4. Imperial Capital Lumentium - 10
4. Imperial Capital Lumentium - 10
"...Then I shall take my leave for now, Your Majesty."
"See to it. You have done well today, Iris."
She was exhausted. All day, she had faced countless nobles in the banquet hall, exchanging pleasantries with each one. Sitting quietly and speaking was not a difficult task in itself, but forcing a doll-like smile and enduring utterly meaningless conversation with so many people was draining in its own right.
It was a truly tiring and arduous duty, yet at the same time, it was her obligation. It was the price she had to pay, having been born a member of the imperial family. One might be born with noble blood, but to become a noble person oneself required shouldering the commensurate responsibility. That was the conviction of the woman named Iris El Debhart.
As Iris made to withdraw from the Emperor with a weary expression, he looked upon her with an approving gaze.
"Hoho, you are truly dependable. Had it not been for you, it would have been very difficult for me. Thank you."
"...It was my duty to do so, Your Majesty."
Had she been the woman she once was, she would have been overjoyed to receive such praise from the Emperor. She might have felt proud to be acknowledged by the one who looked down upon all from the highest seat of the empire.
...But that was no longer the case. The towering pride she once held for the imperial family, the honor of the imperial house she had treasured more than life itself—all of it had crumbled into a decaying, faded monument. In their place, what now filled her heart entirely was the image of a single man.
Kain von Estel. The most brilliant star placed upon the earth, as she knew him.
Before she knew it, she had come to admire the star's light, and soon she yearned to seize it for herself. She wanted him. She wanted him so desperately. Like a person dying of thirst craving water, she found herself unable to think clearly through the scorching greed that filled her chest.
And how could it be otherwise? A star on the earth. The single most beautiful thing she had witnessed in all her life. From the moment she began to admire that star, everything else turned colorless. Her father's acknowledgment. Her pride as an imperial princess. Even the honor of being the Empire's Imperial Princess. ...Though it was a thought she should not entertain, even the Empire itself.
Suddenly, his face surfaced in her mind. How very adorable he had looked, so utterly startled when he saw her. No doubt he was shocked because she had worn a dress like that—
"Huhu."
Today, for the first time in her life, she had worn such a gown. Exposing her bare skin before other men had been far more embarrassing than she had imagined, but her desire for him to see her was even greater. So she had worn it.
...Ah, now that she thought of it, there was a saying. A man will die for someone who acknowledges him, and a woman will adorn herself for a man who brings her joy.
Indeed, it was true. When his eyes widened at the sight of her, she could not express how happy she felt, though she hid it. Enduring the embarrassment and wearing such clothes had been entirely worth it. A good amount of time had passed since then, but that proud feeling still filled her heart to the brim. Without a doubt, she had already fallen under an irreversible spell—
Dragging her weary body, Iris returned to her room. She slumped into a chair in the middle of the chamber, finally allowing a moment's rest for her weary body and mind. But it was only for a moment; she realized she still had work left to do.
"...Chris."
The moment her lips moved, a knight revealed himself from a corner of the room. It was Chris, the Imperial Princess's guard knight. Iris looked at him quietly. The woman consumed by love just moments ago was now utterly gone. Present within this room now was only Iris El Debhart, the Imperial Princess who, with a cool countenance, led the subjects of the Empire.
"I gave you an order. To observe Kain von Estel's every move throughout the day and report back to me."
Nod.
At Iris's words, Chris nodded quietly.
"Then, let me hear it. I shall listen attentively."
"Understood. Firstly, regarding Kain von Estel's movements today..."
That was when Iris shot Chris a look of displeasure.
"...An honorific."
"...Pardon?"
"Use an honorific. He is not a man you may address so casually."
Iris's face plainly showed she would brook no objection.
"...I apologize. I shall take care."
Chris had not the slightest thought of opposing her. He was the Imperial Princess's sword—the one who spoke her will and acted as her agent. If she said so, he would do exactly that. It was that simple.
"Upon investigating Lord Kain's movements today, there was nothing out of the ordinary. His duel with Lucian von Turnizen is the only noteworthy incident, but aside from that, nothing unusual could be found. However..."
"However?"
Chris paused briefly, hesitating over whether this was a matter he should report to the Imperial Princess. The story he was about to broach was of a delicate nature that even Chris, the princess's guard knight, needed to be cautious about. All the more so because he could not know what storm his words might unleash. But his hesitation was brief. Soon, Chris opened his mouth.
"...This is purely my speculation, but it appears that Lord Kain used 'Flowing Star' during his duel with Lucian von Turnizen."
For a moment, silence filled the room. Iris and Chris both knew all too well what it meant for someone outside the imperial direct line to use Flowing Star.
"...Recount that in detail."
Iris's expression froze. No, it was more than mere stiffness. The emotion in her features was not surprise, nor shock. If one had to name it, that expression was—
"Quickly, speak. Quickly!"
Pressed by Iris's urging, Chris opened his mouth.
"Though it had remained unknown until now, Lucian von Turnizen had reached the Master Realm. Once he revealed himself as a Master during the duel and used his aura, Lord Kain..."
Chris shuddered slightly, recalling the scene he had witnessed during the duel. The storm of aura that filled the banquet hall, the terrifying destructive power contained within it. And then...
"...He twisted his opponent's aura flow, channeled it through his sword as a conduit, and made it his own. Then, at the very end, he added his own strength and returned Lucian von Turnizen's attack back upon him in full. To my knowledge, only one swordsmanship can achieve such a feat—Flowing Star."
As the Imperial Princess's guard knight, Chris had watched Iris train in Flowing Star on several occasions. That was why he could be sure. The movements Iris had shown and what Kain had demonstrated were as alike as a reflection in a mirror. As if one were the other's teacher.
...Which was the contradiction. How on earth had Kain von Estel learned Flowing Star? How could he wield it in a manner so identical to Iris? The two were known never to have met even once before—so how?
As Chris was racking his brains over this utterly unsolvable riddle, Iris listened to his words and found herself smiling without thinking. Truly, he was a man one couldn't tell if he was bold or simply careless. She felt she would have to give him a sharp word the next time they met.
"...Kain. You are far too lacking in caution. I told you to use it only where no other eyes could see."
Wearing a bitter smile and murmuring something to herself that Chris could not understand, Iris soon glanced at Chris and posed a question.
"You have not told anyone else this fact, have you?"
"No."
"Good. Keep it sealed for the time being."
As an aside, when Iris said 'keep it sealed,' she meant to disclose this fact to absolutely no one. Not even to the Emperor.
After Chris nodded slightly at Iris's command, she fell into deep thought for a long while before finally speaking again.
"Chris, there is one more thing you must do."
"...Command me."
"Ariel Tiere of the Holy See, Bianca del Castana of House Castana, and Kirie El Denaris, the Guardian of the World Tree."
She let out a small laugh and continued.
"Investigate those wenches' movements from the past two months. Leave out nothing, not even the smallest detail."
****
The western terrace where I had promised to meet Sarah was a tranquil place, hauntingly empty of any sign of life. This held true even though the terrace was far from the banquet hall, and every servant and noble within the palace was currently assembled there. That did make it hard to find a better place for a quiet conversation.
"...Sarah, what on earth are you thinking?"
Why go to such trouble just to meet me? What reason did she have to meet me alone, deceiving everyone's eyes and even putting on a performance before that huge crowd?
"..."
I gently brushed my fingers over the engagement ring she had given me, still in my pocket. Its texture against my fingertips remained utterly unfamiliar. As I carefully turned the ring over, I smiled despite myself. It occurred to me that Sarah, handing over a ring I'd never seen before and calling it an engagement ring, and me, walking all this way to confirm her intentions, were not so different.
Lost in these thoughts, I soon arrived before the door leading to the western terrace. There was no hesitation. I opened the door without reluctance.
Creeeak—
The door to the terrace opened easily. The first thing I felt upon opening it was that the night breeze was quite chilly. I raised my head and looked ahead. There, at the terrace railing, Sarah was gazing up at the moonlight. Just then, a wind blew. Her sunset-colored hair, scattering in the breeze, caught my eye.
"...Sarah."
I called her in a low voice. At that, she slowly turned to face me.
"...You came. I thought you might not."
"Because you asked me to."
"That's what I meant. I thought it couldn't be helped if you didn't come."
So saying, Sarah gave me a gentle smile. Sarah Sernad was, as always, achingly beautiful. So much so that even I, who believed I had put all feelings for her aside, felt my heart sway for a moment.
But that was truly only for an instant. I was no longer a young fool who languished in pain and sorrow over a past love. To avoid revealing my inner thoughts, I wore a deliberately more indifferent expression than usual and posed a question.
"I'd like to get to the point quickly. What business did you call me for?"
At my question, Sarah wore a blank expression for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
"You've changed, Kain. And tremendously, at that. You seem much more mature. I always thought men were creatures who never grew up, even after death, but I think I'll have to revise that thought today."
So saying, Sarah turned her back and walked toward me with light, floating steps. The image reminded me of a single butterfly fluttering in my direction.
"It's shameless of me, I know... but I have a request to make."
"...A request?"
"Yes."
So saying, Sarah gave me a smile utterly forlorn beyond compare, and spoke.
"Kain, won't you take me in?"