A Changed World (2)
Chiron emerged from the imperial palace after a grueling meeting that had dragged on for nearly a full day. Stepping out into the warm sunlight, he let out a deep sigh.
'In the end, restoring Sisilia's full power has to be our top priority. Deploy Sisilia Windsor on missions. Using her strength should help break the seal.' That was the conclusion of the marathon session.
Slaying Lumia, the mightiest of the Four Heavenly Kings ruling the north. The entire Windsor Knight Order returned without a single casualty. But the price was Sisilia's power being sealed away.
Chiron could never forget the emotions of that day. Overwhelming relief. Was it because Sisilia had come back alive? Or because, sealed as she was, he'd never have to send her into another life-or-death battle? He couldn't say which. Either way, after that, Sisilia was sidelined from missions. A sealed Sisilia wandering outside would be easy prey for the demons—it was obvious.
But three years had passed. Inevitably, they'd concluded they could no longer afford to keep such a vital asset on the bench.
'Even judged coldly, a sealed Sisilia's skill surpasses that of a regular knight. There's no grounds for refusal...'
The goddess was always cruel like that. Sisilia, blessed from birth, could take on any regular Windsor knight even without her Aura. Her fundamental swordsmanship was just that exceptional. Wind or no wind, Sisilia remained the Sword Princess.
In truth, there had been mounting pressure from inside and out these past three years. With the Four Heavenly Kings slain, the demons—now desperate with fire at their feet—grew more aggressive by the day. And there was an endless shortage of skilled knights.
"She should be proud."
Chiron gave a bitter smile. Before she was his daughter, she was the empire's heart, vice-captain of the Windsor Knights. Was it too greedy to wish for her to live a peaceful life like others?
The last three years. He didn't know how Sisilia felt about them, but to him, they had been a dream. For the first time, he'd truly played the role of father. Letting her do whatever she wanted without restraint, making up for all the lost time together.
"...But."
Chiron turned toward a breeze from somewhere. In the beautiful garden, Sisilia sat in a chair sipping tea. Beside her, Beatrice wore a faintly bitter expression, while Sisilia stared blankly into the distance.
"I can't ignore it any longer."
Chiron dredged up memories he'd tried to blur. Those days had been pure bliss for him. He'd hoped Sisilia could enjoy teas and parties like other noble ladies her age. Forever.
But something was off. In all that time enjoying such a life, Sisilia had never once smiled.
"...You're a knight through and through."
Saint Michael Calendar, year 603. Empress Lydia and Chiron made their decision.
But one person couldn't bring himself to decide.
"I refuse the order to deploy Sisilia on missions."
"You're my knight, and this is the empress's command?"
"The captain of the Windsor Knights has the authority to refuse, even an order from the empress."
Even Chiron's direct persuasion couldn't sway Edward's stubbornness. The empress—who rarely raised her voice—roared in fury several times, but Edward stood firm. Lydia pondered it to the end, but she couldn't force it; doing so would violate the Windsor Order's cherished independence, never once breached.
As a result, an icy tension blanketed the palace and Windsor headquarters.
"Etch."
"Cold?"
"Nah. Felt like someone was talking about me."
"...That was probably Sisilia getting caught red-handed sticking an advance on Sir Jerryway's tab again."
"Huh."
Of course, Sisilia hadn't given it a second thought.
* * *
It had been a full month since Sisilia's time skip. The rapid flow of time was purely due to the great demon Freya's Authority, but lately, Sisilia felt time flying by even without using such powers.
She liked her current life that much.
After all, all she'd done lately was...
"Vice-captain. Hear me out. I haven't slept in a week slicing demons. You think this mission makes sense? Another long deployment?"
"Oh dear."
"...Damn it. Don't you have a heart?"
Just praising frontline knights for their hard work. A few warm words, then leisurely meals at dessert shops after their grueling shifts.
'Spending time like this isn't so bad.'
For the record, Sisilia's satisfaction level was at an all-time high.
"Lady Sisilia."
"Hey Betty. Morning."
"...It's 5 p.m. Anyway, something good happened today."
"Good? What?"
"Wanna come see?"
The word troublesome flashed in Sisilia's mind. She was in the middle of a lavish feast, melting into the sofa.
"Busy."
"Aww, come on. You won't regret it."
Beatrice ignored her and dragged Sisilia out like it was routine.
'Betty's grown a lot.'
That was the thought as she was hauled along. Betty had probably changed the most in these three years—she'd gotten downright cheeky lately.
"What's that?"
"Hehe. Told you, no regrets?"
It was a massive line, waiting for someone. Bigger than the crowd Sisilia remembered for the Windsors' return.
"They're here!"
"It's the hero!"
Soon enough, the star emerged from the end of the line. Sisilia blinked, caught a petal drifting in the air, and popped it straight into her mouth without hesitation.
"!"
Beatrice whipped her gaze away, pretending not to know her.
'If I don't eat it, they won't notice the faint demonic mana.'
Of course, even with her flower-filled head, Sisilia wouldn't eat random petals. She'd tasted the tampering and tested it. Nothing worth mentioning, so she just stared blankly.
More importantly, something else had caught her eye.
"Ah, coming."
Sisilia snapped out of it and looked ahead. Approaching with a bright smile, waving to the crowd, was a familiar face.
"The hero party you handpicked and nurtured is returning today. Exactly three years. You waited a long time, right? Kept it secret on purpose to surprise you."
Thud.
"Oh my."
Beatrice covered her mouth, chuckling. Sisilia was shuffling forward with a blank face to greet them.
'She's definitely happy. Those users blew up purely thanks to her judgment.'
No one had seen it coming. That those clueless users would rack up achievements, returning in glory after three years—with war news flooding the capital daily.
'Always seems airheaded, but she reads people scarily well.'
Beatrice tilted her head. It was always amazing. What light had she seen in them back then?
Anyway, Sisilia's judgment was always spot-on. Beatrice smiled faintly and hurried to her side.
"Lady Sisilia, too many people. Be careful."
Sisilia halted. The hero party's leader, Hero Jay, gave her a manly nod. Then he gazed at her with desperate longing.
"...My god."
The cheering crowd fell silent in that moment. A hush settled over them.
What would the Windsor vice-captain say to the battle-hardened heroes returning triumphant? In the anticipation, Sisilia murmured softly.
"You're hurt."
Beatrice tripped mid-stride and faceplanted.
* * *
Jerryway, working the bar at the trendy new tavern, scanned the fresh customer with a tense expression.
"...Sisilia. What brings you here?"
Sisilia was in pajamas. With a flower tucked in her hair, no less. Was he supposed to be wary because it was Sisilia, or because it was 11 p.m. and she showed up in PJs with a flower? As confusion hit, Sisilia plopped down in front of him.
"The usual."
"...You know this is your first time here, right?"
Realizing any outfit was excusable with "it's Sisilia," Jerryway shrugged it off and polished a glass. Note: it was past closing, store empty.
"Lost my memories for three years, so I didn't know. Recommend something."
"If you're gonna spout nonsense, leave. And we're closed—"
Jerryway paused mid-sentence. He looked up slowly.
"What? Why's a bar closing early? Fine, I'm out."
As Sisilia turned with a disappointed face, Jerryway grabbed her arm.
"...No, can't just send the vice-captain away. Sit, I'll make a cocktail."
"Whoa."
Sisilia resat. 'Close call. Nearly lost my lord's trust.'
Jerryway's mind raced.
'Lost memories for three years.'
As a Sisilia expert, he caught it. The silver-haired girl in front of him pulled bizarre stunts sometimes, but packed layers into single phrases. Late night. Empty bar. Coming to the knight who swore fealty years ago. No clue what the flower meant, but three years screamed significance.
The sealed period. And—
"Losing memories for three years... means you've got them back now?"
"Yep."
Jerryway was convinced: Sisilia had regained her power.
'Chills.'
Hiding his goosebumps, he handed over a cocktail. Non-alcoholic orange, basically juice.
[Gathered useful war orphans as ordered, housed them in five orphanages, education complete.]
"If you came all this way, you've made up your mind. By the way, I handled what you mentioned three years ago. Built five orphanages."
"Good work."
[Truly splendid. As expected of my knight. I can count on Jerryway.]
—All in Jerryway's head, of course—
Sisilia said indifferently, downing the glass. One sip, and her eyes widened.
"Cocktails taste just like orange juice."
'Because it is.'
Not the point. Jerryway spun his brain again. Power restored but secret, coming to him with code—clearly, she wanted something.
"PJs mean sneaking out? Got troubles? Bartender's duty to listen."
[Give the order. I'm your sworn knight.]
"Troubles... yeah."
"What?"
Proving his guess, Sisilia muttered with deep concern.
"When you realize the values you've upheld all this time change with the flow of time, what do you do?"
"...!"
'Someone's changed hearts. Inside the order. Throwing the 'plan' off track.'
Made sense why she'd hide her power. But he couldn't gloss over it. Jerryway probed carefully.
"That for sure?"
"...Maybe just a whim."
Sisilia waffled uncertainly. Jerryway sighed in relief.
'No confirmation. But high chance of a demon follower in Terezia, per Sisilia.'
"Tough issue."
"Right?"
"But simple too."
Jerryway advised earnestly. Sisilia still lacked experience, after all.
"Old oak barrels can't hold new wine—wasted effort. New wine sours fast, barrel can't adapt."
"So you're saying."
"Put new wine in new skins."
Jerryway grinned.
"Start over from scratch. Find new skins for the new wine."
Sisilia shot up enlightened, downing the glass. Her dazed eyes sparkled.
"Jerryway's useful for my life sometimes."
"...Praise?"
Sisilia smirked, turning with hands behind back.
"Praise. Anyway."
Glancing back, she beamed.
"Guess I'm pretty strong with booze. Not a buzz after that."
'No sober idiot mistakes juice for booze. That meaningful brat face. Means...'
"...That holds for the future too?"
"?"
Sisilia blinked like it was obvious.
"Obviously. Tolerance doesn't change overnight."
She left the tavern. Alone, Jerryway chuckled after a beat, wiping her glass.
"She's saying wait. Until their scheme hits. Demons won't know her power's back anyway."
A big crisis loomed. But it'd mean nothing.
Sisilia was fine.
So his job was—
"Hide it best I can. Sorry, Empress."
Side with the captain in her standoff with the empress. By any means.
Jerryway set his path.