Chapter 72
The Steps Leading to the Annex
I am a princess of a nation of mages. I have countless magicians among my people. Even if I did not practice magic myself, I understood magicians.
“Count, that’s enough now.”
Dandelion was thoroughly excited. He created one or two more sheep. The sunset in the sky had long since faded, yet on the ground the afterglow burned like fire.
“Sir Matisse!”
I called out.
Sir Matisse shoved Dandelion back. Sir Diego threw his jacket over the torch and extinguished it.
Struck beneath the collarbone by Sir Matisse, Dandelion let out a choked sound. His concentration must have shattered. The sheep vanished, and the field returned to darkness and silence.
“That was foolish.”
Cedric used a harsh word. But he was only cold, not wrong.
Magic was like that. It was imperfect and exhausting. If one used magic beyond the limits of one’s own vessel, it became dangerous—or one would be devoured by it.
Dandelion must have just lost the balance between his capacity and his manifestation.
“Ah…”
In the middle of the field where the torches had gone out, Dandelion collapsed to the ground. He raised one arm and brushed his bangs back.
“Was I about to die?”
“Who knows. I don’t handle magic, after all.”
I said I didn’t know, but it was probably just as Dandelion said. He seemed not to remember what had happened moments ago.
Sir Matisse held out a hand and pulled Dandelion up. Once on his feet, Dandelion brushed the dust from his clothes.
“Whew. I acted like a moth to a flame.”
He let out a playful sigh and spoke as if it were nothing.
“That isn’t something you should say so lightly.”
Dandelion’s gaze went to Cedric, then back to me.
“I just wanted to make you happy, Princess.”
He said it with a broad grin, hands on his hips.
“You can be happy through many other things. I don’t want anyone’s sacrifice for my happiness.”
“Have you never taken the love of your people for granted?”
“Sacrifice and love aren’t the same thing.”
And besides, you aren’t even a citizen of the Kingdom of Rundra, I added.
I knew my words were rather cold. Even so, my heart was still pounding from the danger just moments ago, and I couldn’t control my emotions very well.
The people of the Kingdom of Rundra—and the royal family especially—were sensitive to accidents caused by magic.
Dandelion blinked, then stepped closer to me. Because the carriage wheels were large, he had to look up at me as I sat in the carriage.
“I’m sorry, Princess. Please don’t be angry.”
“You didn’t wrong me, so don’t apologize to me. You should apologize to yourself.”
“In front of a princess from a land of magic, I did the one thing a magician should never do.”
Dandelion beamed. Then he bowed in the same way I had seen before—the gesture I had assumed was the greeting of the Ten Duchy.
“Thank you for worrying about me, Princess. You’ll accept my thanks, won’t you?”
“Please take better care of yourself from now on, Young Lord Sodante.”
I adjusted the form of address to match his greeting. From below, Dandelion met my eyes. He was so close that I could see his irises clearly—clear, lucid eyes.
Silence lingered before Dandelion spoke again.
“You’re the first person I’ve ever shown my childhood friends to.”
Then I sensed movement beside me. Cedric shifted the direction of his crossed legs. His long legs moved, catching my eye and creating that presence.
I looked at Cedric. His face was as composed as ever.
“Ah, Duke. Then I’ll say you’re the first as well.”
“It’s an honor.”
Cedric said.
The torches were already out. Night was growing late. It was time to end the picnic and return.
The carriage carrying us all dropped Cedric and me off at the ducal residence. Dandelion did not get out. He opened the carriage window and spoke.
“I had a wonderful time today, Princess. Will you go out with me again next time?”
“I’ll check my schedule.”
Dandelion also greeted Cedric.
“Will you come again as well, Duke Dayerton?”
“I’ll check my schedule.”
Dandelion laughed heartily and departed. After the carriage and the knights left, only Cedric and I remained in the quiet mansion at night.
Cedric escorted me.
“Are you hungry, Princess?”
“A little. I ate dinner early.”
“How about a light snack?”
“That’s a good idea.”
Cedric smiled.
“How about the annex? There’s a terrace where you can see the stars well.”
“The annex?”
I couldn’t help thinking of Rachel. I wondered whether her touch had reached that terrace as well. Even so, I couldn’t think of a reason to refuse, so I agreed.
Just as Cedric said, it was a terrace with a good view of the stars. The building had high ceilings, so even the third-floor terrace was quite elevated.
The annex stood much closer to the boundary of the estate than the main building. The terrace faced not the rear garden or courtyard, but toward the boundary itself.
Unlike the main building, the garden around the annex was not well tended, and the trees had grown tall. A terrace nestled among such tall trees gave the impression of being in the middle of a forest.
“It’s time for the forest fairies to sleep.”
“Is that a Rundran expression?”
“Yes. It means a very quiet night.”
Wax lanterns were lit. The maids prepared brioche brushed with honey. The sweetness of the honey blended subtly with the scent of eggs and butter. Warm milk was also placed on the table.
So everything should have been pleasant. And yet, it wasn’t.
“Is the terrace of the annex also a space touched by Her Highness the Imperial Princess?”
The twinkling stars, the dense trees, the sweet dessert—none of it helped.
In the end, Rachel weighed heavily on my mind. No matter the topic, my thoughts returned to her.
Cedric set his brioche on the plate and wiped his hands with a napkin.
“I’m not sure whether Rachel ever came up to the third floor of the annex.”
“When Her Highness was decorating the annex, weren’t you by her side?”
“She seemed to come and go from the annex to oversee the construction, but she didn’t meet with me separately.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“Didn’t you say Her Highness decorated the annex for her hobbies?”
“That’s right.”
“But she didn’t use it?”
“That’s correct.”
“Hm. And she didn’t meet you during the construction either?”
“No.”
Throughout the conversation, Cedric met my eyes and remained composed.
I turned my head toward the building. Through the door connecting the terrace and the interior, I could see the inside of the annex. Certainly, the style of the third floor—like the first—was very old.
Why had Rachel decorated only the second floor of the annex? She hadn’t used the annex for her hobbies, nor had she used the construction as an excuse to meet Cedric. Perhaps she had hoped to encounter him by chance during the renovations.
“I don’t use magic.”
Since I didn’t continue speaking, Cedric changed the subject.
“I see.”
I already knew Cedric wasn’t a magician. He tore the brioche in half. Without eating it, he set it back on the plate and wiped his hands again with the napkin.
“Would it have been better if I could use magic?”
“I’m not sure what you mean. Do you need magic?”
His words were vague, so I asked again. Cedric didn’t answer. I continued.
“There are many things you can do without magic. You’re a duke, and I’ve heard you’re also an excellent knight.”
“I can’t perform a talent show with a sword.”
“I don’t have any talents to show off either. If you need magic, shall we hire a magician?”
“There’s no need.”
Cedric split the already-halved brioche in half once more.
After finishing our meal at the annex, Cedric said he had work to do in his study. We parted on the first floor of the main building, and I headed alone to the third floor where my room was.
I walked up the stairs and down the corridor toward my room. If I turned my head, I could see the rear garden through the corridor windows. That corridor leading to my room was unbearably, terribly, endlessly long. That must have been why. Because the corridor was long, because my room felt so far away.
I changed my direction toward the stairs instead. Quietly, I went down the stairs until I reached the first floor.
At such a late hour, I met no one. Though I was doing nothing wrong, I was tense as I carefully opened the front door and stepped outside.
It would have been fine to say I was wandering aimlessly, but my steps were clearly heading toward the rear garden.
Toward the annex that would appear if I followed the path beside the garden.
Rachel.
Why did Rachel decorate the annex?
Did Rachel like Cedric?
How did Cedric feel about Rachel?
Even if not now, hadn’t Cedric once harbored feelings for Rachel?
Then what about me?
What about that night on the airship?
And me—who had felt relieved when there was no proposal?
Me—who had swallowed a shattered sky?
There was no way that going to the annex would reveal anything definitively.
And even if I learned something, it wouldn’t solve anything. Even if Cedric liked me, nothing would change. I had to return to the Kingdom of Rundra.
And yet, my steps toward the annex quickened.
