"By the way, have you already decided on the child's name? If not, I can think of a good one—"
"Ah, n-no. Actually, we already had a name picked out a long time ago."
"I see..."
At Meteria's answer, Riveria looked genuinely disappointed. Did she like coming up with children's names?
I had the vague feeling I'd seen something like this before...
As I was mulling over that unremarkable memory, Arphia unexpectedly reacted to the comment.
"Meteria. That name... don't tell me..."
"Yes. I already told Arphia about it, didn't I?"
She smiled happily and stroked her belly, as if touching something precious.
"It's the same name as Arphia's bell. I want this child, who will be born someday, to grow close to Arphia too."
"Meteria..."
"How touching. This is how family should be."
Riveria nodded with a satisfied, full-bellied expression, as if she'd just seen something wonderful. I knew it was rude to think this way, but...
She looks old.
I wouldn't say it out loud, of course. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was somehow like an elder.
"..."
"...? Hey, witch. Your little sister just said something so nice, so why do you look so sour?"
"Shut up, old woman."
"What did you say?!"
Riveria bristled at Arphia's blunt insult. But Arphia's expression remained clouded with gloom.
By then, even Riveria, who had been quick to flare up, sensed that something was off. She began glancing around cautiously.
"...Is something wrong?"
"Hehe, Arphia's just worried sick."
"...This is not worry."
This was not worry, but an unavoidable future.
"...Is the mother's condition bad?"
Finn, having caught on to the atmosphere, casually tossed out the question, and the mood in the room sank. Meteria was rarely seen outside, but everyone here already knew the truth.
No one could say for certain whether frail Meteria would be able to endure the pain of childbirth. That was why tonight's banquet was also a gathering to pray that she would safely make it through that ordeal.
And yet everyone knew it. They knew it was nearly impossible.
"Hehe... I'm sorry, everyone. I've made you all worry so much because of me."
"I see... Yes, that's not something we can laugh off..."
"It doesn't feel like someone else's problem. I've had a similar experience myself."
Illness does not only hurt the person who has it. Even when it isn't contagious, the pain slowly spreads to everyone around them and makes them suffer too.
Everyone had secretly done what they could for her, but no clear solution had been found. All they could do was hope her life would last one more day.
Meteria understood everyone's feelings, so she tried to live each day as fully as she could. And yet, the reason she had become pregnant in the first place was—
"Still, right now, I feel more alive than ever before."
"...I see."
"Yes!"
At her bright smile, no one could bring themselves to say anything. Even Ais, who couldn't quite follow the conversation but could tell the atmosphere had turned strange, was only making soft, confused sounds as her eyes darted around.
"...H-Hey, Riveria."
"What is it, Ais?"
"Riveria... did you have friends?"
"...What?"
Ais, who had been watching the mood, quietly asked Riveria that, and Riveria was so stunned she forgot the atmosphere entirely and just stared blankly.
How much time passed after that?
"...Pfft."
A snort of laughter escaped.
"Bwahahahahahaha! Riveria, Ais just completely dismissed you!"
"D-Don't laugh, you damned Pallum brat!"
Finn, who was always so composed, burst out laughing, and Riveria, flustered by my dazed expression, shouted in protest.
...Come to think of it, Riveria really does have a temper.
Thankfully, the heavy mood from earlier began to lift again. Right, this gathering wasn't made for that kind of atmosphere.
"Honestly, I'm a little surprised. I thought royals wouldn't have friends."
"Hey, you too—what are you saying?!"
"Royal or not, this one doesn't really look like she'd have any friends in the first place."
"Tch, be fair, [Silence]! I'm older than you, you know?!"
"Then that's even worse. An old woman who's only gotten older and still looks this pathetic..."
"You—!"
Thump. Five or six thick veins bulged on Riveria's forehead. At this rate, I was half convinced she might die of high blood pressure.
"Ahem. Come to think of it, Riveria, that friend of yours..."
Trying to change the subject, I started to speak, then stopped myself. In hindsight, the way I'd phrased it could easily have sounded like I was asking whether she was dead. I regretted it immediately.
"Hm? Ah, don't worry. She's still alive and well."
"Is that so?"
Riveria seemed to notice my concern and added a clarification.
"Who do you think I am? I've abused my authority as a high elf princess to force her to keep living. She's already had her second child."
"Oh? That's surprising. If she's that weak, how...?"
Arphia sounded genuinely astonished. I was just as surprised. How had she managed to give birth to a second child with such a frail body?
"Heh. I told you, didn't I? Abuse of authority."
Riveria puffed up proudly, clearly enjoying our reactions, and sipped her drink.
"It was an innate illness, so a full recovery was impossible, but I used my own private funds and authority to make medicine for Aina. She may not be healthy, but her life is no longer in danger."
"I see. You're surprisingly compassionate... Hmm?"
Arphia had been listening with a dismissive air, but then she noticed something odd.
Were there really that many illnesses in this age that couldn't be cured? With potions and healing magic so developed, most incurable diseases had long since disappeared.
And yet a disease that couldn't be treated...? That was almost like...
"Can you tell me what kind of illness it is?"
"Hm? Let me think..."
And after Riveria's explanation, Arphia became certain.
That woman Aina's illness was definitely the same as Meteria's.
"...Isn't that a bit of a leap?"
Her words did make some sense, but it still felt too early to be certain. Could an elf and a human even suffer from the same incurable disease?
"Race doesn't matter much. Even gods can get sick."
At that, I was convinced.
Come to think of it, even our goddess had once been laid up with a cold.
"Hey, how do you make that medicine?"
"W-What? I don't really..."
"Tch, useless woman."
"What the hell..."
Riveria flared up, but the atmosphere had already overwhelmed her, and all she could manage was a shrinking voice. For some reason, I was starting to feel a little sorry for her.
"Where is that woman your friend is with? We're leaving at once."
"Don't be ridiculous. Aina still needs to remain stable!"
"You're the one being ridiculous. There's nothing in this world more important than Meteria."
"A-Arphia! Stop it, it's embarrassing!"
Arphia was finally calmed down by Meteria, who was shouting with a face flushed red in what seemed like genuine embarrassment. But having glimpsed a sliver of hope, Arphia was now completely fixated.
No, she wasn't the only one. Countless gazes, large and small, had all reacted to Riveria's words. In an instant, Riveria and Finn, who had been standing beside her, found themselves feeling like prey surrounded by beasts.
"W-What is this? You want to fight?"
"R-Riveria, stop! What if this really turns into a fight!"
The two of them panicked at the sudden turn of events. In the middle of that, Ais quietly reached for the alcohol, so I scooped her up and spoke.
"Riveria. Could you possibly distribute even a little of that medicine to Meteria?"
"Hm? Well, that much..."
"Vesta-kun... you don't need to make such a request..."
Meteria waved her hands in embarrassment at my words, but this was not something to brush aside.
I might have acted like it was nothing, but I was just as shocked by how things had turned out. And besides—
Throb. Throb.
Pain rose from deep inside my body. The kind of pain that, if I let my guard down, could easily make me curl up on the floor crying. My conviction only grew stronger.
I had to ride this current.
"I was raised by my grandfather without my parents, so I understand the sorrow of a child without parents. If possible, I want this child to grow up in their parents' arms."
"Vesta-kun..."
"...Hah. I went and said something unnecessarily heavy."
My words left them with complicated expressions.
"Don't worry. I've already decided that I'll repay you someday. And..."
Riveria looked at Ais.
"I also believe a child should grow up in their parents' arms."
"Then..."
"I'll have the medicine delivered as soon as possible. It should arrive within a week at the latest."
"...Thank you."
"No need for thanks. I told you, I'm repaying a debt. Don't worry about it."
Riveria awkwardly sipped her drink. But under the continued stares, she cleared her throat in embarrassment and opened her mouth to change the subject.
"Ahem... Anyway, we've drifted off topic. So, what are you going to name the child in the end?"
"Ah, I hadn't said it yet?"
Meteria clapped her hands as if she had just remembered at the question.
Then, with the most radiant smile I had ever seen from her, she said,
"Bell."
And the next words pierced straight through my lungs.
"Bell Cranel. That's the name of the child who will be born."