The Princess (2)
After lunch, Esilia led Dante toward the imperial palace, leaving Sara and Lady Talain Raquelra behind at the villa.
"Well, this is the sort of thing I usually do~"
"You mean tormenting people?"
"Heh. Tormenting? It's true I made Lady Raquelra suffer, but that was just a means to an end, not the goal."
From inside the rattling carriage, Esilia gazed out the window as she spoke.
"Lady Raquelra is the type who'd start a war just to prop up her pride."
"...How do you know that?"
"I can tell just by looking! As a woman myself, I know all about a woman's pride~!"
Esilia chuckled softly.
"The empire is full of idiots like her—a whole basketful. Girls born as women who hole up in the women's world, thinking it's the whole universe, like frogs in a well."
"..."
"She has no idea what it means to pick a fight with an Aision. She's just throwing a tantrum on impulse, and you think I'd let that slide?"
"Hmm. That's a bit different from what I heard at the ball."
"Well~ things changed because of certain people~ Royals are fickle like that~"
Out of pure curiosity, Dante asked,
"What do you plan to do with Lady Raquelra?"
"Fix her up and use her. Even rotten, she's still a Raquelra... With proper training, she'll turn into something useful, right?"
Dante nodded.
"There won't be any more idiots rushing at Sara~ Lady Raquelra will make a fine example~"
"You kept your promise."
"Of course! Now it's your turn, you know that, right?"
"I can lend you my magic anytime."
Dante replied calmly.
"But I can't do anything that would tarnish my family or honor."
"Ahaha, I know. I'll give you an honorable order befitting a fine earl's family, so don't worry."
Assassination. Background checks. Tailing. If she ordered any of those 'dirty jobs,' Dante could refuse her command outright. He could always fall back on the excuse that it was dishonorable for a noble.
The carriage came to a stop.
"This place..."
Dante squinted. A restricted access zone loomed right in front of them.
"Father's palace."
"..."
Laurel Palace
The building where the emperor resided, commonly known as the Laurel Palace. There was one piece of common knowledge every noble knew about it.
Never enter, no matter what.
Because—
"...You're going to see His Majesty?"
"Yes. Follow me."
The emperor of the empire had been suffering from an incurable disease for the past ten years.
The emperor was dying.
He'd holed up in the Laurel Palace, not stepping foot outside even once... for ten whole years now. For the sake of absolute rest, all unauthorized entry was strictly forbidden. Even 'accidental' trespassers faced execution.
Yet a 14-year-old girl strode fearlessly into the restricted zone. Dante followed in her shadow like a ghost.
The emperor's palace. The air in the Laurel Palace was thick and humid. Humidifiers were clearly running to maintain the proper moisture levels.
"Princess."
The servants bowed their heads and froze whenever they crossed paths with her.
Snow-white corridors. Servants in white robes.
The whole place feels like a hospital.
The Laurel Palace had long since transformed into a ward for the emperor's convalescence.
"I'm here to see Father."
"He just took his medicine. He hasn't fallen asleep yet, so please go in."
A man who appeared to be a high-ranking noble said this. He then turned his gaze to Dante and narrowed his eyes.
"Princess. Who is this...?"
"A mage. I brought him to check on Father's condition."
"...Bringing an unverified mage is—"
"He's the eldest son of the Aision family. I confirmed his magic myself."
"..."
"So, could you step aside?"
The noble bowed and retreated. But his eyes stayed glued to Dante, unwilling to let go. It was only natural to be suspicious of some sudden shady mage.
Of course, Dante cleanly ignored the stare. With the princess's protection, there was nothing to fear.
Esilia led Dante to the deepest part of the palace. The emperor's bedchamber. The place where he'd been recuperating for over ten years.
Esilia advanced without hesitation. She parted the white curtains, revealing a weary, aged man.
That's... the emperor of the empire...
This was Dante's first time meeting the emperor in person. No, most imperial nobles probably hadn't either. He hadn't left the palace in over ten years, and aside from a select few, no one could enter.
"Who has come?"
"..."
"..."
The emperor spoke with his eyes closed.
Esilia bit her lip for a moment, then replied in a steady voice.
"It's me, Father."
"Ah... my daughter... Esilia has come."
The emperor opened his eyes. They were cloudy, devoid of any spark.
Dante didn't know much about the emperor's condition—but even so, he could tell.
The emperor was dying.
"Hm...? Who's that?"
The emperor pointed at the unfamiliar face.
"Dante Aision. Eldest son of the Aision family."
"I greet Your Majesty."
Dante knelt and bowed his head, following the etiquette his parents had taught him.
...Of course, the emperor couldn't even move his head.
"Rise. I wished to see your face."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As Dante stood, the emperor glanced briefly at his face before closing his eyes again.
"Aision... How fares Bergen?"
"My grandfather remains in good health."
"That... son of his, who was it?"
"Lennon Aision."
"Ah, right. So now Lennon Aision is the family head?"
"Not yet."
"Heh heh... So vigorous. Bergen is. I'm envious. Truly envious..."
A faint smile flickered across the emperor's face and vanished. Likely reminiscing about his own healthy days of old.
"Esilia. The air here is stale. It's time for you to go."
"I just got here, Father."
"This isn't a place for you to linger. Now, did the debut ball go well?"
"...Yes."
"You're already 14. In a few more years... you could succeed me."
"..."
"I'm tired. Time for me to sleep."
The emperor fell silent, as if truly about to drift off.
Esilia gazed quietly at her father.
How much time passed? She whispered to Dante.
"Lend me your magic now."
"As you command."
"...Check Father's body. See if there are any bugs inside."
Dante released his insect mana. If any bug was hiding in the emperor's body, it would react to his mana without fail.
"..."
But Dante found nothing. Not even a common roundworm. The emperor's body, meticulously maintained, was impeccably clean.
"No bugs at all."
"...I see."
Esilia nodded.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
After leaving the Laurel Palace, Esilia strolled through the gardens for a bit. Suddenly, she said,
"Dante. Could you check my condition too?"
Dante scanned Esilia's body as well.
...Unlike the emperor, something was detected in Esilia's gut.
"There's something in there."
"Is there?"
"Looks like a symbiotic bug... Have you met a bug tamer by any chance?"
"Hmm. Can you remove it?"
"...To extract a bug from someone who's not a bug tamer, you'd need surgery or to pull it out through the mouth or anus."
Esilia shook her head with a startled expression.
"No thanks!"
"Very well... But what is that symbiotic bug?"
Esilia stretched languidly and said,
"Just curiosity. I found a bug tamer and asked them to implant one."
"...?"
"I wondered if you could detect bugs inside me. And if Father was infected with something, I wanted to know what that felt like..."
Dante shook his head.
"You're too bold."
"I figured it'd be fine. And besides, I have..."
Esilia peeked her head forward, a playful smile on her lips.
"...you, Dante?"
"My magic isn't omnipotent."
"Still! I believe you're way better than those mediocre bug tamers!"
"Well, I'm not lacking."
Esilia burst into giggles. Then, sobering up, she said,
"Father really just has an incurable disease, it seems."
"..."
"It would've been nicer if it was some mystery bug infection. You could've solved it heroically and gotten a reward~"
Dante gave an awkward smile. It'd be great if he could help the emperor, but... he was just a 15-year-old boy. Still lacking in magic and experience.
A breeze blew in from beyond the garden. Esilia brushed back her platinum blonde hair and faced it.
"Dante."
"Yes, Princess."
"If we... grow up in a few years. Could we work for Father? For the empire?"
"Of course."
"Liar. You're not the type to work for the empire."
Esilia turned back, a faint smile on her lips. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, as always.
"You've never flattered me once, have you?"
"I'll take that as a complaint about my lack of flattery."
"Ahahaha! Not your speaking skills! I'm the princess of this country, right? Of the imperial family? Yet aside from asking you to look after your sister, you never approach me?"
Dante just smiled. Should I be the one approaching you? Why?
He just wanted to study magic. And beyond that—learn about his deceased birth mother.
Dante was content with his current life. Adopted into a wealthy noble family, living happily with his siblings. It was worlds apart from his previous life's crushing burdens.
No ambitions to play politics in this fantasy world or become a kingmaker.
The house was swimming in money anyway. Why bother flattering the princess?
"Maybe because I'm not your sister... you don't pay me much mind?"
"Sara's a handful."
Esilia turned her head playfully and said,
"I'm a handful too."
"..."
"Ahh, why was I born the eldest daughter? It'd be nice to have a reliable big brother to spoil me and grant all my whims."
Esilia chuckled.
"As you can see, the imperial family's not in great shape. Father's collapsed, and Uncle's ruling as prime minister in his stead."
Dante said,
"Are you anxious?"
"..."
Bullseye.
Esilia... was anxious.
Father was down, Uncle was prime minister ruling the empire. In a few years, when she came of age, she could become emperor.
...But would things go as planned? Would her uncle acknowledge her? Hand over power willingly?
"You don't trust the prime minister."
"Yeah... well."
Esilia answered dazedly.
"I've even had ridiculous delusions like, 'Maybe Uncle's the one who made Father like this.'"
"..."
"Of course, that's impossible~"
The dark affairs of the imperial family. Dante knew better than to pry. He was just a noble from an earl's house.
"That's why I want to gather people."
Esilia said with serious eyes.
"Of course, being a girl... I want to gather as many as I can reach."
Noble ladies. The empire's young ladies couldn't defy the princess. She was the noblest woman in the realm.
So Esilia sought to rally like-minded ones.
"No matter what happens, I don't want to just sit back helplessly."
"I understand."
"So... I want you to stay in my grasp for a long time, Dante. No, I don't want you slipping away."
Esilia reached out a hand toward Dante, then hesitated. She smiled awkwardly.
"You'll become a fine gentleman, so you probably won't listen to a girl's whims. Still... I'm your sister's friend... and... I want to be friends with you too..."
Dante thought for a moment. This was undoubtedly a major turning point.
Building ties with the princess meant he could borrow the imperial name anytime. Friends with the imperial family in the empire? What could be better?
But in return, he'd have to look after her regularly. She wasn't a secure heir with a paved path. If she weren't desperate, she wouldn't be meeting him alone like this.
High risk, high reward. She needed a peculiar bug mage, and in exchange, she'd sponsor him.
...Honestly, if it was just for practicing magic, befriending her offered little gain. Magic came from dedicated study.
But... for the Aision family, it was worthwhile.
Dante had three younger siblings. Not blood-related, but precious all the same.
Dante opened his eyes. He'd decided.
He'd befriend the princess.
Sara was already under her protection. Valentina could be too. It was for the Aisions.
So Dante extended his hand to Esilia.
"I believe you value promises, Princess."
"..."
"You've kept yours to me well. So I think we can share many more in the future."
Esilia smiled awkwardly.
"Ahaha... Thanks, but a handshake is a bit..."
"Uncomfortable?"
"Even with no one watching... shaking hands with an unrelated man feels a tad improper..."
Dante didn't withdraw his hand. He didn't like her putting up walls. Since he'd decided to side with her, better no barriers.
Man or woman—what did it matter? Friends were friends.
"Even with your friend's brother?"
"Friend's brother... Hmm...!"
"I want to be friends with you, Princess. Friends who don't fuss over gender."
"...!"
Esilia tentatively offered her hand. But she kept her eyes on the ground.
"Since I'm Sara's friend... I can be friends with her brother too...!"
Dante swiftly clasped her hand. A brief shake.
Esilia pulled away and bolted.
"I-I just remembered something I need to do!"
"?"
"Wait a bit! Or go to Sara!"
She never showed her face again.
Dante perched on a bench, enjoying the breeze alone. The cool wind lifted his spirits.