Stigma (6)
Imperial capital, Iscaron's Yard.
A group of knights were moving along the long corridor.
"......"
The countless metallic sounds of plate armor boots echoing off the marble floor. The afterimages that trailed their movements, not yet gathered, were perhaps residual aura. Their bearing reminded one of the elite knight squad. But these were not the Imperial Knights under Rebecca's command. As proof, the wolf emblem, not the falcon, was engraved on their breastplates.
"What a strange atmosphere."
"Indeed."
At the border of the demon realm, Gehenna, in the northernmost part of the Empire, the young lady of the Winter Duchy, Liana: Winter, nodded quietly in response to the whisper of her personal knight. Suddenly, the Imperial Knights had begun moving busily starting from yesterday's dawn. The reason was unknown.
"Moreover... the mages who entered the knight squad have disappeared without a trace."
"Ah, speaking of which, I heard that the Archmage visited here yesterday."
"Really? That arrogant guy came all the way here?"
Liana also felt curiosity at the knights' conversation. Archmage Ceres would not move a single step without the Empress Aria's order. Moreover, due to her free-spirited personality, she detested the knight group extremely. Would such a person come directly to the 'Iscaron's Yard', the knights' headquarters?
"What seems suspicious. Did Rebecca and the Archmage have a falling out or something?"
"Enough. The Empire's affairs are the Empire's affairs. Keep silent."
With Liana's command, the knights fell silent. She was curious too, but if it wasn't a matter for the Winter Duchy, there was no need to listen or worry.
"You must not forget the purpose of our visit here."
"Yes, young lady."
The mission of the regular report.
We must focus only on that.
Lady Winter.
At that moment, a cheerful voice came from behind.
"Sonia, Chief Centurion!"
"How have you been?"
Liana ran to her and held her hand tightly.
"Meeting like this, the effort of coming all the way here is worth it."
"It is an honor."
Sonia Estelt. Rebecca's adjutant and a rare lance knight in the Empire. She was also a reliable support who volunteered for the dispatch to Winter territory during the "Full Moon Night" when demons went mad.
"By the way, how did you end up here?"
"A special order from Lady Rebecca to escort the Lady Winter and the Winter knights to the conference hall."
To the conference hall, not the office?
Something's off, the regular report was always held in her office.
"Is it possible that the Imperial Knights are attending this report this time?"
"No. As before, it will be conducted in a simplified manner."
Then why? The conference hall is not opened unless there's something special enough to summon all knights. Seeing that no reasonable excuse was given, there must be something. But probably there is a reason, or it's a minor matter that we don't need to know.
"I understand for now. Please lead the way."
𐂂
Same time, the capital square of the Astaria Empire.
The delicate harp sound drew people's attention.
"......♬"
An individual stood before the people, clearing their throat.
Those who recognized her immediately began to stir.
"...Amazing, I've lived a long time and seen many things."
"Who on earth is this person making such a fuss—"
"Shh! Can't you lower that piercing voice a bit!"
A dancer's attire that wouldn't be cold in winter.
A graceful and refreshing elf with snow-white skin.
"Look at those ears."
For some reason, both ears were half-cut off.
To elves, this was a symbol of exile.
It was also a feature that told well who she was.
"It is Laura: Eterveil."
"Is that the 'exiled dancer'?"
A wandering dancer.
And a mysterious minstrel.
"But it's strange, I heard she doesn't show her face in winter."
"You annoying guy! That's why I'm surprised now!"
The exiled dancer would not reveal her appearance from the first snow after hiding in the Linnel Great Forest until spring. Many people, chasing rumors, entered the forest rashly and got lost. There were fairy-tale stories of adventurers who followed her song from somewhere in the forest and barely escaped.
"A rare sight that even dying and coming back to life couldn't see. So, if you've understood, shut your mouths."
"......"
With a warm wind blowing from somewhere,
The minstrel's song flowed along the melancholic harp melody.
"The one I dreamed of, the one I wished to play."
"The elegant branches of the World Tree, in the green leaves,"
"The true smile that lingered, the story of the forest and the spirits."
"However, shadows of desire and darkness spread,"
"On the day the sword of the fallen knight drew innocent blood."
"I remained silent."
"The forest dyed with burning death and cruel screams."
"The day when acrid smoke covered the sky."
"I remained silent."
"Mother, ah, my mother."
"The price of betrayal, forgiveness that cannot be obtained."
"The love and blessing that stayed beside me vanished forever."
"Mother, ah, my mother."
"Now, where should I go?"
"Even if I call endlessly, no answer comes."
"Don't cry, don't cry."
"Please stop your tears."
"The children of the forest go far away like smoke,"
"My heart and voice froze coldly"
"Singing endlessly the empty sorrow."
The ashen clouds floating in the gloomy sky felt especially melancholic. Snowflakes piled on shoulders and heads as if comforting the sorrowful minstrel. A quietness as if time had stopped. People didn't understand the meaning of the lyrics in elf language, but each found comfort in their own painful memories.
"~♬"
After the short performance ended.
"Lord Laura."
Someone approached the minstrel who was preparing to leave.
"Could you spare a moment?"
"......"
A wary look.
"Ah, I have committed a rudeness."
The man removed his hood.
Then, the elf's eyes widened slightly.
"Long time no see. Three years, was it?"
"A minister of the Empire speaking casually to a lowly minstrel. Even if our eyes met, it would be enough to just pass by."
She spat out quite harsh words and continued to pack her things.
"The song you sang was for atonement to the Druids."
"!"
The hand that had stopped abruptly. The face that had been calm shattered as if hit by a hammer. Eyes distorted without reason. Lips lost the direction of the expression they should have. The old Andarlef was bewildered, not knowing what to do, and hurriedly apologized.
"Oh, this old man has made a big mistake. Forgive me generously."
"No, Andarlef. Don't mind it. Just..."
She paused for a moment, took a deep breath.
White breath spurted out like part of the soul.
"Being that there are those who know the meaning of this song, I am endlessly ashamed of myself."
A bitter smile born of guilt. She had sung a song about the elves who sold the World Tree and Druids to the fallen knights during the Empire's dark age, and was exiled permanently from the Elun Daries, the elves' nation, with half her ears cut off due to the anger of the elders. After wandering, she helped the Empress Aria correct public sentiment.
"So, what is the reason you came to find me?"
And what she gained in return.
The right to reside in the Linnel Great Forest that became part of the Empire.
"Directly, Her Majesty Aria is looking for you."
"Me? I'm sorry, but I have to return to the forest."
"Please, before that, allow me to see Her Majesty—"
"The heavy rain of the Great Forest, you should know."
She cut off the Prime Minister's words.
"...I have heard the report a few days ago."
"The rain doesn't stop at all. If left like this, my hiding place will be swept away by the flood. Where else is there something more important than this? Birds have all started heading to the forest, and there are reports of large-scale movements of tents to avoid the heavy rain. Unsettling signs are happening all over the continent."
A long monologue without giving a chance to speak.
"So, I have to return to the forest. I have no time to delay here, that's what I'm saying. Understood—"
"I found a child of the Druid in the Empire's old prison."
This time, the Prime Minister cut her off.
"......"
A momentary silence.
"Are you hallucinating because it's time to die? Where did you find what?"
"I found a child of the Druid in the Empire's old prison."
The same answer without change in tone.
Again, a brief silence.
"What?! A child of the Druid!"
A shrill exclamation that made the square go silent.
"Hahaha, Lady Laura. There are many eyes watching."
"Are you really telling me the truth! A living child of the Druid?!"
"This old man is not idle enough to tease someone."
Andarlef smiled pleasantly and thought.
I should order to prepare the audience room immediately upon returning.
𐂂
Meanwhile, in the knights' conference hall.
"...You are unusually late today."
"It's not like you've ever been late before, something's off."
The Winter knights waiting for Rebecca.
Liana was also puzzled by her tardiness.
"Hey, Sonia Chief. Did something happen to Lady Rebecca?"
"I'm sorry. She will arrive soon, please understand."
The knight who was about to say that he had said the same thing an hour ago shut his mouth. Well, it's Rebecca. No matter how long you wait, you have to wait.
"......"
They had to wait an hour more.
