her, and faced Renya.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am La Folia Rihavein. Thank you for saving both Rixia and myself."
With that, La Folia picked up the hem of her skirt and curtsied. It was a perfectly refined courtesy.
"That's quite formal of you. I am Leonhard Pheles, also known as Kurosaki Renya. I apologize for the trouble caused by our side's blooper."
Renya replied that he had only done what was natural, and La Folia straightened her posture and smiled.
"Even so, it doesn't change the fact that you saved us. We were saved precisely because it was you who did it, wasn't it? If that's the case, it's only natural to express our gratitude."
If Renya had been a more careless person, he probably wouldn't have gone out of his way to investigate La Folia and Rixia, nor would he have saved them.
They were saved because he was serious about his work and cleaning up his own messes.
As La Folia said, they might not have been saved if it had been anyone other than Renya.
"When you put it that way. Well then, if that's the case, you're welcome. I'll gladly accept your thanks."
And on top of that, he wanted them to accept his apology as well, Renya added.
"Hehehe. You're so earnest. Yes, I understand. I forgive you. Rixia, what about you?"
"Huh? Ah, y-yes! I forgive you too! I wasn't even angry in the first place."
La Folia wore an amused smile, while Rixia hastily replied.
Both seemed to speak from the heart.
And so, as the conversation came to a lull and the atmosphere relaxed—
"So, Renya. How about making Rixia one of your, what do you call them, Servants?"
La Folia made such a surprising proposal.
"L-La Folia-san!? What are you saying all of a sudden?!"
"Oh? Isn't that what you were truly thinking as well?"
"Th-that's..."
At La Folia's pointed remark, Rixia was at a loss for words.
Having developed a sense of gratitude and affection for Renya, who had helped her without caring about what she'd done, Rixia had indeed felt a solid desire to support him budding within her ample heart.
It was La Folia who had made her clearly aware of it.
Now, Rixia strongly, strongly wished to live by Renya's side.
"What do you think, Renya?"
"As for me, if she wishes it, I couldn't ask for more."
"Oh my? That's rather weak as a way to court a woman. If you don't speak more passionately, you'll only make her anxious, you know?"
Renya hadn't intended to force the matter, but he thought La Folia had a point.
Seeing the anxiety flickering in Rixia's eyes, Renya made up his mind to claim her.
"Rixia."
"Y-yes!"
Renya had called her by name, making Rixia's heart pound.
This kind of feeling, like a young maiden, was also a first for Rixia.
"I want you. Become my Servant."
"Yes! With pleasure!"
Sought passionately by Renya, her first crush, tears of joy spilled from the corners of Rixia's eyes.
"Hehehe. Congratulations, Rixia."
La Folia offered her blessings to Rixia, who had realized and achieved her first love at the same time.
"Th-thank you, La Folia-san."
Though it was embarrassing in many ways, Rixia conveyed her joy at having it come true and her gratitude for the encouragement.
After that, Renya began the ceremony to make Rixia his Servant.
Kneeling before Rixia, Renya took out the last Knight piece from his personal dimensional space.
"From now on, live as you wish to live."
Saying this, he offered his hand. Rixia kissed the back of it, and the Knight piece in his hand flew into her chest and merged with her.
"This body, until the day it ends, shall be by your side. Forever and ever. Renya-san."
Reborn as a new Kurosaki Renya's Servant, Rixia spoke these words under the moonlight, a smile on her face.
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