She Reads A Meaningful Letter

The Letter Continued:

"Bluebell was always extremely blunt in her speech. But she was also kind to the point where she was often misunderstood, especially in the magic academy we both attended. At that time, she was only a candidate for the Saintess position. And, despite that, we were good friends.

Magic Academies, dear, are places where politics and bloodline have no sway. They are institutions under the Magi, whose sole purpose is to teach those with magic talent about how to properly use mana to the best of their abilities. The scale ran from royalty all the way down to magic blacksmiths, so the attendees are usually quite diverse.

The dream I had was of a few days before we were about to graduate. We were having tea together in the academy gardens after finishing up our magic exams, when she said something that caught me off guard.

'We are such good friends, you and I, if we should happen to have children, I would like them to be good friends as well.' She said. I was taken aback at this, so I instantly said the first thing that came into my head.

'That is all very well if they are both girls or both boys' I said. 'But if they should happen to be of the opposite genders, what will be done then?'

Bluebell just smiled sweetly. 'Then, perhaps we might become in-laws, you and I.' She and I laughed. And then I asked her, 'Isn't your job already set as the Saintess? Aren't you not allowed to have children?'

And will you believe the nerve of your mother? She just smiled ever so mysteriously and said. 'That's a secret.' And dash it all if she didn't marry your father after the war! How frustrating!

It's like somehow she knew beforehand that she was going to be your mother! isn't that completely infuriating? She and your father were the only couple around that I had no hand in matchmaking. Even though she was my best friend."

Robin smiled at this. She could already imagine Queen Emmeline biting at a handkerchief in frustration over this matter.

"That wasn't the only odd thing she did, mind you. It was only after she disappeared with your father that I discovered this fact. Before she had ever met the hero, she was already grooming another candidate for the Saintess to 'take over her duties in the case that she was no longer in this world'.

If I didn't know any better, then I would say that she had received an oracle about it. But oracles are always accompanied by heavenly signs and in a public venue. Not to mention, the moon elves, chosen of the All-Mother, are usually those who receive oracles of that sort. While I wouldn't put it past her, the All-Father wouldn't make such an exception even in her case.

If it seems like all I have been doing is complaining in this letter, then that was far from my original intentions. Your mother was always so mysterious about these things, that remembering them again, I simply must get them off my chest! Otherwise I will once again be puzzling over them to the point where it wears upon the nerves.

And here I thought that she and I would be good friends into old age together....But, if I am to be honest, I'm glad that you brought word of her, even if it was word of her death. At least this way, I won't be worrying over her anymore, and know that she is in good company.

Your adoptive mother, Queen Emmeline."

Robin's hands had already creased the page by accident, having grasped at it tightly at a certain point. She smoothed out the page first. Then she carefully folded it with an almost reverent attitude, placing it into her magic bag.

It was odd. Usually, hearing someone speak so irascibly about her mother would have gotten Robin hopping mad. But, coming from Emmeline, Robin was somehow sure that she hadn't meant anything badly by it. Robin couldn't find a trace of anger or irritation towards Emmeline. She only felt grateful for the letter....and regretful that there wasn't more to read.

A dull ache throbbed in her chest as she looked out the window at the blue sky above. Reading about her mother, she could almost see the merry curve in her eyes and hear the warm lilt in her voice. It was almost as if she were sitting right across from her, beaming at her once again. Only...

Robin glanced in front of her. the chair opposite her was occupied by her Uncle, dashing the illusion to pieces. She turned her head to look at her companions, only to notice everyone watching her, concerned.

"...Er... Yes? What is it?" Robin asked.

"You're crying." Christian pointed out softly. Robin lifted a hand to her cheek. it came away wet.

"Why ...so I am." Robin quietly agreed. Her tears had come as a surprise even to her. She had not shed tears for quite some time that the phenomenon felt utterly strange to her.

"Are you sad?" Jasmine asked, softly.

"To say no...would be a lie." Robin sighed. "But, I am feeling strangely relieved somehow, to the point that even I am not quite sure how to answer."

"'Not all tears are tears of sadness' that's what Bluebell would always say." Keith nodded.

"... Would you like to talk about it?" Christian asked, his eyes filled with concern.

Robin suddenly felt as if her eyes had been opened to something she hadn't been aware of before. These people here, all cared for her. She felt touched, and also a little embarrassed at how she had never noticed....exactly how kind-hearted everyone here was.

Robin shook her head. "It's all right." She replied.

Christian felt a little down after hearing that. Robin wasn't able to open his heart to others so easily, it seemed. But the next thing Robin said raised his joy just as suddenly as it had dropped.

"It was a letter from Queen Emmeline....about my mother, in the past." Robin summarized. "It was nice...to read about how she was like before. And also painful." Robin admitted everything openly.

"... Sometimes, in order to heal properly, old wounds have to be opened up." Keith sighed. "And, even though it hurts at the time, you feel better afterwards."

"Perhaps that is so." Robin agreed.

But a part of her disagreed. Robin didn't want to let it go. All this time, she had been holding onto the raw pain. The pain itself was the clearest proof and evidence that she had truly cared about her mother.

But...if it no longer hurt..If the pain faded and disappeared, then... Did that mean that Robin no longer cared about her mother as much? Did that mean she loved her less now than she had before?

Robin did not want to think of such things. The thought was ruthlessly shoved aside in her mind.

"So, how long will it take until we get to dragon country?" Robin asked.

"Well, it would take about a week's flight to get there normally," Christian said. "But it's a good thing we're not heading for dragon country."

"Wha-?" Robin didn't understand.

"Like what was said before, Throm showed off his new crown to his adoptive patron, Dragon Ra'oru." Keith explained. "Unlike most other dragons, Ra'oru is fairly close to the Dwarf territory, so we should be heading back through Rag'nok City."

"Oh!" Keith noted thet Quinn used his slime teleport again, as he glanced out the window. The scenery was now jungle vines and tropical plants. "And here we are."

Robin wiped her cheeks dry ruefully with a handkerchief. Comrades aside, it wouldn't do to have others see that she had been crying. They were let into the city with no issue, but once they entered, the carriage was surrounded by two members of each of the color guards.

"What is this?" Robin opened the window to ask.

"Orders from King Throm. Your carriage is to be escorted to the second level posthaste upon arrival." The dwarf in the sapphire blue garb saluted.

"King Throm's orders?" Robin blinked in surprise. Did Throm have something that he needed her help with? It must be something urgent considering how the carriage was receiving special treatment.

"Well, carry on then." Robin nodded and closed the window again.