The cliffs are as straight as a knife and the mountains are full of flaming leaves. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

A feeling of coming home came to me.

I know it's not just my own feelings, it's because of the feelings that pass from Ellie's heart to mine.

When the bow of the flying ship jerked, and the whole ship entered the gorge.

The red fortress erected on the suspension bridge appeared in front of us.

I've seen it before, but when I saw it again, I was still deeply shocked.

On top of countless bridges of varying heights, a city is built up.

More ingenious than the royal city of Ergonda.

The northern gate of the Dawn Mountains, Red Cliff City.

Today, the whole city is bathed in a rain of autumn leaves.

Before the ship docked at the port, the residents had already gathered on the bridges, large and small, sprinkled with autumn leaves.

This is...... What kind of ritual?

It's like the return of the king.

My heart was pounding.

Gradually, the ship leaned up and anchored beside a stone platform.

The person who stood on the platform to greet us was wearing a battle robe with red cloth and gold trim, and the silver light armor under the robe could be faintly seen.

Long blonde hair was braided into a thick braid that hung down in front of the shoulders.

"Sercelia-sama"

I hurried to say hello.

Ellie jumped off my shoulders and stood in front of her mother, rubbing her face against Mistress Secelia's hand like a kitten.

Provoked Serena to laugh.

That look is exactly the same as Ellie's.

"Looks like you're having a good time in the White Wood Valley."

"Hey, hey~"

Elle pulled out the bottle she had hidden behind her, as if to show it off.

"Ha, that's no wonder you were deceived into such a good thing"

"What is a liar, a liar, this is a gift from Sednas"

Lord Seria took her daughter's hand and turned and walked up the bridge.

I also quickly pulled up Liu Xiao and followed behind.

The residents of Chiya City welcomed and threw red leaves.

But the object of their welcome is obviously Princess Ellie.

Although it was a little disappointed, it was also a sigh of relief.

I don't like to be watched.

Liu Xiao's eyes were slightly ...... Envy.

I can understand.

A mother-daughter relationship as close as that of Ellie and Sercelia is a luxury for Liu Xiao.

Following the crowd, we came to the largest building in Red Cliff City.

Towering massive columned buildings.

Coming in through the spacious main entrance, there is a large hall.

In the center is a throne.

The whole building is not as opulent as El Gunda, but it has a lot of fine decorations.

Like ...... A living room or study or something.

Along the wall, a circular staircase is built, which gradually climbs up the wall to the top of the building.

There's a catapult on it, I've seen it before.

Red Cliff City, a veritable fortress, even if it is the meeting room of Lord Secelia, it can be put into actual combat at any time.

Lord Secelia sat on the throne, and Princess Elle stood beside her mother.

One by one, the residents stepped forward to greet each other.

Because there are too many people to stand in the hall, the people who have finished greeting will leave on their own, and those who are lined up outside will come in on their own.

Be in apple-pie order.

Ten minutes later, all the residents left.

Only then did I realize that there was no one else in this place except for the two guards at the door.

There were neither staff nor servants.

It's really very different from Wangcheng.

Elle said that she didn't like living in Wangcheng, probably because of the difference in living habits.

Compare Elle's room in Red Cliff City with El Gonda's room, and you can see it.

When I was distracted, I suddenly reacted to the fact that Master Secelia was waving at me, as if to call us over.

"Me?"

"Well, you two, come here"

Liu Xiao and I came to the front of the throne, this seat was really ordinary, carved out of ordinary rock, with almost no decoration.

It's just sanded quite smooth and flat.

"There's something I need to confirm"

Her voice was still not low-pitched, with a softness to it.

But his expression changed, from a gentle motherly feeling to a serious city lord.

Mistress Sercelia stood up, much taller than me.

She wasn't as strong as a male elf, but every movement was powerful.

It made me feel a sense of oppression.

The lord of the castle stretched out his hand—

Grab my face.

I pinched it, and although it may not have been hard for her, it hurt to me.

"It hurts—"

Whew-

Ally!

I didn't even shout, you shouted first!

Master Seria turned back, frowning, and stared at Ellie with a stern gaze.

The little guy seems to have reacted, and this move just now may be a little bad.

So she pretended that nothing had happened and turned her face to the side.

But he was very mindful of Lord Secelia's reaction, so the two blue eyes turned over and glanced quietly, and quickly turned back.

"Little Girl's Piece"

There was a slight hint of anger in Mistress Secelia's tone.

But this wording makes people feel that these two people are worthy of being mother and daughter.

No, no, this is not the time to complain.

Things seem to be really getting worse.

Serena-sama turned around and walked in front of Ellie.

Grab Ellie's long ears.

"Yo yo it hurts—"

"Follow me"

The lord of the castle dragged Ellie into a nearby room.

I closed the door made of mahogany.

Suffered......

Often, in this case, the sound of loud slaps and cries of little girls is remembered inside the door.

I've seen this happen many times.

Liu Xiao also grabbed my hand inexplicably.

I suddenly reacted, this kind of scene is probably not unfamiliar to her.

So I squeezed Liu Xiao's hand and signaled her not to be afraid.

The girl looked back at me and gave me a knowing look.

After waiting for a while, the imaginary situation did not happen.

The door opened, and Serena-sama took Ellie's hand and stepped out again.

The little one seemed to be in tears.

The red-robed elf came to me.

I didn't know what to say to explain it all, but one sentence automatically popped out of my mouth.

"It's not Ellie's fault, please don't blame her"

"It's all my fault"

Mistress Sercelia's eyebrows curled slightly.

It seems that there has been a slight change in feelings.

"Elle explained to me what happened, and I'm sure she didn't lie"

Mistress Sercelia reached out and plucked my ear to examine it.

Ellie's face was a little red, and that was where Celia had pulled me.

So I'm afraid she wanted to see if the same effect on me when she pulled Ellie's ear just now.

"It's shallow, but the soul link between the two of you is obvious"

Every word of Lord Seria made my heart tremble.

Unexpectedly, Ellie kept a secret for so long, and it was exposed when she was pinched by Lord Secelia......

I'm completely in my heart right now, and it's like a lying child being seen through by adults.

"And then"

Master Sercelia stood in front of me, staring at me with a serious gaze.

"Isadul Makusugi, you have a name for an elf, a symbol of an adult elf"

"You should have understood the honor and enjoy the honor"

"It's not enough to admit mistakes for a person with a name"

What does this mean, punishment......

The stories that Linda had told us are now coming to my mind one by one.

Linda's father gave his life so that Linda and her mother could live in the Dawn Mountains.

In order to get something, you have to sacrifice something in exchange.

This is the law of the Dawn Mountains.

However, in our human world, it seems that this is also the case.

If you want to get something, you have to give something that corresponds.

That's how the laws of the world are.

I'm shaking.

I could feel me shaking.

I was scared.

responsibility to oneself and the consequences of that responsibility.

"I ......"

My whole body shook so fast that I lost my mind.

But I know what to do right.

If you don't.

The meaning of my life will be zero.

"I'm willing to give my life in exchange for the right to let Ellie live in the Dawn Mountains"

When I said this, I stopped shaking.

If it were someone else, I would definitely not do such a trade.

But if it's Ai Li, if it's Liu Xiao, if it's Mo Fei.

The words of these people.

I'm willing to trade it all.

It's worth it for me.

And as it should be.

"Huh?"

Ellie's eyes widened, and she let out a voice of inexplicable confusion as if she were looking at a mentally ill person.

Liu Xiao also pinched me.

Huh?

Am I getting something wrong?

"Puff-"

Serena-sama laughed too.

But this feeling of squirting laughter is as hot as Ellie's.

My face must be completely red, redder than the one I was picked up by the lord just now.

"In other words, you don't plan to go back on this contract, you want to protect this contract to the end, right?"

I looked up blankly and looked at Mistress Secelia.

Her expression didn't have the same serious feeling as just now, with a kind of royal confidence.

"Uh...... Yes"

Elle is in trouble to save my life.

How could I possibly complain about her.

This life can be disposed of with her, I do think so.

"Then Issadul Makusugi, I approve of the marriage contract between the two of you."

"Huh?"