FNIY

“Next time, shall we try making pressed flowers?” “That would require a lot of flowers, wouldn’t it?” “We can each bring a few ourselves.” “What are pressed flowers?” When Hebe asked out of curiosity, Shehnaz explained that it involved creating geometric patterns with flowers and fixing them within a frame. “If you make them like that, they’re even prettier than tapestries.”

In Iren, the most anyone did with flowers was cut them and put them in a vase. Hebe found this meticulous custom of making pressed flowers in this country fascinating. In her first week in Divenia, she had seen something similar regarding fruit. Unlike in Iren, where leftover fruit was simply discarded, the servants here would take it to boil into sauces or dry it.

“I’d love to see what they look like.” “We can make them together. Make sure to come to the next gathering.” Shehnaz smiled and winked at Hebe. As Hebe smiled back, her eyes met the Princess’s, who was sitting next to Shehnaz. The Princess gave a nod so slight it was almost imperceptible.

While everyone was chatting after finishing their needlework, Hebe stepped outside, saying she wanted to take a walk. Just as she entered a side path in the garden, she heard voices murmuring nearby. “Why is the horse limping?” “It seems the horseshoe is damaged.” A man draped in a black cloak was standing in the middle of the path, talking to a servant. His voice felt strangely familiar, so Hebe stopped in her tracks. Sensing a presence, the man also stopped talking and looked back.

“I pay my respects, Your Highness.” Hebe held her skirt with both hands and bowed slightly. It was only after the Prince approached that she realized she had come out without wearing her veil. The Prince spoke to her in a friendly tone. “We meet here, My Lady.” “Yes. I came today to attend a gathering with a friend.” Why is the Prince here? Hebe looked at him with curious eyes. The Prince continued with a smile. “I came today as my sister’s guardian. I didn’t expect to see you here either.” “I greeted Her Highness earlier.” “I see. Ah, shall we walk for a bit then?” Hebe hesitated, unable to readily take the hand the Prince offered. “Do you not wish to walk with me?” “No, that’s not it.” Hebe shook her head hurriedly and began to walk beside him. “Let’s sit over there.” The Prince pointed to a bench under an archway. Hebe followed him, keeping a bit of distance. Seeing this, the Prince slowed his pace to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with her. After a moment’s hesitation, Hebe spoke up.

“Does Her Highness also know who I am?” “She knows.” The Prince nodded. “Does Niska make you uncomfortable?” “Why do you ask that?” “You look quite worried, My Lady.” “It’s just because I’m nervous.” “The reason I say this is because you might…” “Yes?” The Prince stopped walking and looked at Hebe with an unreadable gaze.

“한때 니스카와 부인의 남편 사이에서 혼담이 거론된 적이 있었습니다.” (“There was once talk of a marriage proposal between Niska and your husband.”)

“Really?” Hebe’s eyes widened. “Marriages between the Gracchus family and the Imperial family have occurred frequently.” “Ah… then I must be an unwelcome guest to Her Highness.” Only then did Hebe understand why the Princess had stared at her so intently. “Since your husband is young, it wasn’t a proposal taken very seriously. But who would have known that the young one would receive an oracle and marry first?”

Upon reaching the archway, Hebe sat on the bench. The Prince stood beside her, looking over the patterns carved into the pillars. After a brief lapse in conversation, he spoke first. “How do you like staying here?” “It’s fine. Everyone is very kind to me.” “I’d like to hear your honest answer, My Lady.” Hebe looked down with an awkward smile. “Well… it’s just a bit difficult having nothing specific to do. And I can’t exactly go out whenever I want.” “What did you usually do in Iren?” “I lived like any other ordinary person. Come to think of it, it’s about time for the festivals to start in Iren.” Hebe was startled to realize she had completely forgotten it was the season for Iren’s summer festivals. “Festivals are held in Divenia as well, though it’s not the season right now.” “Then I’ll have to go see them later.” The Prince, idly tracing the patterns on the pillar with his hand, said: “While seeing a festival is impossible right now, there are other sights, like shadow plays.” “Shadow plays?” “Yes.” “What are those?” Hebe looked at the Prince with curiosity.

“궁금하면 이번 주말에 나와 같이 보겠습니까? 우리나라에서만 볼 수 있는 연극을 부인께 보여 드리죠.” (“If you’re curious, would you like to watch one with me this weekend? I shall show you a play that can only be seen in our country.”)

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean it like that.” “It’s nothing major, so don’t feel pressured. It isn’t a formal or uncomfortable setting at all.” “Is it really okay for me to go?” A conflict arose within Hebe. Having lived a monotonous life in the vast castle, she couldn’t easily reject the Prince’s offer. The mere thought of going somewhere new and seeing something new made her heart flutter.

“There you are, Hebe!” Hebe turned her head at the sudden sound of Philae’s voice. Philae, walking toward the archway, faltered upon seeing the Prince. “Your Highness.” “Is everything finished now?” The Prince asked Philae, who had bowed to him. “Yes. Her Highness is staying in the drawing room.” “Then I must go fetch Niska. I’ll be in touch soon.” After bidding farewell to Hebe, the Prince left. Philae came up to Hebe’s side and linked arms with her. “Have you been with the Prince all this time?” “Yes, I ran into him by chance.” “What were you two talking about?” “Nothing much. He was just giving me some advice about staying here.” Hebe tried to be as vague as possible. Philae raised an eyebrow and playfully nudged Hebe’s side. “You two seem quite close?” “Close? Not at all.” “But you were walking together.” “We just met by chance and walked for a bit.” Hebe changed the subject, saying the others would be waiting and they should head inside. Although doubt remained on Philae’s face, she didn’t ask any more questions.

Leaning against the kitchen door, Panu forced his drowsy eyelids open. According to Eres, an informant would arrive at midnight, and he was strictly forbidden from falling asleep.

“이번에 실수하면 머리카락 타는 걸로 안 끝날 줄 알아.” (“If you mess up this time, it won’t end with just your hair burning.”)

Panu shuddered at the memory of Eres warning him while manifesting fire. Last time, he had accidentally spilled tea on Eres’s clothes, resulting in a singed forehead and half his bangs disappearing. When Panu made up an excuse to others that he had dozed off in front of the fireplace, Hebe’s maid, Dacelyn, had looked at him with pity and brought him ointment.

“Is the money ready?” A cold wind rushed through a suddenly creaked door, and a black hand thrust inside. Panu jumped in fright. Ignoring him, the black hand shook a scroll and repeated: “The money, I mean. The money.” Trembling, Panu placed the money he had received in advance onto the black hand. The figure, who had instantly pocketed an amount Panu couldn’t earn even in six months of work, let out a cackle and tossed him the scroll. “Call me again if you need anything next time.”

The door closed, and the kitchen fell silent again. Soon, a maid would come down to check the embers in the stove. Clutching the scroll, Panu quickly left the kitchen and headed upstairs. The winding path to Eres’s room through the servants’ passages was quite long. “Why are you so late?” As soon as Panu entered, Eres, sitting on the bed, shouted in disapproval. Since the young master’s temper was always unpredictable, Panu bowed his head anxiously. “I am sorry.” “Was that person late?” “They arrived exactly on time.” “Did you get the item?” Panu approached the bed and handed the scroll to Eres. Eres immediately untied the string and began reading the contents.

“Anke Guiscard.” Hebe had said Anke was just a simple friend, but Eres had been bothered by the name since he first heard it. There was no harm in looking into the person she wrote letters to with such a tender expression at night. Anke Guiscard was the son of a family that ran a large-scale fishing business in Iren, and he had been close friends with Hebe since childhood. However, there was something else that caught his eye. Though Anke was of marriageable age and receiving proposals from all over, he had reportedly rejected them all, claiming he had no intention of marrying right now.

‘Is it because of Hebe?’ Eres recalled Hebe’s face when she spoke of Anke. At the time, she didn’t seem to show any particularly special romantic affection. “I can’t tell.” Eres sighed and tossed the scroll aside. Panu winced at Eres’s sharp voice. He was terrified that a fireball might fly at him at any moment. The fire Eres made was small and short-lived, but it was still fire created with mana.

Eres got off the bed and stood before the mirror. The boy in the mirror was shorter than his peers and generally pale. Some had told him he would grow into a magnificent man, but the future was unknown; to Eres, the present was what mattered. He began to wonder what Anke looked like.

“헤베도 잘생긴 사람을 좋아할까? 내가 얼른 클 테니까 기다려 줘요.” (“I wonder if Hebe likes handsome men too? I’ll grow up quickly, so please wait for me.”)

“Pardon?” “It’s nothing. It’s very late.” As Eres went back to bed, Panu blew out the candle. He was relieved that Eres had let it go without getting angry today. As Panu was about to leave the room, Eres spoke behind him. “Keep in contact with that informant. I might have another task for them later.”