Chapter 107
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 107
Translation: godsn
Her pupils trembled violently. Disbelief was written across her face. Before Eki could say anything, Yurien spoke first.
"She is indeed my squire, Viscount Roaz."
"Th-that's... impossible..."
Lancelid's face looked as if his soul had left his body. The thought that a living legend had taken his sister as his squire—it simply didn't connect with the Echinacea Roaz that Lancelid knew. Paying no mind to the boy's reaction, Yurien carefully examined Eki.
"Echinacea, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine. You needn't worry."
"That's good to hear."
The corners of his eyes softened gently. Lancelid watched the Azure Sky Knight Captain smiling at his sister with strange feelings. The Azure Sky Knight Captain he'd seen at last year's birthday banquet had carried an atmosphere as cold and sharp as a blade, yet somehow now he seemed to be melting into softness. No matter how he looked at it, something felt decidedly unusual.
'Don't tell me he's interested in my sister... No, that can't be. Impossible. What could possibly be lacking for someone who wields the Holy Sword, is imperial royalty, and commands the Azure Sky Knights?'
Lancelid shook his head unconsciously. While the boy was busy erasing the delusions that had surfaced in his mind, Yurien was enthusiastically engaging Eki in conversation. Only the Holy Sword Langiosa knew just how excited he truly was beneath that composed facade.
While working, Yurien had received a report from his informants that Echinacea had entered Agenka's Inner Castle by carriage with her younger brother. If she was touring the Azure Sky Knights, she would surely visit headquarters too. The moment that thought occurred, he abandoned his work and rushed downstairs. It had already been three days since he'd last seen her. He couldn't bear it any longer.
[Well, three days is quite an achievement for you...]
Watching his master's behavior, the Holy Sword gave up entirely and merely sighed. Yurien was too focused on Eki's words to hear the sword's remark.
"My brother has always wanted to see Agenka."
"So you're giving him a tour of the Azure Sky Knights?"
"Yes, Lord. This was our last stop."
"Then—"
"Captain."
Yurien closed his mouth at the call from behind him. Baraha appeared holding a stack of documents.
"The imperial guests have arrived. The Lord has been looking for you because of it."
A subtle frown flickered across his brow before smoothing over—so quickly that no one noticed.
"...Understood."
Yurien answered slowly before turning back to Eki. He seemed about to say something else, then closed his mouth and spoke differently.
"I suppose we'll see each other at tomorrow's inspection ceremony. The Sun Festival of Agenka has many spectacles to offer—enjoy it to the fullest."
"Thank you, Lord."
With reluctant steps, he headed toward headquarters. Only after he had left did Baraha greet Eki.
"Long time no see, Eki."
Eki, who had been blankly watching Yurien walk away, turned to Baraha with a smile. It truly had been a long time, just as Baraha said.
"It's been a while, Senior. I heard you've been extremely busy."
"I thought I'd die buried in work. Who's this beside you?"
"My younger brother. I was giving him a tour of the Azure Sky Knights. Lancelid, this is Senior Baraha Islaf, Squire to Vice Captain Baron Tilius."
"I-I'm Lancelid Roaz."
"Hello. You share many similarities with your sister's eyes."
Baraha greeted cheerfully before speaking to Eki again.
"So, Eki, are you continuing to guide your brother today?"
"No, we only planned to tour the inside of the Azure Sky Knights. He said he wanted to explore the festival alone."
They had arranged this beforehand. Though "alone" would still mean knights and attendants following him, at around seventeen years old, any boy would prefer wandering separately rather than trailing after his sister. Especially since he was usually busy with successor training back at their territory, making such opportunities rare.
At Echinacea's words, Baraha flashed a subtle smile.
"Then, can you spare me some time? We had a promise, remember."
She recalled the promise they'd made to share a meal during the festival before she left to rescue Shai. It was something they'd postponed since the squire oath ceremony, making her feel too guilty to refuse. Eki glanced at Lancelid. The younger brother, who had been studying Baraha with meaningful eyes, gave a slight nod.
"You said this was the last part of the Azure Sky tour. Agenka doesn't need guiding, so go ahead, Sister."
"Alright. Sir Hanson, Sir Philip, please look after Lancelid."
"Don't worry, young lady."
"Ah, Sister, wait a moment."
Lancelid suddenly stepped closer and whispered in her ear:
"He might be from another country, but I give my full approval. A squire to the Vice-Captain of the Azure Sky Knights? Mother and Father would be overjoyed."
"...What?"
"That suitor of yours—no, anyway, it's him, isn't it?"
"What nonsense are you— He's just a senior squire. I owe him a favor, so I promised to treat him to a meal."
Eki replied as if the suggestion was absurd. Lancelid gave her a look of mild exasperation before shaking his head.
"Sister, you really... Well, fine. See you at the inspection tomorrow."
After seeing Lancelid's party off in the carriage, Echinacea walked outside the Inner Castle walls with Baraha. She stole a glance at the bundle of documents in his hand.
"Senior, aren't you busy right now?"
"Ah, these? Just need to deliver them on the way. Actually, now that the festival's properly started, I feel relieved. All preparations are finished."
Baraha let out a small sigh.
"This past month was truly relentless. Couldn't even visit the club I joined. When you collapsed... I deliberately took the messenger duty to come see you, but couldn't even get a glimpse of your face."
His words reminded Eki of when Baraha had visited bearing the Vice-Captain's orders during her conversation with Yurien. She'd nearly poured out everything in the heat of emotion when a knock at the door brought her to her senses. While she was grateful it prevented her from blurting things out carelessly, she also felt strangely resentful about it.
Baraha was remembering something else—what had happened in the corridor slightly removed from Echinacea's sickroom after delivering the Vice-Captain's message to Yurien.
<The Lord commanded me to deliver this. The results of interrogating all the royal guards and our conjectures about the poison's path.>
Yurien hadn't taken the wax-sealed envelope he offered. His vacant gaze wasn't focused on the envelope but on empty air.
<Captain?>
Only when Baraha called in puzzlement did focus return to Yurien's eyes. As Yurien silently took and read the contents, Baraha stole glances toward the sickroom.
When he'd heard Echinacea had collapsed from poisoning, he felt his heart drop. Though he'd heard she received the Saintess's treatment, the unbearable need to confirm she was safe made him hesitate before carefully asking:
<Captain, has Eki woken? If she's well, may I see—>
<Echinacea just awoke. She's exhausted—do not disturb her.>
Before his request could finish, Yurien sharply cut him off. The azure eyes visible over the documents were like shards of ice. An inexplicable chill ran down Baraha's spine, silencing him.
That incident, along with previous ones and his suddenly increased workload—Baraha wasn't so dull as to miss the implications.
'If he sees me as a rival... it's quite, no, extremely formidable.'
Still, Baraha believed he held the advantage. He knew Echinacea's secret. The Azure Sky Knight Captain couldn't possibly know she was the Magic Sword's wielder.
Eki, unaware of what Baraha was thinking, tilted her head and asked.
"Come to think of it, I heard you joined the Wisdom Club. Didn't you have a club before?"
"It just didn't suit my personality. There wasn't one I liked, either."
"Alice said something similar. So you were hoping for a club that focused solely on swordsmanship, Senior?"
"That was part of the appeal, sure... but honestly, the biggest reason I joined Wisdom was you."
"Huh? Me?"
"Because it was the club you were in. Wait here for a bit—I'll go deliver these documents and come back."
Having said that casually, he picked up the paperwork and headed into the administrative building. Eki stood still, mulling over his words. He joined because I was in the club? What does that mean?
[Isn't it obvious? He wants to spar with you too.]
"Ah... Well, I guess he does know."
Since he was aware that she was a Master, a Giosa Owner, and the wielder of the Magic Sword, it made sense that Baraha, an aspiring knight, would want to cross blades with her.
I should spar with him properly sometime. If it's Baraha Senior, he's definitely a Master already—and he might even have the potential to become a Giosa Owner.
She had been impressed by his performance inside the Node, but more than anything, he was someone who had kept her greatest secret—the Magic Sword—without uttering a single careless word. She wanted to repay him. If she took the time to properly assess and refine his swordsmanship, he might advance even faster. Eki resolved to pull him aside when she had time and give him proper guidance.
Before long, Baraha returned. Together, they left the Inner Castle and made their way through the streets of Agenka, now alive with festival energy.
The weather was perfect. The air was thick with the scent of summer flowers and the buzz of excited crowds, while banners embroidered with golden suns fluttered beneath the clear blue sky, strung between every streetlamp.
Since she intended to treat him to lunch, Eki took the lead. She had in mind a famous restaurant Fatima had told her about. When she mentioned she'd be paying, Baraha simply smiled without a word. As he followed her, he asked,
"How's squire duty treating you?"
"Thanks to you, Senior. Honestly, the Lord doesn't give me much to do, so I haven't had much experience yet."
"But we went on that long-term mission together. And you're saying you haven't done much?"
"Weren't you the temporary squire for the Captain before being appointed by the Vice-Captain, Senior? You know how thorough the Lord is... Since he didn't even bring Sylphid, there wasn't much for me to handle."
Baraha's expression turned dubious. While the Captain was an easy knight to serve, that didn't mean he would take over a squire's duties entirely. If anything, he was the type to clearly define what a squire should be doing.
...Is it because it's her? Wait—maybe that rumor after she was appointed wasn't entirely baseless after all.
The rumor that the Captain had fallen for a candidate at first sight during the academy's entrance exam and immediately nominated her as his squire. Once Echinacea's monstrous skills became known, the story shifted to him being "smitten by her talent."
But judging by this, it probably wasn't her talent he was smitten with. Baraha clicked his tongue inwardly. Eki, busy scanning for the restaurant, didn't notice his expression. Spotting their destination, she turned to him.
"Here we are. Have you been here before?"
"Ah, this place. I came once with the Lord."
"How was it? Any good?"
"Delicious. They say this is the best place in Agenka for shark dishes—lived up to the reputation."
"That's a relief. Let's go in."
Though the festival had drawn crowds, the restaurant's prices were steep enough to give even nobles pause, so there were still tables available. Eki asked Baraha about his preferences before ordering a full course. She owed him a lot—she wanted to repay him properly. Thanks to the hefty reward she'd received for thwarting the assassination attempt in Azure Sky, this much was nothing.