The banquet drew to a peaceful close before midnight.
There were no villagers so drunk they couldn't walk; everyone headed home on their own two feet. Of course, it went without saying that golems holding lights were stationed at key points throughout the village to illuminate the path home.
Jin personally guided Lishia and Pascoe to the guest rooms on the second floor.
"Wow, so this is the style of your homeland, Jin-san!" Lishia exclaimed, deeply moved by the sight of the tatami. "Mmm! It has such a lovely scent!"
She seemed to have taken quite a liking to the fragrance of the rush-like grass.
Pascoe, meanwhile, was guided to a room with wooden floorboards and a bed. While he didn't find the room itself particularly remarkable, he seemed astonished by the quality of the magisilk bedding.
"Thank you for everything, everyone."
Once things had finally settled down, Jin spoke to Elsa and Mine, who had helped with the preparations and the banquet itself.
"No, I didn't really do much," Elsa replied.
"Jin-sama, I am merely your employee," Mine added.
Both Elsa and Mine shook their heads in humility. Meanwhile, Hanna had already fallen fast asleep.
"Jin, it would be a shame to wake her now, so let Hanna stay here for the night," Martha suggested before she headed home. Jin agreed and spoke to Ruby 101, who was standing nearby, instructing her to set out two sets of bedding in his living quarters on the fifth floor.
"Understood," Ruby 101 replied before heading off to prepare the futons.
"Oh, that's right. Belle."
Jin called out to Belle as she returned from finishing the cleanup.
"Starting tonight, I'd like you and Barrow to stay here in the castle as well."
Until now, they had been essentially boarding at Jin’s house.
"Your rooms are on the second floor. I've made sure you each have your own space."
"...Eh? We get our own rooms?" Belle whispered in surprise, mindful of the sleeping Hanna.
"Yes. Ask Butler B for the details. Butler B, if you would?"
"As you wish, Master."
"Ah, Barrow's just getting back, too."
Thus, Belle and Barrow were led up to the second floor by Butler B.
"..."
In the midst of this, Jin noticed Elsa watching him as if she wanted to say something.
"Hm? Elsa, what is it?"
Elsa opened her mouth hesitantly. "...Jin-nii, I'd like to try staying here too."
Elsa was particularly fond of the combination of tatami and futons. Knowing this, Jin gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Sure, why not? Shall we have you stay in one of the other Japanese-style rooms then?"
"No, I want to be with Hanna-chan."
"Together? But... that's my room."
"Ah."
Realizing the implication of sleeping in Jin's quarters, Elsa blushed slightly.
"Well, I understand. Then Hanna and Elsa can sleep in the living room on the fifth floor."
"Thank you." Elsa’s face brightened as her request was granted.
"Mother, I'm going to stay here tonight."
"Yes, yes, I see... Jin-sama, please take care of Elsa then."
With that brief exchange, Mine gave her approval. It was a sign of just how much she trusted Jin.
"Shall we go then?"
"Mm."
Jin had Reiko carry the sleeping Hanna while he led Elsa up the stairs.
It was quite a climb to the fifth floor, and while Elsa wasn't particularly winded, Jin found himself breathing a bit heavily.
Good thing I had that hidden elevator installed...
Though he couldn't use it openly, Jin felt inwardly grateful to Laojun for hurriedly installing an elevator inside the central pillar.
"Jin-sama. Is Elsa-sama joining us as well?"
Ruby 101 had just finished setting out the bedding.
"Sorry, it turns out Elsa is staying too. Could you put two sets in the living room? One set in my bedroom will be fine."
"Yes, understood."
She grabbed the ends of the futons she had already laid out and moved them with ease. She gently tucked Hanna in, and once she had prepared a fresh set for Elsa, her work was done.
"Good work. You're dismissed for the night."
"Yes. Good night."
Ruby 101 bowed and headed downstairs.
"Butler C, you can stand by downstairs for the night as well. Reiko is here with me."
"Yes, Master."
"Well then, Elsa, I'll leave Hanna in your hands. The toilet and washroom are on the north side."
"Mm. Leave it to me."
"Reiko, keep an eye on things as well."
"Yes, Father."
Jin didn't think Hanna would have any accidents, but he worried she might get disoriented in the middle of the night or fall down the stairs while half-asleep. Considering she had drunk quite a lot of juice during the party, his concern wasn't entirely unfounded.
The living room where Elsa and Hanna slept and Jin's bedroom were separated by sliding doors in a completely traditional style.
"...By the way, Elsa, do you want to see something before you go to sleep?"
"?"
Jin beckoned to Elsa and led her up to the sixth floor.
Climbing the narrow, steep stairs brought them to the very top of Nidou Castle. It was a square room about ten meters wide, with a thick central pillar. More importantly, large windows were set into all four walls, leading out onto a terrace.
"Wow..."
Outside, it was pitch black, beneath a sky brimming with stars. Looking down, the lights of the village houses were scattered like glowing embers.
"It must be a beautiful view when it's light out."
"Yeah. You should come back and see it tomorrow morning."
Jin paused, allowing a moment of silence to pass between them.
"..."
Then, he spoke again.
"...I met Her Majesty the Empress."
"!"
Elsa’s shoulders gave a small, sharp twitch.
"She spoke to me quite warmly," Jin continued. "She even personally guided me to the archives."
"...I see," Elsa replied softly, her gaze fixed on the starry sky.
"...Do you want to go back?"
Jin finally voiced the question he felt he needed to ask.
"...Eh?"
At those words, Elsa turned to look at him. Jin’s expression was a complicated mix of a gentle smile and a trace of sadness.
"...I also met Berche-san. She and Reinhard seemed to be doing very well together."
"......"
Elsa looked down in silence, lost in thought.
"This place is wonderful... Everyone is so kind. And I'm with Mother, too."
After a long pause, Elsa began to speak, her words coming slowly.
"...But the Shouro Empire is where I grew up. My home is there."
Gazing back at the stars, she spoke each word as if searching for her own truth.
"My house. My room. I can't say I don't miss them."
Then she looked at Jin again. Her eyes were shimmering, filled with tears that threatened to spill over.
"I find my father difficult to deal with... but I had friends there too, even if it was only a few. It would be... a lie to say I don't want to go back."
As Elsa's voice choked up, Jin reached out and gently stroked her head.
"...Jin-nii?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked up at him with a startled, wide-eyed expression.
"Ah, sorry. Force of habit."
Jin apologized and withdrew his hand. Then, he spoke firmly.
"I promise you, one day, I'll make sure you can return to your homeland with your head held high."
"...Mm."
Elsa whispered a soft reply and rested her head against Jin’s shoulder.
Ah, I've gone and made her cry...