Chapter 9 In The Temple
I and the dryad rode on Greed’s back who was in dragon form. Greed seems to have given her his body fluids in advance to prevent the dryad from rotting.
Riding dragon together was less burdensome than riding alone. Because this time, the dryad firmly entangled her hands around the scales and protected me. Still, the terrible wind pressure didn’t change, so I thought that I had to put more strength into my hands.
We arrived not at the crater but at the shrine dedicated to Greet at the foot of the mountain.
Before jumping into the crater, I spent the night in this temple. I skipped a meal, did a purification ceremony, and say goodbye for eternity. I never thought that I’ll come back here alive.
The temple still had some signs that we were staying here. I feel like it’s been a long time, but I’m surprised at the fact that it’s only a day that has passed.
「Even though I gave her my blessing, there’s no way I can take the dryad to the crater. We’ll live here from this day.」
I was bewildered to Greed’s words. Because it’s outrageous for him to move from the volcano that he had been lived for a long time just for the sake of me having a servant.
「Greed-sama, I’m very happy for your consideration, but if you can’t live at the crater, then I don’t need a servant. What important for me is that Greed-sama can live freely in a comfortable place.」
Then, Greed is amazed and says,
「Hey, don’t say that. She’s the dryad I brought for your sake. She can’t return to the forest anymore because of my blessing.」
I look at the dryad right away. She looks a bit lonely but still smiling.
Regrets then rush into my chest for what I just said. Just because I wanted to prioritize Greed, I said terrible things to the dryad that was kind to me.
「Dryad, I’m sorry…」
「No, please don’t worry about it, Eriana-sama. You were thinking about Greed-sama, right? I don’t mind it at all.」
「But…」
「Eei, just stop it already. I lived in the crater not because I like it. It just because I didn’t have to worry I will make things rot and I can sleep quietly there. I won’t take much place with a human form, so here is no problem. Therefore, don’t worry about it!」
「Yes……」
Scolded by Greed, I hung my head.
Somehow, even though I’m thinking to serve properly, I can’t help but feel like it revolves around whatever I do.
I regretted from the bottom of my heart that I should have worked in the castle as an apprentice to learn good manners. I know that the royal family did not have a suitable princess to serve, so regretting it would be no help.
「Anyway, just rest for today. Dryad, I leave Eriana to you. I’ll be going out for a bit.」
「Understood.」
「……Take care.」
I keep looking at Greed’s back from the temple.
Even though we just met, even though I know that he’s a terrifying dragon that requests sacrifice, but somehow separated with him make me feel lonely.
After a while, the dryad spills small laughter when I’m wondering why I feel like this.
「Fufu. You look like an abandoned puppy.」
At first, I didn’t understand what she is saying, but the next moment I realized that she was talking about myself and became embarrassed.
「A puppy…」
「Perhaps, like a chick that thinking of what she saw for the first time when she was born as a mother. It’s lovely.」
「Please don’t tease me… umm.」
「Just call me Dryad, Princess.」
「But, that’s a race name, right? What’s your name?」
I asked her name casually to change the subject. But, she just shows a troubled smile just like a while ago.
「If you don’t have a name, I’ll have trouble calling you.」
「Anyway, I’m just a root division, so don’t worry about it. Please call me Dryad.」
I don’t really understand, but it’s clear that she doesn’t have a name.
「But…」
It’s like, for example, keep calling me human. I think she needs a name because we’ll live together from now on.
「Then, can I call you Jill?」
「Is that… my name?」
She, who always smiling, widens her eyes in surprise. I was panicked that I might have offended her.
「Of course, it’s okay if you don’t like it! I’m just wondering if I can call you that!」
I try to smooth it over, but I can’t find a word to fix the blunder. I really hate how bad I am at talking. Ever since I was taught that silence is a virtue, it’s hard to tell my thoughts to others.
「I’m happy, Eriana-sama. By all means, please call me Jill.」
I’m glad. Apparently, she was not offended.
I sighed in relief from the bottom of my heart. There seemed to be a lot more to be learned in order to live as a mere Eriana, not as a Duke.
Chapter 9 In The Temple
I and the dryad rode on Greed’s back who was in dragon form. Greed seems to have given her his body fluids in advance to prevent the dryad from rotting.
Riding dragon together was less burdensome than riding alone. Because this time, the dryad firmly entangled her hands around the scales and protected me. Still, the terrible wind pressure didn’t change, so I thought that I had to put more strength into my hands.
We arrived not at the crater but at the shrine dedicated to Greet at the foot of the mountain.
Before jumping into the crater, I spent the night in this temple. I skipped a meal, did a purification ceremony, and say goodbye for eternity. I never thought that I’ll come back here alive.
The temple still had some signs that we were staying here. I feel like it’s been a long time, but I’m surprised at the fact that it’s only a day that has passed.
「Even though I gave her my blessing, there’s no way I can take the dryad to the crater. We’ll live here from this day.」
I was bewildered to Greed’s words. Because it’s outrageous for him to move from the volcano that he had been lived for a long time just for the sake of me having a servant.
「Greed-sama, I’m very happy for your consideration, but if you can’t live at the crater, then I don’t need a servant. What important for me is that Greed-sama can live freely in a comfortable place.」
Then, Greed is amazed and says,
「Hey, don’t say that. She’s the dryad I brought for your sake. She can’t return to the forest anymore because of my blessing.」
I look at the dryad right away. She looks a bit lonely but still smiling.
Regrets then rush into my chest for what I just said. Just because I wanted to prioritize Greed, I said terrible things to the dryad that was kind to me.
「Dryad, I’m sorry…」
「No, please don’t worry about it, Eriana-sama. You were thinking about Greed-sama, right? I don’t mind it at all.」
「But…」
「Eei, just stop it already. I lived in the crater not because I like it. It just because I didn’t have to worry I will make things rot and I can sleep quietly there. I won’t take much place with a human form, so here is no problem. Therefore, don’t worry about it!」
「Yes……」
Scolded by Greed, I hung my head.
Somehow, even though I’m thinking to serve properly, I can’t help but feel like it revolves around whatever I do.
I regretted from the bottom of my heart that I should have worked in the castle as an apprentice to learn good manners. I know that the royal family did not have a suitable princess to serve, so regretting it would be no help.
「Anyway, just rest for today. Dryad, I leave Eriana to you. I’ll be going out for a bit.」
「Understood.」
「……Take care.」
I keep looking at Greed’s back from the temple.
Even though we just met, even though I know that he’s a terrifying dragon that requests sacrifice, but somehow separated with him make me feel lonely.
After a while, the dryad spills small laughter when I’m wondering why I feel like this.
「Fufu. You look like an abandoned puppy.」
At first, I didn’t understand what she is saying, but the next moment I realized that she was talking about myself and became embarrassed.
「A puppy…」
「Perhaps, like a chick that thinking of what she saw for the first time when she was born as a mother. It’s lovely.」
「Please don’t tease me… umm.」
「Just call me Dryad, Princess.」
「But, that’s a race name, right? What’s your name?」
I asked her name casually to change the subject. But, she just shows a troubled smile just like a while ago.
「If you don’t have a name, I’ll have trouble calling you.」
「Anyway, I’m just a root division, so don’t worry about it. Please call me Dryad.」
I don’t really understand, but it’s clear that she doesn’t have a name.
「But…」
It’s like, for example, keep calling me human. I think she needs a name because we’ll live together from now on.
「Then, can I call you Jill?」
「Is that… my name?」
She, who always smiling, widens her eyes in surprise. I was panicked that I might have offended her.
「Of course, it’s okay if you don’t like it! I’m just wondering if I can call you that!」
I try to smooth it over, but I can’t find a word to fix the blunder. I really hate how bad I am at talking. Ever since I was taught that silence is a virtue, it’s hard to tell my thoughts to others.
「I’m happy, Eriana-sama. By all means, please call me Jill.」
I’m glad. Apparently, she was not offended.
I sighed in relief from the bottom of my heart. There seemed to be a lot more to be learned in order to live as a mere Eriana, not as a Duke.
