The Thunderbird Hunting Festival
Would the Orleans Ducal House seize upon this incident as leverage? The Marquisate of Hwiante was no house to be taken lightly either!
The Drakan flight itself had not been the Saintess’s doing. Still, it had been her own choice to veer unconsciously toward the western quarter where the main temple stood when they flew beyond the capital’s jurisdiction…!
This is maddening.
No matter how the matter was resolved, the imperial family would have no choice but to punish both houses. Would all the blame then fall upon her?
For Capia, whose position was already precarious, the past few days had been nothing short of heart-stopping.
Every time fresh reports arrived—that a gold mine had been discovered at the edge of the Dryana Mountains, that clear signs of blasting and human passage remained, that a warehouse concealing gold had been found nearby—her anxiety grew so severe that sleep became impossible.
Some time later.
“Saintess, an invitation has arrived for tomorrow’s imperial thunderbird hunt. Will you attend?”
Capia’s lips, which had looked drawn and pale for days, parted with difficulty.
“To me?”
“Yes. Each year the imperial family holds the first thunderbird hunt in their private preserve. Traditionally, the two ducal houses of the empire take turns assisting. This year it is the turn of the Orleans Ducal House.”
They had been caught secretly mining gold and were now in a difficult position, were they not?
Capia entertained the doubt, then shook her head inwardly.
Even so, they could hardly skip their turn this year, so they must have been forced to allow it. Hmm… The Drakan flight does not seem like a plot aimed at me, yet there is no guarantee that nothing worse will happen.
The Saintess pretended to know nothing and asked,
“Will only members of the imperial family attend the thunderbird hunt? If the Orleans Ducal House is handling the arrangements, members of the Klein Ducal House would surely be welcome as well.”
“By principle the hunt is led by the direct imperial line, while attendance by collateral imperial relatives and the two ducal houses remains flexible.”
“Is that so…?”
She had already seen the real daughter; it was time she faced the fake one as well.
Capia steeled herself and asked again.
“Will the Drakan rider who serves as the Crown Prince’s subordinate also be present?”
She had once possessed the perfect opportunity to bind the real daughter to her with an act of “favor,” yet she had let it slip away most regrettably.
Because Sir Slot, who had been distant at the main temple, had excitedly reported the discovery of gold and defended her actions.
Insolent wretch!
Still, Capia held a trump card that Sir Slot could never even dream of.
The loyal faction she had somehow maintained within the Holy Knights Order through the patronage of the Orleans Ducal House. One day, when she rose again, she would certainly replace that order’s commander.
Suppressing her anger, the Saintess recalled the daughter who had shown not the slightest trace of gloom.
The day would come when they met again in another place.
If she then gave the girl a word of reassurance—that everything was all right despite her surprise—would that not place the girl in her debt?
The maid who had brought the invitation shook her head.
“Lady Morgana is neither a member of the imperial family nor a blood relative of either ducal house, so she has no grounds for attendance. Even as a guest she would not be permitted under the rules. Saintess, if you intend to attend, please send word to Iris Palace by this evening. I shall take my leave.”
For the Saintess, whose heart was filled with ambition for power, there had never been any choice.
The chance to see the Emperor and the Crown Prince again was important, and it would also give her an opportunity to offer explanations to the people of the Orleans Ducal House.
Meanwhile, the Klein Ducal House was in an uproar over an unexpected trouble.
Inside a quiet bedroom in the main residence.
Light-brown hair lay limply across a white pillow, and the blue eyes that usually held grace and dignity were unfocused.
The youngest daughter, who had monopolized the love of the Duke and Duchess, had been bedridden for several days and unable to rise.
“Ugh…”
“Tiana, how are you feeling?”
The daughter opened her eyes hazily and groaned.
“My head… my head is spinning.”
The Duchess of Klein looked toward the door and raised her voice.
“Is the physician not here yet?”
“My lady…”
“Oh dear! What on earth are you all doing? If he does not arrive soon, you should go fetch him by carriage yourselves! Nothing is going right! Tiana, it is all right. Do not force yourself to get up. Just lie still.”
“Yes… yes.”
Dot twitched her lips and poured every ounce of effort into looking ill.
If she attended the thunderbird hunt she might be able to meet Crown Prince Silas, but what if she encountered the Saintess there…? The very thought of facing her was unbearable. No matter how much she wanted to go, she must not indulge this desire!
The Saintess of the main temple had entered the imperial palace.
Dot, who had felt increasingly uneasy during the process of verifying parentage, had chosen the best possible course: feigning illness.
She had deliberately removed her undergarments and donned only a thin outer coat, or opened the terrace doors in the middle of the night to let in the cold wind, yet no fever had come.
The family physician had naturally declared her perfectly healthy, and the Duchess, furious, was now summoning every renowned doctor in the capital.
Of course, it was all in vain.
Watching her daughter moan and groan about being ill, the Duchess’s heart burned black with frustration.
How dare this wretched spring chill strike our daughter of all people! The thunderbird hunt was the perfect chance for her to meet the Crown Prince without interference from other noblewomen. What a waste.
She had already consulted several physicians and still could not identify the cause of the illness, so she could only reach one absurd conclusion.
Perhaps she fell ill from yearning too deeply for the Crown Prince? If I make her attend despite her condition, might she recover? Truly, it is maddening. If only her engagement to him were confirmed, this sickness would vanish in an instant!
Because of this situation, the only member of the Klein Ducal House attending this year’s thunderbird hunt was the eldest son, Cassel.
Cassel, who knew nothing of the circumstances, had come to the thunderbird hunt and now looked around, inwardly bewildered.
Why are there so few people?
The Emperor, the imperial relatives, and their guards numbered roughly thirty.
Though not numerous, the guards were each highly skilled, giving the group a respectable presence.
Yet aside from those unified by their cloaks, the remaining attendees were pitifully few.
Among them was a black-haired youth whose face was unfamiliar but who wore blue rose emblems on his armor. He had to be Cassel, the eldest son of the Klein Ducal House.
The problem was that only two squires and three knights in matching armor followed him.
Surely this could not be all.
Should I ask after his sister in a friendly manner?
While Capia was still pondering this, a voice rang out.
“We greet His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Come in, Sir Raphael.”
Ah!
The people of the Orleans Ducal House whom Capia had been waiting for must have arrived.
The Saintess quickly turned her gaze in that direction, only to find the situation even worse. Aside from Raphael Orleans and two knights, no one else stood behind them.
What were they thinking? If they were supposed to assist, how could they bring fewer people than the Klein side?
As she stared blankly at the scene, Sir Slot approached and whispered in her ear.
“Saintess, there was an incident recently, so the Orleans Ducal House is currently observing collective penance, both direct and collateral lines alike. It seems that after much deliberation, everyone except Lord Raphael chose not to attend.”
Why had he waited until now to tell her something so important?
Thinking this a disaster, Capia bit the tip of her tongue.
The youthful Raphael could hardly know of his mother, the Duchess of Orleans’s, close ties to her. With the hot blood of youth, he would be impossible to reason with on that front.
In short, he was as good as useless.
And in the midst of all this, why had the fake daughter not shown her face…!
“The daughter has arrived.”
“Escort her this way.”
Upon hearing the messenger’s report, Silas spoke with dignified authority.
What? She had come?
Forgetting even the Saintess’s dignity, Capia whirled around to look behind her. Then she tilted her head in confusion at the completely unfamiliar appearance.
What was going on? She looked nothing like the fake daughter she had seen in the secret room. Were they all colluding to mock her?
Capia’s bewilderment was soon resolved.
Because Manuela, with her golden hair and deep green eyes, approached supported by a maid and offered her greetings.
“Manuela de Latsel. I am delighted to have been invited. May you enjoy lasting health.”
“Daughter, the front lines are dangerous with arrows flying about. Choose a comfortable place at the rear or near the entrance.”
“Yes.”
The foreign princess offered polite greetings to the Crown Prince—whom she had once sent a letter of broken engagement—and to his father the Emperor, then withdrew to the back.
Watching this, Capia felt her anger boil over.
What is this! Ha, neither of the two daughters I wanted has come, only some unrelated princess!
Contrary to the Saintess’s burning frustration, the thunderbird hunt proceeded smoothly until late afternoon. Capia, her mood thoroughly ruined, had lost count of how many glasses of water she had requested.
By evening.
The thunderbird roast judged most delicious that day was naturally offered to the Emperor. The second-best roasted bird was placed on Capia’s plate. The Saintess hesitated several times inwardly.
Would it be better to push the dish toward the Crown Prince and display humility? Or should she say something else to draw admiration?
Her decision came quickly.
Capia wore a gentle expression and gestured toward the appetizing thunderbird.
“I cannot help but exclaim at the sight of such a rare delicacy as thunderbird. If permitted, I would like to share this food with the common folk so that they may partake in the joy as well.”
Taking a finished dish far away would only let it grow cold and harden.
At this utterly Saintess-like remark, devoid of any flexibility, several nobles laughed, and one answered.
“I am moved by the Saintess’s words, which speak of living a life of compassion and devotion. Though it shames me, I too shall quietly offer a portion of the stipend I have saved. Please use it for the suffering commoners.”
It was Manuela’s voice.
Unlike the earlier declaration about sharing the finished dish with the poor, this response drew a far warmer reaction.
“Oh!”
“As expected of Lady Latsel.”
“Truly a virtuous lady.”
Having finished speaking, Manuela lowered her eyelids softly. Capia, reduced to the role of a bear performing tricks while the owner collected the money, felt so stifled she wanted to pound her chest.
I have been had!
She deliberately prolonged her almsgiving to delay her visit to the palace, and now this princess has ruined everything! I am the Saintess—why is she stealing all the attention?
In the end, since entering the imperial palace, Capia had accomplished none of her intentions.
Thus the imperial thunderbird hunt, which each spring marked the opening of the hunting season, concluded in splendid success.
It was already late, with the moon risen high.
Even in spring the mornings and evenings remained chilly. Wrapped in a large shawl, the Princess of Latsel sought someone out before returning home.
Her target was not Crown Prince Silas.
It was Pay, the mage who was said to be under house arrest at the Magic Tower for the time being, yet who somehow happened to be somewhere within the imperial palace.
Manuela smiled brightly as she faced her.
“Good evening, Lady Morgana. When we only brushed past each other at the ball, I had no chance to greet you properly. I am glad we could meet like this.”
“I am Pay, a mage of the Magic Tower.”
Looking at her counterpart, Manuela’s eyes curved into a radiant smile.
“Oh my, I have heard you possess many other splendid titles as well. Why omit the part about being a genius water mage?”
“…You flatter me.”
“Not at all! Many people’s eyes light up with interest whenever your name is mentioned. I am one of them.”
In truth, Manuela was far brighter and more cheerful than Pay had expected.