The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 52

Translation: godsn

"All these documents are festival-related paperwork for the Lord. Budget reports, planning proposals, request forms, survey results......"

"A festival?"

"The summer Sun Festival. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠It's less than a month away."

The Sun Festival was the most widespread celebration on the continent. A large-scale festival lasting three days from June 20th to 22nd, commemorating the longest day of the year. Today being May 22nd, there really was less than a month left. Since the Vice-Captain handled most of the administrative work for the Azure Sky Knights, his squire Baraha had apparently become swamped as well.

"I see Agenka holds large-scale festivals too."

"You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't know? The knight order leads the grand festival held throughout Agenka city. People even travel here specially from other nations. There's also an Azure Sky Knights review ceremony during the festival. The Masters' review ceremony is quite a spectacle."

Baraha, who had been cheerfully explaining, suddenly made a face as if remembering something. He asked Eki:

"Come to think of it, we never properly celebrated you becoming a squire since you weren't feeling well before. When are you free?"

"Ah......"

She'd completely forgotten about it. The problem was that Eki was leaving on a long-term mission first thing tomorrow morning. If it took a full month, she wouldn't return until the festival period. She felt bad about rejecting Baraha's offer to celebrate twice now.

"Would today work by any chance?"

"I'm swamped today. What about another day? I have time tomorrow or the day after."

Baraha sighed while looking down at his documents and asked again. Eki made an awkward expression.

"Well... I'm going on a long-term mission with the Captain starting tomorrow. He said it might take about a month."

"...With the Captain? I heard he was going alone on that mission."

"Ah, yesterday he suddenly asked if I'd accompany him. As his squire, I of course agreed."

"So you're saying the two of you are going on a long-term mission alone?"

Baraha's expression turned peculiar. Eki looked up at him curiously.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"...No, it's nothing."

The sudden increase in Baraha's workload was precisely because of Yurien's long-term mission. With the Captain who should be helping with festival preparations being absent for an extended period, the Vice-Captain's workload increased, and consequently so did Baraha's as the Vice-Captain's squire. Though Yurien had handled as much as possible before leaving, an empty seat couldn't be helped.

So while Baraha couldn't even visit Echinacea when she was sick because the Captain increased his workload, now Echinacea was accompanying the Captain on his long-term mission at his request?

It was only natural that Baraha suddenly recalled the incident at the stables. How he'd reflexively retreated under Yurien's gaze. How when Yurien said the Vice-Captain was calling for him, the Vice-Captain had asked why he'd come so soon when he arrived. And when the memory of Yurien embracing Echinacea right after emerging from the Node surfaced, wrinkles formed between his brows. Suspicion turned to conviction, breeding further suspicion.

'Was this insane workload increase really just a coincidence?'

"Senior?"

"Huh? Sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment."

At Eki's question, he hastily cleared his mind. Then quickly made another suggestion.

"Eki, you'll have time after returning from the mission, right?"

"Yes, probably."

"By then it might be right during the Sun Festival. Then could you spare half a day during the festival?"

He made the request with an amiable smile. Feeling guilty for continuously refusing, Eki readily nodded.

"Yes, let's meet then. And the meal will be my treat. I've learned so much about squire duties thanks to you, senior, so I should pay."

"Hmm. Well, we'll see about that then. Have a safe trip, Eki."

Baraha bid farewell with a meaningful smile. Eki returned his greeting and headed toward the second-year girls' dormitory to find Fatima. After informing her that she would likely be absent from club meetings for a while, it was already evening by the time she returned. She had dinner with Alice and spent the late hours packing.

Though she had prepared a set of travel leathers just in case of unforeseen circumstances, most of her luggage consisted of dresses and jewelry. The thought of accompanying Yurien the entire time made it impossible for her to abandon the image of "Noble Lady Echinacea Roaz." Naturally, the sheer volume of her luggage was no joke.

Anticipating this, she had borrowed a magic bag from Nicole earlier. This bag, which could hold the equivalent of five ordinary bags, was also the reason Nicole's room became a chaotic mess of miscellaneous items whenever she returned to the Roaz Territory. Thanks to it, Eki managed to fit all her belongings into a single bag.

With preparations complete, the next morning arrived.

May 23rd. Squire Echinacea Roaz departed on a long-term secret mission under the command of Lord Yurien de Harden Kyrie.

Act 6. Drawing Closer to the Unbreakable

Eki and Yurien traveled by mana train. Powered by magic using mana as fuel, these trains were the fastest means of transportation connecting the continent. The tickets Yurien had reserved were for first class—a small private compartment with two elongated sofas facing each other across a table.

Upon entering, they placed their luggage in the storage compartment and sat opposite each other. An awkward silence settled between them. Eki averted her gaze from Yurien and turned toward the window.

A bell chimed, signaling the train's departure, and the scenery outside began to move. The train's vibrations traveled from the walls through her body as it left Agenka Station and began crossing the fields. She stared blankly at the vast, featureless landscape until the unnatural stillness from Yurien's side made her glance over subtly.

He was leaning back on the sofa, arms crossed, eyes closed. His long lashes cast delicate shadows over his pale skin, and his silver hair, catching the sunlight streaming through the window, shimmered faintly. He looked like a sculpture, painstakingly crafted by a master artisan—so still he might not have been breathing.

Has he fallen asleep?

The tension drained from Eki's body. Even as she adjusted her posture, Yurien didn't stir. Relaxing against the sofa, she crossed her legs, propped an elbow on her knee, and rested her chin in her palm, studying him openly.

With those striking sky-blue eyes hidden behind his eyelids, he seemed less like a living person and more like an exquisitely carved statue. The faint rumbling of the train and the sound of their breathing filled the space between them. The longer she watched him in silence, the faster her heart began to beat.

A fleeting moment colored with emotion. Eki drank in the sight of him, helplessly captivated—then caught herself wanting to reach out and touch him. She quickly dismissed the thought, only to sink into a tangle of heavier reflections.

The Emperor. The Second Prince, whom the Emperor cherished and supported. The Crown Prince, backed by both his maternal and marital families. Their rivalry. And Yurien, the Third Prince—the one they all regarded with wariness. The Crown Prince's final gambit: the engagement to Lady Diassant. A meticulously woven snare of circumstances.

Suddenly, she recalled their first reunion at the fountain. Back then, Yurien had told her—who had addressed him as "Captain"—to call him by his name. And when he said it, he had omitted his surname.

'The imperial family name... I wonder if he wishes he could tear it away if possible.'

A life where he lost his mother the moment he was born, and because of that, was hated by his father his entire life. A life where he became a thorn in his brothers' sides, forced to make choices.

As someone born as the beloved daughter of a happily married couple in an ordinary household, she couldn't even begin to imagine what such a life would be like. For some reason, an ache bloomed in her chest.

'I thought someone born in the light would be nothing but noble through and through.'

The Yurien she knew was likely just a tiny fragment of who he truly was. She found herself wanting to know more about him. How he had lived, what dreams he dreamed. What he liked, what he disliked, what he wished for.

'Once we complete this mission and return, will he get engaged?'

For the sake of the Roaz family, he needed to be engaged. She knew that. Yet despite that, she wished he wouldn't. She didn't want to imagine Yurien engaged to Lady Diassant.

Then what should be done?

She didn't know. If it were her own problem, perhaps, but this was Yurien's matter. She had no right to interfere in his affairs. No matter how much she wanted to. The only relationship between Echinacea and Yurien was that of a squire and her lord.

'If we had a different relationship, I could tell him not to go through with the engagement. I could say, "Let's find another way to overcome the situation you're in, let's try together." There's no way he'd care about my family's safety, but still, I can protect the Roaz family ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠myself, so I'd want to tell him to follow his heart. If he and I were lovers...'

The word "lovers," which had surfaced in her mind unbidden, sent a sudden fantasy spiraling out. Echi touched her cheek to check if it had grown hot, then frantically pulled out a mirror to confirm. Thankfully, her face wasn't flushed. She let out a sigh of relief and lifted her head—only to meet a pair of blue eyes staring straight at her.

"Ah, when did you wake—"

"I wasn't asleep."

Yurien answered quietly. Echi barely managed to steady her startled heart. As she tucked the mirror back away and tried to reassemble her composure, Yurien continued to watch her in silence. Unsettled by his gaze, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"My lord, where is our destination?"

"A small village in the eastern Criola region of the Empire. We'll disembark at Criola Station tonight, then take a carriage further. You'll likely sleep in the carriage. We should arrive near our destination by morning."

He explained methodically. It was a region within the Empire, but one she wasn't familiar with. Hesitating, Echi ventured another question.

"Can you tell me about the mission now?"

Yurien didn't answer immediately. He drew a long breath, then exhaled slowly. His lips parted slightly before pressing together again, and he lowered his gaze.

'He's tense... Why?'

While Echi puzzled over it, he seemed to gather his thoughts. He opened his mouth at last, speaking slowly.

"You know about Elgiosa, don't you."

"...Yes."

Echi struggled not to show her surprise. Memories of the past events she had once organized on paper after Yurien's engagement incident resurfaced—how the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Healing Sword Elgiosa had only been discovered after the Saintess was murdered. Yurien continued.

"The objective of this mission is to retrieve Elgiosa... and to rescue its owner."