Home/I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family/ch72

Chapter 72

Before she knew it, winter had passed, and spring flowers had begun to bloom in the Academy gardens.

The Easter break, given before the spring semester.

It was only a short vacation of about two weeks, but Ber had been looking forward to this day for months.

I'm finally going home—our home!

As Ber's excitement made her laugh aloud, Einja turned and chuckled.

"You seem really happy."

After the boar incident, whenever Einja used formal honorifics, Ber had insisted she drop them—so now Einja could speak naturally to her. Ber grinned and nodded.

"Of course! This is the first time I've invited a friend home!"

Friend. Einja murmured with a moved expression, but Ber was too excited to notice.

"First, I'll introduce you to the Sled Dog Knights when we get home. No—Anna first. She's my personal maid and a former Sled Dog Knight—she's so kind I wish she were my real sister! And you can't miss the food at Grizzly Castle—the Head Chef's cooking is really, really...!"

"Miss Grizzly!"

A sharp voice rang from the front of the line.

"Be quiet in the corridor."

"Sorry, Madame."

At the supervising teacher's reprimand, Ber immediately apologized and fell silent. But her excitement hadn't fully subsided—her lips soon curved up again.

The students filed in a single line toward the Great Hall.

Today's schedule was for all Academy students to gather in the Great Hall to commemorate Easter, then disperse.

The Albero Empire had no official state religion, but there were a few nationally observed holidays—one of which was Easter.

The goddess Eostre, from the founding myth. Her powerful healing power was said to have appeared to the people like raising the dead. So during Easter, many took time to give thanks to the goddess who had once protected the Empire.

At the Academy, the event ended with reading the founding myth and bowing toward the goddess's image carved into the Great Hall's stained glass.

"Okay, I'll meet you in the garden!"

Ber answered Louis, who'd called from afar, and turned to Einja.

"Einja, let's go."

She called, but Einja stood with her hands clasped, head bowed, unmoving.

For some reason, whenever she came to the Great Hall, Einja seemed to pray toward the goddess's image.

Since she was a healing goddess, she was probably praying for health or longevity—Einja's adoptive grandparents were already quite old.

"...Thank you."

Having finished her prayer, Einja finally raised her head.

In truth, whenever Einja saw the goddess's image in the Great Hall, she thought of Ber. And so, she'd gotten into the habit of offering thanks to the goddess.

Thank you for letting me meet Ber, Goddess.

Though the incarnation was right beside her, she wasn't sure who she should be thanking.

"Let's go, Einja!"

When Ber took her hand and pulled, Einja glanced at the stained glass one last time, then turned without hesitation.

---

It was Alexei who had come to meet them at the Academy.

After Ferdinand, Louis, Einja, and Ber boarded, the carriage departed.

It rolled slowly along the spring-flower-lined road. Louis called out to Alexei, who was riding alongside as escort.

"Hey, Alexei. Looks like you've gotten even bigger since I last saw you!"

"Ah, does it seem that way?"

"Whoa, what's this—your voice is deeper too! Come on, spill. How did you train to get those broad shoulders!"

As the two exchanged banter through the thin carriage wall, Ber, who'd been talking with Einja, turned her gaze toward the curtain.

"Really. The armor suits you much better now. Is it because you're in better shape, like Louis said?"

"......"

At the honest compliment, Ber smiled as she looked at Alexei. Each time her gaze met his, Alexei's face reddened in real time.

"...Thank you."

Barely managing a reply in a voice that might or might not carry into the carriage, Alexei spurred his horse and rode ahead.

"Anyway, when we get to the North, it might be a little cold. Maybe we'll even see some snow..."

Ber quickly turned her attention back to Einja and continued their conversation.

Einja, however, was watching Alexei race ahead.

With a wary gaze.

After about two days of travel, they arrived at Bjorn.

As Ber had said, snow was falling. Compared to the midwinter snowfall, it was light—but to Einja, not used to snow, it was a fascinating sight.

"Here, you might be cold—use this."

"Ah."

Ber draped the scarf she was holding over Einja's shoulders. Einja had brought her own clothes and tried to decline, but Ber's attention had already moved elsewhere.

"Young la-dy!"

"Anna!"

A white-haired woman came running from inside the castle, effortlessly opening the iron gate that seemed twice her height, and reached out her arms to Ber. Ber called her name and embraced her without resistance.

After rubbing cheeks and greeting each other familiarly, the two turned to Einja.

"Einja, this is Anna, my personal maid I've told you about."

"Nice to meet you, Einja-nim. I've heard a lot about you from the letters! To think Lady Ber would have a friend from outside the castle—I'm a little jealous!"

"What are you saying."

Patting Anna's arm, Ber laughed.

Seeing her happy face, Einja was certain.

This place was nothing like the Viscount's household.

This family would surely protect Ber.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Einja Oakley."

Einja greeted Anna with a faint smile.

A peaceful atmosphere flowed between the three of them.

---

Einja was scheduled to stay at Grizzly Castle until just before the break ended.

The spring break was short, so she'd hoped they could spend a longer holiday together in summer—but since Einja wouldn't want to leave the clinic empty, they'd set a rather tight schedule.

On Einja's first day, a banquet was held in the Great Hall. On the second, a snowball fight started during a garden tour thanks to Louis's mischief. On the third, they visited the greenhouse with Rib. On the fourth, they left the castle and headed to Bjorn's central streets.

Day by day, they enjoyed themselves—and before she knew it, the break was nearly over.

The last night at Grizzly Castle.

As always, a meal was set in the Great Hall. Though it was a modest gathering of only the Grizzly members and Einja, the food was top quality.

They didn't have to go this far.

Thinking she'd send a thank-you letter to the kitchen later, Ber glanced at Einja.

"So now I can understand all of Ber's animal language."

"Louis, I told you to stop exaggerating. By that logic, I can understand every single bit of Ber's animal language."

"You're both being ridiculous!"

When Ber interrupted, Louis and Ferdinand burst out laughing. Watching them, Einja soon joined in.

Good. She looks really happy.

Over the past few days, Einja had been treated like the most honored guest at Grizzly Castle.

Even without Ber's asking, everyone in the castle seemed to have made a pact to receive her warmly—probably because she was Ber's first-ever friend.

Ber's heart warmed at everyone's consideration.

Well, with this much goodwill, things should be fine.

Her warm thoughts were brief—Ber's mind quickly shifted to calculation.

Einja won't oppose our family.

Look—her hair color is even similar to Ferdinand and Louis's, so they almost look like siblings.

Just as Ber was smiling contentedly, Theodor rose from his seat.

"I have work to attend to—excuse me."

With a brief farewell, Theodor moved to leave. Einja seemed to hesitate for a moment, watching him—then bowed her head.

Meanwhile, Ber excused herself and followed Theodor out of the hall.

"Count!"

She called out as Theodor had already started up the lobby stairs.

At his daughter's voice, Theodor stopped immediately.

Ber bowed her head first.

"Thank you for letting me spend the break with Einja, Count."

"...It's only natural. She's sponsored by our family."

Though he spoke matter-of-factly, Theodor seemed somewhat shy.

"Um, Count. There's something I've been curious about."

Encouraged by Theodor's warm response, Ber got to the point.

"Why did you agree to sponsor Einja?"

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