7. The Butterfly Dream (胡蝶之夢) - 07
7. The Butterfly Dream (胡蝶之夢) - 07
Crackle. Pop, crackle.
Inside the cabin where Kain and Bianca were staying.
Kain lay deeply asleep on the bed, while Bianca simply stared blankly at the flames blazing in the fireplace set into one corner of the cabin.
She was completely preoccupied. What if the fire weakened or went out, and the sleeping Kain felt the cold? What if he woke from his slumber? Such worries filled her thoughts.
Of course, she could use magic to regulate the cabin's temperature, but given that it was just the two of them, using magic felt like it might spoil the mood. After all, according to the romance novels she had read, newlyweds were supposed to overcome these small adversities together to deepen their relationship.
Thus, Bianca inwardly fretted over whether the fireplace flames would weaken and if Kain would feel the cold. The sight of a young lady who looked as though she had never lifted anything heavier than a teacup in her life, now clutching firewood and tossing the logs one by one into the fireplace, was a remarkably incongruous image—yet Bianca herself was utterly earnest.
Because it felt good. The very fact that she could do something for Kain was pleasant. Bianca realized, with fresh clarity, that acting on behalf of someone she loved, not for herself, gave her an astonishing sense of pride and satisfaction.
She was happy. She had never felt so fulfilled when mastering any magic, nor so proud even after defeating the `Winter Witch' in a fierce battle. Her heart, which she had believed was made of mere tin, seemed to grow warm. This, she concluded, must undoubtedly be the feeling of loving someone.
"...Heh heh."
Soft rustle-
With the sound of her clothes brushing, she quietly approached Kain, who lay sleeping soundly on the bed. He was in such a deep slumber that he likely wouldn't notice even if someone carried him off on their back.
Well, that was only natural. A moment's thought made it clear. He had been unconscious for a full three days and had only just woken up. Even though he should have been resting in bed for a while, he had been scampering about the cabin grounds, so inevitably he was drained of energy and had fallen into a sleep so profound it was as if he'd lost consciousness once more.
"...Mm."
That was the moment. Whether his sleeping posture became uncomfortable, or perhaps he had a nightmare, Kain let out a groan and tossed and turned. As he turned onto his right side, Kain's face ended up directly facing Bianca, who was standing beside the bed. Of course, it wasn't intentional, and Kain still had his eyes closed.
"...Kain."
However, for Bianca, it meant something entirely different. Facing his face head-on like this, the memories of everything they had shared today surfaced one by one in her mind.
"...It was wonderful. Yes, truly, wonderful."
It was truly wonderful. Today, she had shared so much with him. She had linked arms with him, strolled together in a garden, and, not stopping there, had even claimed his lips.
Did he realize? That the moment her lips touched his, her mind went completely blank as if she had become a fool, and she couldn't think of anything at all? That she had felt an electric shock, as if lightning had struck her very brain?
People often say: first love never comes true. First love inevitably ends in failure. Thus, first love is always a bittersweet thing.
...But Bianca could not agree. Because right at this moment, she was incredibly happy. So blissful, so overwhelmingly joyful, that she wondered if someone like her deserved to be this happy. She simply felt happiness.
Sweep-
Bianca cautiously raised her right hand and gently stroked Kain's cheek. A soft, lingering warmth, perhaps from the campfire, danced upon his skin.
Indeed, her choice had not been wrong. After throwing away everything she carried on her shoulders, being here with him was the right answer. In a place where no one in the world could disturb them, the idea of spending a hundred years together with Kain might not be a vain dream after all.
...And as she imagined the conclusion of that—bearing many children who looked like him, spending cozy times together—heat began to rise to her head. A strange switch flipped somewhere inside her mind.
"...Hee."
She carefully observed his sleeping form again. With his eyes gently closed, his face was simply cuter than she had ever imagined.
"...Kain, this is your fault. Yes, for showing me such an expression, it's your fault..."
With those words, Bianca began to weave magic. The spell she cast on Kain was not harmful to his body in the slightest. There was no way she would use such magic on Kain. The spell's effect was very simple: a sleep-inducing enchantment that would make the target fall into a deeper slumber, unable to wake easily no matter what stimulation they received.
"Now, then..."
Bianca's fingers slowly started to move. His cheek was the starting point. Caressing his cheek, she then gently traced her finger over his lips, and it soon passed over his collarbone and even wandered briefly across his firm chest.
"...Haa."
A heated, involuntary sigh escaped her. She didn't intend to cross the line. However, having already given everything to him, she thought that doing a little preliminary practice would be good for both of them. No, she was rationalizing herself with that excuse.
"Kain, I love you."
Climbing onto Kain's body, Bianca whispered into his ear.
The remaining night was still long and far from over.
****
'...I have an ominous feeling.'
Iris involuntarily furrowed her brows at an unpleasant sensation that grazed the back of her mind. But she couldn't afford to dwell on such minor issues right now. Because before her eyes, Duke Estel, Kain's father, was bowing to her.
"Franz von Estel of House Estel pays his respects to the Moon of the Empire."
"There is no need for such formality, Duke Estel. I, too, have heard stories about you from His Majesty. If you, who can be called a close ally of the imperial household, are this overly courteous, it is simply uncomfortable. I see no need to bow your head so."
At Iris's words, Duke Estel finally raised his head.
"...I am simply unworthy of Your Highness's kind consideration."
"What. I am not just being kind, merely stating a fact."
Only after this exchange of praise and humility could Duke Estel carefully pose a question to Iris.
"...Your Highness, may I ask why you have visited this place without any prior notice? The distance from Lumentium to the Estel Duchy is by no means short, so may I ask what reason you have for visiting with only a single attendant?"
As he spoke, Duke Estel gave a questioning look, glancing at Iris seated before him, her escort knight Chris who had accompanied her, and Aria, who had been dragged along as excess baggage.
"The reason is deeply connected to an imperial mandate given by His Majesty, and thus I cannot carelessly divulge it to others. I ask for your understanding on this point, Duke Estel."
But seeing Iris answer shamelessly, lying without a hint of hesitation, Duke Estel had no choice but to bury his doubts deep within his chest. After all, he could never conceive that the upright and rigid Iris would fabricate a lie just to visit this place.
"...Yes, I apologize, Your Highness."
As Duke Estel bowed his head at the mention of an imperial mandate, Iris had to forcibly suppress the guilt that began to creep into a corner of her heart.
"Ahem, more importantly, Duke Estel. As I was passing through the vicinity, I happened to pick up an interesting rumor, so I have a personal question I would like to ask you."
"...A personal question, Your Highness?"
Duke Estel tilted his head, a slightly perplexed look on his face. He was bemused, wondering what kind of rumor could have piqued the interest of the prim and proper Imperial Princess.
"From what the rumors tell me, Young Duke Estel and Bianca del Castana of House Castana held a betrothal ceremony. Is that actually true?"
At Iris's question, Duke Estel readily nodded. Since verifying the truth was only a matter of asking around, there was no reason not to answer.
"That is correct, Your Highness. Of course, there was a political transaction underneath it all, but it is unquestionably a fact that the two are now betrothed."
Seeing Duke Estel casually acknowledge the engagement, Iris found herself frowning. For her, seeing the man who could be called her future father-in-law so willingly tolerate another woman clinging to Kain's side was displeasing in itself.
However, that was not what mattered right now. After composing her voice, Iris posed the question she truly wanted to ask.
"...Then, is the rumor that the two of them have gone missing also true?"
"...Pardon?"
Duke Estel only looked bewildered at Iris's sudden question, but she paid it no mind and pressed on.
"On my way here, I heard a peculiar rumor. That during his return to House Estel, Young Duke Estel's whereabouts became unknown."
"....."
"That, if nothing else, is something I cannot simply let pass. House Estel is a distinguished family that has existed since the founding of the Empire. As the Imperial Princess, how can I idly sit by upon hearing news of the ducal house's heir going missing? Duke Estel. Do you not also think so?"
In truth, Iris's words were driven entirely by personal motives, but on the surface they were faultless, leaving Duke Estel with a troubled expression. Given the circumstances, he was at a loss. He had tried to hide it as much as possible for Kain and Bianca's sake, but he could not persist with evasion when the Imperial Princess was pressing him like this.
"...Hoo, now that it has come to this, it seems I can hide it no longer. I suppose I must tell Your Highness the truth."
"...The truth? What do you mean, Duke Estel?"
"The truth is, the two of them are not missing. Because I witnessed the two of them with my own eyes."
For a moment, Iris could not understand Duke Estel's words at all.
"You witnessed them? The missing two?"
"Yes, not long after the rumors of their disappearance began to circulate, the two arrived here hand in hand."
As he spoke, Duke Estel couldn't help but wear a bitter smile. For recounting this youthful indiscretion to the Imperial Princess was quite embarrassing.
"Kain, holding tightly to Bianca's hand, told me this: they would be going on a brief honeymoon trip to commemorate their engagement, so I needn't worry. Once they had spent enough time together, they would return..."
But Duke Estel's words were cut off there. Because.
"...A honeymoon trip...? Something I haven't even done yet, and that wench stole the lead...?"
The Imperial Princess before him was, for some inexplicable reason, unleashing a terrifying killing intent.