“The flames of Gala-Zertaye are burning even if they are not next to the Baiferm, but they seem limited to cute things.”
Dimla took a sip of tea. Where had the man who was relaxed and looking straight into her eyes earlier gone? Only a cute man who was shaking like a baby bird remained. Dimla uttered a low laugh.
She had heard much information about Ricardis, the second prince of the Holy Empire of Illavenia, in a cold and distant land from here. However, a lot of information and modifiers did not fully represent the person. A person in that position would have at least one or two plausible masks, and the spreading information was usually derived from such a fragmentary appearance.
She had met him several times during her short stay in Illavenia and recognized him, but with the help of her great-granddaughter, his authentic self was revealed. Dimla laughed at Ricardis, who was still out of his mind. At least she liked this side better than his relaxed face.
Dimla looked at her wrinkled hands. Her old vision was clouded with dust, and her fingers, like old branches, trembled intermittently. There was no good part anywhere on her body, and even if there were, there were only things that would break down in the future.
Once she broke like that, she would eventually stop. The time allowed was not long. It was only natural that she had become more pressing than her past self.
“Prince Ricardis.”
“… Please.”
Ricardis was fanning his face with his hand, cooling it down.
“The villa I used to stay in is an old tomb.”
Ricardis’ busy hand stopped then. He slowly turned to look at her.
“I am a mortal crawling out of the grave.”
The wind picked up the petals and dropped them into the teacup. There was a gentle ripple in the thick and clear black tea. Dimla was looking into it.
Ricardis saw a flame burning unquenchable in the old woman’s eyes. It was very familiar to Ricardis because it was the kind he’d always seen in Rosaline. Ricardis replied, mulling over her words.
“Did you have any reason to get up from the grave?”
“My soul screamed.”
Dimla groped for her ebony cane, making an unknown sound, whether a cough or a rough laugh.
“I am a walking corpse. The Baiferm is called a mere puppet. Lagos is tattered with wounds and weeps in the wind like a two-year-old child, and Balta’s filthy wild dogs are spinning and drooling around the wound. The father of the continent is just a coward who ignores what needs to be seen, so there’s nowhere to lean on.”
Ricardis tried to hide his embarrassment. He hadn’t expected Dimla to say this. He had thought she’d just drink tea, look at Rosaline, and return…
“Isn’t it the last role of the walking corpse to take all those things that are trying to drag Lagos into the dark road, to the grave?”
Dimla looked at the far distance, clutching her cane. The eyes that contained the three blood relatives walking with small steps were gentle.
She had ended her long seclusion not simply to overthrow Ploeto. Dimla’s eyes reached the energy of war hanging over the continent from Lagos. It was a battle between two huge groups. Those in between the great currents had no choice but to be swept away.
The war would affect not only Illavenia and Balta, but other countries as well, and would change everyone. However, it was never a good direction because it was a huge flow of blood and screams.
Dimla had now expressed her intention to stand in the midst of strife and war. The figure who had fought for Lagos and backed down for the next generation Lagos, once again stood up to throw herself into the torrent for Lagos.
In fact, it wasn’t strange for Lagos to lock the gates and watch the two fight, wishing for both parties’ annihilation. But Dimla knew it well. If you don’t cut out the rotten wounds, new flesh won’t grow. Closing your eyes doesn’t make it go away.
Under the current circumstances, locking the kingdom’s gates was a cowardly act that merely postponed the problem for future generations to maintain the status quo. Dimla was saying that she would endure a tough fight for the future Lagos.
“May I ask why you are saying this, Regent. Cough… Are you counting on me?”
He was so flustered that his words went out as he thought them. While he was saying it, he knew it was a stupid question, but he wasn’t ashamed because Dimla had already seen all the ugly things.
“Expectation is not something that can be placed on anyone, Prince. How does one know where to put their expectation in the right place? By looking at those who have the power to lead expectations.”
Dimla raised her index and thumb, made a pinching gesture, and held them in front of her face. She looked mischievous.
“I mean, I was attracted this much by you because of that baby bird-like cuteness.”
Ricardis swallowed a groan. Dimla laughed. He’s a cute prince who’s fun to tease.
Looking back at the children, she saw a cat lying on Guandite’s lap. Guandite liked it so much that she looked like she was about to faint. Calyx was looking down at the cat with a disgusted look.
***
“Mimi!”
On Guandite’s lap, the cat rolled over with its belly. The girl gently stroked the creature, trying to contain her emotions, even though she was very excited. Mimi the cat purred happily at the careful gesture of fear of damaging a strand of hair.
Guandite had stopped walking after meeting Mimi, who had been walking proudly on the edge of the fountain while looking at the beautiful garden. Rosaline had called “Mimi”, but Mimi ignored her words and only walked by. As Guandite looked at the cat mournfully, Calyx was eventually forced to surrender and reach for Mimi.
Should I force it to come? Even if it were a small beast, it would be dangerous for the young Baiferm if it struggled. Guandite’s attendants looked anxiously.
However, Calyx didn’t seem to have any intention of grabbing the cat’s back or putting his hand under his stomach to lift it up. The servants’ expressions gradually changed strangely when they saw him squatting in his seat and making eye level with the animal.
Calyx squatted down and whispered something in Mimi’s ear. Mimi clenched its jaw once, shook its head twice, and finally said, “Hmm…” in worry. Then it took a step forward and acted cute, rubbing its soft body against Guandite’s legs. Guandite’s expressionless face was shattered. The girl’s cheeks flushed.
“…”
Only the attendants who followed the girl were confused by this situation. What’s going on between Sir Calyx and Mimi the cat… It looks like some kind of deal happened, isn’t it? There were a lot of questions, but Calyx avoided their questions by avoiding their gaze.
Then he approached his sister and said he liked the restaurant he went to last time. Also, the daily slavery right. Oh seriously… He whispered, but the servants did not understand what he was talking about.
Guandite sat in the fountain and petted the cat in earnest. Mimi might be bothered, but it must have liked the contents of the transaction, so it managed to handle it.
After playing for a while, Ricardis and Dimla were chatting lightly. Calyx quickly read their mood. Well, it doesn’t look like anything bad. Dimla seems to be at ease, unlike when she put pressure on other nobles.
Ricardis greeted Guandite with a smile.
“Did you have a good tour, Baiferm?”
“Mm, it was a beautiful place. I love it.”
“It is an honor.”
“I saw a baby bird and a cat and ate fruit from trees. It tasted delicious.”
Isserion covered his mouth. Eating the fruit of a tree from the garden? The Baiferm? Without washing, peeling, or decorating it on a plate first? No matter how young she is, one can’t do this to the king of a country. It was clear that this was Rosaline’s doing.
“Sir Rosaline gave me a ride on the horse, and I was able to pick the big fruit myself.”
Deputy Commander Nathan grabbed the back of his neck slightly. The Knights of the White Night and Isserion stared at Rosaline. What have you done?!
As everyone’s eyes gathered on Rosaline, Guandite covered her mouth and laughed.
“Don’t be too much. Isn’t this something you can’t do unless you’re young? Sir Rosaline has presented me with a childhood I will never have. It is a great pleasure for me.”
Isserion looked at Guandite, looking like he was about to shed tears. Ricardis’ face also became more comfortable. Rosaline stood in high spirits behind the girl with her hands on her waists.
“Still, Sir Rosaline would be better off learning the etiquette. There’s a rule set between people to respect others and be respected. It shouldn’t be boring and it has to be learned consistently. Even my inexperienced eyes can see a lot of shortcomings. We don’t want the Empire to despise or belittle Zertaye, so please do your best.”
Oh, as expected. Isserion was depressed. Rosaline was also depressed by being scolded by a girl much younger than her.
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