242. Bloom (1)
242. Bloom (1)
- 1 -
The cold winter wind swept through the corridors of the royal castle.
In the corridors, attendants and nobles whispered amongst themselves.
- A monster, they say. I still cannot fathom it.
- Shh. This is not a topic for discussion these days. Should you fall out of Her Highness Yurena's favor...
Step. Step.
The moment the Royal Court Mage's footsteps echoed through the wide corridor, every voice fell silent.
The hem of his blood-red cloak swept across the cold marble floor.
The frost settling on the floor could not so much as graze his cloak.
Sarak.
Mana flickered along every edge of his cloak, adorned with golden embroidery, and his sharply chiseled features fully revealed his noble presence.
Yet his arrogantly raised chin and perpetually furrowed brow drained that splendor of all warmth.
The cold winter wind coiled around the hem of his cloak.
- Looks like he's headed to His Highness Adhenbar.
- Lucky him. Quite.
Wherever he passed, unfriendly gazes from attendants and nobles poured over him.
Gazes laden with jealousy and scorn.
These were the same looks he had received for years while walking the royal castle.
'Hmph. Fools.'
Normally, he might have spared them a sliver of attention, but now he cared not at all.
The mindless prattle of blind fools who failed to properly grasp the recent shifts in power was not worth his time.
Walking on, he soon reached the end of the corridor: the residence of the First Prince.
Its dazzling decorations, incomparably more brilliant than the youngest princess's Narcissus Palace, gleamed splendidly.
Tok-tok.
Click.
Without a guide or an attendant's announcement, the mage knocked and immediately opened the door himself.
Inside, a man looked back at him with eyes showing no particular agitation.
"Late again, Sermi."
Adhenbar's voice carried familiarity rather than reproach.
The court mage Sermi—Sermanthos—lowered his head slightly.
"My apologies, Your Highness."
"Spare me that affected manner. Since when have you been so courteous?"
Prince Adhenbar gestured naturally toward the spot before him.
Sermanthos did not refuse and approached his side.
Standing by the window, they found themselves naturally positioned with Narcissus Palace visible through the panes between them.
"You must have come from reporting on Yurena's condition. How was it? There is talk that her power has grown stronger."
At Adhenbar's words, Sermanthos's crimson eyes wavered.
It was only a fleeting instant, but something flickered deep within his eyes.
However, it did not last long.
"It is still... difficult to form an accurate judgment."
As he spoke slowly, Adhenbar gazed out the window at Narcissus Palace and said,
"I see. But that power must not escape the royal family's control. You would agree, I presume."
The court mage unconsciously raised his hand and scratched the nape of his neck.
"Of course... control is necessary."
A moment of hesitation brushed through his voice.
"However, Your Highness, even to my own eyes, that place was clean. The magic serving the royal family was properly applied. Her Highness the Princess's power as well... appears to be natural growth."
"Is that so... So her talent reached that level."
At the mage's answer, Adhenbar's face showed deeper relief.
He trusted Sermanthos's words completely.
He was a layman in matters of magic, but his old friend Sermanthos's skill was beyond doubt.
Within the kingdom, who could possibly tamper with a mage possessing such a high realm of power?
That would only be possible if those powerhouses from the frontier descended.
But that raised an even greater question.
Why was a child who had been nothing more than a test subject growing so rapidly?
"Then that is fortunate, but continue to watch over her. If any suspicion arises, inform me at once."
"A perfectly natural instruction."
At the prince's order, the court mage lowered his head in answer.
"The Holy Kingdom's movements have been somewhat suspicious. What are your thoughts?"
"I concur as well..."
They exchanged idle talk and discussed the political situation for some time.
Adhenbar sensed that his friend's demeanor somehow seemed a little gentler than before, but he felt nothing else unusual.
The mark of the narcissus glowing within the nape of his neck went unnoticed by anyone.
- 2 -
The steam rising from the blue porcelain teacup contrasted against the overcast sky outside the window.
The winter wind swept through the garden, but the tearoom remained warm.
"Thank you for inviting me like this, Sister."
Yurena bowed deeply at the waist.
Her hair, mingled gold and black, shone brilliantly beneath the winter sunlight.
Watching the scene, which looked like a painting, Grisella's cold heart did not waver in the slightest.
"Sit down."
With a carefully crafted gentle smile, she merely offered her a seat.
"I called you here today to have tea together. It's made from flowers I grew myself."
"Ah, yes... the fragrance is lovely."
In the tearoom were only Grisella, Yurena, and two lady's maids.
One was Grisella's wet nurse and head lady-in-waiting; the other was Yurena's maid, by the name of 'Philia.'
"As a princess of Hilsa, there will be many things you must learn."
Grisella set down her teacup and continued.
Her eyes were cold, but her expression remained soft.
"Royal traditions and etiquette, and politics."
Yurena's eyes trembled slightly. Her shoulders were stiff with tension as well.
Seeing this, a smile tugged at Grisella's lips.
'How utterly young she is. She does not even grasp what it means to enter the royal family.'
She did not know that Yurena's tension was not born of simple fear.
"Don't worry. I will help you."
"Thank you, Sister. I will lean on you greatly."
A sister connected by blood, even if only half.
At her words, Yurena lowered her head.
Neither Grisella nor her head lady-in-waiting noticed Philia's eyes gleaming as she poured tea back into the empty cup.
"It was a very good thing, those mercenaries you brought in this time. Each such element will someday prove helpful. But rough mercenaries will be difficult for you to handle alone."
Though she used a tone that seemed to worry for her younger sister, Grisella's true intention was different.
She wanted to place the forces that would gather around this young princess under her own influence, rather than the royal family's.
Especially those interests in Mistheim.
"I think so as well... but I am receiving much help from those around me. Thank you for your concern."
As Yurena continued gently, Grisella's eyebrow twitched slightly.
Politically interpreted, it meant: 'This is already decided, and I can manage on my own, so do not try to stick your spoon in.'
But Grisella never imagined that this half-monster could speak with such meaning.
There was no way a fake princess, as lowly as an orphan who had grown up as a test subject for so long, could possibly utter such sarcasm.
In any case, a refusal was a refusal. Suppressing her displeasure, Grisella answered gently.
"I see. If you need help, tell me anytime."
While Philia brought out the refreshments again, Grisella paused her words and reviewed her own plans.
If she wanted to make this younger sister her own without suffering losses, she needed to approach cautiously.
After all, it was a matter of demon blood mixing into the royal family.
But at the very least, she could lay this much groundwork in advance.
"Brother Adhenbar does not seem to approve of you either."
"Eldest Brother... seemed like a kind person to me."
At Yurena's innocent words, Grisella confirmed one thing.
Her prejudice that this girl possessed no political capacity whatsoever.
"He may appear that way on the surface, but the moment you reveal an opening, he is a wild beast who will bare his fangs. Be careful around him."
"Ah... I understand."
Though Yurena seemed not to have fully taken it in, Grisella decided to be satisfied there.
Sowing discord was something to be done slowly, after all.
"Come to think of it, I am curious. By what chance did you come to join hands with those from Mistheim?"
Yurena drank her tea for a moment as if gathering her thoughts.
"Those people... were looking for someone to aid them. Whenever the people of Copherin come, they always prepare for battle, so they were feeling anxious as well."
"They were feeling anxious? Monsters?"
"Ah, of course, only those capable of thought and conversation like ourselves."
"I see. Go on."
Yurena nodded and leisurely continued speaking.
"Among the people of the royal capital I was able to save this time, there was an envoy of theirs. It seems they had negotiated with many humans and were sent recklessly into our country. That is how I came into contact with one of them."
"I see."
Grisella swallowed a sigh inwardly.
If she herself had been able to contact that envoy, those interests could have become hers.
But it seemed luck had fallen to this one instead.
In truth, such a thing would never have happened, but petty jealousy like this was always apt to blind one's eyes.
"Sister. I also... have something I am curious about."
"Of course. Speak."
At Yurena's hesitant question, Grisella adjusted her expression to appear magnanimous.
"The people of the Kiza Kingdom came to visit."
"Ah, that matter."
She felt relief inwardly.
Had smugness or cruelty leaked into her expression, the mood of this meeting would have soured.
"What are you curious about?"
"I heard that the Kiza Kingdom and our country are to be integrated. But those people seemed very happy about it. I was curious as to why."
Grisella pondered briefly but soon inwardly conceded.
Yurena was a member of the royal family now; she ought to know about this matter.
"Very well. I shall tell you. You two, withdraw for a moment."
She did not worry about secrets leaking out.
She thought that Yurena would never consider throwing away all the luxury and power she had recently experienced.
The Yurena that Grisella saw was merely an innocent child.
She did not imagine for a single moment that the girl might harbor rage over the past in which the royal family had manipulated her.
If she had contributed to the royal family, it was something to take pride in—why would she be enraged?
"In truth, the royals of the Kiza Kingdom..."
And so, she spoke that secret aloud.
Utterly unaware that, beyond the soundproof barrier cast over the tearoom, Yurena's maid was watching inside with gleaming eyes.
- 3 -
The soundproof barrier cast over the tearoom was a rather excellent one.
Perhaps this should be called the latent strength of Hilsa. The quality of the barriers that had undergone modification after modification up until recently was quite good.
If one had merely tried to eavesdrop on the sounds within, even I would have had difficulty piercing it.
But I had souls and spirits.
I quietly pricked up my ears.
- The Kiza Kingdom was enthusiastic about integration with Hilsa.
The sigh that Grisella let out was tinged with pride.
The arrogant pride of one who truly believed in the greatness of the Hilsa royal family.
- You see, we did a great thing for them.
- A great thing?
Yurena's voice trembled slightly.
Fortunately, there was no need to expect perfection in her acting.
The Grisella who looked down on her would take it as simple curiosity.
- Yes. Kiza had long suffered from headaches over royal succession. The heirs never stopped killing one another.
Grisella continued in a triumphant voice.
- We decided to lighten their burden a little. Under the pretext of providing special education to the royals, we steadily invited those royals who were not the successors.
I smiled. In anticipation that Grisella would soon spill the secret I desired.
- Education...?
I heard Yurena's voice laden with doubt.
I could feel her disbelief that said, 'There is no way people like you would do such a good deed without any compensation,' but Grisella did not seem to notice.
- Our capable mages corrected them. Instead of killing each other, they came to work for Hilsa.
The story that mental magic had been used on those bearing the blood of the Kiza Kingdom's royal family.
Grisella continued with a proud smile.
- A fine byproduct obtained in the course of researching your bloodline.
- My ancestors... turned them into slaves. Their own brothers' bloodline.
The blade contained in Yurena's words was veiled by the frailty she displayed.
Grisella noticed nothing.
- This is all thanks to you, Yurena. Our royal family can now... become even greater.
- ...
Yurena's eyes shone coldly.
I could see the emotion contained within that cold light.
Hatred, rage, and a thirst for vengeance.
Listening to the story beyond the soundproof barrier, I smiled with satisfaction. Grisella had no idea what she was doing just then.
That she was exposing the royal family's secrets while simultaneously hardening Yurena's resolve.
'Honestly.'
Toward this royal family that gave so generously, I felt nothing but gratitude.