Four Days
Four Days
Renisa's scolding was brief.
Since they were now in the position of fellow attendants, it was nothing more than a bit of sharp criticism meant to avoid confusion for the remaining time. Rather, as a knight of Itisel, she seemed greatly surprised and deeply satisfied that someone who had built a close friendship with the imperial princess was an acquaintance of Ragnis.
From what I heard, someone who was either the captain of Esmue's escort or the captain of her Royal Guard had come and spun a tale that she had taken me away, but having already witnessed Esmue flustered and hesitant when she first visited the mansion, that crap clearly didn't fly with her.
Anyway, that so-called captain was unmistakably a hardcore Esmue fanatic.
Because she didn't voice any objection, they treated it as if my coercion was no different from her having taken me away—that's what it boils down to, right?
It was chilling all over again.
"By the way... do you happen to know what the Margrave and Her Highness the Princess intend to discuss?"
"No. I only know that the two of them deliberated for quite a long time before they returned."
It had been roughly three hours since the lesson ended. I was so damn curious I wanted to eavesdrop, but I had neither the skill nor the manners for that, so I decided to just sit quietly in the living room.
I'm nothing if not perceptive! I know this much is my fault.
"Skipping without notice might've been a bit much after all."
Still, my employer was Ragnis, and I'd acted way too impulsively. It was exactly like some lowly employee throwing their weight around just because they're friends with the boss. I'd make sure to apologize properly for this.
Since that captain claimed the princess had taken me away, the two of them were probably talking, but either way, once the conversation ended, I'd be the one summoned.
◈
"The Royal Guard Captain reported that Esmue had taken Eldmia away."
The atmosphere flowing between Ragnis and Esmue was neither bleak nor fraught with wariness.
There was only Ragnis, maintaining a calm and feigned businesslike attitude, and Esmue, sitting with a relaxed and ordinary manner, sipping her tea.
"It is false. However, from his perspective, it is the truth."
"What... do you mean?"
"I did not refuse Eldmia's actions or opinions. For the future emperor of the Empire not to refuse is no different from consenting. That is why the Royal Guard Captain described it as me taking Eldmia away."
She meant that a subordinate cannot take a superior. After saying that, Esmue let out a self-deprecating snort.
Feeling as if a dreamlike time had passed and she was returning to reality, she made the excuse that the tea was to blame for the slight bitterness creeping in.
"That is what it means to be both a genius and a member of the imperial family. Every action is forced into a mold where one's decisiveness cannot be questioned and one's resolve cannot be doubted. Having many capable subordinates is certainly a blessing, but... even you know, do you not? Loneliness is separate from all of that."
"...He is a commoner."
"A commonplace excuse that, despite knowing how to dig into the essence of an argument, you will not even apply to yourself."
Wearing a faint smile as if amused, Esmue met Ragnis's eyes squarely and stated firmly.
"Marquis. Duke. Prince of a foreign land, king of a foreign land. Before me, all those titles are no different from a commoner."
At that unwavering answer, Ragnis felt a light shiver run through her entire body.
There was neither doubt nor arrogance in those eyes. She did not even mock Ragnis for being a mere margrave of a single kingdom. She had simply stated the truth with complete composure.
Others might feel jealous of that fact, but from the person speaking's standpoint, just stating facts gave no reason to feel superior.
"I have no intention of letting Eldmia go."
It was a remark like driving in a wedge, but Esmue's attitude remained utterly consistent.
"I graduated early because there was nothing more for me to learn at the academy and no useful connections left to gain there. It was better to wrestle directly with the real power brokers in politics, and that is exactly what I did."
Four years like that. She became the heir apparent.
"You understand what it means for me to spend those four days solely on Eldmia. I know you do."
"I... understand."
She had misjudged her based on appearances alone. At first, Ragnis had thought Esmue was no different from the other young ladies at the academy with stars in their eyes for Eldmia. Because of that, Ragnis herself had failed to see her opponent clearly.
How had she believed she was blinded by half-hearted love and romance? Because of the small, cute appearance? Because of the voice that sounded so young?
The woman before her had earned the title of future emperor.
"Of course, that does not mean I will show a coercive attitude or force things with power. However, I will not hesitate to use the cards I hold either. Just as I gave my all for the position of emperor, I will give my all to love Eldmia."
Asilie was both Eldmia's benefactor and a long-lived elf. Because of that, Ragnis had unconsciously seen her as an insurmountable wall. Asilie's presence was enormous in Eldmia's life as well.
That was why. She had thought that even being the second didn't matter. She had believed at least that much was possible. She had never imagined that her confidence would crumble in this form.
Esmue, sitting before her eyes, felt like a wall as massive as Asilie.
"What will you do?"
"Pardon?"
"Why so surprised? You react as if you thought I would coerce you, saying, 'Therefore, give up Eldmia and retreat.'"
Esmue sipped her tea with an indifferent expression, but Ragnis couldn't even lift her own cup despite how dry her mouth felt.
"I am no fool. I am a genius. At first, I thought the Ogatorf family had lent you a capable retainer because you still lacked influence, but I no longer believe that. I do not know what connection you had, but surely it was you who drew the dragon sleeping in Ogwen to the capital. Your father belonged to the royal faction... perhaps your paths crossed while the noble faction was on your tail? With an achievement like that, the Ogatorfs who went to receive you must have accepted him into their household."
She couldn't know everything, but she could infer that much. Esmue shrugged and spoke as though it were nothing.
"And before that, the gap in the time when you were hiding... you might have received his help. Of course, ordinarily one would say, what could a brat from that time possibly do? But I am not ordinary, so I keep even that sufficiently within the realm of possibility. Once you think that way, your affection makes perfect sense. Considering Eldmia's complete lack of awareness... it's a bit absurd, but is it not possible?"
No matter how different their nations were, refusing to back down with the future emperor standing before her was no easy thing. Esmue valued that, and decided to offer advice to Ragnis, who could even be considered a rival in love.
"I do not know what you are waiting for, but to obtain what you desire, you must reach out your hand. Not to knock others down so they cannot obtain it."
After taking her last sip, Esmue rose naturally from her seat. Even though she had called her out, Ragnis could no longer keep Esmue from leaving.
Ragnis had planned to keep the conversation formal while quietly probing Esmue's intentions, but Esmue instead hit her with a blunt, direct question.
"M-may I ask just one thing?"
"Hm? What is it."
"Why... why did you suddenly become so interested in Eldmia in just one day?"
At the question that came just as she was about to open the door and leave, Esmue smiled. Not mockingly, just as if it were amusing.
"To me, everyone is ultimately a subordinate. Regardless of how I treat them, they all act as though they firmly believe that too. Even those who boldly flaunt their power are the same in the end. Stripping away those masks is part of my job, so I can say that with certainty."
The answer, offered as if there was nothing to ponder, continued.
"Until now, there have been exactly four. Those who acted confidently before me."
"Four?"
"My parents. The Hero. And Eldmia."
Without waiting for a response, Esmue opened the door and stepped out, leaving her final answer through the closing gap.
"And the one who treated me like an ordinary girl, as someone on the same level as himself, was only Eldmia. Does love not bloom on equal footing?"
Ragnis did not follow. Esmue did not pay it any particular mind either. Doing even this much for a rival was an incredible kindness. It was a level that made her unable to stop marveling at her own magnanimity.
"Is the conversation all finished, Esmue?"
When she came down the stairs, Eldmia, who had been sitting by the living room hearth, stood and asked. No other servants were visible. Whether by separate orders or because it was mealtime, Esmue was pleased by that.
Because she thought it would be quite nice if someday they could enjoy a life of leisurely resting just the two of them like this.
He was an infuriating man who made her develop petty complaints about many things she had lived a lifetime without dissatisfaction about.
"Hm. I will take my leave now. More importantly. Bend down a moment."
Eldmia made a face as if wondering what this was about but still obediently bent his waist, but after he did, Esmue had to admit she was mistaken.
"Tch. Your legs are too long for that to mean anything. Kneel!"
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Yet the way he obediently knelt again was rather cute. Despite his rather sharp appearance, he had an unexpectedly warm side.
"When one is tied to a single goal, one tends not to see one's surroundings. Do you not know this?"
"I suppose...?"
"Then why do you know it yet fail to practice it?"
"Huh?"
She was a little embarrassed, but she decided to show courage befitting the next emperor.
Summoning all her courage, Esmue gently cupped Eldmia's cheeks, overcame her pounding heart, and lightly kissed him.
For a moment, she had the illusion that the world became quiet.
She felt she could not pull herself together because of the faint body heat felt on her lips. She wanted to scold her past self who had thought it would be nothing more than touching lips, telling her to stop spouting nonsense.
As the pounding of her heart seemed to echo from her ears through her entire head, she ended the brief kiss and found Eldmia staring back with his eyes uncharacteristically wide. That was a relief. If he had worn a calm expression, she might have wanted to die on the spot.
"Look around you a little more. I do not know what your goal is, but I can tell you have as little breathing room as I did."
"...Huh?"
"For the record, that was my first kiss."
Afraid that if the flustered Eldmia recovered, she herself would lose her nerve, Esmue headed straight outside.
Then she climbed into the carriage her Royal Guard Captain had prepared as if fleeing.