Leon Greyrat: The Second Son - Mushoku Tensei OC

Chapter 53 - A Second Promised Bond

— Leon Greyrat —

It was the day after reuniting with Sylphy, and with breakfast made for Eris and my sisters, I quickly went over to Ariel's carriage, my intentions about wanting to continue our conversation hopefully obvious.

I was interrupted on my way by two of the attendants thanking me for saving them. One of them being the girl that had taken Ariel's place during the attack as a body double, and the other one was on the losing end of a battle with an assassin before I cut them down.

After learning that Sylphy, or rather, 'Fitz' had stayed in the princess' quarters for then night, I waited beside it until me childhood friend revealed herself, ignoring the concerned and confused stares I was getting from Ariel's group.

"Ah, good morning, Leon," Ariel said, stepping out of the carriage.

She looked over me with a gentle smile, which oddly enough, I couldn't feel the same insincerity from as I did yesterday.

Did something good happen?

Or maybe she was just a morning person.

"Morning, princess," I nodded to her.

"She's waiting inside," she said, leaving the door open for me. "But don't take too long. With or without your assistance, we do need to leave for Sharia regardless."

As she curtsied politely, she then looked up at me once more.

"Oh, and feel free to call me Ariel," she said. "After all, I am in no position to demand respect. Rather, we should be friends, no?"

"Thank you... Ariel," I nodded, passing her as I entered the carriage.

And there waiting for me, sitting on the bed as she fiddled with her hands, was Sylphy.

Right... it was time to have this conversation.

"Good morning, Sylphy," I said, closing the door behind me. "Did you sleep well?"

"Huh? Ah... yes, I did," she said before looking back down to her lap.

A silence descended upon the room.

This was... a lot more awkward than I expected.

"...Well, first, I should say I'm glad you remembered me," I said. "I meant to say it last night, but I got... interrupted."

She raised her head, looking at me with a sweet smile.

"Of course, I remembered you," she said, pulling out a necklace from her shirt.

Ah... that was the pendant I got her for her fifth birthday, right?

To think she kept it close all that time.

"I could never forget you," she said, shaking her head as she held the pendant as if it were the most important thing in the world. "I... always kept you in mind, Leon."

I was not embarrassed to say that my heart skipped a beat at her words, but I calmed myself before I acted on my emotions.

"To think you kept something like that..." I said with a smile. "It makes me very happy, Sylphy."

Oh... there was something she gave me for my tenth birthday too.

But... dammit.

"...I'm sorry about your wristband. I... left it in my room before the disaster, and then..." I frowned. "I hadn't even remembered it until now... sorry."

I felt like an ass now, especially since Sylphy had kept her gift from me so well-maintained.

I was also quite sad that I would never see that again... it was a nice present, after all.