The Prince's Needlework
Era pulled out the scraps of fabric again. "Your Highness~ We're really going to make clothes today!" It was the same cloth she'd started working on a few days ago. The pieces had been left untouched, piled up in a corner of the room.
"...Again?"
"Yes! Because we didn't finish it last time!"
"...Last time we only ended up touching hair, though."
"...Hehe." Era subtly avoided my gaze. Her expression clearly said she didn't want to talk about it.
This time, I decided to set the boundary first. "...Era."
"Yes!"
"...Making clothes is fine, but I won't be letting you stroke my hair today."
"......!" Era visibly wilted.
"...Why not!" She must have secretly been looking forward to it.
"Because last time, we didn't get a single stitch done."
"...Tch." She pouted, but soon clenched her fists as if gathering her motivation. "Okay! Today I'll really focus only on the clothes!" she declared bravely.
Snip. Snip.
Era began cutting the fabric with a serious expression. I watched her.
Snip. Snip.
...But even after quite a while,
Snip. Snip.
...she was still just cutting.
"...Era."
"Yes!"
"...Are you still cutting?"
"Yes!" Her confidence in moments like this was actually a little annoying.
"..." I looked down at the fabric scraps. The length of time wasn't the issue. The problem was the pieces themselves. Every single one was a different size, the shapes were all crooked, and when I tried matching two together, none of them fit.
"...You said this was your first time, right."
"...Yes, hehe."
"...And that you've never made clothes before."
"...But cutting is still fun!" As she said that, she kept right on cutting.
"..." I watched her a while longer. The more she cut, the smaller the fabric became.
"...Hey, if you keep going, there won't be any fabric left."
"...!" Era stopped her scissors. Only then did she look down at the pile of scraps beneath her hands. What had once been palm-sized was now no bigger than her thumb.
"...Oh. You're right."
"......"
"......" Era poked at the fabric scraps dejectedly. The pile had shrunk to a size that could never become clothes.
I let out a sigh. "...Hey, untie my wrists."
"Huh?" Era's head jerked up in surprise.
"...No...!"
"I won't run away."
"...But..."
"Just untie them."
Era bit her lip, hesitating. "...You really won't run away?"
"Yeah."
"...I can trust Your Highness, right?"
"That's what I'm saying."
"..." After staring into my eyes for a long moment, Era finally spoke. "...Okay."
Slide. She untied my wrists. Somehow, she hesitated less than she had a few days ago. Maybe she'd started trusting me a little.
I rolled my wrists once and took the fabric and needle from her. "...You cut the fabric. I'll tell you how and where to cut."
"...Huh?"
"I'll do the sewing."
We started dividing the labor.
"Okay, this piece and that one. Cut up to here, and make that one a square..." I guided the shapes, Era cut the fabric accordingly, and I took the pieces and stitched them together with the needle. My hands moved on their own. One stitch. Another stitch.
Era stared intently at my hands. "...!"
"...?"
"...Your Highness, you're really good at sewing...!" Her eyes were wide with surprise.
"...It's nothing special."
"You're really good! A hundred times better than me—"
"...Anyone would be better than you."
"...Tch." Even though she pouted, her eyes kept sparkling as they followed the movement of my fingertips.
"Your Highness really can do anything!"
I paused my hands for a moment. "...No. I can't do most housework."
"...Really?"
"...Yeah. But sewing is the one thing I'm good at."
"...Why?"
I moved the needle again as I answered. "...Because I learned it from my family."
"Family?"
"...Yeah. When I was little. I learned by watching right beside them."
One stitch. Another stitch. The motion of joining the fabric overlapped with memories from long ago. The way someone had once guided my hands with theirs.
"Like this. Slowly."
It felt like a voice brushed past my ear.
"......" The hand holding the needle stopped for a moment. A heavy weight settled in one side of my chest.
...Mom.
"...Your Highness?" Era studied my face. "...What's wrong?"
"...It's nothing."
I started moving the needle again. I tried to act like nothing was wrong, but my hands seemed a little slower than before.
...Let's not think about it.
I organized my thoughts.
...She's already gone anyway.
In this world.
...And in the world I came from.
I slowly let out a breath and composed my expression. "...Era."
"Yes..."
"...For the next piece, cut it this size."
"Yes!" As if nothing had happened.
But Era glanced at me for a brief moment. Her eyes looked like she'd noticed something.
"..." Still, she didn't ask. Instead—
"Your Highness."
"...What."
"...Your sewing today is really cool."
Out of nowhere.
I looked at Era for a second. "What are you talking about all of a sudden."
"...Just. I just..."
"It feels like you learned from a wonderful teacher—"
"!!..."
"Hehe... If someone can sew so delicately, one stitch at a time like that, they must have such a kind heart too!"
Her words were light as usual, but her eyes weren't. They were eyes that carefully wrapped around my heavy heart, gently embracing it.
"......" I turned my gaze back to the fabric. "...Shut up and just cut the cloth."
"Yeees~"
Somehow, the heaviness in my chest felt a little lighter.
...Yeah, let's focus on sewing ag—
Right as I tried to concentrate on the clothes again—
Snip—!
Era had cut the fabric strangely again.
"...Hey, that's way too small."
"Huh? I thought it would fit perfectly?"
"How is a sleeve that small supposed to fit?"
"...We can just fold it!"
"If you fold it, it won't be clothes. It'll be rags."
"...Rags are warm too!"
Era insisted with complete confidence.
"...Era."
"Yes!"
"...You know this is for me, right?"
"Of course! I'm going to make something cool and dress you in it!"
"...With this fabric?"
"...If I try hard enough!"
...This is driving me crazy.
"Fine, then..."
"Just quietly do what I tell you. Stop being so stubborn— Ow...!" I pinched Era's cheek as I spoke.
"Aah!! It hurts..."
"Just answer me!"
"...Okay..."
"...Good. Then let's readjust this fabric first—"
At that moment, we both reached out at the same time to adjust the fabric, and our hands touched.
"...!"
"...!" We both flinched as if an electric current had run through us.
"...Ah, sorry."
"...It's fine."
But Era subtly moved her hand back and placed it on mine again.
"Hey."
"...What a coincidence~"
"...It's not a coincidence."
"...Isn't it?"
...Was this level of shamelessness what it took to kidnap a prince?
"Sigh..." I turned my gaze away.
...But I didn't pull my hand away, and neither did Era. With our fingers slightly overlapping over the fabric.
"...Ahem."
"..."
We both pretended not to notice and continued making the clothes like that.
After a long while, about half the garment was done. One sleeve and part of the torso. The shape was still quite crude, but it was starting to look like actual clothing.
"Oh! Look at this. It actually looks like clothes now."
"Really?!"
"...Yeah. Half of it, anyway."
"Wooow...!" Era covered her mouth with both hands, delighted.
But the sun was already setting.
"...Ugh." My hands were sore too. We'd been sewing for so long...
"...Era."
"Yes!"
"...Let's finish the rest tomorrow."
"...Huh?"
"My hands hurt, and it's getting dark."
Era looked disappointed for a moment. "...Can't we do just a little more?"
"...Tomorrow."
"...Tch."
But soon her expression brightened as if she'd thought of something. "...Then we'll make it together tomorrow too?"
"...Yeah."
"...Promise?"
"...Promise."
Era hugged the half-finished, crude garment tightly to her chest. "Hehe. Tomorrow with Your Highness again!"
"...Yeah."
Her face looked like she was dying of happiness. I watched her. The girl who was hugging that embarrassing thing—which could barely even be called clothes with its single sleeve and crooked fabric—like it was a treasure.
...What could possibly make her so happy?
The sun set and night fell. Era neatly folded the unfinished clothes and prepared for bed, but I couldn't sleep. The thought of my mother that had surfaced during the day, and the questions about my own body...
...This is the prince's body. Platinum Star Veins.
I suddenly looked at my wrist. The wrists that had been untied during the day but were tied again for sleep. The knot was still tight.
...I think I can undo this now.
I failed a few days ago, but...
The platinum-colored flow I'd felt a few days ago came to mind. Era seemed to be sleeping soundly beside me. Her breathing was even.
...It'll only take a moment. Just break the knot.
I closed my eyes and focused my consciousness inward.
"Hng...!"
The platinum flow was felt much faster than a few days ago.
...Got it.
I drew it up and sent it toward my wrist.
...Break.
But at that moment, from deep within my chest, something dark—not platinum—wriggled powerfully. It was as if it wanted to devour the platinum color.
'......!'
I panicked and tried to pull the power back, but—
'Wait—'
Whoosh—
It was already too late. A bit of holy power leaked out of my body. The air in the room shimmered, and then—
The rope on my wrist didn't break. Instead, it simply turned a dark, charred black.
"......?"
The moment I saw the mark, Era shot upright beside me.
"Your Highness!"
Era's voice was different from usual.
"...Era?"
She looked at my wrist. The black scorch mark left on the rope. The faint trace of black smoke-like residue at my fingertips. Era's expression twisted in an instant.
"Your Highness."
"...Uh, um, no, it's nothing serious... I was just trying to break the knot—"
"Did you use holy power?"
"......"
"I asked if you used holy power."
Her voice was trembling. Not with fear, but with rage. I could see the veins standing out on Era's neck.
"...Hey, I was just trying to break the knot for a second—"
"I told you not to!!!"
Bang—! She slammed the floor and shouted for the first time.
"......!" I froze on the spot.
-Vrrr -Vrrr
The room reverberated with the sound.
"Era..." Her black eyes had gone ice-cold as they glared at me.
"Why did you do it? Why!"
"...Just a moment."
"After I begged you so much—"
"..."
"Why did you—!" Era grabbed my shoulders and moved closer.
"...!" The suddenness of Era's fury made me unconsciously shrink back a little.
"...S...sorry."
...It was the first time I'd seen her like this, so I got a little scared.
"......" And when Era saw my frightened expression, she stopped in her tracks.
"...Ah."
Her anger drained away in an instant. In its place, panic and regret flooded in.
"...Ah, no. Your Highness." She hurriedly let go of my shoulders. "...I-I'm sorry."
Her voice grew small. "...I, I got too worked up..." Her hands flailed helplessly in the air. "...You must have been startled. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that..."
Era slowly steadied her breathing, as if trying to calm herself. She pressed a hand to her chest, then slowly forced the corners of her mouth upward.
"...He, hehe."
Whatever had been in her voice moments ago was gone. She was desperately trying to return to her usual face.
"...It's okay. You don't have to be scared."
"......"
"...Just. Just don't use it again, okay?"
Era carefully brushed the scorch mark on my wrist with her finger. "...This. It's dangerous."
"What's dangerous about it?"
"......"
But she didn't answer that question. Instead—
"...Just. Listen to me, okay? Please?"
She was smiling like usual, but the end of her laugh was trembling slightly. "...Promise me... you won't use it again...!"
"......" I looked at that trembling smile. It was far more frightening than the anger from moments ago.
"...Okay."
"...Really?"
"...I won't use it."
Only then did the tension leave Era's shoulders. "...Thank goodness," she murmured softly.
But in that moment, I became certain.
...This girl knows something.
Something I don't know about.
But even if I asked, it didn't seem like she'd answer.
At the same time.
Border entrance road.
Jork on horseback, along with the knights from the Maryeokche.
"...!" The adjutant suddenly yanked his horse's reins.
"...Chief!"
"What is it."
"Just now. There was another holy power reaction—"
Jork took out the detection orb from his pocket. A black crystal sphere.
"......" It wasn't platinum-colored.
Jork slowly lifted the orb. "...It's black."
The adjutant stiffened. "...Black Star Veins?"
"...No." Jork rolled the orb in his palm. "There's black mixed into the platinum."
"......Pardon?"
"It means there's black mixed inside the Platinum Star Veins."
The adjutant looked like he couldn't understand. "Is that even possible?"
"...It shouldn't be possible." Jork's eyes grew chillingly cold. He raised his head and looked straight ahead. Beyond the darkness, in the direction of Esh village.
"...To Esh."
"...At this pace, we'll arrive at dawn in two days."
Jork put the detection orb back into his pocket. "If the black mixed with platinum came from His Highness the Prince's body..."
"......"
"It means His Highness has been contaminated by Black Star Veins."
The adjutant swallowed dryly. "...Then..."
"We eliminate the source of contamination." Jork spurred his horse. "Increase the speed."
"...Yes!"
The sound of hooves grew faster. The black coat fluttered in the darkness.
Esh village. A small room.
Era was carefully wrapping the scorch mark on my wrist with a piece of fabric. "...If we cover it like this, it won't show."
"......"
"Hehe. All done."
After wrapping it completely, Era gently placed her hand on top of it. "...Your Highness."
"What."
"Thank you."
"...!!"
"...Thank you for what."
"You know~ For promising not to use holy power anymore?"
"..." It was a lie. There was clearly a deeper reason...
"Yeah... anyway, let's sleep."
"Hehe... Yes!"
I didn't want to ask any more. Because I didn't want to see Era angry again.