Curtain Fall: Backstage Farewell (3)
November 11th, 11:11 PM. A subtle hour. The hour and minute hands on the wristwatch formed a narrow V, and lined up as numbers, it was all 1s stretching out.
"Too much, or maybe just too fast."
Clatter.
Riding in an open-front carriage, Astasia puffed out her cheeks and scowled deeply.
"Good is good, right?"
"Is parting from me good for you, Sir Grey?"
"How could it be? But just for now."
I pointed around us at the ever-fussy Astasia.
"What's that? Were you always so concerned about others?"
"Not particularly..."
"Then?"
"We're not the only ones here."
I gestured to Naria, sitting opposite us in the direction the carriage was heading, facing backward.
"This'll probably be the continent's first experience, so I wanted you to take it all in."
And beyond her, to Father, personally driving the horses ahead.
"It's opening."
The carriage continued slowly forward. The horses hesitated before the firmly shut gate straight ahead, but soon the doors parted left and right, clearing the path for us.
"Whoa."
"Gate 3 is opening."
Even Naria turned to watch the gate swing wide.
"In the history of Gibraltar—no, of Nostrum—this has never happened before."
The gate itself opened often enough. Even as Gibraltar's final gate, equipped with iron ladders and elevators for maintenance, it had been opened a few times.
"Grand Princess Astasia."
"Oh, Margrave? You can speak casually!"
"Once you're here, it's only proper for me as margrave to observe the courtesies."
But like this, one gate opening.
"You're the first to make all the gates from Gibraltar toward the Empire swing wide."
As the horses galloped through the canyon, the second gate ahead of us yawned open.
"With the road to the Empire wide open like this, my heart isn't at ease. I'm sorry."
"No need."
Odd.
"How was life in Gibraltar? Did you enjoy it?"
"Yes! Immensely! Leaving like this is truly regrettable."
"I'm glad. Though it ends like this, I hope your memories of Gibraltar are all good ones."
Father wasn't the type to chat so warmly.
Maybe because he hasn't talked much with Astasia before?
He wasn't the sort to curry favor with the Empire's grand princess in advance to become a traitorous house, yet he kept trying to strike up conversation, strangely enough.
"Soon."
Father paused briefly.
"Through negotiations with Morgania, we'll discuss limited opening of the Gibraltar Canyon."
He suddenly dropped an unscheduled announcement—one we'd planned but hadn't expected so abruptly.
"Father? What do you...?"
"There's plenty of space between Gate 2 and Gate 1 to set up."
Father gestured around.
"We could build facilities inside the canyon and create a limited trading post here for exchanges."
"Margrave..."
"But 'Margrave' feels a bit off, doesn't it?"
"Um... Grey's dad?"
"......Ha."
Father chuckled softly.
"I get it."
He glanced sideways at me, so I shrugged lightly.
"Grey."
"Yes, Father."
"I'll speak to Carmen myself. So she won't dismiss you lightly."
"It's not dismissal—doesn't she just think of me as smarter than a 13-year-old?"
"That's dismissal. She sees you as maybe 2 or 3 years smarter than your age..."
Father glanced between Naria and me.
"But you've had the intellect of a full-grown 20-year-old—or more—since you were 10."
"......."
"An adult in a child's form. And the cunning to use that child's guise to fool those around you."
"Is that praise or an insult?"
"As even you admit it..."
Father smiled faintly at Astasia.
"This one's like that, so watch out. An old soul where outside and inside don't match."
"I-I'm no different!"
Astasia grabbed my arm and shouted.
"I hide a ton too—outside and inside are worlds apart!"
"Then that's fortunate. Looks like you've found someone good who understands and accepts my son."
"Ugh...!"
"Though our two nations have lived with doors shut for 500 years..."
Screech.
The carriage halted.
"You two might just be the catalyst to tear down the walls between them."
The road to the Empire—its end. Gate 1.
"Don't you think?"
Screech.
"Indeed."
As Father asked toward the gate beyond, it opened, and the figure who appeared bowed politely.
"I see Margrave Crimson Gibraltar."
"......."
Father scanned the white-haired woman who emerged from the gate, top to bottom, and froze.
"Ahaha. I, uh, rushed here mid-ride."
"Your attire... ahem."
"C-Couldn't be helped. No time to change."
A black jacket that barely covered the front. Midriff fully exposed, chest in a leather tank top like underwear. Pants with one side ripped open below the hip. Attire rare in the kingdom, but her signature style.
She's dressed modestly up till now.
She'd worn suits before, but casual fit her better.
Anyone can see they're mother and daughter.
And so, next to her, the girl felt even more unmistakably her daughter.
"Strictly diplomatic, but not formal, so feel free to be at ease."
"Oh, really? Even so?"
"Given the situation, even hordes of vampires pose no threat."
Father dismounted, lightly tapping the sword at his waist.
"Right, Chairwoman Erwin?"
"Exactly. I came personally to escort Princess Astasia safely."
Behind Erwin.
"I've come to fetch you, Princess Astasia."
"...Yes."
Far off, toward the Empire, across the vast plain, loomed something enormous. Ship-like. Too distant to see clearly, but wheels on the ground were visible.
"Never thought you'd come out this quick."
"Waiting right at the gate—I couldn't pretend not to notice and make you freeze in the wind. Kids need early bedtimes."
"Hmph. Adults would've dragged it to morning."
"...Chairwoman."
Father frowned briefly at Erwin's words, but—
She knows her stuff.
I could only let out a hollow chuckle.
If they were adults...
It wouldn't have come to this.
I'd have protected her. And even if parted—
"Sir Grey?"
Astasia beside me pressed my waist.
"What are you thinking?"
"Bad thoughts."
"Pardon?"
"I know I should let you go, but sending you off like this feels like I won't see you for ages."
"......."
Astasia hesitated, holding my hand—
"No. I want to too, but I'm holding back."
She shook her head, tapping my hand.
"Not instead, but I'll find a way to contact you. Even if I have to hound Mother."
"Princess, who do you mean?"
"Guess~?"
"...Sigh. Lucky you're from House Gibraltar, or I'd tan your hide."
Erwin shook her head helplessly.
"Not impossible, so we'll make a channel. If Margrave Gibraltar opens a trading post here for exchanges, perfect."
"The capital might object, but we'll try opening the whole canyon gates for an actual Empire market in Gibraltar territory."
"Don't overdo it."
"Of course. You too."
Father approached Erwin, extending his hand.
"Seems you and I share the same mind."
"...Yeah. Oh, might be rude."
Erwin licked her lips, stepping close.
"But Empire greetings don't end with handshakes."
Father took her hand, and she leaned in.
Smack.
"......."
"Cheek kiss. Hehe."
Pressing cheeks side to side, Erwin made an exaggerated smack sound.
"How's that? Empire style."
"Quite open. Doing that to a married man."
"I'm a single mom."
"......."
"And unlike the Empire, your kingdom allows polygamy, right?"
"Not the time for that discussion. Let's end it."
Father shook off her hand lightly and stepped back.
"Three years ago."
"Pardon?"
"Three years ago, I wouldn't have even held hands with another woman."
"......."
"Empire greeting or culture... sigh."
Father sighed in resignation, turning to me.
"Grey Gibraltar."
"Don't worry. I'll handle the cleanup."
Mainly toward Mother, who wouldn't dare complain anyway.
"More importantly, like this?"
"Ah?!"
I took Astasia's hand, pressing cheek to cheek like a kiss.
"Uh, uh..."
She could have pulled away easily but stayed still. Once toward Father and the chairwoman. Then turning to the other cheek.
Greed?
If parting, a little greed's fine.
Brush.
"!!"
A mere instant, like wind grazing, but I indulged slightly.
"...Next time."
Astasia pulled away, flushed red.
"Properly."
"Noted."
"......See you."
Astasia hurried to Erwin without looking back, heading Empire-ward.
"Margrave Gibraltar. Do you do that to your wife too?"
"She's worse than me."
"Hehe. Lucky guy. Haha."
Erwin winked at me, arm around Astasia's shoulder, departing toward the Empire.
"Later!"
Erwin waved farewell, and Father promptly shut Gate 1.
"Grey."
"Yes, Father."
"We should head back, but you look like you have words for someone."
Father pointed to the carriage, then Gibraltar-ward.
"Not for me, but another."
"Yes."
I boarded, sitting across from still-seated Princess Naria.
"Princess Naria. Farewell greetings..."
"I've already done mine. Here, it's your part, Sir Grey."
Naria, silent like she wasn't there, glanced gate-ward.
"Instead, talk with me a bit. Sorry to the margrave, but..."
"Gate 3."
Father tugged the reins, turning the carriage.
"Take the elevator up, talk there. You two need time alone."
"...Thank you for the consideration."
"Thanks, Father."
"Hm."
Father scratched his nape, driving on.
"Princess Astasia."
"...No one's around, so can't you call me casually?"
"...You can cry."
"......No."
Erwin patted Astasia's shoulder, but Astasia dabbed her eyes with her dress sleeve.
"I can't. It's just temporary, not forever."
"You've grown strong."
"Yes. But..."
Astasia glared Empire-ward, clenching her fist.
"I need to get stronger."
"......."
"So I won't yield to threats like this. Starting with me."
"For that, you'd need to reach Master level?"
"......Not impossible?"
Astasia stared resolute at Erwin; Erwin stroked her hair wistfully.
"You've made up your mind. You used to hate handling such things."
"Hurting others is bad, but getting hurt for being weak is worse."
"You've changed a lot."
"I learned it."
"From Grey?"
"Realized through Sir Grey, but I heard and learned it directly."
"...Huh?"
"Naria Geo Nostrum."
Astasia smiled faintly, pulling something from her luggage.
"A friend from the kingdom taught me."
"Oh, that..."
"This? Hehe. Secret."
"......."
A long strap, perfect collar for the neck—but Erwin silently led Astasia to the ship-like thing on the ground.
"You want to learn? How to grow strong."
"Yes."
"Looks like I'll teach from day one."
Erwin sighed shortly.
"Watch closely."
She swung her hand down.
"Flow Style. Iferia."
⟨ Aura Blade ⟩
Slash.
A purple trajectory cut the air. No one noticed it was a blade—an aura blade forged from aura.
"Whoa."
Even Astasia, watching intently beside her.
"Guh, hek...?"
And whatever had been lurking in the darkness, sliced by the aura blade.
"Isabella, always so impatient."
Erwin sighed, swinging her aura blade forward again.
"In that sense, that man's truly capable at times like this."
Slash.
"Astasia."
"Yes, ...Mother."
"Watch closely. He'll teach you diligently, but this pinnacle..."
Slash.
"I can show you here and now."
In the darkness.
Amid brilliantly shining white hair.
"One thing's certain."
"With a sword, I'm the Empire's best."
Erwin's eyes began dyeing purple.