When Ed wanted to speak, Naria pinched his lips, "Listen to me first!"

Duck-like Ed blinked.

“...... I don't have to know everything, either. The girl blushed and let go, she didn't want to be so rude and rude...... Her anxiety is probably no less than anyone else's: "I just don't like you like this, running out alone when you're sad...... As if I can't help you with anything. ”

She has worked hard, but often feels inadequate.

When she lowered her head, Ed grabbed her hand with the audacity.

"First of all," he said, "I have never 'forced a smile' in your presence—I will always laugh at you with the most sincerity." ”

Naria looked up at him, annoyed...... I couldn't get angry again. It's been a long time since she'd heard Ed speak in such a serious tone, like the carefree young master they had when they first met.

"I'm not very good. Ed honestly admitted, "I ran out alone, just to think something through, not to hide anything from you...... And I can't hide it at all, can I? I'm worried that I'm too dependent on you guys to stand on my own, and some other mess...... Like Felicity had feared, I couldn't believe in myself, I couldn't be as fearless as Scott......"

“...... I don't think he's scared any less than you are. Naria pouted.

"Maybe. Ed laughed, "'There's no shame in being scared'—Scott himself said that to me, although I wasn't scared then than I am now...... Look, 'running out alone' is not without gain, I invited a group of soldiers to eat scones, and on the way I asked them if they were afraid, and they giggled and didn't answer very seriously, but in fact everyone would. Even if I stubbornly stayed alone in the city and kept the shop open as usual, I would never be allowed to buy a dozen scones for a gold coin...... His 'business as usual' is not necessarily some way to combat fear. So, I thought maybe I'd be like this forever, forever uneasy and trembling...... But I'll never give up. And you ......"

He bowed his head and kissed the back of her hand.

"You're here...... Being by my side, for me, has been the best help. What's more, you've done much more than that. ”

“...... It's not all for you. Naria's tone was stiff, and her face was flushed to the tip of her ears...... But he never shook his hand away.

"And that's what makes me love you more. "Ed was invincible when he was thick-skinned—though no amount of thick skin could stop the redness that burned through his skin.

Naria finally grabbed a piece of scone and stuffed it straight into his mouth.

.

Tess was clinging to the door, her eyes crooked like a fox, covering her mouth to keep her laughter out loud. She does like to watch the excitement, but of course she knows when it's best to just sneak a look.

"I can't see it!" she still couldn't help but sigh in a low voice: "Where did he learn the sweet words?"

The mongoose crouching on her shoulder looked at her silently—wasn't that you?

"No, no, no," Tess shook her fingers, "I think he's very talented." Remember, when he was only a teenager, he was very good at coaxing people! How else would he drag us to a place where we can freeze off people's noses and find a fierce and awkward dragon?"

She muttered as she walked to the bed. For the sake of the overly shy couple downstairs who didn't have much time to be alone, she felt she could sacrifice herself and get some sleep before going down for breakfast.

However, presumably already smelling the aroma of food, a white shadow rolled out of bed with a thud, and rushed from under her feet, and the crack in the door was opened with two small paws, and then there was the thud of a small dragon rolling down the stairs, its cheerful but piercing eardrums, and the fierce and awkward dragon on the other side of the corridor roaring without sleep:

“...... Nana!"

"Ah," Tess stretched, curling the corners of her mouth, "another good day!"

She was glad they had chosen to come back anyway - Rosa told her, "Otherwise, you'll regret it." ”

Yes, she will definitely regret it. She had thought that nothing was more important than her and her elves, but the solitude of survival was far less than such lively and ordinary happiness.

Even if she can only meet death together in the end, at least she can live happily before she dies.

"Sweetheart!" she opened the door and shouted, "Is your pomegranate wine ready?"

.

Later in the afternoon, Ed set foot on an island in the middle of the lake in the temple of the god of water, carrying a basket filled with scones, vegetable cream soup, various small snacks, and freshly brewed pomegranate wine.

And, of course, tender lamb chops.

The white crow picked and chose for a while, picked up a piece of scone, and looked disgusted: "You actually gave me this?"

"Because it's delicious. Ed smiled, "This is one of the 'Lights of Happiness in Stonebuge.'" ”

"'The light of happiness of the commoners,'" the crow squinted at him, disgust added to it with contempt, "do you think I haven't heard of it?!"

"Try it. Ed still smiled, "Iss liked it too." ”

"And you let a dragon that eats only meat gnaw on this dry bread!" the crow accused, then tore off a piece of the bread and threw it into his mouth.

Dragons don't just eat meat—Ed thought. Some dragons even gnaw stones.

"Don't your friends want to come some?"

He asked the crow as she brought out a whole plate of steaming lamb chops.

The white crow's hand paused, and he sneered: "Can you feel my 'friend', but not that he is not a living person at all? ”

"I really wanted to ask if you wanted to try it. Ed bowed his head and apologized to the figure who walked out from behind the bookshelf, "I didn't expect it to be you...... You look ......"

"Like alive?" Sacksis smiled at him, glancing over the basket with regret, "Unfortunately, even if I could make myself look like a 'living', my body would long since cease to exist...... I've even forgotten the taste of any food, and even if I do, I always suspect that I forgot it and reimagined it. ”

He no longer uses the form of the spotted leaf dragon...... He reverted to the elf that Ed had been fond of at first sight on the Isle of Whitestone, but had deceived him, with gray-green eyes like an old misty tree, and a calm and gentle smile.

But his body is solid, no longer flickering and vague as before. That made his temperament change a lot, more kind, and even a little simple.

His face is more human-like...... However, Ed did not dare to let his guard down.