Chapter 79
The light was so warm, that power so sacred, that my mouth closed without me realizing it. It was on a completely different level from the blessing she had given last time. It felt as though the surroundings were becoming radiant.
It was a light bright enough that not only us but everyone around us could recognize it.
The light that had sprayed outward like beams scattering through the darkness soon gathered into one and then faded away.
“It is done now.”
Even though the High Priestess’s benevolent voice was heard, none of us could say anything.
The priestess pushing the High Priestess’s wheelchair and the knights keeping watch at a slight distance wore bewildered expressions as if they had witnessed the descent of a god, their heads bowed. I, the Grand Duke, and Rohen simply stood there blankly without saying a word.
“She will not open her eyes immediately.”
“Ah…!”
Only after hearing that did I nod.
“But she’ll wake up soon, right?”
“That’s right, Aisha. However, because she has slept for a very long time, she may be somewhat disoriented. When that happens, please treat her no differently than usual. After all, she is awakening from an eternal dream.”
At that moment, I became fully alert.
Eternal Dream. It was the name of the seed—no, the flower—that had made Lari like this.
And the High Priestess was worried. The people who, intoxicated by that anesthetic or sleeping drug, dreamed happy dreams. Most of them lost their lives, but even those who managed to regain consciousness and rise would collapse because their present reality was not happy.
She was telling me to be careful in case Lari became like that as well.
“Yes! When Lari wakes up… I’ll make her even happier than before.”
“Good.”
I glanced slightly at the Grand Duke. I had already been told that the analysis of the seed entrusted to Riren was complete. Then I assumed that the investigation of the seed entrusted to Rex must also be finished.
But even when he heard the flower’s nickname, “Eternal Dream,” the Grand Duke showed no reaction.
As if he knew nothing. As if Rex had said nothing to him—he was far too quiet.
‘Did Rex… not conduct the investigation? Or is he investigating but unable to reveal it? Or… is Rex simply saying nothing to the Grand Duke?’
After pondering for a moment, I shook my head.
“I should rest now. It has been quite a long time since I used this power, so I am tired.”
“Thank you, High Priestess. Regarding this matter, I will certainly repay—”
“There is no need to repay me. The one who earnestly begged me to save her friend was Aisha. If you wish to repay someone, repay Aisha. I have already received repayment from her.”
“What repayment did you receive?”
The Grand Duke looked at the High Priestess in puzzlement. Only then did I come to my senses.
There is no such thing as unconditional goodwill in this world. The reason the High Priestess had taken my side—sending Riren, standing with me, saving Lari—was because I was a candidate for the next High Priestess.
Because I am in the position of entering the temple and allowing the High Priestess to enter her eternal rest.
“That is a secret just between us.”
The High Priestess looked at me and smiled faintly. I smiled awkwardly in return. It was something I had already anticipated. Rather, the High Priestess was patiently waiting for me. And the fact that she had said it aloud like this was probably also meant to remind me not to forget.
“Casimir. As always, everything has its meaning. The fact that Casimir found the children, and that Aisha came together with them. And also that I have taken a liking to Aisha. All of it has meaning.”
“Yes. You are telling me not to ask anything.”
“That’s right. Casimir may have been reckless since childhood, but he has always understood words well.”
“High Priestess!”
“How adorable you were back then….”
With a faint smile, she slowly nodded.
“Let us meet again next time. When the Grand Duchess opens her eyes, come then.”
“Understood.”
With those words, the High Priestess slowly moved away from that place.
“We should return as well.”
However, Rohen grabbed the hem of the Grand Duke’s clothes as he turned away.
“Lari… it worked? Shouldn’t we check?”
“For now, we must watch and see, but the High Priestess’s words can be trusted. She is not one to speak idly.”
“Really… really, she’s okay, right? Lari doesn’t hurt anymore… right?”
As if to show that Lari truly was Rohen’s sore finger—his most painful weakness—his eyes were trembling.
“Touch her.”
“Huh?”
“She definitely seems better. You can feel it immediately.”
At those words, Rohen took Lari’s hand, which lay limp against the ground.
“She’s warm. Really… warm.”
“Yes. So there is no need to worry. If Lari cannot wake up, Father will… um… hm… then I will speak to the High Priestess again.”
“Okay…!”
Only then did Rohen nod. The Grand Duke’s cheeks were red, embarrassed at referring to himself as Father, and Rohen’s face was flushed for a different reason.
Watching the two of them, I smiled warmly and followed behind them.
We left the place where we had been with the High Priestess and walked quickly to return to the carriage. But as if she had been waiting for us to come out, Priestess Melodia was standing in front.
“I greet Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”
“Ah. Priestess Melodia.”
“Hello, Priestess Melodia.”
“It has been a while, Aisha. And Young Master Rohen.”
Priestess Melodia, smiling with a warmth like spring sunlight, exchanged greetings in turn and then looked at the Grand Duke.
“Did you receive the message I sent, Your Highness?”
“Yes. I saw it. Priestess Melodia. You said you had something to discuss with me?”
“Could we speak alone, leaving the children aside for a moment?”
“Why must we?”
“As the matter is rather sensitive, I believe it would be better for us to discuss it among ourselves.”
Watching her speak calmly, I took Rohen’s hand. If it was truly about the twins’ mother, and if it was something unfavorable about her, there was no need for us to hear it right now.
Especially not in front of Rohen.
“Don’t worry about us. Rohen, let’s go play in the garden over there.”
“Ah. Sure. If Aisha is coming with me… But what about Lari?”
“She is a child who cannot wake up yet, so it should not matter if we take her along. Priestess Melodia?”
“Ah… yes.”
As though she wanted time alone, Priestess Melodia hesitated before nodding belatedly.
“Very well. Aisha. Rohen. I will return shortly, so play for a while.”
“Yes!”
I took Rohen’s hand and left that place faster than ever. Inside the temple, the walls were low and the trees were all short, so the surroundings were clearly visible.
I sat down in a flower field at a distance where their conversation would not be disturbed.
“Come here. Rohen, there are so many pretty flowers.”
“I don’t really like flowers.”
“Even so. Let’s pick some pretty ones and give them to Lari as a gift when she wakes up.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
Only then did Rohen sit down and begin examining various flowers. But his dissatisfied expression still remained.
“But I don’t like that woman.”
“Hm? Priestess Melodia?”
“Yes. Since the first time I saw her… I just instinctively didn’t like her. Even more than that woman, the Grand Duchess.”
“Really?”
It was quite strange. Since last time, I had felt that Rohen disliked Priestess Melodia to an unusual degree. Almost instinctively. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Rohen and Lari possessed senses as keen as beasts.
‘Is this not something I should simply overlook?’
Seeing how it was like this both last time and this time.
“Well… if Aisha says she’s good… I’ll try to endure it. But really… I just… don’t like her.”
“Alright. I’ll make sure there’s no occasion for you to meet her separately.”
“Okay.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Rohen picked flowers for a while, handed them to me, then slightly turned his head.
“But.”
“Yes?”
“The High Priestess said she received repayment from you… what was it, Aisha?”
“Ah.”
“Even if I ask, you won’t answer, right?”
Rohen asked, then quietly closed his mouth. He began digging at the dirt with a tree branch. I stroked his head.
“Rohen.”
“You can hide it. If it’s something you have to hide, Aisha, I won’t ask. But I’m asking because I’m worried. In case, because of us… you end up doing something you don’t want to do. In case you have to go through something unfair….”
“Rohen.”
“Yes?”
“I found out that I’m actually an amazing person.”
I looked at Rohen and smiled brightly.
“What do you mean?”
“You saw what the High Priestess did earlier, right? The shining, sparkling thing.”
Rohen slowly nodded. At first, I had hesitated.
Would it be right to tell him the truth? What if the truth I told caused Rohen hardship? Would it be better to tell him later, when he was older and able to understand me? Would telling him now wound his still fragile heart?
But I didn’t want to hide it.
“Yes… what about it?”
“I can do that.”
