Chapter 63
Even though I had gotten used to it, pretty clothes still felt strange.
“How cute!”
“She looks like a doll come to life!”
Maybe not that much… Still, it seemed the “Gongsaja” was completely smitten with me.
The maids squealed. I could see my cheeks in the mirror turning red.
“Did I do something that would make me popular?”
I didn’t have the courage to ask.
Honestly, I had a lot of questions. But Sarina had told me I had to go to the imperial palace and then she disappeared. The water spirit had washed me, but I bathed again.
Somehow it felt unfair, but since the “Gongsaja” seemed so happy, I stayed quiet.
“If I go to the palace, will I be able to see Khan?”
If I had woken after two days, what about Madeleine? She would be attending the academy, right? Father had only said, “It was resolved well,” and left it at that, but I wondered what had happened with the ‘Goschen’ I had captured and the noble guest. Anyway, since he said “many lives were saved,” I felt relieved that Panaso and the others must have been saved.
“I didn’t expect I’d see His Majesty the Emperor again.”
I had thought I’d meet him together with Father, my brother, and Khan like before. They said they would set up a formal appointment soon. But since I was receiving an award, they said I would meet the Emperor alone.
“My heart’s pounding.”
His Majesty the Emperor. Before I became the Maiden, that was a title I could never have pronounced in my life. And yet this would be the second time I’d meet him. This time it would be a private audience.
They said ordinary noble ladies would regard being called before the Emperor as a lifelong honor.
“I will attend you, Maiden.”
“Yes.”
After the coat was put on over my dress, Mikael arrived. He escorted me and guided me to the carriage.
Today felt a little special. Mikael wasn’t the only one guarding me—Chopin and Rogue, Terra and Fabian were all present too.
“They don’t look wounded.”
I had heard all of them had been to the battlefield… I had thought this war had been very significant, but I preferred they stay in peace. Unhurt and happy.
“I just want to keep looking at them for a long time.”
I rode alone in the carriage, and we departed soon. It took quite a while, like when I first came to the Public Work Hall from the orphanage. My thoughts multiplied. Perhaps it was my first time visiting the imperial palace.
“My heart’s fluttering.”
I had to become a member of the imperial family to control spiritual beasts, they had said. I had heard many things about the imperial household, but this was the first time I stepped inside.
For some reason I felt I shouldn’t, but I drew the curtain at the carriage window slightly and looked out. Five mounted knights rode with the carriage at alert around it.
“That’s kind of cool.”
I peered through a very small gap so I wouldn’t be seen. Even though I had gone out to look around with Khan the day before the founding ceremony, it still felt fresh. So many people. So many houses. So many trees.
Soon, an enormous gate appeared. For some reason it felt like the palace; I closed the curtain and sat back. Only after a long time did I get down from the carriage.
“How amazing.”
The palace staff wore different clothes. If the workers at the Public Work Hall wore mainly black, here it was white and gold. I kept glancing at the very tall adults. I also saw heads of noble families I had once seen on Father’s lap. When they noticed me they stopped mid-step and bowed respectfully.
“May we see the Maiden.”
Those bows weren’t the kind of etiquette bestowed upon a maiden in the books. I wanted to run away, so I eventually hid behind Mikael who walked in front of me.
“This is His Majesty the Emperor’s sanctuary. Even if you belong to the Alcibiades Order… bringing swords inside is not permitted.”
“…Please move aside. We’ve already spoken about it, haven’t we?”
Fabian’s voice was sharp—this was the first time I had heard him speak so strongly. At first the chief steward of the palace was stern, but perhaps pressed by the presence of the five knights including Mikael, he began to sweat.
“Then only two may enter. Isn’t an escort of two sufficient for the Maiden?”
“Commander, what shall we do?”
Fabian fixed his gaze on the chief steward and asked.
“…Maiden, the three of us will wait here. Terra, Chopin.”
“Yes.”
“Understood, Commander.”
“Go in.”
The chief steward seemed displeased with Chopin’s free hair and the woman Terra, but at Mikael’s look he bowed and guided me. When I showed anxiety, Terra gave me a wink and gently took my hand. The four of us entered.
“Wow, it’s huge.”
It was far more ornate than I had imagined, and the ceiling was incredibly high. The ceiling was covered in paintings. Soon I saw the chair where the Emperor sat (I had read in a book that they called it the ‘throne’). The chief steward stepped back. Chopin and Terra stayed, and I stepped forward alone.
The marble floor shone completely. My eyes reflected the shine as well.
“They must’ve just polished it!”
Suddenly my steps stopped. His Majesty the Emperor was there before me.
“I pay homage to the sun of the empire.”
I remembered what the book said and clumsily bowed—holding both sides of my dress and moving my right foot back. Was that correct?
“It’s been a while, young lady. I’ve heard much of your deeds. They say you put your ability to dazzling use in the black market.”
“Th-that… thank you.”
Not sure how to react, I offered my thanks.
“I wanted to see you. Our previous conversation was cut short, wasn’t it?”
“Ah… I’m sorry I cried then.”
“No, the Duke and the Count were being mischievous. The Crown Prince not revealing his identity was charming, too.”
Now that I thought about it, I had cried back then because I was upset with Father and Brother. The Emperor said it was fine, but I felt embarrassed and wanted to hide.
“Shall we have the remainder of our introductions that we missed before?”
Introductions? Whenever a new friend came to the orphanage, we had introduction time. Should I do it like then? I was dumbfounded but spoke clearly.
“I’m Adel. I like singing. I also like listening to songs. When I see white clouds I feel happy. So I like a bird that carries both clouds and song.”
“……”
I felt Chopin and Terra’s eyes on me. The Emperor was silent for a long while.
“Is this wrong?”
But I didn’t want to introduce myself by status, gender, or age. Those were temporary—there were other words that truly described me. The Emperor looked a bit shocked. It was the kind of introduction someone would give if they’d never heard such a thing before.
“I see.”
“Yes, and Your Majesty?”
“……”
The Emperor stared at me for quite a while as if struck, then something about it amused him and he smiled. He answered in the same tone I’d used.
“When people bow to me, it gives me a thrill. Born privileged, one might assume I should naturally enjoy people’s obedience and fear, but I feel best when someone truly recognizes me deep within their bones. If they rebel, I feel my temper twist and I want to trample them. Ah, friends are exceptions.”
Perhaps he meant Father when he said friends.
The Emperor laughed.
“Basically, I trust no one, not even my own children.”
For a moment I thought it was lucky Khan wasn’t there.
“And I’m not going to tell Khan this.”
I met the Emperor’s gaze and nodded slowly.
“Your Majesty is remarkable.”
“Remarkable?”
“Yes! Knowing oneself well is an incredible thing.”
“Who said that…?”
“It was in a fairy tale.”
This time the Emperor couldn’t hold back and burst into loud laughter.
Maybe I had a talent for making jokes? Sometimes adults laughed that way and I had only said it casually.
“You’re quite amusing, young lady. Calling it a ‘human field’ was an appropriate response for a child’s mental health.”
Was he referring to when I buried people in the ground with only their heads left? He might be right; after all, they were mostly buried with just their necks showing.
“Accept this.”
When the Emperor inclined his head, a waiting attendant stepped forward and offered a small, strangely gleaming box to me.
“It’s a medal.”
“Um, excuse me, do I receive this alone? Not the Crown Prince or—”
“This praise is to be entrusted wholly to you, young lady.”
The Emperor cut off my words naturally. But without Khan and Madeleine I could never have done what I’d done. The medal was small; I had seen similar ones nobles wore pinned to the chest of their clothing.
“Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
I bowed with my stomach—an informal bow. When I held the medal and didn’t know what to do with it, Terra came over and carefully pinned it to my coat.
“How marvelous.”
To receive something like this. I wanted to do even more good deeds!
“How have you been lately, young lady? Well?”
“Yes! Very well… Everyone’s been nice, and I study… I haven’t had much time for reading recently but I’ll work hard.”
The Emperor smiled. He smiled kindly at me. Terra stepped back politely.
“Speaking of which, the imperial palace has many ancient ruins associated with it. You should study those too.”
“Oh wow, that sounds fun.”
“Speaking of which, there’s one around here. The temple of Sahkal, I believe.”
At that moment, a maid checking the time spoke cautiously.
“Your Majesty, it is time to honor the next person for their meritorious service.”
“Ah, is it already that time?”
The Emperor made a little past regretful sound, then looked at me.
“We shall stop here then, young lady.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. May I ask you just one thing?”
“Of course, young lady.”
“Before I go home, may I see the Crown Prince?”
I had wanted to ask that from earlier. The Emperor smiled silently this time.
“You let yourself be treated like that and still think you have any right to see our master?”
The one often called the ‘Eighth Levetcher’ was kicked away. Thud!
He slammed against the wall. Blood oozed from between his lips.
The ‘Eighth Levetcher’ said, “I apologize. But as expected, the ‘Prophecy Child’ is dangerous. We must kill it.”
“Do not think to bother our master with this. Our master is resting now.”
The handsome man who spoke coldly seemed to adopt an entranced expression whenever he said “master.” He was called the ‘Second Levetcher.’ The Levetchers were ranked. All eight were obsequious before their master, but far from simple men. Each of them was mad. In wanting humanity’s destruction, no matter how clever or strong they were, they should be considered insane.
“I received a report from our informants. The ‘Prophecy Child’ may soon go to one of the ancient ruins, the ‘Temple of Sahkal.’”
“…Are you certain?”
“Yes, yes.”
The black market had been shattered. That was something the ‘Eighth Levetcher’ should be held responsible for.
“Leave it to me. Give me the chance to wash away my disgrace. The Temple of Sahkal is a place I know well. It’s a golden opportunity.”
The man who had once been called Marquis Rozov, or perhaps Mikael’s father, grovelled and begged. The ‘Second Levetcher’ kicked the ‘Eighth Levetcher’ who had grabbed his trouser and sneered. But he nodded.
Permission was granted.
“If you fail again, I’ll cut out that insolent tongue.”
“Thank you! Thank you… I will surely kill it.”
