A mellow smell of tea filled room 106. It was an rare smell considering the tea they normally drank. And the person preparing that tea was someone rarely seen in room 106.
“Please just wait a little longer, Reios-sama.”
“It's okay, let's take it slow, it's the weekend after all.”
Elfaria was sitting on the opposite end of the tea table to Koutarou. She was the one preparing the tea.
It was Sunday today and all of the girls had left to go buy swimsuits, leaving only Koutarou behind. As he was pondering what to do, Elfaria appeared. Seeing that he seemed to be free, Elfaria prepared him some tea.
“Oh yeah, there was something I wanted to ask you.”
Koutarou and Elfaria were rarely alone together. Since Theia or Ruth were always with her, there were several things he wanted to ask but couldn't. Fortunately, neither of them were here, giving them a chance to talk.
“I don't mind, as long as it's not about my age.”
Elfaria casually nodded whilst looking at the tea leaves stirring up inside of the glass pot. Elfaria had nothing to hide from Koutarou either, apart from her age.
“What is Theia's dad doing right now?”
Koutarou had heard about Theia's mother, Elfaria, before, but he had never heard about her father. That's why he had always been interested, but he didn't know if it was something he could ask Theia. So Elfaria was the better one to ask.
“Theia doesn't have a father.”
Elfaria shook her head.
“What do you mean?”
“I had a fiance determined for me, but he died of an accident before we married. ...So his sperm that had been cryopreserved just in case was used for artificial insemination.”
“So that's why... no wonder she never mentioned her father.”
“Yes... that's why I believe I've made her feel lonely all this time.”
Elfaria had raised Theia on her own. Since she was the empress as well, raising a child was incredibly difficult. That's why she had collided with Koutarou and the others. If it wasn't for Ruth, who knows what would have happened. Elfaria regretted that.
“But that's not the case anymore. You're here, and she's made friends.”
“Yes. While this might be imprudent to say in this situation, having been chasen out of my country... I am incredibly happy to be able to see Theia smile like that.”
Elfaria smiled, her eyes turned gentle. She was looking at Koutarou, but he felt like Elfaria was only thinking of Theia at the moment.
“Can I ask you something else?”
“Yes.”
Elfaria rubbed her eyes and nodded. She hadn't cried because she was unhappy so her expression was bright.
“Was it your doing that caused Theia to come to this room?”
This was another thing that he was curious about.
It was unthinkable to believe that the daughter of his friend from the past had come to this room for her trial by just by pure chance, especially since the trial was decided at random by a computer.
“Yes. I sent Theia here, because I knew you would be here.”
Elfaria easily confirmed Koutarou's suspicions.
“Why did you do that?”
“There were two reasons.”
Elfaria raised two fingers and showed Koutarou.
“The first was the protect Theia. By having her by your side, I was hoping that you would protect her.”
“That sounds like you.”
Koutarou could understand the reason clearly. If it was Elfaria's daughter, Koutarou would protect her unconditionally. That said, Koutarou had already formed a bond with Theia before he met Elfaria.