Heroine Popularity Vote Winner Side Story: Linea (Part 2 of 2) (Final)

Linea loved being held in Theorad's arms.

The warmth was so comforting that when she pressed herself against him, other worries seemed to drift away. She loved the gentle way he stroked her hair, and how patiently he indulged her moments of childishness.

She could have stayed like this all day.

But of course she couldn't. Theorad was forever busy with the affairs of the mansion, and morning was the busiest part of his day.

Now…

It was time to let him go.

Linea had her own work to do, including preparations for lunch. Even if she might have kept him close a little longer in the evening, asking him to idle away the morning would be selfish.

Reluctantly, she loosened the arms she had wrapped around his waist.

But Theorad did not release her.

“…Theorad?”

This was unusual. Surprised, Linea raised her head.

He was smiling down at her as gently as ever, his expression full of fondness, as though he found her reluctance to let go endearing.

“You can stay like this a little longer, if you want.”

“H-huh?”

“I said you can do what you like.”

Linea stared at him.

On a weekend, perhaps she might have expected such an offer. But it was a weekday morning. Her heart leaped, and a smile nearly escaped before she forced it down.

“Idiot. I told you I don't have nightmares anymore. I'm fine, so go to work.”

“Work can wait. I can take a day off.”

“Ah. Then…”

She almost asked him to stay.

But she remembered her promise to herself. Theorad was kind enough to let her depend on him; she had sworn not to take advantage of that kindness.

“…I said I'm fine.”

“Is that so? Well, we'd better get up, then. If I keep you waiting much longer, someone may scold me.”

Keep me waiting?

Before Linea could make sense of that, Theorad rose, helping her sit up too. Her tousled silver hair fell around her shoulders.

“Go wash and come back. I'll wait here.”

“W-what? Are we…?”

Theorad chuckled at whatever conclusion she had jumped to.

“What are you thinking? It's nothing like that. Hurry and get washed. We're going out, so put on something nice.”

He offered no explanation.

Linea could tell that he was hiding something, but she saw no reason not to do as he asked. Still puzzled, she went into the bathroom.

When she finished washing, Linea wrapped herself in a towel and spent some time in the dressing room.

Nearly twenty minutes passed before she finally opened the door.

“Theorad…”

He closed the poetry book he had been reading and looked up.

A smile spread across his face.

Linea had chosen a simple shift dress without a wide skirt. A white ribbon circled her neck, and the soft pink fabric made her look bright and neatly dressed.

She hovered uncertainly in the doorway.

“I bought this recently. Does it look all right? If it doesn't suit me, I can put on something I usually wear…”

“No. You're much prettier in that.”

“R-really? Then… I'm glad.”

She averted her eyes and tried to pretend the praise meant little.

She had wanted him to say it. Hearing it aloud, however, made her too shy to look directly at him.

So stopping at the Golden Chicken clothing shop was a good idea after all.

She was pleased with her new purchase. But she still had no idea where they were going at an hour when Theorad would ordinarily be working.

He tapped his knee.

“What is it now…?”

Linea grumbled, yet went to him and settled on his lap.

She could hardly pretend to dislike it. Leaning back against his chest was one of her favorite things.

For a moment she wondered whether they would simply stay together like that again.

But this time Theorad had something else in mind.

He smoothed her hair, then drew a blindfold from inside his coat.

“Linea, would you mind putting this on?”

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

“It was Beynon's suggestion. He thought this would be better.”

What on earth did that mean?

Linea glanced suspiciously at the cloth in his hand.

“Theorad. You're not planning some strange trick, are you?”

“No. I promise it's nothing like that.”

“Hmm…”

She sighed.

He was being mysterious, but he did not appear to be trying to frighten her. If he truly wanted her to wear it, she could do that much.

“All right. You can put it on.”

Only then did Theorad nod. He fitted the blindfold over her eyes with such careful hands that his intentions became even harder for her to guess.

---

Theorad took her hand and guided her away.

Without her sight, Linea had to trust his lead. She was not afraid of him, though the small changes in the ground beneath her feet made her wonder where they were going.

There was a gentle incline, then the sound of grass stirring underfoot.

The grounds behind the mansion…?

She knew this place.

It was where, through a painful misunderstanding, she had once made a foolish promise. Later, here among those memories of anger and regret, she had asked Theorad's forgiveness and finally told him her own name.

Why would he bring her back here?

A faint unease crept over Linea. She tightened her grip on his hand.

“Linea,” Theorad said.

“I'm serious about taking today off. Since this year began, my work has eased enough that I don't have to hurry from one task to another all day. I wanted to spend a day resting, and if I was going to rest, I thought I should make it worthwhile.”

“Worthwhile…?”

“This hill behind the mansion is one of my favorite places. But whenever I remember it, I also remember how you cried here. Those memories have always been complicated for me.”

He held her hand more firmly.

“So I wanted to give you a happier memory to treasure. No—something that will belong to both of us.”

His voice was so sincere that Linea's uneasiness began to fade.

She followed him.

Spring wind touched her face. There was a delicate scent of flowers, and birds were singing somewhere in the distance. These were things she had been too consumed by guilt and anger to notice in those earlier days.

She could hear other voices now, too—distant, but oddly familiar.

Theorad stopped.

“You can take off the blindfold.”

Linea hesitated, then nodded.

She slipped it away, drew a breath, and slowly opened her eyes.

“Ah…”

Daisies filled the garden.

Beneath a beautiful tree, the people dearest to her had gathered together.

Ashley and Benelia sat talking on a mat spread in the shade. Nearby, Pares had fallen asleep with her mouth open and her head in Rastain's lap. Beynon was eating sandwiches with Dremes.

Havid and Leonberg were playing house with Raylin and Roselia, while Roylen and Marhan were in the middle of an animated argument.

At the foot of the tree, Fred was playing a grass flute.

He was the first to notice Theorad and Linea. Fred raised a hand and waved, and soon everyone else turned to look. Smiles broke out across their faces. Some beckoned for the pair to come over; others called to ask what had taken them so long.

“Theorad…?”

Linea swallowed and looked up at her husband.

Theorad answered the question in her eyes.

“Didn't you once say how nice it would be if we could all go on an outing together? Ashley and I arranged it in secret. Do you like it?”

She remembered.

During the upheavals that had accompanied the change of imperial rule, Theorad had been terribly busy. She had spent many lonely days at home and had let the wish slip out almost as a complaint.

Her life now was not unhappy. Far from it.

Yet Theorad had remembered those quiet words from a year ago and had brought everyone together for her.

They had all taken time out of their own lives to be here.

“I… I…”

Her voice failed her.

Tears gathered in her eyes.

Theorad, who seemed to have expected just such a reaction, took a handkerchief from his coat and gently wiped them away.

“Linea. This is supposed to be a happy day. Why are you crying? I think we'd all rather see you smile.”

She nodded and tried to steady herself.

Only then did Theorad put away the handkerchief and offer her his hand.

“Come along. The guest of honor shouldn't keep her own party waiting.”

“…Yes.”

Linea took a deep breath and clasped his hand.

They looked at each other for a moment, then began walking toward the others. With each step, the familiar voices grew clearer, sweeter to her than any music.

And so, on a sunny day in spring, Linea smiled as she approached her happiness.

There were still tears in her eyes. She knew too well what pain felt like to take this moment for granted.

Perhaps that was why her smile was so beautiful.

The Elf Who Wants to Be Humiliated…