7 Chapter 6: Something new for Jeanne
"Boobs aren't fat! They're filled with men's hopes and dreams!"
Sagara Yoshiharu (The Ambition of Oda Nobuna)
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(Mael's POV)
January 5th finally arrived. France was cold but thanks to our prayers, the snow didn't fall on already poor lands.
Why was this day special? Because Jeanne would soon be turning 13 years old.
Although commoners at the time didn't usually celebrate birthdays except on coming of age of 10, 15, or 16, I didn't want Jeanne to lose this event of happiness.
Warring times where we only get to eat twice or even once a day, ignoring these little events where you could bring a rare smile on children, is simply an act of inferiority and I didn't want Jeanne to feel this way.
Keeping her wellbeing was the reason for my existence so if I can't even make her happy at this moment then what do I even of any use.
Besides, in times like these, you never know if you will ever see the new light of the next day.
"Mael, Mael, where are we going?!" It was naturally Jeanne who was nagging me like always.
I intended to give her a surprise birthday party but the cat was already out of the bag the moment I told my plan to Jacques and Jeanne heard us.
Anyway, we came to our village's sorta-like- market to buy ingredients along with her mother Isabelle.
"To buy ingredients and make lots of food to fill your big belly." I smiled and poked her tummy.
"Hehe, thank you, Mael. You are such a good husband~" She chuckled and rubbed her face on my arm.
"Stop it!" I tried to make some distance since it was pretty embarrassing for me.
"Okay, Jeanne, don't disturb Mael. If you don't act like a good girl then Mael won't make… caku…" Isabelle said to Jeanne and pronounced 'cake' incorrectly.
"Mother, it's cake, not caku. But you are right, I won't disturb Mael!" She smiled then let go of my hand and ran away to wonder in the market.
Seeing such a bright and innocent child happily roaming the market with her family even brought smiles to people around her.
I have to say, she has natural charisma around her. Even though she likes to ask a lot of question to shopkeepers, no one ever get angry at her.
"Hmm?" I then sensed two teenagers also purchasing some goods but for some reason, they looked a little suspicious since they were acting like there were there to find someone and I felt a little uneasy towards them.
"Mael, what's wrong?" Jeanne asked me with concern. She also looked at those teenagers who upon asking turned their attention towards us.
"Nothing, Jeanne. Now I will teach you how to bargain. Look closely." I decided to turn mine and Jeanne's attention to somewhere else. Whoever was those two, it had nothing to do with me, and neither did I have any attention to involve in any trouble.
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(3rd Person's POV)
"Hey, Pike. Did you see that? I think that silver head human child noticed us?" One of the two teens asked the other. He was the tallest one.
"Nah… I don't think so, Dick. He seems so weak and with Hade's Cap hiding our demonic energy, I don't think even an angel could detect us." Said the other teen named Pike. Pike was a little short in height.
"Anyway, we should get going. I don't think we will find here that child we are looking for." Dick said then turned his direction towards the exit of the market.
"But we didn't even get to enjoy any human meat and it's not even 15 minutes since we came here…." Pike looked disappointed but instead of a reply, he received a faint yet heavy punch on the head. "Ouch, what was that for?"
"You fucking idiot, there is a church in this area and we also have no goons in churches of this part of France. Do you want to get caught and be punished by Young Master Marbas?" Dick who seemed to be enraged from his companion said to Pike while also keeping an eye on his surroundings.
He then continued, "Besides, we just have to make a report based on our findings."
Both of them looked at each other and then smirked like irresponsible police officers.
"Then we should hurry up. I heard that there is a pub in the city selling women and children. I really can't wait to torture them before eating them." Pike said licking his lips with a long tongue and drooling while imagining the joy.
"Now we are talking." Dick also chuckled.
Both of them continued to walk until entering the forest. Then they stood on what it seems like a magic circle before disappearing from the place.
Though they looked like ordinary humans, they were in fact belong to a proper race stated evil by Bible called demons.
(AN: Devils will be called demons in many places since it is the era before the war.)
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(Mael's POV)
Few minutes until the clock will turn 12, we were in hurry to place every dish on the eating woolen mat.
"Mael, hurry up!" Jeanne yelled happily while looking at so many new kinds of food that she had never seen in her life.
"Here I come!" After giving the final touch to the strawberry cake, I brought the cake to the mat and sat down together with Jeanne.
"So this is called cake…"
"To think I would even be able to eat in my life."
"Mael! This looks so tasty!"
Her parents and Jeanne praised the cake I made.
"Of course, it will be tasty. After all, it is made by the most handsome man in the entire world." I said placing my hand on my eyes tilting the nonexistent glasses like a typical anime character.
"…" All of them looked at me weirdly before Jeanne began clapping her hands.
I awkwardly scratched my hair since acting like that was simply part of my personality.
Anyway, we all sat down. We first prayed for the happiness of the family then both me and Jeanne sliced the cake.
As expected of my golden hands, it was delicious. I was preparing to make a good cake for the past month since proper ingredients aren't something that you could buy from the store at that time.
Then we began to eat the meal. I especially prepared roasted turkey and fish that I was able to catch and preserve yesterday.
But the most important part of the event was their happiness. I was able to see the rarest smile on their faces especially my beloved Jeanne after what we all went through.
"Mael…?"
After we finished eating, Jeanne came near me calling my name.
"What is it, Jeanne?" I asked.
She didn't reply but simply buried her face on my chest and tears burst out from her eyes. We became anxious since she was crying in such happy moments.
"Mael… Tha~nk you…" Jeanne then looked at me with tears and snots on her face but with the happiest smile on her face.
Her parents sighed in relief and decided to wash the dishes leaving the young couple alone.
I also smiled while whipping her face with a towel.
"As I said, to make you happy is my ultimate motive. Nothing can stop me to make you happy." I said with a smile.
She didn't reply but instead scan the surroundings and after finding no one around us, she lifted her body, her face got closer to my lips and…
She kissed my cheek a millimeter away from my lip.
(AN: Haha, I ain't a pedo, you morons!)
I was completely stunned for the moment where I thought she would totally go breaking the bars pushing me to the category of pedophiles. I was a little disappointed but also relieved since I really didn't want to do any kind of sexual activity like kissing on the lips before we turn 16.
"Jeanne, you have become bold…" I smiled with a sigh.
"Hehe, I had seen mother and father doing this often." She chuckled and I heard a snapping noise from the next room. The culprits must be listening. Even I have seen them doing so let alone sharp Jeanne. She continued, "But as you said, a proper lady should restrain herself for the right moment."
I smiled and patted her head in return. I thanked God for making Jeanne a reasonable child. It also helped me to work harder for our future.
"Hmm?"
I then noticed that she fell asleep on my arms holding my waist. I smiled and took her to the sleeping quarter and also entered dreamland since my stamina was as usual like a 4 years old child.
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(Jeanne's POV)
Yawn*
I opened my eyes when the first ray of the new day fell on my face.
Then as of routine, my eyes fell on the sleeping figure of my love.
Calling him love as 13 years old child may sound strange but I have always had a crush on him since that day.
Err… you see… I was kind of silly and the first thing I used to do whenever I woke up before him was…
Chu*
…A peck on his cheeks.
I had no control over my silly nature when it comes to Mael. I felt comfortable in his presence.
After the unforgettable event of our birthday party, he made an even deeper place in my heart.
I then decided to initiate my first day by praying to Lord.
Mael usually wakes up early in the morning but since he worked hard the previous day and had low stamina, he usually slept a little longer.
I then gave him another peck on the cheek before washing my face and heading towards the church.
I slightly opened the door and found no one inside. For some reason, the priest had stopped appearing in the church and was instead replaced by someone else.
I then walked towards the cross of our beloved Jesus Christ and bent down on my knees and held my hand tightly and began to pray.
"Dear Lord, thank you for everything."
Just when I began to pray, I felt a new warmness in my heart. A new refresh feeling replaced the anxiety and worries in my heart as I was right in front of my Lord.
"Dear Lord, also thank you for bringing Mael and me together."
I also thanked my Dear God for bringing my precious friend to me, something that I will forever be thankful for.
"But…"
Tears rose from my eyes.
"I don't want to see any more of my people getting suffered…"
Every day I could feel in my heart that children like me were getting killed, becoming homeless or innocent people getting suffered just like I did when I lost my siblings and my hometown.
"Please Lord, help me… Guide me… So that I could become strong like Mael and help him as a real partner…"
Mael might think of me as a child but I knew from the beginning that his plans were to keep me safe. I was thankful but not in approval. I want to become strong and somehow help my people to get freedom.
Then I felt a new presence and as soon as I opened my eyes, my heart came to my throat.
Before me, was a lady, no, an angel! She had beautiful silver curly hair and with bangs covering her right eye and beautiful glowing oceanic eyes seemed to be staring right into my soul.
What makes her an angel was her four glowing wings and a golden halo above her head. Her hair color and eyes along with her facial curves looked a lot like Mael.
(AN: Imagine Elizabeth from Seven Deadly Sins but with a little curly hair.)
"Child, your prayer has been heard and I am here to guide you on the right path."
The angel spoke to me. I was stunned after listening to her beautiful voice so mesmerizing that I just want to hear her forever.
She then offered her hand with a gentle smile to stand me up. I was still in a daze and without taking my sight from her face for even a second, I held her hand and stood up.
"Child, no, Jeanne d'Arc. My name is Eliza and I am an angel who has come here to guide you towards the right path. Are you willing to follow the teachings of the Lord?" The angel spoke.
Is there a reason or doubt in my heart? No. Even when I decided to save Mael on that day, I never doubted to take the decision that my heart desires and I nodded.
"Yes!"
That day was the beginning of the trial of my whole existence.
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If this novel hit 1k before the end of this week then I will post omake too and empty your pouch and throw all the stone on my face.
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