Ah, This Won't Do (7)
"She's late."
Two hours had passed since the appointed time, and still his niece had not shown her face. His fingertips drummed against the armrest of his chair, and the irritation he could not conceal bled through every tap.
"I'll drag her here."
One of the attendants at Zamber Arkhansiel's side spoke up at the sight of his master's mood.
"How many times must I say it? Do not lay a rough hand on that child."
Those long, slitted eyes fixed on him, and the attendant sucked in a sharp breath.
"I-I'm sorry!"
"Tsk. This is why I can't stand commoners."
The aide was reasonably sharp and quick on his feet — those were his virtues. But he had one very large defect.
He was a commoner.
That a man without a single drop of noble blood in his veins had climbed as far as a personal attendant was worthy of praise, certainly. But whenever he showed that kind of stupidity, Zamber found himself wondering whether he ought to simply have the man removed from his sight.
Knowing his master's nature all too well, the aide bowed his head and clenched his fists. A vain, self-important fool — but leaving was not an option. Even a worthless man, if he held a count's title and served as a retainer of the Crown Prince...
Enduring it like this, he had decided, was the best path left to him.
"Tsk. Fine. Go check again. Make sure our dear niece hasn't slipped out of the city, or else—"
"That won't be happening."
The wooden door slammed open with a force it could barely withstand, shuddering on its hinges — and in its place stood a woman.
Brilliant gold hair, and emerald-green eyes that suited it so perfectly they might have been made for each other. Her features looked as though a master artisan had poured every ounce of his skill into sculpting them, piece by piece — beautiful enough to brighten the room around her.
"Ersia! It's been too long! You've grown even more beautiful!"
Zamber rose from his seat and spread both arms wide.
"Won't you give your uncle a hug, after all this time?"
"Don't be insane."
The sword hilt rattled at the fingertips of the woman called Ersia — clink, clink. Looking closer, her attire was nothing like what a young woman of her age ought to be wearing. Steel armor, a sword at her hip and a shield across her back — she looked for all the world like some adventurer.
"My poor niece has had a hard time of it. That sweet child of yours has such a foul mouth now, and as for those clothes..."
"Spare me the nonsense. You already knew I was working as an adventurer."
Not a trace of warmth could be found in her eyes as she spoke. Worse, she seemed unable to keep her hands still — gripping and releasing the hilt of the sword at her waist, over and over. Zamber watched her.
"My, my. All that hardship must have given you a strange habit. Why don't you take off the sword and we can talk comfortably?"
"You didn't call me here to say that. State your business. I'm barely holding back from drawing this blade as it is."
"..."
He shook his head at the naked hostility in her words and manner, rolling his shoulders in a show of weary amusement.
"You've grown so sharp. Your father would be heartbroken if he could see you now."
"How dare you. Who do you think you are, speaking his name?"
The murderous intent that erupted from her in that instant made the knights stationed at the door flinch and raise their weapons. She hadn't even drawn her sword, and already it was this bad. A cold sweat had begun to slide down Zamber's spine before he even realized it.
"Hah, haha... You really are the spitting image of my brother."
"Shut that mouth...!"
"Yes, yes. Sit down, at least. This is going to take a while."
He gestured toward the seat across from him. Er's eyes flashed.
"I don't need it. I came here for exactly one reason."
She went on without a pause.
"I don't know what you thought you were doing, showing your face — but you'd better watch yourself. Before long, that neck of yours is going to part ways with the rest of you."
"Heh heh..."
"That's all I came to say."
She turned to leave without a moment's hesitation.
"His Highness the Crown Prince wishes to see you."
Zamber Arkhansiel said it with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
The weight of that title rooted her to the spot. She spun back around, and Zamber continued.
"I mentioned you, you see, and he was curious. The last surviving child of a traitor's house... how could that fail to catch his interest?"
"...The Crown Prince told you to bring me to him?"
"No, not as such. His Highness was merely intrigued. He never actually instructed me to fetch you."
Zamber's mouth curled at the corner.
"But anticipating one's lord's wishes and taking the first step — that is the duty of a loyal retainer. You understand, don't you, Ersia?"
"...You're out of your mind."
"Well, I expected you'd say that. All that mercenary work seems to have fouled your language as well... and that unwomanly getup of yours will need correcting, too."
He raised one hand.
"Take her. We have a great deal to do."
"Anyone who lays a hand on me loses the arm. Remember that."
Er's fingers settled on the hilt of her sword, a murderous air rolling off her in waves. Zamber's knights hesitated, shuffling in place, unable to bring themselves to close the distance.
The laughable truth was that Zamber's knights were simply not her equal. The ones who could put even a wisp of mana into the tip of a blade could be counted on one hand; the rest had the skill of ordinary soldiers, not knights. For all that he swaggered as the Crown Prince's retainer, that title was the only thing Zamber actually possessed — and no knight of any real caliber would ever pledge himself to a man like that. He was neither a figure of true power nor a noble with a solid foundation. He was nothing more than the Crown Prince's sycophant.
And the sort of men who attached themselves to a sycophant were, for the most part, men who had nowhere else to go. So they dithered, glancing at one another, none of them quite willing to be the first to rush her. Zamber, unable to bear the spectacle any longer, surged to his feet and bellowed.
"Ten gold coins to whoever seizes that girl!"
Gold coins were all he really had — but gold has always been an excellent way to make a man forget his fear. The knights wanted those coins more than they feared the woman in front of them, and they closed in with the lazy contempt of men who had already decided she was just a girl.
A trail of blue light carved a graceful arc through the air around her.
No blood was spilled.
What Er's mana-laden blade had severed were the swords of the knights coming at her. The blades they had drawn in anticipation of a woman who looked ready to unsheathe at any moment snapped like dry reeds and clattered to the floor.
"Hhk...!"
Someone sucked in a raw, naked breath. Whether it came from the knights who had just lost their swords, or from the servants who had been standing by to take her away — or whether it came from someone else entirely —
"...Impossible."
—from Zamber, who saw another face overlaid on hers as he breathed the word.
In that room, the only person still able to let out a steady breath was the one who had made the scene.
"That's the end of the warning. Come any closer and I will cut you down for real."
"...You're playing a dangerous game, Ersia. Do you still not understand? You are no longer a noble. This is not a situation you can talk your way out of with a lawful duel or a claim of self-defense. You have just raised a sword against a count of this kingdom!"
"And? I was planning to kill all of you anyway if things went south."
There was not a trace of humor in her voice. Zamber felt the pressure of it and his shoulders twitched — then he forced a laugh.
"Haha. Such spirit. But you won't walk away from this unscathed, you know. The crime of attempting to assassinate a noble... even the attempt alone is enough to see you punished. You're aware of that, I trust?"
"What does that matter, if I get to cut your throat?"
"Haha... How amusing. Very well. If you're so determined to do this the hard way, so be it. Anyone — right now...!"
Having decided to take her by any means necessary, Zamber opened his mouth to give the order.
"Sorry to interrupt when you're busy, but excuse me. Move. Coming through."
A young man nudged the knights aside, opening a path, and stepped up beside Er. Hair like molten gold. Uncanny golden eyes. His features were almost delicate — but his brow was deeply furrowed, his expression thoroughly irritated as he looked at her.
"You said you'd wrap this up without any trouble."
"There is no trouble. I was always going to do this."
"Ah. So that's what this was."
"Ain, you can wait outside. I'll finish up and be right out."
Ain shook his head.
"Sure. It'll be over soon enough. His life, and your freedom."
"I don't c—"
"I do."
He stepped forward. Then, in a gesture so rare it was almost startling, he drew out the rosary he wore around his neck and held it up for Zamber to see.
"I am Ain, a priest of the Church of Light. Lower your weapons and hear me out."
"...A priest?"
"Yes. I don't imagine you'd be so uncivilized as to point a sword at a priest of the Light."
He smiled then — a gentle smile that did not suit him at all.
"Not unless you're planning to go to war with the Church, that is."
"...What business does a priest of the Church have here? This is a family matter. Religion has no place—"
"Family? With trash like you?"
"Say what you like — the justification is mine. Protecting a niece whose mind has been addled by the aftermath of tragedy is an uncle's duty. So if you would kindly—"
"No. That won't be necessary. Er... Ersia's person is under the protection of the Church."
"...What?"
"Ain? What are you suddenly—"
Er's eyes went wide at the unexpected words. Ain turned to her.
"Er. You have the rosary, don't you?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"One who bears a rosary bestowed by a priest of the Church shall be accorded the same rank and courtesy as that priest. That is the law of the Church."
I shall devote my soul and everything I possess to protecting you.
And that everything included even the rank and position he held.
"...Ain? I've never heard anything about that...!!"
"Of course you haven't. I never told you."
"Then why would you...!!"
And in that instant, she began to understand why his master had been so furious. Sharing the same treatment was not merely convenient. If Er committed any wrong, Ain would share in the punishment. Of course Jina and Veronica had lost their minds at him. They could hardly have done otherwise.
"So please, set your mind at ease. Ersia's safety is a matter of great concern to our Church as well."
"The Church — why would they...!"
"Because she received my rosary."
"And who are you, to say a thing like that?"
Ain closed his mouth for a moment. Then, with a small sigh, he answered.
"I am Ain, ordained priest of the Church of Light. And my master is... Lady Veronica, Grand Inquisitor of the Holy Inquisition."
"The Holy Inquisition's Veronica...? Wait. That name — you don't mean...?"
"Would you be so kind, this time, as to consider our master's dignity?"
Of course, if Zamber wanted to pick at technicalities, there were plenty to pick at. Er had run her mouth. She had issued the first threat. That much was fact. But the name of the Church, and the reputation of a Grand Inquisitor known even among the nobility, were more than enough to make a small man like Zamber hesitate.
So Ain drove the point home.
"And if that proves too difficult, I can contact my master at once. Would you like to meet her and discuss it in person?"
"W-what are you—"
"Master met Ersia herself not long ago and gave her approval, you see. If needed, she could come here — or make the time. Either would be possible..."
His golden eyes curved into a smile.
"Shall I arrange a meeting, then?"
"Ersia!"
Zamber tore his gaze from Ain and shouted at her instead.
"I see now that you intend to stand on your own without my help — so I shall withdraw! But you may come to me whenever you wish. I will always be waiting!"
"Don't be insane."
"We return to the Arcanciel Territory. Make ready!"
As if her answer were irrelevant, Zamber shoved out of his seat and strode from the room. His subordinates poured after him in a scrambling rush — the very picture of a routed army in retreat.
"...Hah. Exhausting."
Only once he and Er were the only two left in the room could Ain let out the breath he'd been holding.
"We almost got fucked. If he'd just dug in and refused to back down, that would've been the end of it."
"...What on earth were you thinking, barging in like that?"
"What was I supposed to do? They were about to drag you off. I'd rather be dead and buried than stand by and watch that."
"...You're giving me goosebumps."
"Hey, I'm being serious here..."
He shook his head — then huffed a quiet laugh.
"Anyway. However it happened, the immediate headache is gone. That's what matters, right?"
"...I didn't know the rosary you gave me meant that. If I had..."
"If you had, what? You would've refused it?"
"..."
Er could find nothing to say. Ain smiled, a little lopsided.
"It's fine. I'm not going to hold you responsible for it."
"...Ain."
"It's nothing, really."
He turned his gaze toward the window.
"Damn it. Damn it...!"
Inside the carriage bound for the Arcanciel Territory, Zamber stamped his heel against the floor in a fit of temper and shouted.
"Those useless knight bastards — cut every last one of them loose!"
"...Yes, my lord."
"Damn it, the Holy Inquisition, of all things...!"
He ground his teeth. His aide spoke up carefully.
"...It could have been a lie, my lord."
"A man walking around with a rosary of the Church of Light, impersonating a priest? Now that I'd like to see! The Holy Knights would turn him into scraps of meat on the spot — quite the show!!"
And if the fraud had been throwing around the name of that infamous Grand Inquisitor as well, he would not die cleanly. The fact that the young man had stepped forward with such unshakable confidence could only mean that every word of it had been true.
It was a situation he had not anticipated. The rightful daughter of the Arkhansiel house. There was no more certain a sacrifice than that. He had been in too much of a hurry — that was the root of it. He had come without properly investigating. If he had known there was a priest of the Light at her side, he would have made the appropriate preparations.
"...Damn it. How was I supposed to see this coming!"
His thoughts were a snarl. A sacrifice had to be offered. Which meant a new one had to be found.
And so.
"My lord, you left without saying a word to His Highness the Crown Prince. If we simply bury the matter here—"
"You've been remarkably noisy for a while now. Hasn't he?"
"I-I'm sor—"
"No. Don't be."
A sickening sound of flesh being split — and a red stain bloomed across the curtain covering the window.
"Using a lowly commoner as a sacrifice will earn me some complaints... but it can't be helped. I'll have to wait for another opportunity."
He withdrew the sword he had just swung, let out a long breath, and tipped back the glass waiting at his side.
A golden liquid sloshed against the ice. He turned the glass in his hand with that same irritated expression — then fell silent as a thought struck him, a low sound catching in his throat.
Hair like molten gold.
And golden eyes so piercing they seemed to look straight through a man's heart, enough to raise the hair on the back of the neck.
A combination that strange...
He had seen it somewhere before. Hadn't he?