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The Tale of the Wizrain Kingdom

A Moment of Happiness

Translated by: S3

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*****

「I’m not sure about this... it doesn't really suit me, does it?」

Her voice was softer than usual as Elna lightly pinched a strand of her apricot-colored hair. Her eyes, a blue so vivid they looked as if a piece of the sky had been cut out, were currently clouded with self-doubt.

Elna Calzeed, a girl who possessed the *memories of a dragon from her previous life*, had turned seventeen this year.

Usually, she dressed in her easy-to-move-in maid’s uniform, but today was different.

She wore a vibrant crimson dress with heavy drapes that swayed at her feet with every step, making her chest feel a bit exposed to the breeze. Her hair had been meticulously styled upward, adorned with glass-like jewels that made a soft *shalan-shalan* clinking sound. She had heard that the gems in her hair ornament were meant to evoke the image of *dragon scales (Elnalfia)*, but now that she was human, it just felt embarrassing.

「Why? It suits you perfectly. Better than anyone else, in fact.」

「…………」

Standing beside Elna was a man of extraordinary good looks.

He offered a smile, a gesture that exuded charm—though this was the same man who occasionally burst into great fits of laughter. This young man, named Cross, who possessed a name that was far too long, inherited the memories of the hero Vaid.

That said, Cross was now a young man of twenty.

In their past lives, they were partners, but in this life—

「I really don't want to hear about what suits me from you right now, Cross...」

Elna puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away with a huff.

Today was the day they would stand before the citizens to show their faces as a couple.

Therefore, Elna wasn't the only one dressed up. The *King of this country (Cross)*, who usually disliked gaudy decorations, was *dressed to the nines*. He looked more kingly than ever, which was to say...

「...Elna. Why do you keep hanging your head? You look so lovely; please, look at me.」

「H-hiiiiiii!」

She shivered at the voice whispering in her ear and instinctively covered both ears with her hands, backing away.

「Wh... Cr-Cross! What was that voice for?!」

「I was just speaking normally.」

「Normal people don't whisper in someone's ear! Conversations are supposed to happen at a set distance!」

「You were so adorable I felt like getting closer.」

「Ador...!? Shut... please, just keep your mouth shut for a moment...」

(Aaaaah!) She couldn't say another word, covering her face with both hands.

Elna wasn't particularly interested in human beauty, but ever since being reborn as a human, she felt like such a tiny, insignificant creature.

Combined with her memories of living as the second daughter of the Calzeed family, she lacked confidence in her appearance.

(What's the point of a mere human with such a thin body dressing up like this?) she wondered, feeling depressed. And yet, right next to her was a King looking as magnificent as could be. It was enough to make her feel dejected. Then again, with all this commotion, she was starting to lose track of things. Her ears were burning where he had whispered, and she wanted to run away immediately, but she couldn't.

『Is it about time, de-gonsu?』

From wherever he had been hiding, a hamster hopped onto Elna’s shoulder.

A mysterious spirit in the form of a hamster that understood human speech... but in truth, even Elna didn't quite know where he came from or why he was there. At the very least, she knew he was her ally, so she figured it was fine.

However, she was starting to get strangely nervous. She looked down at her unfamiliar dress, then glanced up to see Cross nodding with a slight smile.

「Right. Well then, shall we go?」

「Lord Vaid, it is time...」

「Mm, I know.」

The Kings of this country have been called "Vaid" by the citizens for generations.

Cross nodded to the Chief Steward, Commonwald, who had peeked his head in, and then turned back to Elna.

「Now then, shall I lead you by the hand?」

The warm light from the balcony blurred Cross’s silhouette. Elna squinted slightly.

If she were the person she was when she first met Cross, she surely would have snapped that she didn't need such a thing.

But—she gave a wry smile to herself.

「Yes. Please.」

Cross’s large palm scooped up the hand she offered without hesitation.

Elna lifted the hem of her long dress with one hand and took a large step forward. With every step toward the front, the cheers of the people grew closer. A particularly loud roar erupted.

The people waved frantically at Elna and Cross as they stood on the castle balcony, shouting their congratulations.

「Lord Vaid!」

「Lady Elna, congratulations on your engagement!」

When Cross gave a light wave, the people became even more enthusiastic. (Waah!) Elna froze in surprise.

A sea of people from all over the capital—no, even more than that—was celebrating their engagement. She thought she had understood, but seeing it in person made her instinctively grip Cross’s hand. (This... this has become something huge.) Cross lightly stroked her hand with his fingers as if in reply, and just as she was about to swallow a scream—

「Lady Elnalfiaaaa!」

She heard a faint voice.

Perhaps it was just her imagination. Startled, she searched for the source. Amidst the wave of the crowd, a young girl was sitting on her father's shoulders, waving both hands. Elna recognized her immediately.

The girl she had saved when the capital was burning and she was about to be crushed by a collapsed house.

(I see, she got better...)

(I’m so glad.) Elna smiled and waved back, and a stir spread through the crowd like a wave.

Being reacted to so strongly just for a small movement made her feel a bit awkward, but she recognized this feeling—this mix of embarrassment and happiness.

*—Elnalfia, look, they’re waving. Why don't you wave back?*

*—Is my tail okay?*

*—Yes, it’s perfectly fine.*

That day in the distant past.

She remembered carrying the Hero on her back and wagging her dragon tail.

「...It’s almost like grains of light.」

「...Hm? Did you say something?」

「No. I’m just surprised by the nostalgia.」

She could hear so many voices, more than raindrops.

Surely, this was rain. A rain that echoed in her heart, *polon, polon*. A rain that resounded with a roar.

Elna no longer had wings, scales, or a magnificent tail.

But now she had small palms. She had two legs that could take her anywhere.

***

—The day Elna and Cross’s engagement was announced.

In truth, getting to this point had involved quite a bit of struggle.

Backtracking to three months ago.

Elna, who had vowed to become Cross’s fiancée to be his strength, was glaring at him with powerful eyes in their usual office. Perhaps it was because she had been a dragon in her previous life, but her gaze was sharp as she pierced Cross with it, quietly thrusting out a hand.

「I absolutely will not back down on this...」

On Elna’s shoulder, the Hamster Spirit sensed the air of conflict and was trembling, holding his tiny hands to his mouth... *hawawawa*. In contrast, Cross stood with his hands on his hips, looking perfectly composed as he stared back at Elna with a regal air.

「Until the wedding, we are staying in separate rooms!」

Elna’s eyes snapped wide open.

「And night visits are banned from now on! It’s... it's unthinkable to come to my room at night before the wedding! No, wait, climbing over the roof at night is unthinkable for a King in the first place, right?!」

「Hmm...」

Cross closed his eyes as if in thought and crossed his arms.

「Very well, I refuse.」

「Don't refuse with the momentum of someone who’s about to give permission! And don't reject it after actually thinking about it!」

「Why? Your status as my fiancée has already been officially decided by the council. That makes us as good as married. I don't see the point in keeping our distance.」

「That’s because... well...」

「I may look like I’m just idling about, but I am a busy man. I simply want to be by your side, even if only for a short time. Why do you avoid me so much?」

「Th-that’s, well...」

Cross slowly drew closer. Before she knew it, Cross’s lips were by her ear, her back was against the wall, and his fingers were interlaced with hers.

「It’s things like that!」

Turning her face away, Elna snapped at him with all her might.

Whether consciously or unconsciously—setting that aside—Cross was a man who would woo her anytime, anywhere.

「Mu?」 Cross blinked in confusion, but on Elna’s shoulder, the Hamster Spirit’s legs had given out, and he was a heap of mush. 『Hamuuu, de-gonsu...』 (I want to tell him he wasn't the one being wooed,) but she understood the feeling. The tips of Elna’s ears were also secretly turning red.

Before he could notice her blushing face, she thrust out a hand to keep him at bay.

「Anyway, Cross. Stay back. Keep your distance.」

「Nu...」

「I certainly vowed to be your fiancée. Because without that position, there are things I can't do to help you. I... I don't want to have regrets anymore. A-and... well, since we’re engaged, I do l-l-l...」

She was supposed to be talking calmly, but her voice got smaller and smaller until it trailed off.

Cross waited patiently for Elna, who had unusually begun fidgeting and kneading her hands together. Her mouth opened and closed as she swallowed her words again and again, until she squeezed her eyes shut and forced the words out like a physical breath.

「...L-like you, but still!」

「I see. Would you mind repeating that part starting from 'like' along with the words you said before it?」

「I would mind! Why did you think that was okay?!」

「I also find you favorable. No, it would be more accurate to say I love you from the bottom of my heart.」

「Our conversation hasn't been connecting for a while now... and when you say it so smoothly like that, it’s very hard to respond...!」

She had told him to stay back, but before she knew it, his face was close again. Elna groaned 「Uuu...」 while leaning back slightly, stretching her arms out as much as possible to put distance between herself and the fingers he had interlaced with hers. It would be easy to use her strength to rip her pinky away from his. However, it was hard to actually do it, and it was quite annoying how he seemed to know that.

There had been a similar atmosphere before, but ever since Elna declared she would be his fiancée, she felt like Cross had lost all his restraint. *Fuuu...* Elna let out a long sigh.

「...Cross.」

「...Hm?」

「Now is not the time for this.」

Sensing the tone of Elna’s voice, Cross gently let go of her hand.

「...Is that so?」

「Yes. I still don't think I’m worthy of you, Cross.」

「I don't agree with that.」

「I’ve realized it all over again. This era is too different from the one I knew. I lack knowledge, and I haven't put in enough effort to learn. The reconstruction of the capital is progressing bit by bit, but we’re not there yet, so this isn't the time to be doing this.」

She truly felt that way. She was far too lacking in power to be worshipped as Elnalfia. Of course, she didn't want to be worshipped, but her desire to protect every single citizen living in Wizrain remained unchanged.

The people of the capital whispered that Elna was the reincarnation of a dragon, but eventually, the story was twisted. It was passed down to the people that Elna, Cross’s fiancée, had been named Elnalfia in the *hope that she would receive the protection of the dragon*.

Elna had wished for that herself and asked Cross.

Cross had correctly understood Elna’s wish and quietly shifted the rumors in the capital.

*—My name is not Elnalfia. ...It’s Elna!*

The meaning behind the words she shouted to the people who worshipped her as Elnalfia while the rain extinguished the flames was not that she wanted to deny being a dragon.

It was because she had accepted that she was *human (Elna)* that the words had naturally spilled out.

(I want to become stronger...)

Unbeknownst to her, she clenched her fists.

By being known as the reincarnation of a dragon, she had wanted to be a pillar of support for the people’s hearts. However, the reality was that Elna could only do a few more things than a normal human and couldn't live up to any of their expectations.

*—I have to gain power. Much more power than I have now.*

Of course, some people like the soldiers responsible for the castle’s security and Elna’s close friend Noma knew the truth, but she intended to keep her mouth shut until the day she could hold her head high.

「...I see.」

Cross used the same words as before, but the nuance was different. He seemed to have accepted it, looking as though he had given up, but his gently narrowed eyes also felt like they were acknowledging Elna’s resolve.

Perhaps the reason she instinctively looked away from Cross was that she wanted to hide from her own immaturity.

Still, she couldn't give up on moving forward.

Elna faced Cross once more. Then, she raised a fist with all her might and stomped her foot down firmly.

「Besides, I have to become much better at using spirit arts and magic!」

「...I think you’re already more than capable enough.」

Cross’s exasperated murmur unfortunately did not reach the ears of the highly motivated Elna. The Hamster Spirit, who had moved to Cross’s shoulder at some point, tilted his head.

『Just how much stronger are you planning to get, de-gonsu...?』