Chapter 41

Without enough room on the way down, Kael was forced to ride ahead of them, leaving Ferran and Rika in peace.

"So quiet without Kael here," Rika sighed and closed her eyes, her shoulders relaxing at the steady rhythm of the carriage, unlike the ride there.

"I-if you want to talk, I'm always here for you, Miss Rika." Ferran smiled, a faint blush on his cheeks. "Or if you need a distraction, I can go into great detail explaining how saint powers are said to work."

"A bit curious, but it's okay. I'm rather enjoying the quiet."

"Okay, Miss Rika, but let me know if you change your mind and need a distraction. After I failed to keep the carriage safe earlier, I'm sure this path back must be unnerving."

"What?" She raised an eyebrow. "I'm fine." Wasn't even thinking about it. "The storm is over, and it wasn't your fault, anyway."

"Yes, it was." He hunched over, fiddling with his thumbs. "I should've been more careful and stopped while the storm was bad."

"Doesn't guarantee things wouldn't have gone bad. That storm was horrible. It startled the horses, and the terrain here isn't the greatest. If anything, there should be more safety measures on this path, like a metal railing. How hard would it be to dig into the mountainside and widen the path while we're at it? Or would it be too unstable here to do something like that?"

Ferran's eyes sparkled, the green rose above his head glowing.

What'd I do this time?

"Fascinating ideas. I'll have to talk to His Highness and our other mages about this. We should've secured our route here long ago, but no one bothered with it. It will take quite a bit of work, but it's worth it for safety."

Knock, knock.

What was that? The carriage is still moving...

Knock, knock.

Rika pushed the curtain back, and Kael waved to her.

"What are you doing? I thought..." she trailed off when she realized they had made it down the mountain, so Kael was purposely riding right beside them.

"I'm lonely," Kael pouted. "And Wolfe isn't talking to me."

I can't help but wonder how much of his actions are because he wants attention. "Sorry, but I'm sure you can handle travelling in silence for a little while. Oh, or I can switch seats and you can talk to Ferran."

Kael's eye twitched. "No, thank you. I'll try Wolfe again. Wolfie dear!" Kael called out to him as he sped up a bit.

Rika chuckled and pulled the curtain closed again.

"Am I his weakness or something?" Ferran asked. "I'm not sure how to take that. I know a lot of people find me boring—"

"It's not that. He likes to hear himself talk, and you get immersed in whatever fascinates you, so it's hard for him to get a word in."

"Oh, I see." Ferran nodded slowly. "It's hard for me to contain myself sometimes."

Rika reached over and patted his hands in his lap. "It's okay. I actually know the feeling." I've definitely talked people's ears off about otomes.

"W-what is it that you love to talk about?"

"Um... video games."

"Video games?" Ferran struggled to say it.

"It's a bit hard to describe..."

A screen popped up.

'Warning: Do not talk about otomes with natural residents.'

A sudden shock ran through Rika, paralyzing her for a few moments. "Arg..."

"Miss Rika, are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah..." She took a deep breath. That's a first. I guess because it wasn't Kael I was talking to. The system doesn't want them to know how they appear to us, I guess. What is the system, though? I still don't know if it's just a video game, or if these people are real in another universe.

"Anyway, about the vi—"

"Never mind that. Just think of it as a... board game, but more in depth." Please don't shock me. I'm not going to tell him more than that.

"I see. I suppose there are all sorts of things that exist in your world that don't exist here."

Rika nodded. "Magic doesn't exist in my world." That I know of. "So all of this has been pretty fantastical to me." She stared at her hands for a moment and felt her powers pulse.

"I-I'm sorry for summoning you here, away from your world." He bit his lip.

"It's okay. I know you only did it because your country needed help. And now that it's been provided..."

"I suppose we should try to get you home." Ferran sighed, shoulders slouched as he thought about her leaving. He wasn't in touch with his feelings, but even he could tell how much he liked her.

Surprised the system hasn't just booted me at this point... I'd rather at least say goodbye to all of them. If I could, I'd take Duke with me. Maybe Dryden will take care of him for me...

"We'll definitely find a way to help you. I'll be sad to see you go, but I'll always cherish the time together." He reached a shaking hand over to her and awkwardly patted her hands in her lap.

"Thanks, Ferran." Rika smiled at him.

He pulled his hand back, blushing.

"Saint Rika!"

"She's back!"

"Our saviour!"

Cheers rang through the streets as they entered through the city gates.

"They didn't act like this last time." Rika resisted the urge to peek around the curtains.

"His Highness took control last time, saying you'd probably need some rest and wouldn't want a big greeting. I guess he didn't bother to this time," Ferran explained.

"Oh, and he came to welcome us back last time, too." I wonder if something's wrong. Or maybe he's just busy.

"Probably because Wolfe is here to escort us, and maybe he wanted to give the citizens a chance to thank you this time, since they may not have another chance..."

"Oh, right. Does that mean I should greet them or something?"

"You can pull the curtain back and wave if you want, but I don't suggest leaving the carriage, or you might get mobbed by people. Not with bad intentions or anything, but still overwhelming."

Rika nodded and pulled the curtain back.

More cheers erupted with people thanking her and throwing roses at the carriage.

Wow... "It's like the welcoming ceremony again..."

"Except now it's after you've fulfilled your duties as a saint. I'm sure they'd all love for you to stay here... I'm sorry; I don't want to pressure you into staying, but I wanted to point out how many people want you here."

"Ferran, I don't know how to tell you this, but you may not have to find a way to send me home."

"Oh?" His eyes lit up.

"Because it might happen automatically soon."

"Oh?" He frowned. "What do you mean?"

If I can't mention video games, I doubt I can go into detail about the system. "Let's just say it's probably different from the previous saint, and not my choice. I'll... probably be summoned back to my world, but I don't know when."

"That's... horrible. You're telling me you could be whisked away at any moment? I won't get to say goodbye? No one will?" He turned away from her, tearing up.

"Unfortunately, yes." Her heart wrenched. Geez. She wiped away the tears in her eyes.

"H-have you told the others about this?"

"Not yet. I suppose I should, but I'm not sure how to do it." Rika sighed, shaking her head. "I haven't been here that long when you think about it, but I've grown so close to all of you."

"Even Kael?" Ferran smirked.

"Yes, even Kael." Closer than I should be, considering what he did. Rika touched the black rose mark on her neck, and her fingers tingled. "He may be infuriating at times, but he's caring, protective, and smarter than people probably give him credit for. To be fair, he brings it on himself with his behaviour."

"All his teasing and jokes are a bit much for me, but he did listen to me ramble for quite a while before trying to back away. And I mean actually listen to me."

"But he's also always up to something." I suspect in large part because of the system, but who can tell where the line is?

"You truly care for him, don't you?" Ferran asked, a sad twinge in his eyes as his head dipped.

Rika's heart skipped a beat. Do I? I mean, I'd care for anyone that gets hurt and whatnot, but I know that's not what he's asking. "I'm not sure how I feel about him."

"Even though he was successful in marking you?"

"Even so." Probably because I'm not sure what's real. He was only courting me to be chosen in the game, right? So he could go home. But since he marked me, does he even need to continue?

They pulled up to the front of the palace, and a screen popped up.

'Since all routes are unlocked, Harem Route has been unlocked.'

Wait, what?

'You may choose any of the five suitors or the Harem route.'

I didn't think there's actually be a harem route. I wonder what that entails. It might be a bit much for me, but is that choosing to stay?

The screen flickered.

'Mark detected. Kael Route automatically chosen.'