Chapter 21
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 21
Translation: godsn
"Baraha."
"Ar Sebat-tiem. Yes, Captain."
"Baron Tilius is looking for you. You should go."
"Understood. Eki, finish grooming Sol and then return. We'll do the rest later—Ah, by any chance, Captain, have you come to take Sylphid out?"
Since Baraha had begun teaching Eki, he had started calling her by the nickname she requested. As he spoke to Eki, he raised his head to ask Yurien if he intended to ride. There was no way the Captain would come all the way to the stables just to relay a message to a mere squire.
"That's right. Were you in the middle of preliminary squire training?"
Yurien's calm gaze lingered on the two standing close together as he answered. Baraha instinctively took a step back. Then he felt puzzled by his own reaction. Why did I retreat?
"Yes, that's correct. We were just grooming, so it's fine to stop now. Eki, finish up and head back."
"Yes, Senior."
Eki answered reflexively. From the moment Yurien appeared without warning, half her mind had already checked out. Seeing Eki acting strangely, Baraha was about to say something more when Yurien spoke first.
"Baraha. I believe I told you to go see Baron Tilius."
"Ah... Yes, thank you."
Baraha bowed his head in acknowledgment and stepped out of the stable. Eki, desperate to leave, hastily threw the brush and hoof pick into the grooming box.
Her rushed movements were clumsy. The brush hit the edge of the box and rolled out onto the ground. Yurien picked it up. Eki stared blankly at the brush he held out to her. His blue eyes quietly studied her. He asked softly:
"Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Huh?"
"If challenging you to spar was burdensome... you can forget about it."
She felt like an idiot. Despite all her careful theorizing about his actions and possible thoughts, now that she stood before him unexpectedly, none of it came to mind. Only when she heard the word "spar" did she finally recall all her conjectures about him. With great effort, Eki moved her hand to take the brush.
"No, Captain."
"'No' to what?"
"It's not that the spar is burdensome—it's just too generous of an offer. I'll let you know when I'm mentally prepared. And, um, thank you for the cloak before. I'll return it soon."
Eki rapidly spilled out these words as she tossed the brush into the box. Just as she turned to flee, Yurien's voice stopped her.
"So you are uncomfortable with me, then."
"......"
She didn't want to lie to him if possible. So she kept silent. Of course Eki was uncomfortable around Yurien. In his presence, all her focus zeroed in on him as countless speculations flooded her mind.
Does he hate me? Does he remember? Is he observing me now? Is he testing whether I'm the Demon of the Magic Sword?
And now there was the added possibility that the magic sword's origin might trace back to his family—the Imperial Family. Nothing but questions. Tension. And yet, every time she saw him alive, she felt happiness. Joy. Guilt. And the remaining shards of her shattered emotions.
She could feel his gaze on her turned back. It wasn't a piercing stare. Soon came the sounds of a saddle being secured and reins being gathered—Yurien was preparing Sylphid.
"You will soon become my squire. I would prefer if you didn't find my presence uncomfortable."
It was a remark made lightly, as if to avoid burdening her, while he busied himself with another action. Eki took a deep breath and turned around. He was approaching, holding Sylphid's reins. The white horse with a golden sheen suited the silver-haired man exceptionally well.
"May I... ask you just one thing, Captain?"
Yurien didn't answer. Instead, his blue eyes turned toward her. Eki swallowed hard, rolling the words in her mouth a few times. The next time I see him, I have to ask this. It was an answer she couldn't possibly find in her own memories. With great effort, she finally forced out the question.
"Last year, at the Birthday Banquet... you said you saw me. But I never spoke to you, so how did you recognize me? Did I... do something improper?"
Yurien, who had reached her side, stopped walking. Sylphid snorted and clopped its hooves restlessly. His gaze always felt as if it pierced straight through to her soul. Eki resisted the urge to clench her right palm. He answered quietly.
"Nothing like that. You simply caught my eye."
"Caught your eye? Was it because of my hair?"
Pink hair was rarer than silver. It was a color inherited from her mother's side—so rare, in fact, that many remembered her as "the pink-haired noble lady." Her own family, the Roaz Count's household, was so unremarkable that even her hair color left a stronger impression. If that was the reason, she could accept it.
But Yurien shook his head.
"...No. It was personal interest."
An answer she had never expected. Eki blinked in confusion before asking again.
"Personal interest... What do you mean?"
Yurien smiled. The slight crinkle of his eyes when he did was so beautiful that her gaze was drawn to it involuntarily. While she was momentarily dazed by that smile, he took a step closer. She stiffened as his hand moved toward her.
His fingers brushed against the strands of her hair that had fallen over her shoulder. They slipped about a knuckle's length into the cascading pink waves, combing through them gently before plucking something free. Yurien flicked away the stray piece of straw he had pulled from her hair and spoke.
"I'll answer that question after our spar."
"...You said if the sparring request was burdensome, I could forget about it."
Before she realized it, Eki had let out a sullen retort. This time, Yurien laughed aloud—a short, quiet sound muffled behind his hand. And once again, she found herself utterly entranced by that laughter.
What kind of man laughs that beautifully? He looks so aloof, yet why does he smile so easily?
"If you dislike the idea, I can't force you... But it means I truly desire that spar with you."
His voice was soft, and as if to refuse any further questions, he turned away. He led Sylphid out of the stable, leaving Eki behind. She couldn't bring herself to stop him. Her head throbbed. She had been tense, then bewitched—it felt like she had weathered a storm in that brief moment.
[That bastard, does he remember? Why is he so fixated on sparring? Isn't this exactly what you said—that he's trying to confirm your identity?]
Now that she was alone, the Magic Sword spoke up. For some reason, Eki rubbed her flushed cheeks with the back of her hand and snapped back.
"Don't call Yurien a bastard, Bal."
[It's my own business. Ugh, this is frustrating! Master, can't you just let me clash with Langiosa once? Then I could talk to her and confirm if she's awake.]
"Are you insane? You want me to draw you?"
[Hey, Master, then let's just ask him directly. Ask him if he remembers dying by my hand, huh? If he doesn't understand, just say it was a joke, and if he remembers, we can have our duel!]
"Just keep quiet. You're giving me a headache."
Eki glared irritably at her right palm. As she stepped out of the stable, the magic sword grumbled.
[So you're just going to keep tiptoeing around in this ambiguous state?]
"The monster subjugation is coming soon. We'll know for sure when we see how Senior Baraha acts then. Right now... I really don't know. If it weren't for that banquet talk, it would've been easier to figure out. What exactly did he see in me at the banquet?"
[He said it was personal interest. What does that even mean? When do humans usually say things like that?]
"Well..."
Eki started to answer but stopped. When do people use that kind of expression? Something had instantly come to mind. But she couldn't possibly imagine—no, she shouldn't imagine—Yurien harboring such tender feelings toward her.
She recalled his final moments. The image of him unable to even close his blood-soaked eyes made whatever warmth had been welling up inside her crumble instantly. Eki wore a bitter smile.
[Why'd you stop talking?]
"Someone's coming."
It wasn't an excuse. There was indeed someone approaching as she headed toward the dormitory.
"That dress looks lovely on you again today, Cadet Echinacea! The mint green suits you perfectly!"
The dark-skinned woman beaming at her was about a handspan shorter than Eki. With her single long black braid and petite frame characteristic of the western nomads, she had a girlish appearance. But at twenty-two, she was both Eki's senior by year and age, and the club leader of Wisdom.
Moreover, she was one of the few cadets who paid no heed to the rumors about Echinacea. She even complimented Eki's dress. In some ways, she was more peculiar than Baraha.
"Hello, Senior Fatima."
Eki gave a perfunctory greeting and tried to walk past, but Fatima trotted after her. Her bouncing steps made her long braid swing like a puppy's tail. She looked up at Eki with eyes as black and shiny as wild grapes.
"Cadet Echinacea, since I complimented you, you should join our club."
"Senior, I've told you I'm not joining any clubs."
"But ours isn't just 'any' club. It's a good one! Doesn't the name sound cool? Wisdom! Doesn't it immediately evoke the elegance of intellectuals who will lead Agenka?"
Eki sighed.
"What's the point of intellectuals in a military academy club?"
"Drop that provincial mindset that knights only need brawn! Let's become wise knights! That's why you should join Wisdom!"
"I'm really not joining any clubs, Senior. Wouldn't it be better to give up now?"
"No way, I never give up! Not until you join Wisdom!"
"Why are you so determined to recruit me? No other club is this persistent."
"Because they're fools. Perfect—thanks to their foolishness, this wise woman gets to snag an excellent talent all for herself!"
"Me? An excellent talent?"
"Well, aren't you?"