For You In The Cage

Episode 73: Wedding (VI)

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​​The lunch prepared by Anera was plentiful. Rarely, there were also dishes that Yulif had seen for the first time. It was probably a traditional dish of the Hwira tribe.

Canaren sat next to Yulif and explained step by step how to eat the unfamiliar food. Her chattering voice sounded so very pleased that Yulif followed her instructions.

Anera looked at the two with delight.

After eating, Yulif left Canaren’s house. She was the reason he wanted to visit the village, but they knew that he was giving them space where the mother and the daughter had not seen each other in a long time.

Canaren was sitting on her window sill, staring outside at him. Her gaze remained fixed on Yulif the whole time.

Anera smiled silently and sat her down across her window sill as well. Her daughter was innocent, and what she was thinking and the expression of the emotions she had were all revealed in her eyes.

「Do you know how surprised I was for you to show up without contacting me? I was really shocked. I thought I was dreaming.」

「I was surprised too. Because Yulif brought me here without a word…」

Canaren laughed bashfully. Anera took Canaren’s hand, the small white one, and wiped the back of her hand.

「The duke… is he nice?」

「Yes! He’s really nice. Sometimes he’s mean, but that’s fine.」

「He doesn’t know your secret, right?」

Canaren nodded her head immediately. Anera asked again.

「What about your ability? You never used it?」

「I used it twice… There was no problem. Yulif wouldn’t know. One time was when Yulif had fainted, and the other time was when he wasn’t there. I used it only at times like that, on purposely.」

Anera nodded her head. Saying that Yulif already knew everything was of no use now. If nothing would change even if she said it, it’d be better not to know.

Not knowing what was so good about Yulif who was walking slowly through the grass, Canaren’s eyes, which contained him, glistened with happiness. She was in love no matter where she looked.

Canaren, who was watching him, who felt his coolness even from afar, slowly opened her mouth.

「Actually, I don’t know.」

「What do you mean?」

「It’s just… How to treat Yulif, what Yulif thinks of me. Things like that.」

「You said you were doing well earlier?」

Canaren’s face darkened slightly. A faint smile appeared on her red, plump lips. Anera was slightly startled by the look on her daughter’s face, it was her first time seeing such a face; she straightened her posture.

「I said it in case you were worried……. I didn’t lie. It’s true that he’s nice to me. You don’t know how many expensive dresses and jewelry he bought me. You can see it, right?」

Canaren unfolded the hem of her dress. The jewels scattered in her finest silk shone like stars. As Anera nodded her head, Canaren pulled up her knees and hugged them into her arms.

「As long as it’s not dangerous, it doesn’t matter what I do. There’s a person I got close at his mansion named Roana. Roana says that if I sell the castle, Yulif will be fine. Yulif said it’s never okay to be alone. I’m only telling you, Mom, but actually, the marriage will last for three months. That’s what Yulif said.」

「Did you accept it knowingly? What is the reason?」

「Because I like Yulif.」

Casting her gaze on Yulif once again, Canaren’s expression was firm and determined. Anera thought for a moment as she wondered how many days had passed before Canaren got that look on her face. So she couldn’t say anything.

「I’m really sorry, Mom, but I want to stay with Yulif. But he keeps shaking. To be honest, it hurts a little.」

Canaren placed one of her hands on her chest. As if she could really feel the pain.

「Yulif keeps saying bad things. But then, sometimes he’s very kind and considerate. It’s the same today. It wasn’t supposed to be a day to come to my village. It’s the day when an important guest comes to his estate. But Yulif brought me here on purpose.」

「I see.」

「I thought it was okay if Yulif didn’t like me. Because I just need to like Yulif more. It’s not as easy as you think. I keep getting greedy and resentful, Mom.」

Anera hugged Canaren. Canaren took a deep breath in her mother’s arms, which smelled nostalgic and cozy. She rubbed her face in her warm arms as if bewildered.

「The scariest thing is that Yulif doesn’t like me to the end. I mean that I might hate Yulif. If I hate Yulif. Then I think I will hate myself.」

Canaren knew. She knew that she was harassing and holding on to the person she was annoying. It was inevitable that Yulif’s bad words often hurt her. It was comfortable to think of it as a price for her greed.

Anera hid her inner feelings and got confused by seeing Canaren’s smiling face. She remembered Yulif, who had come to the village alone.

He looked like a man ready to give everything for Canaren. It would be the case in time. Anera was not saying for sure, but it seemed like he was going to spend the remaining three months just for Canaren. So Anera understood why he told Canaren she shouldn’t like him. He knew exactly about the longevity of his life.

Anera thought to tell Canaren his words, but she shook her head inwardly. She had the ability to read the future, so she shouldn’t have spoken freely about their future. Above all, it seemed that Yulif himself did not want it. If he was going to reveal it to Canaren, he would have done it sooner.

Also, as Canaren’s mother, Anera wished that Canaren did not know about Yulif’s fate. Even if she couldn’t help what she had already loved, her future could be changed enough. Yulif would somehow make Canaren give up. If she didn’t give up, he would leave her before he died. Canaren would grieve over an unfulfilled love, but that sadness was a kind of sadness that could someday be overcome with time.

But what if you find out that Yulif is doomed to die? Anera was dizzy in front of her eyes. If she were Canaren, it was clear that she would save her loved one, even at the cost of her life. That should never happen. Although selfish, Anera was Canaren’s mother. Isn’t it natural to choose her children?

… Either way, Mom wants you to be happy.」

Nevertheless, Anera spoke with sincerity. Indeed, Anera wanted Canaren to be happy. And Yuliif, who was trying to bear his unfortunate fate alone, also wanted her to be happy. It was a wish that couldn’t help but come true.

“Canaren.”

Yulif, who was wandering around the village, entered the house. Canaren and Anera came down from the window sill. A moment of hesitation passed in his eyes as he looked at her mother and daughter alternately. Soon, his eyes became dry as usual.

“I’m sorry, but it’s time to go back.”

“The sun is already going down. Go quickly.”

Canaren hugged Anera tightly. Anera hugged Canaren and gently patted her daughter’s back.

「Mom, be healthy. You don’t have to worry about me. I am doing really well.」

「You seem to be more worried about me. Don’t worry. Your mother has a healthy heart. I love you.」

「I love you, Mom.」

「Don’t forget that the winds of those who love you are always by your side. And, congratulations on your wedding. I hope you get along well with the duke.」

Canaren smiled broadly. Leaving a light kiss on Anera’s cheek and forehead, she stood next to Yulif.

Anera briefly exchanged her gaze with Yulif, who was preparing his magic. Yulif looked at her as if he knew what she was thinking, and politely bowed down to her. Anera followed him and bowed her head.

When she looked up again, the figures of the two had disappeared. Suddenly, a sense of emptiness came as if the house was empty. Anera gently wiped Canaren’s warmth from her window sill.

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The two who returned to Pionia headed to the bell tower. High, quiet, where one could be alone. Yulif kept his promise to Canaren. Canaren liked him so much that he didn’t just listen to her words. Others wouldn’t know. How kind and sweet Yulif was.

“It’s quiet.”

Canaren murmured, leaning against the railing and looking down at him leaning against the railing. The ducal castle, dyed in the magenta sunset, was exuding another charm.

Yulif stood slightly away from her and closed his eyes. He felt dizzy at the sensation of a bunch of magical power draining out at once. Since morning, he had consumed a considerable amount of mana to maintain the barriers throughout Pionia and the various magics he had placed on Roana and Derek. Canaren said that he had a quiet castle, but that was thanks to Yulif’s magic.

The wedding hall had become a mess, and everyone was in the midst of a commotion. And a little while ago, as more than 100 soldiers ambushed by Deltinus were forcibly moved to another place, a serious consumption of mana occurred. He needed some rest.

“You know, Yulif. What happens now?”

Yulif slowly opened his eyes. Canaren was still looking up at the glowing red sunset. Her face, which had been dyed purple because of the light, seemed far away for some reason.

“There is a special wedding custom in our village. Probably not here.”

It was a story he had never heard of. In the first place, the only Hwira person close enough for Yulif to have a conversation with was Canaren; she was the only one. It was so in the past, it is so now, and it will be in the future. And the situation was not good enough to talk about marriage with Canaren in the past.

Yulif felt a movement of magical power that exploded from the side of the Great Hall and then completely extinguished. It seemed that the situation at the wedding hall was almost in order.

“Now we go…”

However, Yulif’s words did not continue to the end.

Canaren looked back at him and grinned. Then she climbed onto the railing and jumped right off. The problem was that she hadn’t even spread her wings.

She did not take out her wings and was no different from an ordinary human.