The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers.
A few minutes earlier, three Elf maidens trailed behind Riveria and the boy from a distance.
"Have you heard the story of the Greedy Maiden and the Sacred Tree?" Lefiya asked.
"I think it's a love story, right?" Ryuu pondered for a moment.
She only remembered that it was full of metaphors, and the protagonist wasn't the typical hero, but a maiden who hid the fruit.
"Exactly. Though it's a bit niche, I loved this fairy tale when I was a child." Lefiya responded, a little shyly.
"Hmm—don't focus too much on the romance. I've already seen enough of that in the War Game. Lefiya being so bold... I didn't expect that." Alicia commented with a sigh.
The younger girl who once blushed at the smallest things had now embraced the boy in front of everyone. No matter how much Alicia pressed Lefiya, she only avoided the questions. So, Alicia had given up on prying into matters of romance. She was much older than Lefiya, and seeing even her juniors stepping into love only made her feel a bit melancholic.
"Um... stop bringing up the past!" Lefiya protested shyly, then quickly returned to the topic.
"What I meant to say is, the Sacred Tree's fruit in the fairy tale has other uses besides healing."
"Hmm..." Alicia frowned and recalled. "The reformed maiden and her childhood sweetheart… after eating the red fruit, they lived happily ever after…"
"Yes, yes, exactly!" Lefiya's face brightened with a smile. "It's the fruit that makes love come true…"
Because of this fairy tale, there's a legend that's been passed around. If someone offers a fruit from the Sacred Tree and has the one they love eat it, that love will be protected by the Sacred Tree, and the two will be destined to love each other forever.
"Lefiya always sighs while reading books, but she remembers these things so clearly," Alicia laughed.
"Stop teasing me, Alicia-san... Girls just love these kinds of love stories..." Lefiya whispered as she glanced at the boy walking ahead. This was a topic strictly between girls—she absolutely couldn't let him hear.
"That's right, I remember reading a novel about an Elf marrying a different race. Syr seemed to like it a lot." Ryuu added.
"No… that doesn't sound like a normal love story, does it? Isn't the content a bit too dangerous?" Alicia was caught between the two, unsure of how to respond.
"Wait…" she suddenly realized and said, "I remember the condition for getting the fruit is to participate in the ceremony… Does that mean we could all get one?!"
"Hmm..." Ryuu furrowed her brows, lost in thought.
Alicia's mind raced, and she quickly spoke up. "Lefiya, so this is what you had in mind? You definitely want to take Bell Cranel to the deserted forest under the moonlight, swear eternal love to the moon, eat the fruit together, embrace each other, and sink into the shallow spring…"
"Alicia-san, stop making things up! Where did you hear such nonsense?!" Lefiya interrupted, her face flushed.
"From books, of course." Alicia responded without hesitation.
"Well, then you have no right to make fun of me for liking these kinds of stories…" Lefiya was about to continue, but stopped. "Ryuu-san… What were you thinking? How did you trip in the clearing?!"
"...I just tripped over my own feet. No need to worry." Ryuu quickly got up, responding with exaggerated composure.
Alicia's words had strangely mirrored the romantic scenario Ryuu had imagined. Was this some sort of silent understanding between blonde elves? Ryuu wasn't sure, but she had only briefly pictured it, and yet she had stumbled twice in quick succession.
"Seriously, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."
Lefiya cut off the dangerous topic. "Do you think it's possible… that Riveria-sama might give the fruit to Bell Cranel?"
"?!"
Ryuu's eyes widened in shock. "Even as a joke, you shouldn't speculate about the lady like that."
"Exactly! Riveria-sama taking a fancy to some human boy... That would never happen!"
Alicia retorted passionately.
"I only said it was possible..."
Lefiya had been training under Riveria and spent a lot of time with her every day. She could tell that ever since the boy appeared, Riveria had clearly been much happier.
Though she didn't want to make the connection, now that she saw them walking ahead, side by side, chatting and laughing, Lefiya voiced her suspicions.
"The only man worthy of Riveria is one stronger than her, and royalty must marry a High Elf," Alicia said with admiration.
"Do you want Riveria-sama to remain alone forever?! Ryuu-san, what are your thoughts?" Lefiya turned to the other Elf for her opinion.
Ryuu pondered for a moment before responding:
"I believe anyone wishing to be Riveria-sama's partner must be intelligent and courageous, stepping forward to face monsters."
"Not only that, he must be handsome enough, possess excellent character, and treat others with neither arrogance nor subservience."
"He must have the spirit of a true man, unbound by adversity."
"He must mature quickly, able to keep up with Riveria-sama."
"He must be a fast learner, quickly mastering all knowledge, etiquette, and more."
"He must be skilled at household chores, especially cooking—his meals must be delicious."
"He must have a good memory, handling all the arrangements flawlessly when traveling."
"And also..."
Lefiya was shocked by the long list of demands and quickly interrupted:
"Wait… I get it, Ryuu-san, no need to continue…"
Does such a person truly exist?
Lefiya blinked and then glanced at the young man ahead of her, speaking slowly: "During this trip, did you do anything yourselves?"
"No, actually. Bell Cranel handled everything—meals, lodging, transportation…"
Alicia frowned.
The journey had been so effortless they almost forgot they were traveling. Before hunger even struck, delicious food would appear before them. During the carriage rides, there had been no bandit attacks or bumpy roads. When they got tired, inns appeared right in front of them.
The trip had been unnaturally smooth.
Could Bell Cranel have memorized every detail of this route?
Alicia was stunned.
Unlike her, Lefiya only grew more suspicious.
There's definitely something going on between Riveria-sama and Bell Cranel!