Just because it was decided that Presia would stay by Troll’s side didn’t an they could just say, “Okay, you two get along now,” and leave.
First of all, Presia’s determination remained unwavering.
That’s why they proceeded with the conversation on the premise that she would stay with Troll.
“Well, I’ll explain it properly to David and the others. Hm, maybe I should practice a sad performance in advance?”
“Ancestor, if I ask Jiggly, will I really be able to see Lady Presia again?”
—Yes, I’ll try my best. But rather than speaking directly, it would be better to send a signal with gestures. Soone might overhear otherwise.
“What kind of signal…?”
—When it’s ti to pray, clap your hands three tis in front of the sli and pray. Since I might not be watching, it’s best to do it in the morning, noon, and evening.
“Oh, understood!”
“Um, Ancestor! Do you have anything you’d like to say to my grandmother?”
—Please tell her thank you for giving courage by patting on the back when I left for the Magic Tower.
“Yes! Ah, and… when the Saintess ets Lady Presia again, can I talk to you too? Compared to you, it’s nothing, but I want to talk about, um, magic!”
—I don’t really know much about magical tools. Are you okay with that?
“Of course!”
—I see. Ah, also… if possible, I’d rather you call Ventus instead of Ancestor. Even if I’m a lich, being called Ancestor makes feel too old.
“Ah… yes! Lord Ventus!”
“Even as a monster, you still care about your age, huh, brother.”
“Right.”
“Haha, so your heart is forever young…”
“Hehe, when I get to Chilture, I can et Tongtong!”
As they talked, they decided to create a story that Presia had lost her life together with the lich.
But if they simply said she died, the narrative wouldn’t look good, so they added another scenario.
A so-called succession ritual.
At the end of the battle, the lich regains his sanity.
But by then, Saintess Presia had already suffered serious injuries.
Repenting for his sins, the lich embraces his forr companion Presia.
In the lich’s arms, Presia entrusts the future of the church to the next saintess, Alia.
She then confesses her hidden feelings to the mage who beca the lich, and breathes her last.
And the celestial mage says, “I shall follow you to the end,” and burns away with the saintess’s corpse.
That was the story they crafted.
“Presia. Did you really have to include the confession scene at the end?”
“I do like secret love, but I want the world to know that I love you.”
Maybe this is what they an when they say late love is the most intense.
Having already confessed her love to Ventus, Presia was very aggressive.
—L-Love… I-I see.
“Ahaha! Look at him blushing! Hahaha!”
—Stop laughing, Nellin.
“Oh, I can’t help it, it’s too funny~.”
Once they had finished planning the story to be sent to the Holy City, Troll opened a warp and sent the others except Presia to the Hill of Saints.
“Hey, I’ll call you right after eting Tongtong, so hurry out, okay?”
—If I show up directly in town, my aura will cause panic. So co outside the town to et . Leave the sli behind.
“Why?”
—I have my reasons, so please understand.
“Well, fine… Pfft, enjoy your alone ti together.”
—Ugh!
“Everyone, please travel safely.”
“Lady Presia, if you need anything, please tell us next ti. Saintess Alia and I will do whatever we can to prepare.”
“Thank you, Paladin Paulen. Oh, and Gracie?”
“Y-Yes? What is it?”
Before the group left, Presia held Gracie’s hand one last ti.
“You must be feeling very confused right now. But don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll find the right path. Ventus and I will help you.”
Even though many shocking things had happened, Presia thought the one most shocked was Gracie.
After all, the person she respected as a ntor turned out to be the one who killed her ancestor and wished for her failure.
Hearing Presia’s warm words, Gracie’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Lady Presia… thank you!”
Of course, the shock hadn’t completely subsided.
Honestly, she felt lost about how to live at the Magic Tower from now on and couldn’t think clearly.
But knowing that the legendary hero, her ancestor, and Saintess Presia would help her lifted a great burden from Gracie’s heart.
After the group left, Troll really was left alone with Presia.
‘W-What now…’
Troll had never been in a romantic relationship, either when he was alive or after becoming a lich.
But it wasn’t like he felt awkward, overly embarrassed, or shy around won.
If that were the case, he wouldn’t have been able to travel with Presia and Nellin.
However!
Being alone with a woman who had openly confessed her love was an entirely different situation.
What should he even say?
No, more importantly…
‘D-Didn’t I… still not properly answer!?’
All he had said in response to her confession was that he was happy — he hadn’t actually told her how he felt about her.
Of course, from the atmosphere, it was pretty clear that he had accepted her feelings, but as a mage who liked to make things clear, Troll still felt that the situation was unresolved.
What if things got vague like this and Presia was hurt by not hearing his answer?
‘T-That can’t happen!’
Presia was soone precious to him, soone who had said she’d even beco an undead for him.
The thought of making such a person sad weighed heavily on Troll.
While he was worrying about all this…
‘I… I really went through with it.’
Presia was regaining her composure.
She didn’t regret what she had done, but she was aware that she had acted quite boldly.
‘I must have caused trouble for many people.’
Even though there was a new Saintess, Alia, she knew how big her presence was in the Holy City.
There would surely be many who grieved.
Because of her, she had made Nellin, Alia, Paulen, and the others lie.
But even so, Presia had no intention of taking back her choice.
‘Because now, I can stay by Ventus’s side with my true feelings.’
She didn’t want to have any more regrets.
‘I want to talk with you more. I want to see you more. I want to be with you longer. I want to stay by your side.’
"Ventus."
—Uh, wh-what is it, Presia?
Even the way he was startled in his nervousness looked adorable to Presia.
"Hehe, aren’t you trembling too much? When you fought us, you spoke so confidently and posed so much.”
—Th-that’s... ahem. I just wanted to look impressive in front of you all since it had been so long. But now…
"Now?"
—I-I feel embarrassed.
"Embarrassed?"
—O-of course! How could I not feel embarrassed being alone with the woman who confessed her love to ! And it’s none other than… you, Presia...
She felt so happy hearing that Ventus was embarrassed because of her.
The thought that he felt that way toward her, even though she had grown old, was both funny and joyful.
"Hehe, but I’m already an old lady. And yet you’re embarrassed?"
Though she was happy about her beloved’s reaction, her words carried a bit of self-deprecation.
—What are you saying, Presia. Didn’t I tell you that you’re still beautiful?
"Huh? But that’s..."
—I an it. I truly think you’re beautiful, even now.
"V-Ventus..."
"Besides, look at . I’m a complete skeleton!"
Hearing "you’re beautiful" from the man she loved shook Presia’s heart, which had remained calm through many hardships.
'Yes. That’s the side of you… that I fell for.'
But that was that, and this was this.
A woman always wants to stay beautiful in front of the man she loves, and her desire to stay by his side would never change.
That’s why.
"Hehe, I see. Then, when do you plan to turn into an undead?"
Presia truly ant it when she said she wanted to beco an undead.
Rather than only living about twenty more years with him, she thought it would be much better to beco a monster too and stay by his side forever.
Rather than showing him her further aging, she thought becoming a skeleton wouldn’t be so bad.
—That… I’m sorry, Presia. I can’t do that right now.
"Why not?"
—The magic to beco a lich needs more research. There is indeed magic to turn a human into an undead with a mind of their own. But that magic is specifically designed for mages. For a cleric like you to beco an undead safely… it needs much more… research.
"Ah, I see. That’s a sha… but I guess I’ll just have to wait."
Troll’s words weren’t wrong.
In reality, lich transformation magic was made for mages, so more research was needed to use it on a cleric like Presia.
But there was another reason.
He had only used the lich transformation magic once while alive.
Troll needed to reflect on the ritual and recall it in detail.
Also.
'If I turn Presia into an undead, there’s no turning back. That would basically… be like a proposal!'
To beco undead together and live by each other’s side forever was practically the sa as marriage in Troll’s mind.
That’s why if he were to turn Presia into an undead, he thought he should properly confess to her first.
'I-I need to think of a… a wonderful line! To live with Presia from now on… live? Ah!'
While he was struggling with his thoughts, Troll suddenly rembered sothing important.
—Presia! Are you hungry by any chance?
“Hungry? No. I’m not really hungry right now. It’s still a bit early for a al.”
—Then I need to think of sothing quickly. Even if I’m fine, you need to eat.
"Oh, you’re right. Ah, I do have so jerky with ."
—I can’t let you eat sothing like jerky! Wait just a mont! I’ll co up with a way right now!
Troll crossed his arms and quickly started thinking of a way for Presia to have a proper al.
'Ah… it’s been so long since I’ve seen that look.'
Even though he had beco a skeleton, his gestures when trying to solve a problem during their travels hadn’t changed at all.
Presia smiled as she watched Troll.
Seeing the man she loved working hard for her made her heart race and also gave her a sense of comfort, just by watching.
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