Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Aira, the Flower of Evil #8
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Draw me a sheep.
No, change my stockings for me.
The young queen Aira said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
As if ordering people around was her right, as if it had always been that way since ancient times.
In reality, Aira had probably lived exactly like that.
Without lacking a single thing. Without any discomfort. Whenever a problem arose, others would handle and resolve it just like that.
She ate meals as exquisite as dew, and looked as if she'd never set foot in a bathroom her entire life.
Come to think of it, I hadn't actually seen Aira go to the bathroom once in the roughly one year I'd been with her.
Whether I'd see it in the future was anyone's guess...
"Hurry up. I told you to change them. I'm going to head out to the market right now."
Aira's languid voice pulled me from my intriguing thoughts about bathrooms and such. I'd look into that later.
The important matter right now was this.
"You're saying you plan to go to the market this evening?"
"Yeah."
A queen's procession required pouring in a massive amount of manpower and funds.
They had to pave the roads, remove any potentially dangerous objects or people nearby.
Hire guards and a brass band, too. Just off the top of my head, there were countless things demanding attention.
That's why a king's procession had to be a political performance planned and prepared at least a week in advance. At least, that's what I thought.
But Aira was saying she wanted to go outside right now, wearing these stockings.
Why?
Had someone tipped her off while I was away? The only one who could pull that off was her cousin Elga.
I scanned the area, wondering if Elga might be hiding somewhere nearby, when Aira spoke up.
"Theo, so when are you going to change them? Before the night gets too late. There's a place I want to check out."
"A place you want to go?"
"Yeah. Theo, have you ever seen a nymph?"
Nymph?
Nymphs...
In my mind, images of petite girls about that height popped up.
Nymphs were an all-female fairy race, rarely spotted guardians of nature in forests and mountains.
They were the race most meticulously described in Villain Hunter, which made them pretty popular.
Their defining trait? They all had oddly peculiar ways of speaking.
"Elga told me. There's a tavern in the city run by a nymph. She said their special item sold until evening is super tasty. If we go now, we won't be late."
It was Elga after all.
Whenever Elga returned from an expedition and stayed in the capital like this, unpredictable variables popped up that occasionally left me flustered, even if I didn't know about them.
But so far, so good. This was still something I could control.
"Come on, hurry and take them off, Theo."
Aira perched on the sofa and dangled her legs teasingly toward me. Just like always, I deftly removed the stockings clipped to her garter belt from her long legs.
Ssshh.
The sight of the stockings slipping off her smooth, soft-looking legs was honestly always worth watching. Black stockings peeling away to reveal white skin...
The stockings slid past her knees, down her calves, past her slender ankles, and off her delicate little feet.
Perhaps because I'd undressed her, a dizzying peach-like body scent, ripe and heady, wafted over, tickling my nose. I'd heard that in ancient times, courtesans managed their natural fragrance by eating only fruit.
Aira probably did something similar.
It was only natural that the scent of someone who wore fine things, saw fine things, and grew up eating only fine things would be so alluring.
I gathered my increasingly entranced mind and, with practiced hands, slipped the black stockings back over her white skin. The thick body scent that had filled the air moments ago was now somewhat contained within the fabric.
Ssh, ssh. Aira stroked her own legs and said.
"As expected, you're good at this, Theo. The other maids always tremble so much it takes them forever."
Why? Because you're scary, that's why.
I used to be scared of Aira too.
I still was.
She had so few predictable patterns in her thoughts or actions.
But now, I could control her to some extent. At least, that's what I believed.
I pocketed the stockings I'd removed from her and broached the topic cautiously.
"You mentioned heading to the city now. How about postponing official business until tomorrow? Preparing the procession right away would take considerable time—we'd pass midnight."
Let's push today's events to tomorrow and manage it. That was the vibe. And honestly, it worked pretty well on Aira.
But today's Aira was different.
"It's fine. No procession. No entourage. Just you and me, Theo. The two of us alone."
"...Just the two of us?"
This was a first.
"Yeah. You do it all the time, right? Sneaking around without people knowing. Wandering the markets without guards. You've been keeping those secret little escapades from me too."
Aira's voice was calm and chilling.
A shiver crept down my spine.
So she knew I wandered the markets alone to gather information. She'd figured it out after all. I'd vaguely suspected as much.
A servant acting in secret from the queen. If Aira asked, "Why hide things from me? Planning a rebellion?" what would I even say?
That I'd read a novel, this world was similar to it, and I was gathering info on that? Yeah, no way I could say that.
Of course, I'd prepared a couple excuses for this scenario. As I mulled which to use, Aira spoke.
"Theo, I'll overlook the times you've moved around dangerously without reporting to me. But from now on, take guards wherever you go."
"Understood. My apologies."
"With that in mind, come with me today. In disguise. Sneaking away from everyone. Over the palace walls. Sound fun?"
Aira's eyes were already fixed on the window, the walls beyond.
* * *
"Aira... if I may say so impertinently... isn't that robe a bit too luxurious for a secret outing?"
"Hmm? This? It's the most worn-out one I own."
Aira furrowed her brows slightly as she glanced at the robe draped over her.
What she wore was a top-grade mage's robe embroidered with purple and gold threads on silk—only the royal family could use purple thread in this world.
Wearing that pretty much defeated the purpose of sneaking out.
So I'd grabbed a couple plain brown robes from the palace ones maids wore for outings.
Hoods up, and unless we revealed ourselves, we shouldn't get caught easily.
Of course, nothing was certain. Variables could pop up anywhere, so senses always sharp.
"Come on, Theo. Grab my waist."
Beneath the palace wall, easily three meters high, Aira said to me. As I lightly gripped her waist, she placed her hands over mine, squeezing to make me hold tighter.
"You can grab tighter. Otherwise I'll fall. Just hug me."
"Then, pardon me."
In the end, I wrapped my arms around Aira's waist. I was struck anew by how slender it was—narrow enough to encompass fully with my arms.
Fwhoosh.
With a kick off the ground, my view shot up in an instant. It was like riding a terrifying amusement park ride, my body soaring skyward.
To be precise, Aira had leaped over the three-meter wall. The problem was her body, having risen high, now being mercilessly pulled back by gravity.
Swoooosh.
As the sensation of falling hit, my stomach lurched up to my chest—I nearly screamed.
But Aira's palm clamped over my mouth.
Thud.
"Good. We escaped. Back in the day... I used to sneak out of the palace like this with big sis Anis all the time."
Anis sis—one of Aira's sisters. The fourth daughter among twelve princes and five princesses, right above Aira?
I'd heard she was incredibly kind and gentle.
"Wandering around with sis... seeing all sorts of things. It reminds me of those times."
Aira really seemed to adore Anis. For her to suddenly cough up blood and die right before Aira's eyes must have shattered the scales in her heart.
Suddenly, I wondered what Aira would be like if her family hadn't died.
If her family hadn't died, would Aira have become just an ordinary noble lady, far from crowns—sipping tea, riding horses, admiring flowers?
Of course, pointless speculation in the current situation...
"Come on, Gospel. I know the way."
"I know it too. I'll lead."
The place Aira mentioned was the outskirts tavern "Nymph's Ditchwater" I'd visited earlier. It was already famous that the owner madam was a rare nymph.
Hadn't expected to end up there again today.
No one would recognize me, right?
Different robe this time, and no strict identity checks at the door, so it should be fine.
And who'd expect me to show up twice?
With that in mind, Aira and I safely slipped past the central avenue and entered the noisy, filthy streets of Monarch City's west gate district.
Squelch. Squelch.
The unstable roads made the ground a mess, so walking took some care.
I didn't mind, but I worried how Aira, in her fine shoes, would take it.
"Even at night, so many people."
But Aira seemed indifferent to such things, too busy gawking at the passersby.
Her black eyes peeking from under the robe brim sparkled with curiosity and excitement, oblivious to the mud staining her shoes.
—Hey, you fine lords passing by. You look well-off. Let me read your fortunes—just a coin, please.
—My kid's starving. Please, some alms.
"Hmm."
The moment beggars huddled in the streets reflected in Aira's eyes, a chill ran through me.
What was she thinking, seeing them?
"It's spring, but still chilly out."
Nothing much, apparently.
I'd vaguely expected as much.
Truth be told, Aira only cared about herself and the handful of people close to her—everything else barely registered.
"Sis! Sis! Buy a flower, sis!"
Then a swarm of street kids rushed us. Selling flowers or pretty stones, all typical slum kids with soot-smeared faces and hands.
They tugged at Aira's robe hem, stroked it, offered flowers. Anyone who knew her identity would faint at the sight.
But Aira's lips curved in a surprisingly gentle smile.
"Cute kids."
She even ruffled their grubby hair with her hand.
—Whoa, this sis smells nice.
—Where, where? Lemme smell too.
Even as the kids clung on a bit rudely, Aira didn't scold or yell.
Yeah. You could tell just by watching—Aira liked little kids.
Kids were innocent, pure things far from hypocrisy or slander. At least, that's how Aira saw them.
"Sis! Sis! Sis! You're a mage, right? Long robe. Buy a flower—just one coin. Luck flower. One coin!"
"One coin? Sure, I must have a coin worth that flower somewhere."
"Miss, I'll pay."
Worried something might happen, I hurried us along.
"Got myself a nice flower bracelet."
"This way."
Quick steps brought us to the shop.
A massive three-story building. Late as it was, the place buzzed even more in the late evening—rowdy and chaotic.
Crash!
—What the hell, punk? Say it again. You little shit—
—Baldy!
—B-Baldy? Alright, let's die together—
I hesitated whether to bring Aira in here.
"Exciting. Nymphs."
Aira slid open the door and strode in ahead.
I rushed after her.
"It's chaotic. Let me find us a quiet spot."
"Sure. Escort me."
Click-clack, click-clack.
She said escort, but Aira glided ahead through the noisy mess with elegant steps.
Even in this disorder, her bearing remained regal. As if proclaiming herself queen.
—Look at her.
—Noble lady? Sneaking out for night fun?
—How about... hit on her? Might be in the mood for some play.
—Don't wanna die tomorrow? Stay put. Seen a few like that.
Like gold undimmed by mud...
Even disguised in a robe, Aira's innate grace couldn't be fully hidden.
Already, a few sharp-eyed folks were eyeing us.
Did they know?
That the woman they eyed with half interest, half curiosity stood at this kingdom's pinnacle? Of course not.
A waitress approached as we settled in. Not the freckled girl from before—someone else.
Had she clocked out? After that incident, early exit made sense.
"Here's the menu. Pick and let me know."
"Got it."
While Aira curiously glanced around, I ordered a safe bet: a mug of honey mead and honeyed milk.
That's when Aira spoke.
"They said you can see a nymph here. Where's the nymph?"
"Oh, you mean the manager? She's currently—"
"Bring the nymph."
"Y-Yes?"
The waitress, brown hair in twin tails, looked utterly flustered at Aira's demand.
"Pardon, what did you say?"
"Didn't you hear? Bring the nymph."
Aira repeating herself was shocking, but the situation wasn't great.
I jumped in quick.
"Our miss wants to try the manager's special menu. We'll tip generously, so could you ask if she can spare a moment despite being busy?"
Subtly, I hinted our miss was someone important—and it'd be wise to oblige.
"Oh."
The waitress, seasoned in this rough joint, scratched her head in understanding and nodded.
"Sure. I'll just—"
As she turned to go, Aira called, "Wait," pulled her back, and drew something from her bosom to place on the table.
"This is a tip."
Clink.
"Isn't that what you do in places like this? Give tips?"
The moment the glittering item hit the table.
"Wha—what!?"
The waitress shrieked like a broken toy.
Murmurs rippled.
The rowdy din had hushed in an instant.
What Aira had pulled out was none other than a gold coin.