A Touch of Jealousy
“Rud!”
As soon as Ludenberg Lavante returned to the Itara Palace, he saw Ashytara Solenute greeting him with unrestrained enthusiasm.
“Tara. Did everything go well?”
“Yeah. But where’ve you been?”
“Just took a short walk. Staying cooped up in the palace all day was getting stuffy. And I’m still not in great shape for any real training in the practice hall.”
“You didn’t go meet someone, did you?”
“Nah. Who would I even have to meet?”
“Oh, come on… like Professor Nah Tes. You’ve been seeing her a lot lately.”
“Why bring up Professor Nah Tes out of nowhere?”
Ludenberg asked with genuine puzzlement. He’d had some recent interactions with Professor Nah Tes, sure. But oddly, Ashytara seemed to harbor intense wariness about him meeting the professor.
“Well… she’s a beauty, right? And super popular with the students.”
“Yeah, she is.”
Ashytara’s expression soured slightly as Ludenberg innocently agreed that Nah Tes was beautiful.
“That’s why I was wondering, just in case.”
“Wondering what, exactly?”
“Well…”
Ashytara looked genuinely frustrated.
“It’s weird how Professor Nah keeps showing interest in you. She doesn’t do that with the other kids.”
Only then did Ludenberg grasp what she meant.
What nonsense is she spouting?
He pressed a hand to his forehead and turned to her.
“So, you’re saying Professor Nah Tes seems to have romantic interest in me?”
Ashytara finally nodded.
“Yeah.”
“What the hell? There’s an eleven-year age gap between me and Professor Nah Tes. Why would someone like her be interested in me?”
Ludenberg said it with utter disbelief.
“Because you’re handsome. Isn’t that reason enough?”
“Handsome or not… anyway, that’s never gonna happen.”
“Really?”
“I’m telling you. I’m not even interested in that stuff. I don’t have time for romance when I barely have time to train.”
Ashytara flinched at his words.
“R-Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then… oh, Rud. Have you eaten yet?”
Ashytara quickly changed the subject. Ludenberg had no desire to dwell on it either, so he went along.
“Not yet. You?”
“I just ate. Should’ve waited if I knew…”
“Why wait around for that?”
“Why? To eat together!”
“I’m so full from lunch anyway, I probably don’t need anything… I must’ve overeaten.”
“You’re still recovering—how can you skip meals? Eat properly, got it? Wait here. I’ll have the maids bring something light.”
Ashytara put on a stern face.
“Huh? Sure.”
And so, under Ashytara’s persistent gaze monitoring whether he ate properly, Ludenberg endured a somewhat awkward meal. He wondered why she fussed over him so much, but recalling how close he’d come to death not long ago, he accepted it sweetly.
Well, she’s always made a bigger fuss than me whenever I got hurt… It’s been a while since she’s worried like this.
“What?”
Ashytara asked, meeting his lingering gaze. He shook his head.
“Nothing.”
As she tilted her head in confusion, a faint smile tugged at Ludenberg’s lips.
Time flew by. The names of those lost in the recent Salvation Cult attack were engraved on the Sun Tower, and Ashytara’s birthday loomed just around the corner.
With some leisure time, Ashytara and Ludenberg caught up on lost conversations, sharing how they’d spent their time apart. Ashytara gasped at tales of his grueling training after age twelve and asked if he was okay now. Ludenberg reassured her not to worry and expressed interest in her stories instead.
Ashytara began recounting her own experiences since then—the priestly duties as a Solem priestess that her sparse letters hadn’t fully captured.
“What? You studied doctrine for a whole week straight?”
“Yeah. I thought I’d die of boredom. And they made us memorize it all… I couldn’t take it.”
“That’s intense.”
“And that wasn’t all. Then they drilled martial skills every day in the practice hall. Sparred with my sister daily… and learned saint laws too.”
“Must’ve been tough for you.”
“Think I had it worse than you, fighting erosion beasts head-on at that age?”
“Doesn’t mean you didn’t suffer.”
“I’m fine now anyway… Thanks to it, I did pretty well at Solemnute Adem.”
“Did well, huh… Speaking of, with all this, what about midterms and finals…?”
Ludenberg brought up evaluations, as if it had just occurred to him.
“No idea. Normally, they’d give us three weeks after the dispatch to do midterms… but now? Who knows.”
“And we’re behind on other classes too. Literature, history.”
“Yeah. Guess we’ll just check the schedule when it drops. Not too worried.”
“Me neither.”
“Cocky much? Wanna bet?”
“Bet?”
“Yeah. Loser grants the winner one wish.”
“That’s too stacked in my favor.”
“Won’t be easy. I’m damn good at theory. I’ll outscore you in theology and saint law.”
“We’ll see.”
“Fine. Overall grades it is. Deal?”
“What’s the prize?”
“Same as always: one wish. Sound good?”
“You’re on. Don’t cry when you lose.”
As the two rekindled their bond, the Itara Palace maids worked together to prepare Ashytara’s birthday. Ludenberg carved out time to hole up in his room, scribbling replies to her old letters—hours at a time, out of character for him—and picked up the completed pendant he’d commissioned for her.
The radiant golden, perfectly round pendant bore an engraving of Ashytara’s favorite flower, crafted with evident care.
Ludenberg was highly satisfied. It exceeded his expectations.
Worth every coin. Hope Tara loves it.
Fortunately, the maids’ reactions were positive. It wasn’t overly adorned with jewels, yet not too plain either. The natural beauty of the solium metal shone through the craftsmanship, earning the maids’ approval of his taste.
“Her Highness will love it. You have a great eye, Ludenberg.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. Just one more day.”
The maids smiled brightly, and Ludenberg smiled back. Hard, painful days were passing, giving way to better ones, bit by bit.
Ashytara opened her eyes. The weather was especially fine today, matching her mood. Just standing filled her with vitality.
Realizing what day it was, she remembered: her birthday. And also the anniversary of her mother, Empress Itara’s, passing.
“Right… birthday today…”
She murmured sleepily. She already knew from Sione there’d be no separate birthday banquet, so she held no special expectations. It’d just be another ordinary day.
If anything, she was glad the maids wouldn’t tire themselves over it. Satisfied not to burden anyone, she stretched in her bedroom and opened the window.
Early morning still. The bustling Itara Palace came into view. Propping her chin, she watched the maids at work—hanging laundry, scurrying about with cheerful laughter. The sight filled her with quiet pride.
Gotta visit Mother tonight.
With that resolve, Ashytara began her day as usual.
“Her Highness has a cough. Breakfast was brought to her room.”
“Good. I’ll draw attention… you all finish preparations. Can you make it by lunch?”
“Yes, of course. We’ll time it perfectly.”
Ludenberg nodded and headed to the practice hall. He figured diligent Ashytara would surely come there. His hunch was spot on.
“Rud? Training?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure you’re up for it?”
“Maybe just some light running. Or I could check your swordplay. Might help.”
“Works for me. But don’t push too hard—you’re still a patient.”
“I’m almost fully recovered. Don’t worry so much.”
“…Fine, for now.”
“Let’s start. I’ll watch.”
Ashytara nodded and assumed her stance. The tip of her cross greatsword—tall as she was—pointed at the ground. She swung it up, beginning her forms.
The swordplay was fierce yet fluid, riding natural momentum. Accelerating smoothly, it seemed flawless at a glance. But Ludenberg spotted the flaws.
Too hasty. Power’s not fully loaded. Rotations lack depth. Makes sense—no father’s guidance for years…
“Hold up, Tara. Stop.”
“Huh? Figure out the issue?”
“Yeah. Wouldn’t have seen it before… but now it’s clear. Your strikes feel rushed, missing the rotation they need. No real power behind them. Here, lemme borrow your sword.”
“Okay.”
Ludenberg took the sword and demonstrated her forms. In that instant, Ashytara’s eyes widened.