Chapter 50
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 50
Translation: godsn
"Pardon?"
"Was there... something strange that happened... or perhaps something unpleasant...?"
His question was cautious, as if treading on thin ice that might crack at any moment. Hesitation clung to the very end of his words. I wondered what expression he was making. Was he blinking nervously like when I'd seen him during the monster subjugation inside the barracks? I wanted to know, yet I couldn't bring myself to look up. I'd rather get thrown back into the Node again.
She had no idea how to handle this deep, sensitive tremor of emotion she was experiencing for the first time. All she could feel was the heat spreading from her chest, making her face, fingertips, and toes burn. Long-suppressed emotions had begun flooding in, turning into a deluge that shook her very mind.
"Echinacea?"
[Hey, what are you doing? Standing there spacing out?]
Distracted, she hadn't answered his question. He called her name with what sounded like puzzlement. The Magic Sword jabbed at her side as it spoke up. Eki barely managed to collect herself and opened her mouth to reply. But wait—what had he asked again? Her head was spinning. She'd already forgotten. Hesitating, she finally managed to respond.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't catch that."
"...I asked if perhaps... something had happened to upset you."
His repeated question trailed off slightly at the end. It sounded deflated. Overwhelmed by her own emotions, Eki didn't notice. She shook her head hurriedly.
"Nothing out of the ordinary happened."
"Truly? Di—... Did you meet with anyone?"
He swallowed what sounded like someone's name mid-word and rephrased his question. Eki was confused.
Was he asking if she'd met someone who upset her? Did he mean Bread? How did Yurien know about that man? Was it because of club matters? Had Bread's club been causing enough trouble that even Yurien, as Captain, had heard about it? Thoughts cascaded through her mind in an instant. She answered without thinking.
"If it's about disputes between clubs, we settled it with a duel. It wasn't particularly upsetting."
"...Disputes between clubs? What's that about?"
"That wasn't what you were asking?"
"No, I was..."
Their conversation kept missing the mark. Flustered, Yurien regained his composure and spoke again.
"I-I was asking if you'd encountered anyone else besides the club dispute. Someone who isn't a cadet."
"Someone who isn't a cadet? I didn't see anyone like that."
Who on earth was he talking about? Eki wondered inwardly. She could sense Yurien letting out a shallow sigh.
"Then that's that... Are you feeling alright now?"
"I'm completely recovered. If you have any tasks for me, I can resume my squire duties right away."
"No, that won't be necessary. Get plenty of rest. I apologize for taking up your time."
His tone was businesslike. Eki expected him to turn and leave now. Yet after making a motion as if to step away, he stopped dead in his tracks. His gaze lingered on her forehead again. She still hadn't raised her head. They hadn't made eye contact even once. Yurien asked quietly:
"Echinacea... Do you dislike facing me?"
A question similar to the one he'd asked in the stables. Yet this time it sounded slightly heavier, a bit sadder. His voice held a faint tremble. For some reason, that struck her as unbearably pitiful, and before she knew it, Eki raised her head.
"I don't dislike it. It's not that I dislike you, but—"
The moment her eyes met his steady gaze, her words caught in her throat. His face, completely focused on her. Fluttering eyelashes. His tired eyes looked sorrowful. Blue irises rippled like rain-soaked skies. With his brows slightly drooping, he asked softly:
"If it's not that you dislike me, then why... won't you look at me?"
His expression as he faced her was heartbreakingly desolate.
This is insane. That was the only thought that came to mind. After becoming aware of her own feelings, looking at him was overwhelming stimulation for her. She had no immunity to this sort of thing. Eki's face burned crimson from her chin to her forehead. Her rationality had already been swept away by the flood, leaving no trace behind. Without even knowing what she was saying, Eki moved her lips.
"Because you're beautiful."
"......"
[...Hey, you... did you eat something wrong?]
The Magic Sword asked in an uncharacteristically hesitant tone. Right before her eyes, she saw Yurien's pupils dilate enormously. His mouth fell open slightly. An awkward silence settled between them. Only then coming to her senses, Eki recalled what she had just blurted out.
'Beautiful... what? I must be insane.'
She wanted to disappear from this spot immediately. What good was Rakia-giosa? Here they were facing this utterly abnormal situation that would never have occurred before the regression, and it couldn't even bother to create a Node. Eki hurriedly averted her eyes from Yurien's. Her expression looked on the verge of tears. No—she genuinely wanted to cry.
And then a soft laugh escaped him. Yurien covered his mouth as he laughed. Eki buried her face again, glaring at the lace trim of her dress. She was so embarrassed she could die. Meanwhile, the sound of the Magic Sword clicking its tongue reached her ears. Damn that cursed sword...
She kept her head lowered until his laughter subsided. And so she failed to see it—how Yurien's gaze and expression gradually filled with realization and something resembling resolve.
He steadied his breathing and spoke in a voice still tinged with amusement.
"Echinacea."
"Y-yes! I'm sorry, Lord. I must have temporarily lost my mind—"
"No, it doesn't matter. More importantly..."
Yurien hesitated briefly. As his words trailed off, Eki lifted her head slightly. He seemed to be pondering something, his gaze fixed on empty air. Without realizing it, her eyes traced the profile of his face. Then suddenly, he turned to look at her. Startled, Eki pretended not to notice and averted her eyes.
"The day after tomorrow, I have business to attend to outside Agenka. It may take considerable time. The matter could potentially be dangerous. Moreover, due to scheduling, you would be unable to participate in the Military Academy's Overall Ranking Tournament. Even so, would you accompany me?"
"...Pardon?"
The completely unexpected proposal made her respond in dazed confusion. Yurien continued explaining with his usual composed expression.
"I originally intended to handle this matter alone, but if you... if you don't find my presence uncomfortable, I would like you to come with me. This isn't an order but a request, so you needn't accompany me if you'd rather not."
"What sort of mission is it?"
"The details are difficult to explain at present... I imagine you'd find it hard to decide immediately. If you do consider coming, let me know by tomorrow. I'll take silence as refusal. Again, you needn't feel any obligation."
His suggestion was extraordinarily cautious. He kept his eyes lowered as if afraid of her answer. The moment she saw that expression, Eki reflexively responded.
"N-no, I'll go. It's only natural for a Squire to accompany their Lord on missions."
And immediately regretted it.
'Wait... this might be Yurien testing whether I'm the Demon of the Magic Sword somewhere without interference. Before deciding on the engagement matter, he might have felt the need to verify me—the variable.'
The thought pierced sharply through her. The heart that had been colored by newly realized emotions sank in an instant. That same acute sensation she'd felt while watching the unreachable Holy Sword spread through her chest again.
But just as she was about to sink into that sensation, Yurien smiled before her eyes. It was a boyishly buoyant smile. His cheeks flushed slightly, the corners of his eyes crinkling beautifully. Echinacea's thoughts came to a halt.
"Thank you."
His voice was unmistakably pleased as he responded, then hastily continued speaking—as if anxious she might retract her answer.
"Then, prepare for the journey and come to the Captain's office by 10 a.m. the day after tomorrow. The schedule may take over a week, possibly extending to a month depending on circumstances. Keep that in mind while preparing. If you need anything, request it from the administrative clerk."
"...Yes, Lord."
"I'll be waiting, Echinacea."
Yurien spoke warmly before turning away. Eki blankly watched his retreating figure. She'd just impulsively made some enormous decision—a dangerous one that might expose her as the Demon of the Magic Sword.
Her stomach churned at the thought. That should have been her reaction, yet suddenly, her mood lifted. Her rationality refused to return. Only his smile kept swirling before her eyes. As long as she wasn't discovered... perhaps... no, but what about the engagement issue? And those inescapable circumstances he was trapped in?
'I don't know... My head isn't working right now.'
[Master, you're acting really weird? Why follow him? You should be avoiding him at all costs—what if you're caught alone together during the trip?]
"I don't know either, so stop asking."
[Huh? You're the one who decided! What do you mean you don't know? Oh—wait, is that it? Are you planning to kill him secretly when you're alone somewhere? Whoa, that's actually a great idea! There are too many eyes in the knight's quarters, but in some secluded spot—ow! Ow! Hey! What are you doing?!]
Eki channeled mana into her clenched right fist. The magic sword whined dramatically, but she didn't withdraw the mana until she returned to the dormitory.
And her burning red cheeks showed no signs of cooling either. When Alice saw her return, she worriedly asked if her fever had spiked again.
The next morning, Eki regretted everything the moment she opened her eyes.
'I must have gone insane. Why on earth did I agree to go?'
She couldn't fathom what had possessed her to make that decision. The fact that she knew exactly why made it worse. There was no guarantee she could refuse if the same situation arose again.
Because Yurien's face when he'd asked why she wouldn't look at him had been so heartbreaking. Because she feared seeing that expression again if she refused. Because his face had lit up like a boy's when she agreed, brimming with life. Because that smile alone had made agreeing worth it.
'That kind of expression is cheating.'
Eki viciously wrung her innocent pillow before burying her face in the blankets. Her pink hair splayed chaotically across the white sheets. She twisted and untwisted strands between her fingers, lost in thought.
'Am I really this weak to faces? Or is it just because it's Yurien?'
She couldn't tell whether it was because her first love happened to be too beautiful. Yurien was tall, and though lean, his knight-trained physique wasn't feminine. Yet his delicate, marble-sculpture features always struck her as beautiful.
'No matter how you look at it, pretty is pretty is—'
"Ah!"
Remembering yesterday's blunder, she accidentally yanked too hard on the hair she'd been twisting. Staring in dismay at the several strands now pulled from her straight locks, Eki sighed deeply at her own hands.