Calyx’s eyes widened, but he soon fixed his expression and straightened his back. He couldn’t help but understand Dimla. With the situation on the continent in disarray, the opportunity to visit Lagos with his sister lay in the distant future. And in that long period, Dimla could fade and disappear. So this was their last meeting.
Rosaline seemed to realize that too. She fell to her knees in silence. Calyx also knelt down beside her. The foreheads of the two siblings touched Dimla’s tightly gripped hands. Dimla smiled softly and kissed the brother and sister on the cheek.
“Please dress warmly, as per my will.”
“Yes.”
“… Yes.”
“Empty all three bowls of rice and eat meat well; this is also part of my will.”
“Yes, I eat well!”
“…”
Word quickly spread that Lagos’ delegation had left. Some people were dissatisfied with those who came to other’s festivals only to leave without enjoying or celebrating. However, everyone knew that the Emperor, the main character of the festival, remained quiet about their departure. Even though the civil war had ended, it would not be easy for Lagos to dispel the resulting chaos. Someone needed to keep the peace.
But even then, wouldn’t it be better to have come later so their visit coincided with Founding Day? Doubts were raised, of course. Could it be that Dimla didn’t have the heart to celebrate Illavenia’s founding day? No one could be sure because no one had asked.
Perhaps they left on a whim. Or maybe they had a reason to rush back to Lagos. The rumors were innumerable.
Of course, Dimla was right to avoid Founding Day… for someone’s sake.
***
The touch of the warm lips lingered on his cheeks for a long time. It was only about two seconds, but Elpidio felt it was twice as long. No matter how much he tried to bear it, he couldn’t stop his face from crumpling. His expression was a mixture of annoyance and pain, like a person who had stubbed their pinky toe.
Haqab smiled brightly even after seeing such a face. His impressively white teeth looked neat.
“…Welcome, Prince Haqab.”
“Thank you for your hospitality, Prince Elpidio.”
It was fun because it was a more vivid reaction than Ricardis’. Inside Elpidio’s Quartz Castle, the influential heirs of the two countries sat facing each other in a splendid drawing room.
“How did you like the martial arts competition?”
“I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited at the thought of seeing the famed Illavenian martial arts competition that I had only heard about. It was a great match, so I can’t complain about the lack of sleep.”
Haqab’s sparkling eyes looked beyond Elpidio as he reflected on the contents of the match. Elpidio nodded with his eyebrows furrowed. In his opinion, there were a lot of terrific rounds other than the final. Because of Rosaline’s presence, most of the participants were strong contenders, and the difficulty of the martial arts tournament naturally rose.
After the finals, Rosaline’s appearance as the Emperor bestowed her a sword was stunning. Even Elpidio admired it. An eagle that appeared cutting through the sky stirred the arena around and created a gust of wind. It looked so majestic, and people believed it to be the incarnation of Idelavhim. The hairs of his neck stiffened when he thought of the Emperor, who had been in a good mood, celebrating drunkenly. He was like a pitiful puppet dancing in Ricardis’ hands…
Elpidio’s eyes went fierce. Haqab looked at Elpidio, who was quietly gnawing on his anger, desire reflected in his eyes and face. Your desire reflects your thoughts, and a person who expresses his thoughts like this cannot be easy. Haqab showed his teeth as he smiled.
“Sir Rosaline’s excellence has only been heard in words. Seeing it with my own eyes was even more amazing. It was like seeing the bright future of the Illavenian Empire.”
What’s with this madman? Isn’t somebody else standing here right in front of you? Elpidio bit his lip. It would hurt his pride to bring it up first. How is this any different from saying that our side was regrettable? However, Elpidio finally spoke out. It was he, not Haqab, who was disappointed.
“My… brother was in a big incident because of the mission to Balta. As his older brother, I am happy that Ricardis has had a peaceful life recently. But not all that worry has left me, and I’m worried about them. Who knows when the Black Moon will rise again…”
Then, he moved his gaze from looking at the distant sky to Haqab. Haqab raised a corner of his mouth and smiled. It was a different kind of smile than before.
“Wouldn’t… the Black Moon suffer a lot, too? I think they didn’t expect that there would be such a powerful mage in Illavenia. Haha. Even fellow Illavenians didn’t know, so their ignorance was to be expected. Still, thanks to hiding it so thoroughly, she seemed to shine even more in that moment of crisis. What a relief.”
Elpidio gnashed his teeth. Wasn’t it because of your lack of information? You have mages next to you, and you didn’t even know? What have you been doing?
“Idelavhim helped him. However, even after defeating the raiding party, the Black Moon is still alive. They are a persistent group, so I don’t think they will back down after just one failure.”
“They have done great things to harm the Emperor. Now that they have failed, wouldn’t they choose to observe the situation? All the eyes and ears of the continent will be paying attention to the Black Moon, so they must know that if they move recklessly, they will only end up eating their own flesh. Their leader also has some sense.”
No, you don’t. Elpidio almost grabbed him by the neck.
“…I suppose so. Still, I’m worried that it will become more dangerous as more people from other countries come and go during this time. Wouldn’t that be a good opportunity for them?”
“Opportunity! Haha. That’s a good word.”
The wrong response came when Elpidio told Haqab to do something as he slithered into Illavenia. Elpidio narrowed his brows. Are you crazy? What’s wrong with that?
Opportunity! Opportunity! Haqab murmured and even hit his knee. The shiny gold ornaments reflected in his eyes. Desire surged. It was so stark that Elpidio questioned it.
“Prince?”
But Haqab wasn’t looking at Elpidio. His black eyes hovered around the edge of the table. He slowly stroked his chin.
“I’m here for an opportunity.”
His eyes cast into the distance, like when he pictured a game.
***
“You’re beautiful.”
Rosaline’s reflection swept across her own face. Hessa brought a small mirror to show her hair curling around her head. It was impressive to see the braids tied together in between them.
She liked today’s hairstyle too: if she suddenly turned her head, her hair wouldn’t hit her face. Rosaline nodded in satisfaction, and Hessa responded with a smile.
Ever since Hessa’s arrival, Rosaline’s hairstyles have varied. Different braids, different parting, half ponytails, being straightened with a hot iron, etc. He said that he learned from the maids. But with work, swordsmanship, and life in the castle, how did he have time to do that?
The weariness of life was evident on the tired boy’s face. However, he happily laughed as if he had forgotten his tiredness when he saw Rosaline enjoying herself.
Leticia, who had been watching, marveled at the hairdo.
“You’re better than me.”
“Because I’m more dexterous.”
Leticia reached out her hand, and Hessa clapped her palm. The lesser knights and Hessa had become much closer. Rosaline’s former apprentices treated him like a younger sibling without being territorial. Hessa, who had built a wall against anyone other than Rosaline, was gradually breaking down his defenses. He, of course, was still at odds with Eberhard, but compared to the beginning, one could pass it off as cute teasing.
Leticia, laughing happily, suddenly changed her expression into a scary one. In her hand was a blunt wooden dagger hidden in her sleeve. In an instant, the fake blade rushed toward Rosaline’s nape.
Rosaline only nodded to avoid the attack coming from behind.
Leticia didn’t give up and took another swing aimed towards her shoulder. Rosaline turned around with a swish, grabbed her wrist, and turned it outwards.
“Argh!”
Following the twist of her muscles, Leticia’s body turned naturally and showed her back to Rosaline. Rosaline snatched the wooden dagger from Leticia’s hand and brought it to her neck.
Leticia raised her opposite hand.
“I lost.”
Freed, Leticia gave an expression of blatant regret.
“How could you attack when I was in front of a mirror? I could see everything.”
“I tried to catch you off guard, making you think I wouldn’t dare attack you in front of a mirror…”
“You’d better not do that next time.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
Rosaline sat Leticia in front of the mirror and recreated the situation from earlier with their position reversed.
“I could see you like this.”
Rosaline hid behind Leticia. Her face reflected in the mirror, but her body remained obscured, making it difficult to see.
“Stabbing me in this state can be effective.”
She mimicked Leticia’s attack with the wooden dagger.
“You can see my arm moving, which will set you on alert. So rather than your right hand, use your left one.”
The left hand secretly stabbed Leticia in the back of her neck. Even in the mirror, it was a perfect blind spot.
“And Sir Leticia attacked after she finished speaking, which is not good. The point where you stop laughing and talking is perfect for people’s eyes to gather. So if you do it while talking, the success rate will be higher.”
