Chapter 130: Broken Diamonds, Brightest Light

“…The sun has set.”

Jay realized how much time he had spent idly. He felt embarrassment as if his face would turn red again.

“I prepared this time.”

Philius hesitated again about which side to choose. Whether to blame himself for leaving Jay alone since early in the morning for this time, or to look forward to Jay’s reaction upon seeing what he prepared.

“You prepared something?”

“That’s why I left you alone.”

This time too, Jay answered as if choosing the correct answer.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The thoughts wavering in Philius’s head also tilted completely to one side following Jay’s words. Yet on the other hand, he reminded himself. That he wouldn’t let the time spent alone outside become this long in the future.

It wasn’t just because Jay skipped a meal while alone. It was because he felt anxious.

If such anxiety was a phenomenon following imprinting, Philius could gladly accept it. Even if called an unusual sentiment.

It felt like confirmation that he and Jay were inseparable.

[Movere.]

Philius raised magical power and chanted a spell. Jay was looking at him with round eyes.

Diamonds popped out from the pouch placed on the floor to wrap a blanket around Jay’s shoulders. Reflecting the twilight irregularly, Jay’s eyes widened even more.

“Broken diamonds…”

Light that couldn’t come from perfectly cut diamonds handled by Jay sparkled. It was light reminding him of old memories.

“We promised to try again when synthetic diamonds are completed.”

He kept the words spoken in boyhood, which were hardly a promise. It was light reminding of Philius’s first Rut experienced by Jay.

It was brilliant and splendid. The light without any threat was just beautiful. The sunset reflected on broken synthetic diamonds, having no value as gems, became even more brilliant. Even natural diamonds cut with great effort might not be able to emit such beautiful light.

Such a thought occurred in Jay’s mind. That this is magic created by this moment.

Just when he thought it was regrettable that the light disappeared as the sun set, the light emitted by broken diamond fragments became brighter conversely.

Eventually, when even twilight disappeared and darkness settled, the broken gems sparkled like stars.

Jay finally spoke the words he had only been thinking inwardly.

“It’s like magic.”

Magic must have really been used. Since diamonds cannot emit light by themselves unlike stars.

But Jay’s words were magic in a rhetorical sense, far from the truth. This time itself was like magic.

Starting from the fact that Philius remembered words that passed by fleetingly.

“Do you like it?”

“Very much.”

Jay couldn’t turn his gaze away from the light created by irregular cross-sections, which could be called crude, different from the brilliance of perfectly calculated gems.

How long was his gaze stolen? The sound of people’s footsteps was heard in Jay’s ears. Sounds of dragging something were also mixed in.

People walking through the light set up a dining table in the garden in an instant and disappeared soon.

Seeing all dishes covered with lids, Jay couldn’t help but laugh.

“Is this part of the plan too?”

At the question asked in formal language, Philius’s one eyebrow twitched.

“…Correct.”

Seeing him affirming obediently even so, Jay thought. Someday, probably not far in the future, he would be able to speak informally to Philius naturally. Even without being conscious.

“Is today a special day?”

Although it still requires quite some effort. Still, sooner or later… Jay’s mind continuing the thought stopped for a moment at Philius’s following words.

“The day I first met you.”

“The day you first met, me…?”

“Yes.”

“At Billy’s pub…?”

“It’s also the day you first came to this house.”

It was a day he hadn’t even thought of.

Actually, Jay had few days to celebrate. The wedding ceremony held a few months ago was his first anniversary. Since he doesn’t remember the past, he couldn’t know his birthday, and even if he had memories, he probably wouldn’t have known exactly when his birthday was. Lux Splend wasn’t a father who would make his son remember his birthday.

In fact, Jay himself didn’t remember properly the day he first came to this mansion. Only remembering the season was autumn.

It was a strange feeling. That there is someone who remembers and celebrates a day even he doesn’t remember.

Seeing Jay’s expression of bewilderment rather than joy, Philius asked carefully following up.

“Could you know your birthday in the other world you remember?”

It seemed he was worried there might be a story where he couldn’t remember his birthday properly even there. It was an attitude impossible unless he completely believed the story that he lived a life different from now in another world.

“May 12th.”

That’s why Jay answered as if possessed. Because he believed the unbelievable story.

“May, 12th…”

Philius repeated Jay’s words as if engraving the date in his mind. At that sight, a smile formed on Jay’s lips.

“Is the food special too?”

Jay paid quite some attention to speaking informally. Using formal language at his convenience and making Philius’s eyebrow raise didn’t seem like a good choice at this point.

“Depends on how you think.”

Seeing a smile rise on his lips too, Jay knew his choice was right.

“Can I open it?”

“Of course.”

Jay opened the lid covering the plate. The light emitted by broken diamonds scattered on the floor illuminated the table brightly even after complete darkness settled. Seeing the food revealed like that, Jay opened his eyes roundly.

“Can you eat this?”

Although it became formal language unconsciously, this time Philius didn’t raise one eyebrow either. Understanding Jay’s embarrassment.

The food on the plate was all cooked with scaleless fish. Food Jay likes very much, but definitely unfamiliar to Philius.

To set this table, Philius had sent the chef to the port. To get ingredients and learn recipes.

Recipes started from Jay and modified appropriately by children to suit Henians’ taste turned into plausible dishes through the chef’s hands. It looked appetizing to Jay, but it was uncertain if it would be so to Philius.

That scaleless fish are unholy beings was words useful only when there is belief in God. Although Philius doesn’t believe in God, he couldn’t help being reluctant about food seen for the first time. Jay worried about that.

“Looks delicious.”

But Philius grinned like a mischievous boy.

Actually, for today, Philius had tasted dishes like the ones served now in advance. If he showed reluctance at unfamiliar food, he wouldn’t be able to create a pleasant anniversary for Jay. It was possible to plot things without his knowing because Jay’s sleeping hours increased these days. It was a time when Jay, who used to notice everything happening in the mansion, became a little dull.

It wasn’t just because of the promise in childhood. Although there was definitely a desire to share the food they said let’s eat together someday, more importantly, it was the fact that Jay once said in passing, “I want to eat seafood.” Seafood dishes were served on the dinner table the day he said that, and although Jay ate well, Philius knew. That what Jay truly wanted to eat was food cooked with scaleless fish like today. Dishes made with ingredients like eel or octopus that made the chef make a disgusted face citing unholiness even though Philius ordered it.

Philius lifted his fork first and tasted the food.

“Delicious.”

There was no need to force an expression. Dropping prejudice, they were really delicious food.

At Philius’s nonchalant appearance, Jay’s eyes opened wider.

And soon he also lifted his fork.

“…Delicious.”

Jay’s eye corners lowered slightly. He seemed to like it very much. For Jay who had lost his appetite recently, he showed rare concentration on food. It was worth plotting. Only after watching that appearance quietly did Philius move his fork again.

If a deeply religious person saw the current scene, they might have made a fuss saying penitential prayers should be offered. To some people, it was that important. But for Philius, it wasn’t something requiring determination just to eat the same food as Jay.

It was a day with many events. It was also a special day. Yet it was also a time merely being one single day among countless days where nothing happened.

Just as today’s dinner is special yet ordinarily delicious food.

In the future, there will be more days to celebrate. The day of the wedding ceremony, Jay’s birthday, the day the child is born, etc.

Conversely, there will be more days with unexpected events.

Philius felt he could wait even for those with joy.

Seeing Jay’s hand movement moving the fork becoming a little faster, Philius couldn’t hold back a pleased smile.

If such days will continue, there was no reason not to wait for the future.

The future was anticipated.